The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Channeling Admiral Ackbar? (It's a Trap!)

The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Channeling Admiral Ackbar? (It's a Trap!)

Author: Ricochet June 12, 2026 Duration: 1:01:04
This week's episode, which finds Steve over in Japan but still with a hoarse voice, ranges widely from exonerating John Yoo from being implicated in a major whiskey heist, to what the prodigious drinking habits of the Founding Fathers has to say about constitutional law today. Justice Neil Gorsuch reminds us that “John Adams took a tankard of hard cider with his breakfast every day. James Madison reportedly drank a pint of whiskey every day. Thomas Jefferson said he wasn’t much of a user of alcohol—he only had three or four glasses of wine a night.” 

Ah, the great ones.

Speaking of the Founders, we make a nod to the tragic passing of Gordon Wood, and naturally manage to get into an argument about history and historians.

But the central topic of today is considering John's foray into grand strategy in his Civitas Outlook article this week on "America Doesn't Need to Fear a 'Thucydides Trap'," , and while Admiral Ackbar needed to fear a trap, John doesn't think so. But what was Chinese premier Xi trying to do in bringing up the subject in a public session at the recent summit with Trump? One doesn't imagine Trump being a reader of Thucydides, though one can easily see him liking the outcome of the Melian debate. In fact, maybe that's what he's up to with Iran? Who can tell. 

Grab a glass and settle in for 3 Whisky Happy Hour, where the week's news and cultural shifts get a thorough-and spirited-examination. Hosts Steven Hayward, John Yoo, and the enigmatic "Lucretia" blend their expertise in law, philosophy, and political commentary, offering a perspective that’s as substantive as it is refreshingly unscripted. The conversation flows like a good pour, moving from the immediate headlines to deeper, often overlooked principles that shape current events. This isn't a dry recap; it's a lively, meandering discussion where complex ideas become accessible, and analysis is always accompanied by a sense of camaraderie. You'll find the tone is that of a sharp, informal debate among friends who aren't afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. Produced by Ricochet, this podcast stands out in the crowded fields of news and politics by prioritizing genuine dialogue over partisan soundbites. Each episode feels like you’ve pulled up a chair at a table where wit and insight are always on the menu. Whether they're unpacking a Supreme Court decision or tracing a philosophical concept through modern politics, the hosts ensure the discourse is both enlightening and thoroughly engaging. For anyone looking to understand the 'why' behind the news with a dose of character, this is your regular invitation to a different kind of happy hour.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

3 Whisky Happy Hour
Podcast Episodes
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Heart of Texas Episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:46
This week all three of your whisky-swilling disputationists found themselves together in Austin, Texas, for a Civitas Institute conference, and we managed to sneak away to record this week's episode in -person. Though yo…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Zoned Out on Protests? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:52
This may sound like a very esoteric subject for our weekly podcast, but did you know this year is the 100th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Euclid v. Ambler Realty? No, really—it is! We're not making th…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Forget Greenland—Invade Virginia! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:48
A lot of interesting legal questions this week for rotating host John Yoo, and we don't even get through all of them (can you believe Lucretia actually passed up the chance to dunk on her "favorite" Justice KBJ for this…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: The Best (Podcast) Regime? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:58
Is it just us, or did this week seem even crazier than usual? We didn't have time to cover all the crazy in the news, and had to settle for trying to select the most stupid crazy thing said this week, though even that wa…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Happy New Year on Substack Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:06
We tried an experiment this week—livestreaming the taping of this week's episode on Steve's 'Political Questions" Substack. We think is was a success even though Steve's camera froze up several times along the way. John…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Year in Review and the Year Ahead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:23
To close out the year the 3WHH barflies recorded a special Boxing Day edition, in which, following the obligatory McDonald's news for John and a breaking story that indicates President Trump really does mean it about def…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Special Christmas Day Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:33
Just how are you going to pass the time on Christmas Day after you've got the roast in the oven (at low temp, of course) and you've finished your obligatory annual screening of Die Hard? How about a special Christmas Day…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Santa's Tin Foil Hat Week [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:14
It's conspiracy theory week at the 3WHH, as host John Yoo guides us through the mysteries of the shootings at Brown University and MIT, the mystery of why an article about the corruption of the DEI world should suddenly…