The Three Whisky Happy Hour: McDs vs Cracker Barrel, and other Burning Topics

The Three Whisky Happy Hour: McDs vs Cracker Barrel, and other Burning Topics

Author: Ricochet August 30, 2025 Duration: 1:01:05
In the same week Cracker Barrel retreats on its foolish decision to "rebrand" itself with a proposed logo as boring as a hospital parking lot sign (with new interior decor to match), John Yoo, freshly back from his smuggling trip to Korea, hosts this episode for the first time ever from . . . McDonald's. Did you really need to be told that? Or maybe you are asking: What took so long?

Anyway, as he noshed on newly restored cheesy breakfast bagels, we walk through the serial disgraces of politicians and the media following the latest school shooting in Minnesota, along with what to make of Trump's attempted firing of Fed governor Lisa Cook (a lot more to be made of this than you think, and once again the media is not telling you); likewise Trump's flag-burning executive order really needs to be followed up with a constitutional amendment, though don't be surprised if this is yet another issue where the current Supreme Court might well reverse precedent; and finally, what do we make of the John Bolton controversy? Both more and less than you might think.

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: 100

3 Whisky Happy Hour
Podcast Episodes
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Rumble in the State of Nature Jungle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:13
We were finally able to schedule a taping with enough lead time to get a special guest we've been wanting to have on for a long time—the great Hadley Arkes, emertus professor of jurisprudence from Amherst College and fou…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Million Miles to Go Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:20
Steve reached 2 million lifetime miles on United Airlines this week, which meant party hats and free drinks on his flight to Washington (yet still no invitation to join Global Services), but despite all that he botched t…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: The Demonic—Both Whimsical and Serious [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:27
We open today's ad-free episode with a whimsical look at the global sensation over the Number One Netflix show, "K-Pop Demon Hunters," and despite his Korean heritage, John Yoo can't explain it either. But near as we can…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Emergency Episode About Charlie Kirk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:42
No bumper music, mirth about McDonalds, whisky, Babylon Bee headlines, or AI Haiku today: the assassination of Charlie Kirk is too serious a matter. John, Lucretia, and Steve (who is still over in Iceland hiking) assembl…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour, On the 'Theological-Political Problem' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:02
With Steve and John away overseas, Lucretia takes full control of the podcast this week, welcoming back a much more sober special guest, Prof. Vincent Munoz of Notre Dame University, this semester visiting at the Univers…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Almost Live Q & A Episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:59
John Yoo is over in Korea this week, where he says he is "lecturing," but we know he's really just arranging to smuggle back a ton of tariff-free Korean barbecue sauce. So in his absence Steve and Lucretia attempted to h…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: The Summit of Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
The Three Musketeers of the 3WHH are back with our typical end-of-week roundup, including what we think of the Trump-Putin summit (which will be over by the time everyone listens to this, so this is an exercise in sheer…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: With Special Guest Star Ken Green [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:53
This week's episode expands the format to include a guest appearance by environmental scientist Ken Green, whe recently joined the ranks of contributors to Steve's "Political Questions" Substack (sign up for free if you…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Tempest in a D Cup Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:21
This week the 3WHH lives up to its name, as two of us were half in the bag—maybe more than half in the bag in Steve's case—when we recorded late in the evening because difficult travel schedules, but after Steve and Lucr…