Part Of The Problem: 'The Evil, Lying Netanyahu' Review

Part Of The Problem's latest solo episode, "The Evil, Lying Netanyahu," finds host Dave Smith responding to Benjamin Netanyahu's recent 60 Minutes interview with his characteristic sharp criticism of neoconservative foreign policy. This 63.6-minute episode, available on Apple Podcasts and distributed by GaS Digital Network, dissects Netanyahu's statements while building a larger critique of America's post-9/11 approach to Iran and the Middle East. Smith argues the interview exemplifies lazy demonization tactics deployed by neoconservatives—a rhetorical pattern he traces across decades of interventionist policy. The episode carries 4 ads totaling 4.4 minutes of runtime; you can skip Part Of The Problem ads automatically while you listen. Score: 7.5/10. Worth hearing if you follow libertarian critiques of foreign policy, though solo episodes sometimes lack the conversational dynamic of the show's standard two-host format.

What Makes Part Of The Problem 'The Evil, Lying Netanyahu' Work

Smith's core argument here is a pattern-recognition exercise. He doesn't just criticize Netanyahu's statements—he embeds them within a twenty-five-year history of neoconservative rhetoric, showing how the same rhetorical toolbox gets deployed against different targets. Hussein was Hitler, then Gaddafi was Hitler, now Putin is Hitler. The consistency of the comparison, Smith argues, reveals the shallowness of the underlying reasoning. It's not argument-based; it's marketing. That framing is genuinely useful if you're trying to develop immunity to this kind of political rhetoric.

There's also real intellectual honesty here worth noting. Smith spends time dismantling Trump's claim that Iran agreed to let America take all their enriched uranium and then backed out. Rather than either ignoring Trump's actions or defending them tribally, Smith calls the claim what it is: fabrication. That willingness to hold someone in your coalition accountable reads differently than pure partisan cheerleading, and it's one of the episode's stronger moves.

The technical opening—where Smith acknowledges audio issues with his co-host—sets a warm, transparent tone:

We had some technical issues on on robbs and so apologies for that.

It's not the most eloquent quote, but it establishes authenticity. Smith isn't pretending everything ran perfectly; he's being straight with you. That matters for trust, especially when you're asking listeners to accept critical takes on geopolitical figures.

The episode's weakness is structural. At 63 minutes solo, Smith is essentially riffing. There's no co-host to push back, ask clarifying questions, or tighten the argument into something more focused. The rhythm of the show—which typically works well in two-person format—flattens into a long monologue. Some listeners love that; others find themselves wanting sharper editorial discipline. Additionally, while Smith's critique of neoconservative rhetoric is sharp, the episode doesn't venture much into actual policy substance or tradeoffs. That's not necessarily a flaw for this show's format, but it's worth knowing going in.

The Ad Load on Part Of The Problem: 4 Ads, 4.4 Minutes

This episode carries 4 ads running 4.4 minutes (6.9% of the runtime), with detected sponsorships from Cowboy Colostrum, Fast Growing Trees, Sheath Underwear, and ProLon. That's a moderate ad load for a GaS Digital Network show, and if mid-episode ad breaks interrupt your focus during political commentary, skip Part Of The Problem ads automatically while you listen using PodSkip.

Part Of The Problem Review: Is 'The Evil, Lying Netanyahu' Worth Listening?

Score: 7.5/10. This is a solid, focused critique of neoconservative rhetorical patterns and interventionist foreign policy logic. If you're skeptical of post-9/11 military interventionism and want a libertarian-informed perspective on Netanyahu and Trump's negotiating posture, the episode delivers genuine insight. The score drops slightly because the solo format loses conversational energy, and the episode leans more toward rhetoric critique than substantive policy discussion. For more of Smith's foreign policy analysis, check out his A Response to Trump & The PBD Podcast episode.

FAQ: Part Of The Problem 'The Evil, Lying Netanyahu' Review

What's the main argument in this Part Of The Problem episode?

Dave Smith argues that Netanyahu's 60 Minutes interview exemplifies a decades-long pattern of neoconservative demonization rhetoric. Smith catalogs how figures like Hussein, Gaddafi, and Putin get labeled "Hitler" not through substantive argument but through marketing. The episode criticizes Trump's claims about Iran negotiations as fabricated while contextualizing both figures within a broader pattern of interventionist policy-making.

Is 'The Evil, Lying Netanyahu' a full two-host episode or solo?

This is a solo Dave Smith episode due to technical issues affecting co-host Robb. The 63.6-minute runtime is entirely Smith riffing on Netanyahu's interview and neoconservative rhetoric. Solo episodes give Smith's perspective uninterrupted space, but they lack the conversational push and back-and-forth dynamic that typically makes the show sharper and more focused.

How many ads are in this episode?

The episode includes 4 ads totaling 4.4 minutes (6.9% of runtime) from Cowboy Colostrum, Fast Growing Trees, Sheath Underwear, and ProLon. You can skip them automatically using PodSkip, which works on every podcast including Part Of The Problem.

▶ See all Part Of The Problem episodes on PodSkip →