The Third Rail

Episode 2: How We Became 'Problematic'

Ben Appel, Daniel Idfresne, and Maud Maron describe the life events that shaped their worldviews and led them to where they are today. In what we hope is the beginning of the “post-Woke” era, those of us who publicly dissented from the orthodoxy—i.e., touched the Third Rail by saying verboten truths—have a different world to navigate than those who chose to keep their heads down. This episode is about losing old friends, making new friends, and learning to see the world, our country, and our culture in a new way. We hope you enjoy this personal episode. Drop us a comment, and please subscribe! Links: * Daniel’s story: “I'm 17. And I'm Immunized from Woke Politics.” [https://www.thefp.com/p/im-17-and-im-immunized-from-woke] (The Free Press) * Maud’s story: “A Witch Trial at the Legal Aid Society” [https://www.thefp.com/p/a-witch-trial-at-the-legal-aid-society] (The Free Press) * Maud on Bari Weiss’s podcast: “A 21st Century Witch Hunt” [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-21st-century-witch-hunt/id1570872415?i=1000530070104] * Ben’s book: Cis White Gay: The Making of a Gender Heretic [https://www.amazon.com/Cis-White-Gay-Making-Heretic/dp/1637586280] * More of Ben’s writing [https://www.benappelwrites.com/writing] * Daniel’s most recent appearance on Newsmax [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmpqDj23bQ8] * “5 Takeaways From the Times Analysis of Democratic Decline in Voter Registration” [https://archive.ph/irqtM#selection-511.0-511.79] (NY Times) * Amy Chua of Yale Law [https://www.thefp.com/p/the-tiger-mother-roars-back-amy-chua-jd-vance-vivek-ramaswamy?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=organic-social] * Maud in the NY Post: “Bye, Democrats: I’m leaving party that disgracefully supports censorship” [https://nypost.com/2023/03/13/bye-democrats-im-leaving-party-that-disgracefully-supports-censorship/] * Ben in the NY Post: “I saw Columbia craziness up close — and New York City’s headed that way if Zohran Mamdani becomes mayor” [https://nypost.com/2025/07/10/opinion/i-saw-columbia-craziness-up-close-and-the-citys-headed-that-way-if-zohran-mamdani-becomes-mayor/] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thirdrailpod.substack.com [https://thirdrailpod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 1: Russia Hoaxes and Mamdani Socialists

On The Third Rail’s inaugural episode, Manhattan DA candidate Maud Maron, author Ben Appel, and political commentator Daniel Idfresne discuss the news story that just won’t go away: Russiagate. In an age of profound institutional distrust, who can we rely on to tell us the truth about this complex—and very consequential—story? Then, bringing the conversation closer to home, the three New Yorkers consider the prospect of a Democratic Socialist running America’s most populated city. Is Zohran Mamdani going to be New York City’s next mayor? Enjoy our first of many no-holds-barred conversations about U.S. culture and politics. Drop us a comment, and please subscribe! Links: * The New York Times’s Charlie Savage “debunks” the latest Russiagate revelations [https://archive.ph/4O669] * Matt Taibbi’s open letter [https://www.racket.news/p/open-letter-to-the-columbia-journalism?r=z28y&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=142237580] to former Columbia School of Journalism dean, Bill Grueskin * Martin Gurri in the NY Post [https://nypost.com/2025/07/28/opinion/obamas-bruised-ego-was-behind-the-corrupt-plot-to-bring-down-trump/] - “Obama’s bruised ego was behind the corrupt plot to bring down Trump” * Mamdani’s voting bloc [https://archive.ph/ipTgf] * Government-run grocery stores [https://www.city-journal.org/article/zohran-mamdani-government-run-grocery-stores-new-york-city] * Democratic Socialists: “NYC will provide free gender-affirming care to everyone in America” [https://x.com/thestustustudio/status/1952175530612039941] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thirdrailpod.substack.com [https://thirdrailpod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]