The Fifth Column
The Fifth Column is a weekly news and politics comedy show hosted by Kmele Foster, Michael Moynihan and Matt Welch, offering analysis and commentary on the news cycle. It has 705 episodes, released roughly every two days, with a median length of about 67 minutes. Estimated downloads are 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, with a rate of $40 to $200 per episode.
A long-running, engaged political comedy audience with a strong subscription base
- 705 episodes over a decade, releasing about every two days, give a sponsor a durable presence
- Apple Podcasts rating of 4.4 from 165 ratings signals a loyal listener base
- Over 69,000 Substack subscribers indicate an audience willing to pay for the content
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- co-hosted banter, interview, listener mail segments
- Tone
- irreverent, analytical
- Language
- English
- Production
- Clean, edited audio
- Typical length
- 60 to 90 minutes for main episodes, 13 to 17 minutes for Members Only editions
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- None yet
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- Yes
The site is a Substack page offering paid subscriptions to Members Only editions, and no sponsor mentions were found in the feed.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
The feed carries an explicit flag, the description mentions drinking and inappropriate singing, and episodes cover contested political topics such as the midterms and the Trump administration.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | www.wethefifth.com/podcast |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id356090797 |
| RSS feed | api.substack.com/feed/podcast/815642.rss |
Benchmark score: 58 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Why the Midterms Are Turning Against Trump (w/ Nate Silver) Members On | 2026-10-16 | 1 h 32 min |
| Can the Democratic Center Hold? (#579) | 2026-10-14 | 1 h 30 min |
| People Who Lie and People Who Die (w/ Sam Roberts) Members Only #349 | 2026-10-09 | 15 min |
| Europe Is Melting, Meritocracy Is Racist, and Everyone Gets Dignity (E | 2026-10-07 | 1 h 35 min |
| One Hitter: Why Oil Prices Could Get Much Worse (w/ Marshall Adkins) M | 2026-10-03 | 44 min |
| The Weave Within the Weave (#577) | 2026-10-02 | 1 h 31 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 3 days ago, a new one about every 2 days.
Your weekly rhetorical assault on the on the news cycle, the people who make it, and occasionally ourselves. Kmele Foster (Freethink), Michael Moynihan (Vice), and Matt Welch (Reason) talk and laugh and drink their way to at least quasi-sanity in a world gone mad, often with the aid of clean and articulate guests. Weekly Members Only subscription edition often comes with listener mail and…
About The Fifth Column
The Fifth Column is a weekly news and politics podcast hosted by Kmele Foster, Michael Moynihan and Matt Welch, according to the show's feed and website. The show offers analysis, commentary and comedy about the news cycle and the people who make it, with 705 episodes released about every two days. Typical main episodes run 60 to 90 minutes, and paid Members Only editions run 13 to 17 minutes.
Apple Podcasts lists 165 ratings with an average of 4.4 out of 5. These signals point to an estimated 2,000 to 8,000 downloads per episode; the audience estimate is ours and not published by the show. Listeners appear to be politically engaged adults, skewing male and mostly based in the United States, though this is also an estimate. The show carries no sponsors in the feed.
A host-read mid-roll is estimated at $40 to $200 per episode, based on the download estimate and the rate card. This suits news, media, books and subscription brands that can accept explicit language and political content.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. The Fifth Column can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about The Fifth Column
How much does The Fifth Column charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on an estimated 2,000 to 8,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll is estimated at $40 to $200 per episode. Rates are estimates and not confirmed by the show.
What is The Fifth Column about?
The Fifth Column is a weekly news and politics comedy podcast hosted by Kmele Foster, Michael Moynihan and Matt Welch. It offers analysis and commentary on current events and media.
How do I contact The Fifth Column about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can also be booked through Starbooked.
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