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On this episode, Michael Breidenbach joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, "Our Dear-Bought Liberty: Catholics and Religious Tolerance in Early America."
On this episode, Mark Gerson joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Telling: How Judaism's Essential Book Reveals the Meaning of Life.”
On this episode, Cara Candal joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss “A Vision of Hope: Catholic Schooling in Massachusetts.”
On this episode, Peter Meyer joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his career as a journalist turned educator and the innovative way he’s improving literacy in his low-income school district. To subscribe to his news quarterly, visit www.paideiatimes.org.
On this episode, Saurabh Sharma joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent article in the American Conservative “We Must Build an Elite for this American Moment“ and his work in building up the conservative bureaucratic apparatus at American Moment. The article may be found here: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/we-must-build-an-elite-for-this-american-moment/ The American Moment website is here: https://www.americanmoment.org/amcanon/
On this episode, Julia Evanko joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the work of the Love and Fidelity Network in bringing Christian sexual ethics to college campuses. For more information, visit www.loveandfidelity.org.
On this episode, Patrick Deneen joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent review in American Affairs “A Tyranny without Tyrants?”
On this episode, Sohrab Ahmari joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos.”
On this episode, Benjamin Storey joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “Why We Are Restless: On the Modern Quest for Contentment.” To find out more about the work of Benjamin and Jenna Storey, visit their website: www.jbstorey.com
On this episode, Patrick Schreiner joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Ascension of Christ: Recovering a Neglected Doctrine.”
On this episode, Robert Paquette joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss how the Alexander Hamilton Institute arose out of his feud with Hamilton College and the good work the Institute is doing now. For more on the Alexander Hamilton Institute, visit www.theahi.org
On this episode, Peter J. Leithart joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “Baptism: A Guide to Life from Death.”
On this episode, Gerald Bray joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “Anglicanism: A Reformed Catholic Tradition.”
On this episode, Amity Shlaes joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the Calvin Coolidge Foundation and her recent edition of “The Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge.”
On this episode, Arthur Milikh joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the handicaps of contemporary conservatism and how to chart a path forward. For more on his work at Claremont: https://www.claremont.org/press_releases/claremont-hires-arthur-milikh-to-lead-new-dc-center/ For his essay “A New Conservatism Must Emerge” in the American Mind: https://americanmind.org/features/a-new-conservatism-must-emerge/
On this episode, Msgr. Hans Feichtinger joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss Germany’s Synodal Way. Msgr. Feichtinger’s web exclusive on the same can be found at: https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2021/02/what-to-know-about-the-synodal-way
On this episode, Jonathan Marks joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “Let’s Be Reasonable: A Conservative Case for Liberal Education.”
On this episode, First Things editor R. R. Reno joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the theological impact of Karl Barth.
On this episode, George Weigel joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “Not Forgotten: Elegies for, and Reminiscences of, a Diverse Cast of Characters, Most of Them Admirable.“
On this episode, head of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni Michael Poliakoff joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his organization’s recent poll of Illinois citizens concerning their views on public education. The full poll may be viewed at www.goacta.org.
On this episode, Justin Bass joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Bedrock of Christianity: The Unalterable Facts of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection.”
On this episode, Jon A. Shields joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his book “Trump’s Democrats” in light of the 2020 election.
On this episode, Tom Schreiner joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his new commentary “Hebrews.”
On this episode, Mark Meckler joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent article for Newsmax “HR-1: The Death of Democracy Act.”
On this episode, F. H. Buckley joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “Curiosity And Its Twelve Rules for Life.”
On this episode, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recently released book “Things Worth Dying For: Thoughts on a Life Worth Living.”
On this episode, Alexander Riley joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent volume “Reflecting on the 1960s at 50.”
On this episode, First Things editor R. R. Reno joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his column in the April 2021 edition of the magazine and Eric Vogelin’s insights for our moment.
On this episode, Stephen R. Soukup joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Dictatorship of Woke Capital: How Political Correctness Captured Big Business.”
On this episode, Peter W. Wood joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “1620: A Critical Response to the 1619 Project.”
On this episode, Stanley Kurtz joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his proposed legislation “The Partisanship Out of Civics Act” and the way the left is infiltrating K-12 civics courses. His proposal may be read at https://www.nas.org/blogs/article/the-partisanship-out-of-civics-act.
On this episode, Charles R. Kesler joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “Crisis of the Two Constitutions: The Rise, Decline, and Recovery of American Greatness.”
On this episode, Jonathan O’Brien joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the lawsuit he is filing on behalf of his clients because of the coercive use of critical race theory in the classroom. If you would like to read the lawsuit or donate to their legal fund, please visit www.schoolhouserights.org.
On this episode, Dr. Josh Packard from the Springtide Research Institute joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss Springtide’s recent report “The State of Religion and Young People 2020.”
On this episode, Donald Devine joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Enduring Tension: Capitalism and the Moral Order.”
On this episode, Theodore Gioia joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent essay for Quillette “To Expower the People.”
On this episode, William Voegeli joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent article in City Journal “The Truth About White Flight.”
On this episode, Dana Gioia joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent memoir “Studying with Miss Bishop: Memoirs from a Young Writer’s Life.”
On this episode, Fr. Peter Stravinskas joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the recent USCCB document “Catholic Hymnody at the Service of the Church: An Aid for Evaluating Hymn Lyrics.”
On this episode, Ryszard Legutko joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Cunning of Freedom: Saving the Self in an Age of False Idols.”
On this episode, Kevin Vallier joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “Trust in a Polarized Age.”
On this episode, David Flatto joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Crown and the Courts: Separation of Powers in the Early Jewish Imagination.”
On this episode, Carl Rollyson joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the second volume of his biography of William Faulkner “The Life of William Faulkner: This Alarming Paradox, 1935–1962.”
On this episode, Andrew Seeley joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his work at The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education and the recent volume of essays “Renewing Catholic Schools: How to Regain a Catholic Vision in a Secular Age.”
On this episode, Bradley Watson joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “Progressivism: The Strange History of a Radical Idea.”
On this episode, Brandon McGinley joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Prodigal Church: Restoring Catholic Tradition in an Age of Deception.”
On this episode, R. R. Reno joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent publication from Wiseblood Books “Duty, the Soul of Beauty: Henry James on the Beautiful Life.”
On this episode, Christopher Rufo joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent short film on homelessness in America’s west coast cities and the failure of “housing first” policies.
James Nolan joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book "Atomic Doctors: Conscience and Complicity at the Dawn of the Nuclear Age."
On this episode, Eric Adler joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his most recent book “The Battle of the Classics: How a Nineteenth Century Debate Can Save the Humanities Today.”
Anthropologist Tanya Marie Luhrmann joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss her recent book “How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible Others.”
Andrew Zwerneman joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book "History Forgotten and Remembered" and how history is and should be taught in schools today.
On this episode, Carter Snead joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the need for an embodied anthropology to undergird public bioethics. His new book is “What It Means to Be Human: The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics.”
Andrew Keen joins the podcast to reflect on the Tech Revolution. He is the author of four books on this topic: "The Cult of the Amateur" (2007), "Digital Vertigo" (2012), "The Internet is Not the Answer" (2015), and "How to Fix the Future" (2018).
On this episode, Anne Hendershott joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss her recent book “The Politics of Envy.”
Carl Trueman joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution.”
Joshua Mitchell joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book ”American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Afflictions of Our Time.” Mitchell takes Tocqueville as his starting place for understanding identity politics, bipolarity, and addiction in American society. Fundamentally, it‘s all about relationships.
Gad Saad joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book “The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas are Killing Common Sense.”
Jon Butler joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book ”God in Gotham: The Miracle of Religion in Modern Manhattan.“
Roger Kimball edited the recent collection of essays “Who Rules?: Sovereignty, Nationalism, and the Fate of Freedom in the Twenty-First Century.” He joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss.
Louis Markos joins the podcast to discuss his book “The Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes.”
On this episode, Scott Yenor discusses his book “The Recovery of Family Life: Exposing the Limits of Modern Ideologies.”
Jason Bedrick and Jay P. Greene are editors of the recent book “Religious Liberty and Education: A Case Study of Yeshivas vs. New York.” They join First Things contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss.
D. G. Hart discusses his recent book, “American Catholic: The Politics of Faith During the Cold War.” He and contributing editor Mark Bauerlein talk Catholicism and American conservatism, the significance of John F. Kennedy, and the legacy of Fr. Richard John Neuhaus.
Kenneth L. Woodward argues that religion is not as significant a factor in American presidential politics as we might think.
E. D. Hirsch discusses his book “How to Educate a Citizen: The Power of Shared Knowledge to Unify a Nation.”
Charles Mizrahi joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the false promises of socialism.
On this episode, Fred Siegel discusses his new book, “The Crisis of Liberalism: Prelude to Trump.”
Lance Morrow discusses his forthcoming book, “God and Mammon: Chronicles of American Money.”
Fr. Peter Stravinskas, editor of The Catholic Response, tells of his many years spent working in Catholic journalism.
Jeffrey Niehaus discusses his book “When Did Eve Sin?: The Fall and Biblical Historiography.”
Carlin Romano joins the podcast to discuss his long career as a book critic and why literary criticism is in decline.
Rod Dreher joins the podcast to discuss his new book, “Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents.”
William S. Smith joins the podcast to discuss U.S. foreign policy and his book “Democracy and Imperialism: Irving Babbitt and Warlike Democracies.”
Paulina Neuding and contributing editor Mark Bauerlein discuss the state of the pandemic in Sweden and Sweden’s version of the woke revolution.
Iain Murray discusses his new book, “The Socialist Temptation.”
Michael Anton joins the podcast to discuss his new book, “The Stakes.”
The Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone, metropolitan archbishop of San Francisco, joins the podcast. He discusses how his city’s lockdown rules unfairly single out churches and religious believers for particularly harsh restrictions.
Christopher Rufo discusses critical race theory and what goes on in diversity training seminars at public institutions.
Zena Hitz discusses her recent book, “Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life.”
On this episode, Hezekiah Kantor discusses his book “Trojan Horse Religion: How Progressive Liberalism Aims To Be The State Church.”
Nate Hochman joins Mark to discuss what he observed at the “peaceful” riots in Portland, Oregon.
Robert Maranto discusses school choice and Elizabeth Bartholet’s criticisms of homeschooling.
Lawrence Mead explains why the journal “Society” retracted his article “Poverty and Culture,” and why many are calling for his cancellation.
John Moran discusses Australian wokeness and his book “The Resurrection Mantra: Build Hope and Resilience Into Your Life.”
Daniel J. Mahoney joins Mark to discuss woke despotism, Dostoevsky’s “Demons,” and why nihilism—not moralism—is behind today’s cancel culture.
C. C. Pecknold joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss what’s happening at Catholic institutions and universities today.
Jennifer Roback Morse discusses her book “The Sexual State: How Elite Ideologies Are Destroying Lives and Why the Church Was Right All Along.”
Robert Weissberg joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss what “toleration” has come to mean in our society.
On this episode, David Barnhizer discusses his book “The Artificial Intelligence Contagion: Can Democracy Withstand the Imminent Transformation of Work, Wealth and the Social Order?”
Psychiatrist Mark McDonald joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss how the school closures are affecting kids’ mental health.
Peter Stravinskas joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss school choice and the Supreme Court’s decision in “Espinoza v. Montana.”
The economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic have forced a number of Catholic schools in the United States to close. Nora Kenney joins contributing editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss.
On this episode, Bjorn Lomborg discusses his new book, “False Alarm: How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet.”
Contributing editor Mark Bauerlein is joined by Justin Garrison and Ryan Holston, the editors of “The Historical Mind: Humanistic Renewal in a Post-Constitutional Age.”
Sumantra Maitra explains why elites are leading the current wave of iconoclastic protests in the U.S. and U.K.
On this episode, Joel Kotkin discusses his book “The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class.”
On this episode, George Weigel discusses his new book “The Next Pope: The Office of Peter and a Church in Mission.”
Hadley Arkes and Mark Bauerlein discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling in “Bostock v. Clayton County.”
Benjamin Merkle discusses his book “Discontinuity to Continuity: A Survey of Dispensational and Covenantal Theologies.”
On this episode, Yuval Levin discusses his book “A Time to Build: From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can Revive the American Dream.”
On this episode, Matthew B. Crawford discusses his new book, “Why We Drive: Toward a Philosophy of the Open Road.”
Austin Ruse joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss the work of C-Fam (the Center for Family & Human Rights)—including C-Fam's efforts at the U.N. to prevent the creation of an international right to abortion.
Jon Schweppe joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss the regulation of pornography, Big Tech censorship of free speech, and how to reform Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
On this episode, Mark Hemingway addresses the uproar over Sen. Tom Cotton’s New York Times op-ed and discusses the state of investigative reporting today.
Ari Schulman joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss COVID-19, the perils of social media, and the proper role of scientific expertise in politics.
Kenneth L. Woodward continues discussing his 2016 memoir “Getting Religion: Faith, Culture, and Politics from the Age of Eisenhower to the Era of Obama.” In this episode, Woodward talks Billy Graham and the Berrigan Brothers.
Kenneth L. Woodward discusses his 2016 memoir “Getting Religion: Faith, Culture, and Politics from the Age of Eisenhower to the Era of Obama.”
Luke C. Sheahan discusses freedom of association and his book “Why Associations Matter: The Case for First Amendment Pluralism.”
John Ellis discusses the state of academia today and his book “The Breakdown of Higher Education: How It Happened, the Damage It Does, and What Can Be Done.”
Michelle Kamhi discusses the contemporary artworld and her book “Bucking the Artworld Tide: Reflections on Art, Pseudo Art, Art Education & Theory.”
Ryan T. Anderson and Mark discuss why conservatives shouldn’t limit themselves to procedural arguments in the culture war—we need to emphasize our substantive moral commitments as well as our religious-liberty protections.
Mark Pulliam explains why religion is disappearing from Religious Studies departments.
On this episode, Philip K. Howard discusses his book “Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left.”
Micah Mattix discusses his recent book, “The Soul Is a Stranger in This World: Essays on Poets and Poetry.”
Ron Dart, editor of the recent volume “Myth and Meaning in Jordan Peterson,” discusses Peterson’s work from a Christian perspective.
Clare Carlisle discusses her biography of Kierkegaard: “Philosopher of the Heart: The Restless Life of Søren Kierkegaard.”
On this episode of “Conversations with Mark Bauerlein,” Rupert Shortt discusses his book “Outgrowing Dawkins: God for Grown-Ups.”
Mark T. Mitchell discusses his recent book, “Power and Purity: The Unholy Marriage that Spawned America's Social Justice Warriors.”
Carl Rollyson discusses his book “The Life of William Faulkner: The Past Is Never Dead, 1897-1934.“
George Weigel and Mark discuss Cardinal George Pell’s acquittal.
Mark and Fr. Peter Stravinskas discuss live-streamed Masses and the Church’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
William Haun joins Mark to discuss religious liberty trends today and a recent case involving the D.C. Metro’s ban on religious advertisements.
Featuring George Barna on why so few American Christians possess a biblical worldview.
C. Bradley Thompson discusses his recent book, “America's Revolutionary Mind: A Moral History of the American Revolution and the Declaration That Defined It.”
R. J. Snell joins Mark to discuss the present pandemic and what it has revealed about citizenship and individualism in our society.
Sam Sorbo makes the case for homeschooling and shares tips for teaching kids at home during coronavirus.
F. H. Buckley joins the podcast to discuss his recent book, ”American Secession.”
Matthew Bunson joins Mark to discuss Catholic voting patterns and the results of a recent survey examining the beliefs of U.S. Catholics.
Glenn Arbery, president of Wyoming Catholic College, discusses the college’s great books curriculum and outdoor program. He also talks about some of his favorite films.
How did Jesus teach us to pray? Wesley Hill discusses his recent book, “The Lord’s Prayer: A Guide to Praying to Our Father.”
Ross Douthat discusses his new book, “The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success.”
David Azerrad discusses the quasi-religious rites and “preaching” of identity politics—and how all this wokeness is mostly performative.
Craig Fehrman discusses his new book, “Author in Chief: The Untold Story of Our Presidents and the Books They Wrote.”
Featuring: Arthur Milikh on the left's efforts to ban “hate speech.”
Tevi Troy discusses his recent book, “Fight House.” https://www.amazon.com/Fight-House-Rivalries-White-Truman/dp/1621578364
Jessica Hooten Wilson discusses Flannery O’Connor, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and her book “Giving the Devil His Due.”
Brett Salkeld and Mark discuss Reformation-era debates over the Real Presence and what Catholics and Protestants believe about the Eucharist.
Stanley Kurtz discusses how our culture lost faith in Western Civilization.
Clay Risen discusses his recent book, “The Crowded Hour: Theodore Roosevelt, the Rough Riders, and the Dawn of the American Century.”
In 2019, there were over 230 bombings in Sweden—more than in any other Western country. Paulina Neuding joins the podcast to help us understand the crisis.
R. R. Reno joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss New York architecture, Trump’s State of the Union Address, and the future of the pro-life movement.
Douglas Murray discusses his recent book, “The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race, and Identity.”
Patrick Reilly discusses his recent First Things essay, “The Nondiscrimination Dance,” and why Catholic schools shouldn’t adopt “inclusion statements.”
Johann Neem joins the podcast to discuss his recent book, “What's the Point of College?: Seeking Purpose in an Age of Reform.”
Peter Leithart discusses his forthcoming book, “The Ten Commandments: A Guide to the Perfect Law of Liberty.”
Mark and Michael Petrilli discuss the latest in K-12 education news.
Martha Bayles and Mark Bauerlein discuss the many ways the American film industry has caved to the demands of the Chinese market.
On this episode, Stanley Fish discusses his recent book, “The First: How to Think About Hate Speech, Campus Speech, Religious Speech, Fake News, Post-Truth, and Donald Trump.”
On this episode, Grant Wacker discusses his recent biography of Billy Graham, “One Soul At a Time.”
Oren Cass discusses his recent First Things essay, “The Problem With the Culture Problem,” and his book “The Once and Future Worker: A Vision for the Renewal of Work in America.”
On this episode, Sheila Byrd Carmichael discusses the state of K-12 education in the United States and the growth of the classical school movement.
Chris Varelas joins the podcast to discuss his book “How Money Became Dangerous: The Inside Story of Our Turbulent Relationship with Modern Finance.”
Chester Finn joins the podcast to discuss his book “Learning in the Fast Lane: The Past, Present, and Future of Advanced Placement.”
On this episode, Thomas Patterson discusses his recent book, “How America Lost Its Mind: The Assault on Reason That's Crippling Our Democracy.”
In this episode, Luke Goodrich discusses his recent book “Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Liberty in America.”
Charles McElwee joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss the decline of Catholicism in struggling Rust Belt communities—and attempts to revive Rust Belt parishes.
Max Eden joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the charter school movement—particularly the success of the Great Hearts academies.
Theodore Dalrymple discusses his latest book, “False Positive: A Year of Error, Omission, and Political Correctness in the New England Journal of Medicine.”
Tom Holland joins the podcast to discuss his book “Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World.”
On this episode, Mary Grabar discusses her recent book, “Debunking Howard Zinn: Exposing the Fake History That Turned a Generation against America.”
Emily Esfahani Smith joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss the work of Camille Paglia.
Mollie Hemingway joins Mark to discuss her recent book, “Justice on Trial: The Kavanaugh Confirmation and the Future of the Supreme Court,” co-written with Carrie Severino. https://www.amazon.com/Justice-Trial-Kavanaugh-Confirmation-Supreme/dp/1621579832
Christopher Scalia joins the podcast to discuss a recent volume he edited: a collection of essays by his late father Justice Antonin Scalia, titled “On Faith: Lessons From an American Believer.”
R. R. Reno discusses the dogmas and assumptions of the postwar consensus, the rise of populism, and his new book, “Return of the Strong Gods: Nationalism, Populism, and the Future of the West.” https://www.amazon.com/Return-Strong-Gods-Nationalism-Populism/dp/1621578003
Daniel Dreisbach discusses the history of church-state relations in the United States and a recent volume of essays he edited, “Great Christian Jurists in American History.”
Lawrence Mead discusses his recent book, “Burdens of Freedom: Cultural Difference and American Power.”
Robert Boyers discusses his latest book, “The Tyranny of Virtue: Identity, the Academy, and the Hunt for Political Heresies.”
Ray Domanico joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the history of the Blaine Amendments, a recent challenge to Montana’s school choice program, and the future of religious schools in America.
Daniel Dreisbach discusses the history of church-state relations in the United States and a recent volume of essays he edited, “Great Christian Jurists in American History.”
Lawrence Mead discusses his recent book, “Burdens of Freedom: Cultural Difference and American Power.” https://www.amazon.com/Burdens-Freedom-Cultural-Difference-American/dp/1641770406
Robert Boyers discusses his latest book, “The Tyranny of Virtue: Identity, the Academy, and the Hunt for Political Heresies.”
Ray Domanico joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the history of the Blaine Amendments, a recent challenge to Montana’s school choice program, and the future of religious schools in America.
Stanley Kurtz joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss free speech on the college campus, academic freedom, and why a “Campus Intellectual Diversity Act” is a good idea.
In this episode, George Weigel discusses his latest book, “The Irony of Modern Catholic History: How the Church Rediscovered Itself and Challenged the Modern World to Reform.”
On this episode, Robby Soave discusses his recent book, “Panic Attack: Young Radicals in the Age of Trump.”
David Bromwich discusses his book “American Breakdown: The Trump Years and How They Befell Us.”
Mary Eberstadt comes on the podcast to discuss her latest book, “Primal Screams: How the Sexual Revolution Created Identity Politics.”
Robert Wilken discusses his new book “Liberty in the Things of God: The Christian Origins of Religious Freedom.”
Alexander Riley discusses his book “Angel Patriots: The Crash of United Flight 93 and the Myth of America.”
In this episode, Mark Bauerlein and Peter Skerry discuss political hierarchies, populism, and the power of the media.
Greg Lukianoff discusses “The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure," the book he co-authored with Jonathan Haidt.
Adeline Allen joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss how gestational surrogacy is dehumanizing—both for the child and for the birth mother.
On this episode, Robert Delfino discusses his book “Does God Exist?: A Socratic Dialogue on the Five Ways of Thomas Aquinas.”
Dale Ahlquist joins Mark to discuss G. K. Chesterton’s life and legacy—and what he would have made of today’s populist movements.
In this episode, Matthew Mehan discusses children’s literature, the power of poetry, and his recent book, “Mr. Mehan’s Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals.”
Marygrace Sexton joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the dangers of technology and how to combat smartphone addiction.
David Horowitz discusses his latest book, “Dark Agenda: The War to Destroy Christian America.”
Tracy Lee Simmons joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the many benefits of studying Latin and the classics.
In this episode, Francis Beckwith discusses his book “Never Doubt Thomas: The Catholic Aquinas as Evangelical and Protestant.”
C. R. Wiley discusses his latest book, “The Household and the War for the Cosmos: Recovering a Christian Vision for the Family.”
Pastor Kevin Martin and Editor R. R. Reno discuss the proper role of missions in the church—and why missionary work and “proselytizing“ are two very different things.
Kay Hymowitz joins Mark to discuss the loneliness epidemic in America.
Theodore Dalrymple discusses his book of essays “The Terror of Existence: From Ecclesiastes to Theatre of the Absurd,” co-authored with Kenneth Francis.
Samuel Gregg discusses his latest book, “Reason, Faith, and the Struggle for Western Civilization.”
On this episode, Timothy Goeglein discusses his book “American Restoration: How Faith, Family, and Personal Sacrifice Can Heal Our Nation.”
Bruce Frohnen discusses his book “Coming Home: Reclaiming America’s Conservative Soul.”
In this episode, Myron Magnet discusses his latest book, “Clarence Thomas and the Lost Constitution.”
Gerald Russello joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss “Russell Kirk’s Concise Guide to Conservatism.”
In this episode, Mark Bauerlein asks R. R. Reno about his 2016 book, “Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society.”
Ashley Berner joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss her book “Pluralism and American Public Education: No One Way to School.”
David Moore discusses how Christians should talk about controversial topics in a polarized society, as well as how churches can reach out to those who consider themselves believers, but are also “done” with organized religion.
Paul Gottfried discusses his book “Fascism: The Career of a Concept” and the defining characteristics of a fascist regime.
Sohrab Ahmari discusses common good conservatism and his recent essay: “Against David French-ism.”
Dana Gioia joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss John Donne, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Elizabeth Jennings, and Gioia's latest collection of essays, “The Catholic Writer Today.”
In this episode, Wilfred McClay discusses American history and his new book, “Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story.”
Dominic Green joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the aftermath of Brexit and the political situation in the United Kingdom.
Michael Pakaluk discusses his new book: “The Memoirs of St. Peter: A New Translation of the Gospel According to Mark.”
Senior editor Mark Bauerlein chats with Arthur Brooks about his latest book, “Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from Our Culture of Contempt.“
Matthew Wright and senior editor Mark Bauerlein discuss Wright's latest book: “A Vindication of Politics: On the Common Good and Human Flourishing.”
High schooler Braeden Sorbo joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss Gen Z.
Carson Holloway joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the proper role of the judicial branch in American political life.
Jacob Howland joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the misguided elimination of many of the humanities programs at the University of Tulsa.
Ryan Marr joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss John Henry Newman’s upcoming canonization and the theology of sainthood.
Charlie Copeland joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the decline of free speech on the college campus.
Fr. Peter Stravinskas joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the fate of Catholic schools in America and the work of the Catholic Education Foundation.
Tricia Bruce joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the large swath of Americans who self-identify as ”partially Catholic”—neither completely in nor completely out of the Church.
Salvatore Babones joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss William Jennings Bryan, the populist tradition in American history, Donald Trump, and Babones's latest book: ”The New Authoritarianism."
Author and Notre Dame priest-professor Wilson D. Miscamble tracks how Father Ted Hesburgh, longtime president of Notre Dame, transformed Catholic higher education in the postwar era and explores how he became a much-celebrated voice in America at large. Yet, beyond the hagiography that often surrounds Hesburgh’s legacy lies another more complex and challenging story. What exactly were his contributions to higher learning; what was his involvement in the civil rights movement; and what was the nature of his role as adviser to popes and presidents? Reverend Wilson D. Miscamble, C.S.C. joined the permanent faculty in the History Department at Notre Dame in 1988. He chaired the History Department from 1993 to 1998. He also served as Rector and Superior of Moreau Seminary (2000–2004), the principal formation site for the Congregation of Holy Cross in North America. Fr. Miscamble’s primary research interests are American foreign policy since World War II and the role of Catholics in twentieth-century U.S. foreign relations.
In a liberal democratic age, two words are widely used to contrast what liberal democracy is not: aristocracy and populism. Yet, we have both political factions emerging today in new and caustic forms that pit an increasingly corrupt elite against an increasingly coarse and angry populace. Both are morally adrift and engaged in politics as an assertion of power, albeit for different reasons. While the current trajectory of the West would appear to be an ongoing and inconclusive battle between these two factions, classical political theory understood that only an appropriately mixed regime could correct and even elevate the shortcomings of an opposing faction. In an age in which monarchy and inherited titles are rightly suspect, is there nevertheless a prospect for a mixed regime in the modern age that goes beyond pitting elite against populace and vice-versa, and which might instead give rise to a fruitful combination? In this lecture, Patrick Deneen will envision the prospects for an ennobled aristoi and a more refined populace. He will at once acknowledge the persistence of class and inequality even in a democratic age (denying a path forward lies in a growing sympathy for socialism), but will propose that only a well-formed elite can support a humane condition of the populace, and only a well-formed populace can fruitfully restrain the hubris of a liberal elite and even orient them toward virtue. Through such a mixed regime, practices supporting a common good might emerge, correcting the core weakness of a liberal order designed to forestall such a possibility.
Mark Lilla joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss identitarianism in America and his book ”The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics.”
Mark Regnerus and senior editor Mark Bauerlein discuss worldwide trends in marriage and Regnerus's forthcoming book: "The Future of Christian Marriage."
Michael Anton joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss his recent book, ”After the Flight 93 Election: The Vote That Saved America and What We Still Have to Lose.”
Senior editor Mark Bauerlein interviews Darel E. Paul about his book ”From Tolerance to Equality: How Elites Brought America to Same-Sex Marriage.”
Abigail Rine Favale joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss her book “Into the Deep,” a memoir recounting her journey from radical secular feminism to the Catholic Church.
Glenn Stanton joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the work of Focus on the Family.
Peter Levine joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss voter turnout and civics engagement among young Americans.
At Hillsdale College, Eric Hutchinson is teaching a humanities course that W. H. Auden originally designed and taught at the University of Michigan in 1941. Hutchinson joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss.
Heather Mac Donald joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss her latest book, “The Diversity Delusion: How Race and Gender Pandering Corrupt the University and Undermine Our Culture.”
In this episode, Mark interviews Daniel J. Mahoney about his latest book, ”The Idol of Our Age: How the Religion of Humanity Subverts Christianity.”
Robby Soave and senior editor Mark Bauerlein discuss media dishonesty and what really happened between Nathan Phillips and the boys from Covington Catholic High School.
Kathryn Jean Lopez joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the March for Life 2019 and the state of the pro-life movement today.
Father Thomas Guarino joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss Guarino’s book “The Disputed Teachings of Vatican II: Continuity and Reversal in Catholic Doctrine.”
Michael Aeschliman joins Editor R. R. Reno to discuss the legacy of Lionel Trilling.
On this episode, senior editor Mark Bauerlein talks classical education with Robert Jackson of Great Hearts Academies.
Senior editor Mark Bauerlein chats with Richard Brookhiser about his new biography, ”John Marshall: The Man Who Made the Supreme Court.”
Sajay Samuel joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the legacy of philosopher and Catholic priest Ivan Illich.
Keith Nix joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss classical education and the work of the Veritas School in Richmond, Virginia.
Alexander Riley and Mark discuss Émile Durkheim on religion and Riley’s book “Impure Play: Sacredness, Transgression, and the Tragic in Popular Culture.”
Jacques Berlinerblau joins Mark to discuss his latest book: “Campus Confidential: How College Works, or Doesn’t, for Professors, Parents, and Students.”
Claudia MacMillan joins Mark to discuss liberal education and the work of the Louise and Donald Cowan Center for Education at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture.
Mark interviews Frank Furedi about his latest book, “How Fear Works: Culture of Fear in the 21st Century.”
Mark and Philip Hamburger discuss Hamburger’s new book, “Liberal Suppression.”
Sunil Iyengar of the National Endowment for the Arts joins Mark to discuss current trends in Americans’ engagement with theater, visual arts, music, and literature.
Charlotte Allen joins Mark to discuss the 11th-century monastic Peter Damian and what the Catholic Church today should learn from his “Liber Gomorrhianus.”
C. C. Pecknold joins Mark to discuss the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report and the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.
Hadley Arkes joins Mark to discuss why it’s a mistake for conservatives to adopt an absolutist position on free speech.
Mark interviews F. H. Buckley about his latest book, “The Republican Workers Party.”
John Witte joins Mark to discuss the Cambridge Law and Christianity series and the relationship between law and religion.
Michael Hanby joins Mark to discuss his 2016 First Things article “A More Perfect Absolutism.”
David Sheppe joins Mark to discuss the work of the organization American Friends for the Preservation of Saint Germain des Près Church
Chris Weir and Elisabeth Sullivan join Mark to discuss their work with the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, an organization dedicated to revitalizing Catholic schools through the classical tradition of the liberal arts
Peter Wood, president of the National Association of Scholars, joins Mark to discuss the chief problems in higher education today.
Geoffrey Vaughan, editor of the recent volume “Leo Strauss and His Catholic Readers,” joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss Strauss’s understanding of religion and Catholic Social Thought.
Mark Movsesian joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
Matthew Franck joins Mark to discuss Justice Kennedy’s retirement, “NIFLA v. Becerra,” and the implications of the “Masterpiece Cakeshop” ruling.
Andrew Balio, principal trumpet of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the state of classical music in America today.
Senior editor Mark Bauerlein asks editor R. R. Reno about the books that formed him in youth.
Matthias Storme and Diederik Boomsma join editor R. R. Reno to discuss the Paris Statement and the future of Europe.
Rachel Fulton Brown joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss her new book, “Mary and the Art of Prayer: The Hours of the Virgin in Medieval Christian Life and Thought.”
In the inaugural episode of "From the Editor's Office," editor R. R. Reno discusses the June/July print edition.
Mark and Nicholas Tampio discuss Tampio's book “Common Core: National Education Standards and the Threat to Democracy.”
Fr. Peter Stravinskas joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss Ireland’s abortion referendum. He also weighs in on recent events in Philadelphia, where the city government has cut ties with Catholic foster care providers that refuse to place children with same-sex couples.
Hostos Community College professors Andrea Fabrizio and Gregory Marks join senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss teaching the great books to a diverse student body in the Bronx.
Senior editor Mark Bauerlein is joined by Jeremy Tate, president and co-founder of the Classic Learning Test, to discuss the revitalization of standardized testing and American education.
Mark Bauerlein discusses three poems about winter by American greats Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and Wallace Stevens.
Michael Doran delivers the 2018 First Things Lecture in Washington, D.C. This lecture is also available in the pages of First Things and on firstthings.com.
Richard Spady discusses his essay "Economics as Ideology," published in the April 2018 issue of First Things.
David Oakley and senior editor Mark Bauerlein discuss Oakley’s book “Inside the Mind of Thomas More: The Witness of His Writings.”
Amy Wax joins Mark Bauerlein to discuss how our society’s abandonment of bourgeois norms and values has resulted in widespread behavioral dysfunction.
Philip Hamburger and Mark Bauerlein discuss Hamburger’s new book, “The Administrative Threat,” and the ways in which today’s administrative state curtails Americans’ basic constitutional freedoms.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Editor Rusty Reno talks with senior editor Julia Yost about the allegations and revelations of sexual misconduct that occupied Americans all this fall. Are we actually just re-learning that men and women are different? Then, Julia examines the function of nostalgia in the great American Christmas songs, especially those composed by Jewish songwriters.
Mark Movsesian and senior editor Mark Bauerlein discuss the Supreme Court’s oral argument session regarding “Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.”
Heather Mac Donald joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss how America’s high out-of-wedlock birthrate is at the heart of inner-city violence today.
Peter Meyer joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the history of Catholic education in the United States from its heyday in the 1960s to its virtual dissolution in the twenty-first century.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Senior editor Julia Yost talks with Carl Trueman about Martin Luther, the German monk who argued against the practice of indulgences, and in the process changed the world. Carl explains why Luther remains important, to Lutherans and other Protestants; whether Luther ushered in the secular age; which of the heroic Reformers would be best to be stranded on an island with; why Luther’s vernacular Bible was so revolutionary; how Protestants and Catholics of today should talk to each other; and more.
The purported objectivity of scientific inquiry is a damaging myth. Science has been ideologically captured since its birth, and “value-laden inquiry” is not a recent deviation but is rather fundamental to its successful practice. Read the text version here: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2017/11/the-myth-of-scientific-objectivity For more recordings of essays and articles like this, download the Audm app for iPhone.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Senior editor Julia Yost talks with Leah Libresco Sargeant about Harvey Weinstein, whose record of sexual harassment and assault was an open secret in Hollywood for years. Is his exposure an indictment of the film industry, or of all of us? Then, editor Rusty Reno and senior editor Matthew Schmitz join Julia to discuss dogs—as pets, as “emotional support animals,” and as substitute children. Are they man’s best friend, or stalking horses for the culture of death? Julia circles back to these issues with special guest Lucy Reno.
Fred Siegel joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the origins of contemporary conflicts between mass and elite in American history.
A society hospitable to the down and out will not be afraid to dress up. Read the text version here: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2017/06/dress-up For more recordings of essays and articles like this, download the Audm app for iPhone.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Senior editor Julia Yost talks with former assistant editor Alexi Sargeant about HBO’s Game of Thrones. Subtopics include dragons and zombies, monarchy and neoconservatism—and the virtues and vices* of the most popular series on television. *Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
Drew Trotter joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss the renewal of religion in higher education through his work with the Center for Christian Study and its network of campus chapters.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Editor Rusty Reno talks with associate editor Julia Yost about the violence in Charlottesville. Rusty observes that racial unrest has changed since the Civil Rights era: The right has cribbed a sociopolitical critique from the left, and the left has learned paramilitary tactics from the right. The replications are ominous. Then, senior editor Matthew Schmitz talks with Julia about Convertgate, the recent dust-up in which liberal cradle Catholics instructed converts not to criticize the pope. Julia points out the incongruity of this spasm of liberal ultramontanism.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Associate editor Julia Yost discusses the death of Charlie Gard with Charles Camosy, associate professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham and author of “Learning from Charlie Gard.” Camosy argues that the removal of Charlie’s ventilator constituted an act of euthanasia. We need to call this act what it is—as hospitals increasingly aim at the death by omission, on the basis of quality-of-life judgments. Then, Julia marks the 200th anniversary summer of the death of Jane Austen, with a reflection on sin and death in Austen’s novels.
Mark Movsesian joins senior editor Mark Bauerlein to discuss recent cases appearing before the Supreme Court related to religious liberty. This is the first in an ongoing series of interviews on religion and culture.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Editor Rusty Reno and literary editor Matthew Schmitz talk to associate editor Julia Yost about a recent article in the Jesuit journal La Civiltà Cattolica. According to the authors, both of whom are advisers to Pope Francis, American Evangelicals and Catholics are warmongers and apocalyptic cultists bent on establishing a theocratic state. What does the article reveal about American religious conservatives—and about its authors? Then, Julia reflects on her experience reviewing Louise Milligan’s Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Matthew Walther, associate editor of the Washington Free Beacon, drops by the FIRST THINGS offices with a bottle of Louis Roederer non-vintage champagne. He talks with Matthew Schmitz and Julia Yost about his plan for champagne socialism, outlined in a recent review for FIRST THINGS—and why fake champagnes, like Barefoot Bubbly, are very, very bad. Then, Schmitz and Julia discuss The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise, the new book by Robert Cardinal Sarah. Find out why The Power of Silence is impressing people, including the pope emeritus.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Editor Rusty Reno talks to associate editor Julia Yost about a shift in the terms that govern our political debates. He argues that the primacy once given to “freedom” in American conservatism now is given to “nationalism”—or should be. Then, literary editor Matthew Schmitz joins Julia to discuss a few recent news items: the curious case of Boston’s re-frocked priest; Mike Pence’s rules for a happy marriage; and the cautionary tale of the professor who practiced “radical inclusion.”
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Literary editor Matthew Schmitz and associate editor Julia Yost discuss The Americans—the Cold War spy drama that raises the question, Whose approach to sex is more dehumanizing? The KGB’s, or the average American parent’s? Then, Matthew and Julia discuss John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress—the Puritan classic that, Matthew argues, anticipated all our American stories, whether we know it or not.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Associate editor Julia Yost talks to junior fellows Veery Huleatt and Connor Grubaugh about The Shack—the bestselling novel by William Paul Young, now a major feature film. In it, a bereaved father finds his way back to faith. But an unorthodox vision of the Holy Trinity compels us to discuss: Is it best to imagine the triune godhead according to biblical tradition, or according to personal taste? Then, Julia talks to assistant editor Alexi Sargeant and journalist Leah Libresco Sargeant about Logan, the newest installment in Marvel’s Wolverine franchise. Themes of faith and fatherhood animate this film, in which we observe the maturation of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and of the superhero genre.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Editor Rusty Reno and associate editor Julia Yost are joined by Midge Decter in a conversation about Michael Novak, who died on February 17. A theologian, social theorist, sports fan, and member of the founding generation of FIRST THINGS, Novak saw his way through the neocon transition from left to right. In his masterpiece, “The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism,” he made an influential case for the morality of free markets. Then, Julia talks with literary editor Matthew Schmitz about a feature article in the forthcoming April issue of FIRST THINGS: “Return to Form,” a defense of traditional Catholic liturgy by the distinguished German writer Martin Mosebach. Matthew also overviews his own analysis of the post–Vatican II class divide in Catholic liturgy and practice, appearing recently in the Catholic Herald.
Associate editor Julia Yost talks with Senator Rónán Mullen of the Irish Parliament about the Eighth Amendment to the Irish Constitution. The Eighth Amendment, which guarantees the legal protection of unborn human life, is currently threatened by a repeal campaign. Learn about George Soros’s scheme to interfere in the affairs of a small Catholic country—and learn what Americans can do to help the pro-life cause in Ireland (hint: cherishlifeireland.org). Then, Julia gets editor Rusty Reno’s take on recent developments in Church, politics, sports, and fashion.
Senior editor Mark Bauerlein talks with associate editor Julia Yost about Donald Trump’s first week in office, from the inauguration speech to the Women’s Marches to the March for Life. Then Julia conjures the spirit of the William Peter Blatty, who died earlier this month. They discuss The Exorcist—that very Catholic work of horror, for which Blatty authored both novel and screenplay.
On this spoiler-filled episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Associate editor Julia Yost talks with assistant editor Alexi Sargeant about Silence—the 1966 novel by Shusako Endo, newly adapted as a film by Martin Scorsese. Is the film better than the book? Will it win all the Oscars? Will it convert you to Death of God Theology? Then, Leah Libresco joins for a discussion of Sherlock, the BBC’s update of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Great Detective, returning now for its fourth season. Is the series better or worse now than when it began? Is an iPhone cooler than a pocketwatch? Is Sherlock an addict, or isn’t he? What’s up with the fandom? And what do we want to see in the season finale?
Senior editor Mark Bauerlein and associate editor Julia Yost discuss the Christmas movie everyone either loves, or loves to hate—Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Points of contention include: whether Aristotle would approve of the film’s plot; whether Henry F. Potter’s banking practices would have forestalled the 2008 financial crisis; whether George Bailey should be blamed for American suburbia; and whether Jimmy Stewart’s voice can be tolerated. Plus: Learn how you can advance the FIRST THINGS mission during this season of giving. (Every time you hit the donate button, an angel gets his wings.)
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Editor Rusty Reno introduces Philip Rieff’s The Triumph of the Therapeutic: The Uses of Faith after Freud. Published in 1966 and still fresh today, Rieff’s book (we particularly recommend the introduction) is the original and best critique of our therapeutic culture. Then, Senior editor Mark Bauerlein and associate editor Julia Yost discuss the 2016 season in college football.
On this episode of the FIRST THINGS Podcast: Editor Rusty Reno talks with associate editor Julia Yost about the life, death, and meaning of Fidel Castro. 1:18 The enduring allure of the bearded revolutionary 6:45 Why young Cubans are post-Castro 15:16 The past and future of Cuban-American relations Oxford Dictionaries’ Word of the Year for 2016 is “post-truth.” Senior editor Mark Bauerlein joins Rusty and Julia to discuss the wisdom and significance of this pick. 19:39 “Post-truth” as Word of the Year—yay or nay? 27:05 Post-truth politics as populist politics 37:35 Reality’s well-known liberal bias 42:13 The evolution of English: descriptivism vs. prescriptivism
1:34 Poetry has gone viral on social media in the wake of Donald Trump’s election. Senior editor Mark Bauerlein and associate editor Julia Yost discuss what role poetry should play in public life, in this time of political tension and attention deficits. 30:12 Four cardinals have presented five ”dubia” to Pope Francis, concerning the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. Deputy editor Elliot Milco talks with Julia about what this move portends, why schism remains highly unlikely, and why Cardinal Burke inspires so much schadenfreude in Catholic liberals. 46:40 A special Thanksgiving message from the FIRST THINGS editorial staff, courtesy of assistant editor Alexi Sargeant.
On this episode of the First Things Podcast: Editor Rusty Reno, senior editor Mark Bauerlein, associate editor Julia Yost, and deputy editor Elliot Milco gather on the morning after Donald Trump’s election victory to sort out how it happened and what it means. 0:50 Shock, awe, and the failure of Big Data 8:00 Taking Trump seriously but not literally 11:20 Implications for the Religious Right and the Catholic Church 24:10 What happened to fusion conservatism? 33:50 Trumpism in the global and globalist context 37:25 A permanent Republican majority?
1:10 – Senior editor Mark Bauerlein explains how classic hardboiled detective novels turn boys into men. And he does it while maintaining the lines between high culture, popular culture, and mass culture. 28:40 – Associate editor Julia Yost talks to deputy editor Elliot Milco about the buzzy new HBO series Westworld. What is producer Jonathan Nolan trying to tell us about human nature? And video games? And porn? And prestige-drama fan theories?
Now in its 29th year, the Erasmus Lecture brings world-renowned speakers to New York—including Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Gilbert Meilaender, and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks—to address an audience of First Things friends and subscribers each year. The lecture also appears in the pages of First Things and on firstthings.com.
1:25 – Rusty comments on the Vatican’s new guidelines for cremation. Why has the Catholic Church traditionally favored intact burial? And why are people, including Catholics, increasingly opting for cremation? 18:30 – Alexi Sargeant reflects on the life and legacy of Jack Chick, the evangelical comic book artist who died last week. The “Chick Tracts” sought to scare people to Jesus—and away from Catholicism, Halloween, Dungeons & Dragons, and a few other things. What should we make of this earnest and inventive evangelist, who was also rather feverish and offensive? 30:55 – Mark observes the one-year anniversary of the Halloween horror show at Yale, when students lost their minds over culturally insensitive costumes. This year, college administrators across America are designing programs to prevent offense from being given or taken. In an op-ed for the New York Times, Mark argues that rather than micromanaging students’ social interactions, administrators should be offering positive moral guidance.
First Things is pleased to host the second annual Poetry Reading with Dana Gioia. Learn more about this event at firstthings.com/poetry.
Literary editor Matthew Schmitz recounts his day in a Manhattan jury pool. He failed to be selected for the jury, but he made many colorful friends. Now he argues, in the spirit of Tocqueville, for fewer plea bargains, more jury trials, and the death penalty. Then, Matthew talks to associate editor Julia Yost about his Back Page column in the November issue. He argues, in the spirit of Confucius, against the utilitarian ethos that prevails at elite universities. What would the Master say about Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy?
Matthew responds to criticisms of his New York Times op-ed, “Has Pope Francis Failed?,” and reminds liberal Catholics of their claim that liberalizing doctrine and rhetoric would bring alienated believers back to the Church. Plus: What do the three new American cardinals tell us about Francis’s agenda? Then, First Things staffers stage a dramatic reading of the Clintonites’ Catholic-themed emails, revealed by WikiLeaks this week. Matthew and Julia discuss the proper response. Finally, Bob Dylan has won this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature. Matthew reflects on Dylan’s legacy and achievements, and why Bill Gothard was right about secular music.
Helen Andrews provides some historical perspective on the choice Americans must make this November—between two styles of dictator, the personalist (Trump) and the clientelist (Clinton). She looks back on the last president who combined these two styles, as an illustration of how momentous a dictatorial presidency can be. Then, Matthew Walther previews a new edition of T. H. White’s “The Once and Future King,” a novel that contains more metaphysics, and less fantasy, than you think. Finally, Walther takes aim at E. B. White (no relation), explaining why “Elements of Style” is overrated and the passive voice is underrated.
Remember that time Slate alerted the civilized world to our terrifying feature article on “gay denialism”? Michael W. Hannon was the author of that feature, “Against Heterosexuality,” and he sits down with Matthew and Julia to recall his bombshell and reflect on its consistency with his present life with the Norbertine Fathers. On sexuality and gender, he has opinions to spare. Facebook’s seventy-one gender options: Too much? Or not enough? Then Rusty joins, fresh off his victory (or was it?) in a debate over Catholic perspectives on immigration. Should our preferential option be for immigrants, or for those who are already our neighbors?
Phyllis Schlafly, anti-feminist icon and foe of the Equal Rights Amendment, died this week. Rusty, Mark, and Julia discuss her legacy—with the help of their special guest, journalist and editor and all-around legend Midge Decter. Then, it’s time to head back to campus—and that means getting up to speed on the new rules for avoiding microaggressions. Is it still okay to say “you guys”? Rusty has sympathy for the special snowflakes; Mark and Julia have stories from the trenches.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta will be canonized on Sunday. Why is her service to the poor so much more inspiring than that of secular “effective altruists”? Rusty and Matthew explain their takes, and Julia freaks out her colleagues by half-agreeing with Christopher Hitchens. Then: If you were the mayor of a French town with a beachfront, what would you do about the burkini? Think carefully, because “the soul of France” is in question. But does France have a secular soul, or a Christian one? Finally, Julia reads a famous passage from literature, containing a prediction about saints named Teresa. Rusty and Matthew try to source it. Maybe you can beat them!
New survey findings from Georgetown University update us on rates of ritual participation among American Catholics. Do they show a “Francis Effect”? If so, is the effect positive or negative? Rusty, Matthew, and Julia discuss why millennial Catholics need more, not less, incense. Then, Broadway’s “Hamilton” is up for debate: Is it “a pack of tricks we play on the dead”—retrojecting multicultural ideology onto the Founding? Or does it benignly correct our postmodern suspicion of the American past? Assistant editor Alexi Sargeant and junior fellow Connor Grubaugh debate. Finally, the Marquis de Lafayette speaks through Alexi, rapping very fast about guns and ships.
A surprising new study reveals that members of the Millennial Generation are avoiding sex—and for all the wrong reasons. Rusty, Mark, and Julia discuss the impact of careerism, pornography, and the fear of “catching feelings,” and what it all means for Christian morality. Then, Rusty uses the “Elephant Graph” to explain why, in this age of globalization, there is no longer a harmony of economic interests between elites in the West and the middle classes they are elected to lead. Can the nation-state survive? Finally, Rusty and Mark try to guess the authors of three aphorisms, each on the subject of “Youth and Age.”
God was pronounced dead by Time Magazine fifty years ago—and now He’s deader than ever, according to Matthew Rose. Joining Rusty and Julia, Matt argues that our present age was heralded in 1966 by the Death of God theologians, who viewed secularity as the highest development of Christian ethics. Julia then interviews Rusty about his new book, Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society. Our culture is falling apart—which is good news and bad news, according to Rusty. Why is he optimistic that Christians will be the leaven in an increasingly decadent society? Finally, Julia hosts a game of “Stump the Editors” with Rusty, Mark, and Matthew. Play along and test your knowledge of literature! Musical credit: Dave Brubeck.
What can natural family planning teach you about the body that sex ed won’t? Catholic writer and "science nerd" Leah Libresco guests on this segment, as does her fiancé, assistant editor Alexi Sargeant. Then, why are Catholic and Evangelical Republicans parting ways over Trump? Leah crunches the numbers, and Rusty envisions life for religious conservatives during a Trump presidency. Finally, Matthew and Julia discuss this week’s news from Rome, and conclude that ordaining women as deacons not only makes no sense, but would set women back. Musical credits: The Losers, Chad Crouch.
Was the murder of Fr. Jacques Hamel by Islamic State militants an act of “absurd violence,” as Pope Francis suggests, or did it have clear religious motivations and implications? Matthew disagrees with First Things senior fellow Francesca Aran Murphy. Then, what are we to make of the two new vice-presidential nominees, each of whom is Catholic in his own way—Mike Pence the “Evangelical Catholic” and Tim Kaine the “Pope Francis Catholic”? Finally, Julia hosts a session of “Ask a Theologian.” Find out whether all dogs go to heaven, why the Pope Emeritus wears white, which way is liturgical East—and more! This episode features music by Sergey Cheremisinov, Scott Holmes, and Unthunk.
Liberal Catholics are growing impatient. What if Pope Francis fails to institutionalize his reforms? Editors Rusty, Mark, Matthew, and Julia discuss, and are politely opposed by their guest, Commonweal editor Matthew Boudway. Then assistant editor Alexi Sargeant drops in to evangelize for Pokémon Go. Finally, the editors reflect on the feelings of insecurity that seem to be motivating Americans in both parties (and no party) during this political season. Musical credits: “OST 01 Tutorial” by Sawsquarenoise, “Generic Falling Blocks Puzzle” by Mathgrant, “Shrine” by Visager, and “Final Sacrifice” by Visager. All four are used under Creative Commons licenses, which can be found with the full tracks at FreeMusicArchive.org.
Is Donald Trump a disciple of the power-mad Nietzsche, or of positive-thinking guru Norman Vincent Peale? Editors Rusty, Mark, Matthew, and Julia discuss. Then Carl Trueman Skypes in and disputes mildly with Rusty about the meaning of the recent "bigot-baiting" in Bakersfield, California. Finally, the editors are joined by attorney Darren Geist, a critic of Amnesty International's dehumanizing new policy on prostitution.
The Meaning Of Marriage: A Podcast with R. R. Reno by First Things
Gregory Alan Thornbury was recently installed as the sixth president of The King's College of New York City. Before his appointment, he was professor of philosophy, dean of the School of Theology and Missions, and vice president for Spiritual Life at Union University in Tennessee. Thornbury is a senior fellow at the Kairos Journal and serves as a visiting professor teaching philosophy at Ansgar Teologiske Høgskole in Norway and at Southern Seminary. He is a member of the Society of Christian Philosophers and the Evangelical Theological Society.
Dana Gioia may be best known to our audience for his essay in First Things last year entitled “The Catholic Writer Today.” The essay began with a dismaying regret that while 50 years ago one could scan the American literary scene and find Catholicism and Catholic writers playing a formative role, today that role has disappeared. As Gioia put it, “the religion of one-quarter of the U.S. population has retreated to the point of invisibility in the fine arts.” As you may imagine, the essay sparked heated responses both among First Things readers and in the literary world. In February USC and the Institute of Advanced Catholic Studies hosted a conference on the topic, entitled “The Future of Catholic Literary Imagination,” and it included some of the leading Catholic writers and critics in America. Last month, Gioia sat down for an interview with First Things to discuss the topic.
Randy Boyogoda’s biography of Father Richard John Neuhaus, Richard John Neuhaus: A Life in the Public Square came out last month and has already received significant notice. A few weeks ago, Boyogoda himself took up a central theme of Neuhaus’ in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, underscoring the delicate relationship of religion and politics in the United States throughout American history. Last week, he sat down for an interview with First Things to continue the discussion of the life and significance of Father Neuhaus. We have recorded the discussion as a podcast, which you can listen to below.
Raising Kids In A Digital Age featuring Mark Bauerlein on Relevant Radio by First Things
Chaput details both the history of the threats and possible responses in “A Charitable Endeavor,” published in First Things (November, 2009). In their conversation about this essay on Spirit Catholic Radio, R. R. Reno and Chaput discussed militant secularism, the need for mediating institutions, and the historical collaboration between Church and state on issues of poverty.
Mary Eberstadt and editor R. R. Reno discuss the current state of marriage on Spirit Catholic Radio. In 2009, there were a series of tell-all articles by women, published in New York Times and The Atlantic among others,that lamented the woes of marriage. Eberstadt, observing the trend, wrote up an analysis, “What Does Woman Want: The war between sexless,” published in the October 2009 of First Things.
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