The American Mind Podcast

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60 Days to End the War Jun 24, 2026

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The United States and the Iranian regime have signed a 14-point memo of understanding, establishing a 60-day window to negotiate the war's end. To work out the details—which include an end to sanctions and international monitoring of Iran’s uranium—J.D. Vance met with Iran’s diplomats in Switzerland, while Secretary Marco Rubio is slated to confer with Middle Eastern allies this week. Meanwhile, U.K. prime minister Keir Starmer has resigned amid a breakdown of government trust, sparked by the Labour government’s failure to take immigration and related crime seriously.

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The Right's Media Problem—And How to Fix It Jun 18, 2026

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com

The Left has controlled America's media institutions for decades, setting the political narrative and driving policy behind the scenes. How can the Right fight back? Claremont Washington Fellow Matthew Peterson argues that conservatives must shed the underdog mindset and compete for mainstream legitimacy. Plus: How marketing is the key to the Right's counter-revolution, which Peterson outlines in "Marketing is the Message," part of his Exit Memos series on Substack.

America's Fight Night Jun 17, 2026

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A memo of understanding between the United States and Iran is reportedly taking shape, laying the groundwork for a potential deal that includes $300 billion to rebuild Iran. But can President Trump secure an agreement that serves American interests, and sell it to voters before the midterm elections? Meanwhile, Trump kicked off a summer-long America 250 celebration with a blockbuster UFC event at the White House. Plus, the guys preview upcoming Claremont essays, events, and Fourth of July reflections.

Justice Thomas’s Declaration

Nationalism, Universalism, and the Declaration

How the Declaration Can Unite a Divided Nation

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Aliens in America Jun 11, 2026

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President Trump ordered the public release of images that may depict alien starcraft last month, prompting a wave of fresh speculation about "disclosure." Following the latest information, and the coming release of Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi film Disclosure Day, Ryan Williams and Spencer Klavan discuss the presence of aliens in the public psyche...and on Earth?? Plus: questions of free will, faith, and more!

America's Privileged Class – The Press, Libel, and Defamation Jun 10, 2026

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Having departed from the founders' understanding of libel, the Supreme Court of today declines to protect the reputation of public figures—a gap that has been abused by the press to run unfounded narratives. Author of No Liberty to Libel Carson Holloway joins the hosts this week to trace the morphing values of the 19th and 20th centuries, and to advocate a restoration of older principles. Meanwhile, Spencer Pratt narrowly lost to Democratic Socialist Nithya Raman in the L.A. mayoral race following a sudden wave of mail-in ballots, highlighting California’s lax voting standards.

Is California’s Election ‘Rigged’?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Tolkien-Pilled Jun 04, 2026

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Pope Leo XIV, in his first encyclical, dropped a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Gandalf. Inspired, Ryan Williams and Spencer Klavan examine why, as other franchises become cringe, the Lord of the Rings books remain moving and important. Even despite some rough streaming adaptations, the stories pair sacred story with timeless moral lessons and unmatched world building. Ryan and Spencer rank the best—and worst—of the fantasy universe Tolkien helped inaugurate.

The Truth about Derek Chauvin Jun 03, 2026

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We all know the story: officer Derek Chauvin was making an arrest in the summer of 2020 when he supposedly killed George Floyd—and became a national hate object. This week, former federal prosecutor TJ Harker joins the hosts to detail the research that led him to conclude Chauvin is not only innocent but an American Scapegoat. After years of post-Floyd lawfare, is America now on track to heal? Meanwhile, the senatorial election in Texas rages between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico, the Left’s new “normal” guy: a football enjoyer, feminist Bible reader, and six gender believer.

The Scapegoating of Derek Chauvin, Pt. II

American Scapegoat: How a Corrupt Justice System Sacrificed Derek Chauvin to the Mob

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The Price of Drone Warfare May 28, 2026

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The landscape of battle in the last decade has drastically shifted in favor of drone warfare. In Iran and Ukraine, inexpensive drones hammer against expensive missile interceptors. If the U.S. wants to retain its advantage, this equation needs to change. This week, American Military Project director Will Thibeau discusses how U.S. policy and industry will have to adjust to prepare for the future of war. Plus: the implications of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, NATO deficiencies, and more.

Babel Bots May 27, 2026

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In his first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV addressed the prospects of AI, warning against the enduring perils of Babel. Does he have a good alternative, or just an array of managerial, transnational solutions? This week, the guys consider the first American pontiff's doctrinal approach to AI and what it means for America. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio's star rises to Kissinger-esque heights as he takes on the dual position of national security advisor and secretary of state amid the Iran War. Who might succeed Trump on the 2028 ticket—Rubio or Vance?

Can Anyone Stop JD Vance in 2028?

The Rediscovery of America, edited by Edward J. Erler and Ken Masugi

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Is the AI Backlash Here? May 21, 2026

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com

A just-released Pew Research poll revealed that a majority of Americans are concerned about the exploits of Artificial Intelligence. Just 10 percent are excited about the technology’s increased use. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt discovered this when he was loudly booed during the University of Arizona’s commencement ceremony. Is this recent backlash a grassroots protest against tone deaf corporate messaging, the fruit of a Chinese psyop, or both? Spencer Klavan and Ryan Williams discuss.

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