We begin a new series based on our 2010 book, Keeping Our Republic: Principles for a Political Reformation, by reviewing the first principle discussed, equality. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss the arrival of summer in Colorado and New Jersey. Introducing Keeping Our Republic (2:17) - We discuss the vision behind Keeping Our Re...
Jun 21, 2025•52 min•Season 4Ep. 9
We review the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term and talk about the origins and trajectory of the Trump coalition. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:54) - We discuss Dave’s recent visit to Green Bay for the NFL draft. President Trump’s First 100 Days (2:27) - We respond to President Trump’s speech marking the end of the first 100 day...
May 03, 2025•53 min•Season 4Ep. 8
We discuss the case for and against President Trump’s tariffs in the broader context of American economic and moral prosperity. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We talk about spring skiing and avoiding mishap on the slopes Tariffs in Context (2:28) - We discuss the historical and philosophical context of President Trump’s tariff with help ...
Apr 12, 2025•46 min•Season 4Ep. 7
We continue our discussion of the first 100 days of President Trump’s second administration by focusing on his plans for the Department of Education and a program for education reform. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:54) - We discuss the arrival of March weather and March Madness. Ending the Department of Education? (2:03) - We discuss Presiden...
Mar 22, 2025•42 min•Season 4Ep. 6
We continue our examination of the first 100 days of the second Trump Administration by discussing the constitutional and political questions around DOGE. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss what we did last week in light of Elon Musk’s email to federal employees asking them the same and the overall question of government accountab...
Mar 01, 2025•40 min•Season 4Ep. 5
We begin our examination of the first 100 days of the second Trump Administration by discussing his use of executive power. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:52) - We catch up after a mid-winter break from the show. The Constitutional Executive (1:12) - We discuss the difference between a constitutional “energetic” executive and an imperial presi...
Feb 08, 2025•44 min•Season 4Ep. 4
We discuss Americans’ suspicion of experts, its connection to elite institutions, and its application to creating a sensible intelligence-gathering regime, guided by the writings of the late Dr. Angelo Codevilla. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss plans for Thanksgiving. The Failure of the Elites (1:58) - We discuss the sources of...
Dec 04, 2024•44 min•Season 4Ep. 3
The people have spoken…and we’re back for a post-election recap. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We revisit our election predictions and discuss our evenings watching the returns come in. 2016 v. 2024 (4:13) - We discuss the significance of President Trump’s victory in the context of 200 years of Democratic Party focus on the popular vote...
Nov 16, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 2
After 2 ½ years away, we come back for a special election preview episode. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We talk about our new jobs and new homes in new states and speculate about the popular demand for more DIA-Today. A New Consensus? (6:36) - We discuss the broader context of another very close presidential election and what it would ...
Nov 02, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 1
We conclude season three by reflecting on the influence of music in shaping the soul and the city from the very end of Aristotle’s Politics. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss the challenges of finding peace in a fallen world in light of the school shooting in southwest Texas and the conclusion of the scho...
May 28, 2022•32 min•Season 3Ep. 34
We discuss Aristotle’s account of the relationship between education and the regime and the state of public and private education today. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss end-of-the-year traditions at Geneva and Matt’s old school in New Hampshire. Required Reading (4:30) - We consider the opening chapters...
May 21, 2022•31 min•Season 3Ep. 33
We continue our discussion of the conditions necessary for Aristotle’s best regime, reflecting on his account of the public consequences of family life. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss the graduation ceremony at King’s, the arrival of spring in New York, and Geneva senior theses. Required Reading (3:59)...
May 14, 2022•32 min•Season 3Ep. 32
We continue our discussion of the conditions necessary for Aristotle’s best regime, reflecting on the inculcation of virtue and the means and ends of the American regime. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss graduation week at King’s and the possibility of Roe v. Wade finally being overturned by the Supreme ...
May 07, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 31
We continue our discussion of the conditions necessary for Aristotle’s best regime with special focus on a robust public life. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss the virtues of Administrative Assistants on their Hallmark Holiday. Required Reading (1:43) - We reflect on chapters 8-12 of Book VII of Aristotl...
Apr 30, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 30
We discuss the population and geographic circumstances that lead to the best regime and the remarkable blessings enjoyed by the United States. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss our Easter weekends, the last weeks of the school year, and the end of the public transportation mask mandate. Required Reading (...
Apr 23, 2022•31 min•Season 3Ep. 29
We discuss Aristotle’s account of happiness for the individual and the nation and the fundamental debate over the nature of the best life in the light of Christ’s death and resurrection. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss the Easter season and the first week of the baseball season. Required Reading (3:16) ...
Apr 16, 2022•41 min•Season 3Ep. 28
We discuss Aristotle’s account of the best and worst oligarchies and the progressive development of the American national government. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:52) - We discuss the start of the baseball season and another round of terrible NCAA tournament picks. Required Reading (4:15) - We reflect on Book VI, cha...
Apr 09, 2022•30 min•Season 3Ep. 27
We discuss the four kinds of democracy and the importance of understanding the nature of one’s own regime to be an excellent citizen or statesman. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss the coming of April and our disastrous NCAA tournament picks. Required Reading (2:45) - We reflect on the four types of democ...
Apr 02, 2022•31 min•Season 3Ep. 26
We reflect on how different institutional structures, laws, and economic ways of life affect the character of a regime. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:52) - We discuss Dave’s family vacation in Florida among the college student Spring Breakers. Required Reading (2:36) - We discuss the first three chapters of Book VI of...
Mar 19, 2022•32 min•Season 3Ep. 25
We reflect on Aristotle’s critique of Plato’s account of regime change and the possibility of political reform in a fallen world. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:52) - We discuss the successes of Geneva’s girls winter sports teams, Matt’s modest Spring Break plans, and the renewed hope for a full baseball season. Requir...
Mar 12, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 24
We apply Aristotle’s discussion of kings and tyrants to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the leaders of the two sides. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:52) - We talk about the cancellation of the first week of baseball season and Matt’s decision criteria for choosing a good graduate school. Required Reading (4:07) - W...
Mar 05, 2022•36 min•Season 3Ep. 23
We discuss Aristotle’s account of regime preservation, with a focus on education and the key qualities of statesmen. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:52) - We reflect on our Super Bowl picks and talk about Dave accidentally calling Matt from a Geneva girls basketball game. Required Reading (3:29) - We discuss the means o...
Feb 26, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 22
We discuss Aristotle’s account of revolution in democracies, oligarchies, and aristocracies. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:52) - We talk about the transition from football season to baseball season and Geneva’s upcoming Daddy-Daughter dance. Required Reading (3:20) - We begin with reflections on the role of the demago...
Feb 12, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 21
We discuss Aristotle’s account of the causes of revolution and the contempt of contemporary elites for those they govern. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:52) - We talk cold and Covid in New York, Tom Brady’s retirement, and the NFL playoffs. Required Reading (5:00) - We look at Aristotle’s account of the origins of revo...
Feb 05, 2022•36 min•Season 3Ep. 20
We discuss the introduction to Aristotle’s account of revolution in Book V of The Politics and consider its implications for the 2024 presidential race. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We talk about the disappointing end to the Patriots’ and back-to-school at Geneva and King’s. Required Reading (3:37) - We conside...
Jan 22, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 19
We reflect on President Biden’s voting rights speech and vaccine mandate in light Aristotle’s teaching on the functions of legislative, executive, and judicial offices. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:52) - We talk about our Christmas breaks, Omicron, and Dave’s state-of-the-school address. Required Reading (5:18) - We ...
Jan 15, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 18
We discuss Aristotle’s account of the best regime for most places, a mixed regime balancing the excellencies of oligarchy and democracy. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We look forward to Christmas break and talk about the new Corbin dog, Tex, and his relations with Tenny, the original Corbin dog. Required Reading...
Dec 18, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 17
We discuss Aristotle’s reflections on the best and worst sorts of democracy and oligarchy. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:54) - We discuss the Patriots’ big Monday night win over the Bills, the prospects for a Patriots-Bucs Super Bowl, and conspiracy theories around Bill Belichick’s pregame Navy facemask. Required Read...
Dec 11, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 16
We discuss how hyperpartisanship threatens the stability of a republic and the temptation for Christians to emphasize political attachments over their commitment to Christ. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss our day-before-Thanksgiving challenges on the roads and at the dentist’s office. Required Reading (...
Dec 04, 2021•34 min•Season 3Ep. 15
We discuss Aristotle’s four ways of thinking about the best regime and Harry Jaffa’s case for (the principles of) the American founding as the best practical regime. Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia . Used with permission. Opening (0:53) - We discuss kid birthday celebrations, the New England Patriots’ recent success, and the Publius Posse’s big fantasy f...
Nov 20, 2021•35 min•Season 3Ep. 14
