The American Mind

Mrs. Pelosi Visits Taiwan

In a move that predictably has China perturbed, Nancy Pelosi is in Taiwan on a state visit to “reaffirm allies” in the South China Sea, triggering fears of WWIII (again) across the Twitterverse. But does anyone really want an armed conflict with China? And even if they did, would our “yassified” armed forces be up to the task? Meanwhile, the Tavistock Clinic, a gender clinic in the UK, has been ordered to shut down over child abuse concerns, and a Swedish health council has recommended no longer...

Tenure Trouble ft. Professor Amy Wax

Woke academics are trying to tear down the last barriers against total ideological conformity. Seth and Spencer are joined by Professor Amy Wax, who has ample firsthand experience of witch hunts in the academy and recommendations for change. Meanwhile, monkeypox is on the rise in New York among a certain group of people who apparently shall not be named. And the Biden administration is trying to fudge the definition of recession, so they won’t have to admit we’re in one.

Imaginary Martyrdom

A religion of fantasy requires imaginary martyrs. So this week we were treated to the spectacle of AOC and other members of Congress pretending to be handcuffed for the cameras. But that’s just the beginning of the rabbit hole. Wikipedia is being edited to conform with woke piety, and Merriam-Webster has added a new definition to “woman.” Plus: at least 163 billion dollars of COVID relief money (your tax dollars, that is) was stolen, but elites are betting on the public to just forget about it. ...

Inflated Dollars, Deflated Souls ft. Elizabeth Haney

Inflation topped out at over 9% this month, which both exceeded the expected 8.8%, and poses huge issues for everyday Americans. From the working class to the not-so-working class, people are coping, or something like it, by deadening their senses and hoping it will all go away. Some believe transhumanism is the answer, but we need stronger medicine to save our souls. Plus: new video shows Hunter Biden at the extremes of depravity. Our editors, joined by Claremont’s new major gifts officer, Eliz...

Consciousness Raising

The Dutch government has limited emissions so severely that many farmers will have no choice but to stop farming. The farmers, unsurprisingly, are not happy—turns out kulaks, awkwardly enough, don’t like to be liquidated. Meanwhile, the Dobbs case is starting to animate state politics and will test just how red the red states are. Plus: is trans language shoving women out of the Overton Window?

Full Court Press

The Supreme Court has handed down ruling after glorious ruling, most notably overturning Roe and Casey in their landmark abortion case, but also defending the right to bear arms in self defense and the right to free expression of religion. Is gutting the administrative state next? Plus: the latest from Impeachment Part III, the Revenge (i.e., the January 6 hearings).

Reparation Nation?

The Biden Administration seems determined to make good on its promise to put “equity” at the center of all it does, prompting the editors to wonder how much daylight there is between equality of outcomes, race-based reparations, and a total restructuring of American society. But will voters—and in particular those minorities not singled out for favored status—go for it? Meanwhile: a new Supreme Court decision on religious liberty, and disturbing revelations about the Uvalde shooting.

Artificial Idols ft. Matt Peterson

Ted Cruz grills the FBI on its potential participation in January 6, as Insurrection Hearing: The Musical Showtime Extravaganza drags on. Meanwhile, Google’s AI chatbot has some things to say about the soul that sound suspiciously like a Silicon Valley guru’s wish fulfillment fantasy. Plus: Matt Peterson joins the show to talk about so-called “blue locusts” and how to keep red states red.

Everything is Fake

There is a God-shaped hole in the American soul. We’re not going to fill it with tech, or entertainment, or drugs, or violence--but lots of people might try. Big Tech wants the bots to whisper sweet nothings at you, others are on a quest to worship the ultimate superdrug, and still others would simply burn the system down just to feel something . Our editors discuss how we can come back down to reality.

Will the Internet Eat the World?

Social media has proven unsustainable as a digital way of life, plunging many internet moguls into an identity crisis. As we enter the age of Web3, it seems some regimes are doubling down on managed decline…but will others find a better way forward? Meanwhile, the verdict is in on Depp v. Heard , but the important takeaway is how far celebrity cachet—much like the cachet of every other special identity marker—has fallen in the Digital Age.

The Crime of Noticing

Eighteen-year-old Salvador Ramos opened fire in an Uvalde, TX elementary school in a horrific act of violence. Naturally the political firefighting began within minutes, and Congressional Democrats made gun control the order of the day. But is there really a political solution to the evil we’re up against? Meanwhile, is humor the antidote to the woke revolution, or just a temporary escape valve? And what on earth is going on with monkeypox? Our editors, joined by Matt Peterson, break it down....

How to be a Conservative Online

This week, a deranged young man killed ten people in Buffalo, New York. While pointing fingers at Tucker Carlson and the Right, the legacy media is actively feeding the public disinformation. Speaking of disinformation, the Dept. of Homeland Security's Ministry of Truth is being put on the backburner, but it's unlikely we've heard the last of federal censorship. Plus: is Claremont behind... everything ?! Spoiler alert: no. But we are having fun.

Fake Money, Real Poverty | The Roundtable Ep. 119

Inflation hovers near record highs at 8.3%, the debt skyrockets out of control, and even talking about it can feel like it’s making the problem worse. It gets harder every day even to conceptualize the extent of the economy itself, let alone make moves to counteract its myriad dysfunctions. Meanwhile, Trump is emerging as GOP kingmaker…and more? Spencer and James discuss the failures of central planning from financial markets to digital media platforms, and the hope for a new kind of federalism ...

Red Rover, Red Rover, Turn Roe v. Wade Over | The Roundtable Ep. 118

In a leak unprecedented in modern history, Justice Samuel Alito’s draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade has been published by Politico . But the leak is only part of the story. If Roe really is overruled, the political landscape of America’s states will be more important than ever. Our editors, joined by both Matt Peterson and Helen Roy, have thoughts on the logic of the draft decision, as well as where we go from here.

Do You Know the Enemy? ft. Glenn Ellmers | The Roundtable Ep. 117

The Know Your Enemy podcast recently accused Claremont of misunderstanding the old civil war, and irresponsibly predicting--or perhaps yearning for--a new one. The editors respond with the help of special guest Glenn Ellmers, Claremont Scholar and author of The Soul of Politics , a book on Claremont’s intellectual godfather Harry V. Jaffa. Plus: Elon Musk officially bought Twitter and conservatives are noticing that they’re being unshackled from shadow suppression. But who is Elon Musk and does ...

Libs of The Cathedral | The Roundtable Ep. 116

Disney is at risk of losing its self-governing fiefdom in Florida after coming for Ron DeSantis over his Parents’ Rights bill. Meanwhile, Taylor Lorenz doxxed the owner of the Libs of TikTok account for the crime of doing journalism and showing parents what radical teachers are saying. Plus: Tucker Carlson is bringing right-wing digital vitalism to the older Right.

Technocracy in America | The Roundtable Ep. 115

Wouldn't it be great if a nameless technocrat could force you to starve inside your home because they support the current thing and you don't? Oh, and they can both monitor and preach at you with drones. It's happening in Shanghai right now over COVID and a developing online hivemind is drooling at the prospect for the West. But is a hive inevitable? Meanwhile, a horrendous shooting in New York has grim implications for the public’s collective psyche, and Elon Musk is seemingly gearing up to buy...

Ruble, Ruble, Toil and Truble | The Roundtable Ep. 114

Won't somebody, please, anybody, shake hands with Joe Biden? Apparently not, as Obama's visit to the White House focuses all the attention immediately back on Barack. One wonders who is in control, and what the regime's endgame is. Meanwhile the effort to crush the ruble doesn't seem to be working very well. Plus: the editors discuss the merits of "OK, groomer."

Ok, Groomer | The Roundtable Ep. 113

The Left isn’t trying to groom your six-year-old in school, you conspiracy theorist. On an unrelated note, Disney has created a task force to do exactly that as an end run around Florida’s explicit ban on discussing sex with kindergarteners. How can and should the Right respond? Meanwhile, California is seemingly trying to legalize killing newborns. The editors discuss whether to take a white or black pill as the culture war accelerates apace.

You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman | The Roundtable Ep. 112

What is a woman? Whatever Joe Biden says it is, bigot. Even Supreme Court nominees can no longer state the painfully obvious: the fog of woke religion obscures all. Meanwhile, the Hunter Biden laptop story is now officially real news. It’s a little late, but oh well--water under the bridge! The editors discus transhumanist tecnho-fervor at home, and liberal imperialism abroad.

Federal Gaslighting | The Roundtable Ep. 111

There are no biolabs in Ukraine, and it’s good that there are. Also, it is apparently treason to discuss the issue--even though we’re not at war. How much of this is really about Ukraine, and how much has to do with punishing enemies at home? Plus: the feds have written a fascinating report about an incel shooting. Seth and Spencer discuss.

Let Them Eat Teslas | The Roundtable Ep. 110

Biden bans Russian oil imports, driving already-high gas prices to their highest point ever and aggravating America’s existing inflation crisis. But Biden, Buttigieg, and prominent Democrats have a solution: just don’t be such a gas-guzzling pleb. Thanks, Joe! Meanwhile, the feds are looking into a centralized cryptocurrency that they could use to trace every transaction—and shut you out of if they don’t like you. Plus: the gender madness continues--but the Right can win. Our editors discuss....

The Stakes: Trajectory of Tyranny

In this edition of The Stakes, Michael Anton, lecturer in politics and research fellow at Hillsdale College’s Kirby Center, and a Claremont senior fellow, is joined by Charles Haywood of The Worthy House. The two analyze the situation in Ukraine from both sides, ultimately siding with Ukraine. Plus: between Australia’s ruthless police crackdown on its citizens and Canada’s violent crackdown on the Freedom Convoy, the West is in a bleak state. Is there any reason to hope for a brighter future?...

State of Disorder | The Roundtable Ep. 109

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is intensifying. Ukraine’s freedom and millions of lives hang in the balance as the West implements increasingly punitive measures against Russia and its officials. Back in the States, Biden gave his first State of the Union Address. Through stammered speech, he said the US will stay out of the Ukraine invasion—for now. The editors examine the potential geopolitical consequences of both Biden’s policies and Russia’s aggression.

Whose World Order? | The Roundtable Ep. 108

At time of recording, Vladimir Putin had ordered soldiers into two separatist regions of Ukraine—he had not yet launched what is now a full-scale war. The European order looks precarious, and our political establishment looks all too eager to throw American lives into the maelstrom. To what end? Seth and Spencer discuss the internal decay of America and Canada as authoritarianism advances across the globe.

Spiritual War | The Roundtable Ep. 107

In Canada, truckers protesting a vaccine mandate have been denied funds from online crowdsourcing platforms in two different ways, raising the question: what is it going to take to preserve our natural rights on the new digital frontier? Meanwhile, democrats change their tune on mask mandates just in time for an election year, and our editors discuss the fight for truth against CRT in the Christian church and university.

Don’t Say Don’t Say Gay | The Roundtable Ep. 106

The Stakes: Thoughts on Machiavelli

In this edition of The Stakes , Michael Anton, lecturer in politics and research fellow at Hillsdale College’s Kirby Center, and a Claremont senior fellow, is joined by Michael Millerman, founder of the Millerman School. The two discuss Strauss' complicated yet rewarding book, Thoughts on Machiavelli . Other topics include: whether and to what extent Machiavelli is a philosopher, how to read Machiavelli's writings effectively, and what wisdom Machiavelli had to offer that is still helpful in our...

The Honkening ft. Peachy Keenan | The Roundtable Ep. 105

This week, truckers in Ottowa took to the streets in protest of Trudeau’s newest vaccine mandates. Trudeau responded by promptly catching COVID himself, and accusing the truckers of every imaginable evil. Meanwhile, stateside, Whoopi Goldberg thinks Jews are just white, which got her suspended by ABC--should we care? Plus: Peachy Keenan joins the show throughout and answers your mailbag questions!

Reverse Renaissance | The Roundtable Ep. 104

Jordan Peterson announces his resignation from his tenured academic post, and Justice Breyer’s retirement is leaked. The reverse renaissance in the West accelerates with deadly speed in the arts and sciences marked by the destruction of merit and high art and the celebration of deceitful propaganda. Will the ruthless and world historic Lady MacBeth finally will her way to power? Our editors make their predictions about a possible Breyer-Kamala-Hillary parlay and encourage the creativity of a pir...