Acton Unwind

This week, Eric is joined first by Justin Brierley to discuss his essay in the Summer 2024 issue of Religion & Liberty, “The ‘God' of the ‘Philosophers,’” a review of the book “Philosophers on God: Talking about Existence,” edited by Jack Symes. Then Eric is joined by Dylan and Dave to discuss the current state of America and the Constitution in the wake of the country’s 248th birthday. They then turn their attention to the recent elections in the United Kingdom and France to wonder if there’s any theme, like anti-establishment/anti-incumbency, that ties it all together.

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The “God” of the “Philosophers” | Justin Brierley, Religion & Liberty

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The Dream of Scalable Democracy | Dylan Pahman, Law & Liberty 

5 Takeaways from France’s Snap Election | New York Times

Keir Starmer confirmed as Britain’s new prime minister after Labour Party’s decisive win | NBC News

This week, Eric, Anthony, and Emily are joined by Aaron Pomerantz, a post-doctoral research fellow at Rice University who specializes in conspiracy theories. They begin by discussing the first presidential debate through the lens of an observation by Anthony: that what we’re seeing is people caring more about politics than about Joe Biden’s well-being. Then Aaron shares his thoughts on why conspiracy theories still abound in this election and in modern society. And finally, the Supreme Court overturned Chevron deference. What will this mean for representative governance and the rule of law?

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Video of the Presidential Debate

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories | Acton Line

Can Americans Learn to Trust Again? | Christine Rosen, Religion & Liberty

Supreme Court Overturns the Chevron Doctrine | The Morning Dispatch

This week, Eric, Dan, and Dylan are joined by AEI’s Christine Rosen to discuss her cover essay for the Summer edition of Religion & Liberty, "Can Americans Learn to Trust Again?” Why has social trust eroded in America, and what can be done to restore it? Then, would warning labels on social media like we have on cigarettes protect children, or anyone, from its harms? And finally, Cornerstone University here in Grand Rapids has laid off its humanities and music faculty, in addition to making other cuts. Is Christian higher education in a crisis?

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Can Americans Learn to Trust Again? | Christine Rosen, Religion & Liberty

Christine Rosen | American Enterprise Institute

Surgeon General: Why I’m Calling for a Warning Label on Social Media Platforms | Vivek Murthy, New York Times

Decay and Reform in Christian Higher Education | Dylan Pahman, Acton Institute

This week, Eric, Noah, and Emily discuss the secret recording of SCOTUS Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito. What will be the long-term consequences of these attacks on the legitimacy of the Supreme Court—one of the few institutions left that Americans still have faith in? Next, actor-director Rob Reiner has co-produced a new documentary on the threat of Christian Nationalism. Noah discusses his review of the film and if there’s any there there. And finally, former President Donald Trump proposed eliminating the federal income tax and replacing it with import tariffs to raise revenue. Bad idea? Or the worst idea?

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Filmmaker who recorded Alito, Roberts says she did it ‘in service of a public good’ | NPR

The Smear Campaign Against Justice Alito | National Review

A Christian Nationalist on Every Corner? | Noah Gould, Acton Institute

The Will to Power Is Not the Christian Way | Jonathan Clark, Acton Institute

Can Trump Eliminate the Income Tax? Maybe with an 85% Tariff | Forbes

This week, Eric, Dan, and David discuss the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation/Ticketmaster. Is there anything the federal government can do to appease unhappy Taylor Swift fans who couldn’t get tickets to the Eras Tour? And, more importantly, is Live Nation literally a monopoly? Next, the United States’ trade deficit surged by 9% in April. Does it matter? How concerned should we be with the balance of trade between the United States and the rest of the world? And finally, the guys break down the election results in India and Europe. Are we all in our populist era?

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U.S. Calls for Breakup of Ticketmaster Owner | New York Times 

The Myth of the Robber Barons: A New Look at the Rise of Big Business in America | Burton W. Folsom

Trade deficit jumps to 18-month high, but rise in imports is ‘good news’ for economy | Marketwatch

Trade Deficits: Accounting Masquerading as Economics | David Hebert, AIER

Relying on coalition partners, Modi is sworn in for a rare third term as India’s prime minister | Associated Press

Far-right gains in the EU election deal stunning defeats to France’s Macron and Germany’s Scholz | Associated Press

This week, Eric and Dan are joined by Jeffrey Polet to discuss his essay in the Spring 2024 issue of Religion & Liberty, “The Teacher as Prophet: John Dewey’s Liberating Education.” How did Dewey’s vision shape education in America and how is he still influential today? Next, Emily joins the conversation about Kansas City Chiefs placekicker Harrison Butker’s commencement address heard ’round the web. In what ways did it miss the mark? Are there any positive lessons we can take from it? Then, does Apple want to crush all your creative things? A new ad for the iPad Pro suggests yes, but only if you’re hyper-literal. And finally, what does the lewd and inappropriate behavior at The Portal art installation connecting New York City and Dublin, Ireland, reveal about human behavior?

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The Teacher as Prophet: John Dewey’s Liberating Education | Jeffrey Polet, Religion & Liberty

Harrison Butker’s Benedictine College Commencement Address | National Catholic Register

Harrison Butker Misses the Point | Haley Strack, National Review

Crush! Apple iPad Pro Ad

Dublin–New York portal reopens with set hours | BBC

This week, Eric and Noah are joined by Acton’s Dan Hugger to discuss his essay in the Spring 2024 issue of Religion & Liberty, “The Rambler and the Transformative Power of Magazines.” Why, even in an age of digital publishing, have print magazines endured? Then the group looks at legislation that has recently moved in Congress to add a definition of anti-Semitism to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If we acknowledge that anti-Semitism is a problem on college campuses, is this the best way to address it? And finally, Oklahoma’s charter school board has approved a Catholic charter school. We don’t yet know if this is legal, but is it a wise move by proponents of religious education?

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The Rambler and the Transformative Power of Magazines | Dan Hugger, Religion & Liberty

The End of Democracy? The Judicial Usurpation of Politics | First Things

The Paper of Record Meets an Ephemeral Web: An Examination of Linkrot and Content Drift within The New York Times | SSRN

House passes bill to expand definition of antisemitism amid growing campus protests over Gaza war | Associated Press

First Religious Charter School Sparks Legal, Philosophical Battles | Wall Street Journal

This week, Eric, Anthony, and Emily are joined by Gene Edward Veith to discuss his essay “Sheen and Maier: Broadcasting Theology,” which explores the broadcast ministries of Fulton J. Sheen and Walter A. Maier. Then, are frat bros the heroes we’ve been waiting for, pushing back on the radical protests on elite college campuses and defending the American flag? And finally, Florida has banned lab-grown meat. Is there anything more to this than protection for the traditional meat industries? 

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Sheen and Maier: Broadcasting Theology | Gene Edward Veith, Religion & Liberty

UNC frat brothers who defended US flag speak out: 'Deeply important to us’ | The Daily Mail

Flag-Protecting Frat Brothers Have Plans for $500K in Donations | Newsweek

Heroic Fraternities: How College Men Can Save Universities and America | Anthony B. Bradley

‘We Will Save Our Beef’: Florida Bans Lab-Grown Meat | The New York Times

This week, Eric, Dylan, and Dan are joined by Karen Swallow Prior to discuss her essay in the new Spring 2024 issue of Religion & Liberty, “Who Will Comfort Me? The Total Care of Cicely Saunders” and issues of, literally, life and death. Then Eric, Dylan, and Dan discuss the place of free markets within the conservative movement and how college administrations should be dealing with the protest encampments being established on their campuses.

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Who Will Comfort Me? The Total Care of Cicely Saunders | Karen Swallow Prior, Religion & Liberty

The Conservative Movement Is Defending Free Markets — from Both Sides | Erick Erickson, National Review

Heritage Foundation’s Wesley Coopersmith’s Response

Karl Polanyi's Battle with Economic History | Alex Nowrasteh, Libertarianism.org

Texas Gov. Abbott faces backlash after mass arrest at UT Austin pro-Palestine protest | The Hill

UF threatens student protesters with suspension, banishment from campus for 3 years | WUFT

This week, Eric, Dan, and Emily discuss the death of O.J. Simpson and examine how the combination of his celebrity and his criminal trial launched a thousand cultural ships, including reality TV, true-crime obsession, and the 24/7 news cycle. Next, Belgian politicians tried to shut down the National Conservatism Conference, only to have it saved by liberal institutions. Oh, the irony. And finally, what can we learn from NPR senior business editor Uri Berliner’s piece at The Free Press accusing NPR of losing its journalistic integrity?

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O.J. Simpson, Football Star Whose Trial Riveted the Nation, Dies at 76 | New York Times

Europe’s hard-right bags big win after ‘own goal’ by Brussels mayors | Politico

Brussels Mayor Attempts to Shut Down National Conservatism Conference by Force | Stephanie Slade, Reason

What I Saw at the National Conservatism Conference | Dan Hugger, Religion & Liberty

National Conservatism One Year Later | Dan Hugger, Religion & Liberty

I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust. | Uri Berliner, The Free Press