First Things Podcast

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.