Listen to this chapter on any podcast app, at YouTube, at Substack, or here: Last time, we explored music as an example of how it’s possible to think meaningfully without thinking rationally. The meaning of a piece of music can make us shiver, cry, exult, or even change how we live our lives. And yet even great musicians struggle to explain that meaning. That’s not … [Read more...] about The Art of Politics: The Liberal Backbone, Chapter 14
politics
We Need to Talk About Marx: Liberal Backbone Chapter 4
Listen on any podcast app, at YouTube, or here: If you’ve been following along, you know I’m presenting the first draft my next book, The Liberal Backbone, chapter by chapter. This time, Chapter 4: “We Need to Talk About Marx.” You can also find this at Substack. I hope you’ll follow me there. Those versions have links and footnotes as well. As always, I welcome … [Read more...] about We Need to Talk About Marx: Liberal Backbone Chapter 4
The Liberal Backbone, Chapter 2: Why Nothing Makes Sense
Photo: Gregor Mima, Pixelbay (Also available at Substack.) As I said in the previous chapter, liberals can be proud of being open to multiple opinions. But sometimes openness can look like emptiness, as if you stand for nothing at all. It’s hard to stand for something if you’re not even sure what that something is. And many liberals have become unsure what … [Read more...] about The Liberal Backbone, Chapter 2: Why Nothing Makes Sense
The Liberal Backbone
Ever since I published my book Patriots of Two Nations in 2020, I’ve been working on another one — a much bigger one, as it’s turned out. And I’m still working on that big book. But with American democracy facing its greatest crisis since the Civil War as a corrupt autocrat returns to the presidency, I want to do my part, however small, to help right now. So I’m going to … [Read more...] about The Liberal Backbone
Mike Madrid on The Latino Century
Listen to this episode with Apple Podcasts or any podcast app, at YouTube, or here: According to my guest this time, the United States is entering a Latino century, and that might be what saves our democracy. Mike Madrid is a top expert on Latino voting, and in recent years he’s become a national leader in the bipartisan fight to save democracy. He’s been … [Read more...] about Mike Madrid on The Latino Century