The American Mind Podcast

Trump announces a sweeping tariff regime, then pauses it for 90 days—why? As a tactic to renegotiate trade deals? To reshore manufacturing? Some combination of both? With midterms just over the horizon, the stakes of this gamble to reorient global trade are high. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court lifts District Judge Jeb Boasberg’s temporary restraining order on deporting members of the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua—what’s next?? Internment camps for U.S. citizens?? This week, the hosts weigh in on the effectiveness of the recent tariffs, recount Justice Sotomayor’s ridiculous dissent, and touch on the limp, confused effort by the Left to protest. Plus: media and reading recommendations! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Attempting to retroactively set the narrative of U.S. involvement in Ukraine on behalf of the intelligence community, journalist Adam Entous of the New York Times has painfully revealed in his latest piece the utter inability of the Deep State to accept reality at home and abroad. The hosts are joined this week by Claremont senior fellow Jeremy Carl to read between the lines and unpack the previous administration’s obfuscating of wartime details, now made clear, and the turn of public opinion thereafter—and the stalking shadow of nuclear threats, more real than initially predicted. Plus: A discussion of the Trump Administration’s early successes, its new approach to tariffs, and the Left’s unhinged response. And more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Atlantic reporter Jeff Goldberg was mistakenly added to a national security group chat, leading to a DC media feeding frenzy—is there anything of substance to be gleaned from this goof? Meanwhile, Jay Bhattacharya—an early opponent of the 2020 lockdowns—was confirmed by the Senate to direct the National Institutes of Health, hopefully marking a turn back to sound health policy. This week, the guys talk through messaging and operations security, Biden-era censorship, plummeting egg prices, and more! Plus: a round of reading recommendations. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

You’re fired. Trump, by executive order, has moved to terminate federal contracts with law firm Perkins Coie for its role in promoting the 2016 Russiagate conspiracy and otherwise influencing elections—sparking fervorous debate in and across the aisle. Meanwhile, the administration invoked the emergency powers of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport members of the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, provoking an activist judge to obstruct the law’s use. Who rules: Congress or courts? The hosts sit down to discuss these ongoing legal battles in government, real battles abroad, and the absurd responses from the Left across the board. Plus, more media recommendations! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

First, they came for the green card-holding terror groupies—then they came for...us? Not exactly. But the recent detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University protest organizer who fought "for the total eradication of Western Civilization," has prompted cries of fascism. Again. Meanwhile, California governor Gavin Newsom sheds his skin and snakes his way toward the center of the political spectrum: best not be fooled! This week, the guys discuss the antisemitic venom poisoning some young right-wingers, the ongoing disarray of Democrats; and more! Plus: a batch of media recommendations. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The Trump administration’s approach to governance presents an opening for a new federalism to take hold. States may now be incentivized to aggressively take charge of education; ambitiously compete for businesses planting themselves in the U.S. due to tariffs; and cut oppressive regulatory red tape. Rounding out the Cincinnatus Series, Ryan Williams sits down with Scott Yenor, Jeffrey Anderson, and Jim Blew to discuss strategies and tools available to policymakers to facilitate economic development, capitalize on the shrinking administrative state, and more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

In his first address to Congress, President Trump goaded Democrats into a limp, performative resistance while he rattled off an impressive list of achievements. Previously, at the White House, Trump had met with Ukrainian President Zelensky in a dramatic confrontation that ultimately helped improve Trump’s position in negotiations over rare earth minerals in exchange for military aid. The guys give their takes on the historic political theater of the past week, discuss the ongoing economic and immigration crises, and share more media recommendations! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Silicon Valley elites have pushed school-provided tablets and phones into K-12 schools, replacing textbooks, real human interaction, and traditional education, undermining children's ability to focus—and parents' power to regulate screentime. Guests Scott Yenor, Frederick Hess, and Clare Morell sit down with host Ryan Williams to consider the limited pros and many cons of devices in the classroom, their disruptive effect in school settings and on learning outcomes, and provide insight into how states and school boards may spur positive change. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The White House has taken charge of issuing press permissions, prompting wails of horror from the White House Correspondents’ Association—but who’s really compromising the media’s authority and independence? Meanwhile, Trump removes Joint Chiefs Chairman C.Q. Brown, to be replaced by retired Lieutenant General John Daniel Caine—prompting further histrionics from the military elite. The hosts discuss Trump’s legitimate authority and the resistance to it, the budget bill making its way through Congress, and the looming specter of a debt crisis—plus, more must-read article recommendations! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Following the social revolutions of decades past, liberal sex education reforms, and the devaluation of marriage, Conservatives can no longer ignore the social aspects of family life—paramount to preserving and promoting the traditional household—and must recognize the use of laws to heal our culture. Host Ryan Williams is joined by Scott Yenor, Kathleen O’Toole, and Chris Bullivant to discuss how states may empower parents to raise and school their children, boost fertility and attract young families, and close the class divide in marriage and family formation outcomes. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

After an Afghan national drove his car into a Munich crowd, J.D. Vance delivered a stern rebuke of the European ruling class. Unsustainable immigration, Islamic extremism, and censorship raise the question whether once-great nations can be relied on as true Western allies. Meanwhile back home, Democrats struggle to decouple from woke, but best not interrupt their mistakes. The guys sit down to talk foreign policy, DOGE’s popularity, and resistance 2.0—plus, recommendations for must-watch shows and must-read articles! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has presented a moral dilemma as its processes discard embryos as a matter of course, ending more lives than even abortion. Emma Waters, Natalie Dodson, and Inez Stepman join host Ryan Williams to discuss this and other concerns surrounding IVF: genetic selection, the creation of human life for profit, the potential use of AI in dictating which embryos live, and more. They also raise solutions state legislatures may consider in the process; possible consequences; and the looming, necessary conversation of bioethics and parenthood in America. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Elon Musk's DOGE continues to sweep through the bureaucratic minefields, accompanied by the howling of entrenched progressives. Legal battles are surely ahead, which many on the left equate—absurdly—with a constitutional crisis. Meanwhile, the media comes around to what was labeled right-wing conspiracy just months ago: employment data was cherry-picked before the 2024 election to deceive in favor of Biden and Kamala. The hosts discuss this ongoing realignment, a Christian intellectual revival, and a couple listener questions. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Time to tighten the belt. As federal funding scrutiny increases—and with an enrollment cliff fast approaching—state legislators, not internal experts, must take action to put universities under the microscope and ensure faculty hours equate to student academic mastery, promoting attendance. Host and Claremont Institute president Ryan Williams sits down with returning guest Scott Yenor and is joined by Frederick Hess and Beth Akers of the American Enterprise Institute to continue the discussion of how state legislatures may reshape universities, from performance funding to school choice. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Elon Musk’s DOGE helps lead an effort to pull out the rug from under Sri Lankan pronoun education, Vietnamese inclusivity programs, Bolivian transgender operas, and more—with the U.S. Agency for International Development caught in the first sweep. An outrage! Or so say leftists. In retaliation for that and more, the liberal media unearths the qualifications of Musk’s young staff, who turn out to be…educated, accomplished, and competent. Whoops. The guys sit down to talk wasteful spending and managerial efficiency, along with Christianity's role in government. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Kicking off the Cincinnatus Series, a set of six weekly Roundtable special episodes, Claremont Institute president Ryan Williams is joined by Inez Stepman, Scott Yenor, and David Azerrad to discuss leftist agendas within universities, and the opportunity for state legislatures to pull the reins and reverse course. Among the levers for dismantling the radical ideological infrastructures are the creation of state-controlled accreditation agencies, funding restrictions, and a renewed focus on student outcomes. The guests discuss these topics, potential pitfalls, and more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The uphill battle to restore common sense continues with Trump’s executive orders against gender ideology and transition for minors. Meanwhile, a rebellion against the liberal establishment takes joyous shape among normalcy-craving youth. Pinehill Capital president and We the People podcast host Gates Garcia joins the guys to discuss these vibe shifts and the extremely hinged reaction from the Left as they struggle to meet the positivity, branding, and hype of the Right. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Objective normalcy makes a comeback. In several inauguration speeches, Trump delivered a searing indictment of the elites, a symbolic rebuke to the old order, and a reassertion of American ideals. He followed this up with a barrage of executive orders, including one overturning federal affirmative action. Though these are dramatic actions in one sense, in another they’re just first steps toward restoring the founders’ principled regime. The hosts discuss the first days of Trumps term, the spillover effect of ending federal DEI programs in the private sector, and the reconsideration of birthright citizenship in the face of birth tourism and mass immigration. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The age of the normie has arrived. As Mark Zuckerberg lifts Facebook’s censorial boot off the neck of its users and moves its moderation team from California to Texas, which seems to signal a sincere tech bro realignment, America is at the dawn of a freer era. Elsewhere in the digital world, conservatives on X discuss the job market: there are two paths, bootstraps or victimhood—what will it be, young man? Plus: The hosts comment on Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing and his qualifications, as well as the DoD’s overreliance on experts. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

To kick off the new year, the guys open the mail and answer listeners’ questions on everything from cutting back the glut of unaccountable bureaucratic offices to buying Greenland. Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom and the radical conservationists of California, in attempting to create an anti-human environmentalist utopia, have tragically but predictably turned Los Angeles into a literal dumpster fire. It’s a new year, but the laws of hubris and nemesis remain undefeated. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Is that a bird, is that a plane? No, it’s drones! Or aliens? Demons? Iran? The guys take a look up in the sky and down at the public frenzy, which betokens an all-too-real breakdown of trust in government. Democrats, meanwhile, disappointed in Biden for not taking Trump-proofing seriously, float running dud-candidate Kamala again in '28. We're with her! Plus: is it gay to sleep? The hosts close out the podcast this year with a review of 2024, share their Christmas plans, and invite listeners to submit questions and comments. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The ACLU’s most deranged lawyers try to enshrine kid-transing in United States v. Skrmetti; a true domestic terrorist assassinates a healthcare CEO; and Syria’s Assad government is toppled by Islamic rebels. The editors are joined by Claremont Institute Lincoln Fellow and president of Pinehill Capital Gates Garcia to discuss the poison fruits of DEI and identity politics, the celebration of violence by the Left, and the delicate situation the U.S. faces globally as danger and uncertainty continue to rock the Middle East. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Biden tosses his son Hunter an early but unsurprising Christmas present in the form of a sweeping presidential pardon. In doing so he undermines the moral grandstanding of liberals who claim to be above the fray of political warfare. Simultaneously, and haunted by their pasts, the Democrats struggle to distance themselves from their own extreme rhetoric, administrative chicanery, and hostility to deregulation–leaving the door wide open for Trump’s team to reinvigorate government, detangle intelligence agency redundancies, and trim bureaucratic fat. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

As Biden’s lame duck administration winds down, he—or whoever's in charge—is leaving a few fun parting gifts for the incoming Trump Administration. From escalation in Ukraine, to a re-opened border surprise, to the intractable financial situation, Trump's team will have their work cut out for them. Democrat strategists, however, seem determined not to learn anything from their electoral failure, which bodes well for the future. So the editors remain optimistic—and thankful. Ryan gives a spirited reading of Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving proclamation, and the guys swap notes on holiday plans. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

With a historic second Trump presidency on the way, there's a new vista of possibility just over the horizon. Immigration, trade, and international relations are each in for a major overhaul. But amid the scramble to plan out Trump's first 100 days, there's one critical area that has largely evaded conservative attention: education. Ryan and Spencer are joined by Professor Amy Wax to unpack some of the most efficient ways a Trump administration could reform our broken system from kindergarten on up to the college level. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Trump assembles a notably youthful cabinet of swamp-draining avengers, grinding the gears of the Left. Democrats, meanwhile, face a Hobson’s choice between declining into irrelevancy and admitting they were wrong about Trump all along. Some are taking a sober look at the future while others spiral into BlueAnon conspiracy and outrage, doubling down on race politics despite its failure or getting Lysistrata-pilled and swearing off men. Good luck, we guess? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Exceeding even the most optimistic expectations, Trump swept across the states handily to the chagrin of the Harris-Walz campaign, winning both the electoral and popular votes—and becoming the second-only president to serve two, nonconsecutive terms. The editors react to the election results, the Left’s wild missteps and pending meltdown; the Trump campaign’s successes; and what his first 100 days should look like. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Joe Biden has October surprised everyone by saying what he really thinks for a change. In a pitiful effort to characterize Trump's Madison Square Garden rally as a Neo-Nazi gathering, Biden unguardedly referred to Trump supporters as "garbage." As both candidates make their closing arguments, the editors share their final thoughts on the election, the strengths of each campaign, and the dangers of a Kamala victory. These include censorship of “misinformation” and crackdowns on dissent, of the kind some New York Times reporters would love to see. Plus: An inside look at Claremont’s Sheriffs Fellowship and a 1,200-word education on American principles with James Madison. Recommended media: On Property Beyond the Polls This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Conservative-backed litigation is whittling away at the administrative state to protect the rights and decision-making power of the people. Meanwhile, liberal thinkers hyperventilate over the need for “experts,” and cast the average pleb as unworthy of having a voice. Back on the campaign trail, Trump enjoys McDonalds once again–but as a fry cook. In response, the Harris crowd goes ballistic in a very normal and hinged way. The race remains neck-and-neck, but blue cracks are beginning to show as Democrats struggle to be relevant. Recommended reading: The CRB Interview with Harvey Mansfield Can Modernity Be Fixed? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

As election season heats up, Harris loses steam in battleground states--and loses grip on support from black voters and men. After years of wishfully presenting the emasculated man as an ideal of "enlightened" masculinity, the campaign reverses course and marshals the full force of Democrat media savvy in an attempt to shame men into voting for Kamala because that's what real manhood looks like. The results are...underwhelming. Plus: Kamala’s book, Smart on Crime, is found to be low on rigor and full of rampant plagiarism, not that anyone ever thought she wrote it. All the same, none of this is a great look for the VP. Is the tide turning? Recommended reading: Ta-Nehisi Coates and the Crying Staffers of CBS This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Trump was back in Butler this week after a failed assassination attempt there—and joining him on-stage this time was none other than Elon Musk. But will MAGA Musk last? Meanwhile, Kamala Harris has been giggling her way through a few shows and podcasts, notably including the crude and awkward chat pod, Call Her Daddy. The editors discuss Harris’s many faceplants, the potential of the pod-bro vote, and the signs that Democrats may be worried by the polls. Recommended media: Mr. X Identity in the Trenches: The Fatal Impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on U.S. Military Readiness Winter 2023/24 Review with Charles Kesler This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Seth Barron returns to the podcast to discuss Tuesday’s rousing VP Debate, in which a silver-tongued J.D. Vance thoroughly trounced a sputtering and nervous Tim Walz. Will it matter at all? Meanwhile, the world collapses in on the giant power vacuum left by America’s absent president, as Hurricane Helene ravages six states and Iran launches missiles at Israel. Plus: immigration expert Todd Bensman gives his firsthand account of the shocking immigration debacle in Colombia, and what the Trump team ought to be doing about it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

In today's special edition of The Roundtable, Ryan Williams, President of the Claremont Institute interviews Vivek Ramaswamy about his latest book "Truths: The Future of America First." Buy the book here. In "Truths: The Future of America First," Ramaswamy shows exactly how honesty about the most important issues will get our country back on track. The America First movement emphasizes the issues that bring us together, not what divides us. It asks that we put our country over politics, merit over grievance, and truth over lies. Ramaswamy tells us the truth about our political system, and the people who control it, and exhorts us to exercise our right to self-governance again. Vivek is an American business leader and New York Times bestselling author of "Woke, Inc.," as well as "Nation of Victims," "Capitalist Punishment," and most recently "Truths: The Future of America First." Left leaning media has called him one of the “intellectual godfathers of the anti-woke movement” (Politico) and the “right’s leading anti-ESG crusader” (Axios and Bloomberg). He was dubbed “The C.E.O. of Anti-Woke,” by The New Yorker. Vivek is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Roivant Sciences. He is a former U.S. Presidential Candidate (R). He was born in Cincinnati to Indian parents. In high school he was class valedictorian, a nationally ranked junior tennis player and an accomplished pianist. He lives in Ohio with his wife and two sons. Learn more about Vivek Ramaswamy's work here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Not even two months after the first assassination attempt against him, President Trump survives another one. Media coverage of the event has been—predictably—atrocious. Meanwhile, Ketanji Brown Jackson has, by citing a junk study to support affirmative action, perfectly illuminated the dishonesty inherent in modern uses of social science. One of which is to support the Left’ in its march toward mass censorship against anyone who doesn’t support the current thing. Plus: an announcement about James & Seth. Recommended media: The Lord’s Day vs. the NFL Light of the Mind, Light of the World: Illuminating Science Through Faith Referenced Theo Wold X Post This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

In a special, up-to-the-minute episode of The Roundtable, Mike, Spencer, and Ryan give their first impressions of what was, by all accounts, a dog's breakfast of a debate. Topics include Trump's missed opportunities, Kamala's boldfaced lies, and the hellaciously biased moderation by ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis. Plus: will Trump's closing mic drop be enough to win voters over? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

In a time when the slimmest margins in just a couple of swing states can flip national elections, Democrats are making a play for the pews. Claremont Institute Lincoln Fellow and Daily Wire Reporter Megan Basham joins the editors to discuss her latest book, Shepherds for Sale, which describes a left-wing effort to wield evangelical voting power and moral prestige for woke causes. Plus: Brazil is encroaching on the free speech rights of Americans through sanctions on X/Twitter, while the FBI is consulting with the Brazilian government to facilitate the encroachment. Are we heading toward jail time for memes? Mentioned media: Fleecing the Flock Stop It by Bob Newhart This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

RFK Jr. has stepped out of the presidential race and thrown his weight behind Trump. Will it help, or will he be forced back onto the ballot in swing states by the court? And will RFK’s movement be absorbed by the Right, or remake the Right in its image? Meanwhile, Disney tried to argue that a man couldn’t sue them and would have to go through arbitration because he once signed up for a Disney+ trial and thus was bound to their terms of service. Are infamous terms of service a backdoor to suppressing citizen rights and freedoms, or a necessary evil in the modern world? The editors break it down. In closing, they take a closer look at where the abortion issue currently stands and where it might go now that Dobbs is the law of the land. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

As the spectacle of the DNC passes before our screens, the Obamas expertly put a button on the Left's fable of Joe's evanescence and Kamala's rise to greatness. But will it stick, and how far can media hype take Comrade Kamala? She has been surprisingly aggressive about wearing Trump’s campaign policies as a skinsuit, yet simultaneously running economically to the left of...herself and her own administration. Are Americans converging around a particular basket of populist policy positions, and will Kamala’s gambit to play both sides work? The editors disentangle the headlines and the emerging trends. Plus: a new cast lineup, featuring Mike Sabo! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

As we hurtle ever closer to the election and headlines fly past left and right, it can be hard to tell which news stories will make a dent, and which will vanish into the memory hole. Spencer and Ryan bring on former Bureau of Justice Statistics Director Jeffrey H. Anderson to game out what major points of late will ultimately help determine the final electoral count, from Walz’s dubious military service claims, to JD Vance’s net worth, to polling, and more! Recommended reading/listening Covid Catastrophes Jeffrey H. Anderson on the Real Covid Catastrophe This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Kamala Harris has chosen her VP, and he's right out of central casting--if you're shooting an episode of Ted Lasso featuring nationwide race riots. That's right, it's Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. It's unclear that this will do much to buttress support for Harris among the "white dudes" she claims to be courting, but she's at least avoided angering the pro-Hamas crowd by not picking Palestine critic Josh Shapiro. Meanwhile, Hamas itself took an L when one of its leaders was assassinated by a bomb planted in the Tehran guesthouse. Finally, Google lost a massive anti-trust lawsuit recently for monopolizing search engines. Is the ruling a step in the right direction, or a token win for everyday people while Google continues to operate in the shadows? Recommended reading: The Final GirlBoss Line Up, White Boys! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The lame duck Biden Administration, in its last-ditch effort to leave a mark on US policy, is threatening to pack the Supreme Court. Is court packing a trial balloon for a future attempt by another Democrat administration, a winning policy issue, or a toothless threat? Meanwhile, another viral TikTok trend has been absorbed into mainstream Democrat rhetoric. After all, arguments are hard: why not just sideye people you don’t like, label them “weird,” and call it a day? Plus: James pulls philosophy out of a gigachad meme. The editors break down the news (and the memes) before reminding you to read the damn site. Recommended reading: All the White Dudes A National Revival? Europe Clamps Down This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

It's official: Joe Biden has failed to resist the onslaught of pressure from the elites that are really in charge of far-left politics. Kamala Harris is now ascendant, throwing the 2024 election further into chaos. With veepstakes well underway, it seems party elites are already putting a bow on a nice little political coup--in other words, it's “our democracy in action.” Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign has been doing a better job of making him look relatable and rolling with the punches. The editors provide wise insights and crackpot theories in equal measure, before reminding you to read the damn site. Recommended reading: Eff Bee Why The Home Depot Lady Must Be Canceled Democrats Flunk Democracy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Donald Trump was nearly assassinated last weekend, but for the few degrees of rotation that brought his head out of the bullet’s trajectory at the last possible second. The events surrounding the attempted assassination raise questions about everything from media integrity, to secret service incompetence, to… epistemology? But one thing is certain: Trump has become a world-historic figure. In the days following the attempt on his life, he has named JD Vance his VP pick, and the RNC is well underway. The editors take a holistic look at these developments and what we might expect in our political future before reminding you to read the damn site. Recommended reading: The Shot Heard ‘Round the World No Going Back No Rotten Miracles This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Biden’s debate performance was so horrid that Democrats have taken it as license to wonder openly who else could be their candidate. But is it too little too late? Trump has taken some notes and mellowed out—at least, after his fashion. The GOP, for its part, has adopted a new, slimmed-down and notably altered platform, having gone without one in 2020. The new one hedges on staple issues like abortion, perhaps out of necessity in the current climate. The editors examine the increasingly clear political field at home before taking a look at the European elections across the pond and reminding you, for a change, to read some damn SCOTUS rulings. Recommended reading: Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo Opinion This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The editors are off this week to celebrate the Fourth of July with family, friends, and fellow patriots. Happy 4th from everyone at TAM! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The Supreme Court ruled in Murthy v. Missouri, that the states of Missouri and Louisiana have no standing to challenge the Biden Administration’s meddling in online speech. So who does? Meanwhile, Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, has reached a plea deal with the US and is now a free man, leaving onlookers to wonder about details of the deal that—ironically—will probably remain secret. Finally, the editors take George Latimer’s expensive primary victory over Jamaal Bowman as occasion to look at the internal battle on the Left between old guard Marxists and the new cultural purists. And of course, you are reminded to read the damn site! Recommended reading: Hell Is Empty and All the Bots Are Here Biden’s Escalating Border Crisis Politics Is Not Downstream From Culture TV Is Always Progressive This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Steve Bannon looks to be headed to prison in July as a result of a totally normal and not-at-all political conviction that will take him out of the picture for four of the election campaign's most important months. Nothing to see here! Meanwhile, the CIA's venture cutout In-Q-Tel seems to be gearing up to run its own disinformation campaign. The editors also dive into the antics of environmental activist group Just Stop Oil, which has painted Stonehenge orange so that they can something something save the world. Plus: a geopolitical chess game unfolds along Florida's coastline as Russian warships show up in eyeshot of Miami. The editors reflect on it all and remind you to read the damn site. Recommended reading: Merging Pig with Soy The Purpose of Art in Wartime Europe Swings Right This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Hunter Biden has been found guilty of lying about his drug habits on an application to obtain a firearm—does it matter? Is this a triumph of impartial justice or a smokescreen to cover up other Biden crimes? Meanwhile, Israel has recovered some of its hostages from Hamas, which you would think is cause for celebration—but not for useful idiots in the Western media. And Europe may be heading rightward as its immigration crisis worsens still further. The editors puzzle through it all and remind you to read the damn site. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Trump’s enemies can’t seem to let go of their obsession with him, or keep themselves from living up to the worst things he says about them. New York DA Alvin Bragg obtained the felony conviction his supporters have been lusting after since he entered office, upending the legal system in the process. Meanwhile the media ecosystem has already been thoroughly corrupted, in part to protect Biden and Obama from scrutiny over their duplicitous dealings in the middle east. Plus: pride month is a little subdued this year. Is this a reversal in the woke wars, or just a tactical retreat? The editors discuss, and invite you to read the damn site. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The Libertarian Party has rejected RFK in favor of a no-name candidate, Chase Oliver—but he’s a far cry from Libertarians of old. Meanwhile, the US military-built aid pier on Gaza’s coast was hit by harsh seas and will become an artificial reef if not repaired soon, shining a light on the degradation of the military’s infrastructure capabilities. Finally, old recognizes old as the Biden admin trots out Robert De Niro for its latest display of irrelevant celebrities. The editors analyze the headlines before reminding you to read the damn site. Recommended reading: Why Johnny Can’t Build The Closing of the Internet Mind The Way Forward Spring 2024 Claremont Review of Books This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe