Here are the most popular features of the week at Current: Jeremy Sabella, American Amnesia John Fea, The Shockingly Ordinary American Evangelicals Jay Green, John Lennon and the Ghost of Culture Wars Future Thomas Hibbs, Crime, Punishment, and Columbo Daniel Gullotta […]
Archives for December 2021
Harry Reid: Mormon politician
Today a couple of Harry Reid pieces caught my attention. If you have not yet heard, the Nevada senator (1987-2017) and former Senate Majority Leader (2007-2015) died earlier this week. Over at The Washington Post, historian Benjamin Park reflects on […]
Evangelical roundup for December 30, 2021
What is happening in Evangelical land? Evangelicals are effectively running prison units in Argentina. Interesting: Evangelicals in Oklahoma are divided over vaccines. Liberty University’s Standing for Freedom Center director Ryan Helfenbein: Christian dominionists are running for spots on school boards. […]
Fifty local newsrooms opened in the United States during the pandemic
It appears that COVID-19 stimulated local news, especially in Georgia, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, and Florida. Here is a taste of Kristen Hare’s piece at Poynter.com: More than 50 local newsrooms launched in the United States in 2020 and 2021. […]
Historian Jonathan Couser responds to George Will’s column on individualism and identity politics
Yesterday I wrote a post on George Will’s recent column on identity politics and modernity. Over at Facebook, historian Jonathan Couser responded to Wills. Here is his take, published with his permission. –JF George Will is one of the few […]
Why is there a lack of coaches and referees in youth sports?
I miss watching my kids play school sports. Over the years (K-12) my daughters played basketball, volleyball, soccer, and softball. It was fun to watch them compete. I don’t miss the parents of their teammates and opponents. Don’t get me […]
My first John Madden memory
As a kid I was a diehard Miami Dolphins fan. It is thus tough for me, over 46 years later, to post this highlight video from the 1974 AFC Divisional Playoff: To this day I cannot hear the names Ken […]
George Will on the premodern origins of identity politics…
…and national conservatism. This is a really interesting column. A taste: Prophecy is optional folly but an irresistible end-of-year temptation. So, at the risk of allowing a wish to be the father of a thought, a plausible prediction is that […]
Meme of the day
Learn more about Ruby Bridges here.
Another time capsule is found in Richmond’s Robert E. Lee monument
They have been looking for this thing since September. Here is ABC News: After a time capsule found last week proved to be a letdown, another one has been found in the pedestal of a now-removed Robert E. Lee state […]
Is the Build Back Better Act dead?
Former Obama adviser David Axelrod does not think so. He asks us to remember the Affordable Care Act. Here is a taste of his New York Times op-ed: No historical parallel is perfect, but the near-death and revival of the […]
Help us keep Current going in 2022
I know a lot of people do year-end giving at this time of the year. Current is not a non-profit (we are an LLC), but I hope you will consider supporting our work through Patreon. We have some exciting improvements […]
Evangelical roundup for December 27, 2021
What is happening in Evangelical land? In case you missed it, we covered Charlie Kirk’s Christian nationalist celebration “America Fest.” Will someone please introduce this fellow of the Liberty University Standing for Freedom Center to Selma, Birmingham, Montgomery, Emmett Til, […]
The Attorney General of Indiana does not believe the COVID-19 stats his own state releases
We are up the creek without a paddle. Here is Rashika Jaipuriar at the Indianapolis Star: Health care workers are pleading for help as Indiana is seeing record numbers of hospitalizations, but one of the state’s top elected officials said he doesn’t believe […]
Sunday night odds and ends
A few things online that caught my attention this week: Prioritization often kills the liberal arts Joan Didion, RIP. And here. Careerism and the writing life Book wrapt The Godfather and The Godfather II as Christmas movies Is teaching worth […]
Merry Christmas!
Last year someone pointed out to me that Linus drops his security blanket in the middle of the speech:
The latest musical number from N.T. Wright and Francis Collins
N.T. Wright is one the world’s most prominent biblical scholars. Francis Collins is the former Director of the National Institutes of Health. Watch: See their first collaboration here:
Resounding gongs and clanging symbols at Charlie Kirk’s “America Fest”
Charlie Kirk’s pro-Trump, God and country organization Turning Point USA recently hosted a conference called “America Fest.” Thousands of college students, fresh off of final exams, showed-up in Phoenix to attend the event. Let’s see how things went: Colorado congresswoman […]
Gerson: Christmas should remind us that God is a God of hope who “offers a different kind of security than the fulfillment of our deepest wishes”
The Washington Post columnist is battling cancer, but he will not despair. Here is a taste of Michael Gerson‘s Christmas column: …from a young age, if we are lucky, we are taught that hope itself sustains. It is one of […]
The curse of becoming the NBA Rookie of the Year
A little NBA humor this Christmas Eve from the late and great Norm MacDonald (1959 to 2021):