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Archives for November 2023

Brownstein: Democrats are performing better “at the polls than in the polls”

John Fea   |  November 8, 2023

Here is Ron Brownstein at The Atlantic: Democrats yesterday continued to perform better at the polls than in the polls. Even as many Democrats have been driven to a near panic by a succession of recent polls showing President Joe Biden’s extreme vulnerability, the […]

The Author’s Corner with Matthew Ward

Rachel Petroziello   |  November 8, 2023

Matthew Ward is Senior Lecturer in American History at the University of Dundee. This interview is based on his new book, Making the Frontier Man: Violence, White Manhood, and Authority in the Early Western Backcountry (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2023). […]

LONG FORM: They Fill the Role of Flowers

Frederic S. Durbin   |  November 8, 2023

A classic fantasy speaks to our deepest needs—in just its first four pages

Pro-lifers’ needless defeat in Ohio shows the dangers of refusing to listen

Daniel K. Williams   |  November 8, 2023

Lasting legal protections for the unborn will never come by ignoring the wishes of voters and attempting to subvert the majority. Instead, a consensus-minded coalition-building that is open to dialogue and compromise is the only way that a culture of life in public policy can be created.  

1 in 3 “evangelical” or “born again” Christians supported a right to abortion in Ohio; pro-choice governor wins in red Kentucky

John Fea   |  November 7, 2023

An NBC news exit poll shows that 32% of white “evangelical” or “born again” Christians voted to enshrine the right to an abortion in the Ohio constitution. As expected, 68% of white evangelicals opposed the measure, but I was surprised […]

Springsteen at “Stand Up for Heroes”

John Fea   |  November 7, 2023

Last night the Boss played acoustic versions of “Addicted to Love” (live debut); “Dancing in the Dark”‘; “Power of Prayer”; “Working on a Highway.” Here is Chris Jordan at the Asbury Park Press: The Boss is back. Bruce Springsteen surprised […]

The pro-life movement has been “co-opted by GOP anti-abortion politics”

John Fea   |  November 7, 2023

Bernard Prusak is the Raymond and Eleanor Smiley Chair in Business Ethics at John Carroll University. Commonweal has published his piece, “The Pro-Life Movement: Less Popular Than Ever?“, on the eve of the Ohio 1 abortion referendum. Here is a […]

Wendell Berry on the difference between “training” and “education”

John Fea   |  November 7, 2023

I was reading in my commonplace book this morning and ran across this quote from Wendell Berry. It come from his essay “Discipline and Hope” published in the 1972 collection: A Continuous Harmony: Essays Cultural and Agricultural: Training is a […]

Walzer: “Oppressed people can do no wrong” is an “old, bad argument”

John Fea   |  November 7, 2023

Veteran political theorist Michael Walzer has a word or two for his fellow leftists. Here is a taste of his piece at The Atlantic: After the Hamas attack on Israel October 7, an old, bad argument resurfaced. In the streets of […]

The party of nihilism

John Fea   |  November 7, 2023

Nihilism: “the rejection of all religious and moral principles, in the belief that life is meaningless.” Here is a taste of Peter Wehner’s recent piece at The New York Times titled “Republicans Have Chosen Nihilism”: Mr. [Allan] Bloom believed a truly […]

Episode 122: “Springsteen, Joel, and the American Century”

John Fea   |  November 7, 2023

In his new book Bridge & Tunnel Boys, historian Jim Cullen discusses how Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen represented what he calls “the metropolitan sound of the American century.” In this episode of the podcast, we talk with Cullen about how Joel […]

The Author’s Corner with William C. Harris

Rachel Petroziello   |  November 7, 2023

William C. Harris is Professor Emeritus of History at North Carolina State University. This interview is based on his new book, Confederate Privateer: The Life of John Yates Beall (LSU Press, 2023). JF: What led you to write Confederate Privateer? WH: […]

Keep an eye on Kentucky tonight

John Fea   |  November 7, 2023

I’ll have my eye on several elections and referenda tonight. I am interested to see what happens with abortion in Ohio and I will be voting in the Pennsylvania state Supreme Court race. But I am most intrigued by the […]

Neighbors

Nadya Williams   |  November 7, 2023

The Holocaust seems suddenly near

Book launch interview: Pity for Evil: Suffrage, Abortion, and Women’s Empowerment in Reconstruction America

Monica Klem and Madeleine McDowell   |  November 7, 2023

In their new book, Klem and McDowell tell the story of the early women’s rights activists’ opposition to abortion.

“I want to keep politics out of schools”

John Fea   |  November 6, 2023

I’ve been doing some last minute homework before I enter the ballot box tomorrow. As I was researching my local school board candidates I was struck by how many of them use their platforms to say something like this: “Politics […]

The Author’s Corner with Peter Radan

Rachel Petroziello   |  November 6, 2023

Peter Radan is Honorary Professor of Law at Macquarie University. This interview is based on his new book, Creating a More Perfect Slaveholders’ Union: Slavery, the Constitution, and Secession in Antebellum America (University Press of Kansas, 2023). JF: What led you to write […]

Evangelical roundup for November 6, 2023

John Fea   |  November 6, 2023

What is happening in Evangelical land:‘ Jon Ward on leaving the “evangelical bubble.” He is the author of Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation. Thomas Kidd on the history of evangelical support for Israel. New Trustees at […]

REVIEW: Holding Court

Carolynn Roncaglia   |  November 6, 2023

The imperial center of Rome remained stable for two centuries. How?

What I’m reading: Anything I can find by A. “Toby” Rawlinson

Elizabeth Stice   |  November 6, 2023

The great man theory of history isn’t very good, but there have been some great men and women in history.

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