A few things online that caught my attention this week: Lincoln’s hair Robert Kaiser reviews Benjamin Carp, The Great New York Fire of 1776 The local paper The social significance of the Harlem Globetrotters The “new, new” social conservatives don’t […]
Way of Improvement
Commonplace Book #250
Debs’s call for united political action and, to a limited degree, unified economic organization…in no way reflected a growing class awareness on his part. Rather, his increasing anger drew strength and justification from a specific American tradition that stressed economic […]
A massive blob is coming for Ron DeSantis!
But is it “woke”? 🙂 OK, the blob is not coming specifically for DeSantis. But it is coming for Florida. Here is Jackie Wattles at CNN: A gargantuan mass of seaweed that formed in the Atlantic Ocean is headed for […]
When Billy Sunday came to town…
Grocers closed: So did “Ready-Pay” stores: Tea-rooms stayed open: Automobiles were needed: So were special trains: People climbed through roofs and windows: Lumber was sold: New bleachers were erected at fair grounds: Executions were witnessed: Ice cream was named: Labor […]
On the “fuzzy border” between history and journalism
As a trained historian who serves as the co-founder and executive editor of an online website of opinion, I resonated with New York Times reporter Clay Risen’s recent piece at Perspctives on History: “Professional Crafts: The Fuzzy Border between History […]
How U.S. history textbook publishers are catering to Florida’s “anti-woke” laws
Here is a taste of Sarah Mervosh’s piece at The New York Times: In an attempt to cater to Florida, at least one publisher made significant changes to its materials, walking back or omitting references to race, even in its […]
Why were so many cows mutilated in the 1970s?
Head over to Livia Gershon’s piece at JSTOR Daily to learn more about the 1970s “cow mutilation mystery” and the work of historian Michael J. Goleman. Here is a taste: In the 1970s, ranchers all over the country began reporting […]
What is popular this week at Current?
Here are the most popular features of the week at Current: Here are the most popular posts of the last week at The Way of Improvement Leads Home blog: Here are the most popular posts of the last week at The Arena blog:
Can Republicans beat Biden in 2024?
Rich Lowry, the editor in chief of the conservative National Review, thinks Republicans are “delusional if they think Biden will be easy to beat.” Here is a taste of his piece at Politico: At this juncture, no one else in […]
A message to Florida Republicans: Stop using the Western canon as a political pawn
Roosevelt Montás directs Columbia University’s Freedom and Citizenship program. Annie Abrams is a public school teacher. They believe that Florida governor Ron DeSantis and one of his lackeys, Christopher Rufo, are “destroying” liberal arts education. Here is a taste of their […]
Mark Meadows and his MAGA cronies are buying-up property near the U.S. Capitol
I guess a lot of Trump followers like living in “The Swamp.” Here is Paul Schwartzman at The Washington Post: At first glance, the flurry of real estate sales two blocks east of the U.S. Capitol appeared unremarkable in a […]
Evangelical roundup for March 16, 2023
What is happening in Evangelical Land? Evangelicals love evangelicals. Black evangelicals are “caught between their faith and the long shadow of history.” The president of Northern Seminary resigns. Southern Baptists have been arguing about women in the church for a […]
Episode 53: “Michael Schiavo Takes the Stand”
The 2000 Terri Schiavo trial gets under way. Episode 53: “Michael Schiavo Takes the Stand’ dropped today. Subscribers to Current at the Longshore level and above have access to new episodes of this narrative history podcast. To listen to previous episodes click the word […]
Should women who have abortions get the death penalty? 21 South Carolina legislators think they should
Have you heard about the South Carolina Prenatal Equal Protection Act of 2023? Twenty-one Republicans in the South Carolina General Assembly are supporting it. Here is Stephen Neukam at The Hill: Republican lawmakers in South Carolina are considering a change […]
Springsteen fans: See you in State College
I didn’t think it would happen. I wasn’t sure I wanted it to happen. But my family managed to score some tickets to Bruce Springsteen’s Saturday night show on the campus of Penn State University. Springsteen shows are family events […]
Is Wellesley College still a women’s college?
In his 2017 book Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference, Washington University Law Professor John Inazu writes: Wellesley College, an all-women’s school, now confronts internal challenges around its growing transgender student population. Even though Wellesley admits only women, […]
What is going at Valparaiso University?
The president of the Lutheran university in Indiana wants to sell a Georgia O’Keefe painting to pay for the renovation of two dormitories. The story caught the attention of New York Times reporter Kalia Richardson. Here is a taste of […]
Joe Biden will deliver Jimmy Carter’s eulogy
Here is Summer Concepcion at NBC News: President Joe Biden on Monday revealed that former President Jimmy Carter, who entered hospice care at home last month after a series of hospital stays, asked him to deliver his eulogy. During a fundraiser in […]
Conservative culture warriors love Antonio Gramsci
For several years now conservatives, and especially the Christian Right, have been warning their followers about the influence of “cultural Marxism.” One of their favorite bogeymen is Mussolini-era Italian communist Antonio Gramsci. Here, for example, is Christian right purveyor of […]
Three historians win the Bancroft Prize
It’s the most prestigious award in American history. Congrats to Beverly Gage, Kelly Lytle Hernández, and John Wood Sweet for winning it. Here are Jennifer Schuessler’s descriptions of these books at The New York Times: Beverly Gage’s “G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover […]