Daniel J. Clark is Professor of History and Director of the Center for Public Humanities at Oakland University. This interview is based on his new book, Listening to Workers: Oral Histories of Metro Detroit Autoworkers in the 1950s (University of […]
Way of Improvement
A colleague asked ChatGPT to “summarize John Fea’s critique of evangelical Christians who support Donald Trump for president”
One of my colleagues in the Messiah University English Department asked ChatGPT to summarize my critique of evangelical Christians who support Donald Trump for president. Here’s its response: John Fea, a historian and author, has been a vocal critic of […]
Evangelicals respond to last night’s Harris-Trump debate
What a crazy night. Kamala Harris was relentless. To use boxing metaphors, Trump was on the ropes the entire night. Harris connected with relentless jabs and right hooks. The former president was on his heels through the entire debate. On […]
Taylor Swift, the “childless cat lady,” endorses Kamala Harris
Taylor has mobilized the Swifties. The election is over. 🙂 Trump has already responded.
Christianity Today magazine publishes a “Christian case for public schooling.” Conservative evangelicals go nuts.
Christianity Today theology editor Stefani McDade recently made a compelling and nuanced case for public schools. Here is a taste: Our daughter is just a toddler, so she’s not in school yet, and it’s possible something in the next few […]
“A dream of life”
The Author’s Corner with Abigail G. Mullen
Abigail G. Mullen is Assistant Professor of Naval History and Digital Methods at the United States Naval Academy. This interview is based on her new book, To Fix a National Character: The United States in the First Barbary War, 1800–1805 […]
The Author’s Corner with Paul D. Brinkman
Paul D. Brinkman is Head of the Environmental Humanities Research Lab and Curator of Special Collections at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and Adjunct Associate Professor of History at North Carolina State University. This interview is based on […]
Is Trump a tyrant?
It depends what you mean by tyrant. Over at Engelsberg Ideas, historian Edmund Stewart brings some necessary context. Here is a taste: Trump is clearly not a tyrant yet. Will he become one? American institutions are stronger than many of […]
The Author’s Corner with Hettie V. Williams
Hettie V. Williams is Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and Director of the William Monroe Trotter Institute for the Study of Black Culture. This interview is based on her new book, The Georgia of the North: […]
Election Day is 56 days away. What are evangelicals saying?
Let’s check in on the current state of evangelicals and politics: National Public radio is talking about “Evangelicals for Harris.” Ralph Reed remains all in: So is Reed’s Faith & Freedom Coalition: A glimpse into the Latino evangelicals who attend […]
Sunday night odds and ends
A few things online that caught my attention this week: Should we abolish grades at American universities? There are only two Shakers left. “Our dopamine-driven brains drive us to choose cheap distraction over entertainment and art” Elizabeth Catte reviews three […]
“JD Vance loves Ohio State and Project 2025”
If you were in the “Big House” to see Texas trounce Michigan on Saturday, you may have noticed a small plane pulling a banner that read “JD Vance Loves Ohio State + Project 2025.’ The Democratic National Committee paid for […]
George W. Bush will not endorse a candidate for president
Here is NBC News: Former President George W. Bush does not plan to endorse a candidate for president, his office told NBC News on Saturday. When asked whether the former president or his wife, Laura, would endorse a candidate or […]
Trump unhinged (again). This guy could be the next president.
Do we really want this guy back in office? Sadly, I am afraid that many Americans do. Trump still believes, despite all evidence to the contrary, that the 2020 election was stolen from him. If he loses in November, this […]
The reaction to an N.T. Wright clip on X offers another glimpse into the current state of right-wing evangelical politics today.
On Thursday, an X account called “Woke Preacher Clips” post a video of clip of N.T. Wright talking about American politics: The entire video is here, but it was the clip I posted above that lit a fire under the […]
250 years ago today the First Continental Congress opened with prayer. What should we make of that?
On Thursday evening I was in Philadelphia to speak at an event, sponsored by Carpenter’s Hall, commemorating the 250th anniversary of Jacob Duchés prayer on the third day of the Continental Congress. I was joined by the clergy of Philadelphia’s […]
Dick Cheney is voting for Kamala Harris
Liz Cheney, the former GOP member of Congress and vice chair of the House January 6 Committee, announced this week that she will be voting for Kamala Harris in November. Today we learned that her father, former vice-president Dick Cheney, […]
See you tonight in Philly!
Thursday, September 5th, 2024 from 5:30 to 7:00pm Held at the American Philosophical Society: Benjamin Franklin Hall, 427 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 The First Continental Congress took place in Carpenters’ Hall in fall 1774, with 56 delegates from 12 […]
The Author’s Corner with Oliver A. Rosales
Oliver A. Rosales is Professor of History at Bakersfield College. This interview is based on his new book, Civil Rights in Bakersfield: Segregation and Multiracial Activism in the Central Valley (University of Texas Press, 2024). JF: What led you to […]