James Tejani is Associate Professor of History at California Polytechnic State University. This interview is based on his new book, A Machine to Move Ocean and Earth: The Making of the Port of Los Angeles and America (W. W. Norton […]
Way of Improvement
The Author’s Corner with Frank W. Garmon Jr.
Frank W. Garmon Jr. is Assistant Professor in the Department of Leadership and American Studies at Christopher Newport University. This interview is based on his new book, A Wonderful Career in Crime: Charles Cowlam’s Masquerades in the Civil War Era […]
The Catholic faith of JD Vance
Over at The New York Times, Elizabeth Dias profiles the GOP vice-presidential candidate. Here is a taste: In Washington, he connected with a Yale Law alumnus who had become a priest at the Dominican House of Studies. Before joining the […]
JD Vance says Trump will veto a federal abortion ban. What are pro-life evangelicals saying?
On Friday, Donald Trump said that his administration “will be great for women and their reproductive rights.” Conservative evangelicals responded. We covered it here. Today, JD Vance said that if Trump were president and congress sent him a national ban […]
Sunday night odds and ends
A few things online that caught my attention this week: Why John Fetterman was not at the DNC Pragmatic socialism David Brooks on Tom Wolfe New books: abolitionism and Huck Finn Trails of Tears, Plural First-year reading lists Confidence men […]
How do you run against joy?
Ever since Kamala Harris introduced Tim Walz as her running mate, the Democratic candidates have been talking about running a campaign full of joy. Here is Three Dog Night: OK–sorry for the digression. During the convention, Bill Clinton said Harris […]
RFK Jr.’s family responds to his endorsement of Trump
Some context here.
Almost as if on cue, the Christian Right falls in love with a pro-choice environmental activist and conspiracy theorist
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pro-choice on abortion, an environmental activist, an isolationist on foreign policy, and an indigenous rights advocate. He wants to “seal” the southern border with “high walls” and “high gates.” He also believes that Wi-Fi causes […]
What are evangelicals saying about Trump’s claim that his administration “will be great for women and their reproductive rights?”
Earlier today, Donald Trump wrote: “My Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights.” Such a claim, of course, puts pro-life conservatives in a difficult spot. Will they vote for Trump despite what appear to be his pro-choice […]
A tale of two conventions
Whatever you think about Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, this Morning Joe video is revealing:
The Author’s Corner with Matthew L. Harris
Matthew L. Harris is Professor of History and Director of Legal Studies atĀ Colorado State University – Pueblo. This interview is based on his new book, Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality (Oxford University Press, 2024). JF: […]
Evangelicals respond to the Democratic National Convention (so far)
Night four of the Democratic National Convention is here. It’s Kamala Harris’s night. Here is what some American evangelicals have been saying this week as the Dems gather in Chicago: The former president of the Southern Baptist Convention believes that […]
Tim Walz’s “three yards and a cloud of dust” campaign.
Tim Walz has been a professional politician for almost twenty years. But it is his fifteen years as a football coach that might make him the next vice president of the United States. Here’s the Knute Rockne part of Walz’s […]
Song of the Day
HT: Storm Bailey
The Author’s Corner with Tyson Reeder
Tyson Reeder is Assistant Professor of History at Brigham Young University. This interview is based on his new book, Serpent in Eden: Foreign Meddling and Partisan Politics in James Madison’s America (Oxford University Press, 2024). JF: What led you to […]
At CURRENT, we want to lift up writers who champion the ideals and values of the American project. Join us!
More people are reading Current right now than at any other time in its nearly four year history. We are gratified and honored for how you, our readers, have helped us grow. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As I […]
How does a university exist without librarians?
I am worried about posting this article from Inside Higher Ed because I don’t want to give academic administrators any ideas. Western Illinois University is laying off all nine of its library faculty. What is happening to higher education? Here […]
The Author’s Corner with Andrew E. Busch
Andrew E. Busch is Associate Director of the Institute of American Civics at the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the University of Tennessee. This interview is based on his new book, Ronald Reagan and the Firing […]
Twenty years after his breakout speech, Obama is back tonight
Barack Obama is speaking at tonight’s Democratic National Convention. Twenty years ago, as a candidate for U.S. Senate, Obama delivered his breakout speech at the DNC in Boston. About three weeks before the 2004 convention, Obama was driving between Springfield […]
The Democrats may have just lost my vote!
Many Democrats are upset about the cancellation of James Taylor on the first night of the Democratic National Convention. The DNC is claiming that the legendary singer was canceled because there wasn’t enough time for him to perform due to […]