Brian Lehrer Weekend: Contrapoints; Child Care; SCOTUS 'Vibes'

In this seminal work, Richard Hofstadter explores the concept of the 'paranoid style' in American politics, which he defines as a way of seeing and doing politics characterized by heated exaggeration, suspiciousness, and conspiratorial fantasy. The book, which includes the titular essay first published in Harper's Magazine in 1964, delves into historical examples such as the Anti-Masonic Movement, Father Coughlin's antisemitic conspiracies, and the post-McCarthy Right. Hofstadter argues that this style is not exclusive to any one side of the political spectrum and has been a recurring theme throughout American history, influencing political discourse and the behavior of individuals and groups. The book also includes other essays on topics like 'Free Silver and the Mind of 'Coin' Harvey' and 'What Happened to the Antitrust Movement? '

In 'Lawless: The Miseducation of America’s Elites,' Ilya Shapiro examines the transformation of higher education and legal education in the United States. He argues that prestigious law schools have been overtaken by radical student movements and biased faculty, leading to a decline in critical thinking, logical argumentation, and respect for opposing views. Shapiro draws from his personal experiences, including a controversial tweet that led to calls for his firing from Georgetown Law, to illustrate the institutional weaknesses and ideological capture of America’s law schools. The book warns that this trend has significant implications for the future of the legal profession, government, and society as a whole.