The American Mind Podcast

It's time once again for debt crisis theater as House republicans agree with Democrats on a proposed deal, acquiescing to massive debt in exchange for minor concessions. Meanwhile, in an effort to drive a wedge between white and nonwhite people, the Left indulges in truly comedic arguments about race in America. Behind the absurdism there are important trends that deserve a closer look. And the Ron vs. Don showdown is official now that DeSantis has announced a run for the presidency. The editors discuss it all before commanding you to read the damn site (by issuing their recommendations to guide your reading). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Conservatives are finally building up a head of steam when it comes to boycotts, making an example of Anheuser-Busch after their unholy union with Dylan Mulvaney. Now Target and the Dodgers have attracted this same newly quickened ire by pushing overtly Satanic and trans-forward messaging onto shoppers—and their children. Meanwhile the trajectory of Christian nationalism is up for hot debate, as is that of wokeness. Plus: the editors, joined by Helen Roy, name their favorite TAM articles of the week as a reminder to read the damn site! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Hadley Arkes joins the editors this week to offer advice to the pro-life movement and discuss the precepts of common sense that must underlie sound legal reasoning. The editors then turn to an analysis of the Durham Report and how it plays for 2024, as well as a brief discussion of Article 42 and Trump's CNN town hall. And of course: read the damn site! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

As Mother's Day rolls around, the editors take a moment to analyze an increasingly troubling movement: anti-natalism. To help with the analysis, Helen Roy joins the cast. Meanwhile, Tucker Carlson has announced that his show will be coming back natively to Twitter, drawing millions of views and prompting speculations about the future of the news industry. Trump was found liable for sexual assault to the tune of $5 million, in a perplexing jury decision that raises troubling questions about justice and crime. In closing, the editors recount their favorite articles of the week before reminding you to read the damn site! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The full cast is back this week to analyze the continuing deterioration of blue cities and states as middle-class Republicans flee coastal areas at accelerating rates. Is immiseration the goal? Then the editors then turn to discussion of 2024 as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. throws his name in the ring to challenge Biden in the primaries. Is RFK tapping into Boomer energy? And of course, the editors remind you to read the damn site! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News following a defamation case between Fox and Dominion, coinciding with other ousters in like Don Lemon's at CNN. In New York, Trump is being sued civilly over rape accusations, but is also being sued by the accuser for denying the claims. Meanwhile, mortgage changes are coming to take from the responsible and give to the irresponsible. Seth and Spencer analyze defamation by design and woke mortgages before recounting their favorite TAM articles of the week and reminding you to read the damn site. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

When Anheuser-Busch inked a deal with Dylan Mulvaney to wokeify their subpar beer, Americans turned on the brand. The company’s stock price has sunk sunk by over $7 billion so far, as executives mouth empty platitudes and shift the blame. Will this controversy serve as a cautionary tale to businesses looking to alienate their core consumer base? Meanwhile, media apparatchiks rush to spin a preposterous narrative out of a tragic shooting. Plus: Elon Musk provides occasion to discuss AI and the end times. Seth and Spencer analyze the news before, of course, reminding you to read the damn site. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

In record time, Democrats have managed to turn the massacre of Christian children by a transgender woman into a Civil Rights LARP. Two state representatives were expelled from the TN legislature for participating in a riot, allowing them to pose absurdly as victims and freedom fighters. Meanwhile the Wisconsin Supreme Court flips to the left, raising questions about Republicans’ rhetorical strategy on abortion. Plus: the editors recount their favorite articles this week before reminding you to read the damn site.   This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Whatever your personal opinion of Trump, his indictment is a somber moment for the trajectory of democracy in America. Ryan and Spencer discuss the dogged pursuit of Trump at any cost, including some hilarious speculation about how the headlines on this topic are getting written. The two then expand the discussion to the selective weaponization of the legal system using the case of Ricky Vaughn as a starting point. Plus: Peachy Keenan set the internet alight when she committed the crime of noticing that college admissions are tilting in a very noticeably woke direction—but of course she was right. Spencer closes by asking Ryan for his favorite TAM article before reminding you to read the damn site. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

There's no sugarcoating the horror of what happened in Nashville this week as a disturbed young woman murdered six people, three of them aged 9 years old. The shooter was wrapped up in transgender extremism, a fact which has unveiled a ghoulish relish for the death of Christians in contemporary culture. Meanwhile, as megacorporations charge forth with reckless abandon in an AI arms race, some interesting characters are calling for a national pause on the unproven technology. But is that just a makeshift bandage over a much deeper, festering wound? The editors, with special guest Helen Roy, deconstruct the social contagions at work in the US as well as the potential threat of AI before reminding you, as always, to read the damn site. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe