The American Mind

The Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee's right—and by extension, the right of other states—to regulate or ban trans medical procedures for children. Meanwhile, Trump's precision strike against Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities has succeeded in extracting a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The possibility of diplomacy and peace now exists—but will it materialize? The hosts are joined this week by regulars Seth Barron and Matthew Peterson, alongside special guest and Army veteran Will Thibeau to discuss the recent events in the Middle East and global implications. Plus: book and media recommendations!

In a two-man Roundtable throwback, hosts Spencer Klavan and Mike Sabo offer some initial reaction to Israel's precision strikes against Iran and the subsequent fallout. Memories of past military failures and fear of Mideast regime change swirl online, but Trump seems prepared to back Netanyahu's attack on Iranian nuclear capacity. Meanwhile, protestors took to the street to declare opposition to kings and kingly powers... which don't exist. What does exist is judicial overreach and legislative inaction. Details, details. Plus: videogame(!) and other media recommendations!

This week, special guest Peachy Keenan rounds out the cast with a report from LA, where riots are breaking out (again). Governor Gavin Newsom failed to gain control on the ground, so Trump inserted himself and the National Guard to enforce law and order. Meanwhile, it's not news that Trump and Elon's bromance has concluded in a spectacular social media exchange, but Elon's public tailspin in the aftermath merits a closer look. Plus: advice to law-abiding illegal immigrants (and to Elon), as well as media recommendations to help you escape the insanity of daily politics.

Artificial Intelligence threatens to storm the office as tech companies compete to replace entry-level workers with “agent” underlings. Will this be the next major technological displacement in the workforce? And to what end? Meanwhile, this “Pride month” has lacked the eruption of rainbows typical of June. Is a Pride Shift to go along with the Vibe Shift underway? This week, Blaze Media editor-in-chief and now Claremont Washington Fellow Matthew Peterson joins the guys to discuss the ramifications of AI, the containment of Pride, and to dispense good bad movie recommendations!

Michael Anton—newly dubbed “MAGA's Machiavelli”—gets a profile in The Free Press and some well-deserved recognition. Well-read, well-spoken, and well-dressed, Anton has done more than many realize to shape U.S. policies and political thought in the Trump Era. Meanwhile, Trump seems to sour on Putin and takes flak from some for not catching wise on Putin. But will he suffer any political consequences? Closer to home, Elon Musk throws in the towel on DOGE in light of a spending bill passed by the House. This week, the hosts discuss the trajectory of a former/fellow Claremonster, Russia, and runaway federal spending. Plus: tech and media recommendations!

The sad announcement of Joe Biden's advanced cancer diagnosis has thrown fuel onto recriminations and speculations about his condition during his presidency, especially with the publication of a new book on the subject by none other than Jake Tapper. Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, on a Sunday interview with Fox Business's Maria Bartiromo, disavowed the conspiracy theories surrounding the death of notorious sex trafficker Joseph Epstein, spurring an outcry from some of the theorists. Also this week, Trump pushed forward a Big, Beautiful Bill (literally) aimed at stimulating the economy. But will it be sufficient to quell fears of eventual national debt and social security crises? This week, the guys discuss corruption, economics, and much more! Plus: media recommendations.

As Europe withers and China rises, Trump makes a trip to the Middle East and charts out a new course. In a speech that raised some interventionist hackles, he delivered a sharp critique of nation building and signaled his intentions to approach the region differently. Meanwhile in Washington, a struggle continues to digest the concept of Congress doing... its job? And the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments over the power of federal judges in light of a universal injunction freezing Trump's order to halt birthright citizenship. Plus: a round of media recommendations!

To cap off the first 100 days of his administration, Trump sparred at length with Kristen Welker of NBC's Meet the Press over his record so far—from immigration successes to choppy economic waters. Alarmed by Trump's use of emergency powers in rolling out this agenda, David Linker at the New York Times draws some loose connections—to say the least—between Trump, Claremont, and Carl Schmitt. Meanwhile, Shiloh Hendricks has raised over $700 thousand from supporters after a video of her using the n-word prompted threats of retaliation. The guys discuss Trump's first months, midterm prospects, and our climate of race politics. Plus: media recommendations!

As Trump exerts federal pressure from without, the culture of some Ivy League universities may be changing from within—or maybe not, as Harvard seems determined to fight the administration in court. The nation's elite colleges have been dominated by a Jacobin spirit for decades, and now they seem committed to defending violent radicals. Will their prestige hold? This week, the guys sit down together (in person!) to diagnose the state of America's universities, elites, and political system at large. The hour is late, but there is time yet to drastically rehabilitate the country. Plus: Claremont announcements, a listener question, and media recommendations!

Knives are out as Pete Hegseth's wife is let in on sensitive information about U.S. operations against the Houthis. Amid rumors of staff churn and conflicts within the right over foreign policy, Trump maintains his prudent approach. Meanwhile, on Easter Monday, Pope Francis passed away, spurring an assessment of his legacy and speculations about the future as the Church faces a critical juncture. The hosts discuss Department of Defense crack-ups, the transformation and future of the Catholic Church, and the egregious use of taxpayer funds by Harvard. Plus: television and book recommendations!

A new global order emerges. China grows bolder in the East, while Europe and Canada drift culturally and economically away from America. Will Trump's tariffs add more chaos to this new multipolar world, or set the U.S. up for success within it? Back home, Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation continues to stir controversy. The guys sit down this week with Ron Dodson, president and portfolio manager of a private fund management firm, to discuss the tariff rollout, American preparedness for future conflicts, and the optics of border security, as well as the faint reflection of our future selves apparent in Argentina.

Trump announces a sweeping tariff regime, then pauses it for 90 days—why? As a tactic to renegotiate trade deals? To reshore manufacturing? Some combination of both? With midterms just over the horizon, the stakes of this gamble to reorient global trade are high. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court lifts District Judge Jeb Boasberg's temporary restraining order on deporting members of the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua—what's next?? Internment camps for U.S. citizens?? This week, the hosts weigh in on the effectiveness of the recent tariffs, recount Justice Sotomayor's ridiculous dissent, and touch on the limp, confused effort by the Left to protest. Plus: media and reading recommendations!

Attempting to retroactively set the narrative of U.S. involvement in Ukraine on behalf of the intelligence community, journalist Adam Entous of the New York Times has painfully revealed in his latest piece the utter inability of the Deep State to accept reality at home and abroad. The hosts are joined this week by Claremont senior fellow Jeremy Carl to read between the lines and unpack the previous administration's obfuscating of wartime details, now made clear, and the turn of public opinion thereafter—and the stalking shadow of nuclear threats, more real than initially predicted. Plus: A discussion of the Trump Administration's early successes, its new approach to tariffs, and the Left's unhinged response. And more!

Atlantic reporter Jeff Goldberg was mistakenly added to a national security group chat, leading to a DC media feeding frenzy—is there anything of substance to be gleaned from this goof? Meanwhile, Jay Bhattacharya—an early opponent of the 2020 lockdowns—was confirmed by the Senate to direct the National Institutes of Health, hopefully marking a turn back to sound health policy. This week, the guys talk through messaging and operations security, Biden-era censorship, plummeting egg prices, and more! Plus: a round of reading recommendations.

You're fired. Trump, by executive order, has moved to terminate federal contracts with law firm Perkins Coie for its role in promoting the 2016 Russiagate conspiracy and otherwise influencing elections—sparking fervorous debate in and across the aisle. Meanwhile, the administration invoked the emergency powers of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport members of the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, provoking an activist judge to obstruct the law's use. Who rules: Congress or courts? The hosts sit down to discuss these ongoing legal battles in government, real battles abroad, and the absurd responses from the Left across the board. Plus, more media recommendations!

First, they came for the green card-holding terror groupies—then they came for...us? Not exactly. But the recent detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University protest organizer who fought "for the total eradication of Western Civilization," has prompted cries of fascism. Again. Meanwhile, California governor Gavin Newsom sheds his skin and snakes his way toward the center of the political spectrum: best not be fooled! This week, the guys discuss the antisemitic venom poisoning some young right-wingers, the ongoing disarray of Democrats; and more! Plus: a batch of media recommendations.

The Trump administration's approach to governance presents an opening for a new federalism to take hold. States may now be incentivized to aggressively take charge of education; ambitiously compete for businesses planting themselves in the U.S. due to tariffs; and cut oppressive regulatory red tape. Rounding out the Cincinnatus Series, Ryan Williams sits down with Scott Yenor, Jeffrey Anderson, and Jim Blew to discuss strategies and tools available to policymakers to facilitate economic development, capitalize on the shrinking administrative state, and more!

In his first address to Congress, President Trump goaded Democrats into a limp, performative resistance while he rattled off an impressive list of achievements. Previously, at the White House, Trump had met with Ukrainian President Zelensky in a dramatic confrontation that ultimately helped improve Trump's position in negotiations over rare earth minerals in exchange for military aid. The guys give their takes on the historic political theater of the past week, discuss the ongoing economic and immigration crises, and share more media recommendations!

Silicon Valley elites have pushed school-provided tablets and phones into K-12 schools, replacing textbooks, real human interaction, and traditional education, undermining children's ability to focus—and parents' power to regulate screentime. Guests Scott Yenor, Frederick Hess, and Clare Morell sit down with host Ryan Williams to consider the limited pros and many cons of devices in the classroom, their disruptive effect in school settings and on learning outcomes, and provide insight into how states and school boards may spur positive change.

The White House has taken charge of issuing press permissions, prompting wails of horror from the White House Correspondents' Association—but who's really compromising the media's authority and independence? Meanwhile, Trump removes Joint Chiefs Chairman C.Q. Brown, to be replaced by retired Lieutenant General John Daniel Caine—prompting further histrionics from the military elite. The hosts discuss Trump's legitimate authority and the resistance to it, the budget bill making its way through Congress, and the looming specter of a debt crisis—plus, more must-read article recommendations!

Following the social revolutions of decades past, liberal sex education reforms, and the devaluation of marriage, Conservatives can no longer ignore the social aspects of family life—paramount to preserving and promoting the traditional household—and must recognize the use of laws to heal our culture. Host Ryan Williams is joined by Scott Yenor, Kathleen O'Toole, and Chris Bullivant to discuss how states may empower parents to raise and school their children, boost fertility and attract young families, and close the class divide in marriage and family formation outcomes.

After an Afghan national drove his car into a Munich crowd, J.D. Vance delivered a stern rebuke of the European ruling class. Unsustainable immigration, Islamic extremism, and censorship raise the question whether once-great nations can be relied on as true Western allies. Meanwhile back home, Democrats struggle to decouple from woke, but best not interrupt their mistakes. The guys sit down to talk foreign policy, DOGE's popularity, and resistance 2.0—plus, recommendations for must-watch shows and must-read articles! 

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has presented a moral dilemma as its processes discard embryos as a matter of course, ending more lives than even abortion. Emma Waters, Natalie Dodson, and Inez Stepman join host Ryan Williams to discuss this and other concerns surrounding IVF: genetic selection, the creation of human life for profit, the potential use of AI in dictating which embryos live, and more. They also raise solutions state legislatures may consider in the process; possible consequences; and the looming, necessary conversation of bioethics and parenthood in America.

Elon Musk's DOGE continues to sweep through the bureaucratic minefields, accompanied by the howling of entrenched progressives. Legal battles are surely ahead, which many on the left equate—absurdly—with a constitutional crisis. Meanwhile, the media comes around to what was labeled right-wing conspiracy just months ago: employment data was cherry-picked before the 2024 election to deceive in favor of Biden and Kamala. The hosts discuss this ongoing realignment, a Christian intellectual revival, and a couple listener questions.

Time to tighten the belt. As federal funding scrutiny increases—and with an enrollment cliff fast approaching—state legislators, not internal experts, must take action to put universities under the microscope and ensure faculty hours equate to student academic mastery, promoting attendance. Host and Claremont Institute president Ryan Williams sits down with returning guest Scott Yenor and is joined by Frederick Hess and Beth Akers of the American Enterprise Institute to continue the discussion of how state legislatures may reshape universities, from performance funding to school choice.

Elon Musk's DOGE helps lead an effort to pull out the rug from under Sri Lankan pronoun education, Vietnamese inclusivity programs, Bolivian transgender operas, and more—with the U.S. Agency for International Development caught in the first sweep. An outrage! Or so say leftists. In retaliation for that and more, the liberal media unearths the qualifications of Musk's young staff, who turn out to be…educated, accomplished, and competent. Whoops. The guys sit down to talk wasteful spending and managerial efficiency, along with Christianity's role in government.

Kicking off the Cincinnatus Series, a set of six weekly Roundtable special episodes, Claremont Institute president Ryan Williams is joined by Inez Stepman, Scott Yenor, and David Azerrad to discuss leftist agendas within universities, and the opportunity for state legislatures to pull the reins and reverse course. Among the levers for dismantling the radical ideological infrastructures are the creation of state-controlled accreditation agencies, funding restrictions, and a renewed focus on student outcomes. The guests discuss these topics, potential pitfalls, and more!

The uphill battle to restore common sense continues with Trump's executive orders against gender ideology and transition for minors. Meanwhile, a rebellion against the liberal establishment takes joyous shape among normalcy-craving youth. Pinehill Capital president and We the People podcast host Gates Garcia joins the guys to discuss these vibe shifts and the extremely hinged reaction from the Left as they struggle to meet the positivity, branding, and hype of the Right.

Objective normalcy makes a comeback. In several inauguration speeches, Trump delivered a searing indictment of the elites, a symbolic rebuke to the old order, and a reassertion of American ideals. He followed this up with a barrage of executive orders, including one overturning federal affirmative action. Though these are dramatic actions in one sense, in another they're just first steps toward restoring the founders' principled regime. The hosts discuss the first days of Trumps term, the spillover effect of ending federal DEI programs in the private sector, and the reconsideration of birthright citizenship in the face of birth tourism and mass immigration.

The age of the normie has arrived. As Mark Zuckerberg lifts Facebook's censorial boot off the neck of its users and moves its moderation team from California to Texas, which seems to signal a sincere tech bro realignment, America is at the dawn of a freer era. Elsewhere in the digital world, conservatives on X discuss the job market: there are two paths, bootstraps or victimhood—what will it be, young man? Plus: The hosts comment on Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing and his qualifications, as well as the DoD's overreliance on experts.

To kick off the new year, the guys open the mail and answer listeners' questions on everything from cutting back the glut of unaccountable bureaucratic offices to buying Greenland.  Meanwhile, Governor Gavin Newsom and the radical conservationists of California, in attempting to create an anti-human environmentalist utopia, have tragically but predictably turned Los Angeles into a literal dumpster fire. It's a new year, but the laws of hubris and nemesis remain undefeated.

Is that a bird, is that a plane? No, it's drones! Or aliens? Demons? Iran? The guys take a look up in the sky and down at the public frenzy, which betokens an all-too-real breakdown of trust in government. Democrats, meanwhile, disappointed in Biden for not taking Trump-proofing seriously, float running dud-candidate Kamala again in '28. We're with her! Plus: is it gay to sleep? The hosts close out the podcast this year with a review of 2024, share their Christmas plans, and invite listeners to submit questions and comments. 

As Biden's lame duck administration winds down, he—or whoever's in charge—is leaving a few fun parting gifts for the incoming Trump Administration. From escalation in Ukraine, to a re-opened border surprise, to the intractable financial situation, Trump's team will have their work cut out for them. Democrat strategists, however, seem determined not to learn anything from their electoral failure, which bodes well for the future. So the editors remain optimistic—and thankful. Ryan gives a spirited reading of Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving proclamation, and the guys swap notes on holiday plans.

With a historic second Trump presidency on the way, there's a new vista of possibility just over the horizon. Immigration, trade, and international relations are each in for a major overhaul. But amid the scramble to plan out Trump's first 100 days, there's one critical area that has largely evaded conservative attention: education. Ryan and Spencer are joined by Professor Amy Wax to unpack some of the most efficient ways a Trump administration could reform our broken system from kindergarten on up to the college level.

Trump assembles a notably youthful cabinet of swamp-draining avengers, grinding the gears of the Left. Democrats, meanwhile, face a Hobson's choice between declining into irrelevancy and admitting they were wrong about Trump all along. Some are taking a sober look at the future while others spiral into BlueAnon conspiracy and outrage, doubling down on race politics despite its failure or getting Lysistrata-pilled and swearing off men. Good luck, we guess? 

Exceeding even the most optimistic expectations, Trump swept across the states handily to the chagrin of the Harris-Walz campaign, winning both the electoral and popular votes—and becoming the second-only president to serve two, nonconsecutive terms. The editors react to the election results, the Left's wild missteps and pending meltdown; the Trump campaign's successes; and what his first 100 days should look like. 

Joe Biden has October surprised everyone by saying what he really thinks for a change. In a pitiful effort to characterize Trump's Madison Square Garden rally as a Neo-Nazi gathering, Biden unguardedly referred to Trump supporters as "garbage." As both candidates make their closing arguments, the editors share their final thoughts on the election, the strengths of each campaign, and the dangers of a Kamala victory. These include censorship of “misinformation” and crackdowns on dissent, of the kind some New York Times reporters would love to see. Plus: An inside look at Claremont's Sheriffs Fellowship and a 1,200-word education on American principles with James Madison. Recommended media:  On Property  Beyond the Polls 

Conservative-backed litigation is whittling away at the administrative state to protect the rights and decision-making power of the people. Meanwhile, liberal thinkers hyperventilate over the need for “experts,” and cast the average pleb as unworthy of having a voice. Back on the campaign trail, Trump enjoys McDonalds once again–but as a fry cook. In response, the Harris crowd goes ballistic in a very normal and hinged way. The race remains neck-and-neck, but blue cracks are beginning to show as Democrats struggle to be relevant. Recommended reading: The CRB Interview with Harvey Mansfield Can Modernity Be Fixed?

As election season heats up, Harris loses steam in battleground states--and loses grip on support from black voters and men. After years of wishfully presenting the emasculated man as an ideal of "enlightened" masculinity, the campaign reverses course and marshals the full force of Democrat media savvy in an attempt to shame men into voting for Kamala because that's what real manhood looks like. The results are...underwhelming. Plus: Kamala's book, Smart on Crime, is found to be low on rigor and full of rampant plagiarism, not that anyone ever thought she wrote it. All the same, none of this is a great look for the VP. Is the tide turning?  Recommended reading: Ta-Nehisi Coates and the Crying Staffers of CBS

Trump was back in Butler this week after a failed assassination attempt there—and joining him on-stage this time was none other than Elon Musk. But will MAGA Musk last? Meanwhile, Kamala Harris has been giggling her way through a few shows and podcasts, notably including the crude and awkward chat pod, Call Her Daddy. The editors discuss Harris's many faceplants, the potential of the pod-bro vote, and the signs that Democrats may be worried by the polls. Recommended media: Mr. X Identity in the Trenches: The Fatal Impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on U.S. Military Readiness Winter 2023/24 Review with Charles Kesler

Seth Barron returns to the podcast to discuss Tuesday's rousing VP Debate, in which a silver-tongued J.D. Vance thoroughly trounced a sputtering and nervous Tim Walz. Will it matter at all? Meanwhile, the world collapses in on the giant power vacuum left by America's absent president, as Hurricane Helene ravages six states and Iran launches missiles at Israel. Plus: immigration expert Todd Bensman gives his firsthand account of the shocking immigration debacle in Colombia, and what the Trump team ought to be doing about it.

In today's special edition of The Roundtable, Ryan Williams, President of the Claremont Institute interviews Vivek Ramaswamy about his latest book "Truths: The Future of America First." Buy the book here. In "Truths: The Future of America First," Ramaswamy shows exactly how honesty about the most important issues will get our country back on track. The America First movement emphasizes the issues that bring us together, not what divides us. It asks that we put our country over politics, merit over grievance, and truth over lies. Ramaswamy tells us the truth about our political system, and the people who control it, and exhorts us to exercise our right to self-governance again. Vivek is an American business leader and New York Times bestselling author of "Woke, Inc.," as well as "Nation of Victims," "Capitalist Punishment," and most recently "Truths: The Future of America First." Left leaning media has called him one of the “intellectual godfathers of the anti-woke movement” (Politico) and the “right's leading anti-ESG crusader” (Axios and Bloomberg). He was dubbed “The C.E.O. of Anti-Woke,” by The New Yorker. Vivek is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Roivant Sciences. He is a former U.S. Presidential Candidate (R). He was born in Cincinnati to Indian parents. In high school he was class valedictorian, a nationally ranked junior tennis player and an accomplished pianist. He lives in Ohio with his wife and two sons.  Learn more about Vivek Ramaswamy's work here.

Not even two months after the first assassination attempt against him, President Trump survives another one. Media coverage of the event has been—predictably—atrocious. Meanwhile, Ketanji Brown Jackson has, by citing a junk study to support affirmative action, perfectly illuminated the dishonesty inherent in modern uses of social science. One of which is to support the Left' in its march toward mass censorship against anyone who doesn't support the current thing. Plus: an announcement about James & Seth. Recommended media: The Lord's Day vs. the NFL Light of the Mind, Light of the World: Illuminating Science Through Faith Referenced Theo Wold X Post

In a special, up-to-the-minute episode of The Roundtable, Mike, Spencer, and Ryan give their first impressions of what was, by all accounts, a dog's breakfast of a debate. Topics include Trump's missed opportunities, Kamala's boldfaced lies, and the hellaciously biased moderation by ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis. Plus: will Trump's closing mic drop be enough to win voters over?

In a time when the slimmest margins in just a couple of swing states can flip national elections, Democrats are making a play for the pews. Claremont Institute Lincoln Fellow and Daily Wire Reporter Megan Basham joins the editors to discuss her latest book, Shepherds for Sale, which describes a left-wing effort to wield evangelical voting power and moral prestige for woke causes. Plus: Brazil is encroaching on the free speech rights of Americans through sanctions on X/Twitter, while the FBI is consulting with the Brazilian government to facilitate the encroachment. Are we heading toward jail time for memes? Mentioned media: Fleecing the Flock Stop It by Bob Newhart  

RFK Jr. has stepped out of the presidential race and thrown his weight behind Trump. Will it help, or will he be forced back onto the ballot in swing states by the court? And will RFK's movement be absorbed by the Right, or remake the Right in its image? Meanwhile, Disney tried to argue that a man couldn't sue them and would have to go through arbitration because he once signed up for a Disney+ trial and thus was bound to their terms of service. Are infamous terms of service a backdoor to suppressing citizen rights and freedoms, or a necessary evil in the modern world? The editors break it down. In closing, they take a closer look at where the abortion issue currently stands and where it might go now that Dobbs is the law of the land.

As the spectacle of the DNC passes before our screens, the Obamas expertly put a button on the Left's fable of Joe's evanescence and Kamala's rise to greatness. But will it stick, and how far can media hype take Comrade Kamala? She has been surprisingly aggressive about wearing Trump's campaign policies as a skinsuit, yet simultaneously running economically to the left of...herself and her own administration. Are Americans converging around a particular basket of populist policy positions, and will Kamala's gambit to play both sides work? The editors disentangle the headlines and the emerging trends. Plus: a new cast lineup, featuring Mike Sabo!

As we hurtle ever closer to the election and headlines fly past left and right, it can be hard to tell which news stories will make a dent, and which will vanish into the memory hole. Spencer and Ryan bring on former Bureau of Justice Statistics Director Jeffrey H. Anderson to game out what major points of late will ultimately help determine the final electoral count, from Walz's dubious military service claims, to JD Vance's net worth, to polling, and more!   Recommended reading/listening Covid Catastrophes Jeffrey H. Anderson on the Real Covid Catastrophe

Kamala Harris has chosen her VP, and he's right out of central casting--if you're shooting an episode of Ted Lasso featuring nationwide race riots. That's right, it's Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. It's unclear that this will do much to buttress support for Harris among the "white dudes" she claims to be courting, but she's at least avoided angering the pro-Hamas crowd by not picking Palestine critic Josh Shapiro. Meanwhile, Hamas itself took an L when one of its leaders was assassinated by a bomb planted in the Tehran guesthouse. Finally, Google lost a massive anti-trust lawsuit recently for monopolizing search engines. Is the ruling a step in the right direction, or a token win for everyday people while Google continues to operate in the shadows?   Recommended reading: The Final GirlBoss Line Up, White Boys!