Israeli-American political analyst and journalist
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“Braver Angels events always leave me hopeful and energized,” says Yuval Levin of the recent Convention in Philadelphia. “A lot of people from different parts of our politics, from different parts of our country, from different parts of our economy come together and express a a kind of conviction that ultimately our country matters more than our parties, and our country matters more than ideological convictions.”In this wide-ranging conversation with one of America's most admired public intellectuals, we discuss the resilience of the American constitutional system, the impact of attention politics, and the need for constructive disagreement and courageous citizenship at a time of toxic divides.“The American political tradition speaks in the first person plural in a really beautiful way and speaks in the voice of a people taking a kind of common ownership of their future together,” he says.Yuval Levin is a conservative political thinker and theorist, but unlike most writers and journalists of the right or left, he is a gentle advocate who does not argue for a strictly partisan agenda. His most recent book is "American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation— And Could Again".Levin is The Editor-in-Chief of National Affairs and the director of Social, Cultural and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a leading think tank in Washington D.C. Levin's has written many articles for The National Review, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and other widely-read publications.He says that he is worried that America's constitutional system is “under some assault by a president who wants too much power, and by a Congress that wants too little power and therefore is willing to allow the system to be deformed.”However, Levin remains hopeful. In retrospect, “I think our time will seem more stable and less divided than it seems to us,” he tells “How Do We Fix It?” “Our division is real. We need to make sure we don't allow it to tear us apart. The fact that it has always been like this isn't a reason not to worry. It's a reason to take it seriously.”Recommendation: Yuval Levin recommends “The American Revolution”, a recent 12-part PBS documentary by Ken Burns. “It doesn't take partisan sides, and tells the story of the revolution in a very, very engaging way.”Here's a link to one of Yuval Levin's appearences at the 2026 Braver Angels Convention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does it mean to be an American? What is government for? What reforms will fix our political system? Join Jonah Goldberg, Yuval Levin, and 100 little policy gnomes at the American Enterprise Institute to find out! Jonah and Yuval cover America at 250 and reflect on the Bicentennial. They also discuss Graham Platner versus Ken Paxton, what it means to hold office, America's 50/50 problem, unitary executive theory, the administrative state, civic virtue, election reform, Nixonian propaganda, and taking people as they find them. Show Notes: —AEI's America at 250 series —Remnant on E. E. Schattschneider and primaries —Yuval talks to Ezra Klein —Lee Drutman on The Ezra Klein Show The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including the Saturday Ruminant, audio versions of all our articles and newsletters, and Jonah's twice-weekly G-File—click here. Instructions on how to set up your members-only feed can be found here, and if you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Something a little different this week. This is a Village Squarecast episode, shared here in full, and you'll hear Corey host the top before turning it over to Liz Joyner, founder and president of The Village Square. Steve Seibert moderates. The guest is Dr. Yuval Levin, director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, founder and editor of National Affairs, and author of American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation and Could Again. He has been on TP&R before. And we just loved hearing him with our good friends at the Village Square. The argument that makes this worth your ninety minutes: we don't disagree too much in this country. We disagree too little. We spend our days talking about each other instead of to each other, and the Constitution was built less to make us agree than to help us act together when we don't. In this conversation: ✅ Why the left and right at their best are both telling part of the truth, one a politics of formation, the other a politics of liberation ✅ Why unity was never meant to mean thinking alike ✅ How a system built to be slow and frustrating trades speed for legitimacy ✅ The case for growing the House by 150 members, and why it would only take a law ✅ Why term limits for Congress would hand the institution to lobbyists ✅ Martin Van Buren, party systems, and a tip of the cap to nobody's favorite president About the guest Yuval Levin serves as a senior editor at The New Atlantis and a contributing editor at National Review. He served on the White House domestic policy staff under President George W. Bush. He holds a master's and a PhD from the University of Chicago and is the author of seven books. More from The Village Square This conversation closes out UNUM: Democracy Reignited, The Village Square's series with Florida Humanities marking America at 250. Subscribe to Village Squarecast wherever you listen, and support their work at villagesquare.us/donate. Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Watch on YouTube. Leave a review at lovethepodcast.com/politicsandreligion. Clarity, charity, and conviction can live in the same room. Yes, really.
Something a little different this week. This is a Village Squarecast episode, shared here in full, and you'll hear Corey host the top before turning it over to Liz Joyner, founder and president of The Village Square. Steve Seibert moderates. The guest is Dr. Yuval Levin, director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, founder and editor of National Affairs, and author of American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation and Could Again. He has been on TP&R before. And we just loved hearing him with our good friends at the Village Square. The argument that makes this worth your ninety minutes: we don't disagree too much in this country. We disagree too little. We spend our days talking about each other instead of to each other, and the Constitution was built less to make us agree than to help us act together when we don't. In this conversation: ✅ Why the left and right at their best are both telling part of the truth, one a politics of formation, the other a politics of liberation ✅ Why unity was never meant to mean thinking alike ✅ How a system built to be slow and frustrating trades speed for legitimacy ✅ The case for growing the House by 150 members, and why it would only take a law ✅ Why term limits for Congress would hand the institution to lobbyists ✅ Martin Van Buren, party systems, and a tip of the cap to nobody's favorite president About the guest Yuval Levin serves as a senior editor at The New Atlantis and a contributing editor at National Review. He served on the White House domestic policy staff under President George W. Bush. He holds a master's and a PhD from the University of Chicago and is the author of seven books. More from The Village Square This conversation closes out UNUM: Democracy Reignited, The Village Square's series with Florida Humanities marking America at 250. Subscribe to Village Squarecast wherever you listen, and support their work at villagesquare.us/donate. Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Watch on YouTube. Leave a review at lovethepodcast.com/politicsandreligion. Clarity, charity, and conviction can live in the same room. Yes, really.
Send us Fan MailOne of conservatism's brightest policy minds, Yuval Levin, joins us to talk about his book *The Fractured Republic.*—Mere Fidelity is a podcast from Mere Orthodoxy and is listener-supported. If you would like to support this work, become a Mere Orthodoxy Member today at http://mereorthodoxy.com/membership.Get 30% of the Baker Book of the Month, The Pursuit of Character: Recovering the Virtues, by going to: http://bakerbookhouse.com/pages/mere-fidelity
American history is riddled with collisions between legally defensible rulings and morally costly outcomes. Still, "the purpose of law in any society is to embody a moral framework in practice," says Yuval Levin, who joins Mark Labberton to explore the moral architecture in the foundation of the American legal system, as they review the most recent rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court has just closed one of the most consequential terms in recent memory, articulating the tension between faithfulness to the Constitution and enacting justice and morality. Together they reflect on why and how a system founded on equality must be both majoritarian and counter-majoritarian at once; why a judge's job is to articulate their legal (rather than their moral) opinion; the rise of Constitutional originalism; why pre-Trump conservative arguments win at this Court while "Trumpy" ones lose; the contemporary relevance of the Federalist Papers; what recourse citizens have when they believe the Court has done wrong; and why the American legal system's worst failures still cluster around race. They explore several of the 2025-26 rulings of the Supreme Court, including imposition of tariffs, immigration enforcement, and birthright citizenship, and the Voting Rights Act. Episode Highlights "The purpose of law in any society is to embody a moral framework in practice." "This is a very good time to get to know The Federalist Papers." "The role of the judge in the American system is to apply the law, not to find the moral answer per se. We hope the law does that, though it doesn't always and we know it." "The American system of government, very much for moral reasons, is expected to be both majoritarian and counter-majoritarian." [Regarding Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh] "They grew up in the same place. They literally went to the same high school and had the same history teacher. Their mothers knew each other … They agreed with each other 52% of the time in this last term of the Supreme Court." [Courts to Trump] "You are in charge of the executive branch, but the executive branch is not in charge of the American government." "If you come to this court with a pre-Trump conservative legal argument, you're going to win. If you come to this court with a Trumpy legal argument, you're going to lose." "We experienced the high water mark of executive power about a year ago, and it is now receding." "The areas where it has failed most are concentrated around questions of race. That has been true from the beginning. It is thankfully less true than it used to be, but it is still true, and I think we have to be uniquely sensitive to those questions for that reason." About Yuval Levin Yuval Levin is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy and directs Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies. He founded and edits National Affairs, and he is a senior editor at The New Atlantis and a contributing editor at National Review. His books include "The Great Debate," "The Fractured Republic," "A Time to Build," and most recently, "American Covenant." He served on the White House domestic policy staff under George W. Bush and earned his PhD at the University of Chicago's Committee on Social Thought. Helpful Links and Resources Yuval Levin at the American Enterprise Institute: https://www.aei.org/profile/yuval-levin/ National Affairs, the publication Levin founded and edits: https://nationalaffairs.com/authors/detail/yuval-levin American Covenant, by Yuval Levin: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/yuval-levin/american-covenant/9780465040742/?lens=basic-books A Time to Build, by Yuval Levin: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/yuval-levin/a-time-to-build/9781541699281/?lens=basic-books The Federalist Papers, full text at the Library of Congress: https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers Trump v. Slaughter, the decision overturning Humphrey's Executor (June 29, 2026): https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-332_qn12.pdf Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, the IEEPA tariffs decision (February 20, 2026): https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf Louisiana v. Callais, the Voting Rights Act decision (April 29, 2026): https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109_21o3.pdf Coverage of the birthright citizenship ruling in Trump v. Barbara, SCOTUSblog: https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/06/supreme-court-strikes-down-trumps-order-ending-birthright-citizenship/ Show Notes Yuval Levin's legal/constitutional frame: The law exists to put a society's moral convictions into workable practice. On "All men are created equal": If no one has natural authority over anyone else, we decide by majority vote—but equality also means the minority keeps its rights no matter who wins The Constitution assigns those two jobs to different institutions and lets them fight: Congress and the president answer to majorities, the courts deliberately do not Life tenure and fixed salaries exist so justices can protect minority rights without fear of majority reprisal A judge's job is to say what the law is, not to reach the most just result; therefore good judges regularly land where they might wish they didn't. What citizens can do when the Court rules wrongly: If it misread a statute, Congress can rewrite it. Constitutional rulings are harder to undo, but examples include the 16th Amendment (re: income tax) and the 14th Amendment (re: black citizenship, answering the Court directly) The pro-life movement's 50-year strategy to overturn Roe v. Wade Levin on the difficulty of simply being in the political minority, and why the system tries to make everyone a winner sometimes Originalism began as a limit on judicial power and judges' preferences Legal originalism looks for original public meaning, not the drafters' intent Parallel to biblical interpretation, where faithful readers reach wildly different conclusions The challenge of interpreting and applying the Constitution to matters of freedom and democracy today With Congress mostly absent, the Court is now deciding questions of executive power the Federalist Papers were written about Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch: Same age, same hometown, same high school history teacher, agreed only 52% of the time this term Trump v. Slaughter ends the independent agency: the Court overturned Humphrey's Executor, and the president can now fire FTC-style commissioners at will 2026 Court rulings also told the president no: on tariffs, on the National Guard in Illinois without the governor's consent, and on birthright citizenship Levin's rule of thumb: Pre-Trump conservative arguments win at this Court, Trumpy arguments lose Yuval Levin: Executive power peaked about a year ago and is now receding. Louisiana v. Callais guts Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by requiring proof of racial intent A legal bind: Black voters vote Democratic by 90% in the South, so a racist map and a purely partisan map look identical Levin defends the ruling as law and grieves it as outcome—several Black-held Southern seats will likely be redistricted away Why he opposes reauthorizing the VRA with race-based set-aside districts, and where he thinks change should come from instead Software now lets parties gerrymander voter by voter—in New England, Trump won 35% and Republicans hold zero House seats The deceptions of the human heart Does constitutional structure just launder self-interest? The system's deepest failures have always clustered around race Gratitude for the Constitution in America's 250th year #SupremeCourt #Constitution #VotingRights #Originalism #ExecutivePower #FaithAndPolitics #YuvalLevin #Conversing Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.
On the eve of America's 250th birthday, The Village Square and Florida Humanities proudly present: Dr. Yuval Levin: American Covenant As we near July 4th in our 250th year, we turn our attention to the document that charted a path for a new country—the Constitution. Far from being the source of our problems as has become fashionable to believe, Dr. Yuval Levin argues that the Constitution holds the power to save us. According to Levin, "it doesn't mean thinking alike, it means acting together." Are you wondering how we could possibly act together when we disagree so vehemently? Join us as we meet a scholar who "may be the most important voice in the political culture right now." Learn more about our guests and find the program online here . This program is part of the series in partnership with Florida Humanities — "UNUM: Democracy Reignited," a multi-year digital offering exploring the past, present and future of the American idea — as it exists on paper, in the hearts of our people, and as it manifests (or sometimes fails to manifest) in our lives. View the full series of programs online here. ———————————————————— The Village Square is a proud member of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. UNUM: Democracy Reignited is funded in part by Florida Humanities with support from Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Mellon Foundation. (Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of our funders.) By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
We are Americans best when we are not Americans first. Watch this episode on YouTube In this special Fourth of July episode, Russell revisits conversations with Ken Burns, Eddie Glaude Jr., Michael Luo, Jon Guerra, Yuval Levin, Sharon McMahon, and Jon Meacham to ask what faithful citizenship looks like in an anxious and divided age. Guests in these conversations explore America's founding, its failures, the difference between patriotism and nationalism, the place of immigrants and strangers, the danger of political idolatry, and why Christians must resist both cynicism and sentimentalism. If our ultimate citizenship is in the kingdom of God, perhaps that's precisely what frees us to tell the truth, love our neighbors, and seek the good of the country we've inherited—with gratitude, humility, and hope. Keep up with Russell: Subscribe to Russell on Substack Sign up for the weekly Moore to the Point newsletter Submit a question for the show at questions@russellmoore.com Subscribe to the Christianity Today Magazine: Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In a few short days, we'll be celebrating America's 250th birthday, but rather than feeling uniformly triumphant and celebratory, America's Semiquincentennial comes at a time when many worry about the state of our democracy and civic culture.Schools are central to this worry. Many are concerned that civic education in American schools is insufficient or misguided, and that schools are not doing enough to prepare the next generation of Americans for self-governance. But what would better civic education look like?What subject matter should it consist of? What should its aims be? And how much of it should happen in schools?On this episode of The Report Card, Nat Malkus discusses these questions and more with Yuval Levin.Yuval Levin is a senior fellow at AEI, where he is the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy; Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies; and Editor in Chief of National Affairs. He is also the author of several books, including American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—and Could Again.
Amid polarization and deadlock, how can people in the United States better understand the habits and responsibilities that sustain a free society? The United States has practiced the same type of government since the late 1700s, enduring through vast societal and technological changes. What are the biggest political challenges facing America as it turns 250, and how can citizens lead the country forward? Join David Young and guest Yuval Levin, director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, to find out why today's era reminds Levin of the Gilded Age, why political leaders must embrace coalition-building, and why today's challenges are numerous but far from insurmountable. For more from The Conference Board: 250 Years Forward: Strengthening an American Future A Stable Democracy at 250: Trusted Elections as the Foundation Trusted Elections Are the Foundation of Economic Growth and Business Confidence
The Situation Report for June 5, 2026. Rep. Crenshaw covers the biggest stories of the past week. The ceasefire agreement the U.S. just brokered between Israel and Lebanon – and why Hezbollah could screw it all up. How a shocking murder case in Britain is exposing the country's "two-tier system" of justice. Why President Trump just went all-in on coal – and what it means for grid reliability and energy costs. All this and much more news in less than 12 minutes. All you need to know about Iranian Proxies, Hezbollah, and the U.S. brokered ceasefire in Lebanon The Henry Nowak murder case rocks Britain UK erupts in riots over Britain's 'Two-Tier Justice' system Senate passes massive border security funding President Trump revives the American coal industry Why reliable power matters more than green subsidies Hiring surges as the labor market beats expectations China deepens ties with Kim Jong Un regime US cities brace for the World Cup If you read nothing else before America 250: American Covenant by Yuval Levin
Margaret Hoover sits down with American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Yuval Levin and National Constitution Center CEO Emeritus Jeffrey Rosen to discuss the enduring ideals of America's founding documents.Levin and Rosen, who both contributed to the NCC's new book “The Promise of America,” reflect on the shared principles and ideological differences between the nation's founders and how those philosophical clashes have echoed through to the present.Levin addresses the dysfunction of Congress in the modern era, how it became so polarized, and what can be done to bring it closer to what the founders intended. Rosen comments on proposals to increase the size of Congress and the difficulty of amending the Constitution.The two constitutional scholars assess the state of executive power in the second Trump administration, and they look ahead to the challenges artificial intelligence may pose for American democracy.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, Katharine J. Rayner, Charles R. Schwab, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, Jared Stone, Al and Kathy Hubbard, and Craig Newmark Philanthropies.
Should Congress be larger—both in number and presence? Should American universities take more responsibility for forming good citizens? Should Americans disagree more than they do today? In this episode of The Conservative Woman's Guide, Karin Lips is joined by Yuval Levin, director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute and founder and editor of National Affairs. […]
ABOUT THE EPISODEListen in as Trent Hunter and Stephen Wellum interview David Schrock on his COA Longform Essay, "Seeking a Convention That Is Not Southern Baptist In Name Only: How to Regain Trust, Rebuild the Trustee System, and Avoid an Impending Exodus of Vocal Conservatives"Timestamps00:45 – Intro02:15 – Each COA Member's SBC Biography08:08 – Why Is COA Doing this Month?12:50 – What 2 or 3 Articles From This Month are Recommended?15:22 – Recognizing Leaders Whose Humility Regains Trust20:50 – Applying Theology to the SBC Issues25:46 – Recruiting Trustees Who Will Hold Entities Accountable28:34 – The Baptist Courier Ad29:50 – Accountability for Trustees34:08 – Trustee Selection36:00 – Reorganizing the Convention to Magnify Trust44:14 – What Should SBC Messengers Be Looking For Between Now and Orlando?51:32 – Walking in a Spirit of Cooperation/OutroResources to Click“Seeking a Convention That Is Not Southern Baptist In Name Only: How to Regain Trust, Rebuild the Trustee System, and Avoid an Impending Exodus of Vocal Conservatives” – David Schrock“Southern Baptists warm to alternate moniker ‘Great Commission Baptists'” – Adelle M. Banks“Under Reconstruction: How the Egalitarian Beachball Wrecks the Household of God” – Christ Over All“Creeds, Confessions, and Cooperation: The Basis of Our Unity” – Christ Over All“The Ethics & Religious Liberty Conundrum” – Christ Over All“More Money Than Men: The NAMB Church Planting Problem” – Michael Clary“Whoever Holds the Purse Holds the Strings: The Financial Plan that Could End the SBC” – Rhett Burns“What's Trusty About SBC Trustees: Does Trustee Training Fix Ailing Entities or Institutionalize Passivity?” – Jon Whitehead“Why Baptists Must Recover the Order of Love” – Alex Kocman“One Sacred Effeminacy: The Cooperative Longhouse And the Great Feminization of the SBC” – Doug Ponder“14 Clint Pressley, David Schrock, and Stephen Wellum: ‘The SBC: A Presidential Perspective with Clint Pressley'” – Christ Over All“16 Josh Powell, David Schrock, and Stephen Wellum: ‘Getting to Know SBC Presidential Candidate Josh Powell'” – Christ Over All“17 Willy Rice, David Schrock, and Stephen Wellum: ‘Getting to Know SBC Presidential Candidate Willy Rice'” – Christ Over All“What Is the Cause of Our Divisions? Social Media and Other Strategies for Effecting Positive Change in the SBC” – David Schrock“The Attempt to Clarify Resolution 9” – Tom Ascol“Stewardship of Our SBC Land” – Mark Coppenger“‘Too Busy with Woke Stuff': The All Too (In)Visible and Inconsequential ERLC” – Megan Basham“New Boss, Same as the Old Boss: Michels' Iron Law of Oligarchy and the SBC” – Joshua AbbotoyBy What Standard? God's World, God's Rules – Founders MinistriesHow the SBC Got Played – Crosspolitic StudiosX post by Cuatro Nelson (@cuatronelson), “On Sunday, we officially voted to leave the Southern Baptist Convention…,” September 18, 2025“We Don't Like Theology, Do We? Three Reflections from the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention” – David Schrock“The SBC Isn't Drifting—It's Being Steered: A Sober-Minded Response to Emotional Sabotage” – Michael Carlino“Greear Announces Most Diverse Ever Committee on Committees” – Brent Hobbs“The Great Commission Resurgence Debate” – Trevin WaxTheme of the Month: Can the Center Hold? The Southern Baptist Convention in the 21st CenturyGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadFault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe – Voddie Baucham Jr.Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda– Megan BashamThe Fractured Republic: Renewing America's Social Contract in an Age of Individualism – Yuval Levin
Not since the Marquis de Lafayette's triumphant 1824 tour of the United States has a return been more welcome than Yuval Levin's to The Remnant. After greeting our patriot hero with laurels and kisses, Jonah Goldberg sets Yuval up for a philosophical tour de force, covering the president's war powers, cultural and institutional change, education in republicanism, the effects of new technology on our Constitutional order, the Scottish Enlightenment, rationalism vs. reason, Hayek vs. Burke, and the new right in the post-Trump world. Show Notes:—Yuval's book, American Covenant—AEI's First Branch Society—Allen Guelzo on The Remnant—Register for LSU's 2026 John Breaux Symposium The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including access to all of Jonah's G-File newsletters—click here. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What does conservatism mean in an age of populism, executive power, and institutional distrust? Yuval Levin is a political theorist, the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, and the author of American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—and Could Again. Today he argues that the deepest divide in American politics is no longer left versus right, but populism versus institutions. Levin traces the shift within the conservative movement from an emphasis on morality and constitutional limits to a more confrontational style of politics, and he explains why durable reform requires coalition building, legislation, and respect for procedure. He reflects on his time in the Bush administration, the limits of presidential governance, the fight over universities, the coming politics of AI, and why the Constitution was designed to hold a divided nation together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is American society more polarized than ever? How did the Founding Fathers handle division in their day? On this week's “Leaders and Legends” podcast, we interview renowned scholar Yuval Levin about his brilliant and compelling new book “American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—And Could Again”, and we do it courtesy of Marian University and its Richard G. Lugar Speaker Series.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
President Trump's approval ratings on the economy, immigration and trade are deep in the red. But in Tuesday night's State of the Union address, he decided to tell the American people: You don't know what you're talking about. “Today our border is secure, our spirit is restored, inflation is plummeting, incomes are rising fast. The roaring economy is roaring like never before,” he said. I'm not going to fact-check the president in this episode. But I do want to ask: Even if he can't be honest with the American people, is he at least being honest with himself? My editor Aaron Retica joins me to discuss. Mentioned: “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration” by Miles Taylor “Has Trump Achieved a Lot Less Than It Seems?” with Yuval Levin on “The Ezra Klein Show” Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs. This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Claire Gordon and Marie Cascione. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Kate Sinclair and Mary Marge Locker. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Isaac Jones & Aman Sahota. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Annie Galvin, Rollin Hu, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Jack McCordick, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Send us a textWho actually has the power over elections in the United States — the federal government, the states, or the president?Alexis takes you go back to the Constitution itself. Because here's the truth: many adults have never been taught (or have near forgotten) how the Constitution is structured, where power is assigned, or why federalism exists in the first place. (This is a super basic/quick overview). When we don't understand that structure, modern debates about elections can feel confusing, emotional, and disconnected from reality.Alexis walks through the basics most people missed:how the Constitution is organizedwhat the Articles actually assign to Congress, the President, and the courtswhere federalism lives in the texthow the Bill of Rights — especially the 10th Amendment — draws a clear line between federal and state powerFrom there, she gets concrete about elections: who runs them, who sets guardrails, and why the president has no constitutional authority to administer or centralize elections.To help frame today's tensions, she puts two books into conversation — The Divided States of America by Donald F. Kettl and American Covenant by Yuval Levin — exploring whether federalism is a system that's breaking down… or one that's doing exactly what it was designed to do.This episode isn't about personalities or partisan talking points. It's about structure, limits, and why understanding the Constitution changes how we see current events.Because policy isn't abstract. It's personal. And federalism is where our disagreements are meant to live.Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the_idaho_lady/ JOIN the convo on Substack & STAY up-to-date with emails and posts https://substack.com/@theidaholady?r=5katbx&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Send Alexis an email with guest requests, ideas, or potential collaboration.email@thealexismorgan.comFind great resources, info on school communities, and other current projects regarding public policy:https://www.thealexismorgan.com
We are one year into Trump's second term. And it feels like so much has happened – more than the human mind, or the country, can absorb. But how much has Trump really accomplished? What policies have changed the country in a way that will last?My guest Yuval Levin is one of the smartest thinkers on the right, and his verdict is: not that much. “There's an important story to tell about the absence of action in the past year, too,” he tells me.Levin is the director of social, cultural and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, the founder and editor of National Affairs and the author of several books on policy and political theory, including “American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation – and Could Again.”Mentioned:ChartsBuckley by Sam TanenhausBook Recommendations:Insecure Majorities by Frances E. LeeMaking the Presidency by Lindsay M. ChervinskyLast Branch Standing by Sarah IsgurThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Rollin Hu. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Kate Sinclair. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Aman Sahota. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Marie Cascione, Annie Galvin, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Jack McCordick, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Common ground is hard to find in today's politics. In a society teeming with irreconcilable political perspectives, many people have grown frustrated under a system of government that constantly demands compromise. More and more on both the right and the left have come to blame the Constitution for the resulting discord. But the Constitution is not the problem we face; it is the solution.Yuval Levin, author of American Covenant and Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at AEI, joined us to discuss Congress's central role in the minds of the founders, and in the solutions to the political crises and challenges of the current age.Support the show
Josh opens the show with the news on a Venezuelan oil tanker being escorted and explains why the United States has a direct strategic interest in what happens in Venezuela, Cuba, and Colombia. He also unpacks the escalating protests in Iran and why the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous.Josh is then joined by Yuval Levin, Editor of National Affairs, for a deep dive into the state of healthcare reform in America—how we got here, why Republicans have struggled to make political gains on the issue, and why Democrats continue to expand spending without meaningful structural change. Levin also explores the divisions within the conservative movement and why both sides remain overly focused on their fringes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
His head all aswirl with yet-to-be-released Remnants, Jonah Goldberg moseys on down to the swamp for a swim with the punditry alligators. Jonah covers the Indiana redistricting that was not, gunboat diplomacy, nonexistent mustard-gas whores, evil AI, amending the Constitution, and the d-bag of the year. Shownotes:—Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right—The Arena with Kasie Hunt—Dead metaphors G-File—Cocaine Is Not Mustard Gas G-File—A Man of Great Sideburns | Interview: James M. Bradley—The Dispatch's Charles Hilu on Congress and trade—Yoram Hazony's The Virtue of Nationalism—Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz Interview with Sam Tannenhaus, Vanity Fair—Economist - “When LLMs learn to take shortcuts, they become evil”—Yuval Levin's American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—and Could Again—Glenn Beck Interviews AI GEORGE WASHINGTON—Scott Lincicome: “The $140,000 ‘Poverty Line' Is Laughably Wrong, So Why Does It Feel Right?” The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including access to all of Jonah's G-File newsletters—click here. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
U.S. politics today can be defined by extreme dysfunction and polarization. But the founders accounted for a fractured society, and designed our government specifically to handle moments like these. Listen as conservative scholar Yuval Levin discusses his book, American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation―and Could Again, which argues that the U.S. constitutional system is designed to compel us to find common ground and act together — and that the key is for Congress to play its leading role. Speakers: Yuval Levin, Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise InstituteHost: Michael Waldman, President, Brennan CenterIf you enjoy this program, please give us a boost by liking it, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends. If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, please give it a five-star rating. Recorded on November 21, 2025.Keep up with the Brennan Center's work by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, The Briefing, at https://go.brennancenter.org/briefing.The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to repair, revitalize, and defend our systems of democracy and justice so they work for all Americans. The Brennan Center cannot support or oppose any candidate for office.
Jonah Goldberg is not a populist, but when the masses demand an appearance by modern-day Founding Father Yuval Levin, even Jonah is powerless to resist. Jonah and Yuval reminisce about the life and legacy of Dick Cheney, discuss the rise of right-wing antisemitism, and ultimately agree that we need more boring politicians. Shownotes:—The Fettered Presidency - AEI—The Imperial Congress - Heritage—The Kevin Roberts video—Jonah's essay on popular frontism—Bobos In Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There—Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning—“Second Thoughts On James Burnham” The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including access to all of Jonah's G-File newsletters—click here. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this capstone episode of the “What Is the Right?” series, we consider the state of the Right today and where it's headed in the years to come. In this limited series, we've explored the different factions and flavors that make up what we would broadly call “the Right” in America today. We've looked at freedom […]
In this capstone episode of the "What Is the Right?" series, we consider the state of the Right today and where it's headed in the years to come. In this limited series, we've explored the different factions and flavors that make up what we would broadly call "the Right" in America today. We've looked at freedom conservatives and the New Right, talked to libertarians and traditionalists, explored fusionism and MAGA, and we've considered how Catholic, Jewish, and Evangelical conservatives define themselves today. Through it all, we've heard a variety of takes on where we stand, where we're going, and how the ideological landscape has shifted. There are some clear fault lines, particularly between the New Right or National Conservative crowd and the Freedom Conservative/fusionist set, notably in how to utilize power in this current moment where it's clear the right has power and political capital to spend. So what's next? Can these factions come together in a new fusionism? If so, what does that look like? And if not, are we bound for a fracturing of the Right unlike we've seen in our lifetimes? To explore these questions are two luminaries of the conservative movement, Yuval Levin and Chris DeMuth. Yuval is the Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute and a deep thinker on the Constitution, institutions in American government and civics, and conservative thought. Christopher DeMuth is the former head of the American Enterprise Institute. He helped to organize the first National Conservatism conference and remains active in the NatCon world, regularly speaking at events and writing op-eds on from a national-conservative perspective.
Yuval Levin speaks on the great importance of institutions and how they uplift society. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/yuval-levin/why-institutions-matter/
Join Matt Lewis and Yuval Levin, scholar at AEI and author of American Covenant, as they dive into the evolving U.S. presidency, executive overreach, and the administrative state. Can America be dictator-proofed? Explore Trump's policies, constitutional balance, AI's impact, and media shifts. Key topics include:The evolution of presidential power and Trump's use of emergency powers-- The administrative state, impoundments, and regulatory actions-- The impact of AI on jobs, dignity, and human identity-- The role of media, with insights on Bari Weiss's appointment at CBS News-- How to safeguard America's democracy for the futureIs it possible to dictator-proof America? Levin offers deep insights into the challenges facing our constitutional system and what can be done post-Trump to restore balance. Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation on governance, populism, and the future of American democracy. Subscribe for more in-depth discussions, and share your thoughts in the comments below!Support "Matt Lewis & The News" at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewisFollow Matt Lewis & Cut Through the Noise:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattklewis/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.Buy Matt's book: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416Copyright © 2025, BBL & BWL, LLC
Editor's note: Jonah Goldberg has vanished somewhere in the Swiss Alps. While search-and-rescue teams brave the mountains, we're re-airing a Remnant classic with fan favorite Yuval Levin. This episode first aired March 26, 2025. Not since Thomas Jefferson podcasting alone has a guest been so wise as Yuval Levin, who joins Jonah Goldberg to discuss the trend of Lebowskian communication mishaps, the danger of obsessive abstraction in Trumpian times, and the promise of connecting with the median voter. Show Notes:—The Atlantic: "Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans"—Yuval on The Ezra Klein Show—Yoni Appelbaum on The Remnant—National Review: "Look on My Works, Ye Mighty, and Despair!"—Yuval for The Free Press The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including access to all of Jonah's G-File newsletters—click here. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Unity is acting together even when we don't think alike. And one of the primary aims of the American Constitution is to support a democracy of those unified in diversity. Yuval Levin joins Mark Labberton to explore the precarious state of American constitutional life and the imbalance of power between the branches of the U.S. government. Drawing from his book America's Covenant, Levin argues that the Founders designed the Constitution above all to preserve unity in a divided society. Yet today, he warns, the imbalance of power—particularly the weakness of Congress and the rise of presidential authority—threatens democratic legitimacy. In this conversation, Levin reflects on originalism, the courts, Donald Trump's expanding influence, and the dangers of both passivity and autocracy. With clarity and urgency, he calls for renewed civic engagement and for Congress to reclaim its central role. Episode Highlights “Unity doesn't mean thinking alike. Unity means acting together. And the question for a modern political society is how do we act together when we don't think alike?” “The biggest problem we have is that Congress is under-active, radically under-active and has turned itself into a spectator.” “The president is in charge of the executive branch, but the executive branch is not in charge of the American government.” “I am very concerned about this kind of Caesar-ism. I think it is very dangerous.” “What we're seeing is constitutional creep, where the president is pushing and nobody's pushing back, and only Congress can do it.” “I worry a lot about Donald Trump. But the reason I worry is because Congress isn't doing its job.” “The politics of an autocratic state is a politics of spectators, and we just cannot become spectators.” “All of us will find ourselves in the minority sooner or later.” Helpful Links and Resources America's Covenant: The Constitution and the Path to National Unity, by Yuval Levin American Enterprise Institute (Find Yuval Levin's current research and publications) *New York Times Opinion* – Yuval Levin's columns at the New York Times About Yuval Levin Yuval Levin is director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. He is the founder and editor of National Affairs, senior editor of The New Atlantis, a contributing editor at National Review, and a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times. He is the author of several books on political theory and public policy, most recently American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—and Could Again (Basic Books, 2024), which examines the U.S. Constitution through the lens of national unity in a divided society. Show Notes Constitutional unity and division Yuval Levin summarizes America's Covenant as a reintroduction to the Constitution framed around the challenge of unity in diversity. “Unity doesn't mean thinking alike. Unity means acting together.” The Constitution prioritizes bargaining, negotiation, and legitimacy over efficiency. Congress was designed as the “first branch” of government to embody pluralism and force compromise. The decline of Congress and rise of the presidency Levin argues Congress is radically under-active, ceding ground to presidents and courts. “The biggest problem we have is that Congress is under-active, radically under-active and has turned itself into a spectator.” Excessive focus on the presidency erodes democratic legitimacy. Current frustrations stem from misunderstanding the system's design: it resists narrow majorities and forces broad coalitions. Courts, originalism, and the unitary executive Levin affirms he is an originalist: “a philosophy of judicial interpretation … a mode of self-restraint for judges.” Supreme Court decisions in recent years repeatedly signal: “Congress, do your job.” He outlines the unitary executive theory: the president controls the executive branch, but not the government as a whole. “The president is in charge of the executive branch, but the executive branch is not in charge of the American government.” Trump's expanding power Levin warns of the growing push to centralize authority in the presidency. “I am very concerned about this kind of Caesar-ism. I think it is very dangerous.” Trump's second term differs because restraints have vanished; his circle now encourages unrestrained executive action. Disruption of long-held norms has weakened trust in American institutions globally and domestically. Constitutional crisis vs. constitutional creep Levin distinguishes between “creep,” “conflict,” and “crisis.” He argues the U.S. is experiencing constitutional creep: unchecked executive power without Congress pushing back. True crisis would involve direct defiance of the courts—something still possible but not yet realized. The role of citizens and civic responsibility Levin stresses the danger of passivity: “The politics of an autocratic state is a politics of spectators, and we just cannot become spectators.” Citizens should keep writing to Congress, vote with clear expectations, and engage in local governance. State legislatures, though less visible, often function better than Congress today. Clear thinking itself, Levin suggests, is a moral act for a healthy republic. Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.
NY Fashion week has ended, and I catch you up on a very busy week. However all the chaos was worth it, because I got to enjoy my latest TV obsession HBO's "Task". Seriously if you guys aren't watching this show, you need to start. It is peak Sunday night viewing. I also talk Emmys and end on an article all about why we need to disagree more.Phone free fall caller mentioned this organization: creativemornings.comArticle I discussed: Yuval Levin's "Have an Argument" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Matt Welch, co-host of The Fifth Column podcast and editor at large for Reason Magazine, joins Adaam to discuss the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination. It's grim. How grim? Very. Get off social media. Turn off your phone. Touch grass. See ya'll in the gulag.Also:-Matt's previous visit to Uncertain Things-Adaam on political violence-Adaam and Jonah Goldberg on political violence-Yuval Levin on violenceUncertain Things is hosted and produced by Adaam James Levin-Areddy and Vanessa M. Quirk. For more doomsday thoughts, subscribe to: http://uncertain.substack.com. Get full access to Uncertain Things at uncertain.substack.com/subscribe
Jonah Goldberg, host of The Remnant and author of Suicide of the West, joins Adaam for a session of unfettered nerdery and gloom, in which definitions shall be debated, Straussian hats worn, and metaphors unapologetically mixed. They cover the meaning of “utopianism,” the revolutionary force of monotheism, the power of language, the messianic urge from Christ to the Jacobins, the lack of new ideas, the obstinacy of human nature, and the importance of gallows humor.On the agenda:-Jonah's origin story [2:00] -Monotheism, a radical idea [6:00] -Postmodernism and the charisma of words [19:00]-Utopianism, left and right [27:00]-Maimonides against Messianism (and Sayyid Qutb) [38:00]-Are ideas dangerous? (On Rousseau, the Jacobins, Strauss, Annihilism) [53:00]-Dark humor and Holocaust jokes heuristics [1:21:00]-Blindspots [1:43:00]Also:-Adaam and Ruth Weisse on the 10th Commandment-Adaam and Yuval Levin talk about the nature of liberalism, beauty and conservatism-Howard Jacobson at Tablet Magazine on the death of a tailorUncertain Things is hosted and produced by Adaam James Levin-Areddy and Vanessa M. Quirk. For more doomsday thoughts, subscribe to: http://uncertain.substack.com. Get full access to Uncertain Things at uncertain.substack.com/subscribe
An After-Action report from the beautiful city of Vernal, UT, fake Rapid Tourniquets, and Jarrad is gonna be at AMM-CON! All that and more during this week's episode. TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Spike's Tactical [0:07:30] Beyond the Boo Boo Class After-Action [0:31:00] Jarrad speaking at AMM-CON bearingarms.com [0:34:43] EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com TOPIC: Gun Locks and Gun Boxes: Good, Bad, Neutral? www.shootingnewsweekly.com [0:49:19] Warrior of the Week - James Yeager's “Virtues of a Warrior” TOPIC: Yuval Levin - Why Institutions Matter Episode Summary Enhancing Bleeding Control Training Professor Paul Markel shared a personal story about conducting a Beyond the Boo Boo course (BB101) class in Vernal, Utah. He discussed how Americans often avoid trauma training until an emergency occurs, noting that corporate first aid training is typically limited to CPR and basic life support due to insurance discounts. The class highlighted the importance of proper bleeding control techniques, contrasting with common first aid knowledge that focuses on CPR, which is ineffective for severe bleeding situations. Counterfeit Tourniquet Awareness Discussion The group discussed counterfeit rapid tourniquets, identifying them by their flimsy metal parts, lack of authenticity markings, and poor quality compared to genuine products. They advised against purchasing tourniquets from suspiciously low-cost sources and recommended buying from authorized retailers like ShopSOTG.com. Self-Defense and Cultural Institutions The meeting discussed a defensive gun use case in Texas where a homeowner used his firearm to deter an intruder with a machete, highlighting the importance of gun ownership for self-defense. The group also touched on recidivism rates and the manipulation of crime statistics in Washington, D.C. Finally, they introduced the "Warrior of the Week" segment, featuring a speech by Yuval Levin on the importance of institutions in addressing cultural conflicts. Rebuilding Trust in Institutions The meeting focused on a speech by Yuval Levin at BYU, discussing the decline in trust towards institutions in American society. Levin argued that institutions are failing to form trustworthy individuals, instead becoming platforms for performative behavior. He emphasized the need for a mindset change, where individuals take their institutional roles seriously and ask, "Given my role here, how should I behave?" Levin concluded that healing society's divisions requires small, constructive steps towards rebuilding trust in institutions.
An After-Action report from the beautiful city of Vernal, UT, fake Rapid Tourniquets, and Jarrad is gonna be at AMM-CON! All that and more during this week's episode. Episode Summary Enhancing Bleeding Control Training Professor Paul Markel shared a personal story about conducting a Beyond the Boo Boo course (BB101) class in Vernal, Utah. He discussed how Americans often avoid trauma training until an emergency occurs, noting that corporate first aid training is typically limited to CPR and basic life support due to insurance discounts. The class highlighted the importance of proper bleeding control techniques, contrasting with common first aid knowledge that focuses on CPR, which is ineffective for severe bleeding situations. Counterfeit Tourniquet Awareness Discussion The group discussed counterfeit rapid tourniquets, identifying them by their flimsy metal parts, lack of authenticity markings, and poor quality compared to genuine products. They advised against purchasing tourniquets from suspiciously low-cost sources and recommended buying from authorized retailers like ShopSOTG.com. Self-Defense and Cultural Institutions The meeting discussed a defensive gun use case in Texas where a homeowner used his firearm to deter an intruder with a machete, highlighting the importance of gun ownership for self-defense. The group also touched on recidivism rates and the manipulation of crime statistics in Washington, D.C. Finally, they introduced the "Warrior of the Week" segment, featuring a speech by Yuval Levin on the importance of institutions in addressing cultural conflicts. Rebuilding Trust in Institutions The meeting focused on a speech by Yuval Levin at BYU, discussing the decline in trust towards institutions in American society. Levin argued that institutions are failing to form trustworthy individuals, instead becoming platforms for performative behavior. He emphasized the need for a mindset change, where individuals take their institutional roles seriously and ask, "Given my role here, how should I behave?" Levin concluded that healing society's divisions requires small, constructive steps towards rebuilding trust in institutions.
Ruger American Ranch Rifle Review The professor discussed his experience with the Ruger American Ranch rifle, highlighting its features such as flat dark earth stock, matte black barrel, detachable magazines, and picatinny rail. He reviewed the rifle's performance using a Voodoo X-ray scope, noting its effectiveness in shooting desert varmints in Wyoming. The professor also mentioned that the rifle uses standard AR-15 magazines, which he considers ideal for a bolt-action rifle. Jarrad confirmed he had shot the rifle and remembered Jason using it in a precision rifle class. The discussion concluded with an update on the availability of the "Virtues of a Warrior" posters, which are now available for purchase on the shop SOTG website. Gun Ownership and Media Perspectives Jarrad shared a video about the importance of institutions by Yuval Levin, which Professor agreed to include in next week's bonus segment under leadership or as a "Warrior of the Week" segment. They discussed upcoming events at Student of the Gun University, including classes in Kentucky, Texas, and Nevada. Professor played a segment from John Stossel's show highlighting how Hollywood often portrays armed civilians negatively, while real-life examples show that guns can effectively stop crimes. They praised John Stossel for his shift from liberal views to presenting more balanced perspectives on gun ownership. Voodoo X-Ray Marketing Discussion The meeting involved a discussion about various topics, including the publication of an article on the Voodoo X-ray, interactions with Jim Shepherd regarding the "chicken wire," and the marketing of products featuring the Voodoo X-ray. Jarrad and Professor discussed the differences between quiet and silence, and the challenges of producing juice with a high waste rate. They also talked about the sale of a scarce pre-World War II Belgian Browning and the regulations around selling Nazi memorabilia online. TOPICS COVERED THIS EPISODE Huge thanks to our Partners: EOTech | Spike's Tactical (NEW) Less Yackin', More Cackin' Patch www.ShopSOTG.com [0:14:55] EOTech Talk - EOTechInc.com TOPIC: Gun Review; Ruger American Rifle www.shootingnewsweekly.com [0:30:09] Warrior of the Week - James Yeager's “Virtues of a Warrior” TOPIC: Making Military Bases Gun-Free Zones Was a Really Bad Idea www.shootingnewsweekly.com
It is an extra (((special))) episode on Uncertain Things as Ruth Wisse, senior fellow at the Tikvah Fund and author of Jews and Power, hosts Adaam for Friday afternoon cookies and Talmud. The two discussed the wave of resentment that threatens to consume American culture (or Annihilism, as Adaam stubbornly calls it), the problem (or lack thereof) of inequality, the Jewish rejection of Weakness Worship, and what it means to stand witness to evil.On the (((agenda))):-Neocons love assimilation [1:30]-Accents are genocide [9:00]-The idea that disparity is evil is evil [17:00]-Charity and dignity (and pity) [27:00]-Gratitude, resentment, and feminism [34:00]-What's up with American Jews… plus American liberalism… plus standing witness to evil [48:00]Also:-Adaam and Yuval Levin talk about the nature of liberalism, beauty and conservatism-Howard Jacobson at Tablet Magazine on the death of a tailor Get full access to Uncertain Things at uncertain.substack.com/subscribe
AEI Senior Fellow Yuval Levin rejoins the pod to discuss the enemies of continuity. He and Adaam debate the definition of conservatism and whether it's the Annihilist urge that dominates the contemporary left or something else entirely. Oh, and if that's not nerdy enough for you, they also go on a semi-Burkean detour to adjudicate whether beauty in art is related to truth (because someone had to!).On the agenda:-Cultural continuity and the modern conservative [00:10]-The hubris of knowledge [10:19]-Who are the enemies of continuity [17:54]-Solipsism as morality [26:28]-Rousseau and the new Jacobins [31:23]-Redemptive destruction [39:00]-Is despair anti-conservative? [48:54]-Beauty [53:31]Also:-Our previous chat with Yuval Levin about Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine-Adaam on the Jacobin temptation-Yuval on American renewal-Ken Goshen on why contemporary art sucksUncertain Things is hosted and produced by Adaam James Levin-Areddy and Vanessa M. Quirk. For more doomsday thoughts, subscribe to: http://uncertain.substack.com. Get full access to Uncertain Things at uncertain.substack.com/subscribe
This week, America celebrates 249 years of independence. As the countdown begins to our 250th birthday, our semiquincentennial, it is natural to ask what citizenship means to us as Americans, and as American Jews. How do we fulfill our obligations not just to preserve what we've inherited, but to renew it for future generations? These aren't just political questions—they're moral ones, rooted in how we understand our responsibilities to one another and to the institutions that shape our common life. To address those questions, this week's podcast is going to do something a little different. Rather than host a conversation, we bring you a speech by one of the great teachers of American civics: Yuval Levin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the editor of National Affairs. Speaking at the 2024 Jewish Leadership Conference, Levin offered a meditation on what we can learn from the biblical figure of Nehemiah—drawing on the story the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls to understand how we must approach the renewal of American culture today. His central insight is striking: just as Nehemiah's workers rebuilt Jerusalem with “a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other,” we too must simultaneously rebuild and defend our institutions. This is a speech that bridges ancient biblical wisdom to the challenges of American society, showing how the Hebrew Bible speaks directly to our moment of cultural dissolution and the opportunity for renewal. If you're inspired by this kind of discussion—the intersection of Jewish ideas and public life—you might want to consider attending this year's Jewish Leadership Conference, featuring Herzl Prize laureates Ben Shapiro, Bari Weiss, and Dan Senor. You can find information about the 2025 conference at www.jewishleadershipconference.org.
For Independence Day, we are running an episode of particular relevance from our archives. Could the Constitution provide the antidote to polarization? Yuval Levin thinks so. The director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, Levin is the author of a new book titled American Covenant. In it, and during this episode, Levin identifies the reasons people feel as though America is at a breaking point, as well as meaningful opportunities for reuniting. He and Moore consider why fragmentation is happening, the naiveté of cynicism, and ways the party system has—and hasn't—worked well for the United States. They discuss partisanship, the potential upsides of ranked-choice voting in primaries, and the importance of seeing one another not primarily as political beings but as human beings. Yuval Levin's work: American Covenant, How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—and Could Again by Yuval Levin American Enterprise Institute National Affairs The New Atlantis National Review The New York Times Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance “My Unsettling Interview with Steve Bannon” by David Brooks The West Wing: “Night Five” The Sword and the Trowel by Charles Spurgeon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Having exhausted his Jeffrey/Jonah Goldberg jokes on The Dispatch Podcast, Jonah Goldberg launches into an epic rant on the tyranny of intellectual mobs, the flaws of morally blind due process, and the emerging artificial intelligence anime art movement. Plus: long-view Signal-gate revelations and the superficial logic of the Trump administration's tariff strategy. Show Notes: —The Maoist anime AI drawing in question —Yuval Levin's latest Remnant appearance The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including Jonah's G-File newsletter, regular livestreams, and other members-only content—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Not since Thomas Jefferson podcasting alone has a guest been so wise as Yuval Levin, who joins Jonah Goldberg to discuss the recent trend of Lebowskian communication mishaps, the danger of obsessive abstraction in Trumpian times, and the promise of connecting with the median voter. Show Notes: —The Atlantic: "Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans" —Yuval on "The Ezra Klein Show" —Yoni Appelbaum on The Remnant —National Review: "Look on My Works, Ye Mighty, and Despair!" —Yuval for The Free Press The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including Jonah's G-File newsletter, regular livestreams, and other members-only content—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Yuval Levin returns to discuss the institutional failures plaguing Congress, the rise of performative politics, and the art of leadership. They explore the incentives that lead modern politicians to focus more on viral tweets than actual governance, how the Constitution holds the key to unity, and political reforms that could put Congress back on the path to solving America's biggest challenges. Yuval Levin is the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. His most recent book is American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation – And Could Again.
Institutions should be formative not performative, providing structure and purpose. Strengthening them will combat America's social crisis. Yuval Levin, editor of National Affairs and director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute delivered this forum address on February 25, 2025. You can access the talk here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With the help of a Yuval Levin and a Silly Putty support system, Jonah Goldberg opens this Ruminant with a recommendation not to panic about the Trump administration quite yet. He does, however, bemoan the president's fantasy about a U.S. sovereign wealth fund before wondering about what the next generation of Democratic leaders might look like. Show Notes: —Yuval Levin and Ezra Klein —Nick Catoggio on the DOGE hoax —Jonah and Katie Herzog on Mike Pesca's The Gist The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including Jonah's G-File newsletter, weekly livestreams, and other members-only content—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are two pieces to this episode. First, a tour of what Donald Trump has done — and what he has backed down from doing — over the last few days. There's a lesson there. Perhaps Democrats are starting to learn it.Then I wanted to hear the view of Trump's first weeks back in office from someone on the right — someone who agrees with many of Trump's policies, but also understands how the government works and who cares about our Constitution.Yuval Levin is the director of social, cultural and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute. His latest book is “American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation — and Could Again.” What struck me about our conversation is that, on the one hand, Levin is less alarmed about much of what's happening than I am. But on the other hand, he's a lot less impressed by what Trump is actually getting done — and how these moves are likely to work out for him — than most Democrats I know. It's a perspective very much worth hearing.Mentioned:“Don't Believe Him” by Ezra KleinBook Recommendations:The Rhetorical Presidency by Jeffrey K. TulisWhy Congress by Philip WallachThe Extinction of Experience by Christine RosenThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Elias Isquith and Jack McCordick. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris. Mixing by Isaac Jones, with Efim Shapiro and Aman Sahota. Our supervising editor is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Rollin Hu and Kristin Lin. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
For your Thanksgiving entertainment, Jonah rethinks his latest conversation with his non-mentor Yuval Levin and ruminates on how both the left and the right Gesellschaft all the Gemeinschaft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As the masses prepare their turkey basters, side dishes, and psyches for Thanksgiving, Jonah is giving thanks to the things he holds most dear: institutions, conservatism, and Yuval Levin. Yuval and Jonah take some time to express their gratitude for the great American miracle, discuss the treason of the clerks phenomenon plaguing modern institutions, and consider how the exhausted majority can finally get what they want. Later in the episode, Jonah brings up politics at the table and forces Yuval to cover the smorgasbord of Trump Cabinet nominees, the ineffectual nature of big promises, and the future of coalitional politics. Show Notes: —The Ezra Klein kerfuffle —Jonah on the authority of experts —The exhausted majority —Yuval: What Trump's Win Doesn't Mean The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including Jonah's G-File newsletter, weekly livestreams, and other members-only content—click here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices