Renew the Republic

Renew the Republic

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Free Speech, Jimmy Kimmel, and Dissent
Modern expansive protections of free speech and dissent haven't always been part of America. This victory, carved in living memory, now is coming apart.
Charlie Kirk and the Rubicon of Democracy
Violence kills republics. Fear extinguishes democracy.
The Min-Max Economy and Hollowing of America
The real reason the Cracker Barrel rebrand resonated.
The Civic Crisis of the Modern American University, Part II: Universities of Civic Virtue
The mission of the university should be educating citizens for democratic self-government.
The Civic Crisis of the Modern American University, Part I: How American Universities Became Credentialing Factories
The purpose of the American university should be to cultivate the educated citizens we need to self-govern our democracy.

Recent posts

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Abundance is asking the wrong question
When you focus on reviving a party, you miss the opportunity to revive faith in the American Dream.
Published on Hypertext • 
The Left Is Misremembering Civil Rights
Boomers have encouraged a legacy of violent protest. That gets the ’60s all wrong.
Published on Persuasion • 
We Should Once Again Build Monuments
It is not selfish to build monuments. It’s selfish not to.
The Lost Tradition of American Government
Let's bring back the Whig tradition.
Substack Has a Discovery Problem
What good Is 75,000 publications if no one can find them?
The Forgotten Purpose of the Economy: A Decent Life for All
The objective of the economy is to give everyone willing to work hard and contribute a good life.
Destroying Political Enemies Is a Waste of Time—Vanquish their Possessing Gods
The way to win in politics isn’t to defeat your enemies, but the ideas that control them.
The Ballad of Shawn K (What Happened When AI Took His Job)
His piece touched a nerve. It made me angry too.
Never Call Yourself a Centrist
You’re not a centrist, moderate, or independent. You’re something new.
Where the First 100 Days Went Wrong: A New Theory
Why did an agenda that looked unstoppable a few months back run into a brick wall? It has to do tactics meant for insurgents attempting to run the…
On Experts and Expertise
How to build institutions that harness expertise while keeping experts in their lane is one of the most neglected questions in America.
The Flawed Logic of Bernie and AOC
Democratic leaders seem to be floating Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. What is that possibly intended to achieve?
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