Acton Unwind

This week, Eric and Noah are joined by Acton’s Dan Hugger to discuss his essay in the Spring 2024 issue of Religion & Liberty, “The Ramblerand the Transformative Power of Magazines.” Why, even in an age of digital publishing, have print magazines endured? Then the group looks at legislation that has recently moved in Congress to add a definition of anti-Semitism to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If we acknowledge that anti-Semitism is a problem on college campuses, is this the best way to address it? And finally, Oklahoma’s charter school board has approved a Catholic charter school. We don’t yet know if this is legal, but is it a wise move by proponents of religious education? Subscribe to our podcasts Subscribe to Religion & Liberty The Ramblerand the Transformative Power of Magazines | Dan Hugger, Religion & Liberty The End of Democracy? The Judicial Usurpation of Politics | First Things The Paper of Record Meets an Ephemeral Web: An Examination of Linkrot and Content Drift within The New York Times | SSRN House passes bill to expand definition of antisemitism amid growing campus protests over Gaza war | Associated Press First Religious Charter School Sparks Legal, Philosophical Battles | Wall Street Journal

This week, Eric, Anthony, and Emily are joined by Gene Edward Veith to discuss his essay “Sheen and Maier: Broadcasting Theology,” which explores the broadcast ministries of Fulton J. Sheen andWalter A. Maier. Then, are frat bros the heroes we’ve been waiting for, pushing back on the radical protests on elite college campuses and defending the American flag? And finally, Florida has banned lab-grown meat. Is there anything more to this than protection for the traditional meat industries? Subscribe to our podcasts Subscribe to R&L Sheen and Maier: Broadcasting Theology | Gene Edward Veith, Religion & Liberty UNC frat brothers who defended US flag speak out: 'Deeply important to us’ | The Daily Mail Flag-Protecting Frat Brothers Have Plans for $500K in Donations | Newsweek Heroic Fraternities: How College Men Can Save Universities and America | Anthony B. Bradley ‘We Will Save Our Beef’: Florida Bans Lab-Grown Meat | The New York Times

This week, Eric, Dylan, and Dan are joined by Karen Swallow Prior to discuss her essay in the new Spring 2024 issue of Religion & Liberty, “Who Will Comfort Me? The Total Care of Cicely Saunders” and issues of, literally, life and death. Then Eric, Dylan, and Dan discuss the place of free markets within the conservative movement and how college administrations should be dealing with the protest encampments being established on their campuses. Subscribe to our podcasts Subscribe to Religion & Liberty Who Will Comfort Me? The Total Care of Cicely Saunders | Karen Swallow Prior, Religion & Liberty The Conservative Movement Is Defending Free Markets — from Both Sides | Erick Erickson, National Review Heritage Foundation’s Wesley Coopersmith’s Response Karl Polanyi's Battle with Economic History | AlexNowrasteh,Libertarianism.org Texas Gov. Abbott faces backlash after mass arrest at UT Austin pro-Palestine protest | The Hill UF threatens student protesters with suspension, banishment from campus for 3 years | WUFT

This week, Eric, Dan, and Emily discuss the death of O.J. Simpson and examine how the combination of his celebrity and his criminal trial launched a thousand cultural ships, including reality TV, true-crime obsession, and the 24/7 news cycle. Next, Belgian politicians tried to shut down the National Conservatism Conference, only to have it saved by liberal institutions. Oh, the irony. And finally, what can we learn from NPR senior business editor Uri Berliner’s piece at The Free Press accusing NPR of losing its journalistic integrity? Subscribe to our podcasts O.J. Simpson, Football Star Whose Trial Riveted the Nation, Dies at 76 | New York Times Europe’s hard-right bags big win after ‘own goal’ by Brussels mayors | Politico Brussels Mayor Attempts to Shut Down National Conservatism Conference by Force | Stephanie Slade, Reason What I Saw at the National Conservatism Conference | Dan Hugger, Religion & Liberty National Conservatism One Year Later | Dan Hugger, Religion & Liberty I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust. | Uri Berliner, The Free Press

This week, Eric, Noah, and David Hebert, making his maiden voyage on the podcast, discuss squatters’ rights: Do they really exist? And if so, how big a problem are they really?. Then, has the problem with industrial policy been that we just weren’t doing it right all these years? Sen. Marco Rubio thinks so. Oh, and a new California minimum-wage law for fast-food workers has taken effect. Our future fast-food robot overlords are appreciative. And finally, Sam Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for the fraud he perpetrated. Is this sentence too harsh, too light, or just right? Subscribe to our podcasts What’s Behind Recent ‘Squatters’ Rights’ Disputes? |Reilly Stephens, The Dispatch Why Christians Should Be (the Best) Landlords | Rachel Ferguson, Religion & Liberty Online Why I believe in industrial policy—done right | Sen. Marco Rubio, Washington Post Beware the Bipartisan Folly of Industrial Policy | Noah Gould, National Revie California’s Crazy ‘Fast Food’ Minimum Wage Takes Effect |David Neumark, Wall Street Journal FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years for crypto fraud, to pay $11 billion in forfeiture | CNBC

This week, Eric, Dan, and Dylan are joined by Mike Cosper of Christianity Today to discuss his cover essay in the latest issue of Religion & Liberty, “There Shall Be None to Make Him Afraid: American Liberty and the Jews.” Then they turn their attention to controversial LSU basketball coach Kim Mulkey to explore how hard-driving and tough-coaching styles fit in the modern world and what it means for a perspective on leadership. Subscribe to our podcasts There Shall Be None to Make Him Afraid: American Liberty and the Jews | Mike Cosper, Religion & Liberty Subscribe to Religion & Liberty Promised Land podcast | Christianity Today Why do some people hate the Jews? | Acton Line The History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | Acton Line A Christian Perspective from Visiting Israel | Acton Line The Kim Mulkey Way | Washington Post The Bobby Knight Problem | The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill They’re Coming After Us | John Podhoretz, Commentary Magazine

This week,Dan Hugger,Noah Gould, andEmily Zanottidiscuss the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Maryland. They then turn their attention tothe announcement of theGod Bless the USA Bible, the only Bible endorsed by President Trump and country music sensation Lee Greenwood. What does this reveal about the state of religion, politics, and culture in America today?And finally, is it time to rethink the culture war? Subscribe to our podcasts The impact of the Baltimore bridge disaster | Economist.com Lawyers Gear Up for Swift Start in Legal Fight Over Baltimore Bridge | WSJ Donald Trump Is Selling a 'God Bless the USA' Bible for $60 | NPR God Bless the USA Bible The New Culture Warriors | Religion & Liberty Online

This week, Eric, Anthony, and Dan discuss the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple for alleged monopolistic practices in the smartphone market. They then turn their attention to a strange essay inNational Affairson the “Soft Tyranny of Smartphones” and explore whether a desire to use a smartphone less requires government action. And finally, should we be concerned about Elon Musk’s brain-chip company, Neuralink, or should we celebrate such a technological advancement? Subscribe to our podcasts U.S. accuses Apple of illegally maintaining monopoly in broad lawsuit | Axios The Apple Antitrust Case and the ‘Stigma’ of the Green Bubble | Wired Brandon Sanderson Says Deal with Audible Is in the Works | Publishers Weekly The Soft Tyranny of Smartphones | National Affairs Patient of Elon Musk’s Neuralink Shows Off New Life With Implant | Wall Street Journal

This week, Eric, Noah, and Emily discuss the legislation moving through Congress that would force the sale of TikTok from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or ban the app’s availability in the United States. Are the national security issues serious enough to trump all other concerns about setting such a precedent? Then the panel turns its attention to Ben Shapiro’s comments about work and retirement. How should we think about work and its role in our lives—now and when we’re older? Subscribe to our podcasts House passes bill that could lead to TikTok ban | Axios Acton Institute on TikTok TikTok Suspends a Film on Jimmy Lai | Wall Street Journal Ben Shapiro on work and retirement | X Closing the Gap Between Work and Life | David Bahnsen, Acton Line

This week Eric, Dan, and Emily discuss President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address and give their own takes on the state of the union, the recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that implicates IVF treatment, and the recent remarks by Pope Francis calling for Ukraine to have the “courage of the White Flag” in bringing about an end to the war in Ukraine. Subscribe to our podcasts Remarks by President Biden in State of the Union Address | The White House Put the State of the Union address out of its misery | Eric Kohn, Religion & Liberty Online Alabama Supreme Court Sparks IVF Debate | The Morning Dispatch It’s time for hard conversations about frozen embryos | Emily Zanotti, Deseret News Alabama Against IVF | Advisory Opinions podcast Pope Says Ukraine Should Have the ‘Courage of the White Flag’ | New York Times Kremlin says appeal by Pope Francis for Ukraine talks is quite understandable | Reuters