We discuss President Biden’s Inaugural Address in light of the tradition of local American democracy described by Alexis de Tocqueville.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (0:56) - We discuss the seventeen executive actions taken by President Biden on his first day of office. Link: CNN story from Inauguration Day.
Required Reading (5:28) - Prof. Corbin leads us through a discussion of chapters 3-5 in volume one of Tocqueville’s Democracy in America and the first book of Homer’s Iliad. Assigned for next week: the second half volume 1, part 1, chapter 8 on the federal government..
Headlines (28:07) - We review the major themes of President Biden’s Inaugural Address, democracy and unity, in light of Tocqueville’s discussion of the democratic political life of early Americans. Links: Inaugural Address, Ben Domenech on unity at The Federalist.
Open the Gradebook (48:43) - It’s championship weekend in the NFL - and for the second year in a row, the Patriots aren’t involved. We grade four ways to respond when your team is out of the playoffs.
Tocqueville's Crystal Ball (55:17) - Last week, we picked the NFL’s divisional playoff games with limited success: Matt went 1-3 and Dave went 2-2. This week it’s the AFC and NFC Conference Finals. Though we both picked the favorites, Green Bay and Kansas City, we’re secretly rooting for a Bucs-Bills Super Bowl and one more chance for Tom Brady to break the hearts of Bills fans.
Opening and closing music is from the beginning of "Happy Life" by Ryan Andersen from his 2018 album, Americana volume 1. Available here. Licensed by Creative Commons.
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Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com
Matt Parks is an Associate Professor of Politics at The King’s College in New York City. David Corbin is a Professor of Politics and the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California. All views expressed in this podcast are their own.
