Shows
DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayFighting Enemies Foreign and Domestic: The Legacy of Angelo M. Codevilla, part 3We continue our series on the book Fighting Enemies Foreign and Domestic: The Legacy of Angelo M. Codevilla by discussing chapter 3: “Angelo Codevilla’s America: A Possession for All Time” by David Corbin.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:53) - We discuss Dave’s family’s recent trip to Mexico and the benefits of exposing kids to foreign cultures.
Review: “Angelo Codevilla, the Anti-Millenarian” (3:58) - We review the lessons of the second chapter...
2025-11-0155 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayFighting Enemies Foreign and Domestic: The Legacy of Angelo M. Codevilla, part 2We continue our series on the book Fighting Enemies Foreign and Domestic: The Legacy of Angelo M. Codevilla by discussing chapter 2: “Angelo Codevilla, The Anti-Millenarian” by Robert Reilly.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:53) - We discuss Patriots' recent success and trying to wait as long as possible to turn on the heat.
Review: “The Man Who Kept the CIA Up at Night” (3:04) - We review the lessons of the first chapter...
2025-10-1847 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayFighting Enemies Foreign and Domestic: The Legacy of Angelo Codevilla, part 1We begin a series on the book Fighting Enemies Foreign and Domestic: The Legacy of Angelo Codevilla by discussing the opening chapter “The Man Who Kept the CIA Up at Night” by J. Michael Waller.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:53) - We discuss the memorial service for Dave’s father-in-law and the Boston-New York wild card series.
“The Man Who Kept the CIA Up at Night” (3:46) - We discuss Dr. Codevilla’s...
2025-10-0447 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayKeeping Our Republic, part 5: LawfulnessWe continue our series based on our 2010 book, Keeping Our Republic: Principles for a Political Reformation, by discussing the principle of lawfulness and its application to contemporary politics.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:53) - We discuss Dave’s trip to New England and the approach of another school year.
The Fifth Principle: Lawfulness (3:07) - We discuss the importance of the rule of law as well as the limits of the pre...
2025-08-1657 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayKeeping Our Republic, part 4: JusticeWe continue our series based on our 2010 book, Keeping Our Republic: Principles for a Political Reformation, by discussing the principle of justice and its application to contemporary politics.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:52) - We discuss Dave’s upcoming trip to New England and the heat wave hitting New Jersey.
The Fourth Principle: Justice (4:25) - We discuss the founders’ understanding of justice and contrast that with the factious behavior that is s...
2025-08-0255 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayBoBos and WoBels: President Trump’s First 100 Days, part 5We review the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term and talk about the origins and trajectory of the Trump coalition.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:54) - We discuss Dave’s recent visit to Green Bay for the NFL draft.
President Trump’s First 100 Days (2:27) - We respond to President Trump’s speech marking the end of the first 100 days of his presidency. Link: Transcript of President Trump’s speech.
2025-05-0353 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThe Institutions, Laws, and People of a RepublicWe reflect on how different institutional structures, laws, and economic ways of life affect the character of a regime.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:52) - We discuss Dave’s family vacation in Florida among the college student Spring Breakers.
Required Reading (2:36) - We discuss the first three chapters of Book VI of Aristotle’s Politics, where Aristotle writes about how the shape of the laws affects the c...
2022-03-1931 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayEducation and Regime PreservationWe discuss Aristotle’s account of regime preservation, with a focus on education and the key qualities of statesmen.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:52) - We reflect on our Super Bowl picks and talk about Dave accidentally calling Matt from a Geneva girls basketball game.
Required Reading (3:29) - We discuss the means of preserving regimes outlined by Aristotle in Book V, chapter 8 of The Politics and ap...
2022-02-2632 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThe Responsibilities of Political OfficeWe reflect on President Biden’s voting rights speech and vaccine mandate in light Aristotle’s teaching on the functions of legislative, executive, and judicial offices.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:52) - We talk about our Christmas breaks, Omicron, and Dave’s state-of-the-school address.
Required Reading (5:18) - We conclude our discussion of Book IV of The Politics with Aristotle’s reflections on the legislative, executive, and judicia...
2022-01-1534 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayRegimes, part 3: A Just Claim to RuleWe discuss Aristotle’s assessment of the role of the multitude in a well-ordered political community and the possibility of excellent leadership in a democratic society.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:53) - We respond to a listener’s complaint about our NBA picks and discuss the Braves’ game 1 victory in the World Series.
Required Reading (3:19) - We reflect on different claims to rule, especially those of the...
2021-10-3035 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayRegimes, part 1: The One, The Few, and the ManyWe discuss Aristotle’s taxonomy of regimes and the way that the one, the few, and the many continue to compete for power in our day.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:53) - We talk about Dave’s trip to watch the Patriots beat the Texans, the Red Sox’s continued playoff success, and a pleasant early fall in New York.
Required Reading (3:28) - We discuss how Ari...
2021-10-1634 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThe Good Citizen and the Good ManWe discuss how citizenship is defined relative to a regime and the tension between being a good citizen and a good person, with applications from American history and contemporary politics.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:53) - We talk about the Red Sox’s big victory over the Yankees in the American League Wild Card game, the (Yankees’) Curse of the Parks, Dave’s 50th birthday serenades from Geneva Sc...
2021-10-0933 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayReform and RevolutionWe discuss Aristotle’s reflections on how to improve a regime at the end of Book II of his Politics and apply them to conservative and progressive efforts to reform and revolutionize the American founders’ republic.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:53) - We discuss the start of the school year at Geneva and King’s, fall in New York, perpetual summer in Texas, and Matt’s big week 1 win o...
2021-09-1833 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayOptics and EgalitarianismAristotle’s critiques of an ancient proposal to equalize property and a focus on political perception more than political reality leads us into a discussion of the sources of human division and the dangers of our optics-based politics.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:52) - We discuss Dave’s first day as Head of School, the beginning of the King’s academic year, and our fantasy football draft.
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2021-09-1132 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThe Public and the PrivateWe discuss the dangers of conceiving of the political community as a large family and holding property in common in light of Aristotle’s critique of Plato’s Republic at the beginning of book 2 of his Politics.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:54) - We discuss Dave choosing Alabama as his college football team, the virtues of Buc-ee’s convenience stores, and our quest for listeners in Wyoming and N...
2021-09-0434 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayPolitics and EconomicsWe discuss Aristotle’s reflections on ensuring that the pursuit of wealth by individuals and communities is subordinated to the higher purpose of living well.
Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Opening and closing music from the beginning and end of “2020 Vision (Worse than Blind)” by Fred Lancia. Used with permission.
Opening (0:55) - We discuss our week off from the podcast (sorry!) and Dave’s thoughts on preseason Patriots football.
Required Reading (3:44) - We reflect on the second half of book 1 of Aristotle’s Politics, where Aristotle dis...
2021-08-2833 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayOligarchy in AmericaWe conclude season two discussing the rise of an oligarchic ruling class in the United States with Dr. Angelo Codevilla, our teacher at Boston University and widely-published scholar of political philosophy and international affairs.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (1:12) - We discuss the release of the new CDC guidelines for vaccinated people. Links: CDC chart; President Biden on Today; Runner Wear a Mask; Red Sox attendance; Major League attendance.
Required Reading/Headlines (10:29) - We discuss the latest essay by Dr. Angelo Codevilla, “Ame...
2021-05-011h 07DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThe Character of Democratic DespotismWe discuss the character of democratic despotism as it is described by Alexis de Tocqueville and exhibited in America today.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (1:13) - We discuss the conviction of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Links: AP news story; CNN story on Maxine Waters remarks; Susan Crabtree at Real Clear Politics on policing reform efforts.
Required Reading (6:52) - We conclude our study of Democracy in America as Professor Corbin leads us through the last three chapters in the work on the...
2021-04-2459 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThe Causes of Democratic DespotismWe reflect on the democratic tendency toward despotic, centralized government and several manifestations of that tendency today.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (0:55) - We discuss the pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine. Links: CDC and FDA joint statement; Charles C. W. Cooke at National Review; Deseret News on Utah and other states; Charles C. W. Cooke at National Review, part 2. [45 seconds]
Required Reading (10:18) - We reflect on the democratic tendency toward despotic centralized government in light of Alexis d...
2021-04-1757 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThe Democratic FamilySummary: We discuss the influence of democracy on family life.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (00:57) - We look at the fallout of Major League Baseball’s decision to move this year’s All-Star game from Atlanta to Denver. Links: MLB decision; Stacy Abrams on Georgia boycotts; Democrats on MLB decision; President Biden on the Masters; David Harsanyi at National Review.
Required Reading (05:00) - Prof. Corbin leads us through Tocqueville’s discussion of the democratic family in part 3 of volume 2 of Democracy in America and...
2021-04-1054 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayUnmild American PoliticsWe discuss the decline in American church membership and President Biden’s attacks on the new Georgia voting law in light of Tocqueville’s reflections on American sentiments and mores in volume 2 of Democracy in America.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (1:05) - We discuss the results of the latest Gallup poll on church membership and its consequences. Links: Gallup Poll results; Kevin Williamson writing at National Review.
Required Reading (10:36) - Professor Corbin leads us through the end of part 2 and the beginning of par...
2021-04-0356 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayLiberty and EqualityWe discuss the relationship between liberty and equality and the role of the national government in encouraging or discouraging self-government.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (1:31) - We discuss President Biden’s first press conference. Links: press conference transcript; RealClearPolitics presidential approval average; Ipsos/Reuters presidential approval poll; Charles C. W. Cooke at National Review on Biden and the filibuster.
Required Reading (10:24) - Professor Corbin leads us through volume 2, part 2 of Democracy in America on the sentiments of the American people with a special...
2021-03-2758 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayPlace-Hunting, Pseudo-Wisdom, and American EducationWe discuss the corruption of elite American education by the pursuit of high status positions and the resulting subordination of that education to ideological fads and pseudo-wisdom.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (1:36) - We discuss the new CDC guidelines for social distancing in elementary schools. Links: National Review reports new guidelines; ABC News report; David Zweig at The Intelligencer; NYT report on AFT reaction.
Required Reading (05:21) - Prof. Corbins leads us through chapters 7-10 of volume 2, part 1, of Democracy in America on key...
2021-03-201h 00DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayPolitical Religion and Religious PoliticsWe discuss the religious character of our contemporary politics and the leading influences on the American democratic mind.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (1:27) - We discuss President Biden’s first primetime address. Links: Biden speech; Susan Crabtree at Real Clear Politics; New York Times fact check.
Required Reading (10:28) - Professor Corbin leads us through the opening chapters of volume 2, part 1 of Democracy in America and a selection from Francis Bacon’s Aphorisms Concerning the Interpretation of Nature. Assigned for next week: Democracy in A...
2021-03-131h 01DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayUnion, Elections, and DemocracySummary: We discuss efforts to reform our elections and democracy in light of Tocqueville’s observations on the American Union at the end of volume 1 of Democracy in America.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (1:15) - We discuss the decision of Texas and Mississippi to lift their mask mandates and the reaction to it. Links: NBC News report on TX and MS; NBC News report on Biden reaction; CBS article on business response.
Required Reading (5:29) - Prof. Corbin guides us through the final par...
2021-03-0656 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayMores, Religion, and RepublicsWe reflect on the ways that circumstances, laws, and mores, especially religion, influence American democracy.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (1:59) - We discuss the death of Rush Limbaugh. Links: Fox News reporting the death of Rush Limbaugh; Andrew Klavan; Ben Domenech; Mark Steyn.
Required Reading (7:10) - We reflect on the ways that circumstances, laws, and mores, especially religion, influence American democracy, based on chapters 8 and 9 of part 2 of volume 1 of Democracy in America and selections from Cicero’s Laws. Assignment for next week...
2021-02-2059 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayConstitutional and Tyrannical DemocraciesWe discuss Alexis de Tocqueville’s account of the merit and demerits of democracy and consider how cancel culture emerges in a democratic society.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (0:58) - We discuss the state of former president Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. Link: Wall Street Journal impeachment trial coverage.
Required Reading (07:02) - Professor Corbin leads us through part one of Alexis de Tocqueville’s case for and against democracy in volume 1, part 2, chapters 6-7 of Democracy in America and a discussion of the...
2021-02-131h 00DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayPolitical Parties, the Media, and Majority RuleWe discuss the role of the political parties and the media in shaping the landscape of contemporary American democracy.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (1:24) - We discuss the Senate power-sharing agreement between Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell and the fate of the filibuster. Link: Politico on the power-sharing agreement.
Required Reading (3:39) - Prof. Corbin leads us through the opening chapters of part 2 of volume 1 of Democracy in America and Plato’s reflections on the degeneration of democracy in The Republic, with a foc...
2021-02-0658 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodaySovereignty, Democracy, Civic Activity, and the InaugurationWe 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: t...
2021-01-2359 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThe Spirit of Religion and the Spirit of FreedomWe look at the opening chapters of Democracy in America and the state of the spirit of religion and the spirit in America today.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (2:06) - We remark on the second impeachment of Donald Trump. Link: AP report on impeachment.
Required Reading (6:07) - We discuss the Author’s Introduction to Democracy in America and the first two chapters of volume one of the work plus Genesis 1-3 and a selection from Hesiod’s Theogony. Links: Mansfield/Winthrop translation of De...
2021-01-1657 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodaySeason 1 Recap/Season 2 PreviewWe take a look back at the first season of the show and preview our plans for season 2 beginning January 16.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (3:21): Season 1 Recap - We discuss our favorite topics, writers, gradebook topics, and picks from the first season of our show.
Part 2 (16:59): Season 2 Preview - We discuss our plans to study the great works in the history of political philosophy beginning in January and connect them to the headlines of the day. First reading assignment: Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in A...
2020-12-1941 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayElection Integrity EpilogueWe discuss the legal battles over the results of the presidential election and the lessons for election integrity from this campaign season.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (2:11): Headlines - We discuss the legal effort by the Trump campaign and others to challenge the results of the presidential election and the lessons for election integrity from this campaign season. Links: The Dispatch summary of election-related lawsuits; Andy McCarthy at National Review on the Texas lawsuit; Chip Roy on the Texas lawsuit; Andy McCarthy at National Review o...
2020-12-121h 05DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThe Free Exercise of ReligionWe discuss the history of religious freedom in light of the Supreme Court’s recent “free exercise” ruling in favor of NYC churches and synagogues.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (1:51): Headlines - We discuss the Supreme Court’s recent decision setting aside Covid-related restrictions on attendance at religious assemblies in New York City in the broader context of the constitutional theory and practice of First Amendment protections of the “free exercise” of religion. Links: NYT report on Supreme Court “free exercise” decision; Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cu...
2020-12-0558 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThanksgiving and GratitudeWe discuss the election endgame, good news on the Covid-19 vaccine front, and the virtue of gratitude.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (0:46): Headlines - We discuss the recently-announced Biden foreign policy team, the election lawsuits endgame, and the good news on the Covid-19 vaccine front. Links: Biden’s foreign policy team at The Hill; State-by-state election certification status at CNN; Dan McLaughlin at National Review; Covid vaccine news for Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford; Matthew Continetti at National Review.
Part 2 (22:47): Required Reading - Professor Corb...
2020-11-2852 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayRepublican CitizenshipWe talk about the ongoing debate over the results of the presidential election and the role of citizens in a republic.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (1:11): Headlines - We review Joe Biden’s victory speech, Donald Trump’s response, and the ongoing discussion of the integrity of the presidential election. Links: Joe Biden’s victory speech; Donald Trump statement on 11/7/20; Peter Alexander Tweet; Byron York’s summary of Trump statement to reporters; Leon Wolf at The Blaze; The Hill on Georgia hand recount; Paul Kengor at The Am...
2020-11-141h 00DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayElection Review and ReactionWe talk about the results (so far) from the election and the way forward from here.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (1:08): Headlines - We talk about the election results, the performance of the pollsters, President Trump’s allegations of fraud, and the way forward from here. Links: Trump’s statement; results of state legislatures; exit poll summary; RCP list of polls; Federalist article on Quinnipiac; Quinnipiac University Poll website; Andy McCarthy at National Review.
Part 2 (38:18): Required Reading - Professor Corbin assigns the chapter on conspira...
2020-11-071h 03DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayElection Preview SpecialChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (0:47): Headlines - We talk about the state of the presidential race and the polling behind the most popular projections. Links: RCP betting odds; 538 projection; The Economist projection; 270toWin projection; Rich Lowry column at National Review on Trafalgar Group Polling;
2020-10-311h 07DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayNone of the Above?Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (0:59): Headlines - We discuss the conservative case for and against voting for Donald Trump as featured in a National Review symposium and an essay by Pastor John Piper. Links: Andrew McCarthy for Donald Trump; Ramesh Ponnuru against Donald Trump; Charles C.W. Cooke: undecided; John Piper on character and policy; the Massachusetts Body of Liberties.
Part 2 (31:10): Required Reading - We consider the character of Donald Trump in light of the ancient teaching of Xenophon on the tyrant’s search for pea...
2020-10-2458 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayDonald Trump and republican GovernmentChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (1:41): Headlines - We discuss the case that’s been made for a Donald Trump presidency in light of republican principles. Links: list of newspapers endorsing Donald Trump; daily newspaper endorsements; Ouachita Citizen endorsement; Santa Barbara News-Press endorsement; John Fonte at The American Mind; Wilfred McClay’s Land of Hope.
Part 2 (17:34): Required Reading - We apply foundational republican principles to the candidacy of Donald Trump, discuss the nature of justice with book 1 of Plato’s Republic, then focus on the role of the e...
2020-10-171h 02DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayJoe Biden and republican GovernmentChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (2:25): Headlines - We discuss the case that’s been made for a Joe Biden presidency in light of republican principles. Links: New York Times endorsement of Joe Biden; George Will endorsing Biden, 2018 column against a Republican Congress, recent column on a Biden presidency.
Part 2 (24:08): Required Reading - We examine foundational republican principles with the help of a number of Federalist essays, then focus on the role of the executive with historical examples from the Andrew Jackson and Harry Truman presidencies. Li...
2020-10-101h 04DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayWhy Can't We Get Along?Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (1:40): Headlines - We discuss the dangerous, deep divisions in American politics and the prospects for promoting civility in the public square. Links: Our essay at The Federalist; Politico on political violence; Colleen Sheehan at The American Mind; RealClearFoundation on civic knowledge; Gallup poll on single-party government; RealClearEducation college free speech rankings; RealClearEducation on campus free speech; University of Chicago Statement on Academic Freedom.
Part 2 (24:02): Required Reading - We discuss the roots of our present division and the prospects for reducing it with...
2020-10-031h 02DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodaySupreme Court ShowdownChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (1:06): Headlines - We discuss the debate over whether and how Republicans should attempt to fill the Supreme Court opening created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Gisburg in light of the events of 2016 and the history of post-Roe v. Wade Supreme Court nominations. Links: History of Supreme Court nominations; Justice Ginsburg in the New York Times; Dan McLaughlin at National Review; AP on 2016 v. 2020 hypocrisy; President Trump’s position; Former Vice President Biden’s Constitution Center speech; Senator Joe Biden in 1992 on C...
2020-09-261h 08DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayPresidential Battleground: The MidwestChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (2:01): Headlines - We take a close look at the presidential race in three Big 10-country battleground states: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Links: RealClearPolitics Battleground polls; RealClearPolitics Create-Your-Own-Map; 538 article on Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania in 2012; Pennsylvania in 2016; Bucks County, PA; Wisconsin in 2012; Wisconsin in 2016; Juneau County Star-Times; Minnesota in 2012; Minnesota in 2016; Dakota County, MN.
Part 2 (27:45): Required Reading - We discuss Yuval Levin’s Constitution Day essay at National Review: “What is Our Constitution?” and challenge the audience to read one Federalist essay each day bet...
2020-09-191h 03DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayPresidential Battleground: The Sunbelt StatesChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (2:06): Headlines - We take a close look at the presidential race in three sunbelt battleground states: Florida, North Carolina, and Arizona. Links: RealClearPolitics Battleground polls; Politico backgrounder; 270towin election simulation; Politico on Florida; Politico on Arizona; 2016 presidential results in Florida, North Carolina, and Arizona; 2016 Senate results in Florida, North Carolina, and Arizona; Tillis video; McSally video.
Part 2 (30:40): Required Reading - We suggest readings to prepare you for November 4, the day after the presidential election: Harry Jaffa’s 1990 essay, “The America Found...
2020-09-121h 05DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayDemocrats in America TodayChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (starts at 3:52): Headlines - We do a night-by-night review of the Democratic National Convention, discussing its major speeches and overall themes.
Part 2 (29:17): Required Reading - Professor Corbin assigns William James’s Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking, Herbert Croly’s The Promise of American Life, and the first chapter of Paul Johnson’s Modern Times. Link: Washington Examiner editorial on Joe Biden’s speech.
Part 3 (52:23): Open the Grade Book - We grade three convention innovations on...
2020-08-221h 05DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayAnarchy, Authority, and the Rule of LawChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (starts at 1:46): Headlines -President Trump deployed federal agents to protect the federal courthouse in Portland in early July. We discuss the charges of authoritarianism that have followed. Links: Bill Hutchinson for ABC News; Oregon Public Broadcasting report; Reuters reports on ‘Operation Diligent Valor’; Ryan Cooper at The Week; Zach Beauchamp at Vox.
Part 2 (17:00): Required Reading - Professor Corbin assigns The Authoritarian Personality by Theodor Adorno et al., “What is Authoritarianism?” by Hannah Arendt, and “The Return of Political Phi...
2020-08-011h 06DIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayThe Return of SportsChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (starts at 2:09): Headlines - Major League Baseball is back (!) with the NBA, NHL, and NFL starting soon. We discuss the big stories for each league.
Part 2 (27:12): Required Reading - Professor Corbin recommends Michael Lombardi’s Gridiron Genius while Professor Parks talks about Ted Williams’s The Science of Hitting and Michael Lewis’s Moneyball.
Part 3 (35:41): Open the Grade Book - We grade the biggest stories of the MLB and NFL offseason: Mookie Betts’s trade from t...
2020-07-2554 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayPresident Trump, "Hamilton," and American PatriotismChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (starts at 3:20): Headlines - We discuss the reaction to President Trump’s July 3 address at Mt. Rushmore and the release of the film of Hamilton the same night. Links: President Trump’s speech; Zeeshan Aleem at Vox; Senator Duckworth; Charles C.W. Cooke at National Review; Roger Kimball at American Greatness; Ed Morales at CNN; Kyle Smith at National Review.
Part 2 (21:23): Required Reading - Professor Corbin assigns two thoughtful pieces analyzing the character of President Trump and selections from three of Pluta...
2020-07-1154 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayIn Pursuit of Justice, part 2Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (starts at 3:26): Headlines - “Cancel culture” continues to encourage snap judgments about historical figures, individuals, and institutions. We discuss the firing of Emmanuel Cafferty and the effort to demonetize The Federalist. Links: National Review’s “Cancel Counter”; Emmanuel Cafferty: local NBC News article; radio interview; The Federalist: NBC News report; David Harsanyi responds.
Part 2 (19:37): Required Reading - Professor Corbin assigns Abraham Lincoln’s February 22, 1861 speech at Independence Hall and Adam Garfinkle on “Deep Literacy” at National Affairs. Reflections on the role of persuasi...
2020-06-2049 minDIA-Today: Democracy in America TodayGreat Power Rivalries: US v. ChinaChristian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1: Headlines - The presidential candidates accuse each other of being too soft on China while analysts suggest competing visions of US-China relations and the strategic challenge China poses to US interests. Links: Thomas Wright in The Atlantic: How Should Biden Handle China?; Rachel Esplin Odell and Stephen Wertheim in The New York Times: Opinion | Can the Democrats Avoid Trump’s China Trap?; Michael Rubin in The National Interest: China's Path To Self Destruction Starts in Hong Kong; David Goldman in The Claremont Rev...
2020-05-3049 min