As you probably know, I have a great interest in a particular historical event that involved predominantly black women in Atlanta, Georgia between 1909 and 1916 (approximately). I intend to make this a focused area of study, but being white, I want to be sure not to offend due to any unintentional feelings of cultural appropriation or insensitivity. Other than having my work previewed by black academics, do you have any words of wisdom for proceeding with respect and grace?
Glenn, in the discussion of Trump on your most July 14 podcast with John, your evaluation of Trump's second term seemed to be predominantly about the fact that he has been successful in implementing many of his policies and much less so about whether or not the polciies he is implementing are good or bad and whether he is following the law in the Constitution.
In the past, you have defended the rule of law, you have advocated for or against various policies, you have expressed support for the conservative legal movement's methods of Constitutional interpretation. But now, you seem to be largely silent as to all of that, at least when it comes to Trump.
So, my question for you is: Have you given up on liberal democracy in favor of autocratic one-person rule for better or worse? That is how it came across to me, although I may be misunderstanding you.
Glenn and especially John, much of the discussion of wokeness in this country has focused on left wing identity politics, especially in the aftermath of the George Floyd riots of 2020. I believe that this fixation obscures the far more interesting phenomenon of the woke right, manifested most clearly by the Israel First neocons in this country who try to silence and cancel anyone deemed insufficiently deferential towards the interests of the government of Israel.
Personally I believe that in focusing primarily upon the racial angle of brown-skinned Palestinians supposedly rising up against their white Jewish colonizers, John misses the far more interesting schism between the America First and Israel First camps within MAGA. I find the alliance between people like Cenk Ugyur of the Young Turks and far right individuals like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene to be utterly fascinating. I'm curious what you two make of the ongoing battle over the future of the American Republic, as exemplified by the recent furor over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein Files and Trump's decision to bomb Iran. It seems to me that there's a growing consensus in this country questioning the nature of our relationship with Israel that transcends simple racial lines. Many of the harshest critics of Israel among the America First contingent of MAGA are far right white Americans like Tucker Carlson.
Glenn and John, do you guys believe as I do that Israel First is essentially the right wing version of Black Lives Matter and that any ideology that prioritizes the interests and victimhood of particular groups be it the Blacks or the Jews at the expense of the greater good is anathema to the values of the American Republic?
I believe John has said previously that he doesn't watch much television (and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't even own a TV), but I wanted to ask if he has ever watched the musical TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend given his love of musicals, and the fact that there is a (very minor) character in it that I could swear is based on John. I have included a couple of YouTube links that should hopefully give you an idea of what I mean.
AI is likely to change the work process for the laptop class over the next 25 years or so. Do you think that this process is likely to impede wage growth for the laptop class in a similar way that changes in the last 40 years have impeded blue collar wages? This question is mainly for Glenn, but I would also be happy to hear John's thoughts as well.
In the poor black communities who are the biggest influencers? Mothers? Grandmothers? Gang leaders? What are the prevailing cultural messages and ideals? Are the influencers promoting marriage? Are they promoting education?
How might we get people to listen to/hear each other more, in the style of Braver Angels? https://braverangels.org/
Do you think that this kind of training or teaching in critical listening should begin in elementary schools, so that our institutions of higher learning might eventually be places where true civil discourse is practiced much more frequently?
Immigration enforcement remains perhaps the hottest domestic issue of the day, with both sides accusing the other of extremism and cruelty. It seems that the Democrats political problem with this issue boils down to their inability to answer the question of “who should be deported and when?” I feel that this inability is intrinsically linked with identity politics and a fear of seeming insufficiently racially sensitive. What do you both think?
I'm very curious of what you make of this video "The World War II Consensus is Breaking Down" from Jonathan Pageau, an Eastern Orthodox Christian intellectual. He analyzes the world through symbolism, which seeks to understand the world in terms of the narrative structures and imagery that form the basis of our identities. To summarize his argument briefly, he alleges that WWII generated an extremely potent narrative structure for understanding our place in the world, but this narrative necessarily has an expiration date. He ties many of the political oddities we see in our times to the Faustian bargain made with the Soviet Union in order to the win the war. He also has some fascinating analysis of the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly shedding light on the unique symbolic resonance of Jerusalem as the sacred center of the world.
As you probably know, I have a great interest in a particular historical event that involved predominantly black women in Atlanta, Georgia between 1909 and 1916 (approximately). I intend to make this a focused area of study, but being white, I want to be sure not to offend due to any unintentional feelings of cultural appropriation or insensitivity. Other than having my work previewed by black academics, do you have any words of wisdom for proceeding with respect and grace?
Glenn, in the discussion of Trump on your most July 14 podcast with John, your evaluation of Trump's second term seemed to be predominantly about the fact that he has been successful in implementing many of his policies and much less so about whether or not the polciies he is implementing are good or bad and whether he is following the law in the Constitution.
In the past, you have defended the rule of law, you have advocated for or against various policies, you have expressed support for the conservative legal movement's methods of Constitutional interpretation. But now, you seem to be largely silent as to all of that, at least when it comes to Trump.
So, my question for you is: Have you given up on liberal democracy in favor of autocratic one-person rule for better or worse? That is how it came across to me, although I may be misunderstanding you.
Glenn and especially John, much of the discussion of wokeness in this country has focused on left wing identity politics, especially in the aftermath of the George Floyd riots of 2020. I believe that this fixation obscures the far more interesting phenomenon of the woke right, manifested most clearly by the Israel First neocons in this country who try to silence and cancel anyone deemed insufficiently deferential towards the interests of the government of Israel.
Personally I believe that in focusing primarily upon the racial angle of brown-skinned Palestinians supposedly rising up against their white Jewish colonizers, John misses the far more interesting schism between the America First and Israel First camps within MAGA. I find the alliance between people like Cenk Ugyur of the Young Turks and far right individuals like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene to be utterly fascinating. I'm curious what you two make of the ongoing battle over the future of the American Republic, as exemplified by the recent furor over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein Files and Trump's decision to bomb Iran. It seems to me that there's a growing consensus in this country questioning the nature of our relationship with Israel that transcends simple racial lines. Many of the harshest critics of Israel among the America First contingent of MAGA are far right white Americans like Tucker Carlson.
Glenn and John, do you guys believe as I do that Israel First is essentially the right wing version of Black Lives Matter and that any ideology that prioritizes the interests and victimhood of particular groups be it the Blacks or the Jews at the expense of the greater good is anathema to the values of the American Republic?
Hi Glenn and John,
I believe John has said previously that he doesn't watch much television (and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't even own a TV), but I wanted to ask if he has ever watched the musical TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend given his love of musicals, and the fact that there is a (very minor) character in it that I could swear is based on John. I have included a couple of YouTube links that should hopefully give you an idea of what I mean.
Song about the "John" character: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIiNbGbs2dQ
Two clips showing the "John" character: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQgnvpZKMAI&t=414s,
timestamps: 6:52 and 9:44
Personally, I think the show is amazing and would like to know what John thinks of it! I love you both, keep up the good work.
Will Glenn offer book signings of his new book for TGS subscribers? I’m sure I’m not the only TGS fan who would appreciate such an offer!
AI is likely to change the work process for the laptop class over the next 25 years or so. Do you think that this process is likely to impede wage growth for the laptop class in a similar way that changes in the last 40 years have impeded blue collar wages? This question is mainly for Glenn, but I would also be happy to hear John's thoughts as well.
In the poor black communities who are the biggest influencers? Mothers? Grandmothers? Gang leaders? What are the prevailing cultural messages and ideals? Are the influencers promoting marriage? Are they promoting education?
How might we get people to listen to/hear each other more, in the style of Braver Angels? https://braverangels.org/
Do you think that this kind of training or teaching in critical listening should begin in elementary schools, so that our institutions of higher learning might eventually be places where true civil discourse is practiced much more frequently?
I would be so grateful to hear you two discuss Percival Everett's novel James. You've mentioned it, but not discussed it at length yet, I think?
Can one appreciate 'James' without first having read Mark Twain? - I was brought up on English and European novels.
Yes, but you won't really see what he's doing unless you read Huckleberry Finn.
Do you think we would be better off as a society without social media?
Immigration enforcement remains perhaps the hottest domestic issue of the day, with both sides accusing the other of extremism and cruelty. It seems that the Democrats political problem with this issue boils down to their inability to answer the question of “who should be deported and when?” I feel that this inability is intrinsically linked with identity politics and a fear of seeming insufficiently racially sensitive. What do you both think?
Nonsense. Masked people dressed.like Proud Boys are assaulting people. They do not identify themselves or produce warrants. You do not object.
Hello Glenn and John,
I'm very curious of what you make of this video "The World War II Consensus is Breaking Down" from Jonathan Pageau, an Eastern Orthodox Christian intellectual. He analyzes the world through symbolism, which seeks to understand the world in terms of the narrative structures and imagery that form the basis of our identities. To summarize his argument briefly, he alleges that WWII generated an extremely potent narrative structure for understanding our place in the world, but this narrative necessarily has an expiration date. He ties many of the political oddities we see in our times to the Faustian bargain made with the Soviet Union in order to the win the war. He also has some fascinating analysis of the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly shedding light on the unique symbolic resonance of Jerusalem as the sacred center of the world.
Here's the first video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfXxQW77cQA
Here's an interview where he talks more about Israel in particular: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqG3EUrLnlA&t=6215s
Thank you both.