DIA-Today: Democracy in America Today

Keeping Our Republic, part 1: Equality

We begin a new series based on our 2010 book, Keeping Our Republic: Principles for a Political Reformation, by reviewing the first principle discussed, equality. 

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 arrival of summer in Colorado and New Jersey.

Introducing Keeping Our Republic (2:17) - We discuss the vision behind Keeping Our Republic and our plan to revisit its arguments 15 years later. Link: Charles C. W. Cooke on Normalcy.   

The First Principle: Equality: (23:18) - We discuss the founders’ understanding of human equality and its application today. Link: Joseph Pieper, Abuse of Language, Abuse of Power. 

Tocqueville’s Crystal Ball (46:58) - We review our picks for the Kentucky Derby and predict how many hot dogs Joey Chestnut will eat on July 4. Link: Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Results.

Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com

Matt Parks and David Corbin both taught politics at The King’s College in New York City and have written together on reviving American republicanism, The Federalist, and Democracy in America. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of their present or former employers.

BoBos and WoBels: President Trump’s First 100 Days, part 5

We 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.   

President Trump’s Movement and Self-Understanding: (23:49) - We discuss Dave’s understanding of how the ascendance of what David Brooks called the “BoBos” led to the coalescing of President Trump’s coalition of Workers and Believers (WoBels). Link: David Brooks, Bobos in Paradise. 

Tocqueville’s Crystal Ball (53:23) - We make our picks for the upcoming Kentucky Derby.

Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com

Matt Parks and David Corbin both taught politics at The King’s College in New York City and have written together on reviving American republicanism, The Federalist, and Democracy in America. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of their present or former employers.

Tariffs and American Prosperity: President Trump’s First 100 Days, part 4

We discuss the case for and against President Trump’s tariffs in the broader context of American economic and moral prosperity.

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 talk about spring skiing and avoiding mishap on the slopes

Tariffs in Context (2:28) - We discuss the historical and philosophical context of President Trump’s tariff with help from Alexander Hamilton’s “Report on Manufactures” and Plator’s Republic. Links: Hamilton, “Report on Manufactures”; Plato, The Republic, Book 2.   

The Case For and Against President Trump’s Tariffs: (26:25) - We discuss thoughtful arguments made for and against President Trump’s tariffs. Links: Paul Mueller and the case against; Noah Rothman and degrowth; Shane Harris on elites and tariffs; Park McDougald on Tariffs and China; Julio Rivera on a blue-collar renaissance; Spencer Morrison on job growth; Angelo Codevilla’s Advice for War Presidents. 

Tocqueville’s Crystal Ball (42:21) - We review our poor NCAA tournament picks and project the winner of the Master’s Tournament. 

Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com

Matt Parks and David Corbin both taught politics at The King’s College in New York City and have written together on reviving American republicanism, The Federalist, and Democracy in America. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of their present or former employers.

The End of (the Department of) Education: President Trump's First 100 Days, part 3

We continue our discussion of the first 100 days of President Trump’s second administration by focusing on his plans for the Department of Education and a program for education reform.

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 the arrival of March weather and March Madness.

Ending the Department of Education? (2:03) - We discuss President Trump’s plans to close the Department of Education along with the current staffing and spending of the department. Links: President Trump’s pending executive order; Plans to reduce Department of Education staffing; Blue State Attorneys General lawsuit.    

Education Ancient and Modern: (8:07) - We reflect on classical models of education, the significance of Christianity in refining those models, and the contemporary American focus on career preparation in education. Links: Aristotle, The Politics, book VIII; Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Book II. 

Reforming Education (21:49) - We address three problems in the contemporary approach to school community and culture, correctives of each, and the prospects for operationalizing them in our day. 

Tocqueville’s Crystal Ball (36:01) - We make our picks for the Final Four of the NCAA tournament and the low seed that will make the deepest run. 

Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com

Matt Parks and David Corbin both taught politics at The King’s College in New York City and have written together on reviving American republicanism, The Federalist, and Democracy in America. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of his present or former employers.

BullDOGEing the Federal Government? President Trump’s First Hundred Days, part 2

We continue our examination of the first 100 days of the second Trump Administration by discussing the constitutional and political questions around DOGE.

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 what we did last week in light of Elon Musk’s email to federal employees asking them the same and the overall question of government accountability. Links: Donald Trump statement; Federal Debt.

DOGE (4:28) - We discuss the constitutional objections that have been raised to DOGE, the political resistance that has arisen, and the prospects for getting control of the federal deficit and debt. Links: Alan Charles Raul on the unconstitutionality of DOGE; WSJ on DOGE; Who let the DOGE out?; Andy McCarthy on the Dellinger case; House Budget Resolution; DOGE homepage.   

Tocqueville’s Crystal Ball (33:19) - We make our predictions for the Red Sox and Yankees this year. 

Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com

Matt Parks and David Corbin both taught politics at The King’s College in New York City and have written together on reviving American republicanism, The Federalist, and Democracy in America. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of their present or former employers.

An Energetic Executive or an Imperial Presidency? President Trump's First 100 Days, part 1

We begin our examination of the first 100 days of the second Trump Administration by discussing his use of executive power.

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 catch up after a mid-winter break from the show.

The Constitutional Executive (1:12) - We discuss the difference between a constitutional “energetic” executive and an imperial president. Links: Yuval Levin on executive power; Federalist 70; Mike Johnson on executive power.   

An Energetic Executive or an Imperial President? (20:58) - We discuss key early actions of the Trump Administration and their appropriateness under our constitutional system. Links: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on Impoundment; Title IX; US v. Wong Kim Ark (1898);  Tim Kaine and Chris Koons bill.

Tocqueville’s Crystal Ball (38:11) - We make our picks for Super Bowl winner and MVP. 

Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com

Matt Parks and David Corbin both taught politics at The King’s College in New York City and have written together on reviving American republicanism, The Federalist, and Democracy in America. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of their present or former employers.

Intelligent Statecraft and the Failure of the Elites

We discuss Americans’ suspicion of experts, its connection to elite institutions, and its application to creating a sensible intelligence-gathering regime, guided by the writings of the late Dr. Angelo Codevilla.

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 plans for Thanksgiving.

The Failure of the Elites (1:58) - We discuss the sources of American discontent with the nation’s experts and elite institutions.  Links: CBS Presidential Transition Poll David Brooks; Rush Limbaugh and Angelo Codevilla; Trump OMB Director on firing federal employees.

Intelligent Intelligence: (20:58) - We discuss the key elements of a sensible intelligence regime from the writings of Dr. Angelo Codevilla. Links: Paul Seabury and Angelo Codevilla, War: Ends and Means; Angelo Codevilla, Informing Statecraft;; Angelo Codevilla, Advice to War Presidents.  

Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com

Matt Parks and David Corbin both taught politics at The King’s College in New York City and have written together on reviving American republicanism, The Federalist, and Democracy in America. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of their present or former employers.

2024 Election Review

The people have spoken…and we’re back for a post-election recap.

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 revisit our election predictions and discuss our evenings watching the returns come in.

2016 v. 2024 (4:13) - We discuss the significance of President Trump’s victory in the context of 200 years of Democratic Party focus on the popular vote, Francis Fukuyama’s “End of History” thesis, and the end (?) of the Clinton/Obama era of Democratic Party leadership. Links: Francis Fukuyama; President Obama’s leadership.

Gradebook: The Trump Administration (19:10) - We discuss President Trump’s early picks for the Cabinet and other high positions, what this says about his priorities, and the speculation over the role of recess appointments in getting his team approved. Link: Congressional Research Service on Recess Appointments; Ed Whelan on Recess Appointment plans, critiquing those plans, and the Supreme Court’s views.            

Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com

Matt Parks and David Corbin both taught politics at The King’s College in New York City and have written together on reviving American republicanism, The Federalist, and Democracy in America. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of their present or former employers.

DIA-Today Reunion: 2024 Election Preview

After 2 ½ years away, we come back for a special election preview episode. 

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 talk about our new jobs and new homes in new states and speculate about the popular demand for more DIA-Today.

A New Consensus? (6:36) - We discuss the broader context of another very close presidential election and what it would take to break that pattern in 2028.

The Trajectory of the Election (20:05) - We discuss the defining events of the presidential race over the last six months. Link: RealClearPolitics; Axios on Pew Research findings about double-haters. 

Tocqueville’s Crystal Ball (27:36) - We predict the results of the presidential election. Link: PBS on changes in Michigan’s elections laws.            

Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com

Matt Parks and David Corbin both taught politics at The King’s College in New York City and have written together on reviving American republicanism, The Federalist, and Democracy in America. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and not necessarily those of their present or former employers.

 

Season Finale: Education and the Best Regime, part 2

We conclude season three by reflecting on the influence of music in shaping the soul and the city from the very end of Aristotle’s 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 discuss the challenges of finding peace in a fallen world in light of the school shooting in southwest Texas and the conclusion of the school year.

Required Reading (3:50) - We reflect on the final chapters of Book VIII of Aristotle’s Politics, considering the influence of music on our lives and the regime.  Link: Aristotle, The Politics.

Tocqueville’s Crystal Ball (26:37) - We review last week’s picks for the PGA Championship and predict the winner of the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Links: FiveThirtyEight soccer rankings, FiveThirtyEight Champions League Final Projection.            

Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com

Matt Parks is the Interim Provost and an Associate Professor of Politics at The King’s College in New York City. David Corbin is Head of School at the Geneva School of Boerne, Texas. All views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker.