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CATEGORY: POLITICS (16 MIN)
With Donald Trump holding a decisive lead in the Republican presidential primary polls, his top challengers met in Milwaukee last week to launch their pitches to GOP voters at the first debate of the election season. At this stage in the race, first public impressions are invaluable to these candidates, and commentators have split in their analysis of who “won” the night.
Noted writer Bari Weiss held a roundtable at her publication, The Free Press, with two TFP writers and an editor from Newsweek to discuss their impressions of the debate and its effects. The conversation ranged from Donald Trump’s influence to the future of the Republican party, but two names that continually came up were businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who clashed during the debate.
Weiss and the other writers split on their analysis of the Ramaswamy-Haley tussle. They agreed that Haley’s presentation was excellent, but her content and Ramaswamy’s energy found a more mixed reception. Weiss also believed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the current runner-up to Trump in the polls, was the “biggest loser,” citing his failure to construct any memorable moments.
The roundtable also covered Trump’s interview with Tucker Carlson, which aired on X (Twitter) at the same time as the debate and received huge viewership numbers.
Read their discussion (or listen to the podcast version) right here.
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Weekly Poll
RESULTS: 8/24/23
Last week, we asked: Do you think Trump will be allowed to become president? 42.6% of respondents answered "yes" and 31.1% answered "no." 26.2% of respondents were unsure.
Who is your favorite Republican presidential candidate?
[A] Donald Trump
[B] Ron DeSantis
[C] Vivek Ramaswamy
[D] Mike Pence
[E] Nikki Haley
[F] Tim Scott
[G] Chris Christie
[H] Asa Hutchinson
[I] Doug Burgum
[J] Unsure
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CATEGORY: CONSERVATISM (4 MIN)
The strong opinions on Ramaswamy and Haley’s opposing presentations at the debate highlight the continuing struggle within the Republican Party about the populist movement. Ramaswamy has built his campaign on an animated appeal to the common man, while Haley has seemed in many ways to represent the traditional GOP elite.
For The Spectator, Daniel McCarthy, editor in chief of ISI’s Modern Age, argues for the Republican Party to embrace its populist supporters and move on from the old neoconservative guard that held the reins for so long. McCarthy notes the failure of more establishment politicians like John McCain and of course discusses the huge and sudden popularity of Donald Trump.
McCarthy also writes about a 60-year-old book called The Conservative Affirmation, by Willmoore Kendall, which frames the Constitution as a “means for popular self-control.” McCarthy, who recently penned a new foreword for the book, says Kendall’s work gives the GOP possible answers to reconcile with populism. He believes this solution could reinvigorate the party going into the upcoming decades.
Read McCarthy’s full article here.
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CATEGORY: PODCAST EPISODE
In this episode, Michael Anton joins the podcast to discuss:
- his book, The Stakes, about the state of the country in 2020 and what could be lost and gained
- how the progressive ideology that rules California’s politics has turned the state into a nightmare, from education and cost-of-living to immigration and crime
- where we could be headed in America’s short-term political future with the coming 2024 election and in its long-term future—including the possible end of the Republic
Texts Mentioned:
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ISI’s 70th Anniversary Gala &
Linda L. Bean Center Dedication
September 28th, 2023
This fall, join us at our 70th Anniversary Gala featuring Tucker Carlson, Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, and Linda Bean, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Together these are some of the most influential figures in America today.
We will also host a pre-event panel featuring longtime friends of ISI including Annette Kirk (Russell Kirk Center), Gene Meyer (The Federalist Society), Ed Feulner (The Heritage Foundation), and Dan McCarthy (ISI), discussing the 70th anniversary of three conservative classics: Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind, Leo Strauss’ Natural Right and History, and Robert Nisbet’s The Quest for Community.
We will have a lobster dinner in honor of Tucker and Linda’s mutual connection to the state of Maine, and seating will be limited to 150 guests. Our VIP ticket holders will have the chance to meet ISI trustees and event speakers in a private reception beforehand.
Reserve your tickets here!
Join us in Wilmington, DE >>>
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Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.
“Academic Freedom Does Not Protect the Promotion of Propaganda” via The Princeton Tory
“In recent weeks, controversy has arisen surrounding an upcoming course in Princeton’s Near Eastern Studies (NES) Department for its inclusion of a book [The Right to Maim: Debility, Capacity, Disability by Rutgers professor Jasbir Puar] on its sample reading list that claims the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) deliberately cripples Palestinians.”
“Biden administration moves to limit Supreme Court decision, impacts for Cornell” via The Cornell Review
“Executive agency powers may soon be used to circumvent this summer's landmark affirmative action decisions.”
“Jordan Peterson’s Court Appeal Fails in Landmark Freedom of Expression Case in Canada” via The Toronto Tory
“In a recent legal development that has ignited debates about the intersection of freedom of expression and professional obligations, former University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson’s court appeal has been denied.”
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CATEGORY: PRESIDENCY (50 MIN)
Presidential elections capture Americans’ imagination—after all, it’s no coincidence that debates garner millions of views more than a year before the polling places open. We care about who holds the highest executive position in the land. But have that position and the role of the presidency become too important?
In this week’s Intercollegiate Review archive, the late George W. Carey reviews a book by Gene Healy, The Cult of the Presidency: America’s Dangerous Devotion to Executive Power. Carey’s well-developed review overviews Healy’s points about the modern and historic presidency. Healy’s general thesis holds that the current presidency has abruptly broken with the tradition of limited presidential power.
Carey summarizes Healy’s rebuttal to scholars who claim the Constitution gives the president more power through the Vesting Clause. He follows Healy’s tracing of the growth of presidential authority through the wartime years, its temporary retreat after Watergate, and its renewal in the 21st century.
Healy’s image of “a truly heroic president” is “one who appreciates the virtues of restraint—who is bold enough to act when action is necessary, yet wise enough, humble enough to refuse powers he ought not to have.”
Do you agree? Dive into Carey’s comprehensive review to discover more.
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Thought of the Day:
“It is a great advantage to a President, and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is not a great man.”
- Calvin Coolidge
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Join ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club
It’s never been easier for you to support our mission—and stay part of our community—with ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club!
For just $19.53 a month, you can join the fight and “pay it forward” by educating the next generation for ordered liberty.
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