The best of intellectual conservative thought.

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CATEGORY: POLITICS (9 MIN)

The battle for second

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As America barrels toward the heart of another presidential election season, one of the four names on the two major party tickets has yet to be decided. Former President Donald Trump still has a fairly long list of names as options for his vice-presidential nominee. Each option comes with their own positives and negatives, but some pundits have noted the surprising strengths of a man who didn’t appear on the national scene until this year’s primary.

For National Review, Jim Geraghty analyzes the possibility of North Dakota governor Doug Burgum as Trump’s VP pick. Geraghty notes that Burgum is one of eight politicians from whom the Trump campaign requested documents for review. Although the one-time bonds between Trump and former VP Mike Pence have long since broken, Geraghty sees many similarities between Burgum and Pence.

Geraghty gets in the time machine to replay the discussions which led to Trump’s selection of Pence in 2016, pointing out that Pence’s calm and independent demeanor stood out to Trump at the time. In the same way, Geraghty finds Burgum a reliable and moderate influence who could calm elements of the right dissatisfied with Trump.

Besides all that, Geraghty admits, Burgum is worth around $100 million, and he could certainly boost the campaign coffers.

What do you think? Read Geraghty’s article here.

Read Now

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Weekly Poll

Who should Donald Trump pick as his VP nominee?

[A] Doug Burgum

[B] J.D. Vance

[C] Tim Scott

[D] Marco Rubio

[E] Ben Carson

[F] Tom Cotton

[G] Elise Stefanik

[H] Byron Donalds

[I] Someone else

[J] Unsure

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RESULTS: 6/6/24

Do you agree with Harrison Butker’s commencement speech?

[A] Yes​​ - 92.4%

[B] No - 5.1%

​​​​​[C] Unsure - 2.5%

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CATEGORY: ECONOMICS (8 MIN)

Purpose and profits

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We’re currently in the middle of Pride Month, and if you didn’t know that before June 1, you certainly knew it afterwards. Countless businesses changed their social media profile pictures to rainbow-themed versions (except for the Middle Eastern subsidiaries of some large companies). Many pushed out ad campaigns with LGBT-themed marketing. But do these concerted efforts—and many other diversity-based internal practices—align with the purpose of business?

Richard M. Reinsch II, writing for Law & Liberty, discusses a new series of principles for businesses seeking to avoid the influence of social justice movements. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), an influential Christian law firm, recently created the “Greenbrier Statement of Principles on the Purpose of a Corporation.” Reinsch describes the four statements in the Greenbrier Principles.

The first declares the purpose of business as promoting human flourishing through excellent work. The second reaffirms the duty of businesses to serve their shareholders. The third rejects ideological politicization as contradictory to the first two principles. And the fourth replaces ideology with “conducting . . . business well” as the better method to positively influence the nation.

Reinsch then lays out the framework underlying these principles and praises them as vital to the American free enterprise system. Discover his entire discussion of the Greenbrier Principles here.

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Read Now

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CATEGORY: VIDEO

A Discussion on Faith, Community and the Middle Ages with Andrew Willard Jones

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Join us for a captivating episode of the ISI's podcast Conservative Conversations as we sit down with esteemed historian Andrew Willard Jones. Renowned for his deep expertise in medieval studies and the intricate relationship between the Church and the state, Jones offers listeners a profound exploration of the Middle Ages.

In this episode, Jones delves into the social, political, and theological landscape of medieval Christian society, shedding light on how these historical dynamics continue to influence contemporary thought. With a focus on the rich tapestry of medieval thought, Jones reveals the enduring relevance of this period in understanding modern issues of governance, faith, and community. Jones brings us:

- Insight into the complex interplay between religious and political authority in the Middle Ages.

- A deeper appreciation for the theological underpinnings of medieval society.

- An understanding of how medieval perspectives can inform current discussions on liberty and societal organization.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, a student of theology, or simply curious about the past's impact on the present, this episode promises to enrich your understanding and spark thoughtful conversation.

Watch Now

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​​​ISI's Annual

Homecoming Weekend​​​​​

Join ISI on September 20-21, 2024, for a garden party that’ll welcome students, professors, alumni, and friends of ISI from across the country.

Every year, we host ISI’s annual Homecoming festivities right on our 20-acre campus tucked away into a bucolic pocket of Wilmington, DE. Our Homecoming sets the tone for the new school year and is an opportunity to celebrate and network with our impressive community of students, teachers, alumni, and professionals from a variety of backgrounds.

Official Homecoming Schedule:

Friday, September 20 (6:30 pm – 11 pm)

Guests will gather at ISI’s campus for a reception, bonfire, and open house

Saturday, September 21

Guests will gather at ISI's Campus for an 8:00 am breakfast

9:00 – 10:00 am: Reagan and Nixon Revisited

Speakers: George Will and Lord Conrad Black, moderated by Dan McCarthy

10:30 am: The Democratization of American Christianity

Speakers: Rusty Reno, Nathan Hatch, and Joshua Mitchell, moderated by Johnny Burtka

Top 20 under 30 Awards Ceremony

12:00 – 1:15 pm: God and Man at Yale 2024

Michael Knowles (lecture) and moderated discussion feat. Michael Brendan Dougherty

1:15 pm: Lunch and festivities begin

Reserve your ticket>>>

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Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.

Meet the 13 Ivory Towers Intruders: Stanford Students Charged with Felony Burglary

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via The Stanford Review

“On June 5, thirteen pro-Palestine protesters were detained after breaking into Building 10, the Stanford President’s office. Since then, a baker's dozen have been charged with 459(a) PC, a felony charge of burglary with intention to commit a felony or theft. The Review has obtained the names of these students in-person from the Stanford University Office of Public Safety. Eleven are current Stanford students. All listed are age eighteen or above.”

Free Speech Dialogue Set For Reunion

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via Cornell Review

“Cornellians United for Free Speech, a student, faculty and alumni group dedicated to promoting free expression at Cornell will host a one-hour conversation on the state of free expression at Cornell on Friday, June 7. The meeting will be held in Room 401 on the top floor of the Physical Sciences Building starting at 4 p.m.

The meeting is open to all interested members of the Cornell community, regardless of prior involvement in free expression issues. Free expression has been the subject of the 2023-24 theme year

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, and has led to the founding of a long-term group committed to advocating for this topic.”

Outcries Prompt Pause of Controversial Hire to Lead Holocaust & Genocide Studies Center

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via The Minnesota Republic

“On the evening of Friday, June 7, the University of Minnesota Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies

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suddenly lost two members of its advisory board

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when Karen Painter

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and Bruno Chaoat

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emailed letters of resignation to Provost Rachel Croson

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and Interim President Jeff Ettinger

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to protest the hiring of a controversial new director of the center.

In a move that left observers in dismay, Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts Ann Waltner

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offered the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies directorship to Raz Segal, a professor at Stockton University

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. Why is Segal controversial? In a nutshell: Segal argues that the Holocaust is not unique compared to other genocides, and according to Painter, he “has positioned himself on an extreme end of the political and ideological spectrum with his publications on Israel and Gaza, including an essay in which he accused Israel of genocide a week after the October 7 terrorist attacks.””

The Ann Arbor Student Housing Affordability Crisis: How Serious It’s Become, and How It Can Be Solved

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via The Michigan Review

“There is no question that Ann Arbor is a generally thriving city with countless positive attributes – a thriving social scene, gorgeous parks and landscaping, and a strong economy anchored by one of the most prestigious public universities in the United States. Unfortunately, like all cities, Ann Arbor also has several significant flaws behind its generally prestigious aura, and one of those issues is the student housing dilemma

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. After living in dorms for the first one or two years of their undergraduate tenure, students will generally seek off-campus housing options throughout Ann Arbor. As students begin their search for reasonably-priced, decent-quality housing, they are often met with the harsh reality of housing in Ann Arbor – extremely high rent prices, and a disturbingly low housing supply. If a student is lucky enough to find affordable off-campus housing, the general quality of that housing complex should likely be drawn into question, painting a picture of the struggle they face."

CATEGORY: INTERNATIONAL (15 MIN)

Intentions and consequences

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The 1990s (somehow now thirty years ago) saw the advent of huge changes that continue to affect our 2020s world. The founding of Google, the first-ever text message, and the official fall of the Soviet Union all came in that fateful decade. In connection with the last of those three events, NATO also begin to expand eastward in the 1990s, adding the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland at the end of the millennium.

For this week’s article from the Modern Age website, Tom Switzer takes aim at the addition of these three countries. Switzer argues that the movement to expand NATO actually inflamed tensions with Russia, leading to the Ukraine war of our current day. To bolster his position, Switzer points to many contemporary critics of NATO’s growth, notably including figures as diverse as Noam Chomsky and Pat Buchanan.

Switzer especially focuses on Buchanan, diplomat George Kennan, and National Interest editor Owen Harries. After reviewing their critiques, Switzer praises their accuracy.

“Their warnings about poking the bear proved prescient,” Switzer writes.

Switzer then adds that today’s NATO expansion opponents face ridicule due to “media and institutional groupthink.” He believes that the West has not learned its lesson.

Read Switzer’s article here to see his full argument. ​​​​​​

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Read Now

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Thought of the Day:



“The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised."

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- George Will

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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.

Join the Club

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