From Intercollegiate Review <[email protected]>
Subject Ordered Humans, Ordered Politics, Ordered Research
Date July 10, 2025 1:27 PM
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Conservatism’s Sharpest Voices, Curated Weekly | ISI’s Intercollegiate Review brings you the best in serious conservative thought.

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​​​Note from the Editor: The Intercollegiate Review will be moving to Substack this Summer.

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We are grateful for your support of the Intercollegiate Review and are committed to keeping your subscription completely free as we move to Substack.

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CATEGORY: CULTURE (45 MIN)

Woke AI and Human Survival: The Douthat-Thiel Discussion

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The continuing development of AI models has led to significant moral and philosophical questions—in many different industries. Writers, lawyers, teachers, and countless other professionals are facing AI in day-to-day life. Should it take over more human work—or less? No matter what we decide on our own, how do we deal with its effect on our skillsets and minds?

In a wide-ranging interview for his podcast “Interesting Times” (with a transcript reproduced in The New York Times

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), Ross Douthat talks with PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel on AI, human nature, religion, and other hot-button topics. The two alumni of ISI’s Collegiate Network begin with the technological advances of the past couple decades and the question of whether growth and dynamism are moral goods on their own.

Douthat and Thiel also discuss Elon Musk’s plan to go to Mars. Thiel characterizes it as a “political project,” and he cautions that if humans were indeed to establish political bodies on Mars, that “woke AI” and “socialist government” could follow. Douthat then presses Thiel on how he would characterize AI. Thiel takes a middle ground, calling it “more than a nothing burger” and “less than the total transformation of our society.”

After hesitating when asked if he wants the human race to last, Thiel explains that in his view, there should be a human goal of “transformation.” Douthat responds with questions about the Christian view of future perfected bodies, and the conversation eventually moves to the eschaton: what do the Antichrist and Armageddon look like?

To learn more, listen to the podcast or read the transcript with our NYT guest link here

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Read Now

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Weekly Poll

Has the development of AI been a net good or net bad for society?

[A] Good

[B] Bad

[C] Neutral

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[D] Not sure

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CATEGORY: POLITICS (22 MIN)

Pence &amp; Feulner: Freedom and Prosperity Require Order

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Amid sharply contested policy battles during this second administration of President Donald Trump, many thinkers have been struggling for the soul of the conservative movement. Now that Republicans hold the reins of power, they are searching for guiding principles that can lead them to exercise such power well. But where are they to look?

Look to Russell Kirk, say former Vice President Mike Pence and Heritage Foundation founder Ed Feulner. Writing in National Affairs

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, Pence and Feulner lay out their approach to an ordered conservatism framed around Kirk’s Roots of American Order. They walk through the history of Kirk’s legendary five cities, finding lessons they say are invaluable for political thinkers in 2025.

In order to survive as a normatively good structure of governance, Pence and Feulner argue, conservatism cannot solely be an “oppositional force” defined by its enemies. Rather, conservatism must “reclaim its commitment to the ‘permanent things’: the moral and cultural foundations of a free society.” Pence and Feulner laud the necessity of a moral and religious framework to maintain American society.

The authors then give some practical impacts of Kirk’s approach in our modern situation. They believe America should continue to sustain its leadership position on the world stage and oppose those who would destroy freedom. Pence and Feulner urge renewed commitment to U.S. allies, especially promoting free trade with such nations. And they warn against using government power through the administrative state to influence private companies.

Pence and Feulner conclude with a plea to preserve the family and societal virtue in our nation. Read their article here

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to learn more.

Read Now

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CATEGORY: VIDEO

Newt Gingrich's 5 Steps to Balance the Federal Budget

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In this 5-minute clip, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich breaks down five key steps to balancing the federal budget—based on real-world experience, strategic policy, and political courage.

This highlight is part of a longer conversation hosted by Caroline Downey (National Review, The Conservateur) during a live event with ISI’s Collegiate Network. Held at D.C.'s acclaimed venue Butterworth’s, this evening brought together students, young professionals, and alumni to explore the path to America’s cultural and political revival.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here

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Watch Now

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

Signs Without a Shield at Dartmouth

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via The Dartmouth Review

“On May 13 of this year, Hanover’s electorate made its way to the polls for the ballot election held in conjunction with the annual town meeting. The most headline-grabbing result was Evan Gerson ’27’s dramatic loss by a 3.5-to-1 margin to the incumbent Selectman Athos John Rassias. Much was also discussed on campus about Article 2, a significant change to Hanover zoning policy which passed narrowly. It will be interesting to see how it affects Hanover’s landscape and housing prices in years to come.”

“Can We Afford the American Dream?”: Inaugural American Identity Summit Discusses Economic Mobility, Innovation, and Monetary and Fiscal Policy

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via The Chicago Thinker

“On May 10, the Chicago Thinker hosted its inaugural American Identity Summit in Rubenstein Forum on the UChicago campus, where numerous speakers and moderators discussed critical questions facing the nation. The third panel focused on the concept of the American Dream, a promise of upward mobility through hard work and discipline, and discussed how that idea has become increasingly out of reach for many Americans today.”

Senator Mike Lee’s Big Beautiful Step Toward an Affordable Utah

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via The Cougar Chronicle

“As Trump’s omnibus policy package, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” makes its way through Congress, substantial criticism is being leveled at Utah Senator Mike Lee because of a single provision. This provision would allow for federal land in western states, including Utah, to be sold off to interested parties. One of several misleading posts came from the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, which published a map displaying land labeled as “eligible for sale” under the provision. This seems like a fairly simple provision, however it does not tell the full story.”

A Short Story: “No Time for Sparrows”

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via The Hillsdale Forum

““I am tired—that’s the trouble, yes…just tired,” she thought, sighing deeply as she washed the dirt from beneath her fingernails in a large ceramic sink, filled to the quarter mark with soapy water. In the window’s reflection she saw wrinkles drooping down her face, every line etched like a tally mark, won in thankless labor. She began counting her wrinkles with her worries before looking away. It was a sick game, and she didn’t care to keep score."

The Cost of Consensus: Princeton SPIA’s Failure to Platform Competing Views on Iran

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via The Princeton Tory

“The Trump administration’s decision to neutralize Iran’s nuclear facilities was a heroic, necessary, and indispensable act of global leadership. In just 12 days, the United States and Israel halted the nuclear ambitions of the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, achieving this–thank God–with zero American casualties. However, to the Princeton School of Public &amp; International Affairs (SPIA), this is apparently a bad thing. Visit SPIA’s official X account—which regularly platforms faculty perspectives on evolving world events—and you will not find, among the 10 faculty quotes about these events posted between June 18th-23rd, a single voice that even modestly frames these actions positively.

CATEGORY: ECONOMICS (7 MIN)

Thomas Sowell: Guiding America Toward Truth

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In a world where society has pressured many people to avoid speaking hard truths or facts that might be politically uncomfortable, a few brave men and women have persisted in stubborn honesty. Their work is invaluable and worthy of remembrance. And it’s especially important today, when these luminaries’ voices can be drowned out by a glut of information of questionable value.

For this week’s article from the Modern Age

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website, Joshua Parcha honors one of these thinkers: Thomas Sowell. The great economist’s 95th birthday was last week, and Parcha journeys through Sowell’s thoughts, focusing on those that affected Parcha’s own life. Parcha sees Sowell’s work as “an oasis” in a “barren intellectual landscape” that leads those who will listen toward truth.

Parcha discusses Sowell’s work on the controversial (to the mainstream) topic of disparities and inequalities between different ethnicities and cultures. Parcha praises Sowell for his willingness to point to facts that others ignored. He uses the examples of demographic differences, geographical differences, and Sowell’s refusal to jump straight to discrimination as the only explanation for statistical imbalance.

Parcha finds Sowell’s attitude and research a welcome antidote to the popular mentality of victimhood that would otherwise tempt our emotions.

“We may seek a world of cosmic justice, but prioritizing abstract ideals over practical reality ignores the very real costs involved,” Parcha writes. “Sowell continually points out the societal price of pursuing a noble ideal of social or cosmic justice with no awareness of downsides.”

Read more of Parcha’s piece here on the Modern Age

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website.

Read Now

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Thought of the Day:



“Order without liberty and liberty without order are equally destructive.”

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- Theodore Roosevelt

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