The Secrets of Statecraft American Institutions, Higher Education, Talk Shows, and Nougies with Ben Sasse
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Aug 28, 2025 Ben Sasse, the former US Senator and President of the University of Florida, joins Andrew Roberts for a thought-provoking conversation. He discusses the dysfunction in Congress, the challenges facing American institutions, and the impact of social media on politics. Sasse critiques higher education issues like grade inflation and the decline of work ethic among students. He also navigates the implications of the AI revolution on the workforce and analyzes the current state of US foreign policy regarding Iran, China, and Russia. Plus, he explains what a 'nougie' is!
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Legislative Underreach And Social Media
- Congress is weakened because committees have lost real power and leaders centralize decisions from their offices. Social media amplifies loud minorities so politicians mistake extreme voices for majorities.
Elect People Who Will Govern, Not Perform
- Run candidates who view politics as a job rather than a platform for commentary and want to actually legislate. Demand public servants who will restore committee power and do the substantive work of governance.
Congressional Punting And Budget Failure
- Congress repeatedly punts Article I powers to the executive, shrinking legislative responsibility. The budget process has largely failed for decades, producing annual last-minute fixes instead of strategic choices.
