The American Compass Podcast

Over the last two weeks, an online battle has broken out among the New Right over the Israel-Iran conflict and the Trump administration's bombing of an Iranian nuclear facility. Regardless of whether the recent ceasefire between Iran and Israel holds, the events so far have drawn clear dividing lines within the coalition. What does "America First" mean for Middle Eastern policy?Josh Hammer, author of Israel and Civilization, and Sohrab Ahmari, U.S. editor of UnHerd, join Oren to debate the wisdom of Trump's attack, the limits of Jacksonian restrictionist foreign policy, and how to think about the U.S. relationship with Israel. The group unpacks the intricacies of what a post-hegemonic world order actually looks like in the Middle East, and how best to respond to what could come next.Further reading:“Is Israel the Ideal 'America First' Ally?” by Oren Cass

Philip Pilkington, author of The Collapse of Global Liberalism, challenges conventional economic wisdom by investigating why many Americans feel poorer despite rising consumption. He critiques GDP as a misleading measure of prosperity, emphasizing the need for metrics that reflect human flourishing. The discussion touches on the ethical implications of profit-driven motives in essential services and critiques the rise of private equity. Pilkington also explores the decline of global liberalism and the potential return to traditional values in society.

When news broke that the local paper mill in Chillicothe, OH, was closing its doors and laying off 780 employees, one Ohio senator made it his mission to fight for those workers.Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) joins Oren to talk about his efforts to put American workers and their families first. The freshman senator explains how his background led him to Congress and breaks down the forces driving the political realignment he’s helping lead. The two discuss how the Republican Party can better serve its voters on labor, trade, and beyond, as well as the need to fight against private equity firms and other forces seeking to outsource American jobs.

Today’s Republican Party has come a long way from the days of William F. Buckley, Jr., but his legacy continues to be felt across the conservative movement.Sam Tanenhaus, former editor of the New York Times Book Review and author of the newly released Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America, joins Oren to discuss the conservative statesman’s life and work. The two discuss how Buckley viewed himself as a reactionary bent on overthrowing the liberal orthodoxy of his day, his work to realign the party, and what those who aim to do likewise today can learn from his legacy.Further reading:“William F. Buckley, Jr. and the Politics of Reality" by Michael Lind

In this engaging conversation, Vice President JD Vance shares insights on the shifting landscape of conservative economics, emphasizing the significance of family, community, and industry. He critiques the traditional education system, advocating for better alignment between universities and workforce skills, particularly through community colleges. Vance also highlights the necessity of reviving American manufacturing and enhancing living standards for everyday workers, encouraging young conservatives to connect with their communities for impactful political change.

Matthew Continetti, a prominent voice on American conservatism and author of 'The Right,' dives into the evolution of the Republican Party. He explores how today's New Right compares to past realignments under Reagan and Buckley. Continetti discusses Trump's unique impact on modern conservatism, emphasizing his distinctiveness from earlier leaders. The conversation also touches on the future of the GOP, the tensions between traditional and populist factions, and the response of a younger Republican base to shifting dynamics in media and politics.

Globalization and deindustrialization have brought with them a sense among American workers that the good jobs they could once count on have disappeared. As family-supporting careers evaporate, service jobs with lower pay and unpredictable hours take their place in many communities across the country.Zeynep Ton, professor of practice at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, joins Oren to discuss what a better future of work could look like. The two talk through what a “good job” means today, in a world where frontline service-sector work dominates U.S. employment. Plus, they unpack why stability, career growth, and supportive pay for the jobs that already exist—rather than a focus on training for the “jobs of the future”—is vital to supporting America’s workers.Further reading:“Building a Strong U.S. Middle Class Requires High-Productivity, High-Dignity Service Jobs,” by Zeynep Ton

The Trump administration’s new trade policy toward China has revealed just how deeply enmeshed major American corporations are with our chief geopolitical rival. Apple’s story is perhaps the most dramatic.Patrick McGee, author of Apple in China and San Francisco correspondent for the Financial Times, joins Oren to discuss how Apple, like so many other nominally American companies, is constrained by the rules, regulations, and industrial preferences of the Chinese Communist Party. They break down how China dominates its peer competitors, the way multinational corporations sleepwalked into the present crisis, and the possibility of America breaking China’s industrial chokehold.Further reading:Apple in China: The Capture of the World's Greatest Company by Patrick McGeeTrade with Communists Should Be Uncertain by Oren CassDisfavored Nation by Mark DiPlacido, Chris Griswold, and Trevor Jones

The second Trump administration has spurred a wave of domestic industrial investment and a recognition that making things in America matters. But what does that look like from the factory floor?Chris Power, founder and CEO of Hadrian, joins Oren to discuss how his company is helping lead reindustrialization efforts here in the United States. He explains the revolutionary technologies Hadrian uses to compete at scale with foreign firms and highlights just how different the manufacturing jobs of today are compared to what many think of as “factory work.” Finally, he and Oren talk through ways policymakers can support the domestic industrial startups we need to return America to its place as the world’s leading technological and industrial power.Further reading:The Techno-Industrial Policy Playbook, published this week by American Compass, FAI, IFP, and NAIANot By Tariff Alone by Chris Griswold What An Enduring Industrial Policy Requires by Charles Yang Tear Down this Paper Wall by Christopher Koopman and Josh T. Smith 

What should conservatives make of the first 100 days of Trump’s second term? Rachel Bovard, vice president of programs at the Conservative Partnership Institute, joins Oren to discuss how to measure an unconventional administration’s early successes, what to make of DOGE, and where the administration should direct its efforts to capitalize on its public mandate.Plus, they discuss one major change that all conservatives should celebrate: a better approach to antitrust enforcement, led by Andrew Ferguson and Mark Meador at the FTC and Gail Slater at DOJ.Further reading:“Break ’em Up” by Rachel Bovard“Antitrust’s Conservative Future” by FTC Commissioner Mark Meador