Peter Robinson Unbridled

On episode 3 of Unbridled, Peter sits down with writer and demographer Joel Kotkin. Joel is one of the most incisive interpreters of America's social and economic fabric. He is also politically close to unclassifiable--equal parts old-time liberal and contemporary conservative. Joel and Peter talk immigration, automation, affordability and unaffordability, the decline of California and the Coasts, and the rise of Texas and the Heartland. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:04:12 - The new aristocracy: consolidation of power in Big Tech 00:06:40 - The new clerisy: the educated managerial class 00:09:07 - The rest of us: the yeomanry and serf class 00:12:15 - Alienation driven by AI 00:15:05 - Counterarguments for Joel 00:19:55 - Does the gap between the poor and rich matter? 00:24:45 - Modern opportunities outside of large cities 00:30:55 - The oligarchy's response to Trumpism 00:36:44 - The change in the cultural zeitgeist despite Trump's narrow victory 00:42:07 - Red State vs. Blue State governance 00:48:44 - Young people dedicating themselves to their political inheritance 00:53:26 - Card game! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Host: Peter Robinson Peter Robinson Unbridled is a podcast of the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin Executive Producers: Mat Hames Beth Hames Researcher: John Masko Producer: Laura Utt Editor: Josh Meyers Post Production: Jacob Estrada Camera: Josh Hardwick, Nathan Jennings Music by Brandon Shufflebarger

Will Inboden, a distinguished historian of U.S. foreign policy and the new provost at the University of Texas at Austin, delves into the pressing issues facing American higher education. He explores the unraveling public trust in universities and the impact of political activism within academia. Can universities reclaim their role as cultural conservators? Inboden discusses the decline of the liberal arts, the importance of viewpoint diversity, and the quest for truth amid ideological pressures. It's a fascinating dialogue on reshaping education for the future.

Cornel West, a renowned philosopher and public intellectual, and Robert George, a legal scholar and political philosopher, explore their unexpected friendship despite deep ideological differences. They discuss their new book, Truth Matters, focusing on shared truth-seeking in a divided world. Themes include their views on grace, the role of theology in academia, and the state of liberal arts education. They also examine challenging topics like racial justice and the sanctity of life, weaving in personal anecdotes and insights on the power of music in shaping identity.

In Peter Robinson Unbridled, Peter trades in his dress shoes for a pair of boots and the darkened studio for a neighborhood joint in Austin, Texas. Join him for personal conversations about the issues that matter with fascinating men and women forging the next American Century. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Host: Peter Robinson Peter Robinson Unbridled is a podcast of the Civitas Institute of the University of Texas at Austin Researcher: John Masko Executive Producers: Mat Hames Beth Hames Producer: Laura Utt Editor: Josh Meyers Post Production: Jacob Estrada Camera: Josh Harwick, Nathan Jennings Music by Brandon Shufflebarger