Acton Unwind

Topics discussed include the origins and influence of Wahhabism, mixed reactions to 'He Gets Us' Super Bowl ads, the effectiveness of church advertising, motivations behind ads and Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladimir Putin, and the relevance of age and mental fitness for political leaders.

This week, Eric, Anthony, and Dylan are joined by John G. Grove, managing editor of Law & Liberty, to discuss his essay in the Winter edition of Religion & Liberty, “The Gods of the City.” Is Christian nationalism a real thing? What is the proper interplay between faith and government? Then Emily joins the show to discuss the way-too-online theory that the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce relationship, and even possibly the Super Bowl, is actually a psyop or deep-state conspiracy. But setting aside that silliness, shouldn’t conservatives be holding up Swift and Kelce as an example of a courtship done right? And finally, social media CEOs were on Capitol Hill for their annual congressional hearing/public beating. Is there a role for the government in helping parents handle kids and social media? Or do we just need better parenting?Subscribe to our podcastsSubscribe to Religion & LibertyThe Gods of the City | John G. Grove, Religion & LibertyThe Existential Threat of Anti-Christian Nationalism | D.G. Hart, Religion & LibertyThis Lawmaker Wants to Jail People for Watching Porn | Rolling StoneThe ‘Taylor Swift Psyop’ Freaks Need to Go Outside | National ReviewHawley presses Zuckerberg to compensate online harm victims | Axios

Supreme Court lifts injunction on Texas razor wire at border. Alabama's use of nitrogen hypoxia for death penalty. Indian PM Modi inaugurates Ayodhya Ram temple.

This week, Eric, Dan, and Noah discuss Javier Milei’s speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Did the Davos set know what they were getting into when they invited him? How important and refreshing was it to hear a voice opposed to the elite consensus at Davos? Will anyone listen to him? Next, Donald Trump claims that a president can’t be the president without also being guaranteed full and complete immunity from prosecution. Is there any legal basis for this? What will be the consequences of the continual degradation of norms in our society? And finally, South Africa brings a case against Israel for genocide at the International Court of Justice at The Hague. Does the case have any merit? And does international law even really exist? Subscribe to our podcasts Davos 2024: Special address by Javier Milei, President of Argentina | World Economic ForumJavier Milei Speech at the World Economic Forum | VideoArgentinian prez Javier Milei kills ’em with common sense as he scolds Davos elites | Douglas Murray, New York PostThe Intellectuals and Socialism | F.A. HayekTrump, awaiting ruling, says presidents must have ‘complete and total’ immunity | NBC NewsTrump invokes ‘rogue cops’ and ‘bad apples’ to explain why he needs total immunity | The IndependentIsrael rejects genocide charges, tells World Court it must defend itself | ReutersMere Natural Law with Hadley Arkes | Acton Line

This week, to start the show, Eric is joined by Fr. Robert Sirico, Acton’s co-founder and president emeritus, who just returned from a quasi-secret trip to Hong Kong, where he attended a day of Jimmy Lai’s National Security Law trial. What did he see in Hong Kong and at the trial? How has the “feel” of Hong Kong changed since he last visited? Then Eric is joined by Dan Hugger and Dylan Pahman for a discussion of how universities are reappraising standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. What have we learned since some schools dropped these tests as admissions criteria during COVID and after years of a campaign to reduce their use because of their “inherent bias”? Next, SCOTUS will decide the constitutionality of the right of cities to ban homeless encampments. Aside from the legal questions, is allowing homeless camps advisable in regard to public health and safety? How should we approach the issue of homelessness? And finally, President Joe Biden spoke in the pulpit of South Carolina’s Mother Emanuel AME Church in what was widely regarded as a campaign speech. How should we think about politics from the pulpit?Subscribe to our podcasts The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai’s Extraordinary Struggle for FreedomThe Misleading SAT Debate | David Leonhardt, New York TimesSupreme Court to Decide If Homeless-Camping Bans Violate Constitution | National ReviewNYC HS principal lashes out at parents who bashed decision to force students to go remote as migrants sheltered at school | New York PostThe Great Unlearning | Acton LineBiden condemns white supremacy in a campaign speech at a church where Black people were killed | Associated Press

This week, Eric, Anthony Bradley (making his maiden voyage on the podcast), and Emily discuss the resignation of Harvard University president Claudine Gay. How significant a story is this? Does it matter only for elites, or do the downstream effects impact more of America? Does it matter that the people who uncovered her plagiarism had their own political motivations? Did race play any role in this story, with Gay having been the first black woman president of Harvard? Next, the panel reflects on the passing of Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O’Connor in early December. Beyond being the first woman on the Court, what will she be remembered for? And finally, what are Eric, Anthony, and Emily hopeful for in 2024?Harvard President Resigns After Mounting Plagiarism Accusations | New York TimesClaudine Gay: What Just Happened at Harvard Is Bigger Than Me | New York TimesHarvard President Claudine Gay Hit with Six New Charges of Plagiarism | Washington Free BeaconHow We Squeezed Harvard to Push Claudine Gay Out | Christopher F. Rufo, Wall Street JournalSandra Day O’Connor, First Woman on the Supreme Court, Is Dead at 93 | New York Times

This week, Eric is joined first by Mark Clifford, the president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, as they discuss the National Security Law trial of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong. After numerous delays, the trial has finally started. What charges is Jimmy facing, of which he will certainly be convicted? What comes after those convictions, both in regard to the cause of freeing Jimmy Lai and the cause of freedom in Hong Kong? What significance do the calls from the U.K. and American governments for Lai to be released hold? Then Eric is joined by Noah Gould and Emily Zanotti to discuss the Satanic Temple’s statue of the pagan idol Baphomet in the Iowa State House. Should such displays be prohibited? If so, on what grounds? What does the legal jurisprudence say on matters like this? Does the First Amendment require indulging efforts to troll people of faith? And finally, Sam Bankman-Fried was indicted and convicted on multiple federal charges related to fraud perpetrated at his cryptocurrency exchange FTX. His adopted philosophy of effective altruism has also come in for criticism in the wake of the conviction. The group discusses Noah’s piece in Fusion magazine on the topic.The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai’s Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom | Full FilmThe Trial of Jimmy Lai | Isaac Willour, Acton InstituteJimmy Lai: Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon’s trial begins | BBCBritain calls for Jimmy Lai’s release as Hong Kong trial begins | ReutersTrial of Jimmy Lai Under the Hong Kong National Security Law | US State DepartmentSatanic Temple says part of display in Iowa Capitol ‘destroyed beyond repair’ | Des Moines RegisterEffective Altruism’s Reign Should End with Sam Bankman-Fried’s | Noah Gould, FusionPoverty, Inc.

The passing of Henry Kissinger sparks a debate on his complex legacy—was he a diplomat or a war criminal? Venezuela's potential annexation of oil-rich territory raises concerns about the country's socialist government failures. Meanwhile, elite university presidents face backlash over their handling of anti-Semitism during congressional hearings, igniting discussions around free speech on campuses. Finally, there's a call for elite universities to refocus on genuine education values rather than personal branding.

Today, Eric and Dan talk with Acton’s Michael Matheson Miller about his essay “The Poverty Pyramid Scheme,” and AIER’s Samuel Gregg about his review “Mistaken About Poverty,” both of which appear in the Fall 2023 issue of our magazine RELIGION & LIBERTY, which is focused on the issue of poverty. How should we think about poverty in the developing world and in places like the United States? What conditions are necessary for people to rise out of poverty? What do social engineers get wrong about how we should address issues that contribute to poverty? And what is Acton’s new Center for Social Flourishing doing to advance the discussion on poverty?Subscribe to RELIGION & LIBERTYThe Prosperity Pyramid Scheme | Michael Matheson MillerMistaken About Poverty | Samuel GreggPoverty, Inc.Reason, Faith, and the Struggle for Western Civilization | Samuel GreggAfghanistan I fought for lacks foundation for freedom | Stephen Barrows

This week, Eric, Dylan, and Noah are joined by Acton Managing Director, International, Alex Chafuen to discuss Argentinian president-elect Javier Milei. Who is Milei? Is there anything to the comparisons American media are making to Donald Trump? Can he pull off changing Argentinian currency from the peso to the dollar?They also dive in to the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the deal made to release hostages from the terrorist organization in exchange for Palestinian prisoners currently held in Israel. Will this be good for the war, and will this incentivize more hostage taking in the future?And finally, Senator Elizabeth Warren is warning us about a “sandwich shop monopoly” emerging from a deal that would unite Subway under the same ownership with Jimmy Johns and McAlisters. Because, you know, those are the only three options you have for lunch.Javier Milei will be Argentina’s first libertarian president | The EconomistIsrael, Hamas Reach Deal to Release 50 Hostages | Wall Street JournalIsrael-Hamas War: Sides Near Hostage Release, Truce Extension | Wall Street JournalThe FTC puts your lunch on its plate | Politico