The Glenn Show

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit glennloury.substack.comSupport The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.comOn this week's livestream, Nikita and I are joined by filmmaker, professor, master distiller, and "housing provider" Robert Patton-Spruill. And he does not disappoint. He begins by informing me of a connection between us: his father, then a professor of acting and directing at Boston University, used to smoke weed in front of my house. From there we get into a range of subjects, including the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, the role of faith and the church in our lives, the power of wealth to create change, AI and ChatGPT, and October 7th. Robert then cedes the stage for a while, and I take calls from viewers Jack Apple, Eric Ingram. William Schafer, Rouxbe, and Scott Kushner.Putting viewers in the spotlight has opened a whole new dimension of the show, and we’re going to keep exploring it. So if you want to talk to me directly, tune into the next livestream, which we’ll be announcing soon. But in order to keep doing these streams and recording weekly episodes of The Glenn Show, I need your help. Anybody can tune into our livestreams as they happen. But if you’d like to watch the video later, you’ll need to become a full subscriber. The Glenn Show is almost entirely viewer supported, so to those of us who are already full subscribers, let me extend a heartfelt thank you. And if you’re not yet a full subscriber, please consider becoming one. The Glenn Show can only do what it does through the generosity of viewers and listeners. For a piddling $6/month or $50/year, you’ll get weekly episodes of The Glenn Show earlier than their public release, monthly Q&A episodes with John McWhorter, access to the full Substack archives, and other exclusive bonus content. Subscribe at https://glennloury.substack.com

Support The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.comVideo Links0:00 What Thomas Sowell means to Emily 3:54 What’s the difference between a conservative and a classical liberal? 10:59 Ground News ad 12:45 Sowell’s interventions in price theory and microeconomics 19:31 The parallel careers of Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams 24:51 Emily: Trump is not fulfilling Sowell’s vision of liberty 33:37 A Sowellian critique of expert-driven COVID policies 45:08 The risks of uncertainty in Trump’s economic policies 53:46 The future of classical liberalism 58:01 The Mont Pelerin Society’s intellectual landscape 1:01:15 Glenn’s departure from classical liberalismRecorded August 19, 2025Links and ReadingsFriedrich Von Hayek’s book, The Constitution of LibertyHayek’s essay, “Why I Am Not a Conservative”Thomas Sowell’s book, Knowledge and DecisionsBart Wilson’s book, Humanomics: Moral Sentiments and the Wealth of Nations for the Twenty-First CenturyThe Mont Pelerin SocietyJohn Cochrane’s review of Late Admissions: Confessions of a Black ConservativeHayek’s book, Law, Legislation, and Liberty This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit glennloury.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit glennloury.substack.comFor the full episode and to support The Glenn Show, visit https://glennloury.substack.comOn this recording of my latest livestream, I sit down with my editor, Mark Sussman. Inspired by a recent memo posted by liberal moderate think tank Third Way, Mark and I talk a bit about the communicative dynamics of progressive nomenclature, e.g., “chestfeeding” rather than “breastfeeding” and other awkward neologisms. Can the Democrats afford to get mired in these debates while they’re facing so much anger and dissatisfaction from their own constituency? We take comments and calls on the subject from viewers familiar and new. Scott Kushner and Robert Spruill pop in to give their views. Mark and I debate Trump and what will happen to MAGA when he eventually either cedes the stage or passes away. We talk about the Minnesota school shooter’s gender identity and what, if anything, it has to do with the awful slaughter at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. And of course, Gaza comes up.I’m loving this new feature of the show, but in order to keep it and all things TGS afloat, I need your help. Anybody can tune into our livestreams as they happen, and we’re making this one available to everyone, but normally if you’d like to watch the video later, you’ll need to become a full subscriber. The Glenn Show is almost entirely viewer supported, so to those of us who are already full subscribers, let me extend a heartfelt thank you. And if you’re not yet a full subscriber, please consider becoming one. The Glenn Show can only do what it does through the generosity of viewers and listeners. For a piddling $6/month or $50/year, you’ll get weekly episodes of The Glenn Show earlier than their public release, monthly Q&A episodes with John McWhorter, access to the full Substack archives, and other exclusive bonus content. To subscribe, go to https://glennloury.substack.com

Support The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.comOrder Glenn's new book, Self-Censorship, here or where you get your books: Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/683p6kk3 Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/4yvz4fta Bookshop: https://tinyurl.com/44rznxwwVideo Links0:00 How woke campus culture degrades mental health 5:47 The rise of “microaggressions” '8:21 The harms caused by discourses of harm 13:47 The digital lives of children 19:08 Why Courtney and Ted produced Coddling themselves 24:56 A Nigerian immigrant’s encounter with campus progressivism 32:36 Is Trump’s anti-DEI posture aiding free speech on campus? 37:58 Ted and Courtney’s decision to homeschool their child41:48 How comedy brings us together 48:26 Ted and Courtney take on the Rob Henderson storyRecorded August 8, 2025Links and ReadingsThe Coddling of the American Mind docThe Coddling of the American Mind bookDead Poet’s SocietyThe Canceling of the American MindGreg Lukianoff conversationCan We Take a JokeCoddling movie SubstackNoam episodesRob Henderson, TroubledRob Henderson episode This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit glennloury.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit glennloury.substack.comSupport The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.comIn this edition of the Q&A, Glenn and John take questions on MLK and white moderates, audience capture, civilian casualties in Gaza, "I have to do X" vs. "I get to do X," Trump's performance as president, the role of trustees and administration in determining university policy, and race and genes.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit glennloury.substack.comSubscribe to The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.comThe livestreaming experiment continues here at TGS. I never know what’s going to come at me. I’m operating outside my comfort zone. Of course, that’s what makes it fun. The callers often ask me to weigh in on a whole range of subjects I’d never think up on my own, like embryo screening and the frustrations of Connecticut landlords. (And speaking of landlords, filmmaker and property owner Robert Spruill is back!) I have no meaningful knowledge in these areas, but now I get to learn a little about them, or at least think them through on the fly. Other topics, like Israel-Palestine, student debt, and election security, are more familiar. But I’m still never quite what kind of spin my callers will put on the ball.In other words, the calls are keeping me sharp and engaged. And I love getting to meet my audience in these brief encounters.But in order to keep this going, I need your help. Anybody can tune into our livestreams as they happen, and we’re making this one available to everyone, but normally if you’d like to watch the video later, you’ll need to become a full subscriber. The Glenn Show is almost entirely viewer supported, so to those of us who are already full subscribers, let me extend a heartfelt thank you. And if you’re not yet a full subscriber, please consider becoming one. The Glenn Show can only do what it does through the generosity of viewers and listeners. For a mere $6/month or $50/year, you’ll get weekly episodes of The Glenn Show earlier than their public release, monthly Q&A episodes with John McWhorter, access to the full Substack archives, and other exclusive bonus content. Subscribe at https://glennloury.substack.com

Support The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.comThis episode was originally recorded for Danny and Derek's podcast American Prestige and cross posted here. Subscribe to American Prestige at https://americanprestige.supportingcast.fm/joinOrder Glenn's new book, Self-Censorship, here or where you get your books:Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/683p6kk3 Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/4yvz4fta Bookshop: https://tinyurl.com/44rznxwwVideo Links0:00 The origins of Self-Censorship4:11 Black and conservative in Reagan’s America8:30 The social science hall of fame12:45 Jews, assimilation, and the quantitative revolution17:56 Human universalism vs. ethno-national particularity21:42 Historicizing “the Jew”23:47 Danny: Larry Summers can’t see outside his own neoliberal paradigm27:50 Are we entering a period of, as Marx wrote, “mutual ruin”?30:46 Is capitalism leading us toward nuclear war?37:18 What the Manhattan Institute incident taught Glenn about his own book42:02 Glenn: “I’m rethinking everything”46:40 Is the right reverting to a pre-New Deal political paradigm?51:37 Is Israel a reversion to an Early Modern model of nation-building?58:07 American Jews’s role in Israel’s creation and perpetuation1:03:04 Why Glenn previously censored himself on Gaza1:09:30 Glenn: So far, I’m disappointed in TrumpRecorded August 6, 2025Links and ReadingsDanny and Derek’s podcast, American PrestigeGlenn’s new book, Self-CensorshipJohn Murray Cuddihy’s book, The Ordeal of Civility: Freud, Marx, Lévi-Strauss, and the Jewish Struggle with ModernityCorey Robin’s book, The Enigma of Clarence ThomasGlenn’s City Journal essay, “Clarence Thomas and Me”Seth Schwartz’s book, The Ancient Jews from Alexander to MuhamadOmar El Akkad’s book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against ThisGlenn’s post, “I Was Fired by the Manhattan Institute. Here’s Why.”Ta-Nehisi Coates’s book, The MessageSam Gindin and Leo Panitch’s book, The Making of Global Capitalism: The Political Economy of American EmpireAvi Shlaim’s book, Genocide in Gaza: Israel, Hamas, and the Long War on PalestinePeter Beinart’s book, Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza: A ReckoningGlenn’s conversation with Beinart This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit glennloury.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit glennloury.substack.comSupport The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.comIn our latest livestream, TGS editor Mark Sussman and I discuss Michel Houellebecq's 2015 novel Submission and its rather unpleasant but compelling critique of modern existence, after which we take questions from viewers and callers. We get into some unexpected territory, like life after death (I don’t believe in it), the existence of alien intelligence (it seems probable to me), and psychedelics (that one’s on Mark). I’m truly enjoying these face-to-face conversations with viewers, and I encourage everyone who can call in to do so on our next stream.Anybody can tune into our livestreams as they happen, and we’re making this one available to everyone, but normally if you’d like to watch the video later, you’ll need to become a full subscriber. The Glenn Show is almost entirely viewer supported, so to those of us who are already full subscribers, let me extend a heartfelt thank you. And if you’re not yet a full subscriber, please consider becoming one. The Glenn Show can only do what it does through the generosity of viewers and listeners. For a mere $6/month or $50/year, you’ll get weekly episodes of The Glenn Show earlier than their public release, monthly Q&A episodes with John McWhorter, access to the full Substack archives, and other exclusive bonus content.Subscribe at https://glennloury.substack.com

Support The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.comVideo Links0:00 John: Not all of Trump’s demands on Columbia are crazy 3:45 Are the accusations of antisemitism at Columbia apt? 12:43 Ground News ad 14:22 The shifting public perception of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza 24:30 The historical legacy of Gaza’s starvation 27:40 Glenn: There are ways to destroy Israel without an army 32:21 The lull in American race politics 38:22 Has the race debate devolved to Sidney Sweeney’s jeans? 47:27 John’s theory of violent crime among black youthsRecorded August 5, 2025Links and ReadingsJohn’s April 23, 2024 NYT column, “I’m a Columbia Professor. The Protests on My Campus Are Not Justice.”Peter Beinart’s book, Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza: A ReckoningGlenn’s conversation with BeinartTa-Nehisi Coates’s book, Between the World and MeCourtney Moorehead Balaker and Ted Balaker’s documentary, The Coddling of the American MindSidney Sweeney’s American Eagle adJohn’s NYT column, “Do These Jeans Make My Ads Look Racist?”Glenn and John’s conversation with Randall KennedyGlenn and John’s conversation with Keith EllisonThomas Sowell’s book, Black Rednecks & White Liberals This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit glennloury.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit glennloury.substack.comSupport The Glenn Show at https://glennloury.substack.comOrder Self-Censorship here or wherever you get your books:Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/683p6kk3 Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/4yvz4fta Bookshop: https://tinyurl.com/44rznxwwIn this conversation, my editor Mark Sussman and I discuss Kamala Harris’s forthcoming book, 107 Days, and the dire state of publishing. I’ve been reading a lot of Thomas Sowell in preparation for a major address I have to deliver about his work in the Fall, and I suggest that Sowell might say that the declining profitability of writing and publishing might well be a good thing, insofar as it signals the market’s responsiveness to consumer demand and desire. This leads to a debate about the distinction (and perhaps the conflict) between aesthetic and economic value. Then it’s on to a broader discussion of Sowell. Next we move onto the story of a group of people establishing a Christian, LGBTQ-free, whites-only community in Arkansas. We close out with viewer questions about Brown University’s deal with the Trump administration, which somehow leads to a debate about climate science and the epistemological limitations of modernity. And finally, an evergreen topic: black patriotism.In the course of this conversation, Mark and I reference Michel Houellebecq’s 2015 novel, Submission. That’s because we plan to discuss the book on our next livestream, which we’ll announce in the coming days. So if you want to participate in the discussion or simply follow along, read the book. We’ll be taking calls, and I’m very curious what you all have to think of this brilliant, provocative, and (be warned) sexually explicit book.Anybody can tune into our livestreams as they happen, and we’re making this one available to everyone, but normally if you’d like to watch the video later, you’ll need to become a full subscriber. The Glenn Show is almost entirely viewer supported, so to those of us who are already full subscribers, let me extend a heartfelt thank you. And if you’re not yet a full subscriber, please consider becoming one. The Glenn Show can only do what it does through the generosity of viewers and listeners. For a mere $6/month or $50/year, you’ll get weekly episodes of The Glenn Show earlier than their public release, monthly Q&A episodes with John McWhorter, access to the full Substack archives, and other exclusive bonus content.