First Things Podcast

The editors discuss the blue wave in the midterm elections, the 39th Annual Erasmus Lecture, and Bob Dylan's audience with Pope Leo XIV.

Further reading: " A Eulogy for Bullfighting ," by Germán S. Díaz del Castillo (First Things) " The Stench of Corruption ," by R. R. Reno (First Things) " Foucault’s Principalities & Powers ," by Angela Franks (First Things) " Foucault’s Idol of Nothingness ," by Carl R. Trueman (First Things)

Further reading: 2026 Erasmus Lecture tickets. Rape and Modern Sex War , by Camille Paglia " The Great Feminization Comes to Cornell ," by Helen Andrews ( Compact ) " Number of teens who identify themselves as gay or bisexual is in ‘free fall’ ," by Casey Park ( Washington Post ) " Anthropic bans ‘abusive or cruel behavior’ toward Claude ," by Hayden Field ( The Verge ) " Beware Its Voice ," by Ne...

In this episode, First Things senior editor Dan Hitchens joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “The Making of Roger Scruton,” from the October 2026 issue of the magazine.

In this episode, Mark Regnerus joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Living Humanae Vitae in Poland,” from the October 2026 issue of the magazine.

Further reading: Christopher Caldwell, “ Why the AfD Wins ” ( First Things ) Dan Hitchens, “ How Britain Escaped Assisted Suicide ” ( First Things ) Dan Hitchens, “ How Britain Defeated ‘Assisted Dying’ ” ( Compact ) Imogen Garfinkel, “ Our 83-year-old Christian grandmother was euthanised against her will under Canada's assisted dying system - she died covered in blood with her hand...

In this episode, Christopher Caldwell joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Why the AfD Wins” from the October 2026 issue of the magazine.

Further reading: Darel E. Paul, “ Jason Arday and the Therapeutic Academy ”  ( First Things ) Carl R. Trueman, “ How the Therapeutic Killed Academic Standards ” ( First Things ) Bethel McGrew, “ Jason Arday and the Merciless Lie ” ( First Things ) Tyler Austin Harper, “ Why I Quit the Tenure Track ” ( The Atlantic ) R. R. Reno, “ The Failed 9/11 Memorial ” ( First Things )

In this episode, Brad Littlejohn joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Left to Our Own Devices,” from the August/September 2026 issue of the magazine.

In this episode, James F. Keating joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his new bimonthly topical newsletter for First Things, The Fourth Watch.

In this episode, Dana Gioia joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his most recent piece for Portico, "The Last of the Lost Generation."

In this episode, J. J. Kimche joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his new bi-monthly topical newsletter for First Things, "The Jew From Nowhere."

In this episode, Nathan Pinkoski joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent introduction to Éric Zemmour's book, "The Suicide of France."

In this episode, Matthew Schmitz joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent review, “Our Strange Catholic Moment” from the June/July 2026 issue of the magazine.

In this episode, Sam Zeno Conedera joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent review, “Ratzinger in the Whirlwind” from the May 2026 issue of the magazine.

In this episode, James R. Wood joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Liberalism Is Christianity’s Prodigal Child” from the June/July 2026 issue of the magazine.

In this episode, First Things brings you the recording of the 2026 Neuhaus Lecture presented by Bishop Robert Barron. Please subscribe to access more information about future lectures and many great pieces!

In this episode, Veronica Clarke joins Germán and Virginia (who are subbing in for R. R. Reno) on The Editor's Desk to talk about her recent review, “A Whole New World” from the May 2026 issue of the magazine.

In this episode, Micah Mattix joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about Portico, a new literary quarterly published by the Institute on Religion and Public Life.

In this episode, Sean McMeekin joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Goodbye to the Postwar Consensus” from the April 2026 issue of the magazine.

In this episode, Brad East joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent review, “Mainlining Nostalgia” from the April 2026 issue of the magazine.

In this episode, Michael J. Mazza joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Where the Dallas Charter Went Wrong,” from the March 2026 issue of the magazine.

In this episode, Glenn C. Arbery joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Lyric as Disclosure” from the March 2026 issue of the magazine.

In this episode, First Things brings you the recording of the 2026 D.C. Lecture presented by Mary Harrington. Please subscribe to access more information about future lectures and many great articles!

In this episode, Matthew B. Crawford joins R. R. Reno on The Editor's Desk to talk about his recent essay, “Love in the Time of Mass Migration” from the March 2026 issue of the magazine.