DIA-Today: Democracy in America Today

We discuss the religious character of our contemporary politics and the leading influences on the American democratic mind. Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Leading Off (1:27) - We discuss President Biden’s first primetime address. Links: Biden speech ; Susan Crabtree at Real Clear Politics ; New York Times fact check . Required R...

Summary: We discuss efforts to reform our elections and democracy in light of Tocqueville’s observations on the American Union at the end of volume 1 of Democracy in America. Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Leading Off (1:15) - We discuss the decision of Texas and Mississippi to lift their mask mandates and the reaction to it. Li...

We discuss the current debate about equity and equality in light of Alexis de Tocqueville’s reflections on the relationship among Native Americans, African Americans, and European Americans in 19th century American society.  Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Leading Off (1:06) - We discuss the Equality Act, which was approved by th...

We reflect on the ways that circumstances, laws, and mores, especially religion, influence American democracy. Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Leading Off (1:59) - We discuss the death of Rush Limbaugh. Links: Fox News reporting the death of Rush Limbaugh ; Andrew Klavan ; Ben Domenech ; Mark Steyn .     Required Reading (7:10) -...

We discuss Alexis de Tocqueville’s account of the merit and demerits of democracy and consider how cancel culture emerges in a democratic society. Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Leading Off (0:58) - We discuss the state of former president Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. Link: Wall Street Journal impeachment trial cover...

We discuss the role of the political parties and the media in shaping the landscape of contemporary American democracy.  Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Leading Off (1:24) - We discuss the Senate power-sharing agreement between Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell and the fate of the filibuster. Link: Politico on the power-sharing a...

We look at the strength of our federal system and national character in light of Tocqueville’s reflections on the US Constitution. Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Leading Off (01:26) - We discuss last week’s vote on Senator Rand Paul’s resolution to declare a post-presidency impeachment trial unconstitutional. Links: The Hill rep...

We discuss President Biden’s Inaugural Address in light of the tradition of local American democracy described by Alexis de Tocqueville. Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Leading Off (0:56) - We discuss the seventeen executive actions taken by President Biden on his first day of office. Link: CNN story from Inauguration Day .  Requ...

We look at the opening chapters of Democracy in America and the state of the spirit of religion and the spirit in America today.  Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Leading Off (2:06) - We remark on the second impeachment of Donald Trump. Link: AP report on impeachment . Required Reading (6:07) - We discuss the Author’s Introduction...

We take a look back at the first season of the show and preview our plans for season 2 beginning January 16.  Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (3:21): Season 1 Recap - We discuss our favorite topics, writers, gradebook topics, and picks from the first season of our show.    Part 2 (16:59): Season 2 Preview - We discuss our...

We discuss the legal battles over the results of the presidential election and the lessons for election integrity from this campaign season.  Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (2:11): Headlines - We discuss the legal effort by the Trump campaign and others to challenge the results of the presidential election and the lessons...

We discuss the history of religious freedom in light of the Supreme Court’s recent “free exercise” ruling in favor of NYC churches and synagogues.  Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (1:51): Headlines - We discuss the Supreme Court’s recent decision setting aside Covid-related restrictions on attendance at religious assemblie...

We discuss the election endgame, good news on the Covid-19 vaccine front, and the virtue of gratitude. Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (0:46): Headlines - We discuss the recently-announced Biden foreign policy team, the election lawsuits endgame, and the good news on the Covid-19 vaccine front. Links: Biden’s foreign polic...

Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines with special guest Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University. We discuss how to revive our civic life in the face of challenges posed by a lack of viewpoint diversity in academia and the public square and our ongoing epidemic of loneliness.  Part 1 (1:20): Introduct...

We talk about the ongoing debate over the results of the presidential election and the role of citizens in a republic. Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (1:11): Headlines - We review Joe Biden’s victory speech, Donald Trump’s response, and the ongoing discussion of the integrity of the presidential election.  Links: Joe Bide...

We talk about the results (so far) from the election and the way forward from here. Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (1:08): Headlines - We talk about the election results, the performance of the pollsters, President Trump’s allegations of fraud, and the way forward from here. Links: Trump’s statement ; results of state leg...

Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (0:47): Headlines - We talk about the state of the presidential race and the polling behind the most popular projections. Links: RCP betting odds ; 538 projection ; The Economist projection ; 270toWin projection ; Rich Lowry column at National Review on Trafalgar Group Polling ;

Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (0:59): Headlines - We discuss the conservative case for and against voting for Donald Trump as featured in a National Review symposium and an essay by Pastor John Piper. Links: Andrew McCarthy for Donald Trump ; Ramesh Ponnuru against Donald Trump ; Charles C.W. Cooke: undecided ; John Pipe...

Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (1:41): Headlines - We discuss the case that’s been made for a Donald Trump presidency in light of republican principles. Links: list of newspapers endorsing Donald Trump ; daily newspaper endorsements ; Ouachita Citizen endorsement ; Santa Barbara News-Press endorsement ; John Fonte at The...

Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (2:25): Headlines - We discuss the case that’s been made for a Joe Biden presidency in light of republican principles. Links: New York Times endorsement of Joe Biden ; George Will endorsing Biden , 2018 column against a Republican Congress , recent column on a Biden presidency . Part 2 (24:0...

Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (1:40): Headlines - We discuss the dangerous, deep divisions in American politics and the prospects for promoting civility in the public square. Links: Our essay at The Federalist ; Politico on political violence ; Colleen Sheehan at The American Mind ; RealClearFoundation on civic knowledge...

Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (1:06): Headlines - We discuss the debate over whether and how Republicans should attempt to fill the Supreme Court opening created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Gisburg in light of the events of 2016 and the history of post-Roe v. Wade Supreme Court nominations. Links: History of Supre...

Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (2:01): Headlines - We take a close look at the presidential race in three Big 10-country battleground states: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Links: RealClearPolitics Battleground polls ; RealClearPolitics Create-Your-Own-Map ; 538 article on Pennsylvania ; Pennsylvania in 2012 ; Pe...

Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (2:06): Headlines - We take a close look at the presidential race in three sunbelt battleground states: Florida, North Carolina, and Arizona. Links: RealClearPolitics Battleground polls ; Politico backgrounder ; 270towin election simulation ; Politico on Florida ; Politico on Arizona ; 2016...

Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines. Part 1 (1:01): Required Reading - We go straight to the required reading, discussing key passages from Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America and their intersection with contemporary political culture. Links: Mansfield & Winthrop’s Democracy in America ; Liberty Fund’s Democracy in America ....