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Nov 15, 2024 | 
democracyseminar.newschool.org | Jeffrey K. Tulis
As the evidence that Donald J. Trump poses a mortal threat to constitutional democracy in America became stronger the political and electoral power against him became weaker. Indeed, when the prospect of authoritarian rule became undeniable, the political response became anemic. Why? A concatenation of processes normalized Donald Trump and turned the fire alarm triggered by his rhetoric and by insider accounts of his behavior into mere background noise.
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Jan 2, 2024 | 
plus.thebulwark.com | William Kristol |Jeffrey K. Tulis
OUR DEMOCRACY SURVIVED January 6, 2021. Three years ago, the United States came closer to a presidential usurpation than at any previous time in American history. Never before had a sitting president attempted to retain power after losing an election. Never before had a sitting president called on a mob to attack the Capitol. Still: Congress was not prevented from carrying out its duties.
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Nov 29, 2023 | 
americanpurpose.com | Richard Aldous |Gary Schmitt |Jeffrey K. Tulis
You've successfully subscribed to American Purpose Great! Next, complete checkout for full access to American Purpose Welcome back! You've successfully signed in. Success! Your account is fully activated, you now have access to all content. The American economy is once again experiencing a concentration of financial power in a few hands, but this time around the actors are much less familiar.
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Nov 29, 2023 | 
americanpurpose.com | Richard Aldous |Gary Schmitt |Jeffrey K. Tulis |Robert Mack
The son of Disney artists, Academy Award-winner Kevin Mack became an early pioneer of computer graphics in visual effects and has worked on films including Big Fish, Fight Club, Apollo 13, and What Dreams May Come. In his artistic work, Kevin has embraced the medium of generative AI, most recently in his new book of AI art, Emergent Visions. In this interview with AP contributor Robert Mack (his cousin), Kevin Mack explores the ethics, opportunities, and uses of generative AI in fine art.
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Nov 28, 2023 | 
americanpurpose.com | Richard Aldous |Gary Schmitt |Jeffrey K. Tulis |Katherine Zimmerman
Yemen’s Houthi movement surprised Middle East watchers when it fired drones and cruise missiles at Israel on October 19. Few had expected the group’s saber rattling to be much more than words, considering how inaccurate most of the Houthis’ long-range weapons are, not to mention their history of empty threats against Israel. Some assumed, incorrectly, that the USS Carney’s interception of those munitions would deter subsequent efforts.
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Nov 27, 2023 | 
americanpurpose.com | Richard Aldous |Gary Schmitt |Jeffrey K. Tulis
During his first years in power, Vladimir Putin allowed a measure of autonomy for the arts and culture. In those days Putin was trying to create a different kind of dictatorship. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, cultural space in the Russian Federation has been closing rapidly. Join us for a discussion on writers and cultural figures in exile, and how others struggle to protect the arts against state power at home.
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Nov 27, 2023 | 
americanpurpose.com | Richard Aldous |Gary Schmitt |Jeffrey K. Tulis |Francis Fukuyama
Adam Smith’s 1776 book An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations opens with his famous description of a pin factory. He notes that previously, pins would have been hand-made by a single craftsman; by his day, each step in making the pin from pulling the wire, attaching the head, sharpening the point, and readying the box of pins for market would be done by a different specialist.
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Nov 27, 2023 | 
americanpurpose.com | Richard Aldous |Gary Schmitt |Jeffrey K. Tulis
On Thursday, November 30 at 10:00 a.m. EST, join Richard Aldous for a live recording of his Bookstack podcast. Richard will be interviewing Daniel Schulman, author of The Money Kings: The Epic Story of the Jewish Immigrants Who Transformed Wall Street and Shaped Modern America. Following the conversation, Richard will open the floor to American Purpose members for a Q&A with the author. Interested in attending but not yet a member? Become an American Purpose member, for just $8 a month.
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Nov 22, 2023 | 
americanpurpose.com | Richard Aldous |Gary Schmitt |Jeffrey K. Tulis |Leslie Lenkowsky
Although many now worry that it is endangered, American civil society has long been an important element of what has made the United States an “exceptional nation.” Historian Jon K. Lauck argues that in 19th century America, the surprising epicenter of that civil society turns out to have been the Midwest, a region frequently derided by the literati and others as close-minded and unenlightened.
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Nov 21, 2023 | 
americanpurpose.com | Richard Aldous |Gary Schmitt |Jeffrey K. Tulis |Michael Mandelbaum
Imagine, if you will, what the West in general or the United States in particular would do if they attempted–as Vladimir Putin insists they actually are attempting–to destroy Russia. How might they pursue this goal? They would surely try to install a leader in Moscow with the assignment of carrying out policies that would do everything possible to weaken Russia.
