POLITICS

VIDEO (20 MIN)

What Does a New Brand of Conservatism Look Like?

At 40, Josh Hawley (R, Missouri) is the US Senate’s youngest member. It’s a new post but he’s risen quickly to prominence in conservative circles. He’s championing a new brand of conservatism, defining socially conservative positions (on abortion, for example), and challenging Party economic orthodoxy. Hawley speaks with Ben Domenech, co-founder and publisher of The Federalist, about foreign and domestic policy challenges he says will define the 21st century, and shares an organizing principle that may unite conservatives in 2020 and beyond. Watch.

RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY

VIDEO (20 MIN)

Are Evangelicals Actually Conservative?

What is evangelicalism today? Karen Swallow Prior, professor of Christianity and culture, says it’s complex. The evangelical movement is more intellectually and ideologically diverse than the general public may think — creating a confusion that has left the media to define it. Exit polls at election time do not necessarily reflect a movement-wide view, says Prior. The way evangelicalism and politics are intertwined is changing. Political commentator David French finds that young evangelicals are frustrated by a focus in the church on politics rather than gospel. In the future, French says, the evangelical movement may distance itself from any one political party as its members focus more deeply on issues like human values across race, citizenship, and social justice. Watch.

AMERICAN CONSERVATISM

PODCAST (55 MIN)

Is Conservatism Under Threat?

George Will, author of The Conservative Sensibility, says conservatism is “an orphan persuasion.” He thinks the ideology is under threat — both from progressives and elements inside the Republican Party. Does the current state of conservatism in the US align with the Founders’ vision of natural rights, limited government, religious freedom, and the belief in human dignity? In a broad-reaching discussion with Susan Page, Washington bureau chief for USA Today, Will talks about conservatism’s transformation, the 2020 election, and more.Listen.

The Tyranny of Merit

August 4

Can we be hopeful for a future that prioritizes the common good over individual success? Michael Sandel, professor of political philosophy at Harvard, will discuss his forthcoming book The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good. He will examine how we define success and how meritocracy is hurting the common good. Register.

Aspen Security Forum

August 4 - 6

Global leaders will discuss the most pressing foreign policy and national security issues at this year’s Aspen Security Forum. The conference, which is free and open to all, will be held online August 4 - 6. Presented by the Aspen Strategy Group, the Forum will feature Keisha Lance Bottoms, mayor of Atlanta, Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia, and many others. View the schedule and register.