a sweeping conversation about populism's fate in contemporary political culture

I post here a conversation with Burt Cohen about the fate of populism today (on the very important show "Keeping Democracy Alive").  It was a great conversation and hope you enjoy: Populism ain't what it used to be

latest on the "malaise speech": It's now a play!

Check out here an interview I did with two very interesting folks who have turned the "malaise speech" into a play.  Yes indeed: Confidence.

Summertime and the...

Been traveling during the summer and now am holed up writing the book about punk in the 1980s.  Travels were spectacular: With Vicky, we floated the Rio Chama (my fourth time for that) and the White River.  The White was especially delightful.  Vicky returned to the east for work, and I did a series of hiking and car camping trips throughout Utah -- sort of finishing stuff up.  This included the Black Hole of the White Canyon, some areas in Grand Gulch (Road Canyon and others), the Manti La Sal Mountains and the Henry Mountains, and numerous hikes from our very old Kelsey guide.  It culminated in a four day backpacking trip in the Sangre De Cristo mountains in Colorado and a day float down through Browns Canyon National Monument on the Arkansas River (I never packraft anything that's Class IV, so went "mersh" on this one). 

Being on public lands made me remember how much they matter.  Hence, the letter that I link to here: Remembering the Muddy River.  And here's a shot of the White River, with our dog Loki in a contemplative, existential state:

the rightful rage found in Florida and the problem of instantaneous politics

here's my latest: when the young protest

power speaks truth to itself...

Here's one of my more favorite NPR shows that I was recently on: truth, politics, and power.

my latest and do the right thing...

Here I revisit The Authoritarian Personality in light of Donald Trump's zaniness and, well, authoritarianism.  To read, you need a subscription to Dissent, so come on and do the right thing -- subscribe to this great magazine.

Here's the link: the trumpian personality.

my latest on the perpetual dumbing down...

are conservative intellectuals killing themselves?  My answer: when the thinking stops