Charleston 1860 and Secession: Politics, Media, Mania: Interview with Paul Starobin

Polarized politics, fear, a media with intent to inflame and make its owners famous, no budging on either side, confidence and even mania – that’s the combo that author Paul Starobin of the Atlantic and the New Republic describes as the factors that lead to South Carolina’s secession in 1860. We talk to him about…

Godwin’s Law is Not a Law

And yet, it probably should be followed in most cases. The surprising history of the rule that one should not discuss Nazis in debates, and the person who is not a scientist nor a lawmaker who came up with it. Also, when you can violate the rule and what the rule says about meme-driven discussions…

John Jay’s Horse, George Washington’s Flour and the Emoluments Clause

A trip to Mount Vernon through the eyes of visitors, and an examination of some old documents, provides rich insight into today’s debate over the The Foreign Emoluments Clause. This obscure item has received as much attention as ever with the Presidency of Donald Trump. A look at the history of the Clause, which predates…