The Freemen News-Letter

20/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Justin Stapley discusses a small viral moment over the weekend, and his dismay that negative comments continue to gain far more traction that positive messages.

Discussing a small viral moment over the weekend.

20/11/2023

Giving us some Saucer-Plus analysis, Thaddeus Winker argues that despite the emphasis placed on Iowa by campaigns and the media, winning the state has not proven to be very predictive of overall success in Presidential primary contests.

Despite the emphasis placed on Iowa by campaigns and the media, winning the state has not proven to be very predictive of overall success in Presidential primary contests.

18/11/2023

In the inaugural issue of our new section, Steel Age Gentleman, Scott Howard challenges the Bronze Age Mindset head-on for enabling a manliness of crass decadence, irreverence, and hedonism, and calls for the cultivation of true manliness involving the chivalrous notions of duty, reverence, and self-sacrifice.

The Bronze Age Mindset enables a manliness of crass decadence, irreverence, and hedonism, while true manliness involves the chivalrous notions of duty, reverence, and self-sacrifice.

18/11/2023

In this week's episode of the Self-Evident podcast. Justin Stapley flies solo, discussing the troubling rise of anti-semitism and reckoning with the ugliness of war.

Listen now (46 mins) | The unprecedented rise of anti-semitism in America and across the world should give us all pause. Also, reckoning with the ugliness of war.

17/11/2023

In this week's issue of Self-Evident, Justin Stapley takes a much-needed break from punditry and deep dives into some political theory, discussing Hobbes, the fundamental provisions of justice, and touching on the age-old debate between prescription and reason.

Nerding out with some good, old-fashioned political theory.

16/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Jake Kroesen offers his view that just because issues are complex, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make moral judgments.

Political issues are complex, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make moral judgments on these issues.

16/11/2023

In an issue of The Deep Roots, Jeff Mayhugh brings us back to the 1800s to learn about "Reed's Rules" and the rise of the majority-driven governance that displaced deliberation and consensus-oriented legislative processes.

The establishment of majority power.

15/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Justin Stapley commemorates the passing of one of his faith leaders, M. Russell Ballard.

A man of faith, conviction, and selfless service.

15/11/2023

In an issue of the Essayist, Fusionist Sun Devil takes us on a journey through Hayek's "The Constitution of Liberty," the novel that helped revitalize the classical liberal tradition in a socially liberal era that seemed to have completely snuffed out the limited government tradition.

In "The Constitution of Liberty," Hayek revitalized the classical liberal tradition in a socially liberal era that seemed to have completely snuffed out the limited government tradition.

14/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Justin Stapley highlights a speech given by Bari Weiss last week and asserts that it's time to put away this silly notion that the problems that plague America end at some partisan or left-right divide.

It's time to put away this silly notion that the problems that plague America end at some partisan or left-right divide.

14/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Ben Connelly offers his last additional thoughts on his dive into Irving Kristol's "Two Cheers for Capitalism," this time discussing anti-capitalist reformers.

Some people would rather hate the free market than help the poor.

14/11/2023

In an issue of City on a Hill, Justin Stapley argues that, yes, the designs of Russia, Iran, and China are part of the same fight, and the outcome of this fight will set the tone for world peace or spiraling regional instability for the rest of the century.

Yes, the designs of Russia, Iran, and China are part of the same fight, and the outcome of this fight will set the tone for world peace or spiraling regional instability for the rest of the century.

13/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Ben Connelly brings us another Irving Kristol quote warning to be prudent in considering that such things as tax breaks (aka tax loopholes) might have their legitimate reasons for existing.

Those "loopholes" are there for a reason.

13/11/2023

In an issue of Res Publica, Nathan Brown reveals that the partnership of free markets and traditionalism has a much older history in the Anglo-American tradition, and thicker philosophical compatibility, than fusionism's detractors are willing to admit.

The partnership of free markets and traditionalism has a much older history in the Anglo-American tradition, and thicker philosophical compatibility, than fusionism's detractors are willing to admit.

12/11/2023

Today in our Sunday section, Conscience & Conviction, Justin Stapley discusses the concept of the perfectibility of man and why, even if you believe in man's ability to increase in virtue through following the Gospel, government must be constrained rather than unconstrained.

Holding a constrained vision in government but an unconstrained vision in theology and private morality.

11/11/2023

In a special Veteran's Day issue of City on a Hill, Jon Guze reminds us to keep faith with those who have served and sacrificed.

We must keep faith with those who have served and sacrificed.

11/11/2023

In an issue of The Seeing Place, Benjamin Rothove offers his view on the surprising political legacy of the Ghostbusters.

The surprising political legacy of Ghostbusters.

10/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Justin Stapley suggests that, for the pro-life movement, the hour at hand demands humility.

For the pro-life movement, the hour at hand demands humility.

10/11/2023

Some more excellent Irving Kristol quotes from Ben Connelly over in the Daily Saucer, this time on liberalism and the common good.

Who defines what the "common good" is?

10/11/2023

By public demand, Self-Evident is now, once again a weekly offering written exclusively by our Editor in Chief, Justin Stapley. This week, he offers some post-debate observations on the state of the GOP primary election.

Haley and DeSantis both show their seriousness in an era awash in Republican non-seriousness.

09/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Ben Connelly shares some leftover quotes from his review of "Two Cheers for Capitalism" related to a decades-old frustration with Republican electoral success.

A familiar story.

09/11/2023

09/11/2023

In an issue of the Out of the Best Books, Ben Connelly brings us along a quote-heavy journey into the thoughts & views of Irving Kristol, the leading neoconservative thinker, through a consideration of his classic book "Two Cheers for Capitalism."

A review of Irving Kristol's "Two Cheers for Capitalism."

08/11/2023

In the first Self-Evident podcast under the auspices of the Freemen News-Letter, Scott Howard joins Justin Stapley in discussing the Israel-Hamas war, the extent that which MAGA dominates the GOP, and the contours of the current Republican Primary leading into tonight's debate in Miami.

Listen now (44 mins) | Justin and Scott discuss the state of the GOP and tonight's primary debate in Miami.

08/11/2023

In a special debate day extended issue of the Daily Saucer, Justin Stapley discusses a tale of two trajectories and whether tonight's GOP debate is a final showdown between Governor Ron DeSantis and former Governor Nikki Haley.

A tale of two trajectories. A special debate day extended Daily Saucer take.

07/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Justin Stapley argues that polling data is increasingly pointing to a propaganda coup rather than actual radicalization of Republicans as the best explanation for the rise of Trump and Trumpism.

Polling data is increasingly pointing to a propaganda coup rather than actual radicalization of Republicans as the best explanation for the rise of Trump and Trumpism.

07/11/2023

In an issue of City on a Hill, AD Tippet gives us a glimpse into the history of Iran and lays out its modern realities, warning us that the West must reckon seriously with Iran or face broader conflict.

The history of Iran and it's modern realities must be reckoned with by the West.

06/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Justin Stapley surveys the startling support for Hamas among college students and how it reveals a blind spot in curriculum that focuses on self-actualization and "internal truths" rather than on external universal truths.

The startling support for Hamas among college students reveals a blind spot in curriculum that focuses on self-actualization and "internal truths," rather than on external universal truths.

06/11/2023

Over the weekend, in an issue of Conscience and Conviction, André Béliveau made the case that Christians in American leadership ought to cling to their faith and to the Constitution.

Christians in American leadership ought to cling to their faith and to the Constitution.

06/11/2023

In an issue of Vine and Fig Tree, Jacob Hibbard give "two cheers for cancel culture" and asserts that coicing support for the violence of Hamas should be well outside the Overton window of a decent and free society, and should indeed be met with social and professional consequences.

Voicing support for the violence of Hamas should be well outside the Overton window of a decent and free society, and should be met with social and professional consequences.

03/11/2023

In an issue of The Seeing Place, AD Tippet discusses how some of the Boss' greatest hits are about self-empowerment and self-reliance.

Some the Boss' greatest hits are about self-empowerment and self-reliance.

02/11/2023

In a Daily Saucer take, Justin Stapley observes that Vivek Ramaswamy has an, unfortunately typical, misunderstanding of Washington's brand of isolationism.

A quick take on a presidential candidate's, unfortunately typical, misunderstanding of Washington's brand of isolationism.