The State of the Union Is Divided—as Usual
There is nothing particularly special about today's political hostilities.
History
Civil Rights and the Right to Work
A new book finds unexpected connections between two movements that shaped the 20th century.
Terrorism In Europe is Less Common and Less Deadly Than in the Recent Past -- And Doesn't Justify Expanded Repressive Surveillance
International security researcher: "Western Europe is safer now than it has been for decades and is far safer than most other parts of the world."
Greek Bronzes and the Rise of Artistic Realism: Power and Pathos Exhibition
What rare Hellenistic statues tell us about the ancient world and 21st-century America.
Did Star Wars Kill the New Hollywood, Pave the Way for Reagan, and Make Us a 'Nation of Eight-Year-Olds'?
Some writers see Star Wars as a cinematic Death Star.
Dutch Museum Renames Historic Paintings With More Politically Correct Names
PC hysteria: not just for Americans!
Friday A/V Club: Fascism vs. Socialism vs. Communism vs. Democracy
Lawrence Dennis, Norman Thomas, A.J. Muste, and Raymond Moley debate the ideal social system.
How Guns Helped Secure Civil Rights and Expand Liberty
Firearms played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Dear Liberals, Stop Defending Racist Progressive Woodrow Wilson
Surprisingly, the 28th president still has his defenders on the left.
Living Standards Up Since the Fall of Communism
Young people don't remember just how bad it was under socialism.
The Corporate Christian Conspiracy?
A historian tries to blame "Christian libertarians" for the idea that America is a Christian nation.
Ditch the Fake Lovefest and Learn the Real Story of the First Thanksgiving
Saints & Strangers plays out the tense political negotiations.
Friday A/V Club: The Story of Hitler's England
Something to watch with The Man in the High Castle
What Bernie Sanders Won't Say in His Socialism Speech Tomorrow
In which we relate the strange saga of Jasper McLevy, because he probably won't turn up in Sanders' speech
This Isn't America's First Freakout Over Refugees
Before anyone was afraid of ISIS terrorists disguised as Syrian refugees, Americans were afraid of Nazi agents disguised as Jewish refugees.
The Anarchist Who Became President
Which occupant of the Oval Office flirted with anti-authoritarian ideas in his youth?
Friday A/V Club: You Are Watching LSD-TV
There was a time when psychedelics could get friendly coverage on a commercial TV news show.
Ben Carson Isn't the First Politician to Have Odd Ideas About Pyramids
Compared to these concepts, Carson's theory is downright banal.
Will Ben Carson's Ideas About the Endtimes Scare Away Evangelical Voters? Don't Count On It
The religious right has long been willing to put politics ahead of doctrinal differences.
At SCOTUS, Today's Dissent Can Become Tomorrow's Majority Opinion
Examining the role of dissenting opinions in U.S. legal history.
2016 GOP Candidates Could Learn Something From 'Bleeding Heart Conservative' Jack Kemp
They don't make Republicans like Jack Kemp anymore.
Why Was There a 12-Year Gap in the Gun Debate?
What happened to gun control from 2000 to 2012? Funny you should ask...
Is a 'Black Silent Majority' Responsible for Some of America's Harshest Drug Laws?
A new book argues that black America helped pave the way for the War on Drugs.
Herbert Spencer, 'the Most Misunderstood Libertarian'
A new book examines the life and ideas of the proto-libertarian philosopher.
A Nation of Smugglers and Protectionists
Americans have always limited trade-and always defied those limits.
The Return of Roger Fuckebythenavele
Oldest use of the word fucke sexually in writing pushed back 150 years.
A Quiet Hero of the 9/11 Attacks Speaks Out
Documentary recounts tale of Marine who braved rubble to rescue cops.
A Century Later, People Still Want to Unmask Jack the Ripper
Pair of documentaries give their best efforts
Friday A/V Club: What Political Advertising Looked Like 75 Years Ago
Look out, world! Here comes Willkie!
The Muddied Racial Histories of Our American Presidents
The lengthy history of applying the one-drop rule to our chief executive
The Great Bob Dylan Conspiracy
A new book sheds light on the singer-songwriter's evangelical years.
Instapundit: Markets Work to Transmit Bad News. No Wonder They're Unpopular.
But are they really? Large majorities of us prefer creative destruction to government-managed economies.
Civil Rights Figure Julian Bond Dies at 75
Once argued 1980 Libertarian presidential candidate Ed Clark and his running mate David Koch deserved to be heard as 'real choices' for American voters.
The Last Consolation of Jefferson Davis
A few years ago, Congress pardoned the Confederate president but his statues and namesakes may be starting to come down.
How Donald Trump Is Like John Hancock
The complicated political dynamics between rich presidential candidates and poorer ones far predate the 20th century.
Spies, Lies, and the Underground
A new book shines some light on the violent radicals of the 1970s but misses their biggest impact on American politics.
Bombs Drop in a Smithsonian Documentary and NBC Sit-Com
The ravages of Hiroshima; the misery of unfunny summer comedies
Friday A/V Club: Behind the Buckley/Vidal Debates
Free speech, flags, a police riot, and the other time Bill Buckley called Gore Vidal a queer
Libertarians, Conservatives, and 'Mischaracterizing' the 14th Amendment
Does the Privileges or Immunities Clause protect unenumerated rights?
