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Episode 28 - Unjust with Noah Rothman

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

Release Date: 04/02/2019

185 – Inventing Conservatism with Daniel J. Flynn show art 185 – Inventing Conservatism with Daniel J. Flynn

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

Few forerunners of the modern conservative movement are as important, little known, and underappreciated as Frank Meyer.  Meyer possessed the IT factor that made women want him and men want to be associated with him.  He used that in his early years to advance Marxism in England—building an impressive Marxist organization that had the attention of UK’s government, dating the Prime Minister’s daughter while calling for the violent overthrow of the Prime Minister’s government, and becoming a national celebrity as the nation debated whether he should be exiled.  But later...

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Roundtable - Is Trump A Fascist? show art Roundtable - Is Trump A Fascist?

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

Some Americans warn Trump's antics in this second term are flirting with fascism while others say that's totally whacked. So which is it? Is Trump a fascist or nothing of the kind? Join our livestream as our panelists engage over the topic. Panelists include: Josh Lewis (host), Mike Taylor, Blake Fischer, John Giokaris, Steve Phelps, and Kent Straith

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184 – Paradigming Phenomenological Essences with Steven Hayward show art 184 – Paradigming Phenomenological Essences with Steven Hayward

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

Steven Hayward has been involved in so many conservative institutions and organizations it may be simpler to list where he hasn’t left a mark.  This conservative man-about-town joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis as they unravel what it means to be a conservative, how Straussians might make peace with Burke, and why Josh shouldn’t be so critical of the Trump administration.   About Steven Hayward Steven F. Hayward is a fellow of the Public Law and Policy Program at Berkeley Law and visiting professor in School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University.   Steven frequently...

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Roundtable - MAGA Mayhem show art Roundtable - MAGA Mayhem

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

The MAGA coalition is comprised of a wide spectrum whose sole unifying idea is Trump himself. But what happens when that precarious foundation begins to fray? Have recent events shown cracks in the MAGA world that could quickly fracture, or is this all a tempest in a teapot? Join Saving Elephant panelists during our livestream to make sense of it all. Panelists include: Josh Lewis (host), Ryan Rogers, Destry Edwards, Scott Howard, and Christopher Chesny

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183 – Conservative Conservationism with Stephen Perkins show art 183 – Conservative Conservationism with Stephen Perkins

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

Younger Americans—regardless of their political affiliations—are increasingly supportive focusing on environmental and conservation issues.  But while there may be renewed unity on recognizing the importance of such issues, the policies advocated by the Left and Right continue to differ.  The (ACC) is a group of young Americans on the political Right standing up for action over activism in their approach to environmental reform.  Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is ACC’s COO, Stephen Perkins, to discuss how economic prosperity and a clean environment don’t...

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182 – Partying Like It’s 1776 show art 182 – Partying Like It’s 1776

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

On July 6 Saving Elephants assembled an august team of commentators to commemorate the advent of the United States turning the big 2-4-9!  With only one year to go until the nation is 250 years old, the group reflects on the foundational ideas of America, whether she's succeed or failed at those aspirations, and what the future holds for this most exceptional of nations.   Meet the panelists:   Lura Forcum   Lura Forcum leads the , the nation’s go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, representing those who are fed up with...

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181 – Escaping the Housing Trap with Chuck Marohn show art 181 – Escaping the Housing Trap with Chuck Marohn

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

The housing market today is in an increasingly unsustainable paradox: younger Americans need houses to be more affordable so that they can become homeowners.  Meanwhile, homeowners and the entire U.S. economy need houses to rise in price to make them a secure and profitable investment.  Thus, we are trapped between making homeownership increasingly difficult or sinking the economy.  Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by president of Strong Towns Chuck Marohn to discuss his latest book: .   About Chuck Marohn From Charles Marohn (known as “Chuck” to friends and...

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180 – Uncap the House with Jeff Mayhugh show art 180 – Uncap the House with Jeff Mayhugh

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

What if the surest way to reduce the harmful effects of self-serving politicians in Washington D.C. is to have more of them?  Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Jeff Mayhugh to explain how the artificial “cap” the nation put on the number of representatives in the U.S. House almost a century ago has made government less representative and responsive.  Returning to the Founding Father’s understanding of how people might best be represented by their leaders will require a lot of hard work, but it has the potential to benefit all Americans all across the political divide....

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179 – I, Tony with Tony Woodlief show art 179 – I, Tony with Tony Woodlief

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

What if the real division in America isn’t between Republicans and Democrats, Red States vs Blue States, or liberals and conservatives but between the American people and a small group of the political elite whose function is to divide the rest of us?  Tony Woodlief joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss how we may not be as divided as we think and how federalism holds the solution to many of the policy battles of the moment.   About Tony Woodlief Excerpts from Tony’s bio in the and on his :   Tony Woodlief is State Policy Network’s Senior Executive Vice...

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178 – Revolt of the Independents with Lura Forcum show art 178 – Revolt of the Independents with Lura Forcum

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

The 2024 presidential election witnessed a historic number of independent voters—more independents voted than Democrats and they came close to surpassing Republicans.  It would seem that now is the time for those who are dissatisfied with both parties to dismantle the two-party duopoly of American government.  And yet, the Republican and Democratic parties collectively control all branches of governments at all levels.  Why is that?  What would it mean for Americans to embrace an “independent” politics and how likely is that to occur?  What do independent voters...

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There are just two problems with social justice: it’s not social and it’s not justice.  So says Noah Rothman, Saving Elephants’ guest and author of the new book Unjust: Social Justice and the Unmaking of America.

 

Noah walks us through the evolution of the concept of justice in the West to show how some political activists (perhaps unwittingly) have twisted it.  Social justice may be well intentioned and be useful as a philosophical perspective.  But when applied to practical politics, the results are anything but just.  Perhaps most surprisingly, social justice is no longer chiefly a tool of the Left, as some groups on the Right are learning how to wield the weapon of retribution.

 

In a society governed by “social justice,” the most coveted status is victimhood, which people will go to absurd lengths to attain.  But the real victims in such a regime are blind justice—the standard of impartiality that we once took for granted—and free speech.  These hallmarks of American liberty, already gravely compromised in universities, corporations, and the media, are under attack in our legal and political systems.

 

Social justice is a creed born of grievances, some of them undoubtedly valid.  But Noah shows that tribalism and the fanatical pursuit of retribution threaten to destroy a political culture that is historically unmatched in its friendliness to justice. Social justice is an ideology that runs counter to the American ideal, and it must be stopped.  And on this episode Noah offers some guidance on how it might be stopped.

 

Noah is the associate editor of Commentary, a journal of scholarly opinion and analysis that has been in continuous publication since 1945, a contributor to MSNBC/NBC News, and a widely followed commentator and guest on such notable shows as Tucker Carlson Tonight and Real Time with Bill Maher.  He graduated from Drew University with a degree in Russian studies and political science and received a master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations from Seton Hall University.  He lives and works in the New York City area.