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Reluctant Moderation
Politics that are Left of Center, Right of Radical
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“The Washington Post” and the Double Bind of American Political Journalism
“The Washington Post” and the Double Bind of American Political Journalism
American journalists face a perilous choice in face of a potential Trump victory: speak truth to power or crumple to the whims of a…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Nov 1
Hurricane Helene Revealed the Best and Worst of Appalachia…and America
Hurricane Helene Revealed the Best and Worst of Appalachia…and America
The aftermath to a devastating natural disaster reveals the extent to which many Americans seem to no longer inhabit, or want to inhabit, a…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Oct 14
Appalachia and the Myth of the Climate Haven
Appalachia and the Myth of the Climate Haven
The catastrophic damage wrought by Hurricane Helene has put the lie to the idea that any area, no matter how remote and seemingly out of…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Oct 7
Chappell Roan and the Heightened Dangers of Bothsidesism
Chappell Roan and the Heightened Dangers of Bothsidesism
The singer’s recent ambivalent comments about Kamala Harris (and Democrats in general) are the latest example of Americans’ favorite…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Sep 25
Last Night’s Presidential Debate Showed That the Cruelty is Still the Point
Last Night’s Presidential Debate Showed That the Cruelty is Still the Point
Trump’s insistence that Haitian immigrants were eating people’s pets is the latest indication that his candidacy is predicated on…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Sep 11
The Republican Mask is Finally Off
The Republican Mask is Finally Off
The recent comments from JD Vance are the latest sign that the GOP is going full-on racist in the 2024 election.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Sep 10
The Continuing Scourge of American Amnesia
The Continuing Scourge of American Amnesia
Trump’s enduring strength in swing state polls reveals the troubling extent of Americans’ refusal to contend with the horrors of our own…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Sep 4
The Trump Arlington Incident is Another Embarrassment for America’s Political Press
The Trump Arlington Incident is Another Embarrassment for America’s Political Press
A number of perplexing headlines in major news outlets gives more evidence of the media’s desperate desire to sanitize Trump and his most…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Sep 3
The Real Stakes of the 2024 Election
The Real Stakes of the 2024 Election
November gives us all a chance to strike a blow at Trumpism, one of today’s most noxious forms of politics.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Sep 2
Rural America is Worth Fighting For
Rural America is Worth Fighting For
Democrats can, and should, reach out to rural Americans in regions like Appalachia as they fight back against the ongoing rise of Trump and…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Aug 26
Kamala Harris and Democrats’ Joyful 2024
Kamala Harris and Democrats’ Joyful 2024
This year, Democrats have (re)discovered the extraordinary power of joy in politics, and it might just see them to victory in November.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Aug 23
Gus Walz and the Spectacle of Non-Toxic Masculinity
Gus Walz and the Spectacle of Non-Toxic Masculinity
The younger Walz’s tearful celebration of his father’s nomination shows us a path forward for young men everywhere.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Aug 22
In Praise of the President That Never Was
In Praise of the President That Never Was
How similarities between House of the Dragon’s Rhaenys and the former Democratic candidate for President shed light on the ugly realities…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Aug 21
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