Homepage
Open in app
Sign in
Get started
Reluctant Moderation
Politics that are Left of Center, Right of Radical
Democrats & Progressive Politics
Republicans & Conservative Politics
Political Media & Journalism
Essays
Book Reviews
Follow
Whose Life Matters to Today’s Republican Party?
Whose Life Matters to Today’s Republican Party?
Events in Alabama and Oklahoma shine a harsh light on today’s GOP and its skewed vision of life in America, wherein embroyos matter more…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Feb 28
The Pure Joy of the Puppy Bowl
The Pure Joy of the Puppy Bowl
The 20th. annual Puppy Bowl is a reminder of the simple pleasures this Animal Planet special has always afforded its viewers.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Feb 12
The Tragic Spectacle of Republican Ineptitude
The Tragic Spectacle of Republican Ineptitude
With the failed impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, the House GOP has proven once again they can’t be trusted with governance.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Feb 8
Mitt Romney and the Crisis of Conservatism
Mitt Romney and the Crisis of Conservatism
How McKay Coppins’ new biography of the one-time presidential nominee reveals the bigger questions facing the conservative movement.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Feb 6
What a Christmas Card Taught Me About Family and Conditional Queer Acceptance
What a Christmas Card Taught Me About Family and Conditional Queer Acceptance
The inclusion of my partner’s name on a family Christmas card reminded me of the power of unexpected grace.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Jan 10
Educators Who Remain In Red States Are Doing God’s Work
Educators Who Remain In Red States Are Doing God’s Work
Educators and others who remain in red states despite increased hostility from those in state government deserve all the respect in the…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Nov 14, 2023
The Media Refuses to Give Joe Biden Any Credit — and that’s A Major Problem For All ofUs
The Media Refuses to Give Joe Biden Any Credit — and that’s A Major Problem For All ofUs
Despite the President’s many successes, many in the political media refuse to give him credit for his many accomplishments (and those of…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Nov 9, 2023
When Your Aunt Uses a Homophobic Slur in Front of You
When Your Aunt Uses a Homophobic Slur in Front of You
How one family member’s casual use of a slur changed the entire way I look at her, and at myself.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Nov 1, 2023
The Power and Joy of the Appalachian Queer Film Festival
The Power and Joy of the Appalachian Queer Film Festival
The recent celebration of queer film, held in Huntington, WV, was a reminder of the value of such spaces and events in our vexed age.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Oct 11, 2023
Democrats Did the Right Thing By Not Helping Kevin McCarthy
Democrats Did the Right Thing By Not Helping Kevin McCarthy
And it’s up to the rest of us to give today’s inept GOP the boot in 2024.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Oct 4, 2023
The Media Will Not Save Us from What’ s Coming
The Media Will Not Save Us from What’ s Coming
While the press is vital to a democracy, they’re increasingly not up to the challenge of a Trumpian world.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Oct 3, 2023
The Perpetual Problem of the Swing Voter
The Perpetual Problem of the Swing Voter
Those who refuse to pick a side are helping to pave this country’s road to despotism.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Sep 29, 2023
Conservative Columnists Are Not Serious People
Conservative Columnists Are Not Serious People
A pair of recent columns from prominent conservatives reveals how bankrupt they have become.
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Sep 26, 2023
About Reluctant Moderation
Latest Stories
Archive
About Medium
Terms
Privacy
Teams