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Reluctant Moderation
Politics that are Left of Center, Right of Radical
Democrats & Progressive Politics
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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
America’s Political Press is Failing Us
America’s Political Press is Failing Us
The electorate can’t count on those in the media to protect them from or educate them about the threat Trump and Vance pose to the…
Dr. Thomas J. West III
Aug 19
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
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