October 3, 2016
5 Things Mike Pence Should Try To Do Tomorrow
(Published in the WSJ) After the headlines of the past week, the stakes are high for Mike Pence going into Tuesday’s vice-presidential debate. Here are five things Republicans will be watching for him to do. 1. Change the narrative. Donald...
October 3, 2016
Donald Trump’s Tweets About Alicia Machado–and the Likely Result
(Also published in the WSJ) Pressure can do funny things to people. As University of Chicago professor Sian Beilock wrote in her book “Choke”: “the story changes when we find ourselves under the gun. Pressure to perform well often attacks the...
September 26, 2016
Political purgatory
(Published in The Hill) “Purgatory is for people in the middle. For those not evil enough to go straight to Hell. For those not pure enough to go straight to heaven.” So said Father Vincent De Rosa at Mass on...
September 26, 2016
Hillary Won the Debate. Will it matter?
The question is not who won this debate. Hillary won it, hands down. She was prepared. He wasn’t. She did her homework. He made stuff up. She kept her composure. He lost his. She was sharp. He rambled. Nope, that...
September 23, 2016
On the Upcoming Debate
(This originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal’s Think Tank) As I look ahead to Monday’s debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, I’m reminded of at least four instances, and comparisons, from presidential debates past: Ronald Reagan or Ross...
September 22, 2016
History Doesn’t Move in a Straight Line
History doesn’t move in a straight line. And for that reason, I hope they have some extra space at the African-American History Museum, slated to open up this weekend. Because that history is still being written. Hegel had a theory...