Decoding The Trump Conviction, Ukraine, Israel, Science, Liberalism, Academy (6-2-24)

01:00 Liberal catharsis after law does what politics can’t — constrain Trump, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NweVBH_QLtg
07:00 Male sex drive is stronger than the female sex drive, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/15/well/family/sex-myths.html,
21:00 More Americans identify as Republican than Democrat
31:00 Robert Barnes on the Donald Trump Conviction, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB0UtOpoq8A
37:00 Hitler and Abductive Logic: The Strategy of a Tyrant, https://www.amazon.com/Hitler-Abductive-Logic-Strategy-Tyrant/dp/0739194615
40:00 Science Envy in Theories of Religion, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=155267
Is a Second Civil War INEVITABLE?, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCogKGV2NDw
The Axis of Chaos, with Matt Pottinger, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBhL1kV1EeQ
Prof. John Mearsheimer on the Israel Lobby’s Grip on U.S. Politics, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKXSReKRWaQ
Hypervigilance and diversity, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py0lBpkSyHM
Secure attachment, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTd6SyKLFH4
Why Civilisations Collapse Into Dust, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTd6SyKLFH4

01:00 My livestream keeps getting shutting down after I make a point about politicians and public officials lying
03:00 The Axis of Chaos, with Matt Pottinger, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBhL1kV1EeQ
11:45 Israel enters Rafah
15:00 How do RW academics make it? Should they diversify to podcasts?
18:00 Prof. John Mearsheimer on the Israel Lobby’s Grip on U.S. Politics, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKXSReKRWaQ
25:00 Vali Nasr: Iran, Israel, and America’s Future in the Middle East | Foreign Affairs Interview, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVM0HRx5Wss
36:00 Christopher Caldwell: Is Israel Defensible? The cruel geostrategic logic of the Holy Land, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=155305
55:00 Unanswered Threats: Political Constraints on the Balance of Power by Randall Schweller, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=155281
1:02:00 CRITICAL THINKING – Fundamentals: Abductive Arguments, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vflZuk-_Hz4
1:09:00 Max Weber and the Two Universities, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=155263
1:13:50 Why Civilisations Collapse Into Dust, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTd6SyKLFH4
1:20:20 Sometimes dictatorship is the most effective way to get things done
1:28:00 NYT: Extremely Inappropriate, A Show That Makes Young Japanese Pine for the ‘Inappropriate’ 1980s, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/29/world/asia/japan-extremely-inappropriate.html
1:35:00 The naked state, https://lukeford.net/blog/?p=140282
2:04:00 Young men tilt conservative
2:15:20 Is a Second Civil War INEVITABLE?, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCogKGV2NDw
2:30:40 Big Tech Bans Alex Jones, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id4C9k06jcs
2:32:00 Elliott Blatt joins
2:50:00 The dissident right has become tedious
3:11:45 The adaptive use of illness and depression
3:18:00 Colds v flu, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/coldflu.htm
2:29:40 Big Tech Bans Alex Jones, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id4C9k06jcs
3:33:25 The Atlantic: Why Is Charlie Kirk Selling Me Food Rations?, https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/05/charlie-kirk-podcast-ads/678450/
3:35:00 The Long Con by Rick Pearlstein, https://thebaffler.com/salvos/the-long-con

Full transcript.

From the Podnotes AI summary: Matt Pottinger, who served in Trump’s administration and is discussing Cold War similarities with China, emphasizing the need for a strong strategy to prevent escalation into World War III. He highlights that we’re facing challenges due to China’s aggressive stance as they exploit our weaknesses.

Pottinger also talks about Taiwan and the possibility of conflict there. He argues that deterrence requires showing hard power and not revealing what we wouldn’t do strategically. The debate on whether America should defend Taiwan alone continues while considering other countries’ roles in their defense spending compared to Israel’s higher budget allocation post-Yom Kippur War.

In academia, PhD students are advised to focus on education quality and diversify beyond traditional career paths due to changing academic landscapes. However, one must be cautious not to compromise academic integrity when engaging with broader audiences through various media platforms.

Lastly, support for Israel within American politics is complex; it involves campaign contributions from donors committed unconditionally and influences from both Jewish communities and Christian Zionists. As conflicts continue in Gaza, opinions on US-Israel relations vary across political parties creating tension regarding foreign policy decisions.

Israel is grappling with being labeled an apartheid state, a term even some Israeli leaders acknowledge. Vali Nasr, an expert on Iran and professor at Johns Hopkins University, discusses the complex relationship between Israel and Iran. Historically, they’ve had periods of silent cooperation; however, as Arab states opposed Iran and supported American containment strategies, Iran began to exploit anti-Israel sentiment strategically.

Iran invested in groups like Hezbollah because it saw them as part of its own security concerns. Now, Israel and Iran are the two main powers in the region vying for influence over Saudi Arabia – not as a threat but as a potential ally or neutral party.

On campuses across America and beyond, discussions about Israel’s actions towards Palestinians have become more prevalent due to diverse student populations from around the world. This has led to increased scrutiny over Israel’s policies and military actions in Gaza.

The tension within Israel itself lies between maintaining its Jewish identity versus economic prosperity through global relations. Netanyahu’s government focuses on sovereignty while secular Israelis prioritize international business ties.

In conclusion, despite their power struggles both internally and regionally with neighbors like Iran, Israeli society remains largely united when facing conflict – illustrated by high reservist turnout during crises. However, challenges persist regarding how they manage Palestinian territories without exacerbating accusations of apartheid or genocide.

Few third-world countries have waged wars against each other, a contrast to Europe’s historical interstate conflicts led by powers like the Habsburgs and Napoleon. Today, nations such as India, China, and Brazil remain potential rather than actual regional hegemons. This could be due to various reasons including intergenerational trauma affecting political maturity.

Western societies face issues of hyper-vigilance and social distrust partly due to massive immigration. Emotional intelligence is crucial for children’s development but requires secure attachments that are often disrupted by emotionally immature caregivers. Such inconsistency in caregiving leads to insecure attachment styles in children – avoidant, anxious, or disorganized – which can impede their ability to learn and adapt.

Children with insecure attachments may become hypervigilant and unable to regulate emotions effectively. They struggle with identifying feelings like anger or anxiety, leading them into a state of constant alertness that hinders learning new skills.

Supporting channels like Dr. Sn’s helps provide practical tools for dealing with emotional immaturity in caregivers and its consequences on children’s development.

Moving on to politics: Fascism differs from realism by rejecting balance-of-power concepts while embracing racist ideologies capable of mobilizing masses—something pure realism fails at since it lacks moral appeal necessary for large-scale mobilization efforts.

In academia today there is an ongoing crisis involving freedom of speech versus harmful opinions; this has been exacerbated by recent events around the world including controversies over academic integrity and affirmative action policies following Supreme Court rulings.

Finally, societal divisions based on education levels create competing interests between college-educated elites who advocate for diversity roles (which may disregard merit) versus non-college-educated groups whose priorities lie elsewhere. These tensions reflect the scarcity of rewarding jobs leading both sides into a fierce competition influenced more by group identity than individual abilities or achievements.

The parliament and royalty historically had conflicts with the landed gentry. During tough times, populations often divide and engage in civil wars to advance their interests. However, there have been periods of high social trust and cohesion, such as America in the mid-20th century after immigration laws were passed in 1924.

A documentary on Manchester United’s successful season under Alex Ferguson highlights how fear can drive success; it demonstrates that sometimes authoritarianism is effective for achieving goals. This idea extends beyond sports into business where hierarchy can lead to higher performance.

Economic stability is linked to a society’s ability to support families. In the 1950s, many Americans could afford three children—a benchmark for family sustainability—unlike today. Various factors like globalization and automation have reduced labor value over time despite occasional wage increases like those seen during Donald Trump’s presidency.

Cultural shifts are also evident through media portrayals. A Japanese TV series set in the 1980s showcases societal changes regarding wages, prices, and political correctness compared to today.

Ultimately, individuals’ well-being is influenced by both subjective perceptions of wealth and objective measures like marriage rates or health indicators. Group survival often takes precedence over liberal individualistic values when nations make strategic decisions for self-preservation—even if these choices contradict public statements or liberal norms.

Discussions about group interests versus individual rights reveal philosophical differences about whether groups or only individuals possess consciousness—and thus interests—or not. Emergencies can prompt governments to suspend rights temporarily but raise questions about who defines an emergency situation’s legitimacy.

Language is essential to our identity; without it, we can’t fully be ourselves. Steven Turner’s analysis explores normality and emergency states, highlighting that experts often dictate when a state of emergency exists. In emergencies, normal legal rules are suspended to preserve the state—revealing the “naked state,” where force enforces order.

David Brooks suggests scientific experts determine emergencies, leading to temporary rule by decree. Emergencies reveal the fragility of normalcy and democracy’s inability to self-perpetuate in crisis without adapting governance systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic showcased this dynamic as public health officials wielded significant power based on their expertise. The interplay between government reliance on expert advice and public acceptance or enforcement of such guidance became evident.

However, disagreements among experts typically remain private but were publicly aired during the pandemic—exposing conflicts within science and policy-making. This led to questioning trust in authorities as divergent views surfaced online.

In times of crisis like COVID-19, rapid decisions overshadowed traditional slow scientific processes. Experts’ political affiliations influenced policies adopted across regions with varying severity levels impacting outcomes differently—a stark reminder that crises test all societal structures’ resilience and transparency.

One reason to question liberalism is its focus on the individual as an autonomous political agent, which seems at odds with the interconnected nature of society. Every action has ripple effects, impacting others in various ways – from personal choices affecting the dating market to behaviors influencing social dynamics.

This interdependence challenges liberal ideology’s core principle of individual autonomy. Even if we accept this framework for argument’s sake, it inevitably leads us to recognize that every personal act influences society as a whole.

The contradiction within liberalism becomes apparent when considering group interests and societal impacts. For example, libertarianism struggles because it fails to acknowledge how individuals’ actions affect their community.

Discussions about civil unrest often point out that radical minorities can sway public opinion and lead revolutions; history shows us numerous examples like the Bolsheviks in Russia or radical Republicans during the American Civil War. Such movements demonstrate that small but determined groups can have disproportionate influence over larger populations who may not initially seek conflict.

Current debates around U.S. politics touch on concerns about division and potential conflicts akin to those seen in Northern Ireland rather than another full-scale civil war. Many Americans just want normalcy despite ideological divides suggesting otherwise.

In conclusion, while some advocate for more government intervention based on our societal interdependence, there remains debate over whether such measures would be beneficial or exacerbate issues further. The complexity of these discussions reflects deep-seated tensions within modern political thought and practice.

I struggle to pay attention to him, especially about exercise. He suggests it’s okay after a week of flu, but I’ve been too tired. My social life is minimal, though I did run into a friend and now have some unwanted social obligations.

I’m not thrilled by the idea of socializing; it often leaves me drained. There are exceptions—like steam rooms at spas—but my upbringing doesn’t quite approve of such indulgences. Speaking of which, I tried a spa that could’ve been mistaken for something else entirely!

With 30 radio stations and nothing to listen to, I find myself often just looking for dull content to help me fall asleep. Currently, I’m listening to Richard Ben Cramer’s book “What It Takes” about the ’88 election. It plays in the background as I drift in and out of sleep while struggling with my CPAP machine. Sometimes it feels like a battle keeping it on; other times, its air helps clear my nasal passages.

Despite mild sleep apnea, losing weight has helped reduce its severity. Health insurance doesn’t seem worth it since dental care – what I really want – isn’t covered adequately. Plus, past experiences with prescribed medications weren’t helpful.

I’ve been reflecting on life choices during illness; considering how diet and lifestyle impact health is key. Avoiding unnecessary comments can be wise too; silence might serve better at times.

The healthcare system seems flawed, catering more towards unhealthy lifestyles subsidized by those who live healthily but occasionally need medical attention for accidents or rare conditions.

Lastly, being sick reminds us of our vulnerability and dependence on others sometimes—a humbling experience that can lead to personal growth and reassessment of priorities in life.

Right-wing talk radio and podcasts are filled with a particular kind of discourse, often promoting products like gold investments and food rations. For example, Kirk’s ads for My Patriot Supply offer 90 meals for $150, claiming it’s a good deal. Similarly, Patriot Mobile positions itself as America’s only Christian conservative wireless provider and claims switching supports various conservative values.

Kirk also promotes charitable causes; he advocates for donations to provide ultrasounds to prevent abortions. These podcasts have gained immense popularity; Kirk’s show is the twelfth most popular news podcast on Spotify and has a significant YouTube following.

However, not all conservatives agree with these advertising methods. Stephen Crowder has openly criticized the promotion of unnecessary or low-quality products that don’t genuinely benefit consumers.

Advertising now targets specific demographics through analytics—brands like Blackout Coffee reach niche audiences via shows like Kirk’s. But these ads aren’t just commercial—they reinforce the narrative presented in the podcasts themselves about societal instability and conservative values.

Ultimately, this creates an echo chamber where listeners are surrounded by reinforcing messages and products vetted by their trusted hosts—a self-contained world free from external moderating influences.

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Trump conviction – best narrative won – power of abductive reasoning

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Seminary to University: An Institutional History of the Study of Religion in Canada (2020)

Aaron W. Hughes responds to his critics:

…all our narratives, terms, categories, and frames of reference emerge from the shadows, and we would do well to illumine them. Only by understanding these narratives and frames of reference—their genealogies, their investment in political, legal, intellectual, and social contexts—is it possible to reflect on where we have been, where we currently are, and where we are heading collectively.

…I do think the academic study of religion, both in Canada and abroad, is in a
precarious situation at the current moment. Enrollments in courses are down, provincial
funding for the arts post-COVID will inevitably be even worse than that in the pre-
COVID era… Will we survive?

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Is Israel Defensible? The cruel geostrategic logic of the Holy Land

Christopher Caldwell writes for the Claremont Review of Books:

…the settlements are part of a conscious but never-written-down government policy: to divide the Palestinian population in such a way as to make the massing of force difficult and conspicuous, to separate Jerusalem from the Palestinian hinterland, and to provide the populated areas of Israel with enough strategic depth to minimize the damage of a sudden invasion. A lot more people than will openly declare it, including many who describe themselves as on the “left,” share this vision of Israel’s predicament and are willing to accept this as a solution. The defensible country—the country as a logical geostrategic unit—runs from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean, “from the river to the sea.” On this, hardline Israelis and radical Palestinians can seemingly agree.

…Israelis often repeat what some of the female hostages released from Gaza in November said on their return: “There are no civilians.”

…Under the influence of both religiosity and constant war, Israel is becoming the most right-wing advanced society on the planet… Israel grows steadily more attractive, as a place to move to, for those Jews who understand their religion and their peoplehood in a conservative way. It is the red state of world Jewry.

…when reservists were called up October 7, 130% reported—that is, men not required to go to war at all were refusing to leave army offices until they had received a role in this very dangerous conflict.

…Israelis are one people in a way that Americans are not. The Israeli Left and Right, even when heated and hateful, are doing something more elevated than just anathematizing each other. They are vying, however narrow-mindedly, for patriotic distinction.

…Whether to be part of the wider world (at the risk of losing yourself, your culture, your connection to God) or to keep to yourself (at the risk of provinciality and lost economic opportunity) is a decision that faces all peoples and individuals.

* Netanyahu’s coalition partners have one vision for defending Israel. It involves sovereignty, pro-natalist policies, prayer, and a command of military strong points—but at the risk of isolation, and even retaliation, from the outside world. The secular tech elites who lead the Israeli opposition propose another vision: good relationships with other global elites, above all those of the United States.

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Science Envy in Theories of Religion

Aaron W. Hughes published in 2010:

In the recently published Contemporary Theories of Religion (Stausberg; 2009,
hereafter CTR), at least 9 of the 15 chapters are devoted to theories that interpret
and/or explain religion from perspectives that can loosely be labeled as “cognitivist,” “evolutionary” or “neuropsychological.”…

Stausberg argues that theories of religion must take into consideration four overlapping questions (2009: 3-6): (1) specificity (i.e., what is unique about religion); (2) origins (i.e., conditions that witness foe emergence/origination of religion); (3) functions (i.e., what religion is perceived to do); and (4) structure (e.g., coherence)…Yet, if I must address these questions, let me state (albeit hesitantly) that: (I) foe specificity of religion is its evocation of transcendence for believers (not theoreticians); (2) that it is invoked and/or appealed to in foe invention of cultural identity; (3) that its main function is self- and group-making; and (4) that its structure is, paradoxically, its lack of structure, namely, that “religion”’s porosity and instability permits manifold and contradictory appeals across time and geography.

All of these four points pivot around a few key terms: identity, discourse, and invention….

I am calling for replacing one sort of reductionism (biological, cognitive) with another (issues of identity). The latter sort, it seems to me, enables us to factor in its ubiquity rather than isolate “religion” as an independent variable. Because I largely refuse to take religion seriously as a category, my form of reductionism hopefully accounts for “religion” as it is folded into, and indeed non-existent apart from, other historical, social, economical, and political forces…

…religions, like all social formations, are actively produced temporally, in time,
and in ways that are contingent upon social and ideological categories of alterity…

Rather than envisage the existence of a permanent inner core peculiar to each culture that confers upon it a veridical nature that determines present and future, cultural theorists prefer to stress the process of the subsequent elaboration of an ideology that speaks of the present by imagining an ideal past. Such a process enables those in the present to tame unruliness where meanings are often fraught with ambiguity and where identities are anything but stable.

…the liberal Protestant and ecumenical vision that currently reigns supreme in humanities-based theorizing on and about religion.

…Until science progresses, we have little evidence that we are any more predisposed
to religion than we are to economic or political systems. Religions, qua discourses that invoke transcendence, provide the tropes or the shards (or whatever we want to call them) that help facilitate the scattered, irregular, and often damaged hydra of identity, both collective or individual.

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