These Are The Times That Try Men’s Souls
Political writers that serve as our own Thomas Paine
On January 9, 1776, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet arguing against the British king and monarchy in general. Common Sense changed the course of history by speaking to the average man, appealing to his common sense, and presenting irrefutable arguments that sparked a surge of support for independence. Paine sold over 150,000 copies, the equivalent of 12 million copies based on today’s population. But many more Americans learned of his prose at coffee houses, taverns, and family homes, as newspapers and pamphlets were regularly read aloud.
On this July 4 weekend, we need our twenty-first-century Tom Paine more than ever. Republicans in Congress have blocked efforts to protect voting rights, while their colleagues in the states are passing restrictive election laws. The threat of white supremacist violence is on the rise across the country, police brutality threatens people of color, and systemic racism undermines many of our national institutions.
Despite our desperate need, the proliferation of publications and social media makes it much harder for one voice to rise above the clamor and speak to the American populace as Paine did. Instead, we have both the challenge and gift of a multitude of writers, historians, and scholars producing brilliant work. Here are ten that I highly recommend to better understand our current political climate. I don’t always agree with what these writers have to say, and they don’t always agree with each other, but they are always thoughtful and thought provoking.
Jamelle Bouie is a columnist for the New York Times. No twenty-first century journalist has read historical scholarship more broadly or engaged with the themes more deeply in his writing. His columns offer a fantastic look at today’s event through a historical lens.
Molly Jong-Fast is the editor large of The Daily Beast, a contributor to Vogue, and host of the New Abnormal podcast. Few writers capture the cultural norms and shifts at the heart of our political system as well as Jong-Fast or offer as witty commentary. Her writing is never, ever boring.
David Frum, another staff writer for The Atlantic, is a former Republican and still a leading conservative thinker. From this perspective, Frum offers particularly incisive commentary about the downfall of the once-great party. He also has a particular knack of demonstrating why Democrats seem to have a harder time winning as much as their opponents.
Dr. Heather Cox Richardson is a professor at Boston College and the author of a handful of books, including most recently How the South Won the Civil War. She also writes a nightly newsletter, Letters from an American, that examines the historical origins of the day’s events and helps readers understand the broader implications of those developments.
Dr. Keisha Blain is a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, a prolific author, and a regular contributor to MSNBC. I look forward to Dr. Blain’s MSNBC column every week because she always manages to offer a unique perspective to the most pressing issues in the news.
Kimberly Atkins Stohr is a columnist for The Globe and The Emancipator, and cohost of the #SistersinLaw podcast. As a former litigator and practicing lawyer, she brings useful legal knowledge to political developments. She also has a unique gift for explaining complex legal concepts in accessible and sensible language.
David Rothkopf is an author of Traitor, podcast host of Deep State Radio, and a contributor to USA Today and the Daily Beast. Rothkopf’s been a careful observer of foreign policy for decades and that insight shines through in his writing about Biden’s diplomacy and politics.
Perry Bacon, Jr. is a columnist for the Washington Post and formerly a reporter for 538. Admittedly, he was my favorite contributor to the 538 podcast and I miss hearing his insights on voters, election trends, and the political parties. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, he offers excellent regional insight on partisan politics and how issues play on the ground.
Norman Ornstein is a contributing writer for The Atlantic, a contributing editor and columnist for National Journal, and a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. As a political scientist Ornstein offers a more scientific approach and actually suggests solutions to the problems facing he country — a bold choice and one that few pundits are willing to make.
Dr. Kori Schake is the Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a contributor to the The Atlantic, and is one of the leading scholars of foreign policy and civilian-military relations. Dr. Schake often offers an optimistic outlook on the future of American diplomacy and democracy, just when I need it most. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the doom and gloom that has understandably dominated the news for the last five years.
In Common Sense, Paine wrote, “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” Hopefully, few Americans want another revolution, but there is no doubt that we need reform and widespread change. Every day presents a new opportunity to begin again and these thinkers will help us come up with the solutions we need.