Episodes

  • Subscribe to Acton Line!

    Subscribe to Acton Line!
    Sep 3 2025
    Subscribe to our podcasts Watch Acton Line here Acton On-Demand
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    1 min
  • The 2024 United States Presidential Election

    The 2024 United States Presidential Election
    Nov 13 2024
    This week, host Dan Hugger is joined by John Pinheiro, Anthony Bradley, and Dylan Pahman to discuss the results of the 2024 U.S. elections. What do the results say about American society, its politics, its parties, and its future? A wide-ranging conversation from pre-election polls to possible party futures. Subscribe to our podcasts 2024 Presidential Election Results | AP News Exit poll results 2024 | CNN Politics How the Trump Polymarket Whale Correctly Called the Election, and Made Nearly $50 Million | Alexander Osipovich, WSJ Pro-Kamala Harris spot targeting ‘real men’ ripped as ‘cringiest political ad ever’ Susie Wiles: Who is Trump’s new chief of staff? | Max Matza, BBC News
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • How to Do Politics in Church

    How to Do Politics in Church
    Sep 30 2024
    This week, host Dan Hugger is joined by Dylan Pahman and Anthony Bradley to ask, what should politics look like in church? A highly polarizing election season is upon us and debates about church involvement in politics and how difficult political questions are discussed in church have renewed vigor. How does the way particular churches and religious traditions navigate politics differs according to time, place, and circumstance? In what way’s does America’s own history shape the way churches in America think about politics? In what ways can churches and church members constructively engage American politics without opting out into quietism or indulging in partisan polarization? Subscribe to our podcasts Calming the Storm of Images | Acton Institute The Rambler and the Transformative Power of Magazines | Acton Institute Globalization and Orthodox Christianity | Victor Roudometof Citizenship Without Illusions: A Christian Guide to Political Engagement: Koyzis, David T.: 9781514008621: Amazon.com: Books Catechism of the Catholic Church | USCCB Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation - 2017 Edition - Concordia Publishing House (cph.org) The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism - Google Books An Exact Exposition Of The Orthodox Faith : St John of Damascus : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Build, Baby, Build

    Build, Baby, Build
    Aug 26 2024
    This week, host Dan Hugger is joined by Dylan Pahman and Noah Gould to ask, Are those jobs numbers fake? Can we trust economic data, and do they tell the whole economic story? They then discuss the emerging bipartisan consensus that America should “build, baby, build” to address housing shortages and rising costs. How does such a consensus emerge, and is this a positive development? The panel concludes by scrutinizing the megachurch model. Why are some Catholic dioceses embracing the model? Should we welcome our new praise-and-worship overlords? Subscribe to our podcasts Too Fake to Tell | balajis.com No, the Biden Administration Is Not Manipulating Jobs Data | National Review Democrats Are Pushing One Policy Loud and Clear: Build, Baby, Build | POLITICO The Intellectual Roots of YIMBYism | Marginal REVOLUTION Kamala Harris’ Economic Policies Can’t Keep Her Promises | Religion & Liberty Online Catholic priest shortage gives rise to California “megachurch” as parishes expand | CBS News Why Catholic bishops rocked out to megachurch worship hits | The Christian Century Church in a Digital Age: Must We Worship Bodily to Worship at All? | Acton Lecture Series AI and the Discipline of Human Flourishing | Acton Institute
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    52 mins
  • Why Pot Stinks

    Why Pot Stinks
    Aug 19 2024
    This week, host Dan Hugger is joined by Anthony Bradley and James Patterson to discuss James’ recent essay at Law & Liberty: “Into the Reactionary Abyss.” Why are post-liberal Catholics drawing on European reactionary thinkers to critique liberalism? Why is the use of such sources dubious? And how do the arguments of public intellectuals form and deform young people? The panel then counts the costs of marijuana legalization: Was it a good idea? What have we learned in the past decade post-legalization? The panel concludes with an examination of some of Vice President Harris’ recent proposals to lower the cost of living. Are grocers price-gouging? Do we just need to subsidize more demand? Subscribe to our podcasts Into the Reactionary Abyss | James M. Patterson After Republican Virtue | James M. Patterson Why Postliberalism Failed | YouTube An Awkward Alliance: Neo-Integralism and National Conservatism | James M. Patterson Maybe Legalizing Weed Wasn’t Such a Great Idea | Tyler Cowen Harris Is Set to Lay Out an Economic Message Light on Detail | The New York Times Harris to propose up to $25K in down-payment support for 1st-time homebuyers | ABC News
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Polarization to the Walz

    Polarization to the Walz
    Aug 12 2024
    This week, new host Dan Hugger is joined by Noah Gould and Dan Churchwell to discuss the recent unrest in Bangladesh, why the rule of law matters, and the importance of religious liberty to free societies. They then explore Vice President Harris’ selection of Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. What does this mean for the Democratic Party and for the presidential race going forward? Is Senator Vance’s love of Magic: The Gathering and Governor Walz’s addiction to SEGA Dreamcast the path through polarization? Finally, what do Americans think about tariffs and trade? The panel digs into a new CATO Institute study. Do the populist politicians and the populace agree on trade and globalization? Bangladesh has achieved its second liberation, says Muhammad Yunus | The Economist Bangladesh has ousted an autocrat. Now for the hard part. | The Economist Muhammad Yunus on Bonsai People [PovertyCure Episode 3] | Acton Institute Harris chooses Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as VP Pick | The Washington Post JD Vance talks Tim Walz, Ukraine, and Ohio State football with Semafor | Semafor Tim Walz Was a Clear Eyes, Full Hearts Kind of Coach | The New York Times Poll: 63% of Americans Want to Increase Trade with Other Nations, 75% Worry Tariffs Are Raising Consumer Prices | Cato The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger | Marc Levinson
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    42 mins
  • Is the American Economy Toast?

    Is the American Economy Toast?
    Aug 5 2024
    This week, it’s Eric’s final episode hosting Acton Unwind. Bye, Eric! He’s joined by David and Dan to discuss the national debt hitting $35 trillion. That seems bad. Then they discuss Republican VP nominee J.D. Vance’s recent comments that it would be worth $10 million to save a single toaster-manufacturing job in America. That seems expensive. And finally, the stock market is tanking. How bad is that? Subscribe to our podcasts U.S. National Debt Tops $35 Trillion for First Time | New York Times J. D. Vance’s Toaster-Making Dreams Would Burn American Manufacturers | National Review To Fix Economics, Try Teaching Economics | Alex Salter, Econlib Dow drops 1,000 points, Nasdaq craters 4% in global market rout | CNBC
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    45 mins
  • Is It Safer to Offend Christians than ‘Childless Cat Ladies’?

    Is It Safer to Offend Christians than ‘Childless Cat Ladies’?
    Jul 29 2024
    This week, Eric and Dan are joined by Mike Cosper of Christianity Today to discuss last week’s firing and then un-firing of ERLC president Brent Leatherwood and the subsequent resignation of ERLC board chairman Kevin Smith. What happened there, why, and what does it tell us about the political battles going on in the church? Then, is it worth being angry or upset over the blasphemous parts of the Paris Olympics opening ceremonies? And finally, does our American politics have a “childless cat lady” problem, as VP nominee J.D. Vance suggests? Subscribe to our podcasts ERLC Retracts Announcement Firing President Brent Leatherwood | Christianity Today Paris Olympics organizers sorry for Last Supper at Opening Ceremonies | Washington Post Vance continues to feel the scratch of "childless cat ladies” | Axios
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    1 hr