Civitas Conversations

Civitas Institute

Hosted by Civitas Outlook editor Richard Reinsch, Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them.

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Monday · 23 min
America Needs Equality and the Aristocratic Virtues
This year's observance of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence drew much attention to the rich complexity of this lean document–especially its most famous phrase, "all men are created equal." The semiquincentennial shed light on a surprising new trend emerging on the right—that the Declaration and the Constitution are fatally defective, and/or not worthy of respect or full support. In a recent essay for Outlook Steve Hayward argued that disdaining the nation's founding documents because the left's deliberate perversions have gained acceptance in modern American culture is a grievous mistake. Hayward joins this episode of Civitas Conversations to further elaborate on ‍the response to one of America's core principles today. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. Read Hayward's Essay: https://www.civitasoutlook.com/research/equality-and-its-discontents-7aeec71f-cf08-4e32-acaf-ca0e14ac35b3
#26
September 23 · 21 min
The Tariff Wars and American Manufacturing
Thanks to the AI boom, tax cuts, and deregulation, American manufacturing is on an upward trajectory. At the same time, it is important not to overstate the growth. In order to turn this bounce into a sustained boom, the federal government must get out of the way. In this episode of Civitas Conversations, Richard Stern joined host Richard Reinsch to discuss the impact of protectionist policies on the domestic manufacturing industry. ‍ Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. Read Stern's Essay: https://www.civitasoutlook.com/research/is-american-manufacturing-surging-7d808fe8-161e-4db9-afb5-c130866fc568 Follow us on social media: X: https://x.com/CivitasInst Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CivitasInst LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ut-civitas-institute/ Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.civitasinstitute.org/subscribe Explore more from the Civitas Institute: https://www.civitasinstitute.org
#25
September 3 · 24 min
The Challenges and Opportunities for Liberal Arts Education
Reading is collapsing across all age groups. Fewer parents are reading to their children, fewer children are reading for pleasure, and English teachers are assigning short passages in place of whole books. Vocabularies have shrunk across the board and so have attention spans. Liberal education is at risk. In this episode of 'Civitas Conversations,' Jacob Howland joined host Richard Reinsch to discuss liberal education and the future of higher-ed. ‍ Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
#24
August 13 · 22 min
Who's Afraid of Milton Friedman?
The American left despises Milton Friedman, blaming him for everything from neo-liberalism to designing authoritarian regimes all over the world. Yet Friedman's economic model has worked everywhere it has been tried. The idea that this history of consistent success is now outdated is at odds with both history and logic. In this episode of 'Civitas Conversations,' 'Outlook' contributor Michael Munger joins host Richard Reinsch to discuss his recent essay 'Milton Friedman Lives!' ‍ Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
#23
July 28 · 21 min
Executive Power After 'Slaughter'
The overturning of Humphrey's makes the administrative state more directly accountable to voters through the President, rather than a "headless fourth branch." At the same time, giving its consolidated power to one person might prove just as dangerous. Joseph Postell, the Allison and Dorothy Rouse chair in Politics at Hillsdale College, joins this episode of Civitas Conversations to discuss executive authority after Trump v. Slaughter. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
July 14 · 32 min
The Court Got Birthright Citizenship Wrong
Many believe that the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment grants citizenship to anyone born on United States soil. Senior research fellow Richard Epstein argues that this understanding is incorrect. He joins this episode of Civitas Conversations to discuss the Supreme Court's consequential decision in Trump v. Barbara as well as his new book The Myth of Birthright Citizenship. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
#21
June 26 · 20 min
China's Green Energy Dominance and the West's Useful Idiots
Both in California and in Europe, China has influenced the Net Zero mandates of major Western economies, ensuring that those mandates specify electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines rather than gas-fired generation or nuclear power, effectively writing itself a guaranteed order book. In this episode of Civitas Conversations, Diana Furchtgott-Roth joins us to discuss her recent Outlook essay 'The Green New Dependency: How China Captured Western Climate Agendas.' Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in 'Civitas Outlook'—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
#20
June 15 · 24 min
Alberta Leaving?
Alberta is Canada's Texas. Its voters are the country's most conservative. In the 2015 Canadian general election, 33 of the province's then 34 constituencies or districts elected a Conservative Member of Parliament. And while Canadian conservatism is notably less red in tooth and claw than the Texan variant, Alberta is at the far conservative end of Canada's political spectrum, along with its neighboring province of Saskatchewan. In this episode of 'Civitas Conversations,' James Allan joins host Richard Reinsch to discuss his recent essay 'Will Alberta Leave Canada?' and the future of the Alberta secession movement. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
May 26 · 22 min
Why We Can't Go Creedal to Grave
In a recent research paper for the Civitas Institute, Richard Samuelson asks whether the United States is still a creedal nation today. Contending that the political, institutional, and legal elements that historically enabled us to create and build such a nation are under serious threat, Samuelson concludes that modern government is unconducive to America's particular creedalism. While we have not yet reached a post-American order, he says, we may soon be unfit to call ourselves "Americans." In this episode of 'Civitas Conversations,' Samuelson joins host Richard Reinsch to further discuss the state of creedal nationalism in the U.S. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
May 15 · 22 min
Colorado's Latest Secularist Gambit
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear 'St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy,' a case addressing two questions: whether Colorado's universal preschool program unconstitutionally burdens religious schools by conditioning their participation on rules that conflict with their faith, and whether the Tenth Circuit erred in holding that the Free Exercise Clause is not implicated because Colorado's exclusion lacks an explicitly religious classification. In a new episode of 'Civitas Conversations,' host Richard Reinsch is joined by 'Civitas Outlook' contributing editor Tal Fortgang for a discussion about Colorado's apparent hostility toward religious groups. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
April 27 · 22 min
What Does Iran Mean to the U.S.?
Eight weeks after Operation Epic Fury, the crisis in Iran has reached no definitive end. As the war progresses, it is increasingly unclear whether the outcome will favor the United States. At the same time, there is a growing sense among American citizens that order and stability in the Middle East do not always coincide with our best interests. In this episode of Civitas Conversations, Jakub Grygiel joins host Richard Reinsch to discuss his recent Civitas Outlook essay "The Iran War and the Coming Global Struggle." Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
April 17 · 22 min
Lina Khan's Continued Influence on the FTC with Jessica Melugin
The Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976 is not a topic of conversation at many American dinner tables, but its recent controversies illustrate the odd holdover of ideas previously understood as politically leftist at a now Republican-dominated FTC. Jessica Melugin joined host Richard Reinsch to discuss Biden appointee Lina Khan's continued influence on the agency. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
March 31 · 20 min
Return to the Filibuster?
In this episode of Civitas Conversations, Richard Reinsch speaks with Joseph Postell, an expert in Congress and administrative law, about the future of the filibuster and the deeper institutional challenges facing the U.S. Senate. Drawing on Postell's Civitas Outlook essay, "Why Can't We Have a Filibuster?", the conversation explores how the Senate moved from dramatic, "talking" filibusters—where senators held the floor for hours—to today's low-cost, procedural obstruction that effectively imposes a 60-vote threshold on nearly all legislation. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
March 12 · 25 min
California Eats the Rich
The 2026 Billionaire Tax Act is a California ballot initiative that would impose an emergency one-time five percent tax on billionaires to prevent what its supporters describe as the collapse of California's healthcare system. But history has a very clear answer to what "one-time" and "only the wealthy" mean in the long run: ongoing, and not only the wealthy. On episode 14 of Civitas Conversations, Civitas Outlook contributing editor Veronique de Rugy joins host Richard Reinsch to discuss the slippery slope of taxation. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
February 26 · 21 min
The Truth About Higher Education
Which philosophical assumptions underlie the modern university? How should higher education play a role as a key pillar of society? What principles would define a genuinely truth-seeking institution, one oriented not merely toward knowledge production, but toward the pursuit of truth itself? On episode 13 of Civitas Conversations, Civitas Institute senior fellow Pano Kanelos joins host Richard Reinsch to discuss the truth about higher education. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
February 17 · 24 min
Alito's Way with Aaron Nielson
On this episode of Civitas Conversations, Aaron Nielson examines the legacy of Justice Samuel Alito. A professor at the University of Texas School of Law, former Texas Solicitor General, and former clerk to Justice Alito, Nielson reflects on his experience at the Court and explores the contours of Alito's distinctive "practical originalism." Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. A production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
January 28 · 26 min
Green Energy Dreams, Fossil Fuel Realities
After decades of talk about a "green energy transition," fossil fuels still dominate the global energy mix. Mark Mills joins the show to unpack why political narratives on green energy don't match reality, how they endure, and why fossil fuels remain king. Mark P. Mills is a contributing editor at City Journal, executive director of the National Center for Energy Analytics, a faculty fellow at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering, and co-founding partner in Montrose Lane, an energy fund. Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. Civitas Conversations is a production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
January 14 · 24 min
What MAGA Owes to Ronald Reagan with Steven Hayward
On episode 10 of Civitas Conversations, Civitas Outlook editor Richard Reinsch sits down with contributing editor Steven Hayward to discuss his recent essay, "Reagan, The Original MAGA President?" Civitas Conversations features leading scholars, commentators, and thought leaders for in-depth discussions of the latest essays in Civitas Outlook—and the ideas behind them. Civitas Conversations is a production of the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.

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