This is where I post my YouTube videos and audio versions thereof. You can find the podcast directly on iTunes, Spotify and Google podcasts.
I was recently interviewed by Jeffrey Church of the Political Theory Review podcast about my book, The Gap in God’s Country: A Longer View On Our Culture Wars (Wipf & Stock, 2024). … More Interview by Jeffrey Church (Political Theory Review Podcast)
James Madison tried hard to faction-proof the US Constitution, but he did not anticipate the effects of instant media and the massification of modern populations. … More Madison Would Be Surprised — and Disappointed (Federalist 10, Part 4)
Madison devoted the majority of Federalist paper #10 to the dangers of a violent majority faction and corrupt demagogues. In this part of the paper, we see Madison hoping that a large republic will prevent such a faction from existing, or if it exists, will blunt its ability to tyrannize over the rest of the citizens. … More Did Madison Foresee the Demise of Democracy? (Federalist 10, Part 3)
Zech Mickel of the Theology Mill podcast interviewed me on the various idea streams in my new book The Gap in God’s Country: A Longer View On Our Culture Wars. I liked that he asked about those streams in detail: classical conservatism, Marxism, psychology and theology.
On April 7, at 7 p.m. the Maurin Academy will host Dr Eugene McCarraher, author of The Enchantments of Mammon, live on Zoom for Patreon subscribers and guests registered on Eventbrite. Dr. McCarraher will speak on “The Enchantments of Mammon and Techne” as part of the Maurin Academy 2025 speaker series. … More Join Us Live: Eugene McCarraher, “The Enchantments of Mammon and Techne”
Laurie continues her series of Federalist 10 and 51. This is the second video on Federalist 10, heading into how to handle the effects of a violent faction of the majority. … More James Madison Warns Against Violent Majority Factions & Demagogues (Federalist 10, Part 2)
My ongoing monthly Great Books reading group for the Maurin Academy is about to turn to a new reading, “The Grand Inquisitor” by Dostoyevsky, part of the larger The Brothers Karamazov. Our first meeting on it is April 10. You can join this and/or our Dialectic of Enlightenment reading group at the “Trainee” level or … More Great Books–Our Next Read
You can find out more about this reading group and the ways to join here: https://pmaurin.org/reading-dialectic-of-enlightenment-with-jakob-hanschu/ Support us on Patreon at any level and get in on Jakob’s reading group and more: https://patreon.com/maurinacademy … More New Dialectic of Enlightenment Reading Group Starting March 19, 2025
Laurie begins a short series on Federalist 10 and 51, untangling the antiquated language of these important writings by the American founders having to do with important constitutional principles such as the separation of powers and checks and balances. She starts with Federalist 10 and the question of how to stop violent factions from overtaking a liberal democracy. … More Federalist 10 Deciphered: Madison on the Dangers of Factions and the Separation of Powers (Part 1)
Laurie discusses Plato’s view of democracy–its strengths and weaknesses, particularly its vulnerability to demagogues–and what he thought about other types of regimes. Pardon the reverberation on this recording! … More What Did Plato Say About Democracy and Demagogues?
Political Philosophy 