Yale Daily News

Public opinion changes through long-term campaigns of persuasion, usually outside of government. Politics has a different function, and muddying the distinction between it and activism makes the job of winning elections much harder. 

April 9, 2025

Rage, especially that of the young and idealistic, is proximate. When there’s an injustice in the world people often get mad at what’s close to them and not what’s really to blame. Yale students upset about Israel’s conduct in Gaza get mad at Yale; Yale students upset about climate change get mad at Yale; Yale students upset about New Haven get mad at Yale.

February 25, 2025

We, residents of the richest country in the history of the world, have an obligation to help the sick and destitute, even if they’re thousands of miles away. But providing foreign aid to countries that need it isn’t just an ethical duty. It’s central to the way America engages with the rest of the world. And it’s central to the way that we project power and goodwill. That creates a bit of a dilemma for the program’s supporters.

February 6, 2025

A political movement needs a story to tell about itself and the one Kamala Harris told wasn’t particularly moving. Winning back the seats of power in Washington will require a story that appeals to ordinary Americans — and, above all, an ethos.

January 17, 2025

One of the most politically pressing discussions I’ve had in class this semester was about a fourth-century saint: Augustine of Hippo. In his book “City […]

November 25, 2024

The right-wing shift of young men isn’t reducible to depression, anxiety and loneliness. The consensus that self-confidence is the central cause is a little infantilizing. It’s also not a useful one for people trying to reverse that shift. Male Trump supporters vote for him because they like the aggressive strength he aims at. They’re wrong, but they don’t do it because they’re deeply troubled people.

November 3, 2024

Sports matter to people, and it’s bad when their teams get taken away. The story of the Oakland A’s illustrates that. I’m a Yankees fan; the Yankees are of course never going to move. But the basic premise remains. If New York somehow did become a bad media market, Hal Steinbrenner would take the team to San Antonio. Franchises ultimately need to take all the money they can get from their consumers. The fans have deep, heartfelt relationships with their team. It’s an emotionally abusive relationship. Regulating Major League Baseball would limit the damages.

October 23, 2024