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Yuval Levin
Resident scholar and director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the founding editor of National Affairs. He is also a senior editor of The New Atlantis and a contributing editor to National Review. Dr. Levin and scholars in this AEI research division study the foundations of self-government and the future of law, regulation, and constitutionalism. They also explore the state of American social, political, and civic life, while focusing on the preconditions necessary for family, community, and country to flourish.
Series
Recent Episodes
World renowned for his beauty and his above-average thoughtfulness, Yuval Levin joins the guys. Why does he describe his work as gratitude for America? Why can’t you script a career path? Why do we overcomplicate questions of virtue? Is it true that Ben once sheared a sheep with Yuval in western Nebraska? All this and so much more.
- Hosts:
- BSBen SasseCSChris Stirewalt
- Organization
American Enterprise Institute
April 2026
Karin Lips
Peyton SmithMarch 2025
One hears of our constitutional crisis often enough nowadays that an observer of American politics might wonder what we'll say if the event comes to pass. This week, Henry enlists AEI's Yuval Levin to identify and account for the pent-up tensions in a system designed to restrain ambitious rulers. The duo hammer out the roles of independent agencies in a government limited to three branches; stress test the originally unanticipated dilemma of congressional pliancy; and consult the schematic on the executive's authority over impoundment, rescission, tariffs and treaties. Tune in for a commute-friendly masterclass on Constitutional authority in the era of DOGE and EOs.
- Host:
Henry Olsen
- Organization
Ricochet
August 2024
Yuval Levin joins James, Rob and John Yoo to remind us of the Constitution's unifying purpose in the era of polarization and mutually held suspicions between the parties. His latest book, American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation―and Could Again, disputes the prevailing pessimism as well as passive optimism, settling instead on a hopeful case for American coalition building. Plus, the hosts discuss Kamala Harris's strange campaign strategy of running on "her" record, wonder why the kids are skeptical of abundance, and consider the appeal of 15-minute cities.
- Hosts:
James Lileks
Rob Long
Steve Hayward
- Organization
October 2023
January 2021
We discuss the events of the week, we talk to AEI's Yuval Levin about leadership in a populist age and Andy McCarthy about the 25th Amendment and pardons. One of our hosts is dealing with a medical issue which he discusses here and in some members only content with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya (available here). Keep calm, carry on, and be nice to each other. This too shall pass.
- Hosts:
Peter Robinson
- Organization
April 2020
Martin Luther kicked off the Protestant Reformation with his immortal words, "here I stand; I can do no other." President Trump earns praise and scorn for his similar attitude, and as a result has forced conservatives and Republicans to rethink their orthodoxies. Is a conservative reformation at hand? Noted author Yuval Levin joins the Horse Race to expand on that question, while columnist Ramesh Ponnuru explores how Trump is handling the pandemic. We also look at important primary battles between would-be reformers and establishment figures with National Journal's Josh Kraushaar. All this and the Ad of the Week, too! Only at the Horse Race.
- Host:
- Organization
February 2020
December 2018
This special doubleheader edition takes up the question of whether President Trump's hush money payments to his temporary girlfriends is indeed a campaign finance violation with campaign finance law expert and California Fair Political Practices Commission member Allison R. Hayward (and in case you're wondering, the answer is Yes). It's not so clear cut as many in the media are saying, as the parallel case of John Edwards from 2008 demonstrates. Then Steve Hayward revisits Yuval Levin's 2016 book Our Fractured Republic in light of the subsequent election of Trump. Bumper music at the end of today's show is a cover of Fleetwood Mac's classic tune "Dreams" by The Corrs.
- Host:
- Organization
Jon Gabriel