Summertime Blues: 2020 in Hindsight

Chris is joined by his AEI colleague Thomas Chatterton Williams, whose latest book Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse was published earlier this month. The two discuss Thomas’s analysis of the events and ideas that led to the protests, riots, and all-around madness of the summer of 2020; cancel culture and the importance of free expression; the concept of race and its relation to cultural heritage; and more.

Show notes:

• Thomas’s new book, Summer of Our Discontent
• The Harper’s Letter
• Thomas’s previous book, Self-Portrait in Black and White
• Chris’s book, 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven’t Read)

Time stamps:
2:36 Reflecting on the summer of 2020
6:13 The promises and shortcomings of the Obama era
14:32 The “Great Awokening” and the rise of Trump
21:07 Cancel culture and the cult of anti-racism
36:35 The Harper’s Letter and the fight for free expression
42:47 Post-racialism and cultural heritage
50:22 From January 6 to October 7
56:09 Charting a path forward

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Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist.

Produced by Sean Doolan.