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PODCAST

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy

Intercollegiate Studies Institute

Join Dan McCarthy, editor of Modern Age, as he cuts through the noise of today’s politics and draws timeless insights from the great books and enduring traditions that have shaped the West. Each episode offers a principled perspective that links the headlines of today with the permanent things that matter most.

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All Episodes

23:16

EP. 022 - Presidential Tariffs Go to Court

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/11/06

This week on Modern Age, Dan McCarthy explores a pivotal legal and constitutional question: Can President Trump impose tariffs on his own authority? With the Supreme Court hearing a case that challenges his use of emergency powers under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA), this episode dives deep into the legal history, economic rationale, and political stakes. What counts as a national emergency? Is a 50-year trade deficit reason enough? Dan examines both sides of the d...

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32:23

EP. 021 - America First, But Not Alone

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/10/30

In this episode, Modern Age editor Dan McCarthy explores how Donald Trump’s “America First” foreign policy has evolved into something bigger—a coalition of nationalists reshaping international politics. Dan unpacks how this emerging coalition differs from the old liberal internationalism, why nationalism doesn’t have to mean isolationism, and how a shared strategic outlook could counter growing threats from China and other authoritarian powers. 📘 Subscribe to Modern Age:

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21:56

EP. 020 - Will Free Markets Win in Latin America?

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/10/23

In this episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy explores President Trump’s evolving strategy toward Latin America—and what it tells us about the new Cold War with China. From supporting Argentina’s Javier Milei to tightening pressure on Venezuela, Trump’s policies challenge conventional left and right critiques. Dan discusses why Trump’s strategic approach may mark a return to Cold War realism and what’s at stake for the United States as China expands its influence in our own hemisphere. Share,...

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33:22

EP. 019 - What Trump’s Gaza Peace Deal Means for Ukraine

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/10/16

Former critics are now calling Trump a serious contender for the Nobel Peace Prize — thanks to a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of Israeli hostages. In this episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy explores how Trump’s bold diplomacy succeeded in one of the world’s most volatile conflicts — and whether his approach can do the same in Ukraine. Can you back a side in war and broker peace? Trump thinks so — and he might be right. 📖 Read thoughtful essays at https://modernagejournal.com

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42:17

EP. 018 - Why Columbus STILL Deserves a Holiday

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/10/09

Should Columbus Day still be celebrated in America? In this episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy explores the historical, philosophical, and cultural arguments for honoring Christopher Columbus—despite the controversy surrounding him. Drawing on Christian, classical, Enlightenment, and even realist perspectives, Dan lays out three universal reasons why Columbus remains a figure worth honoring. He also examines how federal holidays reflect America’s political and cultural history, why Columbus ...

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40:47

EP. 017 - Can the West Stay Conservative Without...

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/10/01

As the West becomes less Christian and less culturally European, what happens to conservatism? In this episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy explores the demographic and religious transformations reshaping America, Britain, and Europe—and what they mean for the future of conservative identity and political thought. Drawing on thinkers like Alexis de Tocqueville and Leo Strauss, Dan raises difficult questions about whether conservatism’s past commitments—Christianity, Protestant roots, Western ...

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47:47

Episode 016 - What the Media Gets Wrong About the Right

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/09/25

Why are conservatives being cast as the enemies of free speech—by the very institutions that once championed it? In this episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy examines the coordinated layers of left-wing power: the elite media and universities, the street-level Antifa activists, and the ideological narratives that connect them. Dan unpacks how elite institutions use inflammatory rhetoric to justify censorship and violence, while distancing themselves from the consequences. He also discusses the...

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22:19

Ep 014 - What They Don’t Want to Admit About Crime

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/09/11

A 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee fled a war zone—only to be murdered on a public train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her killer? A man with 14 prior arrests, released again and again by a justice system that seems more committed to freeing criminals than protecting the innocent. 🔔 Subscribe for more thoughtful conservative analysis 📰 Read Modern Age: https://modernagejournal.com 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast app 💬 Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it #cr...

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30:16

EP. 013 - Keep Children Safe from Transgender Politics

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/09/04

In this episode, Dan McCarthy responds to the tragic Catholic school shooting in Minneapolis and explores the deeper societal implications. What does the rise of violent rhetoric surrounding gender identity say about the current state of liberal permissiveness? And why are parents increasingly sidelined when it comes to decisions about their children’s identities? Dan highlights the Florida teacher controversy and unpacks how modern ideologies are transforming not only classrooms but the very...

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33:18

EP. 012 - Is Trump’s Intel Move Socialism—or Strategy?

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/08/28

Is Donald Trump turning his back on free market conservatism—or is he adapting to a new geopolitical reality? In this episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy explores the political and economic debate surrounding Trump’s recent Intel deal, industrial policy, and the idea of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund. Critics call it socialism. Supporters call it realism. Dan unpacks the deeper ideological tension between economic nationalism and libertarian orthodoxy. He also considers how America can compete ...

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24:30

Episode 010 - Trump, Marijuana, and the Future of...

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/08/14

Is the war on drugs really over? In this episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy examines President Trump’s potential decision to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug. While some see this move as a sign of progress, Dan questions what it means for public safety, social standards, and American cities. He explores the real-world consequences of marijuana legalization, challenges arguments from both libertarians and conservatives, and breaks down why public drug use is eroding basic civil nor...

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24:56

EP. 009 - Can Public Broadcasting Survive Without...

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/08/07

In this episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy explores what the recent defunding of NPR and PBS means for the future of public institutions in America. With taxpayer support for these Kennedy and Johnson-era programs rolled back by President Trump and the Republican Congress, the conversation has shifted. Will private donors step in to support what many view as vital cultural and humanitarian efforts? And can these institutions prove their value outside of government support? Dan traces the o...

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26:57

EP. 008 - Why Tariffs Work: Trump’s Trade Strategy...

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/07/31

In this episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy breaks down President Trump’s recent trade victories and challenges the mainstream narrative about tariffs, prices, and their impact on American consumers. Dan explains why the popular claim that tariffs are just a tax on consumers is misleading, and why many economists who make this argument actually know better. Using real-world examples and market theory, he shows how tariffs can strengthen domestic industry, increase competition, and keep prices...

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26:17

EP. 007 - Trump, Burke, and the Battle Over America's...

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/07/24

In this bold episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy brings together two unexpected figures: Donald Trump and Edmund Burke. The goal is to uncover what is really at stake in today's constitutional and institutional debates. Ten years after Trump came down the escalator and now six months into his second term, Dan explores how Trump’s disruption of elite institutions mirrors Burke’s 18th-century critique of concentrated power in the British monarchy. Using Burke's analysis of formal and informal a...

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12:17

EP. 006 - What Superman Tells Us About Liberalism,...

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/07/17

In this special episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy shifts gears to examine the most talked-about film of the moment: the new Superman movie. But this isn't just pop culture commentary—it's a deep dive into the political and philosophical meaning behind America’s most iconic superhero. Dan explores the film’s liberal messaging, James Gunn’s take on Superman as an immigrant, and why the movie misses the mark when it comes to portraying authentic American identity. He traces Superman’s roots in...

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31:11

EP. 005 - Is the “Big Beautiful Bill” Actually Good?...

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/07/10

In Episode 5 of Modern Age with Dan McCarthy, Dan looks beyond today’s headlines about the “big beautiful bill” and asks: what can history teach us about big, ambitious legislation? To answer that, he turns to Tocqueville’s The Old Regime and the French Revolution, exploring how the French monarchy’s misguided policies—long before the Revolution—set the stage for collapse. Along the way, he draws a sharp contrast between Louis XIV’s centralized control and King William III’s England, where a...

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26:37

EP. 004 - What Americans Get Wrong About the...

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/07/02

In Episode 4 of Modern Age with Dan McCarthy, we take a closer look at the misunderstood philosophy behind the Declaration of Independence. Dan explains how generations of Americans have been taught a flattened version of the Declaration’s ideas—especially the notion that government exists only to serve unlimited individual rights. This episode explores the deeper political philosophy of the Declaration—and how modern misreadings have led many to believe that human rights create government....

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25:35

EP. 003 - Conservatives Don’t Always Agree

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/06/26

In Episode 3 of Modern Age with Dan McCarthy, we explore a long-running debate within the conservative movement: how involved should America be in reshaping other nations? From Cold War fault lines to the Iraq War and now the growing tensions between Israel and Iran, conservatives have often pushed back against interventionist policies—though not always for the same reasons, and not always in agreement. Dan McCarthy walks through the intellectual history behind this tension, offering context ...

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13:45

EP. 002 - History and the Israel–Iran Conflict

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/06/23

In this episode of Modern Age, Dan McCarthy takes a historical lens to one of today’s most volatile geopolitical flashpoints: the conflict between Israel and Iran. Drawing from a range of historical moments—including post-WWII Japan and Germany—he explores patterns of war, peace, and national transformation that may offer insight into the present.

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20:08

Ep. 001 - Can Elite Conservatism Speak to the Working...

Modern Age with Dan McCarthy ·

2025/06/12

Drawing on the legacy of Modern Age and the great books tradition, Dan McCarthy introduces a framework for understanding three core kinds of intellectuals. More than an academic sketch, this episode lays the groundwork for how a principled elite can speak to—and for—the American working class.

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