Fault Lines

Intercollegiate Studies Institute
  • 3.7 (3)
  • Politics

Fault Lines is a debate series from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) that brings leading thinkers together to confront the questions dividing the American right. Each episode goes beyond talking points to explore the real disagreements shaping conservatism, politics, and American public life. Where are the fault lines within the Right? Which differences can be reconciled, and which represent fundamentally competing visions of the future? Hosted by ISI, Fault Lines creates a forum for serious disagreement, thoughtful argument, and the ideas shaping what comes next.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Conservative vs. Postliberal: Is Liberalism Finished? | James Patterson & Jacob Imam

    In this episode of "Fault Lines," Jacob Imam and James Patterson debate whether post-liberalism offers a viable alternative to modern liberalism or whether its political and historical foundations have already proven unsuccessful. Patterson argues that post-liberal political movements have repeatedly compromised religious freedom, individual rights, and the independence of the Church. Drawing on historical examples of Catholic authoritarian regimes, he warns that concentrating political power in the name of the common good risks repeating the failures of the past. Imam challenges that understanding of post-liberalism, arguing that its true foundation lies not in state power but in Christian tradition, virtue, and the cultivation of strong families and local communities. He contends that modern liberalism has weakened these natural institutions by expanding state sovereignty at their expense. Their debate ranges from Catholic integralism, the French Revolution, and the American founding to religious liberty, the separation of church and state, local self-government, and the relationship between law and virtue. Along the way, they confront a deeper question: can a political order rooted in Christian tradition flourish within modern liberal institutions, or must society move beyond liberalism altogether? The debate is moderated by Sarah Gustafson, assistant professor of politics at the Catholic University of America. About the speakers: Jacob Imam is the president of the College of St. Joseph the Worker and a scholar associated with the New Polity school of post-liberal thought. His work explores Catholic social teaching, political theology, economics, and the role of Christian communities in cultivating virtue and the common good. James Patterson is an assistant professor of public affairs at the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee's Baker School and co-author of "Why Postliberalism Failed." His scholarship focuses on political theory, American political thought, religion, and the historical relationship between Christianity and political institutions. Go deeper with ISI: https://isi.org/join/ Subscribe to ISI for more debates, conversations, and lectures.

  2. 3d ago

    Has Free Trade Destroyed America? | Julius Krein vs. Phillip Magness

    Has free trade weakened America? In this episode of "Fault Lines," Julius Krein and Phillip Magness debate whether neoliberalism, free trade, and decades of economic liberalization have undermined American prosperity and national security. Krein argues that globalization has hollowed out critical industries, weakened domestic manufacturing, and left America dangerously dependent on China. He contends that targeted tariffs and strategic government investment are necessary to rebuild the nation's industrial strength. Magness challenges that diagnosis, arguing that free trade has delivered substantial economic benefits while government intervention, excessive regulation, and protectionist policies have often done more harm than good. He warns that tariffs and industrial subsidies invite political favoritism, raise consumer costs, and undermine economic competitiveness. Their debate ranges from China's economic rise and Trump's tariffs to trade deficits, government spending, higher education, and the defense industrial base. Along the way, they confront a deeper question: can free markets restore American industry, or does competition with China demand a more active role for government? The debate is moderated by Sarah Gustafson. Timestamps: 0:00 Opening Remarks 0:58 Debate Introduction & Resolution 1:19 Julius Krein: Neoliberalism's Policy Mistakes 6:53 Financial Markets & Chronic Trade Deficits 9:47 Phil Magness: Reagan Tax Cuts & the Inequality Myth 12:46 Deficits: Reagan, Bush, and the Clinton Exception 14:43 The $40 Trillion Debt Problem 20:52 The China Shock & Rust Belt Labor Shifts 34:41 Tariffs: Trump's Liberation Day & Historical Echoes 49:08 Reindustrialization & the Post-COVID Economy 1:05:36 Culture, Commerce, and Morality 1:11:43 Closing Statements **About the speakers:** Julius Krein is the founder and editor of *American Affairs*, a journal of political and economic thought. His writing focuses on industrial policy, political economy, national security, and American economic competitiveness. Phillip W. Magness is the David J. Theroux Chair in Political Economy at the Independent Institute. An economic historian, his research examines taxation, inequality, trade, government intervention, and the history of economic thought. **Go deeper with ISI:**   https://isi.org/join/ Subscribe to ISI for more debates, conversations, and lectures.

  3. Oct 6

    Do Oligarchs Run America? | Sohrab Ahmari vs. Robby Soave

    Are oligarchs running America? In this episode of "Fault Lines," Sohrab Ahmari and Robby Soave debate whether concentrated wealth and corporate power have undermined American democracy. Ahmari argues that America increasingly suffers from electoral, market, and informational oligarchy, with wealthy donors, powerful corporations, and technology platforms exercising influence that ordinary citizens cannot match. Soave challenges that diagnosis, arguing that many of America's supposed oligarchs gained their wealth by building companies that people voluntarily use, face vigorous competition from one another, and wield far less control over government than the term "oligarchy" suggests.  Pasted text Their debate ranges from Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg to Citizens United, Big Tech, corporate consolidation, labor unions, cryptocurrency, AI, campaign spending, and the influence of billionaires on American politics. Along the way, they confront a deeper question: when does economic power become political power, and how much concentrated wealth can a healthy democracy withstand? The debate is moderated by Leah Libresco-Sargeant, author of The Dignity of Dependence. About the speakers: Sohrab Ahmari is the U.S. editor of UnHerd and the author of Tyranny, Inc.: How Private Power Crushed American Liberty and What to Do About It, a critique of concentrated private economic power and its effects on workers and American society. His writing focuses on politics, economics, religion, and the changing American right. UnHerd Robby Soave is a senior editor at Reason and host of Rising on Hill TV. He writes on politics, culture, education, civil liberties, and technology and is the author of Tech Panic: Why We Shouldn't Fear Facebook and the Future and Panic Attack: Young Radicals in the Age of Trump. His work frequently examines free speech, technology, government regulation, and individual liberty. reason.com Go deeper with ISI: https://isi.org/join/ Subscribe to ISI for more debates, conversations, and lectures.

  4. Sep 22

    Empire vs. Restraint: What's Best for America? | Phillip Blond and Curt Mills

    In this installment, Curt Mills and Phillip Blond debate the resolution: "Empire Is Bad for America." At stake is whether America's global power and network of alliances protect the country's prosperity and security or entangle Americans in costly wars, commitments, and institutions that no longer serve their interests. Mills argues that America's imperial turn has weakened the country's republican traditions, drawn it into unnecessary conflicts, and diverted attention and resources away from the interests of ordinary Americans. Blond counters that empire is not an aberration but a recurring feature of political organization and argues that American power, properly ordered around shared Western values and alliances rather than liberal hegemony, can preserve peace and counter rival powers. The debate ranges across American history, nationalism and liberalism, Iran and Ukraine, China and Taiwan, NATO and America's allies, Greenland, the postwar international order, and whether the United States can or should retreat from its role as a global hegemon. About the Speakers Curt Mills is the Executive Director of The American Conservative in Washington, D.C. He previously served as Senior Reporter and Contributing Editor, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, Politico, UnHerd, Newsweek, and The Critic. Mills specializes in foreign policy and campaign coverage and has previously worked at The National Interest, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Examiner, and The Spectator. Phillip Blond is an internationally recognized political thinker and social and economic commentator and the founder and Director of ResPublica. An academic, journalist, and author, he previously taught theology and philosophy at the Universities of Exeter and Cumbria. He is the author of Red Tory, which sought to redefine the center ground of British politics around civil association, mutual ownership, and shared enterprise. Moderated by Sarah Gustafson, Assistant Professor of Politics at The Catholic University of America. Her research interests include the history of political thought, Alexis de Tocqueville, Western political philosophy, the Catholic intellectual tradition, and normative political theory. About "Fault Lines": "Fault Lines" is an ISI debate series exploring the arguments and disagreements shaping the future of conservatism and American public life. Go deeper with ISI: https://isi.org/join/

  5. Sep 8

    Christian Professor vs. OpenAI Strategist: Is AI Demonic? | Dr. Zachary Porcu & Dean Ball

    Welcome to "Fault Lines," a debate series from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute bringing serious thinkers together to debate the political, cultural, and intellectual questions shaping our world. In this installment, Dr. Zachary Porcu and Dean Ball debate the resolution: "AI Is a Deal With the Devil." At stake is whether artificial intelligence is just the next tool in humanity's technological progress or a type of idol that reshapes our relationship to knowledge, power, religion, and even what it means to be human. Porcu draws on ancient mythology, Christian thought, and the history of technology to argue that AI echoes humanity's oldest stories about forbidden knowledge, spiritual power, and the temptation to transcend our natural limits. Ball counters that AI is better understood as a discovery about the nature of intelligence itself and that, despite its real risks, responsibly developed AI could expand human capacity while freeing us to focus on distinctly human questions. The debate ranges across AI alignment and superintelligence, religious revival, human agency, technological dependence, the role of government and the Church, and whether humanity can keep control of increasingly powerful machines. About "Fault Lines": "Fault Lines" is an ISI debate series exploring the arguments and disagreements shaping the future of conservatism and American public life. Go deeper with ISI: https://isi.org/join/

  6. Aug 25

    Did Trump Fail Trumpism? | Dan McCarthy vs. Christopher Caldwell

    Resolved: Trump Killed Trumpism What is Trumpism, and can it survive Donald Trump? In the first episode of Fault Lines, Christopher Caldwell and Dan McCarthy debate whether Trump has strengthened the political movement he created or undermined its defining principles. Moderated by Leah Libresco, the conversation explores immigration, foreign policy, corruption, the changing conservative coalition, the future of conservative institutions, and what a post-Trump Republican Party could look like in 2028 and beyond. About the Speakers Christopher Caldwell is a senior fellow at the Claremont Institute and contributing editor of the Claremont Review of Books. He is the author of The Age of Entitlement: America Since the Sixties. Dan McCarthy is Distinguished Fellow in Conservative Thought at The Heritage Foundation and editor-in-chief of ISI’s Modern Age. A longtime writer and editor, he previously served as editor of The American Conservative and ISI’s vice president of publications. Leah Libresco-Sargeant is a writer and author whose work has appeared in The New York Times, First Things, The Dispatch, and The New Atlantis. She is the author of The Dignity of Dependence, Arriving at Amen, and Building the Benedict Option. Watch on the podcast on YouTube Go deeper with ISI. Join a community of students, scholars, and citizens exploring the ideas shaping conservatism and American public life. Learn more about the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. Check out ISI on YouTube

  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Fault Lines is a debate series from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) that brings leading thinkers together to confront the questions dividing the American right. Each episode goes beyond talking points to explore the real disagreements shaping conservatism, politics, and American public life. Where are the fault lines within the Right? Which differences can be reconciled, and which represent fundamentally competing visions of the future? Hosted by ISI, Fault Lines creates a forum for serious disagreement, thoughtful argument, and the ideas shaping what comes next.

Information

  • Creator
    Intercollegiate Studies Institute
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fault Lines
  • Show Website
    Fault Lines

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