All articles tagged with #liberalism
The article reflects on 11 notable pieces from 2025 that showcase the Washington Monthly’s ongoing critical and inventive reporting on politics, including topics like misinformation about broadband, the rise of a MAGA defender, and the success of Biden's industrial policies, emphasizing the magazine's independent voice and the importance of reader support.
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK's Conservative Party, argues that classic liberal values are under threat from ideologues who have "hacked" liberalism, turning it into a tool for authoritarian agendas. She emphasizes the need for "muscular liberalism and conservatism" to protect freedoms and counteract the expansion of state power. Badenoch calls for a defense of Western values and a focus on individual liberty, warning against complacency in the face of ideological threats.
Pope Francis, often seen as a reformer, has been criticized by liberals for the Vatican's opposition to gender reassignment surgeries. Despite his left-leaning political views, he remains a theologically conservative Catholic, condemning abortion and upholding traditional Church doctrines. The combination of social conservatism and left-leaning economic and political views is not uncommon among observant Catholics, reflecting the Church's complex stance on contemporary issues.
Actor Josh Gad, known for voicing the character "Olaf" in Disney's "Frozen," expressed feeling "alienated" by fellow liberals who have been promoting antisemitic tropes online during the Israel-Hamas war. Gad, who identifies as a Progressive, criticized the tearing down of posters of hostages and the uninformed and troubling statements resembling antisemitic tropes. He emphasized the need for the same level of empathy and support for Jews as for innocent Palestinians. Gad's comments came in response to activist Charlotte Clymer's observation that many on the far-left have miscalculated their response to the conflict. Celebrities have faced pressure to take a stance, with some condemning Hamas and others expressing solidarity with Israel. Over 1,000 members of the entertainment industry signed an open letter in support of Israel, including Amy Schumer, Jerry Seinfeld, Gal Gadot, and Michael Douglas. Boxing champion Floyd Mayweather also expressed support for Israel and sent a private jet full of supplies to the country's military.
Lawyer Alan Dershowitz revealed that former President Barack Obama refused to attend his 75th birthday party unless he disinvited Fox News host Geraldo Rivera. Dershowitz, who defended President Donald Trump during his first impeachment, criticized liberals for their intolerance of differing viewpoints. He also mentioned being shunned by his former liberal friends and canceled by various organizations on Martha's Vineyard. Despite this, Dershowitz still considers himself a liberal but believes Trump is being treated unfairly. He argued that legal proceedings against Trump should be paused until after the 2024 presidential election to avoid election interference.
A liberal TikToker with over 35,000 followers complained in a video that the only masculine and chivalrous men she can find are conservative, calling it "one of the saddest realizations" she's ever had. She questioned why she cannot find a left-leaning man who's "willing to play the more traditional masculine role in the relationship." Some commenters called her out for what they labeled a double standard, while others stood in solidarity with her analysis. In subsequent videos, she doubled down on her stance that she merely wants a man who has some "traditional values while also being very progressive in social issues."
Martin Amis, part of a talented group of writers including Salman Rushdie, Julian Barnes, Ian McEwan, Christopher Hitchens, James Fenton, and Clive James, was a gifted writer with a mordant wit and a finger on the pulse of postmodern culture. However, his writing revealed a disparity between the sordid events it narrated and the tamely conventional views that underpinned it. Amis dismissed socialism and Christianity as obsolete ideologies, but in his view, all ideologies were obsolete, except for middle-class liberalism, which he saw as plain common sense. His response to the 9/11 tragedy exposed the limits of liberalism, which can move quickly into a violent defence of the status quo.
College student turnout had a significant impact on the 11-point margin by which the pro-abortion candidate won the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. The salience of abortion was a big part of the story, as college students often reflect a more socially liberal position than previous generations. The college context seems to be an incubator for that kind of moral liberalism. The abortion issue is part and parcel of the sexual revolution and the gender feminists' argument that women must be equally capable of being nonpregnant at any given moment as a man. The challenge before pro-life Christians is bigger than so many thought, and it's going to be a long, costly, and unpopular battle.