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From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima: Two Historians on How America Fought and Won The Pacific in WWII | Peter Robinson | Uncommon Knowledge
Duration: 01:25:45
August 15, 2025
- The Japanese launched a broad and remarkably effective offensive across the Western Pacific, strategically aimed at securing access to vital oil fields and protecting their flank.
- The attack on Pearl Harbor dramatically unified a previously divided American public and galvanized the nation for war, effectively ending the powerful isolationist movement.
- Though controversial, historical context indicates utilizing the atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II was not necessarily a premeditated decision, but rather a step by step approach born out of the desperation in ending the war and saving American lives as quickly as possible; however, top military leaders later privately regretted the use of the atomic weapons.
The Light Withdrawn: Christopher Cox On How Woodrow Wilson Shaped—And Undermined—American Democracy | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution
Duration: 55:16:00
August 1, 2025
- Wilson's views on race and gender, especially his opposition to women's suffrage and segregationist policies, have been largely omitted from standard biographies.
- Wilson's regressive racial policies, including segregating the federal government and his favorable view of the KKK, represent not just the social norms of the time, as he reversed progress made by previous administrations.
- Despite Wilson's progressive achievements, it's difficult to fully assess his presidency due to his significant moral failures, specifically concerning human rights and racial equality.
Inflation Is A Choice: Kevin Warsh on Fixing the Federal Reserve | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution
Duration: 01:01:47
July 8, 2025
- Walsh criticizes the Fed for institutional drift and failing to maintain price stability, leading to increased federal spending and underperformance.
- Inflation is a choice of the Fed, and the recent trend of blaming external factors like Putin or the pandemic is a departure from the understanding that inflation is a monetary phenomenon.
- Despite criticisms, the US economy is poised for a productivity boom, and the US remains the best place for capital investment if it restores sound economic policies and the Fed achieves price stability.
Justice Alito: Dobbs, A Color Blind Constitution, And The Balancing Of Power | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution
Duration: 01:04:09
June 17, 2025
- Justice Alito discusses the rise of originalism as a constitutional theory, viewing it as a restoration of traditional legal interpretation that emphasizes the Constitution's original meaning.
- The conversation explores the Supreme Court's approach to stare decisis, highlighting the criteria used to determine when to overturn precedent, including whether a decision was "egregiously wrong."
- Justice Alito asserts his belief in a "colorblind" Constitution, expressing disagreement with past affirmative action cases and anticipating continued legal challenges to enforce this principle.
Dr. Jay Goes to Washington: Reforming Science from the Inside at NIH | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution
Duration: 01:10:04
May 28, 2025
- Dr. Bhattacharya emphasizes the need to reform American scientific institutions to regain public trust, focusing on addressing issues like irreproducible research and risk aversion in the NIH's investment portfolio.
- A key initiative involves incentivizing replication studies and creating dedicated publication venues to ensure the reliability of scientific findings, ultimately changing the scientific culture to value thorough verification.
- Dr. Bhattacharya aims to refocus the NIH's efforts on addressing the increasing burden of chronic diseases, advocating for scientific research that directly translates to improved public health and longevity for all Americans.
Christopher Buckley: “Steaming to Bamboola” and Other Journeys
Duration: 01:01:34
April 30, 2025
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Christopher Buckley discussed the influence of his father, William F. Buckley Jr., acknowledging both the advantages of following in his footsteps and the need to establish his own voice, eventually leading to a deep appreciation for the "shop talk" and critical feedback they shared.
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Buckley reflected upon the changing landscape of the publishing industry, contrasting the intensive, hands-on editing he received early in his career on "Steaming to Bambula" with the modern experience of some writers, highlighting the decline of extensive editorial guidance.
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The conversation explored the shared grace and optimism of figures like Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and William F. Buckley Jr., lamenting a perceived loss of civility in contemporary political discourse and everyday interactions due to factors like social media and the decline of traditional media standards.