Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Part 1 (starts at 1:08): Headlines - We discuss the recent efforts to remove, destroy, and deface monuments and memorials remembering key figures from American history. Links: Wilfred M. McClay at First Things; Rich Lowry at National Review; David Marcus at The Federalist. 
Part 2 (18:06): Required Reading - Professor Corbin assigns Fourth of July addresses from John Quincy Adams (July 4, 1821), Frederick Douglass (“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” on July 5, 1852), Abraham Lincoln (“Special Message to Congress” on July 4, 1861), Calvin Coolidge (July 5, 1926), and Ronald Reagan (July 4, 1986). We talk about the principles of the Declaration of Independence and their ongoing significance for the American Republic.   
Part 3 (48:05): Open the Grade Book - Some have argued recently that the United States needs a new national anthem. We grade “The Star-Spangled Banner” and three possible replacements, including “America the Beautiful,” John Lennon’s “Imagine” (as suggested by one “Star-Spangled Banner” critic), and a surprise entry from Prof. Corbin.   
Part 4 (56:09): Tocqueville's Crystal Ball - Matt won last week’s challenge on the state of the presidential race. This week: will Joey Chestnut win the Coney Island hot dog eating contest again - and if so, how many hot dogs will he eat? 
Opening and closing music is from the beginning of "Happy Life" by Ryan Andersen from his 2018 album, Americana volume 1. Available here. Licensed by Creative Commons.
Matt Parks is an Associate Professor of Politics at The King’s College in New York City. David Corbin is a Professor of Politics and the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California. All views expressed in this podcast are their own.

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