Episode 10: Michael Anton
It’s hard interviewing your friends about politics—especially the friends with whom you talk about politics all day, most every day. What is there left to explore, given that we both know both the questions of concern and their answers far in advance?
Hillsdale College’s Michael Anton needs no introduction, of course. Since writing the “Flight 93 Election” in 2016, he’s gone on to become one of the most influential and prescient voices on the Right. His book, The Stakes, is must-reading for understanding our current situation. Prior to that, he served as Communications Director for the National Security Council in the Trump White House.
Coincidentally, our conversation flowed from one answer into the next question in a fairly logical and organic way. We began by discussing a piece or a position on an issue that Michael would like to take back or amend. Of course, the conversation went quickly toward the Iraq War and free trade, which (along with immigration) were Donald Trump’s primary issues in 2016.
Elsewhere, I asked Michael about American foreign policy and national security in a time of great upheaval and division; we discussed how he’d convince a BoomerCon of “what time it is,” his friendship with Tom Wolfe, the hopes he’s got for the Heritage Foundation and other legacy conservative institutions.
Finally, I asked him for a quick Twitter video clip version of the Cycle of Regimes.
Intro Music
Hugh Masekela was a well-known trumpet player from South Africa, and was primarily known at first for his catchy 60s hit, “Grazin’ in the Grass.” His subsequent records found him combining jazz with pop and Afro-beat in ways that would make him popular the world-over. For intro music, I chose “The Big Apple” from his best jazz-oriented record, 1973’s classic 2LP set, Home Is Where the Music Is. It's his only small-group work with truly brilliant sidemen, especially criminally underrated South African alto saxophonist Dudu Pukwana and then-Bill Evans bassist, Eddie Gomez. This is one of those records that’s a non-stop joy to hear, and is very much deserving of a good, high quality vinyl reissue.
Michael Anton: National Security in a Time of Domestic Polarization and Crisis