R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr.
Articles by R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr.
Introduce a new category for transgender athletes
Some time ago, I wrote that there was an easy and suave way to solve transgender people's yearning for an opportunity to compete with female athletes. Published June 6, 2023
What’s playing at the Kennedy Center? Our sick culture
Last week, in this space, I wrote about culture and how essential it is to the politics of a nation. If the culture of a country is upbeat, the country will be fine. If the culture of a country is in decline, its politics will follow. Published May 30, 2023
America has become a ‘vast wasteland’ of sex and violence
Do you know that this country was once derided as being the most prudish of all the major countries on Earth, even more prudish than the U.K.! For decades, we were laughed at for our prudish ways. Published May 23, 2023
I did not like Tucker Carlson very much until Rupert Murdoch fired him
Tucker Carlson's recent travails with the media remind me of the great M. Stanton Evans' Solomonic judgment regarding President Richard Nixon. Published May 9, 2023
Milton Friedman’s school choice victory
Who's buried in Grant's tomb? Actually, President Ulysses S. Grant is buried in Grant's tomb, which comes as a surprise to young Americans educated in our modern educational factories. Published May 2, 2023
E. Jean Carroll and me
I am about to put the finishing touches on my memoirs. The book will be about 400 pages in length, but I had a lot to reveal. Published April 25, 2023
Harris, Mayorkas and Buttigieg: Biden’s three stooges typify least distinguished Cabinet in history
Sergey Lavrov, Russia's suave minister of foreign affairs, was recently asked by one of Russia's ubiquitous billionaires: Whom does President Vladimir Putin seek advice from on the Ukraine war? Published April 18, 2023
Prohibitionists are at it again
The busybodies of the world health organizations are at it again. They are now renewing their assault on demon rum and related beverages. Published April 11, 2023
Biden is responsible for inflation, but so are his voters
In President Biden's first year in office, people who believed in Milton Friedman's free-market economics watched the him heave trillions and trillions of dollars at the problems facing the country and were aghast. Published April 4, 2023
Floundering Ron DeSantis has no sense of ambiguity
In the course of my lifelong study of political science, I have noted that many political leaders of high achievement have an extraordinary aptitude for ambiguity, not to say dishonesty. Published March 21, 2023
Tearing down statues honoring our great American history is balderdash
With all the talk about the discovery of mass graves in faraway Ukraine, there is little thought of such graves being discovered here in America. Published March 14, 2023
From the dying left to the dead left: Adventures in obits
This past week, my matutinal readings of the obituaries in the morning newspapers were particularly rewarding. Published March 7, 2023
Two birds, one stone: ‘1619 Project’ vindicates capitalism
I have long held that when the left gains control of an entity -- be it be a city, a university, or even a simple educational project -- it loses all awareness of what the initial purpose of that entity might have been. Published February 28, 2023
Gingrich’s protest movement to clean up government
Today we have few politicians who can even read a book. One who can both read and write books is Newt Gingrich, and he also writes newspaper columns, which I commend to you. Published February 21, 2023
Republicans are flocking to like-minded locales
There is a phenomenon that has been creeping across America for at least 30 years that I have yet to comment on. Social scientists, however, have been writing about it for a long time. Published February 14, 2023
There is hope for freedom of thought in Florida
I have long held the belief that the most conformist institutions in America are its universities. Published February 7, 2023
Bring on the tanks: Glory to Ukraine
I have been following the pledging of combat tanks to Ukraine by the European allies. It is impressive. Published January 31, 2023
Transgender movement may be peaking in America
Are you a boy, or are you a girl? Published January 24, 2023
Biden’s document debacle exposes American presidents’ sloppy work habits
When did Washington become the scene of misplaced documents, slipshod work, runaway budgets, and legislation that had to be passed, "so you can find out what's in it." Published January 17, 2023
JFK’s assassination still remains prone to conspiracy theories
I am engaged in reading a very fine book by a colleague, Paul Kengor. It was written six years ago, so do not feel bad if you missed it. You still have time. Published January 10, 2023