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Acton Line podcast: The biggest problems of national conservatism
Acton Line podcast: The biggest problems of national conservatism
Jan 28, 2026 4:52 AM

In recent years, a rift has opened within American conservatism, a series of divisions animated in part by the 2016 presidential election and also by a right concern with an increasingly progressive culture. Among these divisions is a growing split between self-professing liberal and illiberal conservatives as some on the right scramble to give explanation for a culture which has e hostile to civil society and traditional institutions, most notably the family.

One movement which has grown out of this divide is national conservatism, embodied by the launch of the first National Conservatism Conference last year and in the words of its proponents including Patrick Deneen, Yoram Hazony and Michael Anton. What defines national conservatism and what, ultimately, do national conservatives want? Stephanie Slade, managing editor at Reason magazine, breaks it down.

Read “Against the New Nationalism,” by Stephanie Slade

Read “The Post-Liberal Right: The Good, the Bad, and the Perplexing,” by Samuel Gregg

Read “Patrick Deneen and the Problem with Liberalism,” by Samuel Gregg

New to the Acton Line podcast? Subscribe here! We also mend starting with these episodes:

Do you have feedback for the Acton Line podcast team? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. If you like Acton Line, don’t forget to leave a rating and review on the Apple podcast app!

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