Acton Institute

You don’t read Flannery O’Connor. You reckon with her. Crippled young, aged fast, and dead by 39, she still stands apart—untouchable, singular, inimitable. Even in her failures, she knew what so few do today: Sin is real, and grace is stranger still. Full story: https://lnkd.in/gxY_HeQ7

Maybe we’re the weird ones. Puritans weren’t killjoys. They just lived in a time when Christian moral seriousness was the norm. They drank, played music, wore fancy clothes, loved their spouses, and tried to build a godly society. What we scoff at as “puritanical” was simply Christianity taken seriously—often more humanist and joyful than we’ve been taught to remember.

Here's something you can't do: Walk the streets of Jerusalem, sip café hafuch, or pick cherries in the Golan without stumbling into someone’s story. In "Gather the Olives," these stories are collected through the lens of food. There are many unexpected encounters with love, peace, and grace in a place the world too often misunderstands.

Migration is inevitable. The real question is this: Should it be a crisis or an opportunity? Pope Francis urges compassion for migrants, but compassion must be coupled with prudence. Every person has dignity and the right to seek a better life. But that right is conditional—not absolute. Acton’s principles remind us that migrants bring economic benefits. But assimilation, security, and rule of law matter, too. Unchecked migration strains social cohesion, while brain drain cripples developing economies. Remittances help, but they don’t replace real reform. A just immigration policy isn’t about walls or welcome signs. It’s about creating conditions where both migrants and their home countries can thrive.

American history is far stranger than you think. It's also more improvisational. Walter McDougall’s "Gems of American History" dismantles conventional wisdom with intellectual force and wry humor. It shows how: ?? the Founders were pragmatic builders rather than theorists ?? Franklin miscalculated his way into revolution ?? America’s survival was anything but inevitable. McDougall unearths the counterfactuals—what if the war had been averted?—and warns against reading history backward, assuming the past was destined to lead here. From Machiavellian moments to Wilson’s disastrous crusade, McDougall highlights the ironies, contingencies, and unintended consequences that shaped the republic. Along the way, he rehabilitates figures like Henry Cabot Lodge, skewers the sanctification of Woodrow Wilson, and examines how Americanism, unlike communism, embalms ideas, not people. The result? A lucid, provocative, and endlessly fascinating collection of lectures that will challenge and enrich any student of history.

Tariffs. Trade wars. Economic uncertainty. What’s really going on? On the Acton Line podcast, Dan Churchwell interviews James Hartley, a professor of economics at Mount Holyoke College with over 30 years of experience. Together, they unpack economic myths and realities in an age of misinformation. ?? Listen now: https://lnkd.in/gVU6UteX

Time is the currency of life. How are you spending it? Benjamin Franklin reminds us that time is our most precious resource. Once wasted, it’s gone forever. Invest your time wisely, pursue truth, and make each moment count.

Professional licensing was supposed to protect consumers. Instead, it’s a racket that protects the already-licensed. In "The Licensing Racket," Rebecca Haw Allensworth lays out how licensing boards block competition, drive up costs, and fail to punish bad actors—even in medicine and law. The solution? Drastically cut licensing requirements and regulate the regulators.

Pro tip: True leadership serves—not rules.

Immigration policy is more than politics. It’s about values, ideals, and identity. We're partnering with Braver Angels to bring together thought leaders from across the spectrum for a bold conversation on the future of U.S. immigration. Join us on March 20 and be part of the dialogue. Register: https://lnkd.in/g-Y9DXZF