Rick Perlstein

@rickperlstein

Rick Perlstein is the author of, most recently, Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976–1980, as well as Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus and Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America.

An Adjunct Tragedy

An Adjunct Tragedy An Adjunct Tragedy

In the death of a pauperized 83-year-old adjunct professor, a lesson on the long-term consequences of the making of an intellectual proletariat.

Sep 20, 2013 / Rick Perlstein

Is Peter Beinart Right About a ‘New New Left’?

Is Peter Beinart Right About a ‘New New Left’? Is Peter Beinart Right About a ‘New New Left’?

A major pundit argues that poll numbers showing young people’s disatisfaction with American capitalism portends a lurch in American politics to the left. Here’s what th...

Sep 19, 2013 / Rick Perlstein

Reagan Republicans Freak Out Over ‘The Butler’ and Race

Reagan Republicans Freak Out Over ‘The Butler’ and Race Reagan Republicans Freak Out Over ‘The Butler’ and Race

The smartest thing about the new film The Butler is its depiction of Ronald Reagan’s inadequacies on civil rights—which is something conservatives can’t stand.

Sep 17, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Rick Perlstein

The Gun Control Debate and Our Civic Life

The Gun Control Debate and Our Civic Life The Gun Control Debate and Our Civic Life

When one side of an election fight is led by conspiratorial maniacs with guns, it’s hard for the good guys to win.

Sep 13, 2013 / Rick Perlstein

Our Other September 11

Our Other September 11 Our Other September 11

The tragedy of September 11, 1973 belongs not just to the Chileans. It belongs also to the military coup’s enablers—the taxpayers of the United States.

Sep 11, 2013 / Rick Perlstein

On Syria: Don’t Surrender to Trust On Syria: Don’t Surrender to Trust

When it comes to Syria, why should we trust President Obama? After all, he clearly doesn’t trust us.

Sep 9, 2013 / Rick Perlstein

Adjunct-A-Go-Go! (1): ‘It Is Hard to Feel Like Anything You Do Actually Matters’

Adjunct-A-Go-Go! (1): ‘It Is Hard to Feel Like Anything You Do Actually Matters’ Adjunct-A-Go-Go! (1): ‘It Is Hard to Feel Like Anything You Do Actually Matters’

The first in our series of dispatches from the trenches of the intellectual proletariat.

Sep 6, 2013 / Rick Perlstein

On Privatization’s Cutting Edge

On Privatization’s Cutting Edge On Privatization’s Cutting Edge

Chicago’s parking meter deal doesn’t just sell off city assets—it uconstitutionally sells off the city’s very power to police itself.

Sep 5, 2013 / Rick Perlstein

College Football’s Strange Gods

College Football’s Strange Gods College Football’s Strange Gods

What I learned from my failure to flunk an “amateur” college football star.

Sep 3, 2013 / Rick Perlstein

Rahm Emanuel’s Minority-Bashing School Closings Go Forward

Rahm Emanuel’s Minority-Bashing School Closings Go Forward Rahm Emanuel’s Minority-Bashing School Closings Go Forward

A federal trial rules against the forces of decency in Chicago—despite evidence that the closing of 50 schools is racist and illegal.

Aug 26, 2013 / Rick Perlstein

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