Nathan Pinkoski on Watergate Myths

When Richard Nixon resigned as president in 1974, the Watergate scandal was officially logged in the public memory as a victory of the neutral press over an out-of-control “imperial presidency.” Now, after the Trump years have hightened mistrust of official sources and suspicion of the administrative state, the Nixon story is more and more open to revision. Senior Fellow at the Center for Renewing America Nathan Pinkoski joins Associate Editor Spencer Klavan to reassess the televised dethronement of Nixon, the failure of Trump’s antagonists to execute a similar crusade, and what it means for the future of the presidency. Get full access to Claremont Digital Plus at claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Editor Charles Kesler is joined by Associate Editor Spencer Klavan to crack open the much-anticipated CRB double issue, released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the CRB. Charles reflects on the Institute's principles, accomplishments, and prescience in his editor note. Paul Rahe equips readers to understand ongoing conflicts by exploring the history of Iranian revolutions. Christopher Caldwell tracks the rise of Zohran Mamdani and what it portends for both New York and Left politics. William Voegeli offers the definitive assessment of Never Trump. And much, much more! Get full access to Claremont Digital Plus at claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

A pioneer of computing technology, Nvidia produces the chief component powering the AI revolution: the microchip. Having scaled the once-niche gaming hardware firm into an industry titan, founder and CEO Jensen Huang must now navigate global trade and politics. Associate editor Spencer Klavan is joined by Emmet Penney, senior fellow of the Foundation for American Innovation and contributing editor of Compact magazine, to explain this pivotal technology for the uninitiated and discuss growing concerns that a thin U.S. power grid could give China an opportunity to surge far ahead in the digital arms race. Plus: The Close Read is now on video! Get full access to Claremont Digital Plus at claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Associate Editor Spencer Klavan reads “Goodbye to the Good War,” Sean McMeekin’s essay on reality, myth, and World War II, featured in the summer 2025 issue. Get full access to Claremont Digital Plus at claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Until quite recently, the “New Atheism” held sway over the minds of many elites. But the secular, scientistic worldview that was once so in vogue proved radically insufficient to meet the challenges of the post-9/11 world. Now, a New Theism is gaining traction among many of the thinkers who once professed a confident unbelief. Associate Editor Spencer Klavan sits down with Matthew Schmitz, editor of Compact magazine, to discuss the profound ethical and political implications of this new theological outlook. Get full access to Claremont Digital Plus at claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Associate Editor Spencer Klavan reads “Stardust,” Helen Andrews’s review of We Tell Ourselves Stories, featured in the summer 2025 issue. Get full access to Claremont Digital Plus at claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Editor Charles Kesler sits down with Associate Editor Spencer Klavan to discuss the recent summer issue. Highlighted are Christopher Caldwell’s cover essay on UK immigration and Charles’ own piece on the Joe Rogan of the UK, Jeremy Clarkson. His show, Clarkson’s Farm, is a love letter to the English everyman in a moment when Britain is labouring (pun intended) under the burdens of bad government. Also in the issue, Sean McMeekin questions the merits of World War II as an analogue for the present moment, Matthew Schmitz tracks the revitalization of Christianity after the era of New Atheism, and Emmett Penney charts the meteoric rise of microchip maker Nvidia. Plus much more.Claremont Review of Books 25th Anniversary Gala Invite Get full access to Claremont Digital Plus at claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

The UK government of Boris Johnson, reckoning immigration as a pure economic gain, swung the door open to newcomers. Now 7 percent of the British population has been almost unilaterally imported en masse. Anger is swelling in response to “rape gangs” and other assaults on locals, and a new, populist right is materializing, with Nigel Farage leading the “fightback” against closed minds and open borders. Associate editor Spencer Klavan sits down with contributing editor Christopher Caldwell to discuss the UK immigration crisis and the future of the British Right.Discussion of “Land’s End.” Get full access to Claremont Digital Plus at claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Associate Editor Spencer Klavan reads his latest piece in the CRB, “A Complete Unknown,” on Horace. Get full access to Claremont Digital Plus at claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

Associate Editor Spencer Klavan reads “Land’s End,” Christopher Caldwell’s cover essay on how mass migration has radicalized the United Kingdom, featured in the spring 2025 issue. Get full access to Claremont Digital Plus at claremontinstitute.substack.com/subscribe