The Controversy over Controversy

Jim Geraghty

It wasn’t that long ago — the 90s? — when controversy and being “edgy” was practically a requirement in popular culture.

You could start the day awakening to wacky, occasionally off-color “Morning Zoo” radio hosts on your clock radio and end it with an HBO series that pushed the envelope of the language, sex, or violence portrayed in a drama series. In between, your hours could be filled with Howard Stern, the furious voices of some corners of conservative talk radio, and hip-hop lyrics that its fans insisted were a form of nonfiction narrative about urban black culture but that usually seemed to offer a uncomfortably sympathetic portrayal of gang members, drug dealers, and pimps. Beyond hip-hop, the easiest way to stand out on MTV was to have the network either refuse to air your video as is or demand it be edited.

If you tuned in to stand-up ... Read More

Top Stories

Catholic Bishops Beg for a Clear Policy against Evil

Michael Brendan Dougherty

The insufficient reaction of cardinals to the sexual-abuse allegations against Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is appalling.

ICE-Breakers

Kevin D. Williamson

Abolishing ICE is the Democratic cause du jour, part of the party’s current rush to the left.

Jim Jordan Announces Bid for Speakership

Jack Crowe

This is sure to ignite tension between Republicans lining up behind Representative Kevin McCarthy and the hardline conservatives in the Freedom Caucus.

Reforming NATO Is the Only Way to Save It

Victor Davis Hanson

Reforming the NATO alliance is the only way to save it.

Long Live The Landline

Graham Hillard

One man’s tale of bucking a trend towards cell phones in favor of the landline.

The Border at Work

Jerry Kammer

After decades of negligence, it’s time for worksite enforcement.

The Ninth Circuit Shows Us How to Protect Gun Rights

David French

Two different panels of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals have written opinions that — taken together — provide the proper roadmap for effective, constitutional gun control.

Scalise Backs Rosenstein Impeachment Push, Ryan Rejects It

Jack Crowe

House conservatives' attempt to impeach the deputy attorney general has split the majority whip and the speaker.

JOIN NRPLUS

All Our Content. Fewer Ads. Members-Only Privileges.

NRPLUS is everything you would associate with a digital magazine subscription, and a whole lot more ─ including up to 90% fewer on-site ads, access to our private Facebook group, full commenting privileges, and invites to our writer/editor conference calls.

Photo Essays