Weekly Top Five Articles
'Woke' as the New Elite, Mass Shootings and Alcohol Sales, Why Porn Has Less Impact Than Assumed, and more. . .
Here’s what stood out this week. . .
(1) “Rifling Through the Archives With Legendary Historian Robert Caro,” by Chris Heath, The Smithsonian (March 2025).
Robert Caro is one of my favorite historians, and his books on Lyndon B. Johnson rank among the finest works ever written about a modern president.
Chris Heath explores the monumental career of Robert Caro, the legendary biographer behind The Power Broker and The Years of Lyndon Johnson. Now 89, Caro continues work on the final volume of his LBJ biography, meticulously uncovering the nuances of political power. His newly opened archive at the New York Historical contains 120 boxes of research, interviews, and notes spanning decades, ensuring future scholars access to his extensive work. Prioritizing permanence over financial gain, he chose to house his collection where it would remain publicly available.
From his early days at Newsday to his deep dives into the lives of Robert Moses and Johnson, Caro has maintained an unparalleled commitment to research, even relocating to Texas to better understand Johnson's upbringing. His immersive approach extends to his upcoming visit to Vietnam, a crucial component of his final volume. While initially planned as a three-volume biography, the LBJ series expanded to five, with the final book already surpassing 980 pages. Covering Johnson’s presidency, including Medicare’s passage and Vietnam’s escalation, Caro insists on completing the work himself, rejecting the notion of a posthumous collaborator.
Caro remains dedicated to his craft, writing daily on a typewriter and adhering to a strict routine. His books are not just about individuals but the structures of power that shape history. With his archives permanently housed in New York, his meticulous research will inform generations to come, cementing his legacy as one of history’s greatest biographers.
(2) “Woke 2.0 Musa al-Gharbi goes in search of a ‘new elite’,” by George Scialabba, Commonweal (February 22, 2025)
George Scialabba reviews Musa al-Gharbi’s We Have Never Been Woke, exploring the contradictions within the contemporary professional class that claims to champion equality. Al-Gharbi critiques "symbolic capitalists"—professionals in academia, media, and nonprofits—who claim to advance social justice while often perpetuating inequality. He argues that these elites engage in performative activism that serves their own interests rather than fostering genuine change.
Al-Gharbi distinguishes between Woke 1.0, an awareness of how identity shapes social interactions, and Woke 2.0, a sanctimonious, self-serving version that dominates contemporary discourse. He asserts that professionals exploit progressive causes for personal and institutional gain, giving the illusion of progress without challenging real power structures. While they influence policy and discourse, their accountability is limited, and their actions often align with elite interests rather than the marginalized groups they claim to support.
Scialabba critiques al-Gharbi’s use of the term "symbolic capitalists," arguing that professionals have influence but lack the systemic power of true capitalists. He also questions whether al-Gharbi overstates his cynicism, dismissing the efforts of genuine activists and organizations working toward meaningful change. While acknowledging the flaws of woke professionals, Scialabba cautions against reducing all left-wing activism to self-interest, pointing to successful initiatives by groups like Greenpeace and ProPublica.
Despite its flaws, We Have Never Been Woke offers a provocative examination of modern elite culture. Scialabba recognizes al-Gharbi’s potential as a social critic and hopes that, freed from academic constraints, he might develop a clearer and more impactful critique of the contradictions within contemporary progressivism.
(3) Mass shootings lead to years of increased alcohol sales in communities, by Bianca Setionago, Psypost (February 26, 2025)
Bianca Setionago summarizes a new study in PNAS Nexus showing that mass shootings have long-term consequences for affected communities, including a sustained increase in alcohol consumption. Researchers led by Nicholas Buttrick from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that alcohol sales in communities impacted by mass shootings rise for at least two years post-event. Analyzing 13 years of alcohol sales data from over 35,000 retailers, they determined that, on average, alcohol sales increase by 3.5%, translating to more than $22,000 in additional weekly sales per community. However, when mass shootings occur in public spaces such as schools, malls, or workplaces, the rise is even more pronounced, reaching 5.5% or an additional $42,000 per week.
The study suggests that the public nature of these events contributes to a sense of community-wide trauma, leading residents to seek coping mechanisms such as increased alcohol consumption. In contrast, mass shootings in private residences did not appear to influence alcohol sales in the same way, likely because they do not generate the same level of communal fear and grief.
Given the psychological toll of mass shootings and the evident reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism, local churches have a unique opportunity to provide alternative forms of community support. Churches can create safe spaces for grief processing, offering counseling services, trauma recovery groups, and prayer meetings. They can also partner with local mental health professionals to provide faith-based therapy options and host workshops on healthy coping strategies. Furthermore, churches can work to rebuild trust and security in communities by organizing outreach programs, community-building events, and practical support for victims’ families. By fostering connection and spiritual resilience, faith communities can play a vital role in guiding affected individuals toward healing without dependence on alcohol.
(4) “Taking a break from your smartphone changes your brain, study finds,” by Eric W. Dolan, PsyPost (February 26, 2025)
Eric W. Dolan reports on a new study published in Computers in Human Behavior that reveals how even short-term smartphone restriction alters brain activity. Researchers found that abstaining from smartphone use for just 72 hours led to noticeable changes in brain regions associated with reward processing and self-control. The study, led by Robert Christian Wolf from Heidelberg University Hospital, suggests that frequent smartphone use may influence brain function similarly to addictive behaviors.
The study recruited 25 young adults who underwent two fMRI brain scans, spaced 72 hours apart, to measure changes in neural responses to smartphone-related cues. Participants were asked to minimize smartphone use during this period, with results showing increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and nucleus accumbens—areas linked to craving and impulsivity. However, self-reported craving and mood changes remained minimal, indicating that neural responses may shift before conscious awareness of withdrawal effects.
Surprisingly, brain activity in attention-related regions decreased when participants viewed images of turned-on smartphones compared to neutral objects, suggesting that brief smartphone abstinence may lessen the device’s immediate allure. The researchers also found links between these neural changes and dopamine and serotonin systems, further reinforcing the idea that smartphones engage brain reward pathways similarly to substance-related cravings.
(5) Perceived Peer Norms, Not Porn Use, Associated with Negative Views of Women Among College Men, By Eric W. Dolan, Psypost, February 25, 2025.
There is a great deal of oversimplified analysis regarding the struggles young men face, with pornography often being blamed as the primary cause of their issues. However, this study provides valuable data showing that other social dynamics also play a significant role. Male friendships tend to function as conformity cultures, where behaviors are shaped more by group norms than by individual choices. Young men are heavily influenced by their peers, following the group’s lead—whether for better or worse.
Eric W. Dolan reports on new research published in the American Journal of Sexuality Education, which challenges the assumption that personal pornography use is the strongest predictor of negative attitudes toward women among college men. Instead, the study finds that perceived peer acceptance of violent pornography, particularly rape-themed content, is the primary factor associated with harmful views of women. Researchers surveyed 283 male undergraduates from two East Coast universities and used multiple regression analysis to examine the relationship between pornography-related factors and negative attitudes towards women. The study controlled for demographic variables, such as age, race, and fraternity or athletic involvement, to isolate the effect of perceived peer norms.
The survey measured pornography exposure, self-acceptance of pornography, and perceived peer norms regarding various types of pornography, including general content, bondage/aggression, and explicit depictions of rape. Results showed that while most participants regularly viewed pornography, their personal consumption was not significantly linked to negative views of women. Instead, men who believed that their peers found rape-themed pornography acceptable were more likely to endorse misogynistic attitudes. This suggests that peer influence plays a powerful role in shaping beliefs, potentially normalizing harmful perspectives through perceived social expectations.
The study highlights the importance of addressing cultural and social influences rather than focusing solely on individual behaviors. The researchers note that interventions targeting peer group perceptions could be more effective in combating harmful attitudes towards women than solely discouraging pornography use. They emphasize the need for educational programs that reshape peer norms and encourage critical reflection on the content young men consume and discuss within their social circles.
Given the impact of peer norms on shaping young men's attitudes, the PCA’s college ministry, Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), has an opportunity to provide a countercultural influence on college campuses. RUF can foster communities that encourage respect, dignity, and biblical perspectives on relationships and sexuality. By promoting discipleship, open discussions about healthy masculinity, and accountability within peer groups, RUF can challenge the harmful cultural norms contributing to negative views of women.
RUF can also incorporate educational initiatives focused on media literacy, helping young men critically assess the messages they receive from pornography and secular culture. Additionally, mentorship programs can provide positive role models who model Christ-like leadership and respectful treatment of women. By creating strong, value-driven peer communities and offering resources to counteract harmful social influences, RUF can play a crucial role in transforming attitudes and fostering godly relationships among young men on college campuses.
[Over the past few months, I’ve spoken at several churches and campuses on fatherhood, manhood, and raising boys in the church amidst the national "Boy Crisis." In April 2025, I’ll be speaking at Denver Presbyterian Church, and I’m now scheduling events for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026—if you’re interested in having me speak at your event or podcast, let’s connect. I'm also donating my time to RUF chapters in 2025 and 2026.]