Benjamin Sawyer

Vanderbilt University Medical Center will cut at least $250M as federal government slashes health spending Vanderbilt University Medical Center is making at least $250 million in budget cuts for the coming year. CEO Jeff Balser informed his staff about the reductions in a video this week. The transcript sa...

A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Today I am in remission because of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Whatever your politics, you want places like this to be there for you and the people you love. I do too.

wpln.org/post/vanderb...

Canada’s population is ~41 million. If it joined the US it would be the largest state with 47 of 435 seats in the House. The GOP currently controls the House by 5 seats.

Hey Canada- you up?

Good to see that Democrats’ takeaway from 2024 was that they just needed to give that speech one more time.

Martin Van Buren: America’s First Politician w/ James M Bradley (#324) | The Road to Now James M Bradley joins us to discuss Martin Van Buren's role in founding the Democratic Party and why he might be America's first politician.

I had a blast talking about MVB and early US history with @bobcrawfordbass.bsky.social and @bensawyer.bsky.social on their excellent Road to Now podcast. You can listen here: theroadtonow.com/episodes/mar...

Btw if you want me to read it to you, that’s no problem. I narrated the audio version for The Atlantic, available for subscribers in the link.

How the Ivy League Broke America The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.

Anybody have thoughts to share on David Brooks’ piece in the newest Atlantic? There’s a lot there so I’m interested to know what stood out to others.

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

Interesting that the two people most prominently calling for the end of government involvement in social media both own social media sites and are about to be prominent members of the government.

Creating a new government department is an interesting way to cut the size of government.

You gonna tell me he’s too old? Well….😅

Just a reminder that Jimmy Carter is still eligible for a second term.

You gonna tell me he’s too old? Well….😅

The Tennessee Holler on X: "WATCH: “What racist things has Charlie Kirk said?” Tonight at the TP USA event on the U OF MEMPHIS campus Kyle Rittenhouse said “I don’t know anything about that… I’m not gonna comment…” 🤔after a student rattled off a few of Kirk’s racist quotes. (From @NoApologies901) https://t.co/cHNb18GAF1" / X WATCH: “What racist things has Charlie Kirk said?” Tonight at the TP USA event on the U OF MEMPHIS campus Kyle Rittenhouse said “I don’t know anything about that… I’m not gonna comment…” 🤔after a student rattled off a few of Kirk’s racist quotes. (From @NoApologies901) https://t.co/cHNb18GAF1

Rittenhouse walked off stage in the middle of a series of fair questions. Of course, he had nothing thoughtful to say in response b/c that’s not why he’s there. And this audience member- doing what you’re supposed to do at this type of event- won’t be heard through the noise of all the other scenes

2) Why would they bring this guy to U of Memphis? Go search the event on Twitter and see the right-wing narrative. Videos of protestors in the crowd yelling over him and later his supporters being escorted out by police. That’s why. And they got exactly what they wanted.

Happy New Year from the Sawyer family to yours!

Who Should Run Universities? In the wake of a controversy at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard over antisemitism, a debate has arisen over whether academics are best suited to lead big schools.

The public discussion of “universities” has been taking place as if nothing exists outside of the Ivy League, a few other New England colleges, and Stanford.

If you think “should univ. presidents come from outside academia?” is an edgy question, you’re in that bubble.

Episode cover for The Road to Now podcast #284 Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell on Americana

New this week:
Bob Crawford & I recorded a live episode of our podcast The Road to Now in Nashville w/ iconic Americana artists Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell. It was both an honor and a good time. Enjoy!
Apple: rtnpod.me/284a
Spotify: rtnpod.me/284s
Web player: rtnpod.me/284