Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: President Biden gave an extraordinary speech about voting rights this week. In the speech, Biden identified what is clearly the most serious threat our democracy faces.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Debate on denying Communion; Russian Orthodox metropolitan says refusing vaccine is a sin; Biden's antitrust executive orders; a 2020 election deep dive.

Distinctly Catholic: Whenever Ross Douthat takes to the pages of a conservative Catholic journal like First Things, you know the result will be off the mark, despite the occasional thought-provoking observation.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Frightening analogies between U.S. "memory laws" and what's happening in Putin's Russia; a look at Texas' special legislative session; J.D. Vance has "humiliating" campaign start.

Distinctly Catholic: The best way to ameliorate the worst features of George Packer's four narratives of America is with the strong tonic of Catholic moral teaching, and our social teaching more specifically.

Distinctly Catholic: By claiming, falsely, that their efforts to restrict voting are needed to combat voter fraud, Republicans undermine the legitimacy of democracy in the minds of many. But, when you try and take away another person's rights, do not be surprised if they fight back.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Taking a look into the 2022 contest for control of the U.S. Senate, the "four Americas" that now define and animate our national life and why Meryl Streep's portrayal of Miranda Priestly was so believable.

Distinctly Catholic: Francis is the pope, and the Greek root of that word, pappas, or "father," became vividly clear on Sunday night when news broke that Pope Francis was having surgery.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: David Axelrod urges Congress to avoid excluding from Medicaid funding larger long-term care facilities, stagflation may be making a comeback and America is about seeking to better live out the meaning of our foundational creeds.

Distinctly Catholic: We Americans grow up thinking we are on a path that leads onward and upward. We never stop to think that things might not get better. They might get worse.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: A Trump-worshiping sycophancy; GOP's non-strategy on climate change; the creation of New York City's Central Park

Distinctly Catholic: Economic issues matter most to a lot of people who are not very powerful, blue collar workers and the poor, people left out of the neo-liberal economic success story that has been the dominant socio-cultural reality since the Reagan years.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Even Republican Catholics have favorable opinion of Pope Francis; a discussion about free speech, media, truth and lies; Puerto Rico's failing fossil fuel infrastructure

Distinctly Catholic: My fear is not that the eventual document will adopt this lousy EWTN theology hook, line and sinker. But if the bishops give so much as an inch to the zealots, the harm to the church will continue.

Distinctly Catholic: These bright, loving priests have given their lives to the happy task of channeling God's grace and, what is more difficult, helping the rest of us notice the grace that is already at work.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Rhoades keeps being unclear; bishops ensure "discord will reign supreme"; more Trump power abuse; a Nigerian writer takes on Twitter; let movies be movies.

Distinctly Catholic: Chris Matthews, former host of "Hardball," has a new autobiography out. It reads like you would expect a book by Matthews to read: It is rambunctious, smart, attentive and fearless.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Pope Francis reaffirms workers' right to organize; cooling buildings with paper; a smaller Statue of Liberty headed to U.S.; keeping Jeff Bezos in space.

Distinctly Catholic: What we witnessed last week at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' spring meeting was outrageous. Does the conference leadership understand that there was no synodality last week at their meeting?

Distinctly Catholic: The proponents of drafting a document probably win the ballot. But they have lost something far greater. They have divided the conference in ways it has never been divided in my lifetime, perhaps ever.