Culture and Politics Collide: Pundits, Faith and Global Trade in the Public Square

Culture and politics are increasingly part of the same conversation as opinion writers assess how messaging, cultural signals and public interest sway public life. A central thread is whether Democrats should pursue a no-risk strategy in messaging, and how much influence late-night hosts and other cultural figures exert on the political climate. The Atlantic’s Marc Novicoff argues that some Democrats expect moderate cultural signals to dampen perceptions of radicalism, but the party has not moved meaningfully on major policy issues; instead, public-relations tweaks appear to be the primary adjustment. On the right, National Review contributor Dan McLaughlin critiques Jimmy Kimmel’s monologues, saying they contain distortions about a shooter and suggesting the host has not apologized, a pattern he warns could invite similar provocations in the future.

In the same conversation about culture and influence, another column highlights a counterculture shift among young Americans. Washington Examiner writer Salena Zito describes a new American youth counterculture that centers on traditional values and faith, contrasting with the iconography of the 1960s. She notes that many young people are seeking a relationship with God and are drawn back toward church communities. Last week, Pitt for Jesus drew about 600 college students to an event at the University of Pittsburgh, a sign of a faith-driven movement that is largely operating under the radar of national press but appears real to local organizers and observers.

On the international front, the coverage shifts to how geopolitics and corporate strategy intersect with cultural narratives. The Hill cross-border analysis notes ExxonMobil ended rumors of secret negotiations with Russian officials about returning to the country, a move framed as prudent given the sanctions landscape that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Exxon had already taken a roughly four-billion-dollar writedown tied to sanctions and the Sakhalin I project. Analysts caution that lifting sanctions would be necessary for any return, and investors would still face political risk under Vladimir Putin’s governance. The broader point is that capital-intensive investments are rarely driven by personal diplomacy between leaders, and reputational considerations remain a central factor after historical incidents in the energy sector, including past environmental catastrophes. The takeaway is that corporate strategy in this era is inseparable from public perception and geopolitical risk, even as energy markets grapple with supply, demand and sanctions regimes that can shift overnight.

In education and culture, scholarly work and public funding are framed as a response to ongoing antisemitism and the broader struggle for Western identity. A Wall Street Journal piece recalls a remark by Milton Himmelfarb after the Six-Day War about the enduring size of the Jewish people despite their small numbers, a line that underscores a long view of Jewish resilience. In tandem with this intellectual thread, the National Endowment for the Humanities recently provided Tikvah, a Jewish educational organization, with its largest gift ever to support serious study of Jewish civilization. Proponents say classical Jewish texts illuminate enduring truths and that Jewish ideas remain central to the American character, offering a framework for addressing antisemitism while contributing to national flourishing through the study of civilization across generations.

Taken together, the note set portrays a culture beat where media, faith, business and history intersect with politics. The commentary reflects a public conversation about the ethics and effects of media figures, the rise of a faith-centered youth movement, the practical realities of corporate risk in foreign policy, and the scholarly project of situating Jewish civilization as part of the American story. The material—compiled by The Post Editorial Board—illustrates how discussions at the intersection of culture and entertainment can shape political discourse even as real-world events unfold among audiences, corporations and governments alike.