America’s greatest strength has always been its capacity for self-government. Herbert Hoover once bragged about our “multitudinous mass leadership” after the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. What he meant was that local government and civil society are among the greatest forces for good in American life.
American Habits exists to elevate the stories of the people and places that make America distinctive. A recent example is how Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker articulated that her city is intentional about preserving their Western heritage and character through tremendous growth. Where we live shapes who we are, and that reminds us that we have a special responsibility to take ownership of the places and communities we call home. Through those stories, we champion the habits of self-government and make the case for federalism in a way that moves far beyond theory.
That’s why I’m excited to announce a new chapter for American Habits.
We’re moving to Substack to make our content even timelier and more accessible. The new format will allow us to move more quickly, bring readers even more conversations with the people putting federalism into practice, and continue delivering the same high-quality commentary that elevates America’s tradition of self-government.
What can you expect?
We’ll continue bringing you thoughtful essays and interviews with state leaders, mayors, and other public figures who understand that many of America’s most important decisions should be made closer to home. We’ll also highlight the ideas and institutions that strengthen communities and help Americans govern themselves.
Our goal is to deliver fresh content directly to your inbox each week, with occasional additional updates when important developments warrant them.
You can expect even more interviews and the continued expansion of our video content, while still enjoying our high-quality essays.
At a time when so much of our political conversation revolves around Washington, we know that this publication’s relevance is only on the ascent. We offer an entirely different perspective from the mainstream media bubble, and we want American Habits to be a place where those stories and ideas receive the attention they deserve.
An invitation to our readers
This new chapter is also an invitation.
If you believe that America’s future depends on more than what happens in Washington, D.C., we hope you’ll read along, forward our work to friends and colleagues, and help introduce American Habits to new readers.
Our new home gives us a fresh opportunity to expand this conversation, but our purpose remains rooted in a conviction we’ve held from the beginning: America’s future depends on strengthening the habits of self-government and not simply echoing the political noise that accelerates one-size-fits-all national solutions.
Thanks for reading and being part of this new chapter.