The “D” stands for “Daniel,” actually. But when I introduce him on this latest podcast of ours (we have done many), I’m inspired to say, “… my guest today is my longtime friend and colleague Kevin Williamson—Kevin D. Williamson, and the ‘D’ is for ‘Damn Right.’”
He is, too, reliably.
Kevin is the national correspondent for The Dispatch, and his latest book—penetrating and stylish, in his accustomed fashion—is Big White Ghetto.
In our Q&A, we traverse many issues, of many types: political, literary, economic … One of our first issues is Homer’s Odyssey, and the new Christopher Nolan movie. Everyone with a pen has written about it. A piece by Kevin is one of the best: here.
What have the Greeks and Romans and antiquity in general meant in Kevin’s life? That’s what I want to know.
We then talk about—be prepared for three explosive words—“the common good.” Sounds good. Is it, and if so, how and when?
We move on to policing, and ICE in particular. (Are these guys police—actual cops—or do they belong in a different category?) Then we get into conservatism, and the state of the American Right.
Here is a general statement made by Kevin, one I fully endorse: “Our crisis in our politics is I think fundamentally a spiritual and moral crisis. It’s not an economic crisis.”
And yet, there is economics to discuss. Recently, I had a column headed “A Screaming Yet Quiet Problem, &c.” I was talking about our nation’s fiscal house: the federal budget deficit, the national debt. I ask Kevin to scream about it, as he has been doing for many years.
In truth, he does not scream. He addresses the problem in a cool and collected manner, while sparing nothing.
Another issue: the Haitians in a little Midwestern town. Two years ago, Kevin published a piece called “The Exotic Cat-Eaters of Springfield, Ohio.” (Marvelous, memorable piece of reporting and thinking.) In our Q&A, I quote to him a tweet from Noah Smith:
I will never forget the “Haitians eating cats” lie. I will never let it go. It was so deliberate and monstrous and unprovoked and cruel, and no one has ever apologized for it.
Something to think about. Something to burn about.
Toward the end of our conversation, we talk about language, accents, where we’re from. Kevin has lived all over America, and abroad (India). Is he always a Texan, wherever he goes?
Before signing off, I say, “Kevin, you provide your readers edification, laughs, and I would say comfort. You make one feel less alone, and thank you so much.” He answers, “Man, if people are turning to me for comfort, God help us.”
Well, so be it.
