This is thinking in public a program dedicated to intelligent conversation about

frontline theological and cultural issues with the people who are shaping them.

I'm Albert Moller, your host and president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,

Kentucky.

Michael Barone is a graduate of Cranbrook, a school near Detroit, Michigan. He's a graduate of

Harvard College and the Yale Law School. But he is not primarily known for the

practice of law. Rather, he is primarily known for American politics, of which he is the grand repository of information

and a fascinating analyst.

He's the author of many books, most importantly, he is the time co-author of the almanac of

American politics that began in the pivotal year in the United States of 1972.

He is currently a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and he is the author of many books, including the book we will discuss today, how America's political parties change and how they don't.

Many Americans know him from Fox News. He also

appears in many other media outlets and he has of course written for the

Washington Post and National Review, the Federalist Society Real Clear Politics. He is currently the senior political

analyst for the Washington Examiner. I'm looking forward to this conversation

with Michael Barone. Over 15 years ago I wrote an article in which I said of Michael Barone that when it comes to the data of American politics, if Michael Barone does not know it, it probably cannot be known.

Mr. Barone, you have an expertise. probably cannot be known.

Mr. Barone, you have an expertise

when it comes to American politics

that I think is frankly unrivaled,

but you are also interested in the larger patterns

of American political and social history so how does that come

...