PREVIEW - The Friday Edition: Toward more perfect unions.

Summary

Podcast Summary: Tangle – PREVIEW - The Friday Edition: Toward More Perfect Unions

Episode Information

• Title: PREVIEW - The Friday Edition: Toward More Perfect Unions
• Host/Author: Isaac Saul
• Release Date: February 14, 2025
• Description: Tangle offers independent, non-partisan political news, presenting diverse viewpoints from across the political spectrum. This episode features a special essay by Sophia Downs on the evolving dynamics of family, community, and government in American society.

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Introduction and Episode Overview

The episode begins with John Law, Executive Producer of Tangle, welcoming listeners to the Friday Edition. He introduces the special feature of the episode: an essay by Sophia Downs, an editorial intern-turned-associate editor. Additionally, John previews an upcoming Valentine's Day episode featuring a conversation between Isaac Saul and his wife, Phoebe, discussing their experiences as first-time parents and their views on birthing, abortion, and healthcare.

John Law [01:44]: "Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening and welcome to the Tangle Podcast...Today, we're excited to share the final product with you, a thoughtful assessment of the evolving role of family, community and government in modern life."

Sophia Downs' Essay: "Toward More Perfect Unions"

Mission and Personal Reflection

Sophia Downs narrates her 18-month proselyting mission in Washington State during the tumultuous period of the COVID-19 pandemic and national protests following the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. She reflects on seeking purpose through spiritual teachings, particularly drawing inspiration from the Book of Mormon and the teachings of Alma.

Sophia Downs [04:30]: "When I began my mission, it was like a kitchen fan I hadn't realized had been humming in my head, turned off. All of a sudden there was silence. I could hear myself think."

The Decline of Traditional Family Structures

Downs explores the historical significance of the family unit in American society, emphasizing its role not only in social cohesion but also in economic production and education. She highlights the shift from extended, interdependent families to more isolated nuclear families and the rise of non-traditional household structures.

Sophia Downs [07:00]: "Children in two-parent families experience greater rates of social mobility and are more likely to become high-income adults, are less likely to be involved in crime, and are more likely to graduate from college."

Impact on Community and Social Capital

Referencing Robert D. Putnam's Bowling Alone, Downs discusses the decline in social interactions and community engagement since the 1950s. This erosion of social capital, she argues, undermines democratic processes and societal well-being.

Sophia Downs [10:15]: "The decline in in-person social interactions and social capital is not just a statistical trend; it fundamentally affects the health of our democracy."

Government's Expanding Role

Downs contrasts the historical role of the family and community in addressing societal needs with the modern reliance on government institutions. She critiques the shift of responsibilities from private, voluntary associations to federal, state, and local governments, questioning the implications for personal relationships and societal trust.

Sophia Downs [12:45]: "Handing the dead definition of educational standards to the government has been a remarkable shift, altering the foundational support systems of our society."

Conclusion: Nurturing Closest Relationships First

Summarizing her observations, Downs advocates for prioritizing the strengthening of personal and familial relationships as a foundation for broader societal improvements. She underscores the importance of truth, warmth, and trust within the home as essential for the functionality of other societal institutions.

Sophia Downs [16:30]: "Only when homes are full of truth, warmth, and trust can our other institutions perform their tasks."

Closing Remarks and Subscription Information

John Law wraps up the preview by encouraging listeners to subscribe to the Tangle newsletter and podcast for full access to the episode content. He expresses gratitude for the audience's support and hints at more enriching content in future episodes.

John Law [22:00]: "We hope you enjoyed this preview of our latest Friday edition...We just want to say thank you so much for your support."

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Notable Quotes

• John Law [01:44]: "Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening and welcome to the Tangle Podcast..."
• Sophia Downs [04:30]: "All of a sudden there was silence. I could hear myself think."
• Sophia Downs [07:00]: "Children in two-parent families experience greater rates of social mobility..."
• Sophia Downs [10:15]: "The decline in in-person social interactions and social capital is not just a statistical trend..."
• Sophia Downs [16:30]: "Only when homes are full of truth, warmth, and trust can our other institutions perform their tasks."

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Conclusion This preview episode of Tangle provides a deep dive into Sophia Downs' insightful essay on the transformation of family and community structures in the United States. By examining historical trends, societal shifts, and the expanding role of government, Downs offers a compelling argument for the necessity of strengthening personal relationships as a foundation for a more cohesive and functional society. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe for full access to the comprehensive discussions and analyses presented in the episode.

Transcript

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[Isaac Saul]

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[John Law]

From Executive Producer Isaac Saul, this is Tangle. Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening and welcome to the Tangle Podcast, a place where you get views from across the political spectrum, some independent thinking and a little bit of our take. My name is John Law. I am the executive producer for YouTube and podcasts and for today's Friday edition we are presenting a special essay written by Sophia Downs. She was our editorial intern for the past year and she wrote an essay on community, government and American society that we'll be presenting shortly before we get started, a quick note that later today we are going to be releasing a special Valentine's Day podcast episode, a conversation with Isaac and his wife Phoebe, and they're going to be discussing a range of things including their experience being first time parents, some thoughts they've had on birthing and abortion and healthcare and where they're at in life and what they're going to be doing going forward. Before I read today's essay, let me give you a little bit of context. Back in 2022, we published an original essay from our outgoing editorial intern Audrey Moorhead, who wrote about the experience of transitioning from her hometown in Lynchburg, Tennessee to Harvard University. Audrey has remained a part of the Tangle family since the end of her internship, and last year she recommended a Harvard classmate of hers, Sophia Downs, as a candidate for our associate editor position. We brought Sophia on over the summer, and since she has been an invaluable member of our team. As part of our offer of employment and in keeping with our mission of providing you with a diverse range of perspectives, we offered her a capstone project, a personal essay like Audrey's, about any relevant topic that mattered to her. Today, we're excited to share the final product with you, a thoughtful assessment of the evolving role of family, community and government in modern life, grounded in Sofia's experience as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In the midst of an unrelenting news cycle, we think it's a great change of pace that offers a contemplative, measured look at the challenges facing US Society. This is Sophia's essay and these are her thoughts and opinions. I'll just be reading it in the first person. So without further ado, here it is. In the fall of 2020, I embarked on an 18 month long proselyting mission in Washington State, leaving home in the midst of a global pandemic and a national upheaval as the country grieved the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. During this time I was continually asking myself, how can I best contribute my meager talents to making the world a better place? I found my answer in Scripture. In the Book of Mormon, a man named Alma is trying to figure out how to best address bad actions among a group of people. Here's the conclusion Alma reaches on how to change their behavior as the preaching of the Word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just, yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword or anything else which had happened unto them. Therefore, Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the Word of God. So my 18 year old self thought, if I really want to improve the world, the best thing I can do is seek to preach the Word of God. Thus I embarked on the journey to become a mission beloved to some and despised by many. When I began my mission, it was like a kitchen fan I hadn't realized had been humming in my head, turned off. All of a sudden there was silence. I could hear myself think. My days were filled with interactions with strangers and New Friends, where I gained an inside look into the most personal of people's thoughts and lives, their relationships with God and foreign.

[Phoebe]

We'Ll be right.

[John Law]

Back after this quick break.

[Isaac Saul]

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[John Law]

While serving as an official representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I did not discuss politics, as the church is a politically neutral organization. Instead, I focused on learning and applying spiritual principles that can help anyone overcome challenges and strengthen relationships in their life. The questions of the soul and the answers individuals sought came not through government programs or policies, but through these relationships. I found this principle beautifully articulated. In the words of the late Neal A. Maxwell, a church leader who previously worked in government, it is the home that we must rescue, repair, and sustain. Only when homes are full of truth, warmth, and trust can our other institutions perform their tasks. Taking these words as the guiding principle, this essay blends personal experience, the admittedly little that I have with historical vignettes, faith principles, and some data. Here and there I discuss the evolving role of family, community, and government, ultimately concluding that we should first seek to nurture our closest relationships when affecting changes. Last month, outgoing US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released his Parting Prescription for America. The document follows an advisory report released in 2023 describing the challenges of America's epidemic of loneliness and isolation. This epidemic didn't come out of nowhere, nor was it born in 2020 with the social distancing necessitated by the COVID 19 pandemic, but it's now a prominent feature in American life, driving down our collective well being. In his book Bowling the Collapse and Revival of American Community, political scientist Robert D. Putnam details the decline of in person, social interactions and social capital more broadly in the United states since the 1950s, positing that this behavioral change hurts our democracy. Bowling alone was released 25 years ago. Putnam detailed a trend that extends beyond just bowling Between 1970 and 2021, the share of adults aged 25 to 49 living with a spouse and at least one child dropped by 30%, that is, unmarried parents with children or cohabitation without children increased. The US Birth rate writ large is on the decline, and a growing portion of the population is single. This isn't to demonize non traditional families or children of divorce, so many of these families function healthily and provide stability and support. However, the overall trend leads to a Loneliness starts at home. I'm not the only one thinking about changing trends in relationships in our society, particularly when it comes to marriage. In the landmark 2015 Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, the court acknowledged the nation's traditions make clear that marriage is the keystone of the nation's social order, and states have contributed to the fundamental character of marriage by placing it at the center of many facets of the legal and social order. Murthy, Putnam, and the court are all touching on a foundational robust families and strong marriages are the functioning cells of a healthy body politic. Why? The reasons are almost too numerous to count children in two parent families experience greater rates of social mobility and are more likely to become high income adults, are less likely to be involved in crime, and are more likely to graduate from college. Housed in the basement of the U.S. capitol Visitor center is a series of dioramas depicting the expansion of the Capitol complex over time. The growth has coincided with the expansion of a rapidly burgeoning nation, one that has long since matured from a motley collection of 13 states. At the same time, the role the average American citizen expects the government to play in their lives has also expanded greatly on a federal, state, and local level. Centuries ago, the family was not just a mode of social cohesion or societal organization, but also a means of production. The family worked together to keep the household running and was responsible for basic education, including religious instruction, teaching occupational skills and caring for elderly or ill family members. While husbands served as heads of household, they counseled and led the family together with their wives. Due to higher rates of childhood mortality and lower life expectancy in general, stepfamilies were common. Families and communities were also more involved in each other's lives in ways that our modern sensibilities would consider violations of familial privacy. What Alexis de Tocqueville once called a nation of joiners has used voluntary associations from its conception to address any number of needs. Volunteer organizations tackled caring for the poor, maintaining orphanages, providing a police force, or seeking moral reform. Cue the temperance movement. Public schools only began spreading in the 19th century, and even in 1950 the high school graduation rate stood at 53%. Compare that to modern numbers. Today, 83% of grade school students attend public schools and around 87% of those high school students graduate. On one hand, the increase in the educational standard is a remarkable achievement. On the other hand, handing the dead definition of educational standards to the government has been a remarkable hey everybody, this is John, Executive Producer for Tangle. We hope you enjoyed this preview of our latest Friday edition. If you are not currently a newsletter subscriber or a premium podcast subscriber and you are enjoying this content and would like to finish it, you can go to retangle.com and sign up for a newsletter subscription. Or you can sign up for a podcast subscription or a bundled subscription which gets you both the podcast and the newsletter and unlocks the rest of this episode as well as ad free daily podcasts, more Friday editions, Sunday editions, bonus content, interviews and so much more. Most importantly, we just want to say thank you so much for your support. We're working hard to bring you much more content and more offerings, so stay tuned. I will join you for the daily podcast on Monday. For the rest of the crew, this is John Law signing off. Have a fantastic weekend y'all. Peace. This episode was written by Sophia Downs and edited and engineered by John Law. The script was edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kabeck, Hunter Caspersen, Kendall White, Bailey, Saul and Audrey Moorhead. The logo for our podcast was designed by Magdalena Bokova, who is also our Head of partnerships. Music was written and produced by Diet75 and John Lal. For more information on Tangle, you can go to our [e-mail] where you can sign up for a podcast and newsletter membership.

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