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The Public Intellectuals America Needs - by Aaron M. Renn

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Americans no longer trust institutions. They trust individuals. That makes a certain kind of thinker a critical national resource.

Essays The Public Intellectuals America Needs Americans no longer trust institutions. They trust individuals. That makes a certain kind of thinker a critical national resource. Aaron M. Renn Jul 15, 2026 146 8 28 Share Article voiceover 0:00 -23:11 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Americans didn’t use to have to wonder about which thinkers to turn to. We had institutions that selected, vetted, appointed, and elevated people we relied on as authoritative voices. They had processes around them, like editorial review and fact checking at publications, to ensure the

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