I was pleased to join the American commentator, Dave Rubin, on his show The Rubin Report. After acknowledging some of the milestones on my own political journey over the years, we talked about the great movements of thought that have precipitated our current cultural maelstrom on both sides of the Atlantic.

For me, the immediate cause of this turmoil lies in the terminal weakness of liberalism: its embrace of cultural relativism, the doctrine that all cultures and lifestyles have equal value. This prevents liberals from acknowledging that their core values, such as respect for all human life, freedom of conscience or equality for women, make the west superior to cultures which deny freedom and equality and treat human life as expendable.

The tragic paradox of liberalism is therefore this: that its core value of equality means it can’t uphold and defend its values, institutions and historic traditions in order to ensure its own survival. That’s why the west is in such trouble.

I also talked about how conservatism, which no longer understands what it needs to conserve, has lost the cultural plot. Oh – and how the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s election as US president signalled a fight-back by millions who are not prepared to stand by passively as their civilisation disintegrates.

You can watch the video of our discussion here.

There’s also a podcast of our discussion here.

One more thing…

Welcome to my new website. This is how it works.

There are two subscription levels: my free service and the premium service.

Anyone can sign up to the free service on this website. You can of course unsubscribe at any time.

Everyone on the free list will receive the full text of pieces I write for outlets such as the Jewish News Syndicate and the Jewish Chronicle, as well as links to my broadcasting work.

But why not subscribe to my premium service? For that you’ll also receive pieces that I write specially for my premium subscribers. Those articles will not be published elsewhere. They’ll arrive in your inbox as soon as I have written them.

My latest piece for premium subscribers deals with another disturbing example of the premature sexualisation of children in the classroom. Subscribers can read it here.

My previous premium post, which looks at the near-daily episodes of political intimidation, violence and nihilism on the streets, can be read here.

There is a small monthly fee for the premium service, with a discount if you pay annually. The fee is charged in US dollars but you can sign up with any credit card. Just click on the “subscribe now” button below to see the available options for subscribing either to the premium or the free service.

My original website — melaniephillips.com — will remain accessible as an archive of work published before September 2020.

Finally, a word about me

If you were previously on my weekly list, you’ll be familiar with my work. But just in case this email has been forwarded to you by a friend, I thought it would be helpful to tell you a little more about me.

I am a British journalist with a weekly column in The Times of London. My broadcasting work includes regular appearances on the BBC’s Moral Maze. Among my published books is my 2018 novel, The Legacy, which is about antisemitism.

I have been writing for more than 35 years about the mounting challenges to western culture and civilisation. I remain as committed as I have always been to standing up for truth against lies, justice against injustice and freedom against tyranny.

Over the years, however, I came to believe that many of those who I had thought shared that commitment were in fact promoting falsehoods, injustice and abuses of power. I believe I speak for the silent majority who have become increasingly dismayed by the erosion of rationality, conscience and respect for our shared humanity.

I hope you enjoy the new service and I’d love to know what you think of it. Do let me know if you have any concerns. Just reply to any of the emails I’ll be sending you and I’ll do my best to help. And thank you once again for following my work.