Benjamin Sawyer
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bensawyer.bsky.social
Benjamin Sawyer
@bensawyer.bsky.social
Historian and host of The Road to Now podcast. RTNpod.me/listen
A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Today I am in remission because of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Whatever your politics, you want places like this to be there for you and the people you love. I do too.

wpln.org/post/vanderb...
Vanderbilt University Medical Center will cut at least $250M as federal government slashes health spending
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is making at least $250 million in budget cuts for the coming year. CEO Jeff Balser informed his staff about the reductions in a video this week. The transcript sa...
wpln.org
March 31, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Canada’s population is ~41 million. If it joined the US it would be the largest state with 47 of 435 seats in the House. The GOP currently controls the House by 5 seats.

Hey Canada- you up?
March 11, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Good to see that Democrats’ takeaway from 2024 was that they just needed to give that speech one more time.
March 5, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Reposted by Benjamin Sawyer
I had a blast talking about MVB and early US history with @bobcrawfordbass.bsky.social and @bensawyer.bsky.social on their excellent Road to Now podcast. You can listen here: theroadtonow.com/episodes/mar...
Martin Van Buren: America’s First Politician w/ James M Bradley (#324) | The Road to Now
James M Bradley joins us to discuss Martin Van Buren's role in founding the Democratic Party and why he might be America's first politician.
theroadtonow.com
January 6, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Anybody have thoughts to share on David Brooks’ piece in the newest Atlantic? There’s a lot there so I’m interested to know what stood out to others.

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
How the Ivy League Broke America
The meritocracy isn’t working. We need something new.
www.theatlantic.com
November 21, 2024 at 8:55 PM
Interesting that the two people most prominently calling for the end of government involvement in social media both own social media sites and are about to be prominent members of the government.
November 13, 2024 at 7:06 PM
Creating a new government department is an interesting way to cut the size of government.
November 13, 2024 at 7:02 PM
Just a reminder that Jimmy Carter is still eligible for a second term.
June 30, 2024 at 5:13 AM
Happy New Year from the Sawyer family to yours!
January 1, 2024 at 5:12 AM
The public discussion of “universities” has been taking place as if nothing exists outside of the Ivy League, a few other New England colleges, and Stanford.

If you think “should univ. presidents come from outside academia?” is an edgy question, you’re in that bubble.
Who Should Run Universities?
In the wake of a controversy at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard over antisemitism, a debate has arisen over whether academics are best suited to lead big schools.
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2023 at 2:25 PM
New this week:
Bob Crawford & I recorded a live episode of our podcast The Road to Now in Nashville w/ iconic Americana artists Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell. It was both an honor and a good time. Enjoy!
Apple: rtnpod.me/284a
Spotify: rtnpod.me/284s
Web player: rtnpod.me/284
September 29, 2023 at 2:42 AM