# Returning to First Principles: America's Machiavellian Moment?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-american-idea-3723802/returning-to-first-principles-america-s-machiavellian-moment
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-american-idea-3723802/returning-to-first-principles-america-s-machiavellian-moment.md
Podcast: [The American Idea](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-american-idea-3723802)
Published: 2026-06-10T12:17:00+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/amideapodcast/2802589
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/44047/2802589/amideapodcast/2026_05_12_19_55_28_fc0dfa9d-c8fe-4b75-97f3-1d91d06544a0.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2275

## Resource

Niccolo Machiavelli, is usually cast as something of a villain for supposedly promoting cut-throat politics. Regarded as the father of modern political theory and science, however, among his many ideas was that when regimes - governments - slip into a state of decline, a return to first principles was necessary to save them. Turning back to the ideas that were most pure at a founding was, he believed, essential to revive a country that had lost its way. Is America at such a point today? Political theorist, commentator, and author Jay Cost believes we are, and discusses what a “Machiavellian Moment” is, and why America, especially as we approach our 250th birthday, is in need of one. Read his article: https://tinyurl.com/3ytfx3fb Host: Jeff Sikkenga Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

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## Transcript

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