Picture of Neil J. Young

Neil J. Young

Contributing Writer

Neil J. Young is a historian and the author of We Gather Together: The Religious Right and the Problem of Interfaith Politics. He writes frequently on American politics, culture, and religion for publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic, the Los Angeles Times, HuffPost, Vox, and Politico. He co-hosts the history podcast Past Present.

A Cameron Crazie's send-off to Duke's Coach K
Coach K.
Opinion

A Cameron Crazie's send-off to Duke's Coach K

Don't count on a GOP wave in November — yet
An elephant.
Opinion

Don't count on a GOP wave in November — yet

Was it worth it, Mike Pence?
Mike Pence and Donald Trump.
Opinion

Was it worth it, Mike Pence?

The 2021 Oscar nominees could really use the bump
Benedict Cumberbatch.
Opinion

The 2021 Oscar nominees could really use the bump

The anti-identity politics of gay conservatives
An elephant.
Opinion

The anti-identity politics of gay conservatives

What college football can teach us about America
College football.
Opinion

What college football can teach us about America

Dreaming of a warm Christmas
Santa Claus.
Opinion

Dreaming of a warm Christmas

The history and gravity of Hanukkah in the White House
The White House.
Opinion

The history and gravity of Hanukkah in the White House

The new model of celebrity endorsement
Money.
Opinion

The new model of celebrity endorsement

Big Brother's Black victory and reality TV's future
Big Brother contestants.
Opinion

Big Brother's Black victory and reality TV's future

The GOP's pandemic waste
COVID and a hospital.
Opinion

The GOP's pandemic waste

Fox News vs. Team USA
Olympic protest.
Opinion

Fox News vs. Team USA

When Pride is filibustered
A great divide.
Opinion

When Pride is filibustered

The GOP's laboratory of anti-democracy
An elephant.
Opinion

The GOP's laboratory of anti-democracy

Caitlyn Jenner has no chance
Caitlyn Jenner.
Opinion

Caitlyn Jenner has no chance

The Republican surrender to gun violence
An elephant.
Opinion

The Republican surrender to gun violence

Rush Limbaugh taught Republicans to rage
Rush Limbaugh.
Opinion

Rush Limbaugh taught Republicans to rage

The inauguration's sad symbolism
The Capitol building.
Opinion

The inauguration's sad symbolism

Republican inaction speaks louder than words
President Trump.
Opinion

Republican inaction speaks louder than words

The Reagans shows the roots of America's individualism problem
The Reagans.
Opinion

The Reagans shows the roots of America's individualism problem

Trump's most dangerous ideas always start as 'jokes'
President Trump and Mike Pompeo.
Opinion

Trump's most dangerous ideas always start as 'jokes'

The double-edged sword of Pope Francis' same-sex union comments
Pope Francis.
Opinion

The double-edged sword of Pope Francis' same-sex union comments

Kamala Harris should make Mike Pence debate Christian values
Mike Pence and Kamala Harris.
Opinion

Kamala Harris should make Mike Pence debate Christian values

Republicans are desperately trying to change the subject
Stained glass and the Supreme Court.
Opinion

Republicans are desperately trying to change the subject

The elephant in the room at the DNC
Former Vice President Joe Biden and former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Opinion

The elephant in the room at the DNC

Trump unmasked
President Trump.
Feature

Trump unmasked

There's always a bigger scandal
President Trump.
Opinion

There's always a bigger scandal

Trump's contradictory immigration order
President Trump.
Opinion

Trump's contradictory immigration order

Trump's obsession with hydroxychloroquine is an encapsulation of his presidency
President Trump.
Feature

Trump's obsession with hydroxychloroquine is an encapsulation of his presidency

Trump's message to blue states battling coronavirus: Drop dead
President Trump and Andrew Cuomo.
Opinion

Trump's message to blue states battling coronavirus: Drop dead

The hope and sadness of watching Pete
Pete Buttigieg.
Opinion

The hope and sadness of watching Pete

Do Bernie Sanders' opponents know he's winning?
Bernie Sanders.
Opinion

Do Bernie Sanders' opponents know he's winning?

Pete Buttigieg's remarkable run
Pete Buttigieg.
Opinion

Pete Buttigieg's remarkable run

Impeachment trial is damning indictment of so-called moderate Republicans
Susan Collins.
Opinion

Impeachment trial is damning indictment of so-called moderate Republicans

The GOP rolls over for Trump on Iran
President Trump and Lindsey Graham.
Opinion

The GOP rolls over for Trump on Iran

The evangelical resistance?
The Capitol building.
Opinion

The evangelical resistance?