“I find you to be the most intellectually frustrating man on the radio, but I still listen to you!” This soundbite from a regular caller became the signature weekly sign-off for my daily radio program on WBAL. I loved everything about this sentiment because it hit the strike zone of what I wanted my program to be — a place where people had to actively think. I wanted my show to be a safe space for sharing opinions, and I always made room for those who disagreed with me. I believe open disagreement is the critical ingredient in preserving the United States’ unique take on democracy.
That’s why I’m so eager to introduce you to my new weekly column, sharing my perspective on the events and issues impacting our beautiful state of Maryland. I accept this role with an incredible weight of responsibility. This column will be the first of many missives to engage the readers and thinkers in our community. In many ways, I see it as a vital step to help our nation navigate a precarious season of turbulence.
As we approach our nation’s 250th birthday, we find ourselves in a moment of crisis. Our people grapple with cultural battles, political conflicts and personal hardships. Our country is gripped by moodiness, reckless decisions and a deep identity crisis. Is this… a national puberty? It’s an amusing perspective I’ve recently embraced, and given the relative youth of our nation, I don’t think it’s too far off.
What better describes a moody teenager than our recent electoral choices? In 2020, America elected the aging “grandpa” Joe Biden, who could barely walk, as president. Just four years later, we turned around and, in a decisive election, chose the political equivalent of Deadpool in Donald Trump. Like a teen swinging between extremes, these choices reflect a nation searching for its identity. Before MAGA gets all up in their feelings, I’ll remind readers that the White House posted an AI-generated meme of Hakeem Jeffries in a mariachi band during the latest shutdown drama! Clearly, we’re a nation trying to “find ourselves.”
This is why I think there is a space for nuanced voices like mine. I won’t fit neatly into any political box you try to cram me into. In most practical ways, I’m pretty conservative. At my ideological core, I’m libertarian. Yet I’ll surprise you with liberal viewpoints at times — hence my earned moniker “TOC” (a nod to “AOC” from a former colleague who teased me for my liberal views on some issues). In short, I’m likely the most complex individual you’ll meet, which is the very definition of the American experience.
A rising tide of critical theory has swept through our public square, leaving us intellectually adrift. This lens often dismisses reason, boiling every issue down to power struggles tied to identity. Healthy debate — once a cornerstone of discourse — now feels like a moral minefield. Terms like “fascist” or “threat to democracy” are wielded as weapons, not arguments. Instead of wrestling with diverse ideas, too many discussions demand allegiance to a single worldview.
I believe this “critical theory” wave has elevated intellectually frail voices into positions of influence. These individuals find their very identity at odds with the premise of the United States’ experiment: that people from any background, culture or experience can unite under core values like “liberty and justice for all.” Failure to grasp this basic concept has led to the intense political chaos we are witnessing.
My primary mission is to fiercely defend this concept. I’ll challenge readers with my take on issues impacting Maryland — from Baltimore’s streets to Annapolis’ policies. As our nation stumbles through its “puberty,” my column is an invitation to Maryland’s readers and thinkers to wrestle with the ideas shaping our state and country. Some will cheer my perspective; others will hate it. I urge you to read it and embrace whatever feelings it stirs. I don’t expect agreement — ever. I welcome your criticism as much as your praise. Let this column remind us we’re a nation of diverse thinkers. Hopefully, after each one, you’ll say, “I still read you anyway.”
Torrey Snow is a columnist and editorial board contributor at The Baltimore Sun; he can be reached at tsnow@baltsun.com.
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