On New Year’s Day, as New Yorkers gathered for what should have been a unifying inaugural address, New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, placed his hand on the Koran for his oath and then used the moment to unveil a collectivist vision that should concern anyone who values individual freedom. Promising to “replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism,” he signaled a governing philosophy that elevates state‑defined unity over personal freedom. In his opening words, Mamdani’s speech seemed at first glance to be crafted to soothe and reassure. But then it took an abrupt turn as the Mayor pledged to  govern as a “Democratic Socialist,” who would  lead “without shame and insecurity.” Promising to change the culture of City Hall, Mamdani told those gathered that he would refuse to abandon his principles “for fear of being deemed radical,” and concluded by invoking a quote on the value of being radical from Vermont’s Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders: “What’s radical is a system which gives so much to so few and denies so many people the basic necessities of life.” (RELATED: Mamdani’s Rent Control Plans Will Make the Rental Market Worse for Working People) Socialism always arrives steeped in the language of compassion, but its first real act is to strip individuals of the freedom that makes genuine community possible. Taken together, these declarations reveal the deeper project embedded in his inaugural address. Socialism always arrives steeped in the language of compassion, but its first real act is to strip individuals of the freedom that makes genuine community possible. That danger is no longer theoretical in New York City. In celebrating a government that will “draw this city closer together” and “foster solidarity,” he signals a statist model of unity enforced from above — one that risks silencing those who refuse to fall in line, narrowing autonomy, and weakening the very pluralism that has been the city’s defining strength. (RELATED: Gooder and Harder, New York) Refusing to temper expectations like most inaugural addresses, Mamdani expanded on his campaign promises to “govern expansively and audaciously.” Adding that “To those who insist that the era of big government is over, hear me when I say this — no longer will  City Hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers’ lives,” Mamdani provided a long list of the ways in which he will use government power to reign in “greedy corporations,” recalcitrant landlords, and unaffordable childcare. Promising to “freeze the rent,” and “deliver universal childcare for the many by taxing the wealthiest few,” the mayor also promised to make the City’s buses “fast and free.” For many New Yorkers, Mamdani’s sweeping promises evoke an earlier era when City Hall’s grand visions outpaced its ability to govern effectively. Critics of past administrations — most notably during the Dinkins years, and the de Blasio years — argued that expansive rhetoric about unity and social uplift often masked an inability to manage the city’s basic functions, from public safety to fiscal discipline. By echoing the same faith in government-driven transformation, Mamdani risks repeating the pattern in which ideology collides with the reality of running a complex city. The concern is not merely ideological; rather, it is historical, rooted in our memories of what happened when a mayor’s ambitions grew faster than the city could sustain. Older New Yorkers will recall what heavy‑handed housing policies of the past led to during the 1970s, when strict rent controls and a collapsing regulatory system helped create the conditions for the “Bronx is burning” era, as landlords — unable to cover basic costs — abandoned buildings, let them decay, or even set them on fire for the insurance money. Entire neighborhoods were hollowed out as government policy distorted incentives and accelerated decline. In the mid-1970s, the Bronx had up to 130,000 fires per year, or an average of 30 fires every 2 hours. More than half of the housing in the Bronx was destroyed.  When Mamdani now promises to “freeze the rent” as a centerpiece of his agenda, he may not realize that “protecting tenants” at the expense of well-intentioned landlords may end up destroying the very communities they claim to save. Mamdani’s inaugural address was a declaration of a governing philosophy that places all of his faith in centralized power. His promises may sound benevolent, but they rest on the assumption that freedom is a barrier to progress and that the state should decide what solidarity looks like. New Yorkers have long thrived on the friction, independence, and diversity of thought that define the city’s character. As this new administration moves from rhetoric to policy, the question is no longer whether collectivism will reshape New York, but how much individual autonomy its residents are prepared to surrender in the process. READ MORE from Anne Hendershott: Spite Repaid with Spite: The Metaphysical Roots of the Academic Massacre at Brown and MIT Unproven but Unfolding Whistleblower Claims of Somali Medicaid Fraud in Ohio No, Mayor-Elect Mamdani, the Homeless Are Not an Apartment Away From a Good Life

President Trump is facing multiple fronts: the war in Ukraine with Russia, the ongoing faceoff with China over Taiwan, clashes with Islamic terrorists in the Middle East and Africa, a new front in the Caribbean against Venezuela’s narco-empire, and now, added to all that, schisms with the European Union over its technocratic authoritarian drift that’s clashing with American interests globally. In a National Security Strategy assessment published last month, the U.S. administration calls attention to “activities of the European Union and other transnational bodies that undermine political liberty and sovereignty, migration policies that are transforming the continent and creating strife, censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition.” The paper expresses concern over Europe’s declining “creativity and industriousness,” and “loss of national identities and self-confidence.” (RELATED: America’s Robust National Security Strategy) “Should present trends continue,” the document states, “the continent will be unrecognizable in 20 years or less. It is far from obvious whether certain European countries will have economies and militaries strong enough to remain reliable allies. Many of these nations are currently doubling down on their present path.” The body has come under the rigid control of an unaccountable nomenklatura that’s taking on characteristics of the communist Soviet bureaucracy that the U.S. fought the Cold War against. The EU was created to facilitate the movement of goods and people within Europe to secure peace, freedom, and prosperity for its people after WWII. But the body has come under the rigid control of an unaccountable nomenklatura that’s taking on characteristics of the communist Soviet bureaucracy that the U.S. fought the Cold War against. An elected European parliament has no power over the European Commission, which is selected by the ruling bureaucrats of member states to wield virtually unchecked regulatory powers. The European Commission, in turn, chooses the EU president who is invariably rubber-stamped by the parliament in much the same way that the Soviet Union’s Politburo told the party congress which Premier to anoint. While many criticized the undemocratic character of the EU when it began embarking on federalizing Europe, with the British opting out of it in the Brexit referendum, the experiment in transnational government has been generally applauded as a benign effort to integrate complex monetary systems and level economic inequalities between Europe’s rich and poor nations. But the insertion of globalist Marxist brains into the macroeconomic body has turned the EU into a Frankenstein, taking over border policies of member states to implement mass migration, imposing net zero targets, destroying industries and living standards, signing globalist trade deals that condemn entire sectors of its population to economic genocide and social engineering. Growing alarms among Europeans about the EU’s path, has given rise to right-wing nationalist parties in practically all of Europe, seeking to reverse policies whose ill effects are being felt by the average citizen in the crime ridden streets of once safe and beautiful capitals, broken pocketbooks with which they could once afford La Dolce Vita, and traditional Christmas street markets bunkered up against Islamic suicide drivers. AfD in Germany, RN in France, Vox in Spain — to name outstanding examples — threaten the cozy ruling arrangement between increasingly leftward social democrats and establishment conservatives enjoying the Euro gravy train of the nomenklatura. The new hybrid Eurocrat is properly exemplified by EU president Ursula von der Leyen, who started her career in Germany’s center-right CDU and recently squeezed back into a second term with support from Socialists and Greens as a growing number of conservative representatives shied away from her centralizing zeal and developing scandals. She is accused of disproportionate purchases of COVID vaccines during the pandemic, through an affiliate of a big pharma conglomerate in which her husband owns shares. Something akin to a Byzantine court has grown around Europe’s woke Reich Führer at her high-tech castle in Berlaymont, the gargantuan glass building housing EU headquarters in Brussels, where bureaucrats share luxurious offices with mushrooming renewable energy contractors and NGOs taking billions in subsidies to mirror official policies. But cracks are starting to appear. Some governments, namely Italy — whose right-wing prime minister Giorgia Meloni was branded by Europe’s establishment press as a “fascist” when she came to office in 2022 — as well as Hungary, Poland, and other eastern European states, are increasingly challenging EU directives, especially on immigration. French President Emmanuel Macron, worried about the plunging popularity of his Renaissance party, is having to oppose von der Leyen’s signature trade deal with Brazil that would flood Europe with cheap agricultural produce from South America, which would put Europe’s farmers out of business and threaten the continent’s future food security. Farmers are a critically large and highly mobilized constituency in France. To protect their power, Eurocrats have introduced the European Digital Services Act, designed to police the internet and censor social media. It’s the one issue on which they refused to yield in recent negotiations with Trump. They gave way on tariffs and a host of other economic concessions, but have inflicted punitive fines on Elon Musk’s X for supposedly breaching their EDSA safe space. The U.S. has responded by sanctioning five European officials enforcing EDSA through thought police mechanisms. But the EU vows to fight back, threatening “retaliatory measures” against the U.S. even as Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatens more sanctions to come. “The Trump Administration finds itself at odds with European officials perched in unstable minority governments, many of which trample on basic principles of democracy to suppress opposition,” states Trump’s National Strategy white paper. Censoring information or what von der Leyen calls “prebunking” is critical to neutralize the surging right and “subvert the democratic process,” as the U.S. administration warns. There has been systematic persecution of Germany’s AfD, leading to midnight arrests and raids of private homes for nothing more than off-color tweets, and even suspected assassinations of AfD activists. Some are seeking asylum in the U.S. There is lawfare against French RN leader Marine Le Pen to incapacitate her for a presidential run in the coming elections, which all opinion polls indicate she would win by a landslide. There are reports that Spain’s ruling Socialists are using Venezuelan criminal migrant gangs against Vox. Blacking out coverage of what could turn into violent repression and possible vote manipulation could be easily done in Europe without free social media, as all major television news channels such as the BBC, France24, or Germany’s Deutsche Welle, are state-operated. (RELATED: Is This the End of the Road for Marine Le Pen?) The futuristic unified Europe that would shine upon the world as a model of rational planning and constitute the core of a new global order, in the dreams of its ideologues, is degenerating into the type of third-world autocracy that some of its key leaders are cultivating. Scandals surrounding Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, who poses as the very model of a modern euro technocrat, involve an estimated 1 billion dollars of Venezuelan narco money handled by one of his closest collaborators, ex-Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, whose dealings with Nicolás Maduro are under investigation by Spain’s Guardia Civil and the U.S. Treasury Department. (RELATED: Sánchez’s Spain Is a Caricature of Political Corruption) Intimate ties between Spain’s ruling socialists and the Venezuelan regime came to light last year when Maduro’s vice-president, Delcy Rodriguez, landed at Madrid’s Barajas airport despite being banned from European territory by international sanctions. Sanchez’s lifelong confidante and transport minister at the time, José Luis Ábalos — currently in jail — drove out to receive her, holding a meeting with Maduro’s number two in the airport’s VIP lounge as forty suitcases were unloaded from her jet. Their contents remain a mystery but are believed to involve Zapatero’s business interests in Venezuela, reported to include a gold mine. The EU never objected to Spain’s brazen violation of “Schengen” territory, and far from being blacklisted, Zapatero keeps going to Brussels to lobby for Maduro, who pays him million-dollar retainers to keep the Europeans in line. Zapatero is proposing a European-brokered solution to the Venezuelan crisis that would place Delcy Rodriguez at the head of a transitional government while Maduro goes into golden exile. The idea is backed by Brazil’s socialist leader Lula da Silva, whose trade deal with von der Leyen would mitigate the effects of recent sanctions placed by Trump on his regime for imprisoning his chief political rival, Jair Bolsonaro. Soon after Trump gave a televised White House scolding to South Africa’s strongman president, Cyril Ramaphosa, over appeals by some of his closest followers to “kill whites,” von der Leyen flew to Praetoria to meet him. She came back with major deals for European clean energy companies for Green projects in one of the world’s most corrupt countries. (RELATED: A Bonfire of the Vanities at the White House) The EU did recently impose stiff tariffs on Chinese EVs as part of its agreements with Trump. But Sanchez is working around that by inviting Chinese firms to set up EV factories in Spain. He recently cleared out an entire town in the province of Aragon to house 2,000 Chinese workers sent to start the project. Turning Spain into China’s European beachhead has involved contracting the PLA-linked Huawei to service government information systems that could tap into U.S. military communications at key Spanish bases in Moron and Rota. Eurocrats are sneaky. To show its technical proficiency as a functioning federation, the EU has recently unveiled a computerized Entry and Exit system at its borders to record biometric data of foreigners coming in legally, even as millions of unchecked hordes from Africa and the Middle East get ushered in for free rides. Neither do EU federalist projects do much to address the basic human needs of average Europeans. I personally know of the tragic case of a 65-year-old French woman in delicate health, semi-paralyzed by disjointed hips, who had to escape from the sexual abuse of a perverted cousin in France (with an ample police record) and had her social benefits and health coverage cut off when she went to Spain to look after an elderly mother with dementia. Applying for Spanish benefits requires her to register as a “foreign resident,” have $10,000 in a local bank account, and wait five years. She is destitute and barely surviving with help from an American friend. People got their ration cards canceled when moving from one state to another in Russia’s old Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Perhaps that’s the new vision of Europe from the heights of Berlaymont. READ MORE from Martin Arostegui: The Venezuela Endgame Putin’s Caribbean Gambit Unmasking Iran’s Hidden Footprint in the Americas

Massive fraud in Minnesota, allegedly running into the billions, has caught the attention of California Rep. Kevin Kiley, who proclaims the Golden State “the fraud capital of America.” First on his list is $32 billion in unemployment fraud, which took place under Harvard Law alum Julie Su, former head of California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), which oversees the state Employment Development Department (EDD). On Su’s watch, the Golden State became an open door for fraudsters nationwide. A Northern California woman filed 100 fake claims, including one in the name of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. California prison inmates filed 35,000 claims totaling $140 million in benefits. (RELATED: To Harvard and Back with Julie Su) Convicted murderers Scott Peterson and Cary Stayner filed fraudulent claims, and death row inmates, whose sentences Governor Gavin Newsom reprieved in 2019, filed 158 claims for $420,000 in benefits. Fontrell Antonio Baines of Memphis, Tenn., better known as rapper “Nuke Bizzle,” filed 92 fraudulent claims resulting in more than $1 million in losses to EDD and the United States Treasury. While Bizzle “got rich off EDD,” as he said in his EDD video, legitimate claimants waited months for their benefits. In December 2022, Baines was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison on fraud charges and ordered to pay $704,760 in restitution to the EDD. Julie Su was never held accountable and wound up being rewarded. Joe Biden tapped her for federal labor secretary, and a Sept. 21, 2023, ruling by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) enabled Su to continue serving without confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Over in Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz touts his “aggressive” record of combating fraud. Pepperdine University professor Steven F. Hayward thinks Walz is lying, and explains the dynamics behind the massive fraud: The thing to be understood is that while the left has mostly abandoned old-fashioned industrial-union socialism — that is, government ownership of the means of production and/or rigid and detailed central planning of the economy — they have not given up on radical redistribution. And if our political system won’t deliver on a universal basic income (and confiscatory taxes on “the rich” who pay the majority share of income taxes already), then the hodge-podge of social service programs with porous eligibility standards and lax oversight is a good proxy for income redistribution. In other words, leftists don’t recognize what’s going on as fraud at all. It’s not a bug, it is a feature. The imperative of the left is “redistribution by any means necessary.” Things like the COVID “emergency” are ideal for ratcheting up income transfers. It was during that “emergency” that Julie Su looked the other way at $32 billion in unemployment fraud. Rep. Kiley also cites $24 billion in homeless funds “lost,” $18 billion on a nonexistent bullet train, and $650 million on a scrapped 911 system. Consider also the state’s Community College System. As CalMatters reports, in 2021, about 20 percent of the applications were fake. By 2024, the rate had risen to 25 percent, and by 2025, the fakes accounted for 34 percent. Over 12 months in 2024-25, community colleges gave away “more than $10 million in federal dollars to fake students and over $3 million in state money.” Last June, the Los Angeles Times reported, “12 million fake students applied to California Community Colleges Last Year. What is being done?” By all indications, not much, if anything. In December, California’s state auditor issued a report citing “updates to the seven existing high-risk state agencies and statewide issues that include the Employment Development Department, the State’s management of federal COVID funds, the State’s financial reporting and accountability, the Department of Health Care Services, information security, the California Department of Technology, and water infrastructure and availability.” The “high-risk” designation involves waste, fraud and mismanagement, and the audit also “initiated more in-depth high-risk audits of Medi-Cal eligibility determinations and the State’s financial reporting and accountability.” Back in 2017, State Auditor Elaine Howle uncovered a secret slush fund of $175 million in the office of University of California President Janet Napolitano, at a time when she was pushing for tuition hikes. State Attorney General Xavier Becerra declined to investigate, and nobody was held accountable. Maybe Professor Hayward and Rep. Kiley are both right. The fraud is part of the redistributionist plan, and California is the nation’s fraud capital. In 2026, we’ll have to see what happens. Now, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has tapped Julie Su as “deputy mayor for economic justice,” a newly created position. “I’m aware of the deputy mayor’s record, and I’m very excited to have her,” Mamdani told reporters. In 2026, we’ll have to see what happens. READ MORE from Lloyd Billingsley: Christmas for California Parents Gavin’s Angels: From Masks to Mandates to Millions California’s Hitler Youth

As you set your 2026 goals, reading lists, and New Year’s resolutions, The Daily Signal is proud to offer you some of our favorite reads from 2025. We asked our own staff, plus others from The Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action, for their thoughts and to offer some of their recommendations. They are listed below. 1. ‘Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West’ By Josh Hammer Western civilization is in a moment of peril, beset by wokeism and radical Islamism—ideologies that seek to dismantle the Judeo-Christian foundations upon which the West was built.   In “Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West,” Hammer contends that these movements, despite their different origins and methods, share a common hostility to the biblical heritage that gave rise to Western and particularly American concepts of inherent individual dignity, covenant, sexual morality, the rule of law, and ordered liberty. The West’s survival depends on renewing its commitment to the very traditions that made it great.  Israel stands on the front line in this civilizational struggle, serving as both the proverbial “canary in the coal mine”—offering early warning of threats that will eventually reach Western shores—and as a bulwark defending shared values against forces that would destroy them.   What makes Israel particularly instructive, Hammer argues, is its unapologetic nationalism stemming from its deep connection to its own biblical roots. This rootedness manifests in thriving families, remarkably high fertility rates, and a dynamic, innovative economy that flourishes even under constant existential threat. Israel’s vitality stands in stark contrast to the demographic and cultural malaise afflicting much of the secularized West.  Hammer’s ultimate prescription is a robust Jewish-Christian alliance dedicated to defending and reviving the biblical heritage that both communities share. This is not merely a defensive posture but a positive vision for civilizational renewal. By recognizing their common inheritance and the unique threats facing it, Jews and Christians can work together to ensure that the values and traditions that built the West are not lost to history but reinvigorated for future generations.  —Jason Bedrick, research fellow, Center for Education Policy, The Heritage Foundation 2. ‘Hostage’  By Eli Sharabi  In “Hostage,” Eli Sharabi delivers a devastating and deeply personal account of surviving 491 days in Hamas captivity after being abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri during the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel.   Sharabi recounts the physical deprivation, psychological torture, and constant uncertainty of life in captivity in Hamas’ terror tunnels, while also bearing witness to the murder of his wife and daughters.   Despite unimaginable suffering and daily torture, Sharabi’s resolve never falters. His commitment to survival, dignity and bonds forged with his fellow hostages is incredibly inspiring. He refused to let despair and the unknown of his fate consume him, instead, he chose time and again to live.  This memoir is not only a testament to Sharabi’s extraordinary grit but also a historical document of our moment; deeply personal yet resonant far beyond its pages. At its core, “Hostage” is an important piece of historical work; just as we bear witness to the accounts of Holocaust survivors, we must bear witness here as well.   —Kelly Adams, vice president, people operations, The Heritage Foundation 3. ‘The Man Who Invented Conservatism: The Unlikely Life of Frank S. Meyer’ By Daniel J. Flynn  After a long and curious absence, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute returns to publishing under the ISI Books imprint under Encounter Books with a biography as unlikely—and as absorbing—as its subject.   “The Man Who Invented Conservatism: The Unlikely Life of Frank S. Meyer” recounts the life of Frank S. Meyer, a figure most readers know only by nickname and shorthand, if they know him at all. Called, too neatly, the “father of fusionism,” Meyer has long been filed away as a theory rather than understood as a man.  This book corrects that mistake. Meyer emerges here as restless, brilliant, contentious, and perpetually in motion: a thinker whose ideas were forged not in abstraction but in conflict, contradiction, and lived experience. His life, tumultuous and often surprising, mirrors the evolution of a conservatism still arguing with itself.   At a time when the movement’s meaning is again uncertain, this portrait reminds us that it was never simple to begin with. Anyone who wants to understand American conservatism—not as a slogan, but as a drama—will find this book indispensable.  —Allen Mendenhall, senior advisor, Capital Markets Initiative, The Heritage Foundation   4. ‘Ethnic America: A History’  By Thomas Sowell  How well do you really understand the different peoples of America?   As a fan of epic fantasy, such as “The Lord of the Rings” and “Game of Thrones,” I love immersive stories with political intrigue and rich backstories. Thomas Sowell’s “Ethnic America: A History” may not be character driven, but it has the same epic fantasy feel, with the bonus of world-building involving our country and its rich heritage.   Did you know that, even though the U.S. rounded up the Japanese in internment camps in World War II, Japanese units fought bravely in both theaters of the war, proving their loyalty? Did you know the Irish dominated the American Catholic hierarchy, even when large numbers of southern Italians came to the U.S.? Did you know U.S. Jewish newspapers praised Germany so much during World War I that the government censored them?  “Ethnic America” is dated, but it provides a great window into America’s cultural diversity and how different groups assimilated. It has enriched my understanding of our country, and it would be a great book for 2026.  —Tyler O’Neil, senior editor, The Daily Signal  5. ‘The Death of the West: How Dying Populations and Immigrant Invasions Imperil Our Country and Civilization’  By Pat Buchanan  Written over 20 years ago, “The Death of the West: How Dying Populations and Immigrant Invasions Imperil Our Country and Civilization” feels prophetic. The problems Buchanan outlines in the book—namely a dramatically declining birthrate in Western countries and decades of completely unfettered mass migration—have only worsened since its publication in 2002.   Buchanan’s keen assessment of the perils facing Western civilization serve as an important reminder for those of us in the business of restoring our nation for the next generation. “The Death of the West” gets to the heart of why American culture seems weakened and on the verge of collapse. The book was also a favorite of our friend, Charlie Kirk.  —Emma Lagarde, associate writer, donor relations, The Heritage Foundation 6. ‘1776’  By David McCullough  “1776” provides readers with an in-depth historical account of George Washington and the United States Continental Army at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.  The book highlights the Continental Army’s early struggles in the war as well as the rise of Washington’s leadership. McCullough blends massive amounts of historical data and clever storytelling to create an excellent narration of Washington and his army.   There may be no better time to pick up this book than 2026. As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, I find it important to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who took the first leap to build this great nation. David McCullough’s “1776” is an excellent place to start.   —Ryan Pollard, data services associate, donor relations, The Heritage Foundation  7. ‘Private Yankee Doodle’  By Joseph Plumb Martin  If you haven’t already read “Private Yankee Doodle,” there is no better time to read it than in 2026.   Joseph Plumb Martin writes what is arguably the best account of America’s War for Independence from the eyes of an ordinary soldier.   Having enlisted as a 15-year-old private, Martin recounts his everyday life in the Continental Army with such expressive detail that one can’t help but shiver from his frozen rags and ache from a gnawing stomach.   Yet the desperation and drudgery are lightened by Martin’s humor and misadventures. Read the book for the history but stay through all 300 pages for the battle of insults with the British, the mischief of bored soldiers, and a run-in with The General himself.   —Clara Raabe, member services assistant, The Heritage Foundation 8. ‘In the Presence of Mine Enemies: The Civil War in the Heart of America, 1859-1864’  By Edward L. Ayers  If you’ve ever wondered “How did our strong, young Republic come to Civil War”? Edward L. Ayers’ “In the Presence of Mine Enemies: The Civil War in the Heart of America, 1859-1864” is for you.   In “In the Presence of Mine Enemies,” Ed Ayers does a fantastic job of providing a new way to view the Civil War relying on the “deep contingency” of history. He avoids sweeping generalizations far too often employed when covering the Civil War. Ayers presents the war as everyday 19th century Americans saw it in their own regular lives.  Ayers’ work covers the Autumn of 1859 with the events leading to John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry and takes the reader up to June 1863, concluding just before the Battle of Gettysburg.  During this period, Ayers compares the people of Franklin County, Pa. with the people of Augusta County, Va. On paper, these people are very similar: only separated by 200 miles they shared geography, history, religion, culture, and lived in mostly rural farming communities with only a few towns. The key difference, of course, was slavery.  These people were not the elites of the day clamoring for abolition or secession, “they prided themselves on their restraint in the face of what they saw as provocation by extremists above and below them.”  Still, the national drama unfolds on their doorsteps and the people of Franklin and Augusta experience and participate in some of the most critical episodes of the war.   If you are looking for a book to deepen your understanding of the Civil War, which includes but goes beyond the battles and dives into the culture of 1860s America, you will struggle to find a better and more comprehensive option.   —Kevin Fair, donor communications manager, Heritage Action  9. ‘Mark Twain’  By Ron Chernow   A biography of one of America’s most famous writers, “Mark Twain” follows Twain’s (Samuel Clemens’) life from birth to his death.   Chernow does a marvelous job following the life of one of the most famous people in the world during the 19th century.   From Twain’s boyhood days on the Mississippi, to being a steamboat captain, to exploring the west as a young adult, to the books and articles he authored, to the marriage of the love of his life, Livy, and their three daughters, his worldwide speaking tours, and his death in Elmira, New York. This book captivates the reader by learning the thoughts and passion of this American icon.   This is a biography of an individual we think we knew, but the reader learns so much more.   Chernow does an excellent job in his research of Twain by using Twain’s letters and correspondences with friends, family and world-famous figures during that time, including U.S. presidents from Ulysess S. Grant to Woodrow Wilson.   —Mark Hurley, senior advisor to the president, donor relations, The Heritage Foundation  10. ‘A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II’  By Sonia Purnell  I first learned about Virginia Hall from a friend about a year ago. Sharing her first name made me like her immediately, but learning her story challenged me to live up to the name I share with her. “A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II” tells Virginia’s incredible story.  Hall was a once-in-a-generation kind of woman. As a young lady from a well-to-do Baltimore family, she upset expectations for her lifetime and time again.   When she lost her leg in a hunting accident, most expected her to live out her day comfortably with her family, but she instead set out on a mission to become a diplomat.   When doors closed, she found new ones to push on, and her natural grit and intelligence landed her in the center of British and American intelligence operations during World War II. Her true story is one that will make you proud to be an American.   —Virginia Allen, senior news producer and host of “Problematic Women,” The Daily Signal   11. ‘The Name Above the Title: An Autobiography’  By Frank Capra  It’s hard to pass through this time of year without watching, contemplating, or facing a blizzard of references to “It’s a Wonderful Life.”   Director Frank Capra’s autobiography, “The Name Above the Title,” delves into the details of making this all-time classic film.   For example, how Capra called on his college background in chemical engineering to create what he boasted was the first realistic-looking snow on screen. Or how Capra had the actors almost imperceptibly rush their dialogue to subtly increase the film’s tension.   Or most hauntingly, how Jimmy Stewart channeled all the pain, anguish, brokenness, and despair he still suffered from his service in World War II into his harrowing breakdown at Martini’s bar shortly before George Bailey’s decision to end it all.   Capra describes his own service in that war, including the creation of his seminal film series “Why We Fight” done for the U.S. military to boost morale.   While it’s a great romp following Capra from his Italian roots to his early film success with comedies like “You Can’t Take It With You” and “It Happened One Night,” I was particularly intrigued by his recounting of the enormous pressure he got from the powerful who wanted to stop “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” because of its portrayal of graft and corruption in the Nation’s Capital.  Released in 1939, the film remains alive today in 2025. Reading this autobiography, one understands Frank Capra would have had the number of the likes of Nancy Pelosi, Tim Walz, and the media.   —Al Perrotta, contract editor, The Daily Signal  12. ‘President Kennedy: Profile of Power’  By Richard Reeves  Richard Reeves’ 1993 telling of Kennedy’s 1,000 days in office will give you a visceral sense of the pressures the young president was feeling as he dealt each day with the threat of nuclear war, as well as the country unraveling from social strife.  “President Kennedy: A Profile of Power” cuts out editorializing and speculation, instead focusing almost entirely on what we know for a fact Kennedy said, did, and saw on the fateful days of his presidency.   A highlight of the book is its detailed description of Kennedy’s Vienna summit meeting with Nikita Khrushchev, in which the two battled in a war of words over the future of Berlin.   “Then, Mr. Chairman, there will be war. It will be a cold winter,” Kennedy warned Khrushchev after the Soviet had refused to provide a clear guarantee of American access to the German city.  This is not a work of hero worship, and Reeves certainly does not set out to present Kennedy as a saint.   Reeves is bluntly honest about Kennedy’s marital infidelity, his painful back issues that were hidden from the public, as well as his routine use of “novocaine for pain and amphetamines for energy” to mask these issues. Nevertheless, Reeves avoids the temptation of turning the book into a tale of gossip and scandals.  This presidential biography, although focused on one man, tells the story of a transition from one America to another.   Kennedy thought every day of the increasing possibility of war in Vietnam and destructive riots in America’s cities—two things which did happen shortly after his presidency and have shaped the country we know today.   What Reeves presents us is a story of an imperfect man who made plenty of mistakes throughout his presidency but tried to keep his country together at a time of transition. It is, in my opinion, the most successful attempt to understand a man working under pressures that very few in history have ever had to deal with.  —George Caldwell, journalism fellow, The Daily Signal  13. ‘Extraordinary Transformation: An Entrepreneurial Blueprint for Leaders Who Seek Transformational Growth in Any Organization’ By Nido Qubein  “Extraordinary Transformation: An Entrepreneurial Blueprint for Leaders Who Seek Transformational Growth in Any Organization” is a leadership development book authored by Dr. Nido Qubein, president of High Point University and a successful entrepreneur, who draws directly from his diverse career in business and higher education.   The book reflects Qubein’s experience transforming High Point from a modest regional institution into a nationally recognized university, while also incorporating the entrepreneurial lessons he learned building and leading fortune 500 companies. Rather than relying on abstract theory, Qubein translates real-world experience into practical, results-driven insight.  Serving as a clear and actionable blueprint, the book offers tangible strategies to improve personal effectiveness, advance careers and drive organizational growth.  With a strong emphasis on vision, discipline, accountability and execution, “Extraordinary Transformation” equips readers with proven tools to strengthen culture, inspire people, and achieve lasting success in any organization—or in their own lives.  —Jake Matthews, communications manager, media and public relations, The Heritage Foundation  14. ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business’ By Neil Postman  Although “Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business” was written in 1985, Postman does an incredible job of explaining how the types of media we consume changes the content and that “the medium is the message.”   Postman makes the case that with the rise of television, all information has become entertainment and how in turn, politics, teaching, religious practices, and the very essence of our culture all serve to entertain.   Postman compares the world we live in to the world in “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley; instead of our demise coming from a tyrannical government, it comes from our own voluntary choices.  Postman’s observations and warnings are more salient than ever with the rise of short form content and social media, and it makes one wonder how AI will change our public discourse and ultimately, our culture.  —Autumn Dorsey, visiting research associate, Center for Technology and the Human Person, The Heritage Foundation  15. ‘The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, Second Edition’  I spent every day of 2025 studying Scripture with “The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, Second Edition,” and it genuinely transformed my life. For me, it was particularly helpful as a candidate for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, the process I’m following to become Catholic.   But regardless of your life’s circumstances, “The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, Second Edition,” is an accessible way to learn the Word of God. Developed by biblical scholar Jeff Cavins and featuring color-coded timelines and maps, this Bible will guide you through salvation history. My recommendation is to pair your copy with Father Mike Schmitz’s popular (and free) “Bible in a Year” podcast—a new episode is available every day.  —Rob Bluey, president and executive editor, The Daily Signal  16. ‘Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer’  By Tyler Staton  Do you enjoy prayer? Avoid it? Wonder if it even works? No matter where you find yourself, “Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer” by Tyler Staton offers something for you.   This book is a compelling invitation to (re)discover prayer as the heartbeat of a vibrant spiritual life. While the concepts and practices discussed are well established in church history, Staton presents them in a manner that penetrates the deepest parts of the heart, mind, and spirit.  Prayer was the source of Jesus’ most astonishing miracles and the subject of His boldest promises, yet many believers today experience it as boring, confusing, or disappointing.  This book challenges those misconceptions head on, offering a vision of prayer in its purest form: a vital and powerful connection with God that feels more real and alive than you ever imagined.   Through biblical insight, practical guidance, and honest storytelling, Staton calls readers to embrace a life of radical faith, living with the kind of trust that might look foolish to the world but leads to intimacy with God and transformative power.  —Nicole Murcek, senior executive assistant and special projects manager to the COO, The Heritage Foundation  17. ‘Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith’  By Michael Reeves  “Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith” provides a clear, joyful, and engaging explanation of the doctrine of the Trinity, making one of Christianity’s most profound truths both accessible and delightful.   The book powerfully contrasts the relational, loving Triune God of the Bible with the solitary deity of Islam, highlighting why the Christian understanding of God uniquely grounds love, fellowship and salvation. In an age of religious confusion, it strengthens readers’ confidence in historic biblical orthodoxy and deepens their worship of the God who is eternally Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   —Brett Nelius, advisor to the president, donor relations, The Heritage Foundation  18. ‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: The Greatest Warning of the Next 10 Years’ By Steve Cioccolanti  “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: The Greatest Warning of the Next 10 Years” by Steve Cioccolanti is a prophetic book about the days that are coming upon us.    We live in interesting times where we are actors and participants in the visions of the book of Revelation and must in turn be prudent and not ignorant.   Considering that the first horse has played out its part, knowing and preparing for the future is of at most importance both personally and nationally.  Along with the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” I would read “Rise” by Bridgitte Gabriel (I must add that she is very much in line with Heritage values) who spells out how to conquer with America’s Judeo-Christian principles especially against radicalized views.  —Ruth Chege, receptionist for The Heritage Foundation  19. ‘Theo of Golden: A Novel’ By Allen Levi   “Theo of Golden” is the delightful story of how a mysterious elderly man’s kindness touches the lives of residents in a small Georgia town, from children and college students to war-hardened veterans, from the wealthiest business owner to the homeless woman who cruises through the city on her bike.   Shortly after Theo arrives to Golden, he visits a coffee shop where 92 framed portraits hang on the walls. Theo is inspired to purchase all the portraits and gift them to their “rightful owners.”   Through the stories of these interactions, the reader falls in love with the mysterious Theo and the characters who become like family to him.   —Elizabeth Mitchell, White House correspondent, The Daily Signal  20. ‘Gone with the Wind’ By Margaret Mitchell  Margaret Mitchell’s famed masterpiece, “Gone with the Wind,” is engaging from the first page, quickly becomes enveloping, and by mid-book, is all-consuming. After the final page, Scarlett, Mammy, Rhett, Melanie, Ashley, and so many more remain mental companions for weeks.  It’s surprising that the book remains in print without massive controversy, given today’s sensibilities and cancel mania. Mitchell’s casual way of stating the supposedly obvious inferiority of blacks, or her description of Mammy employing “the guile of her race” to get Scarlett to eat are breathtaking. The editorializing, through Scarlett’s thoughts, about how it’s the Yankees who don’t understand and appreciate blacks, and it’s the Southerners who know what’s best for them—they’re most content as slaves—boggles the mind.   And yet, the book is heartachingly beautiful, and heart wrenchingly tragic. It is impossible to read the vivid descriptions of a country ripped apart without thinking of America today.  Despite its deep moral flaw, there’s something about “Gone with the Wind” that makes it one of the great American novels.   —Karina Rollins, senior research editor, policy publications, The Heritage Foundation  21. ‘Pride and Prejudice’  By Jane Austen   Most readers probably already read “Pride and Prejudice” in sophomore year literature class—or for the more “The Great Gatsby”-inclined men, “read.” My male classmates thought “Pride and Prejudice” was just a high school girl’s romantic fantasy.  And they were right.   More than ever, American culture needs to be inspired by stories of properly ordered romance and courtship, of men chasing women and women with skirts that leave more to the imagination than not.   Austen’s insightful and often scathing commentary on men and women’s complex—and often more frustrating than not—social interactions leaves the single reader looking for a modern version of that for themselves (“Bridget Jones” was on the right track, just think fewer Playboy Bunnies).  Austen relied on dialogue rather than the modern go-to of steamy get togethers—she lived at a time when men—for the most part—still acted like gentlemen and women like ladies.    For relief from the political noise and an escape to a world with real romance (and maybe a model of courtship), look no further than “Pride and Prejudice.”  —Erin Poff, development writer, donor relations, The Heritage Foundation  22. ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’  By Alexandre Dumas  “The Count of Monte Cristo” is thrilling adventure for both kids and adults. Set in the Napoleonic-era, Edmond Dantès is betrayed, thrown into prison and begins to carefully plot his revenge. There are enemies, secret passageways, love and a daring escape. Originally published as a serial, this classic fiction will keep you turning the pages until the very end.  —Stephanie Kreuz, director of sentinel strategy, Heritage Action  23. ‘The Murder of Roger Akroyd’  By Agatha Christie  The classic mystery featuring Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, as well as one of the most shocking twists in literature and murder mysteries, is close to 100 years old.   It’s not surprising if you’ve already read “The Murder of Roger Akroyd” or at least know the twist. It’s still a worthwhile read whether it’s for the first time or you’re revisiting.   “The Murder of Roger Akroyd” is one of Christie’s shorter works, but arguably the most impactful genre in literature and film. This is not just the case with murder mysteries, but with the idea of the unreliable narrator.   How Poirot came to his conclusion about the murder still astounds me. Speaking of film, the novel was actually referenced in the new “Knives Out” film, “Wake Up Dead Man,” which I also recommend and happened to see when I was reading this famous work by Christie. I have been venturing into the classics in recent years, and I’m so glad that I did with this one!  —Rebecca Downs, Ohio correspondent, The Daily Signal This article was originally published Jan. 1. The post 23 Books to Read in 2026 appeared first on The Daily Signal.