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Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Recovering ‘Aspirational' Conservatism
A Conservative Primerby John D. WilseyEerdmans, 288 pp., $28.99 FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE SECOND CENTURY B.C., Rome's leading conservative politician was Cato the Elder. While perhaps best known for his energetic demands to destroy Carthage, Cato was also a prolific writer and an unabashed eccentric. One of his surviving works is a practical manual, On Agriculture, of which the most amusing portion is a long list of cabbage recipes. Some of the concoctions are intended to be administered internally, others externally, and all are offered as cures; cabbage, it turns out, can be used to treat every condition imaginable, from colic to ulcers to deafness. We must remember that Cato was an old-school Roman farmer, after all—a model of authentically Roman hardiness and Republican virtue whose example could serve to challenge the softer, mannered senators around him who were learning too much Greek for their own good. (That seems to be what he wanted us to remember about him, at least.) Proper Romans treat eye maladies at home by washing them out with the urine of habitual cabbage eaters. What, didn't they teach you that in your Hellenic finishing school? And then there is his pioneering history of Rome, The Origins. Only a few fragments from this work still exist, but they give us a good sense of Cato's approach and goals. The work's defining feature is the absence of names. Instead, every individual is referred to entirely by political or military title. The result? A highly moralistic history in which the heroes are not individuals per se, since their names remain unknown, but Roman virtues. You could argue that for Cato, the hero of Roman history is Rome—the great city-state, worth preserving and celebrating. Quirks and all, Cato can be taken for the quintessential conservative—focused on maintaining the values and principles he took to be at the heart of his society while rejecting innovations that threatened them. (The subsequent history of the Roman Republic proved that his fears were not ill founded.) But as John D. Wilsey, a conservative evangelical, historian, and professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, points out in his new book, Religious Freedom: A Conservative Primer, there is more than one way to be a conservative—especially in America. That point is particularly obvious right now. Take Elon Musk. He has been celebrated as a hero by conservatives, defended against his critics by conservatives, and warmly welcomed at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Meanwhile, the utilitarian pronatalist has fathered fourteen children (that we know of), mostly with women to whom he is not married, all while boasting that doing so was a public good; the world needs more babies, after all, so why not his? When Matt Gaetz openly applauded Musk's generosity in contributing to the gene pool, pro-family researcher Patrick Brown—a conservative of a markedly different kind—quipped, 'With friends like these, who needs enemies?' Reminiscent of Cato, Wilsey does not name any contemporary politicians in his book, and he stays far from the intramural fights happening among today's conservatives. That's because he is interested in advocating 'aspirational conservatism'—a 'prepolitical' vision that prioritizes establishing timeless principles over addressing woes specific to the American political situation at this very moment. This reticence about contemporary politics notwithstanding, Wilsey does offer what he sees as a major political failure as a reference point for his book's argument: Twenty-first century conservatism has been remarkably shallow, and he is convinced that the recent absence of truly laudable public role models for conservatives has made things worse. What kind of conservative ignores or perverts such key traditional conservative values as the respect of marriage and family? Someone who is not a true conservative, Wilsey might argue—or at least one who lacks the 'prepolitical,' 'aspirational,' 'dispositional' conservatism he advocates: 'The one possessing a conservative disposition aims for a higher moral destiny for persons and societies, guided by the light of permanent things, tradition, and just order.' But what exactly does this mean? And no less important: How do we get there? Wilsey's goal in this insightful and deeply personal book—part theological exploration of human nature, part treatise on the virtuous writing of history, and part memoir of a father determined to preserve something good for his daughters—is to recover a vision for the big-picture sort of conservatism that a pair of twentieth-century thinkers, Russell Kirk and Peter Viereck (a man with eccentricities of his own to rival Cato's), argued for and personally exemplified. The title of the book is slightly misleading: While it foregrounds 'religious freedom,' the book's concern with that topic is inextricable from Wilsey's interest in how virtuous conservative citizens may flourish in—while helping to build up—a democratic society. In the process he draws on the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville, who found that the way Americans brought 'the spirit of religion and the spirit of liberty' together is one of the unique things that helped make their country a success. And so, the book is, first and foremost, an impassioned manifesto written for conservatives—and specifically, for religious conservatives, and primarily conservative evangelicals like me—who worry that twenty-first-century American society, on both the left and the right, has grown unmoored, confused, overly secular, and generally symptomatic of the condition Alistair MacIntyre describes in After Virtue. Wilsey exhorts us to consider better alternatives. 'American conservatives are in the best position to articulate and defend the best of the American character by receiving, venerating, applying, and handing down the tradition of harmony between the spirits of liberty and religion,' he writes, summarizing the argument of his book. If we take up this challenge, we may continue a legacy of passing down a uniquely beautiful American societal inheritance that is at risk of being lost to the depredations of culture war. It is worth noting here that while Wilsey is a conservative evangelical, his inclusion of Viereck—an agnostic—as a model conservative intellectual indicates that many (although not all) of the principles he discusses might have some appeal or persuasive force for at least some secular conservatives as well. Support our independent political and cultural journalism—including our growing coverage of books, ideas, and the arts—by signing up for a free or paid Bulwark subscription. AS CHRISTIANS HAVE AFFIRMED for millennia, this world is not our home. But we have the responsibility of stewarding what is entrusted to us while we're here, and Wilsey is concerned with one 'here' in particular: the United States of America. While conservatives around the world could benefit from reflecting on the general principles proposed in this book, Wilsey is clear that there is something special about the American experiment of democracy—something he wants to save. But first, 'If we are going to be conservatives, and if we are going to conserve the American tradition of harmonizing religion and liberty through public spirit, then we must know what a conservative is and what conservatives value. In other words, we must know what conservatives are before we can know what conservatives do.' This is how he sets up the opening chapter on the thought of Kirk and Viereck, Wilsey's exemplars of true conservatism. The rest of the book offers, in their spirit, an exploration of five key subjects relevant to thoughtful and virtuous living: the imagination, nationality, well-ordered liberty, history, and religion. Why these five? Because they are the sites where we must ground the foundational principles that establish aspirational conservatism. Too often, we think of conservatism first in purely political terms: Conservatives are people who vote for right-wing candidates, and therefore, anyone who votes in this way is a conservative—by their fruits shall you know them, you might say. But that doesn't mean you'll know much, or even anything about them. Such a reductive logic confuses the shallow, self-centered, and secular right-wing views of folks like Elon Musk or Andrew Tate with a more principled conservatism in the eyes of the larger public. In lieu of a political and sociologically descriptive account of conservatism, which will always be shallow and time-bound, we need deep and long-lasting foundations for a normative, prepolitical conservatism, Wilsey argues. Such foundations allow us to form good habits of mind and soul that will, in turn, form us as virtuous members of our homes, churches, and communities. Christians will naturally see the value of this view for enabling our spiritual growth, but non-Christians should be able to appreciate the benefits of such ideals, too. It's no wonder both Athenian democracy and the Roman Republic were obsessed with formation of citizens in the virtues. After all, it is better for a state to have virtuous citizens than, well, ones who are not. With these premises in mind, Wilsey's five-part account of the principles that underwrite aspirational conservatism yields the following upshots. A healthy imagination allows conservatives to form a worldview that is anchored in God and in the good, the true, and the beautiful. A healthy view of nationality allows conservatives to foster a patriotism without idolatry—a love of country as something beautiful but not ultimate. A well-ordered view of liberty rejects libertinism and recognizes God-given limits as essential for virtuous living and for honoring our interactions with other people, whom we must recognize as fellow image bearers. Likewise, a thoughtful conservative approach to history—one that doesn't venerate or denigrate the past—requires us to be virtuous in our treatment not only of those around us in the present, but also of those who have gone before us. Finally, conservative view of religious liberty brings us to a well-ordered relationship with God, as well as with other people. The overall takeaway is: There is much that is worth conserving in the American tradition, but the task of doing so belongs to well-formed, virtuous people, such as we must become. It makes some sense, then, that the muse animating this project is ultimately not Tocqueville but St. Augustine of Hippo. Augustine's presence throughout serves as a reminder that Christian spiritual formation and the formation of believers in the virtues have been predominant concerns among church leaders for thousands of years, and they are no less vital today. Further, Wilsey's project of growth in democratic and spiritual virtue is deeply personal, as Augustine's was to him. Spiritual formation, Wilsey shows us, is impossible to separate from our formation as virtuous members of our society, because we are both of these things in the same body and soul—believers and citizens. This is where the theological concept of lifelong sanctification—growing more like Christ in our character, love for others, and spirit of self-sacrifice—makes sense not only in a religious context, but as an idea that applies to how we view citizenship. Join now IT'S HARD NOT TO simply offer acclamations for Wilsey's beautiful vision for American religious conservatism. I would love to see it materialize and flourish. Religious Freedom is an encouraging and hopeful book written by someone who believes what he writes, who has the encourager's vocation, and whose character is consistent with his view of the world. If there is a flaw here, I would locate it in Wilsey's unwavering hope and trust in the likelihood that this vision of conservatism will come to fruition. To think more carefully about this, it behooves us to consider the topic that Wilsey pointedly sets aside at the outset: politics. Over the past few years, the threat of Christian nationalism has rapidly overtaken public discourse, and a book on conservatism and religion would seem a natural place to address the subject head on. But Wilsey's commitment to making this project 'prepolitical' is thoroughgoing, and he makes scant mention of the topic. The strongest direct criticism he offers in response to the work of other thinkers who claim the mantle of conservatism—for instance, the self-proclaimed Christian nationalist William Wolfe—is that they have embraced political thinking as being primary, and mixed a bit of religion into it as a secondary matter. This is a perennial temptation, Wilsey writes, but we should resist, because in any alliance of religion and politics, politics loses nothing and religion loses everything. That is, religion loses its credibility and influence in society because it becomes too closely associated with fleeting political trends of the day. Wilsey is right: The great risk to the integrity of American religion has always been its co-optation by American politics. (Some would argue the seeds of its current subversion were sown long ago.) But how do you convince a person who has little use for personal virtue to become virtuous? I worry that Wilsey's readers will primarily consist of people who already agree with him on the value of such things, and who will be content to rearrange deck chairs with him as the ship of American conservatism—sociologically construed—continues to sink into ignorance, race hatred, and reaction. Books take a long time to gestate and move through the publishing process. Wilsey's book likely reached its final state a year or more ago, long before anyone could have imagined the present state of our nation's political affairs. But maybe today's political turmoil is yet another reminder of the need to have at least some conversations that are more timeless than tied to the latest headlines. Wilsey is not the only one calling for prepolitical conversations about cultural transformation and renewal in Christ at these times of difficult politics—indeed, in many ways his book reads as an expanded version of the manifesto of Comment magazine (in whose recent pages readers will also encounter the term 'prepolitical'). For Christian conservatives like myself, there will always still be reasons for hope. Here is one: The most successful form of religious and spiritual appeal to nonbelievers, which has brought many secular children of late modernity into the church, has lately been cultural apologetics, broadly considered—that is, the work of forming the imagination and worldview of secular people to see their need for God's truth, goodness, and beauty. What is on offer could be described as a kind of aspirational conservatism in the Augustinian mode, too—living in the city of man, but with eyes fixed on the City of God. As our political moment becomes more fraught, the value of this worldview will only become more compelling. Share Nadya Williams is books editor at Mere Orthodoxy and the author of the books Cultural Christians in the Early Church (2023); Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic (2024); and Christians Reading Classics (forthcoming in 2025). Substack: @nadyawilliams.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed US port fees on Chinese vessels may alter intermodal shipping patterns
A Trump administration port fee proposal designed to boost the U.S. shipbuilding industry could scramble international intermodal traffic, shift some container business to ports in Canada and Mexico, and help Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroads in the process. In February, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative floated a plan to impose steep fees on Chinese vessels that call on U.S. ports. Vessels operated by Chinese companies would face a $1 million port call fee. Ships built in China would have to pay a $1.5 million fee per port call. And any shipping line that has placed more than 50% of its new vessel orders with Chinese shipyards would incur a $1 million port entry fee. The White House says the fees would be used to subsidize the U.S. shipbuilding industry, which no longer produces commercial vessels in meaningful numbers. The administration says the plan also would reduce the global dominance of China's shipyards. Ocean shipping expert John D. McCown in a LinkedIn post says the fees on a Chinese-built, Chinese-flagged ship could amount to as much as $2,100 per 40-foot container, which is just $800 below the current cost to ship a container from Shanghai to Los Angeles.'If the intention is to drastically increase costs for U.S. importers and make U.S. exports uncompetitive, this proposal is likely to do the job,' said maritime expert Lars Jensen, also on LinkedIn. Nearly three dozen groups representing U.S. importers and exporters, manufacturers, farmers, retailers, railroads, and ports told the U.S. trade representative Monday that the proposal would hurt the overall American economy while reducing trade and worsening the trade deficit. In a report released Monday, the groups said shipping lines would likely take steps to minimize or avoid the port entry fees. First, they would drop calls at smaller U.S. ports in favor of discharging containers at large ports like Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, and New York and New Jersey. Second, they might divert 5% of their port calls to Canadian and Mexican ports. 'Some U.S. ports, notably those on the West Coast but also the East Coast, compete with ports in Canada and Mexico. If the cost of calling a U.S. port is suddenly much higher, some carriers may feel pressure to divert U.S.-bound ships facing those higher costs to a Mexican or Canadian port instead, forcing their customers to transport their goods by truck or rail from there to U.S. destinations. The ability to do this, however, is also constrained by the infrastructure and prevailing business load at these ports,' the groups' report of the ports of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, told Trains News Wire that their terminals must ensure that any potential surge of U.S.-bound traffic does not slow Canadian freight. Railroads are closely watching developments on the port call proposal. CPKC Chief Executive Keith Creel says U.S. port fees would create an economic incentive for ocean carriers to use Canadian and Mexican ports. CPKC serves ports in Vancouver; Saint John, New Brunswick; and Lazaro Cardenas on Mexico's Pacific coast. If enacted, the port fees could lead to significant growth at Lazaro Cardenas, Creel told an investor conference earlier this month. The container port has plenty of capacity but currently primarily handles goods bound to and from Mexico. CPKC, like Kansas City Southern before it, sees the port as a congestion-free alternative to Los Angeles and Long Beach. Ocean carriers likely would drop service to smaller ports in favor of making just one call at a large port, executives from CSX and Union Pacific told an investor conference this month. A cargo shift to major ports would concentrate volume at fewer locations, which is both an opportunity and challenge for the railroad, CSX Chief Financial Officer Sean Pelkey says. 'We can be a part of the solution for that, but it could also result in more congestion as well, which could have significant disruptive effects and of course lead to higher inflation. So it's a watch item for us,' Pelkey said. The disruption also would affect export coal shipments handled on Chinese-built bulk ships that call at CSX-served terminals at Newport News, Virginia, and Baltimore, Pelkey says. And that could make U.S. metallurgical coal exports less competitive in global markets. BNSF spokesman Zak Andersen says the impact of the port fees is uncertain but would hurt U.S. ports. 'Anything that increases the cost of international trade will be challenging for all supply chain stakeholders,' he said. 'Diversion from U.S. ports has long been a concern and we hope that any proposed trade policy recognizes the likelihood of diversion and contemplates mitigation to prevent it.'BNSF is planning a $1.5 billion terminal and adjacent transload center in Barstow, California, to handle international intermodal volume. 'If this proposal is enacted as currently conceived, we could certainly see meaningful cargo diversions to Canadian ports, particularly Vancouver and Prince Rupert, although I don't have specific figures to offer,' said Cherilyn Radbourne, a Toronto-based analyst at TD Cowen. 'That said, I imagine that the U.S. ports and other interested parties will argue exactly that point during the comment period, and it's hard to imagine that the Trump administration would want to hurt U.S. ports, which already see themselves as somewhat disadvantaged versus Canadian ports due to the Harbor Maintenance Tax.' The lack of a harbor maintenance tax at Canadian ports is among the factors that have helped make them gateways to the U.S. Midwest via the CN and CPKC intermodal networks. Intermodal analyst Larry Gross in a report says the proposed port fees are large enough to change shipping patterns and drive some share shift to Canadian ports. Vancouver and Prince Rupert likely would gain business currently handled at Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, he says, while Halifax and Saint John might grow at the expense of the Port of New York and New Top-secret US plans to attack Houthis accidentally shared with journalist NTSB faults Maryland in Key Bridge collapse, warns dozens of other bridges at risk China's largest shipping line sees stunning gains in revenue, profits Trans-Pacific container rates below lowest 2024 levels: Freightos The post Proposed US port fees on Chinese vessels may alter intermodal shipping patterns appeared first on FreightWaves.
New York Times
05-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Mandel's mailbag: Will Florida State, Clemson stay in ACC? What's Ohio State's outlook?
I've got to say, I was surprised I wasn't flooded with ACC-Florida State/Clemson lawsuit settlement questions this week. Either you guys are losing interest in realignment, or you're losing interest in the ACC. (Or both.) (Note: Submitted questions have been lightly edited for length and clarity.) I think Florida State and Clemson leaving the ACC would begin a Pac-12 type of evaporation so I hope they stay. Is the new revenue formula and game selection enough to hold them in the conference? — John D. Advertisement FSU and Clemson made out well in the settlements. For all the FSU bluster about bolting the ACC, this whole saga began because it wanted a bigger slice of the league's revenue, and now it has that. Those two programs, along with Miami when it's good, are always going to be the league leaders in TV ratings, which will now determine 60 percent of the conference's media rights pot. ACC schools received an average of around $45 million from conference revenue in 2022-23. My colleagues Ralph Russo and Matt Baker reported that schools can now earn an extra $15 million to $35 million between this and the postseason performance pool instituted last year. If so, they'll be on par with the SEC/Big Ten. Which is what they wanted all along. But of course, that won't temper speculation those two might still leave. If anything, the settlement sets a target date of 2030-31, when the league's exit fee will drop to $75 million, AND a departing member retains its media rights, which effectively renders the Grant of Rights moot. But while it's now more feasible for FSU/Clemson to leave, they still need someone to invite them to leave. There has been no indication during the past 18 months that either the Big Ten or SEC are pining to add those or any other ACC members. The SEC already has schools in those states and more than enough big TV brands to keep ESPN happy. And the Big Ten is finding out how hard it is to keep 18 members spread across the country happy, especially in scheduling. GO DEEPER The ACC-FSU-Clemson legal battle is ending. How long will realignment peace reign? But 2030-31 is a long way away and both college sports and sports TV will presumably change quite a bit between now and then. Under the Big Ten's and SEC's current media rights deals, there are barely enough TV windows to fit the schools they have. But what if everything moves to streaming by then, and Netflix or Amazon says give us an abundance of games? Advertisement I believe the traditional conference model in football will crumble by the early 2030s. It's already too unwieldy, and the revenue-sharing era will expose the chasms within conferences between schools that can afford to compete at the highest level and those that can't. Len Perna, ringleader of the group spearheading a proposed FBS Super League, told me late last year they were targeting 2032. It might not be that exact model, but it will be something that generates even more money and makes more sense geographically. What's the outlook for Ohio State this season? I think Julian Sayin has the potential to be the first pick in the NFL Draft. Can they reload and win another natty? I'm worried about their pass rush. What say you, premier college football writer? — Joshua F. First pick of the NFL Draft? Two years from now? Bold prediction for a guy who's attempted 12 college passes. But yes, he's supposed to be good. And Ohio State could be really good, but to do so the Buckeyes will need to go against recent college football history. The past two national champions (2023 Michigan and 2024 Ohio State) were senior-led teams with a ton of returning experience. The past nine, going back to 2016 Clemson with Deshaun Watson, had quarterbacks with previous starting experience (albeit in a couple of cases, only a few games). The 2025 Buckeyes will be low on returning starters not just at quarterback but across the board, save for the notable exceptions of receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. But times have changed, and Ryan Day did very well in the portal this offseason, especially on offense. I've long been impressed with West Virginia running back CJ Donaldson as a guy who shares carries. Rice's Ethan Onianwa doesn't just fill a void at offensive tackle, he could be one of the top guys in the country. And Purdue tight end Max Klare has garnered quite a bit of buzz. And then there's this: The stat 'returning starters' could become increasingly deceiving with these longer seasons. Technically, Ohio State will have just six. But guys like defensive ends Kenyatta Jackson and Caden Curry, receiver Brandon Inniss, DB Lorenzo Styles Jr., linebackers C.J. Hicks and Arvell Reese, and cornerback Jermaine Matthews Jr. played as many snaps as someone who started three to five games. And they're all very good. Advertisement Realistically, Ohio State is not going to repeat as national champion, but perhaps the Buckeyes have as good or better a regular season as the team that went 10-2 last year. With teams seeming to do away with spring games, or at least heading in that direction, why couldn't they do closed-door spring games? I get coaches don't want to lose players to the portal but wouldn't it still benefit the players and staff to get a live game in? — Jasper Schmidt, Crosby, Minn. Most teams hold scrimmages during the spring that the public never sees, and coaches will tell you they're far more useful than the spring game. The spring game is primarily for the fans. Which is why I HATE that coaches are falling all over themselves to cancel them this year. Nebraska, Ohio State, Texas, USC and right on down the line. Why do they have to be the most paranoid people on the planet? I'm not unsympathetic to the concerns about other schools going roster poaching, but as Dabo Swinney — who is keeping Clemson's spring game — said last week, 'Whether you have a spring game or not, (there's) going to be tampering.' But sure, let's take away this tradition that 40,000-60,000 fans of a school enjoy annually because someone might watch them on Big Ten Network and poach their second-string linebacker. I have a particular bone to pick with Matt Rhule, whose 12-13 record in his first two seasons at Nebraska apparently has turned him into the arbiter of all things college football. First, he touched off the spring game revolt, and then, after Nebraska canceled its upcoming home-and-home with Tennessee, went on Urban Meyer's podcast and said, 'Why would you ever play one of those games?' I'll tell you why: The fans like them! Much more so than watching their team play Akron and Houston Christian, Nebraska's two nonconference home opponents this season. Even if it means the Huskers might win seven games instead of eight. Sorry to go on my soapbox, but I feel like college football finds new reasons every year to alienate its fans, from realignment to watered-down schedules to the price of hot dogs. It makes you want to shake a guy like Rhule and say, 'Do you realize how you're able to make $9 million a year to coach football? Because of those people!' Advertisement But I digress. So, the NFL is retiring the chain gang next season and using the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement system to decide if somebody got a first down. If the system works well next season in the NFL, how long until FBS adopts it? — John H., State College, Pa. First of all: Long overdue. If it goes well, hopefully college adopts it the following year. But it took nearly 30 years from when the NFL debuted helmet communication to adopt it in college, so, perhaps in 2055. Are there any coaches who've started as poorly as Luke Fickell has at Wisconsin and turned their failures into successes? Will Fickell ultimately succeed? — Gary K. Sure, I can think of a few recent examples. Florida State's Mike Norvell was 8-13 his first two seasons before going 23-4 over the next two. (Let's not discuss last season.) Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz began with three straight .500 regular seasons before improving to 11-2 and 10-3 the past two seasons. And Florida's Billy Napier was squarely on the hot seat deep into his third season after going 6-7, 5-7 and starting 4-5 last season before winning four straight to finish 8-5 and restore some confidence. Compared with those, Fickell's 13-13 mark over his first two seasons seems fairly unalarming on the surface. But there are two big differences. For one, Fickell followed a coach, Paul Chryst, who was not considered disastrous by any means. Most of us were stunned when AD Chris McIntosh fired him five games into the 2022 season given he'd just gone 9-4 the year before and 67-26 overall. So Fickell started with a higher bar than most coaches taking over for a coach who got canned. Perhaps more importantly, though, Fickell walked into a program that had a lot of success doing things a certain way for 30 years and tried to reinvent the wheel. Arguably the biggest thing working against him is that the unofficial mayor of Madison, Barry Alvarez, has been publicly critical of him on several occasions. Gary Danielson mentioned on the air during a game against USC that Alvarez did not like Wisconsin lining up in the shotgun on a fourth down play earlier in the game. Heaven help Kalen DeBoer if Nick Saban starts questioning his play-calling on 'College GameDay.' Advertisement I don't see a lot of hope for Fickell, whose big offseason moves involved hiring an offensive coordinator, Jeff Grimes, whose fans of his previous school, Kansas, would have packed his bags for him, and landing a transfer QB, Maryland's Billy Edwards Jr., who was the Big Ten's ninth-rated passer last season. But I felt the same way about those earlier guys at this same point in their tenures, so maybe both myself and Alvarez will soon be eating crow. What can fans do before consequential decisions are made to halt the 4-4-2-2-1 model for a 14-team College Football Playoff to prevent it from happening in the same way soccer fans stopped the Super League? Would coordinated protests at the conference basketball tournaments, including SEC and Big Ten tournaments, be enough? — Andrew W., New York That's a great idea. Try to get on camera waving a sign that says, 'CFP Auto Qualifiers are for Losers, not Champions.' Probably more effective, though, would be sit-ins outside the presidents' mansions at Big Ten and SEC universities. 'No At-Larges, No Justice!' Just whatever you do, keep it civil. Not like an SEC football game. After reading your article on the Pop-Tarts Bowl, it got me thinking: Could bowl games make a move toward smaller stadiums since in-person attendance has been declining? — Patrick, Aiken, S.C. Thanks for reading that story. It's so easy in the offseason to get bogged down by Playoff formats and revenue sharing and whatnot, it was fun to write about a much lighter topic. We've seen a little bit of that already. The Holiday Bowl, whose longtime home Jack Murphy Stadium (that's how I remember it) got demolished in 2021, is now played at San Diego State's 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium, which seems about right given that it pits a (former) Pac-12 school against an ACC school unlikely to travel. The game now known as the Rate Bowl downsized from Sun Devil Stadium to Chase Field a decade ago. But not all cities have a mid-sized stadium like that, so you're more likely to see games in a football stadium where the upper deck is not used. GO DEEPER 'To the victor goes the pastry': How the Pop-Tarts Bowl became CFB's most absurd moment But let's be honest: There was a recognition many years ago that these bowls were now less a tourism event and more a TV show, hence why we have games in Detroit, Boston, Birmingham, etc. And why so many of the G5-level bowls feel completely disconnected from their locations. Does anyone know where the 68 Ventures Bowl is played? Or the difference between the First Responders Bowl and the Frisco Bowl? Advertisement To me, the lesson of the Pop-Tarts Bowl is that it's perfectly OK to embrace the fact that most bowl games are just for fun. And to lean into that fun. Most people like to have fun. Could an athlete drop his scholarship at his current school during the season and walk on to another school to take bigger NIL money, more playing time, or to play in the College Football Playoff? — Eric L. Not as of now, because there's an NCAA rule that says you can't play for two schools in the same academic year. But like all things NCAA, it's currently facing a legal challenge from a golfer, Holly McLean, who is seeking a preliminary injunction to compete for USF this spring after competing in one event for Oklahoma last fall. She says she was informed later in the fall that her scholarship was not being renewed and thus entered the transfer portal but has been deemed ineligible to compete in the spring season due to that fall event. I think we can all agree the facts of that particular situation are unique. But, like Diego Pavia and others, if she wins, it could set a precedent allowing lots and lots of others, perhaps even in other sports, to follow suit. Another lawsuit has been filed against the NCAA challenging one of its eligibility rules. This one challenges the rule that you can't play for two schools in the same academic year. Plaintiff is a former Oklahoma🏌️♀️who was cut this fall because of House settlement roster limits. — Mit Winter (@WinterSportsLaw) February 21, 2025 Before last season started, Indiana, Iowa State and Vanderbilt were the last remaining Power 4 teams to never win 10 or more games in a season. Now Vanderbilt is the only team remaining. How long do you think it will take for Vanderbilt to get to 10 wins in a season? Five years? Ten years? Twenty-five years? Would it require the season to be extended, or for the entire SEC to get guaranteed berths in the Playoff? — Andre S., Galena, Ill. What an amazing factoid, albeit a depressing one for Vandy fans. But I think they have a chance. The portal helps them, as we saw last season. And the mega-sized SEC with no divisions allows for more randomness in schedules, where in any given year the Commodores could luck into a schedule like Indiana's last season. Maybe a decent nonconference program happens to have a down year when Vandy faces it. The Commodores don't have to make the Playoff, they just need to get to 9-3 and win a bowl game. I'll take the 10-year timeline, though perhaps I'm being pessimistic. Perhaps I should predict it to happen this season. Vandy ranks No. 8 nationally in returning production, per Bill Connelly. Pavia is back for one more season, as is his favorite target, tight end Eli Stowers. As are four of the Commodores' top five tacklers. Advertisement One problem: Vandy did not luck into an easy schedule this season, what with trips to Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia Tech, plus LSU and Missouri at home. It will happen sometime in the next decade, though. The Big Ten and SEC were 1-5 against Notre Dame last year. Super conferences? LOL. You can't even beat a team that has no conference. — Kevin H. Very true. Though if 'performance against Notre Dame in 2024' is the new measuring stick in this sport then we should all be bowing down to the MAC.
Buzz Feed
12-02-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Reviewers With Bunions Say These Are The 16 Most Comfortable Shoes
To have a bunion — a troublesome bony bump that can develop on the joint of your big toe — is irritating enough. But to have to have one constantly rubbing up against the interior of shoes is another painful event entirely. Since traipsing around barefoot isn't always an option, the next best thing is to find a comfortable shoe that won't irritate bunions and make feet feel supported. So, who's better to help us unearth said shoes than reviewers who claim to suffer from bunions themselves? In just one short scroll, you'll find a list of men's and women's shoes that have wide and comfortable toe beds and are suitable for every occasion, be it work, running errands, or outdoor adventures. 1. A pair hands-free slip-on sneakers for men These hands-free sneakers from Skechers require zero bending or straining to put on and promise a brand-exclusive pillow heel that holds feet securely in place. Inside, the insole is made from an air-cooled memory foam for a responsive cushioning that keeps feet dry and comfortable. Grab these slip-ons in eight colors and men's sizes 6.5–16, half sizes and wide widths included. Promising review:"I'm an old guy with a bunion, an arthritis filled twisted ankle, a narrow heel and I'm diabetic. Wonders never cease, these shoes fit and are comfortable right out of the box. I'm also a size 11.5W which they had. Easy on is great, removal a little more difficult. Very happy. Happy enough that pair #2 is delivering tomorrow." — John D. Get them from Amazon for $56.25+. 2. Allbirds' best-selling Merino wool cloud sneaker Allbirds The Wool Runners are one of Allbirds' best-known shoes, great for walking in all weather conditions with a lightweight feel and cushioned support insoles. These rain-ready shoes feature certified natural rubber treads for a delightful bounce and better traction and Merino wool uppers that are water-repellent. They come in several color combinations and men's and women's sizing. Promising reviews:"I love the warmth of the wool. Even the inner sole is wool. Tie shoes are a good choice for me as I have bunions needing roomy fronts but narrow heels. These provide that comfort. Altho I have not washed them, you can do this!" — Joan S. "Love the fit, the feel and the comfort of these, especially for heavy walking days through Europe. Wool seems like it should be hot, but they are cool, and with bare feet in them all day, they are never stinky. This is my second pair, as I completely wore out my first through several years of extensive travel. They feel like having on super cushy socks - I have horrible feet - bunion and flat - and these fit like a dream." — Ingrid W. 3. Zappos The shoe offerings of Hoka are beloved for their impact-absorbing insoles and cushioned stability. If bending over and fussing with shoelaces has never been your thing, the Hoka Restores are a pair of recovery sneakers that can be easily slipped on and off. What's better, the soft stretch upper and round-toe silhouette allow for a bunion-friendly wear. Find these in five colors and gender-neutral sizing up to 15. Promising review:"The size and fit were perfect. I am 4 months out from bunion surgery and I still have a lot of swelling throughout the day. These are the only shoes I've been able to keep on my feet for any length of time without removing them from the swelling and pain. The material on top of these shoes have some stretchy type material on top so it allows room for my foot to swell without putting pressure on it and causing more pain. I also have neuropathy and plantar fasciitis. These shoes have been amazing for those as well!" — Debbie Get them from Zappos for $109.95. 4. Amazon We've written about the Ghost running shoes by Brooks before, a pair of neutral running sneakers that have proven to be comfortable for active older women in their 60s. These bouncy-soled shoes are wide enough to accommodate bunions, hammertoes, and custom orthotics. Promising reviews: "I wore these straight out of the box to walk 36 holes of golf. I didn't even adjust the laces. Super comfortable. I wear these every day and am going back for at least one more pair. I have bony feet and a bunion and these really help me." — T Glover "These are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I have bunions, plantar fasciitis, and have a wide toe box area. I use the to walk on the treadmill, walk outdoor, and just wear everyday when I am on my feet. These shoes are amazing!!!!! I will be purchasing several more pair!!" — Eric J. Sluder Get them from Amazon in men's for $109.99+ (available in sizes 7–15, two widths and 23 colors) or in women's for $109.95+ (available in sizes 5–13, two widths, and 31 colors). 5. Calla Boots are notoriously complicated footwear for bunions, and these soft, genuine leather boots from Calla promise to be designed specifically for this purpose. Rising to just below the knee, these boots feature a cushioned and arch-supported insole and come in brown and black and women's European sizes 36–42. Promising review:" I had a really hard time finding tall boots that didn't squish my bunions and these were truly the ONLY brand I could find. So cute and comfortable!! Very happy with my Calla Boots." — Madeline P. 6. A stretch mesh walking shoe in women's sizes Amazon Possibly one of the best-selling Skechers styles on Amazon, the Joy walking sneaker from the brand's Go Walk line has soft mesh uppers that stretch comfortably over bunions or hammer toes. They feature two types of responsive and high-bound cushioning in both the mid- and insole, while the outsoles have flexible traction. Find these machine-washable shoes in 24 colors and women's sizes 5–13 and four widths, half sizes included. Shop a similar style in men's sizes. Promising reviews:"No break in period. Fit comfortably and well at first try in. I've worn these shoes carefully at first thinking I may need to return as I did nearly 4 different sizes of this and similar shoes. I have wide feed with bad bunion on one side but these never hurt! All my new shoes have hurt a little bit at first. Not these! I couldn't believe that. Couple days later I took a chance wearing them out and about all day long. Absolutely zero discomfort. I'm amaze. Only East Spirit mules have felt so good but ES wasn't supportive. These Sketchers are very supportive yet also quite comfortable like my old ES mules but with excellent arch support (I have high arches). Sizing is very different. You may have to try on your regular size plus a couple of half sizes smaller cause they run large and Wider and longer." — scoobydoo123 "I ordered my regular size 7W and they fit perfectly. I do have a bunion and the fabric is soft and stretches comfortably over it." — Suzy Get them from Amazon for $32.42+. 7. Amazon Despite their deceptively minimalist design and affordable price point, these synthetic leather sandals offer supreme arch support and a fully covered whip-toe design that can conceal bunions while also helping to align toes. You can find these in seven colors, two widths, and women's sizes 5–10. Promising reviews:"I LIVE in these shoes! I was on the fence about buying them, but given the price point I figured I might as well, and I'm so glad I did! They fit true to size (though I don't like my sandals to be too big so I got the 40 and they fit my 8.5 feet exactly), and are ridiculously comfortable. The leather strap and toe ring are smooth and don't dig in anywhere, even on my somewhat wide feet. The arch support took a little getting used to - more than the typical support you'd see in a regular footbed sandal, these seem to have a 'bump' right under the arch of the foot. I will say that the second day wearing them was a little painful just because of that, but nothing that didn't eventually get broken in. I also thought I'd mention that I have pretty noticeable bunions that make slide sandals hard to wear due to being too tight or my feet turning them sideways - I don't have those problems with these at all. The toe ring makes my feet stay put, and there's nothing rubbing against the bunion. And they can be worn anywhere! Dress up some leggings and a t-shirt, wear with some black slacks for work, throw them on next to the pool - they seem to go with everything and I haven't been disappointed. Just get them!" — V "I bought these sandals because I wanted a neutral color that I could wear with my outfits during the summer months. They are very comfortable with plenty of cushion. I have good support and I have bunions so this sandal helps keep my big toes aligned." — N. Johnson 8. Vivaia Made with a soft stretch-knit fabric and boasting a timeless look, these ballet flats have been designed to be supremely comfortable. There's a padded heel patch, a roomy V-cut square toe that won't cinch toes, and a pressure-relieving insole with added arch support. Grab these chic shoes in 32 colors and patterns in women's sizes 5–13, including half sizes and wide sizes. Promising review:"I was really skeptical about ordering these shoes because of the reviews. But I have wide feet with bunions, and I have to say these shoes are so comfortable and versatile that I'm so glad that I bought them. Great travel shoes as they are light and pack without taking up a lot of space. Bought another pair in black!!" — FataL Get them from Amazon for $99.99. 9. A slingback wedge sandal, in women's sizing Amazon If you've always wanted to find a supportive summer wedge that won't trash your feet, these comfortable slingbacks come with some pretty impressive reviewer-led endorsements. They have an outsole that will make you feel stable on your feet, a sock-like upper design and come in nine colors and women's sizes 5–11, including wide-width options. Promising reviews:"These are my favorite shoes. I'm 5'3", 235 lbs, have plantar fasciitis, bunions, and tarsal tunnel. These are so cute and comfy that I bought more colors. I wore for hours and was on my feet the entire time and had zero pain! These are easy to dress up or down." — Jenifer C. "Bought these after shopping at department stores and purchasing a pair three times the cost of the price the department store pair were not super comfortable which is why I kept looking. These are way more comfortable than the more expensive ones and fit with foot issues (bunion). They can be casual and the black works with night out as well." — Suzy 10. A pair of "barefoot" zero-drop sole sneakers Amazon Intended to feel barefoot-like, these minimalist wide-width sneakers have a fully articulating and slip-resistant sole and a wide toe box that allows toes a full range of movement. The non-elevated heel also helps promote proper posture. These are available in 10 colors and sizes for men and women, up to a men's 13.5. Promising review:"I can't say enough about how comfortable these barefoot shoes are. These are the first I've worn. Just wish I had tried them long before. I have been wearing them for several days all day long and haven't had any issues. I have a normal arch but do have bunions. They are great for around the house and on smooth surfaces. Taking a casual stroll has been fine, but I wouldn't wear them on rough surfaces or for long walks/hiking as you do feel what's underneath your foot due to the thin soles. I was concerned about only wide sizes offered, but it's just for the toe box. My heel fits just fine and doesn't come out of the shoe." — Dixie 11. Amazon Available in 12 color combinations and women's sizes 6–11 with wide options, the Merrell Terran is a supportive slip-on sandal designed with a proprietary foam insole and a comfortable toe ring that can keep the big toe separate from the other toes, without any painful friction on bunions. Promising review: " As someone with bunions on both feet, these sandals are a great, comfortable fit and are offered in many colors. Being told that thong sandals are not good for someone with bunions, these Merrell sandals keep the big toe somewhat separated from the other toes and doesn't encourage the big toe to grip the thong like a thong sandal does. The protruding part of the bunion is covered by the part of the sandal where the big toe fits into the sandal with a flexible fabric that doesn't rub or hurt. These sandals are true to size and I hope Merrill never stops making this style." — Mimi C. 12. Stretch-knit athletic sneakers, in women's sizing Amazon These athletic sneakers from Orthofeet are made from an antimicrobial stretch-knit fabric and are equipped with a wide toe box so you don't have to worry about uncomfortable pressure or friction on bunions and hammer toes. The cushioned heel is also supplemented with removable orthotic insoles that provide anatomical arch support to help realign the foot. They are available in eight colors, two widths, and sizes 5–12 for women. Get them from Amazon for $99.99. 13. A dress pump by Clarks, in women's sizing Amazon These work-appropriate Mary Jane pumps by Clarks have a block heel that keeps things feeling secure to walk in. Available only in black, three width options and in women's sizes 5.5–12 (half sizes included), these Emslie Lulins boast a footbed made of high-rebound foam to cushion feet and absorb impact. Promising reviews:"Absolutely great... super comfortable for my achy bunions.... happy to be able to wear something so stylish and having a heel rather tan wearing 7.5 normal width and they fit well. 7.5 normal width is my usual size." — Gaga " I have bunions that I've had surgery for and plantar fasciitis. These are the perfect height and support for my needs. I feel like I could wear them all day. They feel like slippers." — H R LaConte Zappos Birkenstocks are famed for their highly supportive corked footbeds that mold to the arches of your feet and a neutral heel profile that distributes body weight evenly. If you're less partial to the brand's customary stiff footbed, their Boston style comes in this cushioned soft bed version and in a suede fabric that's less rigid than Birkenstocks' traditional leather uppers which might rub on bunions and toes. Promising reviews:" [I] have terrible feet, including bunions and hammer toes. These are great for the house and short walks. Comfortable." — Anonymous "My orthopedist recommended these after breaking both of my feet. I wore a cast boot for three months and once healed, I progressed to these by doctor's recommendation. I tried a pair with the hard inner sole first and they hurt. These soft ones were much better. I placed an orthotic inside which makes them even softer. The suede is soft and comfortable on my bunions." — Rhonda L Get them from Zappos for $165 (available in men's sizes 6–13.5, women's sizes 4–12.5, two widths and three colors). 15. Keen's all-terrain waterproof sandal Zappos Keen's Newport outdoor sandals are a classic choice for all your outdoor and watery adventures thanks to their durable and fast-drying construction and covered toe that's wide enough to accommodate bunions. Find these in a near endless color selection, and sizes for both women and men, up to a men's 17. Promising review:"I ordered a 10 and 10.5 for my husband's birthday after reading reviews to order up half size. We kept the 10 which is pretty close to his true size in sandals. The closed toe offers more protection for his outdoor activities than his traditional Tevas. He has a pretty sizeable bunion and these sandals are very comfortable for him. Overall, a good purchase. They haven't been put to the test for longevity, of course, but they seem solid. The Navy/Medium Gray is a good color option. He's happy." — Zappos customer Get them in women's from Amazon for $99.99+ or in men's from Zappos for $107.50 (originally $125). 16. Wide-toed work boots with a safety toe, in men's sizing Orthofeet If typical safety toe work boots have created problems for your bunions, these boots have been specifically made with a generous composite toe box to provide a friction-free wear. They also have a cushioned orthotic insole, as well as a specially cushioned heel, to make these stabilizing and slip-resistant boots comfortable for those with sensitive and pain-prone feet. Grab these in two colors, four widths, and men's sizes 7–14, half sizes included. Promising review:"These are the first pair of boots that have ever been wide enough for me. I have a bunion, and also have to wear safety toe boots, which is a bad combination. these were plenty wide, so my beet aren't scraping the side and hurting. My only regret is that I bought too big. I always buy one size up to get the width, but this time I would not have needed to. very pleased." — jim williams
