Ross Douthat

Ross Douthat is an American conservative political commentator, author, and op-ed columnist for The New York Times. A prominent voice in right-leaning media, he is known for his intellectual approach to social conservatism, Catholic thought, and critiques of modern elites. Douthat's career spans influential roles at publications like The Atlantic and National Review, and he is the author of several books on religion, politics, and American culture.

Early life and education

Ross Douthat was born in San Francisco, California, and spent much of his childhood in New Haven, Connecticut. He attended the prestigious Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, before enrolling at Harvard University. At Harvard, he studied history and literature, served as president of the Harvard Salient—a conservative campus newspaper—and graduated in 2002. His undergraduate years were formative, deepening his engagement with Catholic theology, political philosophy, and journalism.

Career

Douthat began his professional writing career as a film critic for National Review and later as a senior editor at The Atlantic, where he wrote on politics and religion. In 2009, he joined the editorial page of The New York Times as a columnist, succeeding William Kristol and becoming one of the youngest regular op-ed writers in the paper's history. His column offers a distinctive conservative perspective, often dissecting the failures of both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. He has also been a contributing editor for The New Republic and has written for publications like First Things and The American Interest.

Political and religious views

Douthat is a theoconservative thinker whose views are deeply informed by his Roman Catholic faith. He is a frequent critic of what he terms the "decadence" of modern liberalism, arguing for a renewed social conservatism that addresses family structure, economic inequality, and technological change. He has been critical of both Donald Trump's style of populism and the woke progressivism of the left, positioning himself within the reform conservative movement. His writings on the Catholic Church often focus on internal debates surrounding the papacy of Pope Francis, clerical abuse scandals, and doctrine.

Books and publications

Douthat is the author of several non-fiction books. His first, Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class (2005), critiques elite education. Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream (2008), co-authored with Reihan Salam, outlines a populist conservative agenda. Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics (2012) analyzes the decline of mainstream Christianity in America. His more recent works include The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success (2020) and The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery (2021), which details his experience with Lyme disease.

Personal life

Ross Douthat is married to author Abigail Tucker, a correspondent for Smithsonian magazine. They live in New Haven, Connecticut, with their four children. He has been open about his prolonged health struggles with Lyme disease, a topic he explored in his memoir. Douthat remains an active participant in intellectual and Catholic circles, often speaking at events for institutions like the University of Notre Dame and the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

Category:American political commentators Category:American columnists Category:American conservatives Category:The New York Times people Category:Harvard University alumni Category:1979 births Category:Living people