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Clarence Thomas Says Progressivism Conflicts With America’s Founding Principles

  • On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spoke at the University of Texas-Austin Law School, arguing that progressive political ideas are fundamentally incompatible with the Declaration of Independence.
  • Addressing the 250th anniversary of the Declaration, Thomas claimed progressivism suggests rights originate from government rather than from God, contradicting the Founders' original vision.
  • Criticizing early 20th-century progressivism, Thomas linked ideas associated with President Woodrow Wilson to conditions that enabled authoritarian regimes in Europe.
  • Critics, including Matt Ford, rejected the comparison as "wildly inaccurate", arguing that Nazi Germany resulted from complex factors rather than American progressive reforms.
  • Amid heightened scrutiny of the Supreme Court, the controversy illustrates risks of high-profile officials deploying historically charged comparisons in contemporary political debates.
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KVUE broke the news in Austin, United States on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
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