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Tag Archives: news
A D-Day Speech
On June 5, 1944, General Dwight David Eisenhower carried a heavy burden. For four years, he had planned, prepared, and practiced for the invasion of Europe. He had done all he could to secure success, but he knew that “even … Continue reading
A Stranger in a Wonderful Land
I promise you this Substack is not about Vivek Ramuswanky and his despicable campaign ad. It is not about the vice president of the United States giving that ad his seal of approval, even though it features Amy Acton’s estranged … Continue reading
Uncle Sam-ba
Brazil counts its votes in hours. America takes days, lawyers, and enough cable news coverage to qualify as a hostage situation. In The Uncle Sam-ba, I explore what Brazil gets right about democracy, why losing politicians struggle with arithmetic, and what Uncle Sam might learn if he’d stop arguing long enough to dance. Continue reading
Debatable
There is something deliciously American about a politician treating preparation as probable cause. In MAGA-world, apparently, you shoot first, gather the facts later, and regard the person who brought notes as a possible criminal mastermind. Continue reading
MAGAnimity:
Donald Trump tried to bribe me this week.
Ninety dollars. Not ninety thousand. Not even nine hundred. Ninety bucks.
Apparently, that’s what presidential gratitude goes for these days. Meanwhile, the fortunes of Trump, his family, and certain Cabinet members have increased by billions.
I was offended. Not just by the attempted purchase of my affection, but by how little he thought it was worth.
My latest essay on MAGAnimity, Medicare, and the disappearing purchasing power of ninety dollars.
And for God’s sake, buy the popcorn. Continue reading
Not America’s Mayor
Rudy Giuliani was once called “America’s Mayor.”
It was a fine title. Grand, flattering, patriotic—and, as it turned out, issued before anyone bothered to read the fine print.
On September 11, 2001, he was my mayor, and in that terrible moment he gave New Yorkers something we desperately needed: steadiness, visibility and hope.
Twenty-five years later, history has had time to clear the smoke.
My latest: Not America’s Mayor. Continue reading
Posted in opinion, personal essay, Politics and Society, Trump Opposition
Tagged 9/11, 9/11 Anniversary, Accountability, America’s Mayor, American history, books, democracy, Donald Trump, history, Leadership, Media Mythology, New York City, news, political commentary, politics, Public Memory, Rudy Giuliani, September 11, writing
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Willie and Joe
With Stars and Stripes once again becoming a political target, I went back to Mauldin and wondered what Joe and Willie might make of today’s Pentagon.
Turns out, eighty years later, the material is still embarrassingly fresh. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Donald Trump, fiction, history, news, pete-hegseth, political commentary, politics, trump
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The Cheeto Dust Cup
The World Cup final had a 90-minute ceremony, a Tom Cruise monologue, and confiscated protest signs. Also, somewhere in there, a soccer match — Argentina didn’t manage a single shot on goal.
New: The Cheeto Dust Cup Continue reading
Posted in Humor / satire, personal essay, Politics and Society, Trump Opposition
Tagged Cheetos, Donald Trump, football, news, politics, soccer, Sports, trump, World Cup
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The Department of His Justice
The Department of His Justice” — a cheerful little tour through weaponized prosecutions, loyalty payouts, and what happens when norms meet a narcissist with subpoena power. Continue reading
Posted in Humor / satire, personal essay, Politics and Society, Social Media, Trump Opposition
Tagged Donald Trump, history, news, political commentary, politics, trump
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Shoot, Ready, Aim
Conspiracy theories no longer require particularly good conspiracies. They merely require a wisp of information—a text message, a photograph, a name, the word “Hawks”—plus enough ideological enthusiasm to spin the pieces together into conspiratorial cotton candy before anybody asks whether it is worth getting your hands sticky. Continue reading →