Jar Jar Binks was originally meant to be the villain of The Phantom Menace but George Lucas chickened out. Do you believe that to be (a) true or (b) really, really true?
Sorry, late to the party here. I’m in Australia so I only see posts late and an an Orthodox Jew so I don’t see them until Sunday. My question is about political crystal ball gazing. Everyone is convinced (justifiably) hat Trump is likely to be the next republican nominee. They further assume he (or another republican) is likely to get a similar proportion of votes to 2020, or more, I.e that 2020 was his floor. I’m not sure why this is the case. 30% of republicans who believe the last election was legitimate. If even 3% of those (1% of the total) decide not to vote for trump next time it’s all over unless he can find new votes from somewhere else. It seems unlikely that he’ll manage this given how high turnout the last election was and given that he’s not really trying to get new votes. Why shouldn’t we think that next time Trump will likely lose by a landslide, as an analytical matter. I’m not saying this to be complacent. Rather, I’m asking why the doom casting is all so certain.
Late to the "party" here (work, family obligations...) but happy to see you are taking questions. You have some decision making power on who writes/gets hired at the Bulwark. Have you considered having some economists as regulars and or staff at the Bulwark? As a trained economist and business reporter for a brief period in my life, I miss in-depth off the beaten path but not conspiracy crazy economic writing. In his (free version) newsletter Mathew Yglesias recommended a economics newsletter that was exactly what I say (can't remember by who, sorry I read during my train commute and I don't always finish anything): thoughtful, mind challenging and not crazy conspiracy (lots of that in the economics world).
Late to the "party" here (work, family obligations...) but happy to see you are taking questions. You have some decision making power on who writes/gets hired at the Bulwark. Have you considered having some economists as regulars and or staff at the Bulwark? As a trained economist and business reporter for a brief period in my life, I miss in-depth off the beaten path but not conspiracy crazy economic writing. In his (free version) newsletter Mathew Yglesias recommended a economics newsletter that was exactly what I say (can't remember by who, sorry I read during my train commute and I don't always finish anything): thoughtful, mind challenging and not crazy conspiracy (lots of that in the economics world).
My husband is convinced that the J6 Committee is an enormous waste of time that will change exactly zero minds (re: the Mueller investigation). He says that everyone already knows what happened and thinks it only serves as a distraction from the much bigger and pressing problem - the current push by Rs to steal elections in the state legislatures. I agree that Dems don’t seem to be alarmed enough about the possibility (likelihood?) of state legislatures stealing elections, but my sense of justice demands that the J6 Committee continue its work. My husband is convinced the Dems aren’t able to effectively do both. Your thoughts?
Please please please - I've asked everywhere else without joy - what is the outro music on The Secret Podcast on JVL/Sarah NON Friday pods (with apologies to Rebecca)?
About that RNC document...that the RNC would put this out is not surprising at all. As with all things involved in Trumpism, there is no bottom. One simply doesn't exist. But the line that got my attention is the one stating that the J6 insurrectionists were "ordinary citizens" being persecuted for having been "engaged in legitimate political discourse." I'm a little late to the party here, so if you've already addressed this, apologies. But do you think that the blackhearts who wrote this really believe it, that they truly think violence is simply a Clausewitzian politics by other means and is therefore a legitimate political act? Or is this just one more attempt at simply whitewashing a dark and dangerous act that in the end did not succeed?
Your rules stated that if you answered a question, you would then ask a question, and honor would require an answer. If by chance that turns out to be the case here, please honor my request not to ask me about this. Anything else, ok. While we are all grown-ups here at The B, I fear any response from me on this particular subject at the moment would be inappropriate in even the most adult company, regardless of what you think the motivation behind this is.
I thought your analogizing Facebook and ddt was amazing so I have social media question. TicTok is not available in China. I'm told that the videos are very addictive in this format. Could this be a "long-game weapon" designed to dumb down non Chinese kids by destroying their ability to concentrate for more than 90 seconds?
Did the RNC members assume this was something no one would make a big deal of, like most random party assertions, or have they completely lost the thread and don’t understand why this is insane?!
I’m curious about The Bulwark’s future aspirations. Really really love what you all do. Very honest and don’t cater to a specific viewpoint/readership. Myself, and I’m sure more than a few others, have found a home here. Definitely worried as the Bulwark expands everyone will start gravitating towards what gets more clicks. I’m already hearing a lot of comments in that vain. I LOVE the foreign policy deep dives. Generally takes me a week to get time to read them, but I do! What’s your vision on what the Bulwark looks like in 5yrs? Or heck… even just next year!
Hi there JVL. Happy to be Bulwark+ member and never miss a TNB.
A few largely unrelated points/questions, in no particular order:
1. Kudos to the Bulwark for recruiting Will. Nice to have him join the team and bring his perspective. In similar fashion, I still think there could be a great synergy if the Bulwark Team and The Dispatch Team could combine forces, but perhaps that's as likely as the NYT and WaPo merging.
2. With respect specifically to TNB, and as much I enjoy Tim and value his input, he tends to ramble too long, asking questions and then not giving the person to whom the question was addressed, time to answer it. The show (and Tim) could be more effective if he were more succinct and exhibited the level of discipline shown in particular by you and Ben.
3. You have written frequently about the need and power of individual citizens getting more active in local politics (City Councils, School Boards, State Representatives, etc), as well as helping register voters, driving people to the polls, etc. I'm with you on that. But....
4. How do we combat the misinformation out there on FaceBook, Fox News etc.? Is there a remedy for broad ignorance and intolerance? Or is our country going to continue to circle the drain due to Trumpism and the electorate that enables this self-destructive madness?
5. Once the Jan 6 Commission finishes its work and the revelations are fully disclosed, do yo think there is any realistic chance that the few sane GOP Reps/Senators (e.g., Romney, Sasse) will stand with the truth and take appropriate action?
6 What is your bet that an meaningfully amended the Electoral Count Act can get passed this year?
Dear JVL, if you only had 3k to spend, what kind of watch would you buy for your manly partner?
Jar Jar Binks was originally meant to be the villain of The Phantom Menace but George Lucas chickened out. Do you believe that to be (a) true or (b) really, really true?
Sorry, late to the party here. I’m in Australia so I only see posts late and an an Orthodox Jew so I don’t see them until Sunday. My question is about political crystal ball gazing. Everyone is convinced (justifiably) hat Trump is likely to be the next republican nominee. They further assume he (or another republican) is likely to get a similar proportion of votes to 2020, or more, I.e that 2020 was his floor. I’m not sure why this is the case. 30% of republicans who believe the last election was legitimate. If even 3% of those (1% of the total) decide not to vote for trump next time it’s all over unless he can find new votes from somewhere else. It seems unlikely that he’ll manage this given how high turnout the last election was and given that he’s not really trying to get new votes. Why shouldn’t we think that next time Trump will likely lose by a landslide, as an analytical matter. I’m not saying this to be complacent. Rather, I’m asking why the doom casting is all so certain.
Any chance of an Aimee Mann interview on The JVL Show?
Late to the "party" here (work, family obligations...) but happy to see you are taking questions. You have some decision making power on who writes/gets hired at the Bulwark. Have you considered having some economists as regulars and or staff at the Bulwark? As a trained economist and business reporter for a brief period in my life, I miss in-depth off the beaten path but not conspiracy crazy economic writing. In his (free version) newsletter Mathew Yglesias recommended a economics newsletter that was exactly what I say (can't remember by who, sorry I read during my train commute and I don't always finish anything): thoughtful, mind challenging and not crazy conspiracy (lots of that in the economics world).
Does Charles Booker have a chance in hell against Rand Paul?
Late to the "party" here (work, family obligations...) but happy to see you are taking questions. You have some decision making power on who writes/gets hired at the Bulwark. Have you considered having some economists as regulars and or staff at the Bulwark? As a trained economist and business reporter for a brief period in my life, I miss in-depth off the beaten path but not conspiracy crazy economic writing. In his (free version) newsletter Mathew Yglesias recommended a economics newsletter that was exactly what I say (can't remember by who, sorry I read during my train commute and I don't always finish anything): thoughtful, mind challenging and not crazy conspiracy (lots of that in the economics world).
A little late to the party but why doesn't Nolan Ryan get more credit? You are not an Astros fan but he played pre-Trashcangate.
My husband is convinced that the J6 Committee is an enormous waste of time that will change exactly zero minds (re: the Mueller investigation). He says that everyone already knows what happened and thinks it only serves as a distraction from the much bigger and pressing problem - the current push by Rs to steal elections in the state legislatures. I agree that Dems don’t seem to be alarmed enough about the possibility (likelihood?) of state legislatures stealing elections, but my sense of justice demands that the J6 Committee continue its work. My husband is convinced the Dems aren’t able to effectively do both. Your thoughts?
Good morning my love! How is Inbox Zero going for you? 😂
Please please please - I've asked everywhere else without joy - what is the outro music on The Secret Podcast on JVL/Sarah NON Friday pods (with apologies to Rebecca)?
About that RNC document...that the RNC would put this out is not surprising at all. As with all things involved in Trumpism, there is no bottom. One simply doesn't exist. But the line that got my attention is the one stating that the J6 insurrectionists were "ordinary citizens" being persecuted for having been "engaged in legitimate political discourse." I'm a little late to the party here, so if you've already addressed this, apologies. But do you think that the blackhearts who wrote this really believe it, that they truly think violence is simply a Clausewitzian politics by other means and is therefore a legitimate political act? Or is this just one more attempt at simply whitewashing a dark and dangerous act that in the end did not succeed?
Your rules stated that if you answered a question, you would then ask a question, and honor would require an answer. If by chance that turns out to be the case here, please honor my request not to ask me about this. Anything else, ok. While we are all grown-ups here at The B, I fear any response from me on this particular subject at the moment would be inappropriate in even the most adult company, regardless of what you think the motivation behind this is.
I thought your analogizing Facebook and ddt was amazing so I have social media question. TicTok is not available in China. I'm told that the videos are very addictive in this format. Could this be a "long-game weapon" designed to dumb down non Chinese kids by destroying their ability to concentrate for more than 90 seconds?
Did the RNC members assume this was something no one would make a big deal of, like most random party assertions, or have they completely lost the thread and don’t understand why this is insane?!
I’m curious about The Bulwark’s future aspirations. Really really love what you all do. Very honest and don’t cater to a specific viewpoint/readership. Myself, and I’m sure more than a few others, have found a home here. Definitely worried as the Bulwark expands everyone will start gravitating towards what gets more clicks. I’m already hearing a lot of comments in that vain. I LOVE the foreign policy deep dives. Generally takes me a week to get time to read them, but I do! What’s your vision on what the Bulwark looks like in 5yrs? Or heck… even just next year!
Hi there JVL. Happy to be Bulwark+ member and never miss a TNB.
A few largely unrelated points/questions, in no particular order:
1. Kudos to the Bulwark for recruiting Will. Nice to have him join the team and bring his perspective. In similar fashion, I still think there could be a great synergy if the Bulwark Team and The Dispatch Team could combine forces, but perhaps that's as likely as the NYT and WaPo merging.
2. With respect specifically to TNB, and as much I enjoy Tim and value his input, he tends to ramble too long, asking questions and then not giving the person to whom the question was addressed, time to answer it. The show (and Tim) could be more effective if he were more succinct and exhibited the level of discipline shown in particular by you and Ben.
3. You have written frequently about the need and power of individual citizens getting more active in local politics (City Councils, School Boards, State Representatives, etc), as well as helping register voters, driving people to the polls, etc. I'm with you on that. But....
4. How do we combat the misinformation out there on FaceBook, Fox News etc.? Is there a remedy for broad ignorance and intolerance? Or is our country going to continue to circle the drain due to Trumpism and the electorate that enables this self-destructive madness?
5. Once the Jan 6 Commission finishes its work and the revelations are fully disclosed, do yo think there is any realistic chance that the few sane GOP Reps/Senators (e.g., Romney, Sasse) will stand with the truth and take appropriate action?
6 What is your bet that an meaningfully amended the Electoral Count Act can get passed this year?