Division is one of the early chapters in their Authoritarian Playbook. Trump has been given the most perfect opportunity to exploit in order to promote division. The fallout will be immense.
It’s not just the decisions leaders take, is it, although they are obviously hugely consequential. But the decisions taken by, for example, Mitch McConnell post January 6th had huge consequences. He had the power then to stop Trump in his tracks. And he abdicated any such ability to turn the tide in a better direction. The subsequent insane Supreme Court’s handing of an authoritarian’s dream ruling likewise. The enablers of the leaders make the decisions of leaders possible.
Sorry, but one can condemn the violent act and be glad Kirk is dead at the same time. If Goebbels was killed in the late 1930s I would have been happy about that as well if I was around for it.
I love how the calls for violence and war against 'the left' (which to Trump and the GOP means anyone who didn't vote for them) somehow deserves some minor condemnation relative to people saying mean or distasteful things.
Very hard to watch. Kristol talks too fast, swallows half his words and mumbles the rest. I like him and what he stands for, but I have to read his words rather than listen to them, because the way he speaks is very distracting and conveys the impression that what he is saying is not important enough to articulate clearly.
I completely agree. I have tried emailing The Bulwark about this regarding several of their members -- speaking unclearly, speaking very fast, interrupting each other -- and I've also left many comments. The only response has been snark not necessarily addressed to me but generally addressed to viewers who have asked people not to interrupt. No response to direct inquire or my comments on videos.
It's not the interrupting. Kristol is a contagious mumbler: listen to any clip of him and Tim Miller to observe how normally-clear Tim adopts Bill's vocal fry and other clarity problems. It's very annoying and they should recognize it.
I'm not sure HOW you ask though. I'm a Bulwark+ member but I have yet to find any way of getting in-put to them. They seem to ignore comments and the only email address that I've found is "info@". Every time one of them talks about getting texts, I wonder how I get that text number so I can let them know how hard their podcasts are to follow. I sent Sam Stein a direct note on Substack once to that effect. It is still unread, months later. I guess I'm not sufficiently important or don't pay enough $.
I read in The Atlantic about behind-the-scenes strategies for a second trump presidency, to fortify democracy by challenging every unconstitutional action and order through coordinated lawsuits. That was a heartening revelation. But what really raised my spirits was the note that the “resident neo-conservative” on the team is Bill Kristol, who has wisely guided them on effective avenues of attack. Or something to that effect. It gave me a moment of serenity to know that. Thank you, Bill! Proud to see my generation still in the thick of the fray!
Bill, Thanks for having Jay on to enlighten us in these traumatic times. His knowledge, experience and historical perspective was a marvel to behold. Your tandem exchanges evoked many thoughts and questions. When it was said, Lincoln was the right leader for the moment, I thought, Trump is the wrong leader for not only this moment but any moment. When Jay said that fear has been elevated in our consciousness, I remember how influential it was in the Senate confirmation hearings and how the Republicans succumbed to it. It was preposterous to think that Trump would appeal to his better angels in the Charlie Kirk murder aftermath, he has no better angels. The complex theory of American exceptionalism evidently has been debunked by our current dystopia. The country is quickly approaching an existential crisis that makes the Great Depression, WWII and even the Civil War look like they were manageable. Unfortunately, we have no Lincoln and we have no FDR, what we do have is possibly the worst human being imaginable who cares only about one thing, and one thing only, himself. The recourse is to reject ones fear and stand up and say NO.
Every week I look forward to Bill Kristol's Sunday interview -- thoughtful conversation and interesting guests. I always learn something. Great addition to the regular shows.
My understanding of American exceptionalism is that, at the time of our founding, we were a country where the government was chosen by citizens rather than a hereditary monarch, not, in the definition as being superior.
You are praising Cox, who said he prayed for 33 hours that it would be an immigrant because "this isn't us"? Was not it Cox who said the suspect was radicalized by leftist ideas at college? Cox is not praiseworthy from what I read.
The comment "throwing paradise away for nothing" reminded me of a line from Dune: "The price we paid was the price men always paid for achieving a paradise in this life: we went soft, we lost our edge."
Division is one of the early chapters in their Authoritarian Playbook. Trump has been given the most perfect opportunity to exploit in order to promote division. The fallout will be immense.
It’s not just the decisions leaders take, is it, although they are obviously hugely consequential. But the decisions taken by, for example, Mitch McConnell post January 6th had huge consequences. He had the power then to stop Trump in his tracks. And he abdicated any such ability to turn the tide in a better direction. The subsequent insane Supreme Court’s handing of an authoritarian’s dream ruling likewise. The enablers of the leaders make the decisions of leaders possible.
Bill trying hard to un-redpill his guest…check back with this guy in a year or two, he’ll be a MAGA
I've been reading Jay for a long time. That's not happening.
Bill? Or the guest?
Sorry, but one can condemn the violent act and be glad Kirk is dead at the same time. If Goebbels was killed in the late 1930s I would have been happy about that as well if I was around for it.
I love how the calls for violence and war against 'the left' (which to Trump and the GOP means anyone who didn't vote for them) somehow deserves some minor condemnation relative to people saying mean or distasteful things.
From the left?? From the left? I've heard nothing but condolences. WTF is this guy even talking about?
Indeed.
Very hard to watch. Kristol talks too fast, swallows half his words and mumbles the rest. I like him and what he stands for, but I have to read his words rather than listen to them, because the way he speaks is very distracting and conveys the impression that what he is saying is not important enough to articulate clearly.
That's the weakness of the podcast format: Not everyone is good at public speaking (and even with training and practice, some never really improve).
I completely agree. I have tried emailing The Bulwark about this regarding several of their members -- speaking unclearly, speaking very fast, interrupting each other -- and I've also left many comments. The only response has been snark not necessarily addressed to me but generally addressed to viewers who have asked people not to interrupt. No response to direct inquire or my comments on videos.
It's not the interrupting. Kristol is a contagious mumbler: listen to any clip of him and Tim Miller to observe how normally-clear Tim adopts Bill's vocal fry and other clarity problems. It's very annoying and they should recognize it.
...and in the 3-way Tim-Sarah-JVL podcasts they could work on getting their audio levels synchronized. Doesn't seem a lot to ask.
I'm not sure HOW you ask though. I'm a Bulwark+ member but I have yet to find any way of getting in-put to them. They seem to ignore comments and the only email address that I've found is "info@". Every time one of them talks about getting texts, I wonder how I get that text number so I can let them know how hard their podcasts are to follow. I sent Sam Stein a direct note on Substack once to that effect. It is still unread, months later. I guess I'm not sufficiently important or don't pay enough $.
@
As I was watching this, I suddenly got this picture of Dana Carvey at the Turtle Club and now I can’t unsee it
Jay is such a delight, I hope you will have him back often.
I read in The Atlantic about behind-the-scenes strategies for a second trump presidency, to fortify democracy by challenging every unconstitutional action and order through coordinated lawsuits. That was a heartening revelation. But what really raised my spirits was the note that the “resident neo-conservative” on the team is Bill Kristol, who has wisely guided them on effective avenues of attack. Or something to that effect. It gave me a moment of serenity to know that. Thank you, Bill! Proud to see my generation still in the thick of the fray!
Bill, Thanks for having Jay on to enlighten us in these traumatic times. His knowledge, experience and historical perspective was a marvel to behold. Your tandem exchanges evoked many thoughts and questions. When it was said, Lincoln was the right leader for the moment, I thought, Trump is the wrong leader for not only this moment but any moment. When Jay said that fear has been elevated in our consciousness, I remember how influential it was in the Senate confirmation hearings and how the Republicans succumbed to it. It was preposterous to think that Trump would appeal to his better angels in the Charlie Kirk murder aftermath, he has no better angels. The complex theory of American exceptionalism evidently has been debunked by our current dystopia. The country is quickly approaching an existential crisis that makes the Great Depression, WWII and even the Civil War look like they were manageable. Unfortunately, we have no Lincoln and we have no FDR, what we do have is possibly the worst human being imaginable who cares only about one thing, and one thing only, himself. The recourse is to reject ones fear and stand up and say NO.
Every week I look forward to Bill Kristol's Sunday interview -- thoughtful conversation and interesting guests. I always learn something. Great addition to the regular shows.
My understanding of American exceptionalism is that, at the time of our founding, we were a country where the government was chosen by citizens rather than a hereditary monarch, not, in the definition as being superior.
You are praising Cox, who said he prayed for 33 hours that it would be an immigrant because "this isn't us"? Was not it Cox who said the suspect was radicalized by leftist ideas at college? Cox is not praiseworthy from what I read.
The comment "throwing paradise away for nothing" reminded me of a line from Dune: "The price we paid was the price men always paid for achieving a paradise in this life: we went soft, we lost our edge."