Send in the Surrogates
Plus: A Good God, Despite Everything
Recently in The Bulwark:
BILL KRISTOL & ANDREW EGGER: Trump Can Be Bought
JOE PERTICONE: Trump TikTok Flip-Flop Flummoxes China Hawks
You can support The Bulwark by subscribing to Bulwark+ or just by sharing this newsletter with someone you think would value it.
SARAH LONGWELL: Send in the Surrogates.
OLD AND BUSTED: Sleepy Joe. New hotness: Jacked-up Joe.
Joe Biden did a lot to shore up his weaknesses in his State of the Union address on Thursday. Before the speech, the main criticism of him from Republicans (and many voters, including Democrats) was that he was old and lacked the sharpness and energy to be president.
Then came the SOTU. He addressed his age directly at the end of the speech, observing that with age comes wisdom. And heās started addressing his age directly in his ads, even joking about it. This is a good startāa necessary first step to reassure voters that he can do the job.
š„ PODCASTS AND VIDEOS š§
Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller: Evan Osnos: Biden Brims with Confidence [Ad-Freeš]
Just Between Us: GOP Oversold the Biden Is Old Meme š
ATMA š§: Best. Oscars. Ever.
Did you know? Bulwark+ members can listen to an ad-free version of these podcasts on the player of their choice.
Learn more at Bulwark+ Podcast FAQ.
PHIL CHRISTMAN: A Good God, Despite Everything.
WHAT WAS OFTEN SAID of her good friend, former President Barack Obama, is much more truly said of the novelist and essayist Marilynne Robinson: She plays twelve-dimensional chess. Where many essayists move through life content to argue, in each piece, a single main point, perhaps weaving in two or three minor themes if weāre feeling sophisticated, Robinson typically prosecutes many lines of argument at once. A Robinson essay will often begin by noting some error or oversimplification in one of our commonplace notionsāthe Puritans were joyless bores, say, or neuroscience must change our view of human nature. She will then proceed to attack the position most often taken as the main rival to the position she has just attacked; if a third position has emerged as a potential spoiler to one or the other, she may lob a bomb or two in that direction as well.
šØOVERTIMEšØ
Happy Tuesday! Two things to recommend on your Netflix queue from my weekend: The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping, which is not for the faint of heart, and American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders. Both are very well done, and both are relevant to a moment when a sizable portion of the country has joined a cult.
RVAT ā24 is here: Check out the inaugural ad, and if you have any Trump voters in your life who are over it, encourage them to submit one at RVAT.org.
Loading video
šµOn the Jukeboxšµ: John Vincent III - Bluebird Singing
When Iran Goes Nuclearā¦ The Islamic Republic will be even more aggressive toward Israel and improve its standing with Russia and China, write Eric Edelman, Reuel Marc Gerecht and Ray Takeyh at The Dispatch.
Kristi Noem is out of the Veepstakesā¦ With this bizarre 5 minute dental testimonial, Trump would never pick her. Now, did she do this on purpose?
Also from Amb. Edelmanā¦ Along with David Manning, and Franklin C. Miller at The New Atlanticist: NATOās decision process has an Achillesā heel.
BUCKle upā¦ Ken Buck (R-CO) announce he is retiring, which is a very strategic āfuck youā to Mike Johnson and especially Lauren Boebert.
Discharge Petition Timeā¦ The rarely-used tactic is in the spotlight, even more so given a soon-to-be-smaller GOP majority.
Full transcript of Bidenās special counsel interviewā¦ paints nuanced portrait (WaPo).
ā¦and now weāre finding out moreā¦. About his visit with the Mongolian Prime Minister. Story Time with Joe Bidenā¢ is the best.
Ineffective Activismā¦ Donāt Be An Asshole (Ordinary Times).
Stat of the Dayā¦ United States produces more crude oil than any country, ever (EIA).
Tech support questions? Email members@thebulwark.com. Questions for me? Respond to this message
Editorial photos provided by Getty Images. For full credits, please consult the article.
