The Potential for a Sane Majority
Plus: What the Appeal to Heaven Flag Really Means
Recently in The Bulwark:
BILL KRISTOL, WILL SELBER, & ANDREW EGGER: Reading Trump's Mind
JVL: The People Who Bought Stock in Truth Social Are Very Angry š
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A.B. STODDARD: New Polls Show Potential for a Sane Majority
JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, we were being told that twelve anonymous New Yorkers and Justice Juan Merchan had elected Donald Trump. That Americans everywhere will vote for him solely on the basis of a guilty verdict. That folks who had been on the fence about Trump, and even critical of him, were going to be so outraged that they would decisively back him.
The supposed injustice of the case and the verdict, you see, would prove disqualifying for Biden so that Trump will shine in comparison. Apparently, having his first felony conviction under his belt renders Trump more commander-in-chief-worthy than ever.
š„ PODCASTS AND VIDEOS š§
Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller: Bill Kristol: Tuberville's Policy Is the Same as Trump's
The Bulwark Goes to Hollywood: Don't Panic About Movie Theaters (Yet)
The Focus Group: Former Trump Voters Say 'Lock Him Up' (with Laura BarrĆ³n-LĆ³pez)
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.
š£Bulwark+ members can now listen to ad-free podcasts on Spotify! Learn more here.
MATTHEW D. TAYLOR: What the Appeal to Heaven Flag Really Means
LAST MONTH, NEWS BROKE that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito had flown a white flag with an evergreen tree and the inscription āAn Appeal to Heavenā at his beach house last summer. This came days after the revelation that an upside-down American flag had been flown at the Alito residence in January 2021, following the riot in the U.S. Capitol. Alito has claimed that his wife was responsible for both flags and that their political associations were unknown to him.
WILL SELBER: Why Is the Head of the Terrorist Haqqani Network Traveling with Impunity?
I HUNTED SIRAJUDDIN HAQQANI for nearly twenty years. In 2008, I sparred with his fighters in Kapisa in northeastern Afghanistan. In 2012, he murdered Afghan allies of mine as they went to visit a bazaar just because they had talked to me. In 2014, the Afghan general I advised lost hundreds of sources who had tried to infiltrate the Haqqani network. The pictures of their mutilated bodies are forever ingrained in my mind.
But it wasnāt until Americaās final year in Afghanistan that I understood the man. Thatās because I started listening to the Afghans in senior roles. They, as always, were my teachers.
Also from Will Selber:
The Bulwark Saved My Brotherās Life
The Bulwark saved my brotherās life. Ahmadullah and I served together in Afghanistan. He was my combat interpreter in a small, dusty village in northwest Kandahar. We were young, crazy kids fighting the Taliban at the far edges of American power. We were brothers.
šØOVERTIMEšØ
Happy Monday! And happy āNational Ballpoint Pen Dayā to those who observe.1 Hope your weekend was fun! We went out and about in the old neighborhood (Alexandria) and watched some historic Bananaball at Fenway on TV. Also, how about those Cleveland Guardians?
No one is above the lawā¦ Not even the President. A new ad from our friends at Republicans for the Rule of Law.
Rudyās new mugshotā¦ āAmericaās Mayorā canāt even look us in the eye.
Beyond a reasonable doubtā¦ Trump's criminal conviction matters politically, write Dennis Aftergut and Donald Ayer at Salon.
Black Republicanā¦ The tragic evolution of the Republican Party can be seen in the way it has failed Black America, by Steward Beckham.
Flags in Atkinson, Neb., wave for Americaā¦ and for my father, by Megan McArdle (WaPo).
Dead journalists. In memory of those who were killed in this war, and in honor of Ukraineās national Journalistās Day this week, this is our profile of the life and death of Maks Levin, by Tim Mak (The Counteroffensive).
In support of a lawless ex-presidentā¦ Hawley and Schmitt vow not to do their jobs, by Lynn Schmidt (Post-Dispatch).
Kirkland & Ellis, the countryās largest law firm by revenueā¦ has been sued over a sweeping data breach that impacted some 2,600 companies (Bloomberg Law).
Trump loyalist pushes āpost-Constitutionalā visionā¦ for second term (WaPo). Which reminds me of this explanation of Trumpian bullshit denials from Radley Balko. They will try to do this, Project 2025. All of it.
Why he went into spaceā¦ without a rope (Phil Edwards).
Take A Breathā¦ During insane times, it's your duty to stay sane, argues Matt Labash š.
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Iām a Bic Round Stic guy. Best pen for the money. And I own nice pens. They are the best.
