Democrats Deliver?
Hey all. Let's hop to it. Politics We’re at about the point in a midterm year when pundits start talking intensely about what they expect to happen in November. I don’t intend to do so — not just because I’m busy writing and thinking about other
Mail Time!
Hey all. Let’s hop to it. Recent Work I have a piece [https://newrepublic.com/article/165557/proportional-representation-fix-the-house] somewhat related today’s post in The New Republic. It’s about Fix Our House, a new campaign to move to proportional representation in the House. An excerpt: > “The basic
Intelligence Failure
Hey all. This was longer than I thought it would be, so it’s going to be this week’s post. I’ll take your questions for Mail Time next week: nwanevuletter@gmail.com. Let's hop to it. Politics A rule of thumb: no one who argued a
The Past and Its Uses
Hey all. Let’s hop to it. Politics On Friday, The Baltimore Sun’s editorial board published a remarkable apology [https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-0220-sun-racial-reckoning-apology-online-20220218-qp32uybk5bgqrcnd732aicrouu-story.html] for the paper’s history of racist coverage. “Through its news coverage and editorial opinions, The Sun sharpened, preserved and furthered the
Assaying Essays
Hey all. I've been juggling a few pieces and work on the book, so it's been a busy week and a half or so. Expect another letter this weekend. Next weekend will be Mail Time, so don't forget to send me questions if you
The State of the States
Hey all. Let's hop to it. Politics There isn’t much to be happy about in the headlines, but I think it’s encouraging that people are taking more and more interest in the structural factors shaping American politics. Ross Douthat’s recent column [https://www.nytimes.com/
Spotify, Neil Young, and The Olds
Hey all. Forgot to put out a reminder to send in questions for Mail Time this week. So let this be a reminder to send in questions for next month! Let’s hop to it. Culture There are two conversations to be had about the Spotify and Joe Rogan controversy.
COVID Won't Be Over Until It's Over. And Probably Not Even Then.
Hey all. Let’s hop to it. Recent Work I’ve just started a column that’ll run every other month in The Guardian. My first piece [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/21/bidens-administration-is-in-shambles-its-not-entirely-his-fault] was on Biden’s first year in office. The headline — “Biden’s administration is
It's The Constitution AND The Decline of Labor Unions, Stupid!
Hey all. Let's hop to it. Politics In my survey of writing about January 6th, I managed to miss one of the best pieces around on the democratic crisis and where it came from. In their anniversary essay [https://bostonreview.net/articles/the-deep-structure-of-democratic-crisis/?utm_source=Boston+Review+Email+
It's The Constitution, Stupid!
Hey all! Let’s hop to it. Recent Work You’ve probably read it already, but I had a piece [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/04/opinion/capitol-riot.html] in the New York Times’s January 6th package this week. I focused on the institutional factors — including the Electoral
