Reflections on Christopher Browning’s analysis of democratic decline, Republican polarization, and the Kavanaugh confirmation debate.
Reflections on Adam Serwer’s essay about cruelty as a source of solidarity among Trump’s supporters.
A brief response to reporting on Donald Trump’s attitude toward debt and Republican fiscal responsibility.
Notes on Trump’s response to weather disasters and an article examining the effects of harsh verbal discipline on children.
An exploration of how appeals to purity and tradition can distract supporters from political corruption, drawing on Peter Beinart’s analysis.
Reflections on strategic silence as a way for the media to avoid granting legitimacy to extremist ideas.
A brief, satirical reaction to Donald Trump’s conduct at a gathering of world leaders.
A reflection on Mueller’s reported questions about Trump’s tweet warning James Comey about possible recordings.
A recommendation of Adam Davidson’s New Yorker essay on Michael Cohen and the vulnerabilities of Trump’s business operation.
A brief response to a New York Times essay on Trump’s authoritarian tactics and the weakening of democratic institutions.