Josh Hawley and the right to be published
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Josh Hawley and the right to be published

Simon and Schuster cancelled its book contract with Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, and he’s pretty upset. Here’s what Simon & Schuster announced in a statement: After witnessing the disturbing, deadly insurrection that took place on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Simon & Schuster has decided to cancel publication of Senator Josh Hawley’s forthcoming book, The Tyranny of…

Orderly transition of power my ass

Orderly transition of power my ass

After the Congress certified Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election, Donald Trump pledged an orderly transition of power. It wasn’t. And it likely won’t be. Here’s the statement, posted on the Twitter account of Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino (because Twitter had suspended the President’s @realDonaldTrump account for inciting violence): Even…

Priorities for Democrats

Priorities for Democrats

What should be the work of government for the next two years? It’s clear from last night’s results in Georgia that the Democrats, having flipped two more Senate seats, will have a slim majority (50/50, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking ties). It’s also clear that despite the protests of the president and a dozen…

Deconstructing the Ben Sasse statement about the election

Deconstructing the Ben Sasse statement about the election

On Wednesday, the Congress will count Electoral College votes and declare Joe Biden the next US president. Some Republicans have joined the president in desperate attempts to overturn this result. Senator Ben Sasse was one of the first Republicans to release a statement decrying their efforts. I found his statement effective and clearly argued. How…

Analyzing Trump’s bill-signing tantrum

Analyzing Trump’s bill-signing tantrum

Donald Trump reluctantly signed the bill that provides Coronavirus relief payments and funds the government for the next nine months — but released a petulant statement along with it. The statement’s a little confusing, so I’ll provide a translation. First, some context. Democrat and Republican congressional leaders negotiated the bill with Steven Mnuchin, Trump’s Treasury…

The attorney generals’ antitrust suit doesn’t address the biggest issues with Facebook
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The attorney generals’ antitrust suit doesn’t address the biggest issues with Facebook

The attorneys general of 46 states, plus DC, filed a federal antitrust suit against Facebook yesterday. The same day, the Federal Trade Commission announced a separate suit alleging anti-competitive practices. I think these suits will be hard to prove, and any remedies won’t fix the bigger problems with Facebook’s abuse of data and damage to…

The rare nested triple passive, courtesy of the US Supreme Court

The rare nested triple passive, courtesy of the US Supreme Court

In a one-sentence ruling, the Supreme Court of the United States rejected the Trump administration’s plea to overturn the election result in Pennsylvania. But what a sentence! The background: U.S. Representative Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania filed a document to overturn the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and nullify the election result in Pennsylvania, where…

What’s in the wacko manifesto that Michael Flynn tweeted?
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What’s in the wacko manifesto that Michael Flynn tweeted?

Former national security advisor and confessed felon Michael Flynn tweeted his support for a manifesto that had been published as a full-page ad in the Washington Times. This ad, by the “We The People Convention,” is one of the most unhinged statements ever embraced by anyone close to power in America. It’s sedition. What is…

Tiny desk press event

Tiny desk press event

I have questions for the person who set up this Thanksgiving Day press opportunity for President Trump. Who thought a tiny desk and chair would look presidential? Who imagined that putting the presidential seal on the front of the desk would help? Who imagined that the taped-together mike stand and scuffed carpet would enhance the…