Since the Capitol riot, like many people I’ve been trying to make sense of not just what happened, but what was in the minds of the people who stormed the Capitol. I suspect I will never understand what exactly they hoped they could accomplish; there is no scenario where this results in Trump remaining in…
Author: firesideeditor
re: Fox News Hits a Dangerous New Low
Earlier today, The Atlantic staff writer Megan Garber penned an article arguing that Fox News is now attempting to keep Trump in office by peddling false claims of election fraud to its viewers: The network that first helped bring Trump to political power is now working—despite a fair election that seems poised, as of this…
The Unexpected Ordinariness of the Amy Coney Barrett Hearings
Back in September, 2018, it would have been hard to find anyone who would not describe the Brett Kavanaugh Senate hearings disgraceful. What side of the aisle one was on didn’t matter. If you were inclined to believe Christine Blasey Ford, then having the nomination of someone credibly accused of sexual assault moving forward was…
Are We In Love With Partisanship?
Last month, I decided that while I was working from home I would watch the Amy Coney Barrett SCOTUS confirmation hearings. From what I’ve experienced of American news media up until now, I went forth prepared to face hours and hours of people making divisive snarky statements. I expected to encounter a leviathan 8 hours…
re: Americans Are Determined to Believe in Black Progress
In the September issue of The Atlantic, which focused on the trajectory of race relations in the US, introductory thoughts were provided by Jennifer Richeson, a professor of psychology at Yale. The thesis of her essay, titled “The Myth of Racial Progress” in the print edition, is that Americans believe progress is inevitable, and that this…