The Limits of Ideology

John Fetterman says he’s not a progressive.

The free high-resolution photo of receipt, shop, store, food, consumption, money, shopping, lifestyle, merchandise, label, grocery, brand, customer, supermarket, sale, buy, commerce, economy, consumerism, cashier, buying, payment, retail, shopper, spend, cost, purchasing, price, consumer, broke, budget, pay, purchase, sense, spending, shopaholic, till slip , taken with an Canon EOS 70D 02/14 2017 The picture taken with 100.0mm, f/5.0s, 1/10s, ISO 100 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required. The free high-resolution photo of receipt, shop, store, food, consumption, money, shopping, lifestyle, merchandise, label, grocery, brand, customer, supermarket, sale, buy, commerce, economy, consumerism, cashier, buying, payment, retail, shopper, spend, cost, purchasing, price, consumer, broke, budget, pay, purchase, sense, spending, shopaholic, till slip , taken with an Canon EOS 70D 02/14 2017 The picture taken with 100.0mm, f/5.0s, 1/10s, ISO 100 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

Food Prices Under Biden and Trump

We shouldn’t be surprised that Americans have noticed their grocery bill.

Ancient Tabs

These have been hanging around for a while.

When Work Interferes With Work

The push to return to the office comes with domestic consequences.

More on Small Town Justice

A deep tradition rightly under scrutiny.

Alcohol Is Good For You. Or Bad.

Forget the cafe latte, screw the raspberry iced tea.

Corporations and Pride Month

Damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Sometimes both.

Kyrsten Sinema Mixes Pleasure and Business

Running for office or just running?

The Obligatory Daylight Saving Time Post

The fight over changing the clock twice a year continues.

There’s No Whisky in this Mouthwash?!

It turns out that the candy flavored booze at the grocery store isn’t even bourbon.

The Tip O’Neill Era and Why Governing was Easier

A reminder of how things (specifically the party system as a whole) have changed.

Jerry Lee Lewis, 1935-2022

A member of the inaugural Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class and the most recent Country Music Hall of Fame class is gone at 87.

Price Differentiation and Class Consciousness

Apparently, more expensive versions of products are often better.

Watergate at 50

Half a century have passed since a botched burglary changed history.

Bipartisan Senate Gun Control Talking Points

Calling it a “deal” is vastly over-selling it.

Is this Cancel Culture?

Two related examples: are they “cancel culture” or not?

John Madden, 1936-2021

The Hall of Fame coach and legendary broadcaster is dead at 85.

Colin Powell, 1937-2021

The trailblazing soldier-statesman has died at 84.

Yale Can’t Take a Joke

A party invitation going terribly wrong.

The Collegiate Gender Gap

Women are increasingly dominating American higher education.

Tom T. Hall, 1936-2021

The legendary country music singer-songwriter known as “The Storyteller” is gone at 85.

President Joe Biden, joined by Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky and Merck CEO Ken Frazier, delivers remarks on COVID-19 vaccine production Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz) President Joe Biden, joined by Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky and Merck CEO Ken Frazier, delivers remarks on COVID-19 vaccine production Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

Vaccine Incentivization: Sticks Better Than Carrots

Making it difficult for refuseniks works better than prizes.

Alabama, Disney, and the Quest to Be a National University

The cost of raising a university’s profile.

When Will We Get Back to Normal?

A veteran health reporter says the end is near. But there’s a huge caveat.

Conservatives and Critical Race Theory

The latest bogey man is likely not well understood.

Joe Manchin’s Houseboat

The flagship of the centrist Navy is both a throwback and a sign of what’s wrong with the Senate.

The NFL’s $10 Billion TV Deal

Pandemic-induced recession? What pandemic-induced recession?

Sexism and Kamala Harris

Joe Biden’s running mate will be highly scrutinized. What’s fair game?

A Diminished, Surreal July 4th

The crowd for DC’s fireworks celebration was small but weird.

Virginia Finally Repeals Dumb Happy Hour Restrictions

Virginia has finally repealed a dumb and unconstitutional restriction on how bars could advertise Happy Hours.

‘Florida Man’ Has Feelings, Too

Strong public records laws, not an excess of weirdness, has driven a sad meme.

Trump Placing Tariffs On All Trade With Mexico

Last night, President Trump announced a new round of tariffs against Mexico for reasons that have nothing to do with trade itself.

Trump’s Destructive Trade War Expands

China has retaliated for the tariffs that the President imposed late last week, and things look like they’re only going to get worse.

Fed Nominee Stephen Moore Has History of Controversial Remarks About Women

Stephen Moore, who has been nominated to a seat on the Federal Reserve Board by President Trump. has a history of controversial remarks about women.

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Military Outdrinks Everybody

Despite some obstacles, America’s armed forces drink other professions under the table.

1970s and 1980s Yearbooks Featured Blatant Racism—And Not Just in the South

Ku Klux Klan jokes, fake lynchings, and the like were routinely depicted even at places like Cornell.

Can Coverage of Women Candidates Be Non-Sexist?

Gender bias is real. Most examples cited, though, aren’t.

Should There Be A Political Statute Of Limitations On Acting Like An Idiot?

The cases of Ralph Northam and Mark Herring raise a question of when, if ever, something we did in the past should follow us for the rest of our lives.

Virginia Governor Faces Questions About Racist Photos In Medical School Yearbook

There’s not really a good explanation for this, Governor Northam.

Is ‘Electability’ Measurable?

A WaPo data analyst gives it a shot.

Utah To Enact Strictest DUI Law In Nation, Lowering BAC Limit To .05

A new law set to take effect in Utah before the New Year will lower the BAC limit for drunk driving by 40% to .05. Will the rest of the nation follow?

Bill Rehnquist Proposed Marriage to Stanford Classmate Sandra Day

The future Supreme Court Justices had a lifelong relationship.

American Troops Arrive In Iceland, Drink All The Beer

American troops in Iceland for a military exercise were apparently quite thirsty.

What’s The Problem With Apu?

One of the longest-lasting characters on The Simpsons may not be long for this world, but before we write him off perhaps we ought to stop and think.

F.B.I. Completes Kavanaugh Background Check, Senate Moves Forward On Vote

The F.B.I.’s updated background check is complete and will be reviewed by Senators beginning today. As a result, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is moving forward toward a final vote on the Kavanaugh nomination later this week.

Trump Launches Attack On Christine Blasey Ford

After roughly a week of staying silent, President Trump decided last night to openly mock Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.

Ford/Kavanaugh Hearing Takes Over SNL Cold Open

Saturday Night Live inevitably mocked the Ford/Kavanaugh hearing on Thursday in their cold open.

Ford-Kavanaugh Hearings Reinforce Previous Conceptions

An ugly day for the United States Senate and the United States of America.

California Woman Accusing Brett Kavanaugh Of Sexual Assault Comes Forward

A woman accusing Brett Kavanaugh of having assaulted her when he was 17 and she was 15 has come forward. What happens next is anyone’s guess.

The Cable Bundle is Dying. We’ll Miss it When it’s Gone.

As much as we hate paying $200 a month for television, the future is likely going to be worse.