The American Mind

Donald Trump was nearly assassinated last weekend, but for the few degrees of rotation that brought his head out of the bullet’s trajectory at the last possible second. The events surrounding the attempted assassination raise questions about everything from media integrity, to secret service incompetence, to… epistemology? But one thing is certain: Trump has become a world-historic figure. In the days following the attempt on his life, he has named JD Vance his VP pick, and the RNC is well underway. The editors take a holistic look at these developments and what we might expect in our political future before reminding you to read the damn site.

Recommended reading:

The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

No Going Back

No Rotten Miracles

Biden’s debate performance was so horrid that Democrats have taken it as license to wonder openly who else could be their candidate. But is it too little too late? Trump has taken some notes and mellowed out—at least, after his fashion. The GOP, for its part, has adopted a new, slimmed-down and notably altered platform, having gone without one in 2020. The new one hedges on staple issues like abortion, perhaps out of necessity in the current climate. The editors examine the increasingly clear political field at home before taking a look at the European elections across the pond and reminding you, for a change, to read some damn SCOTUS rulings.

Recommended reading:

Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo Opinion

The editors are off this week to celebrate the Fourth of July with family, friends, and fellow patriots. Happy 4th from everyone at TAM!

The Supreme Court ruled in Murthy v. Missouri, that the states of Missouri and Louisiana have no standing to challenge the Biden Administration’s meddling in online speech. So who does? Meanwhile, Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, has reached a plea deal with the US and is now a free man, leaving onlookers to wonder about details of the deal that—ironically—will probably remain secret. Finally, the editors take George Latimer’s expensive primary victory over Jamaal Bowman as occasion to look at the internal battle on the Left between old guard Marxists and the new cultural purists. And of course, you are reminded to read the damn site!

Recommended reading:

Hell Is Empty and All the Bots Are Here

Biden’s Escalating Border Crisis

Politics Is Not Downstream From Culture

TV Is Always Progressive

Steve Bannon looks to be headed to prison in July as a result of a totally normal and not-at-all political conviction that will take him out of the picture for four of the election campaign's most important months. Nothing to see here! Meanwhile, the CIA's venture cutout In-Q-Tel seems to be gearing up to run its own disinformation campaign. The editors also dive into the antics of environmental activist group Just Stop Oil, which has painted Stonehenge orange so that they can something something save the world. Plus: a geopolitical chess game unfolds along Florida's coastline as Russian warships show up in eyeshot of Miami. The editors reflect on it all and remind you to read the damn site.

Recommended reading:

Merging Pig with Soy

The Purpose of Art in Wartime

Europe Swings Right

Hunter Biden has been found guilty of lying about his drug habits on an application to obtain a firearm—does it matter? Is this a triumph of impartial justice or a smokescreen to cover up other Biden crimes? Meanwhile, Israel has recovered some of its hostages from Hamas, which you would think is cause for celebration—but not for useful idiots in the Western media. And Europe may be heading rightward as its immigration crisis worsens still further. The editors puzzle through it all and remind you to read the damn site.

Trump’s enemies can’t seem to let go of their obsession with him, or keep themselves from living up to the worst things he says about them. New York DA Alvin Bragg obtained the felony conviction his supporters have been lusting after since he entered office, upending the legal system in the process. Meanwhile the media ecosystem has already been thoroughly corrupted, in part to protect Biden and Obama from scrutiny over their duplicitous dealings in the middle east. Plus: pride month is a little subdued this year. Is this a reversal in the woke wars, or just a tactical retreat? The editors discuss, and invite you to read the damn site.

The Libertarian Party has rejected RFK in favor of a no-name candidate, Chase Oliver—but he’s a far cry from Libertarians of old. Meanwhile, the US military-built aid pier on Gaza’s coast was hit by harsh seas and will become an artificial reef if not repaired soon, shining a light on the degradation of the military’s infrastructure capabilities. Finally, old recognizes old as the Biden admin trots out Robert De Niro for its latest display of irrelevant celebrities. The editors analyze the headlines before reminding you to read the damn site.

Recommended reading:

Why Johnny Can’t Build

The Closing of the Internet Mind

The Way Forward

Spring 2024 Claremont Review of Books

Scarlet Johansson is "shocked" and "angered" that even though she declined to voice ChatGPT 4.0, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman seems to have plugged an imitation of her voice into the software. And you thought Her was fiction. Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has been confirmed dead after his Vietnam-era helicopter crashed, plunging Iran—already in a precarious political position—into an even more uncertain future. What is the U.S.'s position in all this, and how can we play the bad hand we find ourselves holding? Finally, who could forget that Donald Trump is on trial in New York? Certainly not CNN, who can’t seem to find anything else to talk about. The editors discuss what may lie in store for the U.S. before reminding you to read the damn site!

Recommended reading:

The Closing of the Internet Mind

School Choice Revolutionary

The Virtues of Settler Colonialism

Civil Rights Stay Gay