For nearly sixty years, environmentalists have shrieked warnings about overpopulation and Peak Everything. What will happen if population falls significantly, however? Marian Tupy warns of an economic and political collapse in a new book, Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation, and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet. Human innovation holds much greater potential than projected resource limitations and alleged scarcity.

Plus, I review the top stories of the day. What does the new poll from the Washington Post and ABC tell us about the midterms -- and about other polls? In Russia, their war effort has grown so desperate that Putin and his cronies are trying to sell martyrdom. Finally, don't believe everything you read in the media about Georgia Meloni's victory in the Italian elections.

Ready for the weekend? Harry Crocker gives us another literary change of pace in his new Regnery book Armstrong and the Mexican Mystery, a re-imagining of George Armstrong Custer into an adventurer and detective. Harry and I discuss the need to use fiction to teach greater truths, and the value of sheer entertainment in a 60-second-news-cycle world. I also cover the top stories today, including Stacey Abrams' conspiracy theory about ultrasound machines, Joe Biden's lies about the Catholic Church and abortion, and the apparently sudden end to the Matt Gaetz probe at the DoJ.

Will Duane Patterson achieve the vaunted -- and mythicall -- status of "senior VIP columnist"? We debate that, but there's no debating the usefulness of the 2024 primary program he's building for VIP members. We discuss that series, as well as the latest from Axios on Google data showing waning interest in abortion but an explosive increase in searches on the border crisis. What could possibly have caused that? Plus, we take a look at Vladimir Putin's mobilization, the fantasy thinking behind it, and the backfire it's causing among heretofore compliant Russians.

Salena Zito returns! The Middle of Somewhere report covers the Fetterman-Oz race, and I try to get her to comment on the Steelers. We have lots of fun, and I also cover the top stories of the morning.

Had enough of all things royal? Andrew Malcolm has, although not so much as to ignore Joe Biden's embarrassing faux pas at the queen's funeral. We focus more on the embarrassing interview on 60 Minutes, which should shame both sides of that show. Scott Pelley tossed softballs, including "Republicans pounce" approach to Hunter's legal problems ... and Biden didn't even manage to make contact on those. Plus, a look at this morning's top stories!

Joe Biden finally did a one-on-one interview -- and got the softball treatment from Scott Pelley. Nevertheless, Biden managed to lie about inflation, declare an end to the same pandemic that he's using to justify his Academia bailout, and once again blow up strategic ambiguity over Taiwan. Biden seems a lot more interested in strategic ambiguity when it comes to the Federal Election Commission, however.

What happened to Daisy Buchanan after the events of The Great Gatsby? F. Scott Fitzgerald never wrote more about this central character, but my friend Libby Sternberg has in her new novel Daisy. We discuss Fitzgerald's brilliance, why Sternberg wanted to write about this seminal character, and even debate about The Great American Novel -- a bit, anyway. Plus, I review the developments in the Russo-Ukraine war, Vladimir Putin's humiliation in India and Germany, and the prospects for a negotiated end to the war. I do a quick review of Donald Trump's tactical victory in court over the Mar-a-Lago raid, and the sheer avalanche of hypocrisy in Martha's Vineyard.

Duane Patterson and I heave a sigh of relief over the railroad deal that averted a catastrophic strike -- at least so far. However, the economic realities have not changed for the rest of us, and may not even for the rail workers who have to ratify the deal. We wonder what Chris Licht is doing by making Don Lemon the morning-show anchor, and we have competing theories about it. We have the same opinion about Lindsey Graham's strategy on abortion, though. Plus, a new development on the FBI and Russian "collusion" emerged as we spoke!

What comes next for the Brits? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and whether King Charles III can keep the institution afloat. We also discuss the media's distraction campaign in the midterms, which is also the topic of my Townhall commentary this week. In my opening monologue, I also address today's inflation report, the unbelievably incompetent White House decision to schedule a "celebration" today, and more!