This was one of my favorites regarding math'ing SCOTUS voting patterns. Everyone was wrong when it came to executive immunity, the most consequential case of this session (and surely one of the most consequential rulings ever). And the second most consequential case of the session, also 6-3, suggests that the politico piece quantified or interpreted "institutionalism" incorrectly, or that "institutionalism" takes a back seat to "conservativism" (whatever the fuck that means anymore, too) for the most important decisions. At this point, it'd be foolish to not conclude that the best model for thinking about SCOTUS is that it is currently the most activist extension of Trump's MAGA movement. It's making Project 2025 Project 2024.

I should also say that folks like mk are not wrong, Biden's debate performance was a very troubling moment to behold. I tuned in to the debate after the first 30 minutes, and the remaining hour wasn't so bad. But obviously, the opening half hour is by far most crucial, and Biden botched it. Big time. Nor has Biden's response, or lack thereof, so far, been at all reassuring. But he's not like... permanently impaired or something. He had a bad opening stint of the debate. Happens. And now his polling numbers are like -4 since then. He deserves most of it.

But color me skeptical that it's genuine concerns about Trump eking out a victory driving these breathless, nonstop critiques of Biden. It's obviously quite easy to absolve oneself of responsibility (note: Frum is being tongue-in-cheek here) hiding behind journalistic both-sidesism. The knives are fuckin' out, and we do actually disagree; It looks to me like the chin-stroking class runs DC. I think kowtowing to these pundits is a bad idea, not just because it would empower them further, but the amount of uncertainty it throws into the dem ticket will surely be further exploitable. And, again, Heritage Foundation is already looking into legal avenues to dispute any Biden replacement. Intentions aside, the "liberal" media is doing Trump's work for him.

Bro I've listened to Trump nonsensically ramble into a battery vs. shark sinking boat dilemma story several times as proof that he is a genius, and:

And that was before the debate.

edit: This whole interview is lucid enough for me. Not perfect, but c'mon.

edit2: Yikes. That is embarrassing, Olivia.

edit3: membership's been cancelled for almost a year, now. At least some truth is still getting through