Why do America's largest cities consistently vote Democratic, while much of rural America remains firmly Republican? The usual explanations involve Continue Reading
Low-Hanging Fruit and Other Ways to Sound Smarter Than You Are
Why people use complicated language to impress others, and why it often backfires. There is a peculiar phenomenon that occurs when otherwise Continue Reading
It’s Easier to Replace Fighter Pilots with AI Than Aircraft Mechanics
Fighter pilots might want to start updating their résumés. Aircraft mechanics can probably relax for a while. That may sound like a ridiculous Continue Reading
Congratulations, You’ve Met Everyone on Earth
The intellectual laziness of sweeping generalizations There are roughly eight billion human beings wandering around this planet, and apparently Continue Reading
You’re Angry About AI? Social Media Already Owns Your Brain.
Americans are increasingly concerned that artificial intelligence will manipulate their opinions, influence their decisions, and eventually control Continue Reading
We Need a Big War
I sometimes think America needs a big war. Before anyone gets too excited, I'm not advocating for another war. I've spent enough of my life in the Continue Reading
When the News Started Telling Us How to Feel
Somewhere along the way, news stopped telling us what happened and started telling us how we should feel about it. What was once the art of fact-based Continue Reading
Excellence Punished, Mediocrity Protected
The Uncomfortable Reality There’s a grim little truism that most people learn sooner or later: being liked at work is often more important than Continue Reading
Could the U.S. Military Confiscate America’s Guns?
From time to time, someone will tell me that they are worried that the president or Congress will order the U.S. military to confiscate all firearms Continue Reading
Monetizing Your Fight Or Flight
Fear and anger keep the lights on in American politics and media. They also keep your sympathetic nervous system on a hair trigger. In short bursts, Continue Reading
The Beer Wasn’t the Point
What the Air Force Lost When We Stopped Knowing Our Troops At the end of a particularly miserable day on the flightline, sometimes your supervisor Continue Reading
Illegal Immigration Has an American Enabler
A guy came to work on my roof recently. I didn't ask where he was born, how he came to the United States, or whether he had legal status. I didn't ask Continue Reading