By A Veteran The wind had been rising since dawn, funneling between the government towers and driving dust across the square in pale, twisting Continue Reading
Politics
Urbs Aeterna: No City Stands Forever
For centuries, Rome called itself Urbs Aeterna—the Eternal City. The phrase was not merely poetic. It reflected a genuine belief that Rome occupied Continue Reading
When Outrage Becomes Violence
Every so often, tragedy forces an uncomfortable question: When words serve not to inform, but to inflame, do the purveyors of that rhetoric bear Continue Reading
The Politicization of Law Enforcement and the Cost to Society
By now, much of the nation has heard of Corey Ruiz and the shooting that took place in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 22. This has raised questions about Continue Reading
War Just Got a Whole Lot Easier, so Expect More of It
The Changing Character of War The character of war has always evolved alongside technology, but its underlying logic has remained remarkably Continue Reading
The Border Policy with Absolutely No Political Upside
American politics requires us to believe that politicians calculate electoral advantage while choosing committee assignments, tax credits, courthouse Continue Reading
Democracy Does Not Pick the Best Leader—It Picks the Best Liar
Democracy is often framed as a meritocratic system of governance—one in which the most capable, disciplined, and strategically minded individuals rise Continue Reading
Emperor Norton and the Republic of Absurdity
In September of 1859, a man walked into the offices of the San Francisco Bulletin and declared himself “Norton I, Emperor of the United States.” Continue Reading
The Press Put On a Cape and Forgot Its Pants
There was a time when a television journalist’s job was to tell viewers what happened, explain what could be verified, and then resist the Continue Reading
A Country That Hates Its Past Will Surrender Its Future
“I was ashamed of myself when I realized life was a costume party, and I attended with my real face.” The line is widely attributed to Franz Kafka, Continue Reading
Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes: The Permanent Logic of Human Conflict
“Bellum omnium contra omnes.” The phrase is most commonly translated from Latin as “the war of all against all.” It originates from the political Continue Reading
Citizenship Shouldn’t Need a Ouija Board
There’s a special little circus tent in American politics where adults in tailored jackets pretend that asking whether a voter is legally eligible to Continue Reading