Random Thought: ‘1984’ by Irshad Salim
Irshad Salim, Karachi: One day I asked Professor Kahn why do we keep hearing all the time about freedom of expression, right to dissent, etc. “Wisdom of crowds is a
Orwellian State: Leaked Phone Calls, ‘Lawful Intercept Management System’
From Dawn: IT seems that the goings-on in judges’ homes is not the only thing that piques Big Brother’s curiosity. Our security apparatus also listens to what ordinary citizens are
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Why Political Leaders, From Vladimir Putin to Donald Trump, are Claiming the Mantle of Religion
Nina L. Khrushcheva at Project Syndicate: One might argue that there is nothing unusual or even particularly problematic about invoking faith to comfort or motivate people in times of crisis;
Prediction Markets Suggest Replacing Biden
Scott Alexander at Astral Codex Ten: Some of the party’s problems are hard and have no shortcuts. But the big one – figuring out whether replacing Biden would even help
The Real Modern Struggle: Democracy and Authoritarianism
by Mindy Clegg at 3 Quarks Daily: The Cold War ended somewhere between 1989 and 1991 or if you take the disintegration of Yugoslavia into account, maybe into the 2000s.
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Julian Assange—Journalist or Jerk?
By Matthew Gault at Newsweek: No person is just one thing. I believe that strongly and, like other strongly held convictions, edge cases test me. So it is with Julian
Dan Carlin on Podcasting, History, and Hero Worship
Nick Gillespie at Reason: In March, Reason‘s Nick Gillespie talked with one of the great pioneers of podcasting:Dan Carlin, the host of Hardcore History. Carlin’s deeply researched and urgently delivered takes on
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The Problem(s) of Democracy
From Wisdom of Crowds: Institutions in decay: In the past, Ezra Klein argues, American political parties “were a bulwark against politics becoming about one person.” What we’re seeing today is
Agreeing to Our Harm
Marilynne Robinson in the NY Review of Books: Some years ago I spoke at a conservative church in northern Michigan. I talked about military-style guns and the culture of fear
Mary L. Trump: Why I’m Still With President Biden
The Good in Us by Mary L. Trump: It would be absurd to pretend that President Joe Biden had a good debate last night. I was there — he did
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For Trump, the Debate Was Another Chapter in the Rewriting of Jan. 6
By Jess Bidgood at The New York Times: About halfway through Thursday night’s presidential debate, the moderators asked former President Donald Trump about Jan. 6. Amid all the focus on
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How America Got Into This Omnishambles
Yascha Mounk at Persuasion: America is in deep, deep trouble. Before Thursday’s debate, the leading contender to win the upcoming presidential election was already Donald Trump, a man whose first stint