President’s Day Is a Weird Holiday. It Has Been Since the Beginning.Plus: Finding happiness in doing work, not escaping it.Recently in The Bulwark:
You can support The Bulwark by subscribing to Bulwark+ or just by sharing this newsletter with someone you think would value it. LINDSAY M. CHERVINSKY: President’s Day Is a Weird Holiday. It Has Been Since the Beginning.
CATHY YOUNG: Elena Bonner at 100.
Biden went to an active war zone, Lindsey Graham shows his old McCain-sidekick self, DeSantis weighs in on Ukraine, the Michigan GOP disconnects from reality, and MTG takes the leap from sedition to secession. Will Saletan is back with Charlie Sykes for Charlie and Will Monday. The Republican establishment — and many Republican voters in our focus groups — think Ron DeSantis is the answer to their prayers that they can win in 2024. But Donald Trump has a say in this matter, and he’s already offering up an early taste of the kind of attacks he’s planning on DeSantis. Heads-up: Those attacks are likely to go lower. What are DeSantis’ vulnerabilities as a candidate? Tara Palmeri of Puck News joins Sarah to listen to the focus groups and share some of her reporting from the Trump and DeSantis camps. Bulwark+ members can listen to an ad-free version of these podcasts on the player of their choice. Learn more at Bulwark+ Podcast FAQ. DAVID SHAYWITZ: The Balance.
🚨OVERTIME 🚨Happy President’s Day! Are you enjoying a new mattress? Ever wonder why mattresses are associated with President’s Day? It was a slow holiday here at The Bulwark, but we’ll be back at full steam tomorrow. I spent the day at various malls and playgrounds and stores. I did get to take a peek at the progress the Army Corps of Engineers is making dismantling the SM-1 reactor at Fort Belvoir, which I wrote about for Washingtonian early in the pandemic. ICYMI: Tim Miller had a nice note to readers that I think really gets The Bulwark ethos. (And yes, there’s an appeal if you’re not a B+ member.) President Biden was in Kyiv today… A surprise visit, inspiring to Ukrainians, replete with memes, sad Trumpy and Russian propagandists, and an obligatory train ride back to Poland. Oh, and we finally heard from 2024 hopeful Ron DeSantis on the Russian invasion! The XFL is back! And my D.C. Defenders are undefeated. After an uninspiring first half, the confiscation of the famed “Beer Snake” turned the tide, as fans got into it (and threw lemons in protest) to help the good guys beat the Seattle Sea Dragons. I think my second-favorite part of the broadcast was where they were talking about people who bet on the game in a league that just restarted with teams that have never played a game. Who would bet on that? The best part was the lemons. Trouble in Mamaroneck, NY… As James O’Keefe is ousted from Project Veritas, after which, he gave a teary, bizarre speech to staff, ending with a quotation from King Lear. This is your periodic reminder that the GOP's craziest elements are usually failed theatre geeks. “The Last of Us…” But actually Fox News clips. “I never truly understood Fox News…” Until the Dominion lawsuit, writes former CNN media reporter Brian Stelter at The Atlantic. Speaking of the Dominion suit… It was reassuring to our friend Matt Lewis to know that, despite being afraid of their audience and saying things other than what they believed, that they secretly agree with him about pretty much everything. Inside the collapse… of the Trump-DeSantis ‘alliance of convenience.’ Pat Dennis observes: “Ron desantis is a replacement level conservative member of the house who was able to leapfrog several levels in political ambition by disingenuously sucking up to Trump, beginning way back in 2012.” So, from his POV, it has been a pretty successful alliance. Though, “replacement level” might even be a bit charitable. DeSantis was a nobody. That’s it for me. Tech support questions? Email members@thebulwark.com. Questions for me? Respond to this message. —30— Editorial photos provided by Getty Images. For full credits, please consult the article. You’re on the free list for Overtime. For the full Bulwark+ experience, become a paying subscriber: Follow The Bulwark on: Update your Bulwark email preferences on your personal My Account page. |