Topline: The Anti-Anti-Trumpers

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.   Sort By: Importance    The GOP Civil War  The Atlantic — Dec. 19, 2017 David Frum confronts what has essentially become an anti-anti-Trump faction of the GOP — those who are unable to defend the president, but are perfectly willing to attack those who attack him. Frum points out that the conservatism these critics see themselves as defending is changing, perhaps irrevocably, and that actions taken by the president must be considered in the context of the overall forest fire that is his presidency. Citizenship   Equity by Force  Quillette — Dec. 18, 2017 An essay in Quillette breaks down some of the factors contributing to recent campus protests at Evergreen State University. The upheavals garnered international headlines, primarily marveling at the consistent capitulation of the administration to increasingly unreasonable student demands. Tribalism and group hatred have no place in a democratic society, regardless of their ideological sources. Governance   Hail Caesar?  Lawfare — Dec. 17, 2017 Lawfare takes a look at the changing relationship between the military and civilian leadership in American democracy. The military is now the most trusted public institution in America, and the president loves to surround himself with generals to use that legitimacy to bolster his own. Yet, as Raphael Cohen warns, we should consider the consequences of increased military visibility in civilian administrative roles. China’s Senator  The Washington Post — Dec. 17, 2017 Senator Steve Daines has been particularly cozy with China, and the Washington Post analyzes the rationale behind this odd relationship. This particular example is a good case study for how authoritarian regimes can influence individual legislators in an open society like our own, and how our leadership may be susceptible to manipulation by foreign powers in the future. The Investigation   Prepping the Battlefield  Politico — Dec. 19, 2017 Rumors have been swirling about a possible move against the Mueller investigation, and the president – not exactly known for his honesty - recently sought to head them off by directly denying any intention to fire the special counsel. However, the intent of the campaign to delegitimize the investigation might also be to prime the Trump base to reject its findings entirely, and to put their faith unquestioningly in their leader. Unsubscribe