Thank you both! I subscribe to the Atlantic, and appreciate both Tom’s articles and his brilliant (and, sadly, prescient) book, “The Death of Expertise.” And Charlie, your observation about our ability to focus long enough to actually absorb and digest information is critically important. As a mental health provider, my profession has spent decades studying the demise of in-depth sources of information in favor of sound bites, and understanding what this has done to our critical thinking skills and our attention spans. Sadly, our consequent investment in issues that dramatically impact our lives is negligible.
Listening to the transcript, it strikes me that not just Trump's actions, but now the whole GOP, is basically operating and functioning, not as a legal, legitimate, patriotic government entity, but as a Russian sponsored and directed terrorist organization.
If people like Tom and Charlie had the nerve to call a spade a spade and come up with an accurate epitaph to describe this reality (never mind they might increase the wrath of Patel and Trump) it might be the start of forthrightly discussing the problem, rather than just preparing for 4 years of endless whining about something that they are in part responsible for creating, by their timidity and half measures/responses.
I think that Tom and Charlie have done a terrific job in calling our Trump and the MAGA mullahs out for their depravity and that they are “Profiles in Courage.” Their demeanor is academic but what’s wrong with that? Their analyses were good.
Tom's idea for a bumper sticker that says 'What did you think was going to happen?' is a great idea. Perhaps a simple t-shirt (made in America) available in a variety of colors would also sell well. Sign me up for the first order.
It didn't have to happen. Why didn't a single Democrat lodge a protest over Trump's certification. The Democrats are partners in Trump's usurpation of the constitution.
When Charlie said "the Jan 6 pardons" the closed caption interpreted "the Jan 6 partners". From Trump's perspective, I figure that's just about a perfect reference to the stooges he sprung out of jail. Thanks for hosting Tom Nichols - one of the best there is.
What Elon and all these men want is immortality. I cannot underscore this enough. And of course, all the money, power, drugs, and sex cannot get you immortality. How disappointing for them!
Charlie, you interviewed Robert Kagan regarding his book ‘Rebellion, How anti-liberalism is a tearing America apart- Again.’ I would be interested if Professor Nichols is surprised by today’s events. The book describes the American history of anti-liberalism even before the colonization of the americas, the anti-liberals finally won after a 250+ year campaign to abandon the liberal democratic order. You interviewed another author, John Avlon, his book ‘Lincoln, and the fight for peace.’ A story about the wisdom of Lincoln was ‘unconditional surrender, followed by a forgiving hand up.’ I’ll disagree with Mr. Avlon, this should be a black mark on Lincoln’s legacy, he should have crushed the rebs, burned everything to the ground, and kept them on their knees for a generation. That is a classic liberal mistake, to think that elements of humanity who demonstrate anti-liberal tendencies know anything other than brutality. Society must Stop extending olive branches Charlie, you are now point person to re-emphasize this long standing historical lesson.
Bingo! We are not a serious nation. This is what has led to democracy’s demise.
This horrible fact stared me in the face way before 911, when the Bush Administration seemed poised for war with Iraq (even then) and the US was part of a total trade embargo with Iraq to force the country to comply with our demands. People, innocent people, were starving. Families were allotted 5 pounds of rice, 5 pounds of beans and a liter of oil to survive each month. People were dying for lack of simple medicines, antibiotics, that had been imported. I went to Washington with a group to lobby my representatives to find another way to negotiate and release the embargo so people would stop dying. The night before our Capitol Hill visit, we dined together and I happened to sit next an Iraqi Catholic priest, who was sent by his diocese in Iraq to minister with the immigrants who settled in Michigan. He told me he hated us, which as a priest was a heavy confession. He told me I hated you because I watched my nephew die, then my sister die, and my whole congregation disappear from starvation and illness that could have been prevented. But then, he said, I got here and I began to see the truth. You are good people who do not know what your government does in your name. I see that you are “too distracted by your wealth.” That conversation haunts me. And it is precisely why we’re are in this spot today.
Thank you both! I subscribe to the Atlantic, and appreciate both Tom’s articles and his brilliant (and, sadly, prescient) book, “The Death of Expertise.” And Charlie, your observation about our ability to focus long enough to actually absorb and digest information is critically important. As a mental health provider, my profession has spent decades studying the demise of in-depth sources of information in favor of sound bites, and understanding what this has done to our critical thinking skills and our attention spans. Sadly, our consequent investment in issues that dramatically impact our lives is negligible.
Great photo! Thank you for fighting the good fight! Your work matters in the world!
Excellent! Can’t wait for you to continue the discussion, picking up from where you left off, about Americans amusing ourselves to death.
NATO needs to kick all US troops out of their countries and give the Trump administration 3 months to shut their bases down..
Listening to the transcript, it strikes me that not just Trump's actions, but now the whole GOP, is basically operating and functioning, not as a legal, legitimate, patriotic government entity, but as a Russian sponsored and directed terrorist organization.
If people like Tom and Charlie had the nerve to call a spade a spade and come up with an accurate epitaph to describe this reality (never mind they might increase the wrath of Patel and Trump) it might be the start of forthrightly discussing the problem, rather than just preparing for 4 years of endless whining about something that they are in part responsible for creating, by their timidity and half measures/responses.
I think that Tom and Charlie have done a terrific job in calling our Trump and the MAGA mullahs out for their depravity and that they are “Profiles in Courage.” Their demeanor is academic but what’s wrong with that? Their analyses were good.
Tom's idea for a bumper sticker that says 'What did you think was going to happen?' is a great idea. Perhaps a simple t-shirt (made in America) available in a variety of colors would also sell well. Sign me up for the first order.
It didn't have to happen. Why didn't a single Democrat lodge a protest over Trump's certification. The Democrats are partners in Trump's usurpation of the constitution.
When Charlie said "the Jan 6 pardons" the closed caption interpreted "the Jan 6 partners". From Trump's perspective, I figure that's just about a perfect reference to the stooges he sprung out of jail. Thanks for hosting Tom Nichols - one of the best there is.
What Elon and all these men want is immortality. I cannot underscore this enough. And of course, all the money, power, drugs, and sex cannot get you immortality. How disappointing for them!
Yes they are.
Maybe due to their terror of death and justice? They are madmen
Yes - they are madmen but men/human beings nevertheless.
TRUTH
Charlie, you interviewed Robert Kagan regarding his book ‘Rebellion, How anti-liberalism is a tearing America apart- Again.’ I would be interested if Professor Nichols is surprised by today’s events. The book describes the American history of anti-liberalism even before the colonization of the americas, the anti-liberals finally won after a 250+ year campaign to abandon the liberal democratic order. You interviewed another author, John Avlon, his book ‘Lincoln, and the fight for peace.’ A story about the wisdom of Lincoln was ‘unconditional surrender, followed by a forgiving hand up.’ I’ll disagree with Mr. Avlon, this should be a black mark on Lincoln’s legacy, he should have crushed the rebs, burned everything to the ground, and kept them on their knees for a generation. That is a classic liberal mistake, to think that elements of humanity who demonstrate anti-liberal tendencies know anything other than brutality. Society must Stop extending olive branches Charlie, you are now point person to re-emphasize this long standing historical lesson.
It’s good to hear Charlie Sykes again.
The dogs are protesting DOGE!
Everyone blowing up online for the last month should watch this piece. Best thing I've seen this year.
Bingo! We are not a serious nation. This is what has led to democracy’s demise.
This horrible fact stared me in the face way before 911, when the Bush Administration seemed poised for war with Iraq (even then) and the US was part of a total trade embargo with Iraq to force the country to comply with our demands. People, innocent people, were starving. Families were allotted 5 pounds of rice, 5 pounds of beans and a liter of oil to survive each month. People were dying for lack of simple medicines, antibiotics, that had been imported. I went to Washington with a group to lobby my representatives to find another way to negotiate and release the embargo so people would stop dying. The night before our Capitol Hill visit, we dined together and I happened to sit next an Iraqi Catholic priest, who was sent by his diocese in Iraq to minister with the immigrants who settled in Michigan. He told me he hated us, which as a priest was a heavy confession. He told me I hated you because I watched my nephew die, then my sister die, and my whole congregation disappear from starvation and illness that could have been prevented. But then, he said, I got here and I began to see the truth. You are good people who do not know what your government does in your name. I see that you are “too distracted by your wealth.” That conversation haunts me. And it is precisely why we’re are in this spot today.
Thank you, once again.
Thank the lord for Charlie’s dog pics ❤️….oh and his writing is incredible too.
Aww — so wonderful to see you with Tom Nichols! Two of my favorite writers!