Inside-the-beltway pundits see Democrats all over the political spectrum winning elections and write that the intra-party warfare is overblown. Those outside the beltway have a clearer view: The neo-liberal “moderates” will give up power when leftists wrest it from Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer’s wrinkled, arthritic hands. Here’s a political cartoon to illustrate the point.
Republicans could paper over the split in their party through hatred of Obama and Hillary Clinton, but they’re out in the open under Trump. That’s the takeaway from the outpouring of anti-Trump talk from the Koch Bros. annual conservo-conference, where the sources of the party’s dark money complained loud and long about Trump’s trade policies.
Peaceniks rejoice: The New York Times is reporting that U.S. diplomats have engaged in direct talks with the Taliban, cutting out the Afghani government, in an effort to end America’s longest war. The D.C. establishment is framing it as another Trump retreat, but it’s hard to think regular folks won’t welcome this. Ending wars without victory is not something most presidents like to do.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has ended the city’s cooperation with ICE, meaning it will no longer share its arrest database. Protest works.
In the way that real-life Mafiosi take their role models from “The Godfather,” real-life fraternities never held toga parties before the release of “Animal House” 40 years ago. Viewed today, the film’s nihilism can seem almost … Trumpian.