So Anthony Kennedy is retiring from the Supreme Court at the end of July. This news was received with something like melting-face-consternation by the denizens of the Left, who have been pretty unhappy with Trump so far as it is. And by “pretty unhappy” I mean levels of anguish usually reserved for those highly refined …
Bueller? Bueller? Mueller?
So let us begin with what the president tweeted on Sunday. “I hereby demand, and will do so officially tomorrow, that the Department of Justice look into whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump Campaign for Political Purposes—and if any such demands or requests were made by people within the Obama Administration!” …
Death Panels
I am emerging from a few weeks that were more hectic than usual, during which time I didn’t have as much available time for tracking the news as I normally do. And so it was that the horrific Alfie story from the UK only registered with me slowly. I say this so that no one …
How the Queen of Sheba Crossed the Border
Introduction: One of the most striking things about our current immigration debate is that it is not about immigration at all. The whole thing is classic misdirection. We are looking at the wrong things, we are measuring the wrong things, we are yelling about the wrong things, and we are building a wall around the …
That Unthinkable 2020 Election
So let us review where we are. For my entire adult life (and I understand the pattern started earlier than that), the received wisdom has been for Republican candidates to run to the right and govern to the middle. Virtually everyone did this, whether because that was where their heart actually was, or because they …
Hollow Soul Bullets
The aftermath of the most recent school shooting in Florida is playing out very much like the aftermath of many of the previous school shootings. Some urge us to a period of respectful silence, saying that debating gun control issues is not fitting while the grief is still a hot ache. Others say that if …
The Fragility of Civil Order
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim. 2:1–2). Whenever men have enjoyed any privilege for any length of …
A Dumpster Full of Grease Fire
I read the released FISA memo last Friday night, and since then have been mulling over how bright-yellow-gaudy-outrageous the whole thing is. And by outrageous, I mean horrific from the outset, and getting worse with each passing day. And by worse, I mean more yellow. Right now it is like a bushel basket full of …
Already Baked In
Introduction: The Wall Street Journal has established that it was likely that Donald Trump had a fling with a porn star a few years back, and that she was paid a tidy sum to keep her mouth shut about it. But as far as I can tell, the story has caused barely a ripple. Even …
A Primer on Theocracies
Introduction: A number of years ago, John Piper was being given some grief for having anything to do with me, and he was handling some hot grounders on the subject. In one Q & A, the topic came up (and I think the issue was something federal-visiony), and so he answered the question. He said …