CONFIRMED: I'm recovering well, thank you
Greetings from an undisclosed location in Alexandria, Virginia, where I am recovering from hernia surgery, which is just about as painful as it sounds. (Actually, there were two hernias, but who's counting?)
I'll be on the mend (and Oxycodone) for the next day, or so -- which will keep me off TV and (for the most part) Twitter. If you think what's about to happen in American politics is surreal, just imagine how it will feel for me.
But I think I'm lucid enough to push out a newsletter, at least.
Bill Kristol, Mia Love, Max Boot, and more! I probably shouldn't brag, but (thanks to your support!) the podcast has been rocking and rolling, lately.
In the last week, or so, we have talked to Utah Rep. Mia Love, Mark Forshyth, author of the surprisingly timely book "A Short History of Drunkenness," and Max Boot about his new book, "The Corrosion of Conservatism: Why I Left the Right." I also caught up with political advocacy guru (and Matt Lewis pal) Brian Lunde, who talked about the underrated political strategy of "abandonment" -- and why Heidi Heitkamp is about to lose her North Dakota Senate seat. Oh yeah, and we also took the podcast on the road to the Texas Tribune Fest, where I interviewed Bill Kristol in front of a LIVE studio audience in Austin, Texas! This was only the second time we have taped the podcast in front of an audience. The first time was with Mitch McConnell at the American Enterprise Institute in DC. Both times, we have packed the room. Should we take the podcast on the road more often? Where should we go?
Man, sometimes I think we should all just go on the road. All of us, you, me, the whole podcast audience, get on some motorcycles and just ride to the coast, man, interviewing people and recording podcasts along the way. We'd ride and record until we see the sun setting over the Pacific, and watch it sink man, with that ocean wind in our faces and all the cares of the world behind our backs. True freedom man... uh... wow, these painkillers are something. Always Believe the Woman? Over at the Daily Beast, I weighed in on the tension between the "believe the women" mantra and the presumption of innocence. Then, I went on CNN to discuss it. Come to think of it, this was also one of the many topics Bill Scher and I discussed this week on the DMZ Show. We have a long history of placing the burden of proof on the accuser, but this presents an obvious problem for women who feel afraid to speak out about abuse. Is there a way to ensure due process and also treat victims and survivors in a manner that is compassionate? Regardless of where you stand on the Kavanaugh confirmation battle, this is a question we will be wrestling with in years to come.
Shout-out to two amazing Patrons
As I recover from surgery, please also keep our friends (and podcast supporters) Kristin (@KLM_blessed) and Lissette (@libertylatina) in your thoughts and prayers. Kristin is recovering from a fall, and Lissette is expecting a new baby. Both of these ladies are terrific. Seriously, as toxic as politics and Twitter can be, following them helps lift my spirits and give me hope for the future. Follow them!--and make sure to check out Lissette's charity, HelpingVenezuela.com!
Can anyone else hear colors right now?
It might just be me.
Matt's Standup Comedy Routine Believe it or not, people pay good money to hear me give speeches. I thought it might be fun to share 5 minutes from a talk I gave a while back. This is where I tell audiences a bit about my family--and also mix in some humor. (Okay, I'm not gonna quit my day job, but if you're sitting through a bunch of speeches, being funny is arguably just as important as being knowledgeable.) Note: This audio content is exclusively available to Patreon supporters at the "Too Dumb to Fail" tier level ($10 per month). I'm always tweaking my speech, so please let me know what you think!