The Weekly Standard, RIP
This Friday, we learned that The Weekly Standard would be no more. The best pieces I've read about it have, interestingly, come from conservatives who do not subscribe to the magazine's neoconservative ethos, yet, nevertheless, lament the loss of this fine intellectual institution.
I highly recommend reading what Rod Dreher, Daniel McCarthy, and Matthew Walther have to say about it.
Aside from losing an important magazine, a lot of talented writers now find themselves out of a job. At Christmastime...
It occurs to me the times in my life when I have been unemployed or insecure about my future job prospects (or just in a transition phase) have generally come at Christmas. That was true for me in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2016.
This obviously has to do with Christmas coming at the end of the calendar year. But when you consider that a lot of vulnerable people are already lonely and melancholy during the holidays, this sort of thing only compounds the problem. Christmastime should be joyous, but it's hard to be cheery when you're told to pack up your office on December 14.
I've never spent a Memorial Day Weekend worried about my career, but I have had lots of Christmases overshadowed by concerns for my future.
This is all to say that we should keep the people formerly employed by the Weekly Standard in our thoughts and prayers--especially during this time of year.
And those of us who are blessed to be gainfully employed as writers should be grateful.
But Baby It's Cold Outside!
Why are progressive scolds obsessed with destroying holiday classics? According to some "hot takes" on the internets, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is racist, Rudolph is bigoted, and the song "Baby It's Cold Outside" is a paean to date rape. I talked with Commentary editor John Podhoretz about the Left's outrage machine.
Watch Matt on CNN this S
I'm currently scheduled to be on CNN's Reliable Sources on Sunday at 11am ET. This is, of course, subject to change. But tune in, or set your TiVo, just the same.
Last-Minute Christmas Shopping? Three Good Books
If you need that last minute stocking-stuffer, consider giving that certain someone a great book. This year, I interviewed a TON of terrific authors. Want something fun and funny? How about Mike Reiss's Springfield Confidential. Got a campaign junkie in the family? Get her Steve Kornacki's The Red and the Blue. Not philosophical enough for you? Pick up Jonah Goldberg's Suicide of The West. Still not sure? Peruse the list of great podcast guests from 2018.
The Beast In Me
Over at the Daily Beast, I write about why it's so hard for Donald Trump to find a chief of staff--and why Newt Gingrich probably shouldn't replace John Kelly. I also make the contrarian argument that Trump outmaneuvered "Chuck & Nancy" during that White House meeting over a government shutdown, this week. (If you're super interested in this topic, liberal Bill Scher and I debated it on Bloggingheads.)
Should Ben Shapiro Headline the March for Life?
I talked to Charlie Camosy, board member of Democrats for Life, about why he thinks it's a mistake for Ben Shapiro (whom we both like) to do his podcast live at the March for Life. Charlie also discusses why it's hard being a pro-Life Democrat, how to eat meat ethically, and how to square evolution with creationism.
Just for Patrons
Check out our bonus mini-pod episodes, available exclusively to Patreon supporters. I talk to John Podhoretz about some of his Weekly Standard movie reviews from 2018. Then, my wife Erin joins me to talk about being a minimalist mom in a Santa Claus season.
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