This article is a couple of days old, so forgive me for just getting to it now, but Jonathan V. Last of The Bulwark seems to have had it with "the people." Americans have disappointed him, and he's had a rough week anyway. The piece is behind a paywall, but we can read enough of it to know that he's deeply triggered by the U.S. accepting a jet that used to be used by the Qatari government. The fact that the people haven't revolted over that just adds to his existential disappointment.
What if American society is rotten?https://t.co/8R9pqbo2fs
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) May 15, 2025
Yes, he's actually headlined the piece "American Cthulhu: Staring into the abyss that is The People."
Let's see what has him so let down by the public.
Ten years ago I would have spent time this week writing about Pete Rose, the Hall of Fame, and the decline of American culture.
But that’s not the world we live in anymore. Being upset about Pete Rose going to Cooperstown is like being at dinner on the Titanic and complaining that your soufflé collapsed. I mean, sure: Not ideal. But you have seen the iceberg, right?
We haven’t gone dark around here in a while, but I’m in a pretty dark place this week. So walk me with into the mountains of madness.
All right, we'll walk along for a bit.
On Monday Sarah and I talked about Trump’s Qatari air palace and I asked if she thought this $400 million gift might “break through” with voters.
I hated myself the minute the words were out of my mouth.
When we talk about news “breaking through” with voters, we assume that information takes action and makes choices, but people themselves have no agency.
To talk this way is to believe that it’s the story that has to maneuver around and penetrate some shield which prevents voters from perceiving the outside world. The story acts; the people are inert and acted upon. The language of stories “breaking through” becomes a crutch; an excuse. If people don’t react properly to grotesque corruption from their president, it isn’t because they are moral degenerates. It’s because they never had the chance to reach the correct judgment.
When we talk about stories “breaking through,” we do so out of optimism. The phrase assumes that people are virtuous and that the only reason they do not recoil from Trump’s corruption is that they did not see it or understand it.
And maybe that optimistic view is right.
But also: Maybe it’s not.
That’s what I want to talk about today. Because what if the optimistic view isn’t right? What if the truth is terrible? What if The People are rotten and no longer capable of liberal self-government?
Let’s go to the bad place.
I have a feeling The Bulwark is the bad place. What if the people are rotten and no longer capable of liberal self-government?
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I'm sorry the big news about the Qatari jet didn't "break through," but Jake Tapper sort of sucked all the oxygen out of the room this week with his promotion of "Original Sin," the book he wrote about the cover-up of Joe Biden's deteriorating physical and mental health that he and his network helped cover up. Hearing from so many people that we had a president who wasn't fit for a second term but was still allowed to have his finger on the button for the remainder of his first term was a bit disconcerting.
Last is a Never Trumper, and America voted for Trump. So, shame on America, I guess. What if American society is rotten? That's pretty heavy.
What if, and hear me out here, you're one of the major contributors to that?
— Zanshi 惨死 (D - Jar Kitteh) (@zanshi1) May 15, 2025
What if you just hate America.
— The Galaxy's Shortest Wookie (@Crapplefratz) May 15, 2025
No one listens to us, so America is bad.
— J (@ARaised_Eyebrow) May 16, 2025
Hot take
You guys used to lead the conservative segment of it.
— Richard DeCamp (@richdecamp) May 15, 2025
— Billy Gribbin (@BillyGribbin) May 15, 2025
Y’all must be struggling for content.
— Nick Norris (@NickNorrid58069) May 15, 2025
We know you despise your countrymen. At least now you are openly admitting it.
— Titus Pullo (@Titus_PulloBC) May 16, 2025
It must be such a high looking around and feeling that air of moral superiority over the great unwashed.
— D Block (@Dhmcgrath77) May 15, 2025
— Mark (@MarkInvicta) May 16, 2025
That's still my favorite GIF, although I like the one that zooms in on his lips.
Perhaps you're just bad people, Bulwark.
— Miguel Maruso (@miggymaru) May 16, 2025
Maybe Last and the rest of The Bulwark crew should flee to Canada like those three Yale professors? Perhaps the people there won't be such a disappointment.
The irony of making this kind of jeremiad only available for paid subscribers probably completely escapes Mr. Last...
— David Curp (@david_curp) May 16, 2025
Yeah, I'm sorry I can't bring you more, but I'd have to subscribe to The Bulwark. All I get to know is that Last's existential angst comes from, first, "The People." I can only guess what number two is.
— 🐦⬛ K.P. Lovecraft 🐦⬛ (@farm_fox69634) May 15, 2025
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