Between Kirk and the Cult: Intellectual Conservatism’s Decline in the Age of Populism

How do I begin to cover today’s latest development: President Trump, having imposed steep tariffs on Chinese goods-tariffs that reached a staggering 145%-is now signaling a substantial reduction. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has acknowledged these tariffs are “unsustainable,” hinting at a likely de-escalation in the trade war with China. Yet, in a twist of political theater, this retreat is being celebrated by supporters as a strategic masterstroke. The same voices that once championed the tariffs as a bold stand against China now laud their rollback as a savvy move, all without a hint of irony. I say this a lot,.

‘I have good brain’: SNL’s Trump brags about ‘cognitive test’ that led to an MRI

Donald Trump’s character made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live, where he crashed a New York City mayoral debate and bragged about his brain. When the host of the fictional debate, who’s played by Kenan Thompson, asked the candidates about the “biggest problem” facing New York, James Austin Johnson’s Trump character suddenly appeared and said, “It’s me. Yes, they can pretend this election is about housing and taxes, but we all know it’s about me, right? Because I’m gonna be very involved, very hands on,” he said before making a joke at the expense of Andrew Cuomo. Turning to Zohran Mamdani’s character, SNL’s Trump claims the Democratic candidate doesn’t “have the mind” Trump does for the role.”I have good brain,” SNL’s Trump says. “I took a cognitive test. I did so well on my cognitive test, that they immediately gave me an MRI.”.

Republicans quick to burst Trump’s filibuster trial balloon

Republican lawmakers heartily rejected President Donald Trump‘s most recent plan for ending the ongoing government shutdown: getting rid of the filibuster rule. The shutdown is rapidly approaching the longest in American history, and Trump put forward his filibuster proposal Thursday night, ahead of Saturday’s looming deadline to pass a funding bill or risk more than [.].