Intentions are useless: Two strong arguments against the idea that some Trump voters “aren’t so bad.” From Jamelle Bouie: “Whether Trump’s election reveals an ‘inherent malice’ in his voters is irrelevant. What is relevant are the practical outcomes of a Trump presidency”—outcomes that will have to fall at the feet of those who voted for him. From Aleksander Hemon: It matters very little whether Trump voters “feel” they are racist and misogynist. The proof was in their votes.
Get petulant: Republicans straight-up stole the Supreme Court, Dahlia Lithwick writes, and there is very little (nothing?) that Democrats can do to stop it now. Let’s give in to our annoyance and “make a huge national fuss” about this between now and January.
No help from those quarters: The speed with which Republican leaders gave up on the fight against white nationalist Steve Bannon’s appointment as Trump’s chief strategist has Mark Joseph Stern convinced that they will roll over just as quickly the next time the president-elect does something outrageous.
Higher learning: American colleges and universities, already suffering through an age of austerity, may see even tougher times during the Trump administration, Rebecca Schuman writes. Say goodbye to student-loan reform, for one thing.
Is this real life?: How will Facebook respond to recent allegations that it’s a perfectly optimized platform for spreading toxic fake news? Will Oremus predicts the company will implement some half-measures in order to throw a bone to critics, while “preserving its claim to be a neutral technology platform.”
For fun: All hail The Rock, Your Sexiest Man Alive!
Steaming hunk o’ brisket,
Rebecca
