The Gist

Kevin Williamson Dies by the Sword

The Atlantic’s hired-then-fired conservative writer fancies himself a provocateur. He provoked his way out of a job.

The humble pen.

Toshiyuki IMAI/Flickr

Listen to Episode 965 of Slate’s The Gist:

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On today’s Gist, London’s enviable crime wave.

Plus, what will we think of the Obama presidency in 50 years? Julian Zelizer set out to get really smart people to “take a first cut” at the Obama legacy on an array of issues. One person from his brain trust is Peniel ­­­­­Joseph, who surveys the Obama administration’s work on criminal justice. Their book is The Presidency of Barack Obama: A First Historical Assessment.

In the Spiel, why Mike rejects both tribes’ arguments on the Atlantic’s firing of conservative writer Kevin Williamson.

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