The ‘Kraken’ Lawsuit Was Released...
... And It’s Way Dumber Than You Realize
Leading The Bulwark….
The ‘Kraken’ Lawsuit Was Released And It’s Way Dumber Than You Realize
Mike Dunford: Readingitisguaranteedtogiveyouaheadache.
Editor’s Note: It’s #CyberMonday, and while we don’t have any special deals (that’d be unfair to our Bulwark+ members who joined early), there’s no better way to help support what we do than joining as a member of Bulwark+. You get extra newsletters, podcasts, and fun livestreams where we take questions.
🎧 On the Pods… 🎧
David Priess: Biden Gets His Briefing
On today’s Bulwark Podcast, David Priess joins host Charlie Sykes to discuss Trump’s crazy weekend Fox News appearance, the changes to the President’s Daily Briefing, and how to prepare for taking over foreign policy during a transition.
From The Bulwark Aggregator…
Biden gains 87 votes in Trump’s $3 million Wisconsin recount as Dane County wraps up review. President plans lawsuit. – Patrick Marley Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
FCC says no to in-flight calls from wireless phones – Matthew Keys, The Desk
Kayleigh McEnany Ridiculed for False Claim of All Female Senior White House Press Team: ‘Such a Weird and Pointless’ Lie – Ken Meyer, Mediaite
Marco Rubio is already suiting up for the politics of destruction – Fred Hiatt, The Washington Post
‘Time For My Flag to Go Up’: How Anti-Trumpers Are Reclaiming the American Flag – Joanna Weiss, Politico
The Mastermind Behind Biden’s No-Drama Approach to Trump – Edward-Isaac Dovere, The Atlantic
Trump’s Tantrum Over Loss Could Smash Georgia GOP – Sam Brodey and Hunter Woodall, The Daily Beast
In Today’s Bulwark…
A Taxonomy of Trump's New Trutherism
Charlie Sykes: Hello, darkness, our old friend. As usual, one of the reasons that Trump thinks he can get away with his firehose of falsehoods is that he knows that most Republicans will cravenly remain in a fetal crouch.
The Flavors of Crazy
Jonathan V. Last: How did insane people get control of the most powerful country in the world?
Both of these newsletters are typically available only to members of Bulwark+, but we shared them today so you can see what you’re missing!
Why You Should Buy an OLED on Black Friday
Tony Davis: A $1,000 home-theater setup will give your local multiplex a run for its money, technically speaking.
This Is How Biden Can Lead with Science
David Shaywitz: It starts with being mindful of your own priors.
How to Use Anti-KKK Laws to Go After Trump
Jay Weiser: The Donald, the election and the Fifteenth Amendment.
School Closings (Probably) Work
Brent Orrell: Let’s learn the lessons of past pandemics in deciding on when, whether, and for how long to close schools.
The GOP Is a Propaganda Party
Amanda Carpenter: Media parasites have taken control of the host.
Six Steps for a Bipartisan Foreign Policy
Frank Lavin: How the Biden administration can restore American values, leadership, and clout.
🚨 OVERTIME 🚨
PSA: The Cleveland Browns are now 8-3. I remain pessimistic.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving… We’re back! My wife lovingly made me some White Castle stuffing, and we spent the weekend making paninis.
Let’s help save Moriarty’s… In 2016, I watched the Bad Orange Man accept nomination from Moriarty’s Pub. Not because I was banned from the convention, I had credentials and everything. I just didn’t want to be party to the coronation. So, my then-colleague Chris Deaton and I holed up at one of Cleveland’s best bars, mere feet from the security zone.
Their new landlord has ordered all tenants to move out come 1/1/21, and their owner, Morgan Cavanaugh, is dedicated to preserving and moving the bar, which has served Cleveland—legally and illegally—for a century.
Moriarty’s is a GOP bar, not far from the Cuyahoga County GOP headquarters, and while they don’t serve food, I spent a lot of time there as a Young Republican. No comment on whether I consumed beverages before I was 21, but Moriarty’s inspired my love of dive bars, whether it was Humphrey’s or Post Pub.
I have already lost two of my three favorite bars in the last few years, and if I can do something to help Morgan, damn well, I am going to do it.
Let’s help save Moriarty’s. Donate if you can.
All hail the GOAT… If you’re an Athletic subscriber, these untold stories of LeBron James will endear him to you all the more. He looks like he’s pushing 50, but I’m actually a year older than him. He sat in front of me at the OHSAA state championship game where my alma mater won. (He would have destroyed us, but we were D1, he was D3.)
My favorite anecdote?
Drew Gooden, Washington Wizards TV analyst, former Cavs teammate: After shootaround one day during that 2006-07 run to go to the Finals, we were standing about right here (near the sideline, inside Cleveland’s arena). There was a small, half-empty water bottle. One of the small water bottles, not the large one, the small one. LeBron bet everybody he could throw that small water bottle into section 209 over there (about 150 feet away, per arena dimensions and the Cavs PR staff, and into the second deck).
We were like, “There’s no way you can throw this little tiny water bottle that was halfway full to the 200s.” Sure enough, he hit the slot like Joe Montana. He took a couple steps forward and he launched that small water bottle and hit the glass facing of the (upper deck). Just to get that close, of almost getting it there, it was enough said. I said, “You know what? That’s the greatest basketball player who ever lived.” And it had nothing to do with a ball. It wasn’t a money bet, it was more like a gentlemen’s bet. We used to do things like that. Can you throw this or can you hit that object? He likes to have fun with that. When he did that, not only does he have the best arm in the league, he’s the best basketball player in the world being able to throw that water bottle that high.
All rise.
He didn’t get a room rating. Leslie Jones commenting on Tim Miller’s TV setup.
Hail to the chief… If you don’t I’ll have to kill you…
This video of Trump calling AZ Gov. Ducey as he certifies the results had me thinking of the classic movie My Fellow Americans.
It was all a big façade. Who’s the idiot now?
Processing feelings… The pro-Trump trads are working through them right now.
David Chang won a million bucks… For restaurant workers. Good for him.
That’s it for me today. Questions? Comments? Thoughts? You know how to reach me: swift@thebulwark.com.
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