Jay Nordlinger
@jaynordlinger.bsky.social
Senior resident fellow, the Renew Democracy Initiative. Music critic, The New Criterion. Substack: Onward and Upward.
A column with sundry items: athletic, political, musical, etc. Sample line: "With the Republican Party Trumpified, our country desperately needs Democrats not to be nuts. They have a hard time delivering." See what you like (and dislike). www.jaynordlinger.com/p/throwing-i...
Throwing It Away, &c.
On the Detroit Tigers, Rod Blagojevich, Francesca Hong, Donald Trump, Richard Wagner, and more
jaynordlinger.com
I would like to tell that candidate in Wisconsin: If you don't want to celebrate Thanksgiving, you don't have to. It's a free country (thank God).
Tension City (as the first Bush would say).
Renew Democracy Initiative@renewdemocracy.bsky.social · 22h ago“So far, our constitutional ‘guardrails’ have held, more or less. But whack on them long enough, and who knows?” RDI’s @jaynordlinger.bsky.social investigates how dictators rig elections and the rise of election denial in the world’s oldest democracy:
If Todd Blanche and Abdul El-Sayed succeed on the same day, this will tell us something about our politics -- about the Republicans and about the Democrats. What a sorry state of affairs. An "age of extremes," to borrow a phrase from Hobsbawm.
Nice to be among friends -- on a show called "The Reagan Caucus"! Life doesn't have to be 24/7 combat, does it? (Except for some unfortunate peoples.) A freewheeling, enjoyable talk, touching on issues bitter and sweeter. My thanks to the hosts.
John A. Daly@johndalybooks.bsky.social · yesterdayOn this week's #ReaganCaucus Podcast, we talked to @jaynordlinger.bsky.social about character in politics, political code-switching, rigging elections, and more! www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgG6...
Is it a good idea to nationalize, or federalize, our elections? Gabriel Sterling gives a blunt, informed answer.
Jay Nordlinger@jaynordlinger.bsky.social · 2d agoDo men such as Mike Pence deserve praise and thanks, merely ("merely") for doing their duty and not betraying their oath? Hear me out, please.
A president, a politician, barking at companies to get their prices "DOWN, NOW"? The Republicans and conservatives I knew would have said this was unacceptable and un-American.
At the end of his newsletter, Kevin D. Williamson writes, "Using the DOJ as a political weapon is bad enough -- but using it as a therapeutic tool for our neurotic and infantile president is something else." Thank you, Kevin. thedispatch.com/newsletter/w...
The Iran War Is a Heavy Tax on Our Asian Allies
Sacrificing (even more) global partners on the altar of Donald Trump’s political cowardice.
thedispatch.com
Do men such as Mike Pence deserve praise and thanks, merely ("merely") for doing their duty and not betraying their oath? Hear me out, please.
Jay Nordlinger@jaynordlinger.bsky.social · 2d agoWhen President Trump and his gang tried to overturn the 2020 election, some key officials -- Republicans -- said no. One was @GabrielSterling, of Georgia. I have done a podcast with him. It was a pleasure and an honor. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/defender-o...
When President Trump and his gang tried to overturn the 2020 election, some key officials -- Republicans -- said no. One was @GabrielSterling, of Georgia. I have done a podcast with him. It was a pleasure and an honor. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/defender-o...
Defender of Election Integrity—for Real
A conversation with Gabriel Sterling, a Republican official in Georgia who stood tall in 2020
jaynordlinger.com
When Gov. Blago had an opportunity to appoint a U.S. senator (to fill the Obama seat), he said, "I've got this thing, and it's f***ing golden. I'm just not giving it up for f***ing nothing." My Tigers had a very different view, apparently. www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/tar...
Tarik Skubal trade grades: Dodgers get an easy A for adding ace; Tigers throw in the towel
Detroit got a fine return package, but they never should have gotten to this point
cbssports.com
Uganda is a dictatorship, of course. (The ruler has been in power since 1986!) But this is a stirring move. apnews.com/article/ugan...
Uganda's military unveils statue of Netanyahu's brother who died in 1976 Entebbe hostage rescue
Uganda’s military has unveiled a monument to Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
apnews.com
Trump & Co. profess to admire TR. They should learn about the speak-softly thing. apnews.com/article/trum...
Iran déjà vu: Trump once again threatens massive escalation against Tehran only to walk back
President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran, only to pull back at the last minute. This pattern continued over the weekend.
apnews.com
Almost every morning, I wake up to news that Ukraine has bombed military sites in Russia and that Russia has bombed civilians in Ukraine. Rarely is a war so asymmetrical. apnews.com/article/russ...
Russia fires glide bombs at a southern Ukraine city, killing 1 and wounding dozens
Russian planes have dropped eight powerful glide bombs on a city in southern Ukraine, killing one person and wounding dozens, according to the regional chief.
apnews.com
This is not the kind of thing you can prove, but I have no doubt that Richard Wagner would have employed AI, if he could have (and he would have done it ingeniously). apnews.com/article/germ...
AI-assisted staging draws boos at the Richard Wagner festival in Germany
An experiment with artificial intelligence at the annual Richard Wagner festival in the German town of Bayreuth has drawn boos from the audience after producing a staging that appeared to leave some s...
apnews.com
This obit, by Glenn Rifkin, is a joy to read. What a man, this humane horseman, who so impressed Queen Elizabeth. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/o...
Monty Roberts, Horse Trainer Who Preached Kindness, Dies at 91 (Gift Article)
His approach was in contrast to centuries of conventional wisdom and won the enthusiastic approval of Queen Elizabeth II, with whom he became friends.
nytimes.com
Circulated by our president. In my view, this ought to repulse every Christian and every American -- and everyone else. But let me ask you: Would Republicans nominate Trump for the fourth time in a row? (I have no doubt.) Would the people elect him a third time? (Not sure.)
From me, a column with many subjects, including the pardon power. I quote another column — one by Charles Krauthammer, from 1987. “The more lawless, capricious, and imperious a regime,” he says, “the greater its propensity to make use of the pardon power.” www.jaynordlinger.com/p/a-screamin...
A Screaming Yet Quiet Problem, &c.
On our national finances, Charles Krauthammer, a hero’s daughter, names in baseball, and more
jaynordlinger.com
In the Clinton years, we said, "A man who will cheat at golf can't be trusted in anything. The game is a revealer of character." Haven't heard that in the last decade or so ...
Jay Nordlinger@jaynordlinger.bsky.social · 3d agoStill not as good as Kim Jong-il. And not as good a golfer as Elena Ceaușescu was a chemist. And have you ever seen Putin and Lukashenko in ice hockey? Man, they beat the pants off the pros.
Still not as good as Kim Jong-il. And not as good a golfer as Elena Ceaușescu was a chemist. And have you ever seen Putin and Lukashenko in ice hockey? Man, they beat the pants off the pros.
Ron Filipkowski@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 3d agoTrump allegedly just won his 43rd Club Championship today at one of his courses.
Remember when people said, "Gee, Trump's pro-Ukraine now"? That was funny. He'll turn against Putin when Charlie Brown kicks the football.
From me, a column with many subjects, including the pardon power. I quote another column — one by Charles Krauthammer, from 1987. “The more lawless, capricious, and imperious a regime,” he says, “the greater its propensity to make use of the pardon power.” www.jaynordlinger.com/p/a-screamin...
A Screaming Yet Quiet Problem, &c.
On our national finances, Charles Krauthammer, a hero’s daughter, names in baseball, and more
jaynordlinger.com
I have a very simple point about the Reflection Pool affair, but an important point: In a court, you need evidence. In TrumpWorld -- MAGA-Land -- you don't. Big difference. That explains the state of play, I think.
A whopping wiener (pardon the expression) in Times Square today.
Often, dictators go through the charade of elections. They determine what percentage of the vote ("vote") they receive. I have a little piece on this, along with observations about our own United States. See what you think. www.thenextmove.org/p/elections-...
‘Elections’ and Their Riggers
On Russia, Egypt, and elsewhere.
thenextmove.org
When you have a Watergate a day, there's no Watergate at all. This is a tremendous advantage to the president and his party. apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump stands to profit off US policy announcements by selling fast access to his social media posts
Investors looking to get a jump on White House announcements will be able to buy sneak peeks starting Saturday as a Trump family company starts selling special, fast access to the president's posts on...
apnews.com
But what will this mean for the Peace Prize? apnews.com/article/infa...
UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA's Infantino after failed private equity plan for World Cup
UEFA says it has lost confidence in FIFA President Gianni Infantino and that “no option should be off the table” as it will pursue a full review of his now abandoned plan to sell stakes of the World C...
apnews.com
"... a form of business-friendly socialism." Good luck with that, say I. apnews.com/article/andy...
Britain's new leader shifts power from Downing Street to Manchester with 'No. 10 North'
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shifted some of Britain's political power from London to Manchester with "No. 10 North."
apnews.com
Years ago, I read a blurb for a book that went something like this: "Every once in a while, you should read a book that makes your blood boil." This story -- the whole tawdry, abusive affair -- should do the same. apnews.com/article/refl...
Justice Department moves to drop case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool
The Justice Department has moved to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
apnews.com
Our government "has spent $827 billion so far this fiscal year to service the national debt, more than it has devoted to national defense." It is hard to construe this as other than bad. Very bad. apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump wanted interest rate cuts to be 'Rocket Fuel' for the economy. He is losing that fight so far
President Donald Trump has for months pressured the Federal Reserve to slash interest rates, claiming it would be “Rocket Fuel!” for growth.
apnews.com