Hot Takes

In the interest of meeting an impending deadline and in the spirit of continuing writer's block, we give you yet another listicle: 

• There's been an intense war raging on the left recently over a suggestion made by a popular contrarian YouTube channel host that "The Squad" in congress-- the burgeoning leftist bloc-- should withhold their votes for Nancy Pelosi's re-election as Speaker of the House in exchange for a floor vote on Medicare-For-All and that if they don't it's because they are lying gaslighting traitors.  Hot Take: The first part of the suggestion is fine as a starter.  The rest of it, which is what underlies the schism that's erupted from it is the problem.  I'll give the Purgers this, they are the loudest side in the fracas that's ensued.  They have commandeered the histrionics.  They own the bombastics. Theatrics R Them.  I'm not going to complain about how Medicare for All happens as long as it happens; but to make the question of how it happens interesting, I'm going to put my money on "The Squad". I've been to DSA meetings and know I am outmatched. Trust socialism to the actual socialists.
• Some public intellectuals and figures in the media such as Bill Maher, Jonathan Haidt, Jordan Peterson, Bari Weiss, and the members of the "Intellectual Dark Web" for starters, are fixated on promoting the notion that the single greatest threat to democracy and to the future of the country is Cancel Culture and in particular, its supposed proponents The Millennials.  Hot Take: I'd point out that most of the voices critical of millennials are baby boomers.  The ones who aren't are children of privilege. Let me repeat, the ones complaining about how spoiled the millennials are are boomers and preppies!   Are you rolling on the floor yet?
• In a zoom meeting with black leaders recently, President elect Joe Biden lectures that he's optimistic that things are changing for the better in America because "three or four out of seven commercials [are] biracial commercials."  Hot Take: I too have noticed a sharp uptick in the featuring of biracial couples in tv ads during the Trump administration. Does Joe realize these are actors and their relationships are fictional? Conclusion: Casting for tv commercials is woke. Why? Because along with foot deodorant, we're being sold a myth of a post racial America precisely to undercut the struggle for substantial meaningful change like police reform, healthcare for all, a green new deal and a living wage for everyone.  What does a potato chip have to do with it?  Because if you're busy applauding the biracial couple snacking on it, you may not notice the deforestation that production of the palm oils used in making the chips are causing in Southeast Asia.
• The Wall Street Journal has mocked Jill Biden for insisting on being addressed and referred to with the Dr title when she is only a PhD, not a doctor of medicine.  Hot Take:  Never mind that there is ample precedent for the president elect's wife to go by the prefix bestowed on her by her education.  I don't care if you're a Doctor of Philosophy or Medicine, enforcing your title is an asshole-y way to be.  Traditionally by acceding to the formality of addressing you with the honorific we are acknowledging your achievement.  True, it is an achievement that some of you worked so hard for so many years for the right to be addressed with the title.  It's also pretty pathetic.  Lots of people work hard; only assholes demand constant respect for it. In any case, please leave me out of your twisted status grubbing.

"Where'd you go to school to get a title like that?"
(Benjamin Schwartz, New Yorker)