84 Comments

I think that a lot of the seemingly illogical actions of die-hard Trump supporters can be linked to the behavioral biases of "escalation of commitment" and "confirmation bias." If you've been supporting Trump for years, it's really hard to look at new information which calls that support into question. Instead, you ignore it, or cherry pick information that fits with your existing narrative, and continue along with blinders on. You take solace in the fact that others agree with you. That's a lot easier than admitting that you were wrong. There may be nothing he can do or say which risks the unwavering support from the core. Of course, all of these biases are also in play on the other side of the aisle.

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Hi Kareem! Did you read American Prometheus by any chance? I am thinking about doing that, as I basically had a similar feeling. I'd love to learn more about the characters in the movie, it just seems a bit daunting at first. May give it a shot though (14 bucks on the Kindle).

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Dennis Praeger and Mike Huckabee are providing 'educational content' for children? Seems like grooming to me. I'm not sure which is worse - that they truly believe the nonsense they babble, or that they are in it for the money and the power. Either way the kids lose...as do we.

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Kareem, please share your thoughts soon on the demise of the PAC -12, Conference of Champions...I expected this conference to grow in stature and power, not the opposite. Jim #33 Sapienza

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A metaphor for our times. You write about CA efforts to hold books hostage until they get their way. Trump acolytes try to hold our country hostage--until they get their way. Trump's bullying tactics holds the truth hostage, too.

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"That disconnect from reality is the driving force in American politics today." / Thanks for riffing on this sickness of our times. It is still anathema to me, but it helped some to read your take on it. I fear the craziness Trump let loose will lead to the destruction of democracy ... which, if you go with the theory that democracies last 250 years, it will all be over here in 2016. (If climate disasters don't get us first.)

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Kareem, I know Jesse Jackson marched with Dr. King. And I’m sorry, and mean no offense. But he lost me when he tried to hide that he fathered an “illegitimate” child years ago, and that it took a paternity test to bring out the truth. At that point, the “reverend” Jackson lost moral credibility with me. If I couldn’t trust a *preacher* to be honest about that, what could I trust him on? And yes, I feel the exact same way about any hypocrite who tries to claim the moral high ground.

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Hi Kareem, I always appreciate your takes, but a couple of points. I don't know where the 75% number comes from, but its pretty widely accepted that black children are born outside of marriage at very high rates. Here's a study from 2016 putting it at 69%:

https://www.childtrends.org/publications/dramatic-increase-in-percentage-of-births-outside-marriage-among-whites-hispanics-and-women-with-higher-education-levels

It is increasing across the board, but still 150% more frequently than for white children. I do think this a valid point and an important part of the conversation that often gets ignored.

Also, with respect to Joe Biden, I dare say he has not been 100% truthful about his dealing with his son. He's gone from saying he had no awareness of/involvement with any of his business dealings to saying he's not in business with his son after evidence surfaced of multiple interactions with Hunter's business partners. I don't think this is an impeachable offense, but he is being dishonest and the media is giving him a pass on it.

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Morning Kareem in my mind you have become a magnificent spokesman for our generation. Namaste 🙏🏻

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You might consider featuring a track from a Marlena Shaw album for your last takes. She was my step mother for a while; I learned a LOT from her and her music made me smile and dance. "Who Is This Bitch, Anyway" might yield some good possibilities.

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Aug 5·edited Aug 5

Follow up I asked AI how to get a breakdown of who voted by class in elections and got this for the 2020 election: ( re: Why do they target the ‘ least logical, least informed, and most venal segment of society?’ Numbers right? ) Class Estimated number of people Turnout rate Estimated number of votes

Upper class=25 million 60% 15 million voted

Middle class=65 million 67% 43.5 million voted

Lower class=70 million 58% 40.6 million voted. So I’m guessing the super rich in both parties obviously can’t win elections alone so they go after swaths of demographics and then write whatever they think those people want to hear and then disingenuously tout it as their platform just to get the power to keep themselves rich and powerful. For the far right it’s playing out trump, the far left who knows but there’s a reason a third of both middle and lower class don’t even show up to vote

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Cat Stevens was a favorite of mine in the early 70s. I feel the same way about "Father and Son" as you do Kareem...when I first heard it, I had the perspective of the son...now when I hear it, I hear the words of a father. And I think about my relationship with my own son. Thank you for the memory.

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Another great column you covered so much today and as usual with so much grace . Thank you for featuring Father&Son one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Things seem so out of whack now days I can’t get my head around it. Just today the PAC 12 was basically dissolved . The world is like a fiction novel that no one would believe if it wasn’t true. I’m so glad I subscribe to your substack thanks again .

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Orlando Magic - A Magic spokesman said the donation was made on May 19, which was days before DeSantis announced his intent to seek the GOP presidential nomination.

"To clarify, this gift was given before Governor DeSantis entered the presidential race," Orlando Magic Chief Communication Officer Joel Glass said in a statement. "It was given as a Florida business in support of a Florida governor for the continued prosperity of Central Florida."

The above statement is pure double-talk. What exactly does "...the continued prosperity of Central Florida" mean? I've lived in Central Florida, and there's very little prosperity there. The cities are moderately functional, but certainly not prosperous. The inequity is greater than the prosperity in that area.

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Always learn from your newsletter and from the comments section. Keep it up! My wife thinks the squirrel my be AI.? Love your sarcasm too.

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The most dangerous animal in the world is "a free thinker"! God forbid if we were to train our children to be free thinkers. They usually take " big hits" for being so...think Jesus Christ or any of the signers of the Constitution! Hope that never happens to you Kahreem....love you man!

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