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Evangelicals support Trump (and nothing else)
One of the more seemingly illogical elements of the past decade of American political polarization has been evangelical Christian support for Donald Trump: an abiding faith that goes much deeper than simply helping one another.
Shadi Hamid asks the question: “How can people who value moral integrity and a personal testimony to Jesus so faithfully support the most secular president in American history, a man whose actions make him appear, at best, indifferent to Christianity?”
The startling answer, Shady reveals, is that “evangelical” doesn't even have those meanings anymore.
To be clear, Shadi isn't assuming that these voters' support for Trump means they've abandoned their moral consciences: he's referring to an increasing number of people who identify as evangelicals even though they don't go to church, don't believe in Jesus, and in some cases (and here in even more italics) are Muslim, Jewish, or Hindu.
Rarely have I read an article that is so mind-blowing. Just read the section where Shady explains that “Trump could redefine the meaning of 'evangelical'.”
This revelation casts an even deeper shadow over the crew's activities: to what extent are they religiously motivated, and to what extent purely politically motivated? Are the two entirely different?
David von Drehle is particularly troubled by the frenzy of the anti-IVF movement. In a deeply personal essay, he describes the agony he and his wife endured through three rounds of IVF, the pain they endured for the slim chance of having a live baby.
“I can think of no one on earth more interested in the miracle of conception, the viability of the fetus, and the gift of life than IVF patients,” David wrote. “What kind of irrational theology is it that sees God at work in the sperm, the eggs, and the reproductive organs, yet sees only sin in the minds of scientists and physicians?”
I think Shadi can guess.
Chaser: If evangelicals stand by what Trump says, then so must the Republican Party. With that in mind, Karen Tumulty has laid out a succinct Republican 2024 presidential platform.
The editorial board's statement that the president has a big problem with the polls and that ignoring them is not in his interest. The situation is particularly bad in the states that ultimately determine the election outcome.
The committee notes that Biden's campaign had hoped that an improving economy would lift public expectations of the incumbent president, but that rising tide hasn't yet floated Biden's boat, so he's relying on polling warnings: They're not representative, people aren't paying attention yet, most big changes come later, etc.
All of this is true to varying degrees, but as the commission warns, “ignoring the polls and relying instead on anecdote, gut feeling, or mood is political malfeasance and dangerous to the country in this crucial election.”
Chaser: But maybe it's the economy. Heather Long explains how Biden's big blunder on inflation is still hurting Americans.
Bonus Chaser: George Will poses some questions that might actually be useful for the upcoming Biden vs. Trump “debate” (if this confrontation can be dignified with such a term).
Jen Rubin wants everyone to understand that just because the Supreme Court rejected a “half-hearted” challenge to the abortion drug mifepristone, it doesn't mean the court has suddenly become rational.
“There's no merit to defeating one of the most outlandish arguments made by anti-abortion activists on a technicality,” Jen writes. Indeed, there is still much to be concerned about in the Court's decision, both in the majority opinion and, especially, in Clarence Thomas' concurring opinion.
If you need further evidence of the courts' continuing irrationality, look no further than their ruling last week that struck down the agency's ban on bump stocks, which essentially turn semi-automatic rifles into machine guns — a rule put into place under the Trump administration.
As EJ Dionne writes, the six conservative justices “prioritized an arrogant and misplaced confidence in their own technical expertise over the thoughtful efforts of federal agencies to prevent the brutal slaughter of innocent people.”
The Chaser: The editorial board writes that following the court failures on bump stocks, it is incumbent on Congress to enact legislation to ban them.
Ukraine is beating Russia in the Black Sea without a navy. Massive drone success offers crucial lessons for the U.S. military, writes Max Boot. Tesla shareholders just approved a $50 billion compensation package for Elon Musk, officially transforming the company into Musk's dream factory, writes author Edward Niedermeyer. PSA: Alexandra Petri shares warning signs that Sinclair stations may be injecting propaganda into your local news.
It's goodbye. It's a haiku. It's… “goodbye.”
Remade in Trump's image
Have a newsy haiku of your own? Email me with any questions, comments or concerns you may have. See you tomorrow!
