
		December 14 2018

G-File Mailbag: The Results of a Bad Idea

Jonah Goldberg

Dear Reader (Including those of you just standing there eating Zarg nuts),

I had a bad idea. It wasn't a terrible idea, like asking a meth addict to housesit or swimming with alligators to commune with nature ("these stoic guardians of our wetlands are so misunderstood!"). But it was a bad idea.

I thought it would be fun to ask NR readers (specifically that anointed tribe of lightworkers known as "NRPlus members" to pick the topic of this august "news"letter. Well, it's 10:07 a.m. — and I just got the list. There are 294 requests. I have no idea whether that's the raw junk, or if the guys in New York cut it down or stepped on it with baby powder (Sorry, I just re-watched The Wire and that's where my head is at).

To get a sense of why this was a bad idea, let me review quickly a few entries almost at random. (Query: If there is no such thing as true randomness, can something be "almost random"? Isn't saying "almost random" like saying "nearly infinite" or "mostly unique"?)

One reader ... Read More


Top Stories

Allowing the State to Search Gun Seekers' Social-Media Accounts Is a Terrible Idea

Katherine Timpf

Allowing the state to search gun seekers' social-media accounts is a terrible idea. It would also seem to be blatantly unconstitutional, but that hasn't stopped a New York state senator from trying to write it into law.

If There's No Collusion, There's Always Stormy Daniels

Rich Lowry

If Trump had paid the women with campaign funds, his critics would certainly be screaming that he'd improperly diverted campaign resources for personal use.

North Carolina Governor Vetoes Voter ID Bill

Mairead McArdle

Democratic Governor Roy Cooper on Friday vetoed the state's latest attempt to require voters to show identification to cast a ballot, calling the law intentionally discriminatory.

Into the Spider-Verse's Tangled Web

Armond White

In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Marvel and Sony gamble on Miles to meet the identity-politics fashion that now dominates contemporary culture.

America Was Always Diverse

Jim Geraghty

Just about every race, creed, and culture has played a part in the story of America.

Planned Parenthood Admits Unborn Are Babies — in Preschool Sex Ed

Katie Yoder

The new film confuses its terms and ignores abortion.

Don't Expect New, Unbiased Social Media Anytime Soon

Saurabh Sharma

Don't look for any new conservative-friendly social-media outlet to spring up. The market is loaded against any such thing.

Ted Lieu Clarifies His 'Inartful' Free-Speech Comments

Jack Crowe

Representative Ted Lieu clarified Friday remarks he made after attending Google's hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, which critics interpreted as an endorsement of censorship.


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