25 Comments

Comment of the week for a comment in which 6.8% of the words were mine. I am the Jill Abramson of Fifdom.

Expand full comment

Night Train is a solid book. Doesn’t get mentioned often enough.

In today’s stupid climate, it seems noteworthy that the story is written from the perspective of a female detective.

Expand full comment

Slightly serious note this time:

Had to deal with some dumb political stuff at work this week, so have been pretty down. I still haven't found a supportive community when it comes to this stuff, so there's really no one to talk to and it can be really lonely.

You guys are an awesome help, hosts and commenters both. You keep it light, for the most part. Thanks for being intelligent, level-headed, principled, not insane, and not mean.

Expand full comment

Looking forward to Kmele’s commentary on Christian Cooper’s Op-Ed in the Times this week (maybe i missed it elsewhere). The tone is so weird. Part advertorial for birding (seems like a nice enough hobby), then skates over the Amy cooper interaction where he’s entirely the victim, followed by saying the whole thing was the catalyst for his wildest hopes and dreams. It’s a strange one. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/26/opinion/birds-freedom.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Expand full comment

I came here to say the same. There is a bit of pushback in the comments, including a link to Kmele's podcast, but most is adoration for the guy.

Expand full comment

I heeded Moynihan's advice and looked up Matt with long hair.

Bro, you looked like Ben Dreyfuss in a blond wig!*

We've recently learnt that Richard Dreyfuss is Kmele's (adoptive) dad,** but is it possible that you are actually Ben's dad?

*https://www.reddit.com/r/WeTheFifth/comments/g2srez/matt_welch_wins_the_photo_of_you_at_20_game/

**https://twitter.com/kmele/status/1655031532749242368

Expand full comment

Even odds Joe Biden gives a speech where Hunter died serving his country in Normandy.

Expand full comment

Megyn Kelly has a lot of hate in her heart and she always seems full of rage. I will pray for her healing and a change of heart.

Expand full comment

She had Hotep Jesus on her show on Friday

Expand full comment

Is this where we come to nudge you for a new members only episode?

Expand full comment

I like the poster of Kanye albums on Kmele’s wall :)

Expand full comment

Moynihan needed better editors at the Washington Examiner - “a bit to crass and crude.” On my brain because my 9 year old is grappling with the wonders of English grammar.

Expand full comment

Matt, I read this today, and wondered: do you think the WSJ writer wanted Jan Wenner to sound like an insufferable, tedious, A-hole? Love to hear the TFC group riff on this....

https://www.wsj.com/articles/jann-wenner-montauk-hamptons-rolling-stone-3cd1810a

Expand full comment

Hey let's give credit to sites like Wonkette. Without them people might think Megyn Kelly was just a run-of-the-mill bigot instead of a vicious bigot.

Expand full comment

genuinely lol's at that amis excerpt. i read the book around the time it was published and recall it not being one of my favourites. but maybe i should give it another chance based on that.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
May 27, 2023
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

The boys had no claim on the bikes at that point and were blocking access to them so they could use them as their free personal toys all afternoon. I do not understand how you and Jesse think this exonerates them in any way.

Expand full comment

Sad the guy deleted his comment - both sides have a case here, though I'm generally in team pregnant lady. My view is that both sides acquitted themselves badly, and both sides have mitigating circumstances: to wit, carrying a child, and being a child. Both were tired and far from home. But in a semi -physical dispute, you defer to the pregnant lady, especially if you are technically breaking the rule; that's my view but I can understand someone reasonable coming to a different conclusion.

The only inexcusable act on both sides was the boys sending the video to the media. That is a part of the story and that in itself makes them the baddies here. Cities are crowded and we are going to disagree with each other, sometimes loudly and obnoxiously. Nobody should be trying to ruin a life over a petty dispute.

(I also wonder if there is sexism here. Men go viral when they kill someone. Women go viral when they say something mean. Am I wrong? Any counterexamples?)

Expand full comment

17 is a kid, but certainly not a child.

Expand full comment

Yes, I hope to hold my future 17-year-olds to a higher standard. But he is not an adult. He gets a modicum of understanding from me for that, but no more. And fuck him and his parents for making it a thing.

Expand full comment

and she was suspended by the hospital

Expand full comment

Yes, but I mean in the altercation between the boy and the woman. The only inexcusable action either of those two took, and it was deeply, deeply wrong, was the boy going to the media and making it a big story. He knew what would happen.

Expand full comment

i agree, and she paid for it with her job. Totally unfair

Expand full comment

I think that preventing others from using the bikes while they’re not riding or renting them is pretty egregious. And apparently those boys do it all the time! If they’re just cheating the system by redocking every 45 minutes then fine, whatever. But once it’s docked, you can’t prevent anyone else from claiming it.

Expand full comment

I agree that it's wrong, and it is weird that the article claiming to exonerate them sweeps this under the rug.

Expand full comment