In these troubled times, the nation’s divisions run deeper than ever. Our values are being questioned. Our sacred institutions are under attack. Our most beloved Michelin star restaurants have been forced to erect tiny cabins in the street just to put food on our tables. Yes, things are dire.
But hope is on the horizon. After a long national nightmare caused by a leader we shall not name—and whose rise we shall not attempt to understand in any meaningful way—reason once again rules the land. The adults are back in charge.
Or are they? For in the upside-down world of modern politics, friends may become enemies (and vice versa) at the drop of a feather. Only the savvy survive, and only the pragmatic prosper.
Welcome…to the Nest Wing, which is basically “The West Wing” but everybody is crows.
Our stunning 56th issue is here. This is a fun one, folks. Ron Purser shows how the cannibalization of universities by ChatGPT goes beyond student cheating—administrations are embracing the very AI tools that are undoing the institution. Our correspondent K. Wilson takes a trip to the Bible Museum in D.C., Emily Topping revisits the bizarre reality show Kid Nation,Alex Skopic introduces us to a creepy red tower that serves as a metaphor for our economic system, Ciara Moloney shows us how underrated Western movies are, Hank Kennedy looks at old anti-communist comic books, and I pay tribute to New Orleans music! That’s before we get to all the wonderful art and loopy “false advertising,” including products like Democratic Inaction Figures and the “Slur Cone.” It’s a jam-packed issue filled with colorful surprises and insightful analysis, plus gorgeous cover art by Sarah VanDermeer. Check it out!