Will the U.S. stand with North Korean dissidents? That’s what Natan Sharansky is asking in a thought-provoking column at the Washington Post. Sharansky worries that President Trump’s rhetorical approach of praising dictators is, well, concerning:
It is unfortunate that some of Trump’s subsequent remarks have conveyed the opposite message. In the meeting’s aftermath, Trump said that Kim had proved himself “very talented” in taking over totalitarian rule from his father and averred that the young dictator “loves his country very much.” Even more troubling, he declared that North Koreans love Kim in return, supporting him with “great fervor.”
Employees against the minimum wage hike. If you made minimum wage, or less(!), you’d think the people who would support it most are the ones standing to get a raise. That’s on the ballot in #TheSwamp today, and Bill McMorris has an interesting story at the Free Beacon about why folks in the service industry are concerned about a bill to give them a raise to $15 an hour.
Inside the safe space for young Trump supporters. Ben Terris visits Turning Point USA’s Young Women’s Leadership Conference. Come for the odd tales of “slumber parties” but stay for this line from Tomi Lahren: “I think if all of us stand up and make a movement out of saying, ‘Enough is enough’ about being treated differently because we’re conservative … It almost sounds a little bit like a political Me Too movement. But I think if the liberals can stand up and say Me Too about sexual harassment and assault, why can’t we stand up and say Me Too about being disenfranchised as conservatives?”
If Tomi is the voice of the future of the GOP, we are screwed.
Meet the Condiment King. This is for the #SSEU premium subscribers. My buddy Alex Parker runs a blog on the side about comics, and I found his deep dive into the history of the Condiment King very interesting. And I don’t even like comic books!
Long live the congressional baseball game! Of course, the little-known annual event made national news last year, with the attempted assassination of congressional Republicans, but it’s long been something only the political class in D.C. cares about. I have long treasured the event, as a former Hill aide. Before joining TWS, I used to go every year, but since it’s always on a Thursday, when we go to print, I’ve only been once in the last six years. Do read this writeup at Washingtonian about how it’s sort of become popular to outsiders now. Much like with politics, the game is streaky. Republicans had a long run, but now the Democrats are in the driver’s seat, as they blew out the GOP last week, 21-5.
Fox and Friends is getting sued. The president’s Morning Briefing on TV is being sued after a host hit a drummer with an axe. Yes. An axe.
Kelly Cohen is a treasure. We love our colleagues at our sister publication, the Washington Examiner. (Read! Subscribe! Sign up for newsletters! Follow on Twitter / Facebook!) Yesterday, one of their reporters, Kelly Cohen, was covering the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the DOJ IG report… when she found out that Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz was leaving the team. I won’t spoil her perfect reaction for you, so watch the video.
Feminist author hasn’t heard of the Catholic church, apparently.
Communist West Point Cadet discharged by the Army. But will he have to repay the government for his four years of free tuition? Let’s hope so.
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