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Culture War Roundup for the week of August 12, 2024

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Yeah, but who's reading this? If you have to go looking for it then you're probably the kind of person who reads poll critically anyway, and the only people publishing this are hacks who are already in the bag for Trump trying to soothe the woes of his supporters. It's only going to get worse next week as the Dems get the usual boost from their convention. After that, the Republicans would need to make a bold move to regain their lead in the race, something so unthinkable that it would send shockwaves throughout the world — dumping Trump from the ticket. This obviously can't happen, and there's approximately zero chance that he realizes his goose is cooked a la Biden, but I hope that it does happen, not because I don't like Trump, but because it would make for the most anticlimactic election in US history. An almost impossibly bad debate performance, followed by an assassination attempt, followed by a major candidate dropping out mid-race, followed by the script completely flipping, followed by the other major candidate doing the unthinkable and dropping out as well, all before Labor Day. After that, it quickly becomes Harris vs. Haley: The election no one gives a shit about. No matter how many stories NPR runs about how historic it is that not only are two women running against each other but two South Asian women, no one will be able to escape the fact that the election is incredibly boring, unless pro-Trump conspiracy theorists try to bum rush a Haley event or something or start another insurrection.

Even if Trump dropped out (he won’t) Haley wouldn’t take the mantle. Haley wasn’t the second choice of most republicans. She was liked by a small group that dislikes Trump.

I gotta disagree. Trump has numerous buttons to press here. He's not out of moves.

But more importantly, things will keep happening. Zelensky and his boys in Kursk could commit a cheeky war crime or two. Netanyahu could finally bomb the wrong hospital. We could see the hard recession we're well overdue for. We might not know everything about Walz or Harris yet! Harris has more downside risk than upside risk in outside events.

Zelensky and his boys in Kursk could commit a cheeky war crime or two.

Approximately no one cares.

Netanyahu could finally bomb the wrong hospital.

A small portion of Democrats care, but they are already 100% anti-Israel.

We could see the hard recession we're well overdue for.

Here's the import one.