J. D. Vance and the Collapse of Dignity
This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.
Every nation has fringe candidates and public spectacles in its political life, but today, the American right celebrates the abandonment of dignity and virtue.
First, here are three new stories from The Atlantic.
- The inevitable indictment of Donald Trump
- Medium COVID could be the most dangerous COVID.
- Trumpism has found its leading lady.
Clowns and Charlatans
Ohio’s U.S. Senate candidates, Tim Ryan and J. D. Vance, held their first debate last night in Cleveland. I wrote last year about why I find Vance so execrable, but my friend Jim Swift, a native Ohioan, argued today that while “Ryan gave a serviceable performance,” he “didn’t beat Vance into the ground, and given how far Ohio has gone in a MAGA direction, that’s what he needed to do.”
One moment, however, struck me. At a rally inLast night, Ryan slammed Vance for selling his dignity:
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days