Tim Talks Politics - The Weekly Brief, June 8, 2018
The Weekly Brief - June 8, 2018
Why we need curated news
I’m very sensitive to the fact that the Internet is awash in information and that this newsletter is up against a long list of distracting competitors in your inbox and newsfeed. So it’s worth asking, “Why write and/or read a newsletter like this one?”
First, I’m concerned about the centralization of news publications and information. This creates a very nationalized sense of news, which can tune out the far more important local and state-level political developments, but it also oddly tunes out international developments as well.
Second, Pew Research has found that Americans are clearly suffering from a high level of news fatigue. Combine that fatigue with the nationalized news cycle cited above and there’s this tendency to want to tune it all out. But that’s the one thing we cannot do in a democratic society.
So how do we prioritize our information intake? More specifically, how should we consume our political news. I suggest learning to engage our news intake by proximity: Global, national, local. The closer you live to an issue, the more informed you should be on it. I craft this newsletter to keep you up to speed on the global, and, to a lesser extent, national issues (like Iran wanting to enrich uranium). My hope is this will help keep you informed while freeing up time and attention for the more local.
My question for you is, does this newsletter help in that way? I’d be curious to hear your thoughts, so let me know!
America and the World
This weekend, the G-7 group meets to discuss matters of world trade and security. The not-so-silent 600-pound gorilla in the room will be Trumpian trade policy, which is increasingly putting the US at odds with its European allies who make up most of the G-7. Though Trump’s trade policies are much criticized, The Hoover Institute notes that being atop the global and digital economies exposes certain US vulnerabilities. So said trade policies could be interpreted as reactions to those vulnerabilities. That being said, Trump’s reactions are notoriously unpredictable, leading to renewed calls for greater Congressional authority in matters of trade and military policy.
Contained in China
China remains one of those concerns in the area of trade and military policy. While much is being made over the effect of Trump’s tariffs on European allies, the Hudson Institute argues that China, unlike Europe, is deserving of such tariffs. Similarly, when it comes to concerns over a trade war, the Manhattan Institute argues that China can’t afford a trade war with the US, putting the PRC at a distinct disadvantage.
China is also at a disadvantage geostrategically. Though Beijing continues to strengthen its position in the South China Sea, it does so alone, while India continues to keep pace in building up its own blue-water navy and expanding its military ties with the US. When it comes to breaking out into the Pacific and Indian Oceans, China is hobbled by its own self-sufficiency in the face of a strong US-led naval alliance.
But don’t count China out just yet. It may still burnish its diplomatic image in the arena of Korean diplomacy, and Asia Times reports on China’s ongoing development of its offensive military capabilities in the air.
A Masterpiece for whom?
Turning our attention to American shores, the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) handed down its anticipated ruling on a Coloradan baker’s right to refuse service to a gay couple based on his religious beliefs. The Court’s 7-2 ruling in favor of the baker was so nuanced both sides claimed a victory, while observers saw it merely as the Court “punting” on the issue.
The ACLU lawyer representing the couple characterizes the ruling as losing a battle but winning the war; a view shared by some conservative observers, but one of the lawyers who wrote an amicus brief in favor of the baker suggests that the ruling is not nearly as narrow as it first appears.
In the broader “culture war” context, the “lose the battle, win the war” argument will face an important test in November midterms, and may already be showing some signs of weakness as Politico notes the staying power of Donald Trump.
Post(election)mortem
Those November midterms are taking ever clearer shape after a round of state primaries June 5. In my native California, the returns were watched closely as a key test of Democrats’ strategy to take back the House by flipping GOP seats in traditionally red Orange County.
Though Democrats succeeded (barely) in avoiding full elimination in the primaries, Republicans held commanding leads in those districts, while also managing to avoid being closed out of all statewide office elections.
For the California GOP, Tuesday was a good showing as the party continues to lose the voter registration battle in the state. In fact, California’s June 5 primary may have been evidence of the continued influential power of the two dominant parties in the American political system.
Ultimately, however, it may be the economy and how the opposing sides read it that makes the difference for the parties in November.