'Pompous, unquestioning belief'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'No, Senator Manchin, the filibuster is not the 'holy grail of democracy'
Jonathan Chait at New York
There have been "some strained and ahistorical defenses of the filibuster," but Joe Manchin's "holy grail of democracy is a new level," says Jonathan Chait. There is "no serious definition of the term that would define it as an essential feature of democracy." Some senators "have convinced themselves that the modern version of the filibuster was decreed by the Founders and etched into the foundations of the Republic." It is a "totally irrational form of government."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Why Janet Jackson's comments about Kamala Harris are especially disappointing'
Robyn Autry at MSNBC
Janet Jackson is "rightly receiving backlash for mischaracterizing Vice President Kamala Harris' race," says Robin Autry. Jackson "seemed disturbingly unaware that she was spouting misinformation." It is a "moment that should cause us to rethink what it means to have celebrities expressing their political views" when they "live radically different lives than the rest of us." It is "difficult to view any questioning of Harris' race as anything other than an unwarranted personal attack."
'Who cares about RFK Jr. and New York magazine's Olivia Nuzzi? You should.'
Bill Goodykoontz at USA Today
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
RFK Jr. and Olivia Nuzzi are "consenting adults, if relatively high-profile ones," says Bill Goodykoontz. Does their alleged relationship "really matter? Here's a reasonable answer: It does." Journalists "don't need one more thing to be used against them, no matter what the nature of the relationship was." As a result of Nuzzi's "stature in the business and because of Kennedy's high-profile history of bizarre antics," the "story is now everywhere," and "journalism is all the worse for it."
'The UN charter needs rewriting'
Heba Aly, Brenda Mofya and Andreas Bummel at Al Jazeera
The world "faces a 'moment of historic danger,' with increasingly imminent risks," say Heba Aly, Brenda Mofya and Andreas Bummel. There are "global challenges that cannot be solved purely at the national level: The people of the world need — and deserve — better coordinated global action." A new U.N. charter "could not only redistribute power in a more equitable way and treat threats like climate change and artificial intelligence seriously, it could also make the U.N. more effective."
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
'A symbol of the faceless corporate desire'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Say farewell to summer at these underrated US lakes
The Week Recommends Have one last blast
-
Truck drivers are questioning the Trump administration's English mandate
Talking Points Some have praised the rules, others are concerned they could lead to profiling
-
'A symbol of the faceless corporate desire'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
Trump soaks up adoration in his made-for-TV Cabinet meetings
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The president's televised sessions have become a platform for his top lieutenants to demonstrate executive flattery
-
'With every technological advance, there are risks'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
What are blue slips and why does Trump want to end them?
Today's Big Question The practice lets senators block a president's judge and prosecutor nominees
-
'The question is what it does for the ecosystem'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
'America is simply not investing at the level the crisis demands'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
'It's hard to discern what it actually means'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day