Tom Nichols

And I think that the answer has been, you know, first, as my editor, Jeff Goldberg, always says, you know, there's this terrible. need to impose coherence because you can't report something that's just word salad. So you try to impose some sense of coherence on it. That is going to keep happening, unfortunately, because otherwise you don't have a story.

You can't just say the president, you know, president went out and put a string of random words together and we don't know what it means. The other part of it, I think, is that the shift should be toward, as I know we're doing at The Atlantic, toward accountability to say, OK, this is the government. Here are the things they're doing.

You can't just say the president, you know, president went out and put a string of random words together and we don't know what it means. The other part of it, I think, is that the shift should be toward, as I know we're doing at The Atlantic, toward accountability to say, OK, this is the government. Here are the things they're doing.

You can't just say the president, you know, president went out and put a string of random words together and we don't know what it means. The other part of it, I think, is that the shift should be toward, as I know we're doing at The Atlantic, toward accountability to say, OK, this is the government. Here are the things they're doing.

We're going to explain and hold accountable the actions here that people need to understand. And I think we're still in the mode that, you know, well, now we're talking about the president. And so we have to say, the president said, it's part of our civic religion, I guess, that's hard to break.

We're going to explain and hold accountable the actions here that people need to understand. And I think we're still in the mode that, you know, well, now we're talking about the president. And so we have to say, the president said, it's part of our civic religion, I guess, that's hard to break.

We're going to explain and hold accountable the actions here that people need to understand. And I think we're still in the mode that, you know, well, now we're talking about the president. And so we have to say, the president said, it's part of our civic religion, I guess, that's hard to break.

Or to provide context. I mean, I think one of the things, that's why we had the piece, you know, first thing in the morning about what Donald Trump did to the police. You know, while you're watching him stand there, just remember where he's standing is where police battled insurrectionists to save the lives of members of Congress.

Or to provide context. I mean, I think one of the things, that's why we had the piece, you know, first thing in the morning about what Donald Trump did to the police. You know, while you're watching him stand there, just remember where he's standing is where police battled insurrectionists to save the lives of members of Congress.

Or to provide context. I mean, I think one of the things, that's why we had the piece, you know, first thing in the morning about what Donald Trump did to the police. You know, while you're watching him stand there, just remember where he's standing is where police battled insurrectionists to save the lives of members of Congress.

And somehow that's all been memory hold. I think that's what maybe that's where I've been going with this kind of long circumlocution that I've been trying to figure out what I'm thinking here. I think what makes me so angry is the memory hole as if nothing happened until today.

And somehow that's all been memory hold. I think that's what maybe that's where I've been going with this kind of long circumlocution that I've been trying to figure out what I'm thinking here. I think what makes me so angry is the memory hole as if nothing happened until today.

And somehow that's all been memory hold. I think that's what maybe that's where I've been going with this kind of long circumlocution that I've been trying to figure out what I'm thinking here. I think what makes me so angry is the memory hole as if nothing happened until today.

That inauguration was covered by everybody, you know, by citizens who are watching it by a lot of the media as if nothing happened over the past eight years. Right.

That inauguration was covered by everybody, you know, by citizens who are watching it by a lot of the media as if nothing happened over the past eight years. Right.

That inauguration was covered by everybody, you know, by citizens who are watching it by a lot of the media as if nothing happened over the past eight years. Right.

You know, it's like, wait, there was a part we didn't hear there.

You know, it's like, wait, there was a part we didn't hear there.

You know, it's like, wait, there was a part we didn't hear there.

Senator, it was great to see you. It's great talking with you. Listen, I want to talk again, but right now I got to go because I got to pencil out part of the 14th Amendment and then free a bunch of violent insurrectionists. I like your approach of, if you're in government, stern and silent disapproval, do your constitutional duties, execute your functions, carry out the people's business.