Review: The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt

 The safety culture burgeoning in US universities is a danger both for ‘coddled’ students and the future of society, warns Niall Ferguson

Niall Ferguson  "Trigger warnings. Safe spaces. Preferred pronouns. Checked privileges. If you work at an American university these days, you have to tread as if on eggshells, if not land mines. One ill-judged microaggression is all it takes to be accused of racism or sexism, transphobia or Islamophobia, harassment or full-blown rape. Often, such accusations lead to investigations that are the antithesis of due process, with the transgressor deemed guilty until proved innocent. 

"I remember when it was not like this. Sixteen years ago, what lured me away from Oxford to New York University (NYU) and Harvard was the sense that the real intellectual action in my field (economic history) was on the western side of the Atlantic. The US economists, in particular, were impressively free in their speech. To present a paper at one of their seminars was to run a gauntlet of caustic criticism. “There are idiots,” Larry Summers famously began one of his papers. “Look around.” He was right. Unfortunately, idiotic ideas were in the process of taking over large swathes of academic life.

"The speed with which campus life has changed for the worse is one of the most important points made by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt in this important if disturbing book. Lukianoff is a lawyer and head of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (Fire), which works to protect academic freedom. Haidt is a professor of social psychology at NYU’s Stern School of Business and the founder of Heterodox Academy, which promotes intellectual diversity in academic life — the one type of diversity that universities appear not to care about." . . .

Veterans walk out of meeting with Ocasio-Cortez after she bashes US foreign policy

NY Post

Anthony Vitaliano (left) and Silvio Mazzella

. . . "Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez bashed US foreign policy during a private meeting with Bronx community leaders, prompting two military veterans to storm out.

“She knocks the country, she knocks the president. And that’s not what America is about,” said Silvio Mazzella, a Vietnam War vet and treasurer of Community Board 11.

Anthony Vitaliano — an Army veteran who worked in the NYPD for 38 years, and commanded the Bronx’s homicide detectives — was sitting between Ocasio-Cortez and a staffer for the freshman Dem.

“I just couldn’t hear her BS anymore,” the former CB11 chairman said. “I just got up, got my umbrella in my hand and walked right out.” . . .

Beto O'Rourke Town Hall Drags CNN Ratings Down 30%

Forbes

. . . "According to ratings data compiled by Nielsen, the O'Rourke town hall delivered a total audience of 714,000 viewers, while MSNBC and Fox News Channel both exceeded two million viewers in the same time period: 2.196 million for MSNBC and 2.260 million for top-rated Fox News.

"CNN's ratings delivery was down nearly 30% compared to its average Tuesday night, which over the last few months has typically reached more than one million viewers. O'Rourke even failed to exceed the audience that watched a CNN town hall featuring third-tier candidate John Hickenlooper, which drew 745,000 viewers in March. The lowest-rated town hall so far this cycle was CNN's event with Julian Castro, which reached just 654,000 viewers in April.

"Among viewers 25-54, the demographic group most valued by national advertisers, CNN's O'Rourke town hall had 194,000 viewers, down 38% from its average Tuesday night delivery of 313,000. In the demo, Fox News finished first with 362,000 viewers, followed by MSNBC (315,000).

"The poor ratings will raise questions about O'Rourke's ability to generate buzz in a crowded field, but also about the debate among Democrats over the wisdom of going where the viewers are and appearing on Fox News. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren* recently announced she would not accept an offer to appear in a Fox town hall, while candidates like Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg have reached large audiences on FNC. Sanders' Fox town hall remains the highest-rated town hall this cycle, with a total audience of 2.554 million viewers." . . .

* I do not need to hear any more from this scold.

Hollywood's cluelessness about Southerners and soldiers

First, there are the terrible southern accents made obvious here in Plano, TX where the Dynasty filming at Southfork Ranch took place. There were local hands working on the set who were distinguished by genuine Texas accents that came from a different planet than the Hollywood efforts of "Californians" trying to appear "Texan." As a California transplant, it is all too obvious to me.
Ever notice shows taking place in Los Angeles where the characters drive out of town? The small country town where they finally stop is populated by people with "southern" accents, especially the hick sheriff; the only decent, intelligent person is the beautiful waitress working at the local cafe. ( If I may digress, notice movies where Californians stay among the Amish and teach them how to dress stylishly and more, well...California-ish?)

That said, on to the military portrayals:
Notice the soldier or Marine coming home from deployment: his hair is uncut and the uniform is grossly unmilitary. The most obvious item to me is the headgear being worn, or "cover" as Marines call it. Notice the cover being worn by the actor looks like this:

Unknown to Hollywood apparently, Marines wear their covers looking like this:

The filming of "Rocket's Red Glare" on the installation where I worked was interesting as well. Two of our Air Force women were used as extras for about five seconds (their scene eventually cut!) but for that, their normally closely worn hair was redone and increased liberally in size, looking most nonmilitary, but very Hollywood. The Tunnel Dweller

Congressman says MSNBC won't let anyone on unless they talk about impeachment

Monica Showalter  "Does it get more blatant than this? A lefty congressman, Brad Sherman of Sherman Oaks, California, says he can't get airtime on MSNBC unless he promises to talk about impeachment. No impeachment talk, no airtime for him.

"Here's what the Right Scoop spotted:

A Democratic Congressman actually complained on-air to a host on MSNBC that they wouldn’t have him on except to talk about impeachment:

California Rep. Brad Sherman told MSNBC host Ari Melber that he’s been trying to get on his show to talk about other issues like drug prices and the Saudi nuclear program, but all they want to talk to him about his impeachment:

“Actually I’ve been trying to get on your show to talk about the Saudi nuclear program. And if it was my time we’d be talking about efforts to control drug prices. There’s this image in this country that Congress is focused only on impeachment. That’s the only thing I can get on TV to talk about, but it’s not really what I’m working on.”

"Washington Times has more about it here." . . .

Man places 390th in men's hurdles, calls himself female, snatches women's NCAA national title

American Thinker  " Association Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, they conclude tWhen normal people thinking normal thoughts read that a man named Craig Tefler "took home the women's 400-meter hurdles national title" at the 2019 National Collegiate Athletichat he stole it.  In our brave new world, where Craig goes by "CeCe" and calls himself a woman, things are a little different.

"Legal Insurrection has the video:

. . . "What won't be asked is the elephant-in-the-room question: why have we long segregated sports by sex?  To admit that women can't win if we don't would enrage feminists.  To admit that women are much safer this way would threaten to knock over decades of girl-power social engineering, wherein 120-pound wonder-women are depicted beating the pulp out of multiple men twice their size.

"Conservatives had better come to terms with the truth that there will be no Solomonic splitting the baby on this issue.  Men are men all the time, and women are women all the time.  If we stick to chromosomes, that's a truth easy to implement, even if it makes some people feel bad.  If we base it on feelings, we're headed for a Hobbesian "all against all" hellscape of which the destruction of sports is only one of the lesser consequences."

. . . 
"So far, there has not exactly been a feminist hue and cry over men encroaching on women's sports.  Only a few are speaking out.  The problem for feminists is that the transgender putsch in the sporting world sets what was once a simmering pot of cognitive dissonance to boiling: throw out the delusional "men can be women" part, and you're left with the bald-faced truth that men and women are inherently, inexorably different.  And not only are men and women different, but — heresy of all heresies — men are stronger than women.  Feminists have been fighting this fact tooth and nail for decades, to the point where mentally disturbed or opportunistic males who can't win against other males can ride the feminist train all the way to snatching trophies from girls." . . .

Legal Insurrection: The patriarchy’s plans to destroy women’s sports continues apace.

Fake News: Ilhan Omar Did NOT Propose Tax on Pork Products 'So Costly Nobody Will Buy Them Anymore

Lead Stories  "Did Ilhan Omar propose a tax on pork products so costly nobody will buy them anymore? No, that's not true. The story was published by a liberal satire website that tries to educate gullible Trump supporters and Republicans about the need to actually click and read links before sharing or liking them in order to avoid being embarrassed by fans of the site later. All the events described in the article are not real.

"The story originated from an article published by BustaTroll on May 26, 2019 titled "Ilhan Omar Proposes Tax on Pork Products 'So Costly Nobody Will Buy Them Anymore'" (archived here) which opened:" . . .

Untrue except perhaps in communities that voted for Omar, Tlaib, and Keith Ellison.

UPDATED: Obama Tells Multiple Lies About Guns In The U.S. To A Crowd In Brazil

Daily Wire  

"Former President Barack Obama told multiple lies on Thursday to a crowd in Brazil while discussing gun laws in the United States — something that he repeatedly did during his presidency.' . . .
'Everything stated by Obama was a blatant lie.
"Stephen Gutowski, a Second Amendment reporter for The Washington Free Beacon, highlighted some of Obama's in a series of tweets on Friday.
" 'Former President Obama just straight up lied about America's gun laws while at an event in Brazil--a country with strict gun laws and an unfathomably-high gun murder rate," Gutowski tweeted. "Former President Obama told the Brazilian crowd 'anybody can buy any weapon any time without much, if any, regulation' of our gun laws which is just plain false on its face. A complete lie.' " . . .

Thomas Lifson UPDATE:  Obama offers blatant lies about US gun laws in speech given in Brazil

. . . "Brazil, where Obama was speaking, has had strict gun control laws, but also has one of the highest murder rates in the world. just like Chicago. However, Jessica Chasmar in the Washington Times notes that Brazil’s new populist president is moving the country in the direction of firearms freedom in order to stem the tide of lawlessness:

Mr. Obama’s comments come just weeks after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signed a decree easing restrictions on gun imports and increasing the amount of ammunition a person can buy. In January, Mr. Bolsonaro signed a decree making it easier for Brazilians to keep weapons at home without first demonstrating that they have a need to own a gun.

"Abysmally ignorant or blatant liar?  Either way, Barack Obama is a hideous ex-president."

William Barr's thoughts on the Mueller Report

William Barr interview on CBS  . . . "Here is one quotable quote on the president’s authorization of Barr to declassify relevant documents in which Barr makes a point that I have made here repeatedly this week: “I’m amused by these people who make a living by disclosing classified information, including the names of intelligence operatives, wringing their hands about whether I’m going to be responsible in protecting intelligence sources and methods. I’ve been in the business as I’ve said for over 50 years long before they were born and I know how to handle classified information and I believe strongly in protecting intelligence sources and methods. But at the same time if there is information that can be shared with the American people without jeopardizing intelligence sources and methods that decision should be made and because I will be involved in finding out what the story was I think I’m in the best [position?] to make that decision.” . . .

Barr: Counter-intelligence Probe of Trump Campaign Crossed ‘Serious Red Line’

Donkey Hotey

The Fabulous William Barr, The Right Man At The Right Moment  . . ."Barr sat for an interview with CBS News legal correspondent Jan Craw. ford in Alaska to discuss Robert Mueller’s controversial “statement,” which was essentially an assault on the rule of law. Barr did not engage in the analysis of Mueller’s motives, nor did he criticize Mueller for triggering a new round of calls for the President’s impeachment. (I posted about Mueller’s comments here, here and here.)

"However, Barr did make it crystal clear that, despite the Office of Legal Counsel guidance, Mueller “could have made a decision about whether it was criminal activity. He had his reasons for not doing it, which he explained. I’m not going to argue about those reasons, but when he didn’t make a decision, the deputy attorney general and I felt it was necessary for us, as the heads of the department, to reach that decision.”

"He expressed his surprise when Mueller informed him he had not come to a conclusion. Because that’s what he was hired to do. " . . .

Never Trumper shows his ignorance

Don Surber [Klein] wrote, "First, in the most direct way, raising tariffs on Mexico will mean a tax incre [ ase of up to 25% on American families and businesses purchasing any products from Mexico, one of the U.S.' leading trade partners. In 2018, Americans imported $346.5 billion in goods from Mexico, so on that basis it would amount to a nearly $87 billion tax increase. It also will punish industries that will be affected by inevitable retaliatory tariffs."

"Wrong.

"A tariff is a voluntary tax. It is easily avoided by buying an American-made product. That is why every Republican president from Lincoln to Reagan supported protectionist tariffs." . . 

Robert Mueller: the dreams of CNN and MSNBC realized.

Rich Terrell

The Wayward Special Counsel "In the end, the by-the-book Robert Mueller wildly departed from the book. 
"He invented an extraconstitutional legal standard for his obstruction investigation and acted, at the very least, in violation of the spirit of the special counsel regulations. 
"His departing act was a public statement meant to influence the public debate in a manner inappropriate for a prosecutor, in part because the public report he wrote that was inappropriate for a prosecutor failed to achieve clarity despite its hundreds of pages." . . .

"Mueller Tried to Entrap Trump" . . . "Mueller knew indictments for obstruction of justice would never hold up in court.  An innocent man screaming. “I’m innocent and this is a witchhunt,” is no more committing obstruction than a guilty man screaming the same thing.  Also, an innocent man screaming, “I want that SOB fired” but then who doesn’t fire him is not obstructing either.  In addition, the president allowed Mueller to interview any executive officer, never declared executive privilege, or attorney-client privilege, and submitted 1.4 million requested documents." . . .

Greenwald righteously concludes that Mueller's inability to find that Trump had engaged in illegal activity also made "it virtually impossible to find that he criminally obstructed the investigation." Scam over, case closed.

Buttigieg brother-in-law accuses 2020 candidate of lying about his family for political gain

Washington Examiner  ."CLIO, Michigan — Pete Buttigieg’s brother-in-law is accusing the gay Democratic presidential hopeful of hijacking his family’s history for political advantage by crafting a bogus backstory of poverty, homelessness, and homophobia.

"Rhyan Glezman, 34, a pastor in small-town Michigan, said he was inundated by death threats and hate mail when stories surfaced this month claiming he was a bigot who had fallen out with his younger brother Chasten when Chasten came out of the closet.

"The reports were based on a Washington Post article, which described how Chasten, 29, was forced out of the family home and never reconciled with his two brothers.

. . . 

“He went away,” is how Glezman put it. “He was struggling for a time. But there was nothing on the family end that said he had to leave.”. . . 

It was all part of a public discourse, Glezman believes, that frequently writes off principled Christians as bigots. “I believe for me, as a Christian, we’re the people being shunned, people being silenced, and a lot of the liberal side of things are becoming the bigots to Christianity and faith,” he said. “They are becoming the intolerant side.” . . .