In the New Yorker...

[Jeff Wrangler]

But if this article is about people who just go undercover among the MAGAs -- like the guy who took video of them trashing the Capitol on Jan. 6 -- I'll look forward to reading it!

I don't want to give too much away, but there is some undercover work and a lot of use of the internet--including by a guy in Philadelphia. I found it fascinating.

I sometimes wonder if any of those MAGA-ots realize where the term antifa comes from. I mean, if you are against anti-fascists, doesn't that mean you're a fascist? 

[Front-Ranger]

I read it yesterday. Very eye-opening. There were two guys in Philadelphia if I read correctly, who have a site called Unicorn Riot and they have become the go-to people to publish the documents and recordings of far-right violent extremists. The author also met with the FBI and tells why the agency is so hamstrung that it can do little, even though the President has identified domestic terrorism as the Number One threat against Americans. Thus, private citizens have to step in. I was a bit shocked when the author detailed all the name changes that a guy had to make  to try to evade revenge from the extremist group he exposed. Later on, he gives anonymity to one who he just refers to as the Infiltrator.

[Front-Ranger]

Just for the record, the article is "The Infiltrators" by David Kirkpatrick in the August 26th issue.

[serious crayons]

Oh, that sounds good! I'll definitely check it out.

I sometimes wonder if any of those MAGA-ots realize where the term antifa comes from. I mean, if you are against anti-fascists, doesn't that mean you're a fascist? 

Right? They name themselves something perilously close to maggot and give their enemies a name that would apply to opponents of Hitler. They're not the brightest.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Oh, that sounds good! I'll definitely check it out.

Right? They name themselves something perilously close to maggot and give their enemies a name that would apply to opponents of Hitler. They're not the brightest.

Neither is their idol. 

[serious crayons]

Neither is their idol. 

That's for sure.

I've come to think Trump was a worse president than Nixon, and Nixon had to resign in disgrace. But Nixon was much more intelligent and knowledgeable. His lying about Vietnam was pretty unforgivable. But at least the corruption that brought him down was conducted on behalf of his political career, not his own personal wealth.

[Jeff Wrangler]

I've come to think Trump was a worse president than Nixon, and Nixon had to resign in disgrace. But Nixon was much more intelligent and knowledgeable. His lying about Vietnam was pretty unforgivable. But at least the corruption that brought him down was conducted on behalf of his political career, not his own personal wealth.

The best thing I can say about Trump is--Pennsylvania's James Buchanan is no longer the nation's worst President. 

[serious crayons]

I read a John Updike novel about James Buchanan years ago. I can't remember it very well, but I liked it at the time. Had to look it up just now to remember the name: Memories of the Ford Administration.

[Front-Ranger]

I just loved the book review of Turning to Stone by Kathryn Shulz in the September 2 issue. She starts by discussing all the reasons why you would not want to study geology and then makes a good case for why you should and how fascinating it is. It really enlarged my view of Earth and history. Mind blowing.

[Front-Ranger]

Maybe George Saunders put his finger on why we love Wordle and Connections so much: In ?The Third Premier,? part of the summer Flash Fiction series, George Saunders evokes life during dictatorship: ?The thing to do was develop an interest in the flower boxes on one?s balcony or keep a record of the stars one saw at night and lose oneself entirely in such things.?