October 24th 2021
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Almost 20 years ago, Jon Stewart appeared on Crossfire pleading that Tucker Carlson's debate news show was "hurting America".
It's an interesting clip in retrospect*. Who knew that the alternative programming to political pundits talking past each other wasn't more honest debate, but rather political pundits not talking to each other at all. The information echo chambers have gotten worse since 2004, but TV debate shows are not the culprit. Back then, Jon Stewart seemed to win the exchange, and I don't think Crossfire lasted much longer, but did he improve the discourse?
Reading the essay below on Jon Stewart made me think about another comedian, the star of a political sitcom where a high school teacher is elected president. That comedian went on to run for president in real life - and won! Now Volodymyr Zelensky has to figure out how to lead Ukraine through an existential war.
Zelensky isn't a fair comparison to Stewart, but what do our smartest entertainers owe something to public service? Anything at all?
​Who’s Laughing Now? by Devin Gordon​
​Who Will Win Ukraine's Presidential Election? by Simon Shuster​
​What Do We Owe The World? by Robin Hanson​
April 30th 2022
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*including at 9:20, when Wolf Blitzer, pumping the next segment, asks if "flu vaccine shortage is a grim warning about America's vulnerability to bioterrorism"
Hi! I am Josh Knox. Read more of me here: 👇
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