Good piece. And I strongly agree with you that smart pieces are the most interesting and fun to read. I’d rather read a smart, negative review of a band I like than a bland, positive review of that band. It gets the fan juices flowing and makes me reflect on my own fandom.

The past few months haven’t been easy. I’ve found myself looking for escape. Increasingly, I’ve been diving into Love’s Forever Changes as my preferred means, whatever that means.

Curious about how firms are responding to both the Trump administration and activist pressure?

Please join @maharafiatal.bsky.social, Tim Bartley, @victorerikray.bsky.social, @braydenking.bsky.social, and myself for a webinar on this topic on May 12 at 12pm ET.
georgetown.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

In the future, every article about wealthy donors raising money for research should be required to mention how the current administration’s budget policies are undermining that effort and making it nearly impossible for health care research, in particular, to make progress

that Tobacco City album has been my most played this past month

lots of good books on this list but I would have included Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore if I’d had a vote

Finished the latest episode of the excellent podcast A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, which focuses on the final years of The Beach Boys and it made me revisit the underrated Surfs Up album. God, that album just tears me up. Til I Die is a classic.

Just finished listening to this absolutely beautiful and devastating episode. I thought I knew everything about The Beach Boys but man, i did NOT. Thank you for this incredible series about the end of The Beach Boys. I’m in awe.

How policymakers and experts failed the COVID test

Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee find that policymakers and experts deterred alternatives and suppressed dissent, leaving us with today’s increased distrust of health and political authorities
www.niskanencenter.org/how-policyma...

scenes from spring training

Harvard announcing a hiring freeze feels like a harbinger of more bad things for higher education

I’m not sure @jlkucinskas.bsky.social intended this book to be as relevant as it now is. This is a great book that speaks to our current moment. Go get it!