Politics

The week a gun rally in Virginia became a Trumpy version of MLK’s dream

January 21st 2020

This year MLK Day mixed with a gun-rights rally, the American culture war, and real mass shootings. I’ve said that America’s greatest export is non-intentional irony, but nothing this week seemed to lack intent.

The week raising the smoking age, extending family leave, and funding research on gun violence was obscured by history

December 22nd 2019

Along with the healthcare-related news in the headline, there’s also a description of research showing the psychiatric impact of school shootings on classmates.

Christina Kirchner: memories of the corrupt leader ascending in Argentina again

October 27th 2019

Twain noted, “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.” As Argentina starts a new verse in its history, its worth remembering the form of its last stanza shaped by Christina Kirchener.

Trump’s re-election starts with bullying, fakery and a ban on blocking in social media

July 18th 2019

From ‘fake’ social media endorsements, bullying and a court ban on blocking Twitter followers – the campaign is already hot with digital issues. Its election season, so I guess I’m commenting on the digital life of politics again, occasionally.

Bitcoin Bros and Anxiety at the Top of the Business Cycle

December 31st 2017

Its been a remarkable year in investment, politics and culture. This is my personal take on where we’re at – and a first swing at what we can improve together in the new year. I’d love to here your thoughts and plans, and to encourage them however I can. Happy New Year.

Making the NY Times and Nordstrom Great Again: When Trump Attacks Do His Targets Profit?

February 10th 2017

On Wednesday, President Trump berated Nordstrom for dropping Presidential daughter, Ivanka Trump’s clothing line from their shelves. As the Seattle Times reported, there was a brief dip followed by a 4% rally. And while you can chalk this up to Nordstrom stores being located in Democratic strong holds, or liberal investors allocating with their politics, […]

Did Trump Jr. Take Skittles from a Refugee?

October 25th 2016

If the US economy were based on non-intentional irony, this election cycle would have already enriched us immeasurably. Until that pays off, consider the cosmic comeuppance of the former refugee who is suing the Trump campaign for stealing his photo of Skittles…which they used to warn that refugees are dangerous, or in this case litigious.

The 1957 Film Predicting Trump’s Rise and Fall is Now Ready For Viewing

October 9th 2016

You can see our year’s biggest political story already synthesized more masterfully than any punditry can, in a film from 1957. The headline isn’t Trump, its those who made a candidate who offends everyone around him, an establishment cause able to gain a near plurality of the vote. Trump’s long strange ride is about us.

Hitch Your Wagon Elsewhere: Donald Trump Simply Isn’t the Epitome of Content Marketing

March 12th 2016

Hey Marketing pundits. Don’t take the easy bait and claim that Donald Trump is a content marketing genius. There’s little evidence of this. The things that have driven his GOP rise are more structural than marketing tactics.Claims that his rise is a master work in your discipline, is as opportunistic and vapid as The Donald himself.

Are The Boston Globe and WBUR just making-up primary poll results now?

February 27th 2016

This week two Boston news organizations drew starkly different headlines from the same research. Is this a case of team out reporting the other – or of creating a story rather than reporting it?