first Derivative [70] newsletter
first Derivative [70]
April 27, 2019
Happy Avengers/GoT weekend everyone. I haven't seen that much lately but of the movies I've seen lately I'd recommend The Lives of Others (on Netflix) and Guava Island (on Amazon). I haven't put much Mueller/Trump on here in a while. At a certain point, I just wanted to wait for the damn thing to come out. No that it has, in redacted form, please read about it. I think it's very important we do, as citizens. If the Lawfare article is too dry, email me and I will send you something more acessible.
As always, feel free to email me (just reply to this) with thoughts, reactions, articles, feedback. More than welcome.—TK
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The End of the American Century
by George Packer (Atlantic) A haunting elegy and a challenge. If you read one article from this issue let it be this one! If you want to read more about Holbrooke, here's a piece by Ronan Farrow that's been in fD previously.—TK
Robert A. Caro on the Means and Ends of Power
with David Marchese (NYT Mag)
Great interview with Robert Caro. More on his general insights drawn over the course of his working career—TK
YouTube Executives Ignored Warnings, Letting Toxic Videos Run Rampant
by Mark Bergen (Bloomberg)
Good article on the troubling challenges and priorities at YouTube. Be careful what you optimize for.—TK
To fight K-pop's influence in China, a club teaches young boys to be alpha males
by Robyn Dixon (LA Times)
An interesting piece, from a lot of angles. Thanks to reader, G.F. for tipping me off to this one.—TK
What Mueller Found on Russia and on Obstruction: A First Analysis
by Scott R. Anderson, Victoria Clark, Mikhaila Fogel, Sarah Grant, Susan Hennessey, Matthew Kahn, Quinta Jurecic, Lev Sugarman, Margaret Taylor, Benjamin Wittes (Lawfare)
A bit dry, but a good breakdown of some very big news—TK
'Liz Was a Diehard Conservative
by Alex Thompson (NYT)
An intellectual history I was not aware of and only deepens my casual support for Warren.—TK
The Challenge of Going Off Psychiatric Drugs
by Rachel Aviv (NYer)
Michelin restaurants and fabulous wines: Inside the secret team dinners that have built the Spurs' dynasty
by Baxter Holmes (ESPN)
Frivolous? Maybe, but I've always been fascinated by the ritual of communion. Also, Popp—TK
The Party of the University
by Rita Koganzon (The Point)
A reflection on institutions and institutional loyalty, in this case the university—TK
The Secret Keeper
by William Finnegan (NYer)
An interesting profile of Jules Kroll. Who's Jules Kroll? Read on... (Hint: he is Nick Kroll's father)—TK
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ABOUT fD
fD is a newsletter on what I think matters. I highlight signals, insights, and deep trends in ideas, technology, politics, economics, foreign affairs, culture, philosophy, and more. My goal is to give you content that will still matter beyond the present moment.
I hope you enjoy. Ask me anything here or just respond to this email—TK