Follow-ups:
Shadi Hamid expands on the theme of American Islam vs. Left:
βas many as 35% of Muslims voted for Mr. Trump in 2020, compared with 8% to 13% in 2016.β
Christine Emba responds to critics of her masculinity essay:
βmen and women, by virtue of biological difference and existing social norms, have different embodied experiences in the world, with different challenges and expectations β both physically and psychologically induced. It only makes sense that their answers for how to best exist in the world might not be the same.β
Good reading,
-Teddy
ππ³ Ohioans voted against a measure that would make it harder to amend the state constitution, a proxy referendum on the November ballot which includes an amendment that would guarantee a right to abortion. The vote was 57/43 against. (WSJ | Kris Maher | Aug 2023)
The defeat of the measure known as Issue 1 means a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot enshrining abortion access faces a lower bar for passage. Issue 1 would have made all future constitutional amendments receive at least 60% support to be adopted, instead of the current rule requiring a simple majority.
I think maybe one of the good things to come from Dobbs, is seeing one of the more controversial and substantive issues of our time being put back into the civic arena after decades of judicial fiat. Thereβs an ongoing clash between our republicanism and our democratic values that I think is ultimately healthy for the nation.
π²π½π Mexico surpasses China as the USβ top trading partner as βnearshoringβ reflects national security concerns as well as a priority on supply chain resiliency over efficiency (Axios | Emily Peck | Jul 2023)
The US and China apply ~20% tariffs on each otherβs goods, with the Biden administration largely continuing Trump policy here. In fact, Gideon Rachman recently wrote in the Financial Times crediting Trump for disrupting the bipartisan consensuses on trade policy and China policy that have basically dominated since Reagan/Clinton.
Mexico is failing to fully capitalize on the βnearshoringβ opportunity due to low public investment and an unfriendly business environment promulgated by President LΓ³pez Obrador
Chinaβs economy slipped into deflation last month as its economy struggles to recover post-Covid
ππ°πΊ Even the family-friendly House of Mouse falls to the wave of sports gambling as Disney launches ESPN Bet (although itβs likely this is a move to shore up ESPN for a spin-off) (FT | Jul 2023)
Disney had long been wary of spoiling its wholesome brand with the stigma of gambling. That is understandable given the potential for betting addiction, as opposition to the UK industry shows. Legal wagers on games are now available in 34 US states.
But the promise of a new source of income has led Disney boss Bob Iger to modify his stance. Shares in the House of Mouse have more than halved from the 2021 peak. Disneyβs streaming expenses have exploded while its cash cow broadcast and pay-TV networks earn less in the era of cord-cutting.