Opinion Today: Matt Gaetz, a Biden-Trump meeting and the violence in Amsterdam

Updates from Times Opinion's blog.

View in browser|nytimes.com November 15, 2024 By Anna Marks Opinion Staff Editor In today's edition, we're offering some of our favorite recent entries from The Point, Opinion's blog. This week, our writers told you what they think about Matt Gaetz as attorney general, a Biden-Trump meeting and violence against Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam. Check them out below. David French on Matt Gaetz → Maureen Dowd on the Biden-Trump meeting → Thomas L. Friedman on the attacks in Amsterdam → Here's what we're focusing on today: Editors' Picks Guest Essay Chuck Hagel: Why I'm Worried About Our Military Political independence and ethics are the bedrock of our armed forces. Today, I am concerned that both are in danger. By Chuck Hagel More From Opinion M. Gessen This Is the Dark, Unspoken Promise of Trump's Return Liberal democracy offers moral constraints without problem-solving. Populism offers problem-solving without moral constraints. By M. Gessen Jamelle Bouie There Is a Reason Trump Wants Fewer 'Adults in the Room' The point of placing loyalists in positions of influence isn't to make the government work; it is to bend the government to the president's will. By Jamelle Bouie Guest Essay How to Be a Writer in the Second Age of Trump Good writing requires four things: precision, freedom, respect and love. In this political climate, these qualities are especially important. By Roger Rosenblatt Guest Essay How to Handle Kennedy as America's Top Health Official What Kennedy gets right. By Rachael Bedard Guest Essay End the Criminal Cases Against Trump Democracy's ultimate verdict has been has been delivered. By Thomas Goldstein Guest Essay Humans Are Divided and Unhappy. What Better Time to Contact Alien Life? Fifty years ago, the famed Arecibo message was fired into space to make contact with intelligent extraterrestrials. Now is the time to try again. By Douglas Vakoch Matter of Opinion Divining Trump 2.0 From His Cabinet Picks Trump is assembling his new team. David French and Ross Douthat dissect what it means. 34 MIN LISTEN Michelle Goldberg Matt Gaetz Is the Perfect Man for the Job Trump's choice to lead the Justice Department is a flagrant provocation that is, like a pulpy B movie, so bad it's good. By Michelle Goldberg Guest Essay Ukraine Is Running Out of Optimists There is safety in simply trusting that the worst will happen. To dare to hope has always been the risk. By Andrey Kurkov David Brooks Why We Got It So Wrong It turns out a lot of people don't behave like ambassadors from this or that group. They think for themselves in unexpected ways. By David Brooks Paul Krugman Here's How Trump Could Lose the Coming Trade War Economic conflict is coming. He is utterly unsuited to manage it. By Paul Krugman John McWhorter How a Shocking Insult Gave Me Reason to Hope Two new stage productions have a lot to say about where we are as a country By John McWhorter Frank Bruni Newsom? Whitmer? Shapiro? 2024 Could Kill Their 2028 Dreams. Trump's big victory is sure to scramble the Democrats' bench. By Frank Bruni An Election Is No Reason to Postpone Trump's Felony Sentencing He was lawfully convicted, and his sentence should be determined before he takes office. By Jonathan Alter Kennedy Could Save Gaetz Trump doesn't really care about Kennedy's issues, but would like to look as if he does. By Ross Douthat Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times letters Trump's Picks: Loyalty Over Competence Readers criticize the choice of Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth and others. Also: Anger over the election; protecting kids online; ripped jeans. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. Games Here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Opinion Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018