Cockburn’s Diary

Vivek unplugged Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy signaled virtue in the pages of the Wall Street Journal yesterday, claiming that he’s resolved to swear off social media entirely in 2026. “I’ll spend my newfound time listening to more voters in real-world Ohio, developing more policies to make our state affordable, and being more present with my family,” the former presidential candidate wrote. While Cockburn can think of more exciting pastimes than listening to voters in real-world Ohio, it’s not a bad sentiment. We could all use a social-media detox. But let’s consider the source. While running for president, Ramaswamy floated the idea of a TikTok ban for 16-year-olds and an “openness” to banning the app

“Why is Epstein the top issue in American life right now?” galaxy-brained columnist David Brooks wrote in the New York Times last month, while also comparing Epstein Files obsessives to QAnon followers. Well, maybe because the Files seem to touch all corners of our cosseted elite, to whom Brooks (and Cockburn) belong. But at least Cockburn, unlike Brooks, isn’t in the Epstein Files: Brooks should have warned in his column that the Files contain several photos of him, yukking it up next to Google co-founder Sergey Brin at some sort of meal. “As a journalist, David Brooks regularly attends events to speak with noted and important business leaders to inform his columns,

Wilin’ out President Trump has an “alcoholic’s personality,” White House budget director Russell Vought is a “right-wing zealot” and Elon Musk microdoses ketamine, according to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Musk is “an odd, odd duck,” Wiles told Vanity Fair during an series of 11 – count ’em, eleven – interviews, “as I think geniuses are. You know, it’s not helpful, but he is his own person.” Also, Attorney General Pam Bondi “completely whiffed” in her handling of the Epstein Files. This is all good stuff from Chris Whipple’s two-part profile of Trump’s inner circle that confirms two things that Cockburn has long deduced: 1) The second Trump presidency is a bit unusual personality-

Plus: American Canto flops and a cornucopia of Christmas parties

Plus: Minnesota not-so-nice

Plus: A freezing and fraught World Cup draw in DC

Plus: Are We Dating the Same Oysterman?

Lucky you, important person, there is still time to invite him

Plus: Candace in the crosshairs?

Plus: Jersey Smollett and a Dao dinner

Plus: Fox News deploys Palantir’s AI in digital operation

Plus: Weigh-in at the border

Plus: Should Dulles become the Donald J. Trump International Airport?

Plus: Subway slinger walks free

Plus: Everyone is Zohran Mamdani now

Plus: Don’t go Off Leash & party scene report

Plus: Paul Ingrassia lawyers up

Plus: Going Caracas & a Close Encounter

Plus: What’s next for George Santos & the Mean Girls Justice Department

Plus: Cockburn would have signed the Pentagon pledge