New Founding

Could Manchin go nuclear?

West Virginia governor Jim Justice announced that he is running for US Senate on stage at the Greenbrier, the swanky hotel owned by his family, yesterday. “I absolutely will promise you to God above that I will do the job, and I will do the job that will make you proud,” said the larger-than-life Justice, with his pet bulldog (and political mascot) Babydog sitting in a red armchair next to him.  The announcement sets up the possibility of an epic showdown between Justice (a former Democrat, now a Republican) and his friend Joe Manchin. The race could be decisive when it comes to control of the Senate after 2024. Manchin is one of three Democratic senators up for reelection who represent states won by Donald Trump in 2020.

joe manchin
rfk jr

Could Biden be forced to debate RFK Jr.?

A couple of years ago, you’d probably know Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for being one of the world’s most vocal antivaxxers, the black sheep of an American political dynasty and somehow married to Cheryl Hines from Curb Your Enthusiasm. A couple of years from now... might you know him as the US’s unlikeliest president?RFK Jr. is challenging President Biden for the Democratic nomination in 2024. The DNC has declared that it won’t host primary debates — yet a Fox News poll this week showed Kennedy with 19 percent to Biden’s 62 percent. If the Facebook algorithm can help RFK inch that support up ten points or so, could the Democrats be forced to platform him?And who knows: Kennedy’s candidacy could prove to be a real shot in the arm for the Democratic grassroots.

Is this the right’s answer to woke corporatism?

Woke corporatism has taken over America. Nike nixed a sneaker launch featuring the Betsy Ross flag after noted anthem-kneeler Colin Kaepernick claimed it was offensive. Coca-Cola and other companies threatened to boycott doing business in Georgia over the state's new election security legislation. Levi's allegedly booted its president over her anti-school closure views during the pandemic, and nearly every major retailer features pro-Black Lives Matter or Pride Month messaging on its storefronts and websites. It can seem impossible as a conservative to avoid giving your hard-earned money to businesses that hate you. Even for moderate or apolitical consumers, it can be frustrating and tiresome to be hit with a wave of political messaging when you're just trying to purchase a product.

A Nike store in Manhattan (Getty Images)