November 14, 2026 - The Week in Review

Another week of elation, but also some reflection on what the future holds. We start off with what does reform look like, and more importantly what are the impediments.

Saturday, 11/7: The one thing that is a must do to prevent another Trump and the complete obliteration of the guardrails of Democracy is to work to erect protections to keep Democracy safe. Alas, the reforms are not easy, and there are cohorts at cross purposes that will complicate efforts:

The System Doesn't Fix Itself

Everybody has ideas for repairing American democracy. Getting the people who benefit from its defects to cooperate is another matter.

Sweaty's CornerGeoff Anderson

Sunday, November 8: I am beginning to see the Democratic establishment assume that their victory imbues them with a durable majority, and that they can return to their pet policies. That is a mistake. At best, the influx of votes that crushed the retromingent Republicans was to check Trump, not to advance Democratic preferences. At best, these voters are on loan and may be convertible to permanent Democrats, but it is just as likely, or even more likely, that they will flee again if Democrats go back to their favorite hits:

They Voted for a Check on Trump. Democrats Heard a Mandate.

The voters who delivered Tuesday's victory may be on loan. The Democratic establishment would do well to remember that.

Sweaty's CornerGeoff Anderson

Monday, November 9: In the aftermath of the rout of Republicans, I began hearing some people on the left talk about how we finally are almost rid of the Reagan era policies, remnants o the Reagan administration that had been on life support. Not so fast...

The Reagan Revolution Is Dead. Long Live the Reagan Revolution.

The political coalition Reagan helped assemble may be falling apart. That doesn't mean the economic order it built is going anywhere.

Sweaty's CornerGeoff Anderson

Wednesday, November 11: While a blow has been dealt to Trumpism, what comes next? I am seeing a lot of commentary and speculation of what will be next. I take a page from my Product Management experience and ask what does success look like:

What Does Success Look Like?

Getting rid of Trumpism is one thing. Building something that survives the next Trump is another.

Sweaty's CornerGeoff Anderson

Friday, November 13: I had a draft of this episode of "This Fucking Guy", a dive into Bari Weiss. It sat idle because it was just meh. I got a bee in my bonnet and did a revamp, and I am quite proud of it now...

This Fucking Guy: Bari Weiss

She built her brand on being exiled by institutions. Now she runs one, and the exile routine turned out to be the entire business model.

Sweaty's CornerGeoff Anderson

From The Shitpost Dude, I had a few posts there do pretty well.

The first is about the fact that Trump doesn't realize he's dead yet. JVL at The Bulwark had the temerity to posit that Trump was rather subdued in the aftermath, and published a solid Triad comparing Trump to Hitler being informed by his generals that the situation was hopeless. Less than two hours after publication, Stephen Miller was elevated to Chief of Staff:

Man, Nobody Told the Corpse He Was Dead

For one beautiful afternoon, Washington wondered whether Trump had finally run out of fight. Then Stephen Miller showed up.

The Dude ShitpostsJeffery Lebowski

Before all the shenanigans about Jensen Huang and Nvidia, I did a tour through the corruption by the Trump administration and the accommodations and the bending of the knees to Trump, never guessed that the Democrats would sweep back into power. Oops:

Man, I Thought We Bought the Whole Building

Corporate America spent two years making friends with the president. Nobody mentioned the other tenants.

The Dude ShitpostsJeffery Lebowski