The Capitol Story Is Getting Scarier

Where in God's name do they find these people? If you have trouble reading this message, [view it in a browser](. [Windows Weren’t the Only Thing Broken in Congress Last Week]( The House has now passed a largely ceremonial resolution demanding that Mike Pence invoke the provisions of the 25th Amendment. But the serious news was coming from outside the chambers of the Congress. This is no bullshit. The FBI and the Secret Service and other law-enforcement operations are scared to death about what might be coming next. And, if that isn't enough to get you nervous, the evidence that the insurrection had help from inside the Capitol continues to mount. Here’s Charles P. Pierce on the details that seem to be trickling out right now.[Read More]( [Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard's 'Undivided' Is Country Music's Latest Misunderstanding of Unity]( Written in November by Hubbard and Chris Loocke, and released Wednesday, "Undivided" was conceived long before Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. It was written during a year defined by a global pandemic, a revolt against systemic racism, and the most important presidential election of our lifetime. The track is rife with vague notions of acceptance, moving forward, race, and a twangy banjo. Yet, it doesn’t address any of these specific issues (short of a flippant reference to being "all white or all black"). It is a vague call for unity that, even in November, would have seemed like a hollow, toothless gesture. But to release it right now feels at once ignorant and opportunistic—an effort to get some good press by cashing in on a moment of national anger and confusion. The language of the song also seems to imply that these issues our country faces (none of which are identified in "Undivided") can be solved over a friendly glass of Mamma’s sweet tea. Here’s Justin Kirkland on country music’s continued pursuit of reconciliation without acknowledging what divided us in the first place.[Read More]( [Alex Mill's Roomy, $125 Corduroys Fit Exactly How A Pair of Pants Should Right Now]( It's definitely a weird time to be buying pants. Up is down! Left is right! Confused? So are we. But you shouldn't be. Because Alex Mill's expertly crafted corduroys will help you make sense of it all—one crisp pleat at a time. If they look a little familiar, it might be because these bad boys are the cold-weather version of the brand's smash-hit seasonal chino. Simply put, if you've haven't worn anything but fleece for the last half year or so, these are the pants to turn to when you've given up on everything else.[Read More]( [Chris Pine Makes the Case for His Place in the Pantheon of Spy Guy Style]( Simply put, a peacoat confers serious spy-guy bona fides. Its bold lapels and double-breasted silhouette make for an especially cinematic style that doesn't lose any of its luster on-screen, and its sturdy construction is perfectly suited for lurking on dimly lit street corners while you wait for your foreign fixer to drop off those pesky forged documents you asked for. In other words, it's practically a character unto itself. And if Chris Pine has a say in the matter, that's not going to change any time soon. Here’s how to recreate his latest on-screen look.[Read More]( [Lindsey Graham Should Really Just Shut Up]( In the Boston Globe on Wednesday morning, there was another installment in the popular new Capitol Hill horror franchise, Mole Hunt, and it's just as terrifying as the earlier installments. It involves Sarah Groh, the chief of staff for the formidable Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and her account of events as sedition hit high tide on January 6. Implied in that remarkable account is the possibility that the panic buttons were removed prior to the arrival of the insurrectionists by people who knew (or suspected) it was coming. This would have required a familiarity with both the building and its various systems, and it also would have required someone whose presence would not have drawn attention in a congressional office. In the middle of a mass home invasion, members of Congress didn't know if they could trust their safety to the people whose job it was to protect them. And, as we careen toward the second impeachment of Donald Trump, Senator Lindsey Graham continues to weigh in on the matter. Here’s Charles P Pierce on why he needs to shut up.[Read More]( [Make 2021 the Year You Join Our Club—We’ll Send You Something (It’s a Magazine)]( But that’s not all you’ll get by joining Esquire Select, our new membership program. In addition to an annual print subscription, you’ll also get unlimited access to all of Esquire.com—including Politics with Charles P. Pierce and every Esquire story ever published via Esquire Classic. Plus, we’ll send you a weekly, subscribers-only email, and give you exclusive access to deals and discounts from our favorite brands. It’s just one way your year is sure to be better than the last—we guarantee it.[Read More]( [Read More on Esquire.com]( [Join Esquire The Select for $40/Year. Learn More!]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Notice]( esquire.com ©2021 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019