Nicholas Kristof: As deer need wolves, we need Republicans

Don't be mad! View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Saturday, October 20, 2018 [NYTimes.com/Kristof »]( [Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell leaves the Senate Republicans’ policy lunch in the U.S. Capitol in June.]( Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell leaves the Senate Republicans’ policy lunch in the U.S. Capitol in June. Damon Winter/The New York Times Three cheers for conservatives! Well, two cheers, anyway. America needs an intelligent center-right party to hold accountable progressives like myself. A deer population is healthier when kept on its toes by wolves — and Democrats can benefit from predatory Republicans. The problem, though, is that today’s Republican party as it exists in Congress isn’t that party. It cares about nothing larger than itself, and Congressional leaders provide no oversight, exhibit no principle, and have devolved into presidential poodles. [My Sunday column]( argues that this is THE issue hanging over these midterms. [Here’s my argument](. Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that Jamal Khashoggi was indeed dead, but killed after a "fistfight" in the consulate. [Here's the takeaway](. Meanwhile, The Times translated my previous column about Saudi Arabia and Khashoggi into Arabic so that the Arab world could easily access it; [here it is]( I say something in [my column]( that will annoy many readers: Democrats have wrongly pursued rent control strategies that simply magnify homelessness. But this is basic economics, and economists across the spectrum disapprove of rent control. When there’s a housing shortage, we need more supply of housing. Yet rent control tends to depress supply (partly by leading to conversion of rentals to condominiums) even as it increases demand. So housing shortages worsen. The best short-term approach to homelessness is vouchers, easing land use rules that constrain low-income housing supply, and making work pay better (through programs like the earned income tax credit). Above all, we should push to end homelessness for families with children; that should be a top national priority. If you’re still seething at me, [this article]( explains some of the issues on rent control. It always surprises me that the Islamic world hasn't been more critical of China's mass detention of 1 million Uighurs, basically for being Muslim. [As this article notes]( China is even arresting family members of Americans who speak out against this Chinese Islamophobia. Our group of opinion-mongers at The New York Times has a new Instagram account: [@nytopinion](. And, if I’m going to point you to follow others, you damn well better follow me as well: [@nickkristof]( ! As long as we’re having a national conversation about relations with Saudi Arabia, let’s expand it to Bahrain as well. Similar issues apply to Bahrain, which has become brutally repressive of its majority Shiite population — and is where the U.S. Navy bases the Fifth Fleet. Now [here’s my column]( about what I see as the backdrop of these midterm elections: We need a judicious center-right political party in Congress; the present one has collapsed; and only if it is thrashed next month can it be rebuilt with a backbone. [Here’s my take](. Book Watch Max Boot is a lifelong conservative — well, maybe not. His fine new book is called: “[The Corrosion of Conservatism: Why I Left the Right]( I quote from it in today’s column. Really?! [President Trump greets Representative Greg Gianforte on stage at a campaign rally in Missoula, Mont. on Thursday.] President Trump greets Representative Greg Gianforte on stage at a campaign rally in Missoula, Mont. on Thursday. Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press President Trump celebrated Montana Congressman Greg Jianforte’s physical attack on a reporter asking a question about health care. Criticism of journalists is fair game; body slams are not, and Jianforte pled guilty to assault in the case. This rhetoric was particularly odious coming as an American-based reporter was [just tortured and murdered]( by Saudis for his writing. ADVERTISEMENT You can connect with me on [Facebook](. If you have friends who might enjoy this newsletter, forward this email or tell them they can [sign up here](. Send feedback or tech questions to newsletters@nytimes.com. Recent Columns [A President Kowtowing to a Mad Prince]( Trump is providing cover for Saudi barbarism. [If a Prince Murders a Journalist, That’s Not a Hiccup]( In the end, Saudi Arabia played Kushner, Trump and his other American acolytes for suckers. What I’m Reading in The Times [Eight Stories of Men’s Regret]( Produced by ALICIA P.Q. WITTMEYER The Times asked men to share stories of past bad behavior toward women. Here are their accounts of intimidation, coercion and complicity. [Why King Salman Must Replace M.B.S.]( By MADAWI AL-RASHEED To save its reputation and avoid becoming a pariah state in the aftermath of the Khashoggi murder, Saudi Arabia should replace its crown prince. ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW NICHOLAS KRISTOF [Facebook] [FACEBOOK]( [Twitter] [@nickkristof]( [Instagram] [nickkristof]( Get more [NYTimes.com newsletters »]( | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's Nicholas Kristof newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Change Your Email]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact]( | [Advertise]( Copyright 2018 The New York Times Company 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018