What if it were Obama on trial?

Here’s a thought experiment about the impeachment process. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP4QfAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj91cmk9bnl0Oi8vbmV3c2xldHRlci9mZDNlZjMyMi04NTA4LTRmNDYtOTVjOS00NDk2Yzk2NzkxZmUmdGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTI1P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NDY2JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA2NjAmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyX25rXzIwMjAwMTI1VwNueXRCCgAjqZ8sXkkwlGZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0S6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEyNT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTQ2NiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwNjYwJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTI1VwNueXRCCgAjqZ8sXkkwlGZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTkwJmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ [NYTimes.com/Kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TQaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9jb2x1bW4vbmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZj90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMjU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU0NjYmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDY2MCZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) January 25, 2020 Al Drago/The New York Times [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29sdW1uL25pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2Y_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTI1P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NDY2JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA2NjAmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMjVXA255dEIKACOpnyxeSTCUZlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) By [Nicholas Kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29sdW1uL25pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2Y_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTI1P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NDY2JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA2NjAmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMjVXA255dEIKACOpnyxeSTCUZlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Opinion Columnist As we watch the Senate impeachment trial, it’s hard to know what would change minds. Rep. Devin Nunes actually [tweeted](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9EZXZpbk51bmVzL3N0YXR1cy8xMjIwNDQzNjA1OTY3NDc0Njg4P3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEyNT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTQ2NiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwNjYwJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTI1VwNueXRCCgAjqZ8sXkkwlGZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) my last column with a suggestion that I was insane. (Sadly, Nunes didn’t include the link; I do wish people who denounce me would also send readers to my columns!) It strikes me how often conservatives share liberal takes because they seem over the top caricatures that reinforce a pro-Trump view. Conversely, liberals watch Fox News takes and become more convinced of their liberalism. In short, the arguments that are often most persuasive to our own side are absurd and counterproductive to the other side, and I’m as guilty of this as anyone. So for [today’s column](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yNS9vcGluaW9uL3N1bmRheS9vYmFtYS10cnVtcC1zZW5hdGUtdHJpYWwuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMjU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU0NjYmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDY2MCZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), let me try something else. I’m stepping back from the hurly-burly in the Senate to offer three thought experiments, starting with: What if it were President Barack Obama who had put pressure on Ukraine to investigate a rival? How would Democrats feel then about calling witnesses and impeachment/removal? And how would Republicans feel? It’s difficult to imagine that Republicans, who hounded the Obama administration over Benghazi through multiple investigations, despite no evidence that either Obama nor Hillary Clinton did anything wrong, wouldn’t be baying for Obama’s ouster (and probably chanting “lock him up” as well). Likewise, I ask people to think through: What if President Trump had gotten away with it? What if Ukraine had announced the investigation, and this weakened Biden and improved Trump’s chance of re-election? What if the whistle-blower hadn’t stepped forward? And a third thought experiment: What if Trump were simply a high school vice principal who ushered a police detective’s son into advanced placement classes, but then said, “I’d like you to do us a favor though.” The favor would be for the detective to investigate the vice principal’s ex-wife in the run-up to a child custody hearing. Wouldn’t we all recognize that as an abuse of power that should lead the vice principal to be fired? [Check out the column](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yNS9vcGluaW9uL3N1bmRheS9vYmFtYS10cnVtcC1zZW5hdGUtdHJpYWwuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMjU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU0NjYmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDY2MCZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) (and Rep. Nunes, if you’re reading this and ready again to denounce me as insane, please do include the column link this time!). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTg3JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTg5JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYxOTg4JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ China and the Coronavirus In some ways, China is very good at public health. It has excellent medical researchers and a steadily improving public health infrastructure. It has tried to learn lessons from its mishandling of the SARS outbreak. And it can act rapidly, even dictatorially. That’s how the authorities more-or-less sealed off Wuhan and other cities (Wuhan has more inhabitants than New York, and this was right before Chinese New Year, when the entire country travels). When I lived in China in the 1980s and 1990s, I found that the government had an exceptionally successful program to curb leprosy, because it paid no heed to individual rights. The challenge with leprosy is that people worry about stigma and don’t seek treatment. So China started a reward program to “turn in a leper,” paying money to confidential informants who reported someone who tested positive for leprosy, even a family member. This ran roughshod over privacy and individual rights, but it was highly successful — and it’s akin to China’s willingness to shut off cities and effectively place tens of millions of people under quarantine. Yet what’s needed to handle an epidemic is not only public health tools but also transparency, plus media watchdogs to make sure the government is telling the truth. That’s where China is weak. The government seems to have tried to play down the coronavirus outbreak, perhaps undercounting the numbers, until it was no longer possible to do so. And the coronavirus is also reported in the Xinjiang region; if it reaches the internment camps there, does anyone think that China will be open about the problem? [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-1) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTI4ODA4JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTI4ODA5JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTI4ODEwJmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ This is an analogue of famine and democracy. Dictatorships have some advantages in responding to famines, yet on balance famines happen not in democracies (even very poor ones) but in dictatorships. The worst famine in world history, killing some 30 million people, occurred in China six decades ago, in part because the authorities lied (including local officials who lied to Beijing) and concealed the state of suffering until it was too late. More Housekeeping Because of our new book, “Tightrope,” I’m on the road with my wife, Sheryl, giving book talks, so my column-writing and newsletter-writing will be sporadic. But if I’m coming to your city, come out and say hello. I’ll be in Boston/Cambridge [on Monday](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TlaHR0cDovL3d3dy5oYXJ2YXJkLmNvbS9ldmVudC9uaWNob2xhc19kLl9rcmlzdG9mX2FuZF9zaGVyeWxfd3VkdW5uLz90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMjU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU0NjYmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDY2MCZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), back in New York City [on Tuesday](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly9lbWFudWVsc2tpcmJhbGxueWMudGlja2V0bGVhcC5jb20vdGlnaHRyb3BlL2RhdGVzL0phbi0yOC0yMDIwX2F0XzA2MzBQTT90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMjU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU0NjYmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDY2MCZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), and in Chicago on Wednesday and Thursday. In early February we’re in San Francisco, Seattle and Oregon, so here’s [a list of our book tour destinations](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGVuZ3VpbnJhbmRvbWhvdXNlLmNvbS9hdXRob3JzLzE2MjkzL25pY2hvbGFzLWQta3Jpc3RvZiNldmVudHM_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTI1P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NDY2JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA2NjAmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMjVXA255dEIKACOpnyxeSTCUZlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) (the link is imperfect, but if you hit “see more” you should see destinations). “Tightrope” just made its debut as No. 2 on The New York Times hardcover best-seller list, so thanks to all who helped spread word about it. For a serious book like this about difficult national problems, word of mouth is essential! And [here’s my column](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yNS9vcGluaW9uL3N1bmRheS9vYmFtYS10cnVtcC1zZW5hdGUtdHJpYWwuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMjU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU0NjYmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDY2MCZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) with a look at how we can step back and look at the Senate impeachment trial through the lens of three thought experiments. [Check it out!](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yNS9vcGluaW9uL3N1bmRheS9vYmFtYS10cnVtcC1zZW5hdGUtdHJpYWwuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW5pY2hvbGFzLWtyaXN0b2YmZW1jPWVkaXRfbmtfMjAyMDAxMjU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NDUmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTU0NjYmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yMDY2MCZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTIyMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-2) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk1JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk2JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk4JmxpPU5LJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1OS18yMDIwMDEyNVcDbnl0QgoAI6mfLF5JMJRmUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ You can connect with me on [Facebook](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP4QjAmh0dHBzOi8vbmwubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZi9hL050VmRFMC1zeUV5WmxZR2FqUFNLUFF-fi9BQUFBQVFBfi9SZ1JmS0daYlAwUzBhSFIwY0RvdkwzZDNkeTVtWVdObFltOXZheTVqYjIwdmEzSnBjM1J2Wmo5allXMXdZV2xuYmw5cFpEMDBOU1pwYm5OMFlXNWpaVjlwWkQweE1UTTVOaVp6WldkdFpXNTBYMmxrUFRFMU9EVTBKblZ6WlhKZmFXUTlOakZrWlRobFl6ZzNOalkwTm1NNE9XSXpOMlF4WmpRMU1qUm1OVE5oTldZbWNtVm5hVjlwWkQwM056azRNVEl4TnladWJEMXVhV05vYjJ4aGN5MXJjbWx6ZEc5bUptVnRZejFsWkdsMFgyNXJYekl3TVRrd09EQXpWd051ZVhSQ0NnQW1XLUZGWGJpRW14WlNHMkZzWlhoaGJtUnlZUzV0TG0xaGNtTm9RR2R0WVdsc0xtTnZiVmdFQUFBQUFBfn4_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTI1P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NDY2JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA2NjAmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMjVXA255dEIKACOpnyxeSTCUZlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) or [Instagram](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TGaHR0cDovL3d3dy5pbnN0YWdyYW0uY29tL25pY2trcmlzdG9mP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEyNT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTQ2NiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwNjYwJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTI1VwNueXRCCgAjqZ8sXkkwlGZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). 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Republicans seem to think no president’s misbehavior could ever be bad enough to warrant removal. by nicholas kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yMi9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLXRyaWFsLWltcGVhY2htZW50Lmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTI1P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NDY2JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA2NjAmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMjVXA255dEIKACOpnyxeSTCUZlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yMi9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLXRyaWFsLWltcGVhY2htZW50Lmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTI1P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NDY2JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA2NjAmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMjVXA255dEIKACOpnyxeSTCUZlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Are My Friends’ Deaths Their Fault or Ours? We need to move from pointing fingers to offering helping hands. by nicholas kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8xOC9vcGluaW9uL3N1bmRheS9kZWF0aHMtZGVzcGFpci1wZXJzb25hbC1yZXNwb25zaWJpbGl0eS5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEyNT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTQ2NiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwNjYwJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTI1VwNueXRCCgAjqZ8sXkkwlGZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8xOC9vcGluaW9uL3N1bmRheS9kZWF0aHMtZGVzcGFpci1wZXJzb25hbC1yZXNwb25zaWJpbGl0eS5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEyNT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTQ2NiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwNjYwJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTI1VwNueXRCCgAjqZ8sXkkwlGZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) WHAT I’M READING IN THE TIMES [Jeff Bezos’ Phone Hack Should Terrify Everyone Those with the most to lose don’t always safeguard their privacy very well. You can do better. by charlie warzel](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yNC9vcGluaW9uL2plZmYtYmV6b3MtcGhvbmUtaGFjay5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEyNT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTQ2NiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwNjYwJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTI1VwNueXRCCgAjqZ8sXkkwlGZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yNC9vcGluaW9uL2plZmYtYmV6b3MtcGhvbmUtaGFjay5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bmljaG9sYXMta3Jpc3RvZiZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ua18yMDIwMDEyNT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD00NSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNTQ2NiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTIwNjYwJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MjIwMjAwMTI1VwNueXRCCgAjqZ8sXkkwlGZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Is America Ready for Another Outbreak? No. But there are clear steps the government needs to take. by saad b. omer](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yMy9vcGluaW9uL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXd1aGFuLW91dGJyZWFrLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTI1P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NDY2JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA2NjAmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMjVXA255dEIKACOpnyxeSTCUZlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Thumbnail](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgDySpP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wMS8yMy9vcGluaW9uL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXd1aGFuLW91dGJyZWFrLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1uaWNob2xhcy1rcmlzdG9mJmVtYz1lZGl0X25rXzIwMjAwMTI1P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTQ1Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE1NDY2JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjA2NjAmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyMjAyMDAxMjVXA255dEIKACOpnyxeSTCUZlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-3) Need help? 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