Opinion Today: What’s behind the Great Spy Balloon Freakout

Fear distorts our actual assessment of risk. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP4QoAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPVRZJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1cmk9bnl0JTNBJTJGJTJGbmV3c2xldHRlciUyRmQ3YzIxZmJiLWNlMzQtNTY4YS1hZTM4LWUyNDkwYWQxMWRlMSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0SwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NjA1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTU2NyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) [Marquee Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMTM5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDIxNyZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Read more from Opinion](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9vcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NjA1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTU2NyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) February 17, 2023 [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvYWxleC1raW5nc2J1cnk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) By [Alex Kingsbury](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvYWxleC1raW5nc2J1cnk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Senior Editor, International I personally would not have had a revival of “[99 Luftballons](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZ2PUZwdTVhMEJsOGVZVwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~),” a song by the 1980s New Wave band Nena, on my bingo card for February 2023. And yet, views of the song on YouTube are on the uptick. Credit that to a Chinese spy balloon that drifted across the United States, inciting what the former Harvard instructor David Ropeik [describes in his guest essay as](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNS9vcGluaW9uL3NweS1iYWxsb29uLWNoaW5hLWZlYXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) “Balloon Freakout.” “We are instinctively wired to worry more about new risks and about risks with a lot of uncertainty,” he writes. When Gen. Glen D. VanHerck called [the other floating objects](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZS91Zm8tb2JqZWN0LWJhbGxvb24tc2hvdC1kb3duLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) that had been shot out of the sky “unknown” it triggered a powerful response from our lizard brains. “We also worry more about risks that remind us of things we’ve already learned to fear, particularly those we fear most, like nuclear war,” Ropeik writes. Which brings me back to Nena. English-speaking audiences might miss a lot of the relevance of the song if they know only the English version, “[99 Red Balloons](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5kZXg9MSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZsaXN0PVJEaGl3Z09XbzdtRGMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZ2PWhpd2dPV283bURjVwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~),” so I suggest checking out the [original German lyrics](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhvdWdodGNvLmNvbS9uZW5hcy05OS1sdWZ0YmFsbG9ucy1zb25nLTQwNzY3NzY_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). In brief: 99 balloons, mistaken as U.F.O.s, spark an attack by fighter planes and then a nuclear war. The nuances of the song were clearly lost on many people. Consider this tweet from that noted musicologist Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TSaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9SZXBNVEcvc3RhdHVzLzE2MjE3MTYzMTk2MjMxNTE2MTY_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnM9MjAmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~ Twitter Or this tone-deaf performance of the song by the Royal Air Force Regimental Band in front of an F-35 fighter jet. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0SXaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTk3ODUmbGk9VFkmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPVRZXzIwMjMwMjE3JnRlPTEmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TQaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9SQUZfTHV0b24vc3RhdHVzLzE2MjUxODUyODAzMzk3MjIyNjU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~ Twitter Nena is [going on tour](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0SzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmVuYS5kZS9lbi90b3VyP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NjA1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTU2NyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) this year, so perhaps it’ll prompt a closer examination of what they meant with that tune. But I doubt it. U.F.O. jokes and catchy bass lines aside, in his column this week, Bret Stephens [hones in](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNC9vcGluaW9uL2NoaW5hLWJhbGxvb24tdWZvLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) on the seriousness of the balloon incident vis-à -vis the steady escalating conflict between the United States and China. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-1) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAxODEyJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDIxNyZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) “We tend to think that our adversaries might act against us the way we would act against them: by using the most advanced technologies at our disposal,” he writes. “But part of Chinese military doctrine is based on the idea of shashoujian, or the [assassin’s mace](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tLzIwMDkvMDcvY2hpbmEtbG9va3MtdG8tdW5kZXJtaW5lLXVzLXBvd2VyLXdpdGgtYXNzYXNzaW5zLW1hY2UvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NjA1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTU2NyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) — an inferior power using weapons that can surprise and defeat a superior one.” That might fit for the Chinese spy balloon. But what of those three other objects on the receiving end of sidewinder missiles? Ross Douthat [calls their destruction part](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNS9vcGluaW9uL3Vmb3MtYmFsbG9vbnMtbXlzdGVyaWVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) of a wider trend that he terms the “incomplete reveal.” “Sometimes a phenomenon goes from being the subject of crank theories and sub rosa conversations to being more mainstream, but without actually being fully explained or figured out,” he writes. “Or sometimes a controversy takes center stage for a little while, a great deal seems to hang upon the answer, and then it isn’t resolved and seems to get forgotten.” [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-2) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI2NTM3JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDIxNyZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Ropeik sees in the incomplete reveal of the Balloon Freakout a powerful learning opportunity. “We end up overfearing some things that arouse psychological fear factors, and we also sometimes dangerously underfear others based on the psychological factors they invoke.” In other words, when your lizard brain goes into a fear spiral over things beyond your control or understanding — mystery balloons or U.F.O.s or the aims of the People’s Liberation Army — step away from the news feed. Make a cup of tea. Throw on some New Wave tunes. And take a deep breath. [[Article Image] Randall Hill/Reuters](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNS9vcGluaW9uL3NweS1iYWxsb29uLWNoaW5hLWZlYXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [GUEST ESSAY The Great Spy Balloon Freakout Fear distorts our actual assessment of risk. By David Ropeik](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNS9vcGluaW9uL3NweS1iYWxsb29uLWNoaW5hLWZlYXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [[Article Image] Thomas Jackson/Getty Images](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNC9vcGluaW9uL2NoaW5hLWJhbGxvb24tdWZvLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [BRET STEPHENS Is China ‘Probing With Bayonets’? Balloons may seem unthreatening, but they can expose weaknesses. By Bret Stephens](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNC9vcGluaW9uL2NoaW5hLWJhbGxvb24tdWZvLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [[Article Image] Simon Bradfield](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNS9vcGluaW9uL3Vmb3MtYmFsbG9vbnMtbXlzdGVyaWVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [ROSS DOUTHAT U.F.O.s and Other Unsolved Mysteries of Our Time Sometimes a phenomenon goes from being the subject of crank theories to being more mainstream, but without being fully explained or figured out. By Ross Douthat](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNS9vcGluaW9uL3Vmb3MtYmFsbG9vbnMtbXlzdGVyaWVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Here’s what we’re focusing on today: Editors’ Picks [GUEST ESSAY Who’s Afraid of Black History? Gov. DeSantis should be careful of the company he keeps. By Henry Louis Gates Jr.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL2Rlc2FudGlzLWZsb3JpZGEtYWZyaWNhbi1hbWVyaWNhbi1zdHVkaWVzLWJsYWNrLWhpc3RvcnkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL2Rlc2FudGlzLWZsb3JpZGEtYWZyaWNhbi1hbWVyaWNhbi1zdHVkaWVzLWJsYWNrLWhpc3RvcnkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) More From Opinion [GUEST ESSAY It’s Time to Prepare for a Possible Trump Indictment We need to prepare for a first in our history as a nation: the possible criminal prosecution of a former president. By Norman L. Eisen, E. Danya Perry and Amy Lee Copeland](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLWdlb3JnaWEtZ3JhbmQtanVyeS1yZXBvcnQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL3RydW1wLWdlb3JnaWEtZ3JhbmQtanVyeS1yZXBvcnQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [PAUL KRUGMAN The Right Don’t Need No Education Hey! Teachers! Leave our ignorance alone! By Paul Krugman](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2VkdWNhdGlvbi1kZXNhbnRpcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NjA1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTU2NyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2VkdWNhdGlvbi1kZXNhbnRpcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NjA1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTU2NyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Over 1,000 Trains Derail Every Year in America. Let’s Bring That Number Down. The Ohio train derailment and chemical fire are emblematic of a rail industry that does not take safety seriously enough. By David Sirota, Rebecca Burns, Julia Rock and Matthew Cunningham-Cook](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL29oaW8tdHJhaW4tZGVyYWlsbWVudC1zYWZldHktcmVndWxhdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NjA1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTU2NyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL29oaW8tdHJhaW4tZGVyYWlsbWVudC1zYWZldHktcmVndWxhdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMjE3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg1NjA1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyNTU2NyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKY-Gteu9jSXzOn1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [FRANK BRUNI Dismiss Ron DeSantis at Your Peril The Florida governor isn’t punching back at Donald Trump. That’s discipline, not weakness. By Frank Bruni](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNi9vcGluaW9uL3Jvbi1kZXNhbnRpcy10cnVtcC0yMDI0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNi9vcGluaW9uL3Jvbi1kZXNhbnRpcy10cnVtcC0yMDI0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [DAVID BROOKS America Should Be in the Middle of a Schools Revolution Covid disrupted education, and now the task is to build something new. By David Brooks](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2FtZXJpY2Etc2Nob29scy1yZXZvbHV0aW9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2FtZXJpY2Etc2Nob29scy1yZXZvbHV0aW9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAyMTcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODU2MDUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI1NTY3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpj4a1672NJfM6fUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [GUEST ESSAY Our Age of Impunity A new Atlas of Impunity shows a world where wrongdoing is too rarely punished. By David Miliband](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL3VrcmFpbmUtY29ycnVwdGlvbi1odW1hbi1yaWdodHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL3VrcmFpbmUtY29ycnVwdGlvbi1odW1hbi1yaWdodHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [GUEST ESSAY My Child Is in an Impossible Place, and I Am There With Her Three years into my daughter’s cancer treatments, my family has leaned into talking about hard things. By Sarah Wildman](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL2NoaWxkaG9vZC1jYW5jZXItZmFtaWx5LWNvbnZlcnNhdGlvbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL2NoaWxkaG9vZC1jYW5jZXItZmFtaWx5LWNvbnZlcnNhdGlvbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [JOHN MCWHORTER DeSantis May Have Been Right The College Board amended its original plan for an A.P. African American studies course. It was probably for the best. By John McWhorter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2Rlc2FudGlzLW1heS1oYXZlLWJlZW4tcmlnaHQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNi9vcGluaW9uL2Rlc2FudGlzLW1heS1oYXZlLWJlZW4tcmlnaHQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [The Inflation Story Has Changed Significantly. Paul Krugman Breaks It Down. The Nobel laureate economist discusses inflation’s slowdown, the G.O.P.’s incoherent economic agenda and A.I.’s impact on the labor market. By ‘The Ezra Klein Show’](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL2V6cmEta2xlaW4tcG9kY2FzdC1wYXVsLWtydWdtYW4uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRl0f-tP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL2V6cmEta2xlaW4tcG9kY2FzdC1wYXVsLWtydWdtYW4uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDIxNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04NTYwNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjU1NjcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmPhrXrvY0l8zp9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [LETTERS How to Deal With Social Security’s Rising Costs Readers’ suggestions include eliminating the income cap and making it means-tested. 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