Opinion Today: Israel’s crisis has a distinctly American flavor

The country has picked up some unhealthy habits from the United States. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP4QoAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPVRZJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1cmk9bnl0JTNBJTJGJTJGbmV3c2xldHRlciUyRjljMjZhZjA4LWE3ODYtNTFjNS1iNjNlLTY5ZGFhY2VlNjgwZCZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0SwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMzI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg4ODI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyODk1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) [Marquee Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMTM5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDMyOCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjhXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Read more from Opinion](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9vcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMzI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg4ODI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyODk1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) March 28, 2023 [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvYWxleC1raW5nc2J1cnk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODg4MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI4OTUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpkIWbXImTi-GKxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) By [Alex Kingsbury](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvYWxleC1raW5nc2J1cnk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODg4MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI4OTUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpkIWbXImTi-GKxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Senior Editor, International Taking politics peacefully to the streets is the right of people in a democratic society. But it is also a sign that something is deeply amiss in that democracy, that the normal mechanisms for channeling a society’s disagreements toward just and mutual resolution are malfunctioning. That was true for mass demonstrations against foreign wars and for civil rights and racial justice in the United States. And it’s currently the case in Israel, where hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest an effort by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to [change the country’s judiciary](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZS9pc3JhZWwtanVkaWNpYXJ5LWNyaXNpcy1leHBsYWluZXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). In a speech on Monday announcing a delay to the legal changes, Netanyahu [said](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP4QYAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRpbWVzb2Zpc3JhZWwuY29tL2xpdmVibG9nX2VudHJ5L25ldGFueWFodS1zYXlzLWhlcy1kZWxheWluZy1sZWdhbC1vdmVyaGF1bC1wdXNoLXRvLWVuYWJsZS1kaWFsb2d1ZS1hdm9pZC1jaXZpbC13YXIvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMzI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg4ODI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyODk1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) that he was “not willing to tear the country apart” in pursuit of his goals. But he has already torn it apart quite a bit. Opposition has been building and the demonstrations have been among the largest in the country’s history. Netanyahu’s proposal, which aims to greatly increase the government’s control of the judiciary, triggered a chorus of criticism so loud that even stalwart Israel backers like Michael Bloomberg joined in. “My love for Israel, my respect for its people and my concern about its future are now leading me to speak out against the current government’s attempt to effectively abolish the nation’s independent judiciary,” he [wrote recently](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8wNS9vcGluaW9uL21pY2hhZWwtYmxvb21iZXJnLWlzcmFlbC1uZXRhbnlhaHUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) in a Times Opinion guest essay. Outrage over the proposed reforms reached a peak this week with a nationwide strike, the closure of Ben-Gurion Airport, mass threats from soldiers not to report for duty and the closure of businesses and schools. How did the country get so deeply polarized that the prime minister was worried about a “[civil war](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP4QYAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRpbWVzb2Zpc3JhZWwuY29tL2xpdmVibG9nX2VudHJ5L25ldGFueWFodS1zYXlzLWhlcy1kZWxheWluZy1sZWdhbC1vdmVyaGF1bC1wdXNoLXRvLWVuYWJsZS1kaWFsb2d1ZS1hdm9pZC1jaXZpbC13YXIvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMzI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg4ODI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyODk1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)”? Credit some of it to the importation of an American style of politics, writes the Israel-based journalist Aron Heller in [his dispatch from Tel Aviv for Times Opinion.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL2lzcmFlbC1uZXRhbnlhaHUtanVkaWNpYXJ5LXByb3Rlc3RzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODg4MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI4OTUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpkIWbXImTi-GKxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0SXaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTk3ODUmbGk9VFkmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPVRZXzIwMjMwMzI4JnRlPTEmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOFcDbnl0QgpkIWbXImTi-GKxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) “While [many observers](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8xMS8wNC9vcGluaW9uL2lzcmFlbC1uZXRhbnlhaHUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) have pointed to trends in Israel as harbingers for the United States, just as compelling an argument can be made that it is the other way around,” Heller writes. “In many ways, the fight over the future of the judiciary marks the culmination of the Americanization of Israeli society.” A brash, combative style of democracy is one thing that the United States and Israel share, but something has changed in the past few years, Heller writes. “As in America, many on the Israeli right have stopped defining themselves based on policies and have resorted instead to nativism and resistance to democratic norms. The political wedge issues in Israel are no longer questions around Palestinian statehood but rather the independence of the courts, good governance and plain decency,” he says. Netanyahu’s paused attempt to undercut the democratic system in Israel puts more than just the country’s rule of law at risk. [As Thomas Friedman writes in his latest column](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2lzcmFlbC1wcm90ZXN0cy1iZW5qYW1pbi1uZXRhbnlhaHUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), “this whole affair has exposed a new and troubling reality for the United States: For the first time, the leader of Israel is an irrational actor, a danger not only to Israelis but also to important American interests and values.” [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-1) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAxODEyJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDMyOCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjhXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) A democracy is only as strong as the social compact of trust that serves as its foundation. Once that foundation is cracked, say, by an attempt to thwart the peaceful transfer of power or an attempt by one branch of government to kneecap another, the repair can take a long time indeed. [[Article Image] Ammar Awad/Reuters](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL2lzcmFlbC1uZXRhbnlhaHUtanVkaWNpYXJ5LXByb3Rlc3RzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODg4MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI4OTUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpkIWbXImTi-GKxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [GUEST ESSAY Israel’s Crisis Has a Distinctly American Flavor Israel has learned some unhealthy habits from the United States. By Aron Heller](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL2lzcmFlbC1uZXRhbnlhaHUtanVkaWNpYXJ5LXByb3Rlc3RzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODg4MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI4OTUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpkIWbXImTi-GKxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [[Article Image] Oded Balilty/Associated Press](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2lzcmFlbC1wcm90ZXN0cy1iZW5qYW1pbi1uZXRhbnlhaHUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Netanyahu Cannot Be Trusted The Israeli prime minister has become an irrational actor. By Thomas L. Friedman](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2lzcmFlbC1wcm90ZXN0cy1iZW5qYW1pbi1uZXRhbnlhaHUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) We’re conducting a survey of Opinion readers. If you listen to podcasts, from The New York Times or elsewhere, we hope you’ll take a moment to share your views. Your opinions are important to us and your responses will be strictly confidential. [Please click here to participate](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP4RhAmh0dHBzOi8vbmwubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZi9hL3lDSWpZY09OZXpkWEN4Skh0RGc5SVF-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_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODg4MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI4OTUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpkIWbXImTi-GKxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)[.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP4RhAmh0dHBzOi8vbmwubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZi9hL3lDSWpZY09OZXpkWEN4Skh0RGc5SVF-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_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODg4MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI4OTUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpkIWbXImTi-GKxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Here’s what we’re focusing on today: Editors’ Picks [Alexander Skarsgard Explains the Answer to Everything. (It Involves Doing Some Math.) It’s time to completely rethink how we measure economic success. By Nathan Grossman, Tom Mustill and Cecilia Nessen](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2FsZXhhbmRlci1za2Fyc2dhcmQtcGFydGhhLWRhc2d1cHRhLWVjb25vbXkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2FsZXhhbmRlci1za2Fyc2dhcmQtcGFydGhhLWRhc2d1cHRhLWVjb25vbXkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-2) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI2NTM3JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDIzMDMyOCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjhXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) More From Opinion [JAMELLE BOUIE What the Republican Push for ‘Parents’ Rights’ Is Really About The culture war that conservatives are currently waging over education is, like the culture wars in other areas of American society, a cover for a more material and ideological agenda. By Jamelle Bouie](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL3BhcmVudHMtcmlnaHRzLXJlcHVibGljYW5zLWZsb3JpZGEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL3BhcmVudHMtcmlnaHRzLXJlcHVibGljYW5zLWZsb3JpZGEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [GUEST ESSAY Dr. Fauci Could Have Said a Lot More If officials don’t trust the public, the public won’t trust them. By Megan Stack](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2NvdmlkLWxhYi1sZWFrLXRoZW9yeS1kaXNpbmZvcm1hdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMzI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg4ODI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyODk1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2NvdmlkLWxhYi1sZWFrLXRoZW9yeS1kaXNpbmZvcm1hdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMzI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg4ODI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyODk1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [DAVID WALLACE-WELLS A.I. Is Being Built by People Who Think It Might Destroy Us Silicon Valley’s futurists have gone from utopian to dystopian. By David Wallace-Wells](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL2FpLWNoYXRncHQtY2hhdGJvdHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL2FpLWNoYXRncHQtY2hhdGJvdHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [GUEST ESSAY I Am Going Blind, and I Now Find It Strangely Exhilarating Now that I signal my disability with a white cane, I find that I have tapped a well of visible kindness. By Edward Hirsch](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2VtYnJhY2luZy1ibGluZG5lc3MtZGlzYWJpbGl0eS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMzI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg4ODI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyODk1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2VtYnJhY2luZy1ibGluZG5lc3MtZGlzYWJpbGl0eS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjMwMzI4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTg4ODI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTEyODk1MCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZCFm1yJk4vhisVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Trump’s Legal Jeopardy and America’s Political Crossroads David French takes stock of the cases involving the ex-president and the challenges they present to the political system. By ‘The Ezra Klein Show’](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2V6cmEta2xlaW4tcG9kY2FzdC1kYXZpZC1mcmVuY2guaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yOC9vcGluaW9uL2V6cmEta2xlaW4tcG9kY2FzdC1kYXZpZC1mcmVuY2guaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [LETTERS Looking Back, Was the Iraq War Justified? Readers disagree with a column by Bret Stephens, who doesn’t regret supporting the war. Also: Fury against Macron; student-athletes.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvaXJhcS13YXItanVzdGlmaWNhdGlvbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL2xldHRlcnMvaXJhcS13YXItanVzdGlmaWNhdGlvbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDIzMDMyOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD04ODgyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xMjg5NTAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmQhZtciZOL4YrFSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) Exclusive for Subscribers [[Article Image] Illustration by The New York Times; images by CSA Images/Getty Images](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL2lzcmFlbC1uZXRhbnlhaHUtcmVmb3Jtcy1lY29ub215Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODg4MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI4OTUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpkIWbXImTi-GKxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [PETER COY Israel’s Political Crisis Will Harm the Economy — In Time “The ax has not come down yet, but it’s still hanging.” By Peter Coy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRmBVxmP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL2lzcmFlbC1uZXRhbnlhaHUtcmVmb3Jtcy1lY29ub215Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyMzAzMjgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9ODg4MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTI4OTUwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpkIWbXImTi-GKxUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Subscribe Today New York Times Opinion curates a wide range of views, inviting rich discussion and debate that help readers analyze the world. 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