Opinion Today: Toby Keith and the elusive meaning of country music

Music and politics aren’t so simple, perhaps especially in country. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~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)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0SxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)[Continue reading the main story](#) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMTM5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDI0MDIwOCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDhXA255dEIKZbrx0MRldOj0fFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Opinion Today](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9vcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) February 8, 2024 [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TTaHR0cHM6Ly82dGhmbG9vci5ibG9ncy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9hdXRob3IvYWRhbS1zdGVybmJlcmdoLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) By [Adam Sternbergh](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TTaHR0cHM6Ly82dGhmbG9vci5ibG9ncy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9hdXRob3IvYWRhbS1zdGVybmJlcmdoLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Culture Editor, Opinion There were two much-remarked-upon songs in the country music world last year that, at first listen, sounded like spiritual cousins: “[Try That in a Small Town](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1NzYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmdj1iMV9SS3UtRVNDWVcDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)” by Jason Aldean and “[Rich Men North of Richmond](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1NzYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmdj1zcVNBLVNZNUhyb1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)” by Oliver Anthony. One promised a swift and violent reprisal for anyone prone to “cuss out a cop” or “stomp on the flag,” while the other lamented paychecks “taxed to no end” and politicians who want “total control.” Both were quickly adopted as anthems by listeners sympathetic to the artists’ sentiments and denounced as propaganda by people who weren’t. The narrative was complicated, however, when one of the singers — Anthony — revealed [a number of political beliefs](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudnVsdHVyZS5jb20vMjAyMy8wOC9vbGl2ZXItYW50aG9ueS1nb3AtZGViYXRlLXJpY2gtbWVuLW5vcnRoLW9mLXJpY2htb25kLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1NzYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZbrx0MRldOj0fFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) that didn’t plot neatly onto the familiar red-state-blue-state spectrum. As Michael Patrick F. Smith, a sometimes folk singer and part-time resident of Kentucky, notes in a [guest essay today,](~/AAAAAQA~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) country music often thwarts our efforts to categorize it. Perhaps no recent country star embodied this more than Toby Keith. The singer, who died on Monday at 62, sold over 40 million albums and wrote [20 chart-topping country hits](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNi9hcnRzL211c2ljL3RvYnkta2VpdGgtc29uZ3MtY2FyZWVyLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1NzYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZbrx0MRldOj0fFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD), but is likely best known for his rousing post-9/11 scorcher, “[Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1NzYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmdj1ydU5yZG1qY05UY1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~),” which promises, “You’ll be sorry that you messed with the U.S. of A. / ’cause we’ll put a boot in your ass — it’s the American way.” If you’re not familiar with Keith, you might think you can easily guess his politics, right down to his voting record. But like many of the genre’s biggest figures, his politics were [tricky to decipher](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNi9hcnRzL211c2ljL3RvYnkta2VpdGgtcG9saXRpY3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). His allegiance ultimately was to an outlaw tradition in country music more than to any one political party or platform. Even as political commentators are [sorting](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wMy9hcnRzL3RlbGV2aXNpb24vZm94LW5ld3MtdGF5bG9yLXN3aWZ0Lmh0bWwvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) musicians like Taylor Swift and Kid Rock into competing political squads like captains picking intramural teams, it’s worth noting that most musicians, especially in the country world, aren’t so easily labeled. Which, as Smith argues, means we’re often missing the most important parts of what they’re trying to communicate. Read the guest essay: [[Country singer Toby Keith onstage in a cowboy hat, pointing toward the sky.] Allen Clark/NBC via Getty Images Guest Essay Toby Keith’s Pre-Partisan Patriotism He’s best known for a red-state anthem. But Toby Keith existed in a tradition of country rabble rousers of all political stripes. By Michael Patrick F. Smith](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wOC9vcGluaW9uL3RvYnkta2VpdGgtY291bnRyeS1tdXNpYy1wYXRyaW90aXNtLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1NzYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZbrx0MRldOj0fFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0SXaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTk3ODUmbGk9VFkmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPVRZXzIwMjQwMjA4JnRlPTEmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOFcDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Here’s what we’re focusing on today: Editors’ Picks [Guest Essay Every FAFSA Delay Puts College Further Out of Reach Federal financial aid programs were created to open the doors to higher education. FAFSA delays affect those who can least afford to pay for college. By Justin Draeger and Ted Mitchell](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wOC9vcGluaW9uL2ZhZnNhLWRlbGF5LWNvbGxlZ2UtYWNjZXNzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1NzYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZbrx0MRldOj0fFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [An illustration of a figure wearing a varsity jacket emblazoned with the words “Insufficient Funds.”](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wOC9vcGluaW9uL2ZhZnNhLWRlbGF5LWNvbGxlZ2UtYWNjZXNzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1NzYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZbrx0MRldOj0fFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) More From Opinion [Pamela Paul For Trump, Running With a Woman Would Be Just Another Con Job It would send an insidious message that Trump has no problem with women, and women should have no problem with him. 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By Nicholas Kristof](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2FtZXJpY2FuLWNoaWxkcmVuLWZhaWx1cmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [A young person slumped over a lunch table in a school cafeteria.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2FtZXJpY2FuLWNoaWxkcmVuLWZhaWx1cmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Guest Essay Why Nayib Bukele’s Anti-Crime Model for El Salvador Won’t Work in Other Countries For all of its success in lowering crime, the Bukele model comes at a stark cost. Copycats beware. By Will Freeman and Lucas Perelló](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wOC9vcGluaW9uL2VsLXNhbHZhZG9yLWJ1a2VsZS1lbGVjdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [A photograph of a hand holding a folded ballot above a slot in a box.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wOC9vcGluaW9uL2VsLXNhbHZhZG9yLWJ1a2VsZS1lbGVjdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [As Pakistan Heads to the Polls, the U.S. Looms Large Inventing an American enemy that stands in for all of Pakistan’s ills is politically expedient, but it absolves Pakistan’s corrupt institutions. By Meher Ahmad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDI0LzAyLzA2L29waW5pb24vdGhlcG9pbnQvcGFraXN0YW4tZWxlY3Rpb24ta2hhbj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [A photograph of a man pasting a flier to a corrugated wall. The flyer is red and green, with a picture of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDI0LzAyLzA2L29waW5pb24vdGhlcG9pbnQvcGFraXN0YW4tZWxlY3Rpb24ta2hhbj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [The Value of Listening Deep listening, to criticism and praise, is a sign of respect. By Thomas L. Friedman](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDI0LzAyLzA2L29waW5pb24vdGhlcG9pbnQvZnJpZWRtYW4tYmxvZy1wb3N0P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDI0LzAyLzA2L29waW5pb24vdGhlcG9pbnQvZnJpZWRtYW4tYmxvZy1wb3N0P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Biden Tries Again With Arab Americans in Michigan Amid boiling anger over the war in Gaza, the White House is sending a higher-level delegation. By Farah Stockman](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyNC8wMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL3RoZXBvaW50L2JpZGVuLXRyaWVzLWFnYWluLXdpdGgtYXJhYi1hbWVyaWNhbnMtaW4tbWljaGlnYW4_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjI1Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1NzYyNiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZbrx0MRldOj0fFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Jessica Grose When It Comes to Dating, Ambition Might Matter More Than Politics Toward a grand theory of modern young love. By Jessica Grose](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2RhdGluZy1wb2xpdGljcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [An illustration of a liberal woman looking at a conservative man’s dating profile and a conservative man looking at a liberal woman’s dating profile.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2RhdGluZy1wb2xpdGljcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAxODEyJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDI0MDIwOCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMDhXA255dEIKZbrx0MRldOj0fFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [David Wallace-Wells American Cities Aren’t Doomed After All The urban “doom loop” seems to have come to a halt. By David Wallace-Wells](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2NpdGllcy1wYW5kZW1pYy11cmJhbi1kb29tLWxvb3AuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [An illustration of a large white cube with two plastic chairs in the center. The cube is floating in a black void, which itself is criss-crossed by transparent cubes outlined in rainbow colors, layering over each other.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2NpdGllcy1wYW5kZW1pYy11cmJhbi1kb29tLWxvb3AuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Peter Coy Commercial Real Estate Is in Trouble. Here’s What to Focus On. Is the Fed chair too blasé? By Peter Coy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2NvbW1lcmNpYWwtcmVhbC1lc3RhdGUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [An illustration depicting a skyline of blue office buildings, one of which has a lit orange wick sticking out of its roof.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2NvbW1lcmNpYWwtcmVhbC1lc3RhdGUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIwOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2MjUmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3NjI2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpluvHQxGV06PR8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [The Unspoken Racial Politics of ‘Fast Car’ at the Grammys The fine pop performance says little about social progress. By Tressie McMillan Cottom](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDI0LzAyLzA2L29waW5pb24vdGhlcG9pbnQvdHJhY3ktY2hhcG1hbi1ncmFtbXlzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [letters The Conviction of a School Shooter’s Mother Readers agree that Jennifer Crumbley shared responsibility for her son’s rampage. Also: Donald Trump and immunity; a failed impeachment; Vivek Ramaswamy.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2plbm5pZmVyLWNydW1ibGV5LW1pY2hpZ2FuLXNjaG9vbC1zaG9vdGluZy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnp1XxP0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2plbm5pZmVyLWNydW1ibGV5LW1pY2hpZ2FuLXNjaG9vbC1zaG9vdGluZy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjA4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDYyNSZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc2MjYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW68dDEZXTo9HxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. 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