Crash Course: Don't date Republicans

Plus: Mark Meadows' Jan. 6 revelations none Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Written by [Brett Bachman](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0QhaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CcmV0dEFCYWNobWFuVwNzcGNCCmGu0e-xYa5_w4RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). none none The polarization tipping point The United States is so politically and culturally divided that there may be no coming back — and it's a trend driven by the Republican party's extreme rightward shift in recent years. At least those are the findings of [a new academic paper](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0QvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucG5hcy5vcmcvY29udGVudC8xMTgvNTAvZTIxMDIxNDQxMThXA3NwY0IKYa7R77Fhrn_DhFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) published in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" this month. To reach this frightening conclusion, researchers simulated a model legislature — a purely theoretical, yet important exercise social scientists perform from time to time to test their theories. As part of the experiment, a variety of "internal threats" were introduced in order to gauge the institution's response. The takeway: once the body politic failed to come together in response to an existential challenge, it was game over for democracy. The findings aren't exactly surprising — one researcher said the results "confirm intution." But still, this is bad news for Americans invested in the long-term survival of their country — one that couldn't manage to come together for more than a few months in the face of a deadly pandemic. [Learn more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0RbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvdXMtcG9saXRpY2FsLXBvbGFyaXphdGlvbi10aXBwaW5nLXBvaW50Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Photo via Getty Images) none The Jan. 6 spotlight finds Mark Meadows The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot is moving forward with contempt charges against former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows after he stopped cooperating with its requests. But that wasn't the only news to emerge about Meadows Wednesday — a letter from Jan. 6 committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., to Meadows' attorney also revealed a number of details about the documents he's already shared with the committee. The Trump Administration official has apparently turned over thousands of documents, including numerous emails and text messages, that shine a light on his role in Trump's plot to overturn the 2020 election. Notable communications include: - A Nov. 5, 2020 email containing a powerpoint titled "Election Fraud, Foreign Interference & Options for 6 JAN" that was intended for distribution "on the hill" - A Nov. 6, 2020 email to an unnamed Congressperson in which Meadows replies "I love it" to a "highly controversial" plan that would have appointed alternative electors in several states that Trump had lost - Prior text messages between Meadows and one of the organizers of the Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal" rally [Learn more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvamFuLTYtY29tbWl0dGVlLXNheXMtaXQtaGFzLW5vLWNob2ljZS1idXQtdG8tYWR2YW5jZS1jb250ZW1wdC1jaGFyZ2VzLWFnYWluc3QtbWFyay1tZWFkb3dzLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). none - Phew: Study says third shot of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine [protects well](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0SFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvc3R1ZHktc2F5cy10aGlyZC1zaG90LW9mLXBmaXplcnMtMTktdmFjY2luZS1wcm90ZWN0cy13ZWxsLWFnYWluc3Qtb21pY3Jvbi12YXJpYW50Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) against omicron variant - Mark Meadows [spilled the beans on COVID](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvcmVncmV0cy1tYXJrLW1lYWRvd3Mtc3BpbGxlZC10aGUtYmVhbnMtb24tY292aWQtd2hhdC13aWxsLWhlLXNheS1hYm91dC1qYW4tNi8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYa7R77Fhrn_DhFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). What will he say about Jan. 6? - Simon Rex talks [playing a washed-up porn star](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0RIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvc2ltb24tcmV4LXJlZC1yb2NrZXQvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGu0e-xYa5_w4RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) in Sean Baker's "Red Rocket" - Wisconsin election "audit" run by conservative group finds [no evidence of fraud](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvd2lzY29uc2luLWF1ZGl0LXJ1bi1ieS1jb25zZXJ2YXRpdmUtZ3JvdXAtZmluZHMtbm8tZXZpZGVuY2Utb2YtZnJhdWQvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGu0e-xYa5_w4RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - Entertainers who slim down learn how much others [associate their talent with fatness](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvcmViZWwtd2lsc29uLXdlaWdodC1odW1vci1zdWNjZXNzLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Madison Cawthorn [may have broken the law](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0SNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvbWFkaXNvbi1jYXd0aG9ybi1tYXktaGF2ZS1icm9rZW4tdGhlLWxhdy1kdXJpbmctbWVldGluZy13aXRoLWF0LW1hci1hLWxhZ28tcmVwb3J0X3BhcnRuZXIvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGu0e-xYa5_w4RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) during meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago: report - Jessica Seinfeld on being [a part-time vegan](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0R_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvamVzc2ljYS1zZWluZmVsZC1vbi1iZWluZy1hLXBhcnQtdGltZS12ZWdhbi1pZi1pLWNhbi1kby1pdC1hbnlvbmUtY2FuLWRvLWl0Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~): "If I can do it, anyone can do it" - Meghan McCain suggests [Fox Christmas tree arson attack](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0SDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvbWVnaGFuLW1jY2Fpbi1zdWdnZXN0cy1mb3gtY2hyaXN0bWFzLXRyZWUtYXJzb24taXMtd29yc2UtdGhhbi1nb3BzLW9uLWRlbW9jcmFjeS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYa7R77Fhrn_DhFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) is worse than GOP's assault on democracy - Florida researchers say they [felt "pressure to destroy"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvZmxvcmlkYS1yZXNlYXJjaGVycy1zYXktdGhleS1mZWx0LXByZXNzdXJlLXRvLWRlc3Ryb3ktMTktZGF0YS1mb3ItZmVhci1vZi1nb3Ytcm9uLWRlc2FudGlzLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) COVID-19 data for fear of Gov. Ron DeSantis - Mike Lindell abruptly ends interview, storms off documentary on QAnon: "It doesn't matter who stands behind us - A "nightmare scenario": Twitter disturbed by Matt Gaetz's [2022 GOP prediction](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0SBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvYS1uaWdodG1hcmUtc2NlbmFyaW8tdHdpdHRlci1kaXN0dXJiZWQtYnktbWF0dC1nYWV0enMtMjAyMi1wcmVkaWN0aW9uX3BhcnRuZXIvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmGu0e-xYa5_w4RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - And, finally, try Martha Stewart’s [skillet chili nachos](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvbWFydGhhLXN0ZXdhcnRzLXNraWxsZXQtY2hpbGktbmFjaG9zLWFyZS1hLXBlcmZlY3QtZ2FtZS1uaWdodC1iaXRlLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) for a perfect game night bite Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0QgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXJXA3NwY0IKYa7R77Fhrn_DhFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to receive Crash Course. none There's no reason to socialize with Republicans The findings of a new Axios poll appear to confirm everything we know about toxic polarization in the United States: 37% of young Democrats say they wouldn't be friends with a Republican — with just 5% of Republicans saying the same. And more than 70% of Democrats said they wouldn't date anyone from the opposing party, while just 31% of self-identified Republicans echoed the sentiment. As Salon's Amanda Marcotte points out, however, when your entire worldview is based on making liberals angry, why would you be surprised when those same liberals want to stay as far away from you as possible? The anger on the right over this polling, in turn, shows that this isn't really about liberal "intolerance," but an ugly sense of entitlement among conservatives. It's fueled by a belief that they should be as obnoxious, cruel, and bigoted as they want, without having to pay any social penalty for it. That attitude is especially troubling when it comes to dating, and is tied to long-standing sexist assumptions that women owe men their time and attention, even when they don't find them attractive. Indeed, this entitlement itself is a red flag. Someone who doesn't respect the right to choose who you spend time with is someone who is likely to violate other boundaries. [Read more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgveW91bmctZGVtb2NyYXRzLWFyZS1yaWdodC10aGVyZS1pcy1uby1yZWFzb24tdG8tZGF0ZS1vci1iZWZyaWVuZC8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYa7R77Fhrn_DhFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). none - "A Very Weird Interview With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.," [Gawker](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0RMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ2F3a2VyLmNvbS9tb25leS9hLXZlcnktd2VpcmQtaW50ZXJ2aWV3LXdpdGgtcm9iZXJ0LWYta2VubmVkeS1qclcDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Getting Married in the Metaverse," [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8wOC9mYXNoaW9uL21ldGF2ZXJzZS12aXJ0dWFsLXdlZGRpbmcuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Eating at The Worst Michelin Starred Restaurant, Ever," [The Everywhereist](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly9ldmVyeXdoZXJlaXN0LmNvbS8yMDIxLzEyL2Jyb3MtcmVzdGF1cmFudC1sZWNjZS13ZS1lYXQtYXQtdGhlLXdvcnN0LW1pY2hlbGluLXN0YXJyZWQtcmVzdGF1cmFudC1ldmVyL1cDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Five Women. One Wilderness. Zero Mansplaining," [Outside Magazine](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0RUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub3V0c2lkZW9ubGluZS5jb20vYWR2ZW50dXJlLXRyYXZlbC9lc3NheXMvd2lsZC13b21lbi1iYWNrcGFja2luZy1hbGFza2EvVwNzcGNCCmGu0e-xYa5_w4RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Return-to-Office Chaos Is the Best Thing to Happen to Consultants Since Y2K," [Bloomberg](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0THaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmxvb21iZXJnLmNvbS9uZXdzL2ZlYXR1cmVzLzIwMjEtMTItMDYvcmV0dXJuLXRvLW9mZmljZS1jb3ZpZC1sZWFkcy10by1yZW1vdGUtd29yay1jb25zdWx0aW5nLWJvb20_dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNvY2lhbGZsb3ctb3JnYW5pYyZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1jaXR5bGFiJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c29jaWFsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9dHdpdHRlclcDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) none none GOP's newest troll: Gun-centric Christmas cards It started with Rep. Thomas Massie, who posted a photo of his family to Twitter with the caption "Merry Christmas." On its own, the incident wouldn't be notable — but each member of the family was also holding an assault rifle, just days after a devastating school shooting in Michigan rocked a nation where gun violence has become, well, routine. "P.S. Santa, please bring ammo," Massie added. Not one to be outdone, Colorado's firebrand GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert sent out a gun-toting tweet of her own, featuring her four young sons holding assault rifles of their own. "The Boeberts have your six, @RepThomasMassie!" Boebert wrote. "No spare ammo for you, though." The backlash to both Republican Congresspeople's statements was swift. "Tell me again where Christ said 'use the commemoration of my birth to flex violent weapons for personal political gain?'" fellow Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., tweeted in response. [Read more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0R0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTIvMDgvbGF1cmVuLWJvZWJlcnQtbGF0ZXN0LXRvLWZlYXR1cmUtdG90dGluZy1raWRzLWluLWNocmlzdG1hcy1waG90by8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYa7R77Fhrn_DhFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). (Photo via Getty Images) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, 19801 DE [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmGu0e-xYa5_w4RSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2021 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjlHTQP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgphrtHvsWGuf8OEUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)