Every week, Montana Press contributor Kenneth Neill publishes a newsletter, "Three for the Weekend," a commentary on national events with links to three online articles. The Montana Press shares these perspectives weekly on our site.
I'll be brief today. The firestorm that blew up last week as a result of Jeffrey Golberg's article in The Atlantic documenting Donald Trump's problematic relationship with our country's military leaders is the single most explosive story published during this presidential election cycle; in fact, I'm having a hard time thinking of anything quite so dramatic in recent times.
What I find fascinating is that there really isn't much that's new in Goldberg's article. Most of the anecdotes he relates have been previously reported. Timing, of course, is everything, and this certainly has the potential to be a real game-changer in the 2020 race. Perhaps we'll have a better idea of just how the game has changed in a week or two.
In the meantime, item number one is the actual article from The Atlantic, for those who may not have yet seen it. The big news so far is how few (if any) former White House staffers have jumped to the President's defense. The silence is deafening.
Item number two is from Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi, in which the author offers his opinions on why policing is broken in America. Plenty of food for thought here.
Finally, item number three comes from Jill Lepore, whose thoughtful article in The New Yorker ("Is Staying In Staying Safe?") focuses upon the lives most of us are living in these unique pandemic times. Brilliantly put-together.
Until next week, everyone stay safe, and be sure to fasten your emotional seat-belts.
Kenneth Neill was Publisher and CEO of Memphis magazine and the Memphis Flyer for over 35 years, and he splits his time between Memphis and Montana, where he contributes to the Montana Press.