Tuesday, February 24, 2026 |
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Esquire contributor Charles P. Pierce knows how to write about Trump. In his most recent column, you'll read no mention of Cheetos or the color orange. Instead, Pierce hits you straight. The president is a "con" who leaves a "trail of slime behind him that [reaches] to the far horizons of human avarice." And that trail has led him, a known "grifter," as Pierce puts it, to a ludicrous nationwide search for fraud—but only in states that serve his agenda. With the State of the Union address mere hours away, it's a warning worth reading. Check it out below. – Chris Hatler, deputy editor |
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Donald Trump, of all people, is on the hunt for fraud. But only in states where an investigation serves his crooked agenda. |
His entire public career has been built on brazen and obvious and constant deceit. His mentor, Roy Cohn—Joe McCarthy's attack weasel, who went into the weasel business himself after the senator died—taught him to admit nothing, to always attack and counterattack.
Often, the president's lies are so transparently false that they seem to be the product of a confused and disordered mind, which, at this point, they probably are. It is hard to believe anyone can be fooled by them. But they are so brazen and so obvious and so constant that they simulate an actual plan, so people give them credibility.
Early on in his 2016 campaign, it was recommended that we take what he said seriously but not literally. That's a line the roper would feed to a mark in a big con. It leaves the grifter in control of events. Take over Greenland? Take that seriously but not literally. And when the serious becomes literal, that's when your wallet is empty and the crew is down the road, headed for the next mark, and the one after that. Knowing all this, we elected him again. We discovered to our horror that his first term was simply the hook. This second term is the sting. |
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Men aren't devoid of powerful style inspiration. This magazine is full of it, and it's full of the style icons of the day—George Clooney, A$AP Rocky, maybe even Adam Sandler if that's your thing. But John F. Kennedy Jr. is an eternal one. Like his politics/culture magazine George, JFK Jr.'s style was singular, timeless, ahead of its time—whatever you want to say. But thanks to Ryan Murphy's FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, the "it" boy of the classic '90s style is all over the Instagram mood boards. I can go to any downtown New York bar and see Kangol hats, sweater vests, and backwards baseball caps. Menswear guys have never forgotten JFK Jr., but his looks do seem to be the latest in performative male dressing. |
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On Monday night, NBC debuted the first two episodes of The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, a new half-hour mockumentary sitcom from TV creators Robert Carlock and Sam Means. Of course, ever since the heyday of The Office, Parks and Recreation, and the also-Tracy-Morgan-starring 30 Rock, NBC has searched for a mockumentary comedy that could fill even one Michael Scott-sized shoe. So I'll give you a Michael Scott-worthy proclamation: Reggie Dinkins is not only the best new show of 2026 so far, but it has the best shot since The Good Place to contend with the holy trinity of NBC's Aughts Comedy Hall of Fame. |
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 Patrick Ball's dad will tell you he doesn't remember this story, but here it is anyway. When Ball was growing up in North Carolina, he was busted for drugs in high school, so Dad pulled him aside. He didn't confiscate a phone or car keys or even ground the kid as retribution, but he did send a message that damn near branded itself on Ball's brain. "Here's the thing, man," Dad starts. "One of the most important freedoms that someone has is the freedom to fail. This is your life. If you want to fuck it up, go ahead, but you only get one of them." Ball never forgot it, even when he exercised that freedom so much that he almost did fuck it all up. "That was a really pivotal moment for me," Ball, now 36, tells me from his home in Los Angeles. The God-given gift to fall flat on his face has fueled a remarkable acting career so far: more than a decade leveling up his talents in America's theaters, the starring role in Robert O'Hara's Hamlet, and a breakout turn in HBO Max's almost unbearably tense, award-sweeping medical drama The Pitt. Ball plays Dr. Frank Langdon, a charismatic young father who, in season 1's big twist, we learn has been stealing prescription drugs from patients to nurse a back issue. In season 2, Langdon is back in the hospital for the first time in ten months, trying to make amends but quickly realizing that not everyone is so willing to forgive him. "Telling the story of addiction, it's my responsibility to put it out there for all its pockmarks," Ball says. "I got a lot of people thanking me and telling me how this affects their lives and the lives of who they love. I got a bunch of health-care workers reaching out and saying that this really affects them and has affected people in every hospital that they've ever worked in." He pauses. Smiles. "And, you know, a bunch of people reaching out and telling me that I'm a huge piece of shit." Playing against Emmy winners Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa, Ball nails all the awkwardness, earnest apology making, and microaggressions that a man in Langdon's position may face in the workplace. It's not only a portrait of early recovery that we rarely see on TV, but it's also an issue that's highly personal to the actor. "I'm coming up on four years sober," he says. "I got a lot of people that are very, very close to me that have struggled with addiction, some of which have gotten help, some of which haven't." Langdon's journey so far comes to a head in season 2, episode 7, "1:00 P.M.," when he finally corners Robby long enough to deliver an apology he's likely rehearsed for months. The only problem? Robby isn't ready to hear it—and it seems like there's a strong chance he never will. After Langdon bares his soul, screaming regrets through the deafening buzz of a landing chopper, Robby hits him with a savage line: "I'm really glad you got the help that you need, but I don't know if I want you working in my ER." "That first year of recovery in particular can be really disorienting," Ball explains of what Langdon is going through at this point in season 2. "You're having to learn to metabolize your life and feel feelings for the first time, which you have been burying for your entire life, and come to terms with the wreckage that you've made and take ownership over that. It is worthwhile work, because once you get through it, life is a lot better. But it's not like a light switch." When we speak in mid-January, Ball is in the middle of filming the season 2 finale—but he's still looking ahead. HBO already renewed The Pitt for season 3, which means there's a nonzero chance that we'll be back on Zoom—same time, same place—talking about Langdon's next chapter in January 2027. "I am very excited for season 3, because it is a story that requires a third act," Ball says, referring to Langdon's arc specifically. Next up right now is a rare three-week break. Then he moves to New York City to begin rehearsals for his first Broadway appearance, in the dark comedy Becky Shaw, in which he'll star alongside Alden Ehrenreich and Linda Emond. "I am very thankful to be able to go back to the theater and go back to New York," he says. "I was living in Brooklyn when The Pitt came along, and it's still where I feel most at home." How could Ball possibly have nerves for his Broadway debut? He's got that freedom to fail. By Brady Langmann |
Ball has more to say about episode 7, so keep reading if you want his full breakdown of the helipad throw-down, the joys and pains of life as the best boy, and his preview for the back half of The Pitt season 2. |
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Patrick Ball (left) and Noah Wyle (right), on season 2 of The Pitt. / photo by HBO Max |
Thank you for sharing your favorite Robert Duvall films last week. I ended up rewatching THX-118 this weekend after so many recommended it. Did you know that the sci-fi film was George Lucas's directorial debut? Produced by The Godfather's Francis Ford Coppola? You really can't go wrong in those capable hands. I agree with one of our commenters last week who wrote, "Should be a top 25 list! So many more great performances." It's tough to name a bad Duvall performance, even in a just-okay film. I'll keep the Duvall films rolling this weekend during the blizzard here in New York. If you have any more recommendations, let me know by writing to josh.rosenberg@hearst.com. Did someone forward you this email? Sign up here. |
The Continuing Adventures of the Esquire Entertainment Desk |
Eric Dane, the Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria actor, died at age 53 following a battle with ALS. Brady Langmann recalls his interview with Dane in 2022, when the actor was on his Emmy campaign for Euphoria season 2. "He taught me that wearing your heart on your sleeve doesn't have to take a Herculean effort, or some big, remarkable show," Langmann wrote about Dane. "It's okay to bring your whole self to the table, and people can take it or leave it." Read the full tribute here. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premiered its season 1 finale last night. Read our recap here to see what we thought of the second Game of Thrones spinoff series. (Hint: we loved it!) I can't believe we won't have Dunk on our screens on Sunday nights anymore. Lucky for fans, showrunner Ira Parker told us all about his ambitious season 2 plans here. |
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Peter Claffey in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms / photo by: HBO Max |
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The Cliff-Hanger's Winners and Losers of the Week |
Winner: Nazgul A local wolfdog near the Milan-Cortina 2026 cross-country skiing event escaped his home and ran onto the course this past week. The two-year-old pup, named Nazgul, sprinted toward the finish line and raced alongside the competitors before receiving some belly rubs from the athletes. Sadly, he didn't finish fast enough to medal. Loser: Wine and Chocolate Chip Cookies LeBron James revealed this week that—to continue to compete in the NBA at a high level at 41 years old—he was forced to give up two of his favorite things in the world: wine and chocolate chip cookies. On social media, WNBA star Caitlin Clark joked, "I'd rather retire." Winner: Dr. Tom Hackett Olympic skier Linsey Vonn told ESPN that she would have lost her leg if not for emergency surgery from Dr. Tom Hackett—an orthopedic surgeon who works for Vonn and Team USA. According to Vonn, Dr. Hackett was only even in Cortina for this Olympics run to manage her torn ACL. So, in a bizarre turn of events, her prior injury actually helped her save her new one. Loser: Marty Supreme Despite many film fans anticipating a big win for Marty Supreme at the Oscars next month, the Josh Safdie and Timothee Chalamet film earned a different kind of record at the BAFTAs this weekend. The film went 0-11 on 11 nominations, tying the record for the most losses in a single night in BAFTA history. If I know Marty, I'm sure he's absolutely fuming right now. Winner: The Cliff-Hanger Today, The Cliff-Hanger celebrates its one-year anniversary! Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you've enjoyed the first year of Esquire's entertainment newsletter. We put our all into each interview, recap, and review, and your dedicated readership really means the world to us. Here's to another great year! |
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