This Is Pay-for-Play Corruption, Plain and Simple

Big, bold, and obvious is the new normal. If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.       This Is Pay-for-Play Corruption, Plain and Simple   Maybe the seminal work of conservative political art in this era was Jon McNaughton's "Crossing the Swamp" painting. It was such a fantastic exhibition of Fox News poisoning and all its accompanying delusion that it may never be topped. The work put Donald Trump, American president, in the role of George Washington as he crossed the Delaware—except our hero was crossing The Swamp with his merry band of patriot-staffers. The somewhat scattered message was that Trump is shining his lantern on The Swamp, exposing it to the world, which is kind of like Draining it, which is what he pledged to do during the campaign. It's a fine notion, except for the fact that his administration may be the most transparently corrupt in modern history. There was yet another example of that this Wednesday. Read More           The Elevated Bag That's Tough Enough for Work and Play   Unless you're an actual secret agent, a hardshell briefcase can be a pretty tough sell in 2018. Still, there are times when a proper bag isn't just a good idea—it's a professional necessity. Whether it's a big meeting or a job interview, you don't want to walk in with your tattered backpack or messenger bag over your shoulder. That said, you also might not want to invest in a carryall that can't pull double duty on the weekend, should the occasion arise. Luckily, Brahmin makes a soft-sided leather brief that ably walks the line between buttoned-up and dressed-down. Read More           Congratulations, USA Today, You're Now a Propaganda Organ of the Trump Administration   There seems little question now that we were all better off when USA Today was running psychedelic weather charts, Larry King's bon mots, and pie charts showing that we're eating more asparagus than our grandparents did. All of those things were infinitely preferable to the farrago of obvious and painful lies published under the name of the president* on Wednesday. Congratulations to Our Nation's Newspaper. You are now a propaganda organ. Read More           Is It Your Civic Duty to Keep Your Sidewalk Clean for Barefoot Runners?   Barefoot running is up for public debate again. The barefoot running saga that is about to play out for you was initiated by a maniacal neighbor and/or ruthless troll. It started with a Facebook post in a private group called "I Love NE Minneapolis," which was screenshotted and tweeted by one of its members. What ensued was hilarious. Read More           Ryan Gosling's Omega Speedmaster in First Man Is More Than a Prop—It's a Piece of History   In a world where Hollywood icons are paid big bucks to ambassador new watches, Gosling plows his own quietly knowledgeable furrow with a personal vintage watch collection that includes Patek Philippe Calatravas and a striking Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox. In January 2017, at the Golden Globes, Gosling not only set hearts aflutter but got the watch nerds hot under the collar when he stepped up to claim his award for La La Land in a white tux with an eye-catching old Rolex peeping from his cuff. Read More           A New Leak Fuels Theories That Palpatine Will Return in Star Wars IX   Ahead of The Last Jedi, when fans thought they might actually learn who Rey's parents were, one popular theory was that she was actually the grand or great granddaughter of Palpatine. It's a stretch, but an interesting one nonetheless. Fans pointed out that her naming mechanics hinted at some royal ancestry, with "Rey" being Spanish for "king." Other, nerdier evidence showed that her fighting style was similar to the Emperor's. Sure! Why not!? With Star Wars IX on the horizon, fans are convinced that they will learn the true identity of Rey's parents in the next movie. And a new leak fuels rumors of Palpatine making an appearance as well. Read More         Read More on Esquire.com       Follow Us     Unsubscribe  Privacy Notice   esquire.com ©2018 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019