Trump’s Maskless Stunt Was a Portrait of American Empire in Decline

We have been heading down this road to ruin for some time now, but the end stages are somehow uglier and more empty than seemed possible. If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.       Trump's Maskless Balcony Stunt Was a Portrait of American Empire in Decline   When the craft landed on the South Lawn, the president disembarked after a few moments and walked to the building, pausing repeatedly to offer a thumbs-up or a half-fist-punch for the cameras. Then he climbed the curved staircase, reached the balcony, and removed his mask in what appeared to be a gesture of defiance. Of what—The Media? The Deep State scientists? Reality itself?—it was not immediately clear. But that trademark pout was unmistakable. This was authoritarian chic. The president was looking at something very strongly, that's for sure, though it will not be an ounce of humility or growth as a human being after he was struck by the very disease he so long downplayed and ignored at the cost of so many American lives. Politics Editor Jack Holmes responds to the thoughtless charade that took place at The White House last night. Read More           'A Man With a Purpose': Chadwick Boseman's Life's Work Is Far From Over   The last time producer Thomas Tull saw his friend Chadwick Boseman was just before Covid-19 sent the nation into lockdown. Boseman was passing through Pittsburgh with his fiancée, and they stopped by Tull's home for an outdoor catchup. They talked about work, and Boseman's engagement. Tull asked how he was doing. "I knew he was sick. That was obvious," Tull told Esquire. "And frankly, when I asked him … I just said, 'Hey man, are we doing OK?' And he just said, 'Yep. Getting through it. Getting through it.'" What Tull couldn't have known was that the legendary actor's life was nearing its end. In this moving tribute to Boseman's legacy and his enduring message for his family, his friends, and his fans alike, Kate Storey puts together the portrait of a life in which the actor's own story never took center stage. Through interviews with some of Boseman's closest confidants, including family, his mission lives on in this profile. Read More           Timex's New Affordable Automatic Is a Vintage Watch Lover's Dream Come True   Timex just launched its M79 automatic watch in a black-on-black colorway—debuting exclusively here at Esquire—and, well, holy shit. We're excited. So let's talk about a very good watch, shall we?The M79 isn't a brand-new player, though it did only launch earlier this year. Way back when (in February) it hit the scene sporting the "Batman" colors of black and blue. Appealing, no doubt—and helped along mightily by a 21-jewel automatic movement and a vintage-inspired borrowed from its sibling and predecessor, the runaway-hit Q Timex. The mechanical M79 is a little bigger than its quartz-driven counterpart at 40mm versus 38mm, but the feel, with its acrylic crystal and woven stainless-steel strap, is rooted in that vintage appeal. (Yes, the "79" in the name is a stand-in for "1979." Guess what the "M" stands for.) The best part? It's less than three hundred bucks. Read More           Bonobos' Off Duty Pants Live Up to the Hype—and Just Got Restocked   These aren't your normal, everyday chinos. Instead, the Off Duty Pant, as it is dubbed, is done up with an elasticated waistband, a drawstring, and a cropped, right-at-the-ankle length. And it promptly flew off the digital shelves, necessitating a restock just a month after its debut. Why all the fuss? Sitting, as it does, amidst an ever-expanding library of soft-waisted pants of the chino-ish variety, the Off Duty Pant isn't mind-blowingly new or novel. It isn't the kind of statement piece that demands a pause as you scroll through the timeline. Instead, it's just...a very good pair of pants. Which is exactly why it deserves a place in your rotation. Editor's Note: Don't sleep on these, the restock is not likely to last long. Read More           The Dinners We Always Thought We'd Have Again   Yes, New York City exists in a state of perpetual flux. It changes by the millisecond. It's not uncommon for ripples of heartbreak to pass through a neighborhood when another old joint calls it quits. Time passes and some places just give up the ghost. Lately, though, because of the pandemic, the flux has sped up into hyperdrive. As has the rate of heartbreak. Thomas DiNapoli, New York State's comptroller, released a report last week that suggested half—yes, half—of New York City's restaurants and bars could vanish within the next six months. Esquire's Jeff Gordinier reflects on the hardest year restaurants have ever faced, and where we go from here. Read More           Introducing Esquire Select, Your One-Stop Shop for Unlimited Access to Esquire   If you enjoy the work Esquire does every day online, and in every print issue, we're now asking you to chip in to support it. Starting now, when you land on Esquire.com you'll get a message that you're reading one of your four complimentary articles for the month. Once you've read four, you'll have to sign up for our new membership club, Esquire Select to keep going. Esquire Select comes in many forms, but our All Access option gets you an annual print subscription, unlimited access to Esquire.com, unlimited access to Charles P. Pierce, and exclusive, members-only access to deals and discounts from Esquire's favorite brands. Here's everything you need to know about Esquire Select. Read More         Read More on Esquire.com       Follow Us     Unsubscribe  Privacy Notice   esquire.com ©2020 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019