  Madison Cawthorn Laid Out the Present and Future of Republican Politics It may have slipped under the radar with all the GameStop mishigas this week, but a member of Congress also offered up a concise look at the Republican Party's present and future. It was not Marjorie Taylor Greene, who it turns out is not just QAnon-curious but also espoused the belief that various school shootings were hoaxes. In one instance, she channeled this very healthy brain state into chasing a survivor of the Parkland massacre—a kid who watched his high-school classmates get shot—down the street. Her compatriot, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, joined this newfound Republican tradition, attacking David Hogg as a "keyboard" warrior. It doesn't make sense—Hogg has done advocacy work well beyond Twitter—but more to the point, these are the people we're now sending to the national legislature?
But no, it wasn't even either of those two. The real revelation came courtesy of Madison Cawthorn, the North Carolina congressman who once evinced such excitement about visiting Hitler's vacation pad. (In the most charitable view, he's tone-deaf in the vein of people who Instagram from Auschwitz—or, in the case of yet another interesting Republican congressman, Clay Higgins, post bizarre videos from the gas chambers that seemed to call for the U.S. to increase its military spending.) Cawthorn made the present and future abundantly clear when he described his hiring strategy for his congressional staff in an email to Republican colleagues published by Time magazine this week. "I have built my staff around comms rather than legislation," he wrote.
And that's pretty much the whole thing. There is no longer any Republican platform to deal with the major crises of our moment: the pandemic, the resulting economic turmoil, rampant inequality, monopoly power and corporate consolidation, the climate crisis, racial injustice in policing and the criminal justice system, healthcare. There are no plans for any of these issues, so why would a Rising Star in the party hire staff to deal with legislation? There is no expectation, particularly from The Base whose support they rely on, that they will perform the job of "lawmaker" and get press attention for that. It's best just to go straight to the attention, via delusional conspiracies and outrageous behavior.
These folks are just Conservative Media Stars now, people who were throwing red meat online when suddenly it all got real and they were elected to Congress because that's all that Republican primary voters want anyway. Cawthorn's mandate is to engage in a theatrical battle with the various Enemies—Democrats and the Radical Left, the Fake News Media, Republicans who are deemed traitors to the cause—for the satisfaction of those people who have been told for 30 years that these groups are out to destroy The America You Know and Love.   Uniqlo's Tried-and-True Affordable Puffer Goes With Everything—Even That You know those gigantic, end-of-the-world parkas that'll (presumably) keep you warm even as the sun burns out and the earth slowly transforms into a frozen hunk of rock hurtling silently through space? Sure you do! They're great in the right circumstances—blizzards and polar vortexes and the like—but they're a little overpowered f0r the ever-milder weather that is, unsettling though it may be, becoming more and more the norm during the winter. Enter Uniqlo U's recycled down liner jacket. It still packs all the cold-beating bona fides you'd expect from a puffer, but in a lighter package and without all the bulk. Plus, it's more sustainable than it's non-recycled cousins. In other words, it's the jacket you'll be reaching for more often than not this winter—and well into spring, too. Here's why it deserves a spot over your sweater, under your topcoat, and, crucially, in your closet.
 20 Oscar-Winning Movies You Can Stream on Netflix Right Now The Oscars don't always get it right. There's a long track record of some questionable winners in its biggest categories (just look at the recent Best Picture winner Green Book). But, even if they don't always take home the trophies they deserve, some of the best movies of all time have at least been nominated or won Academy Awards. After all, despite their many faults, the Oscar remains the most prestigious award in American cinema. And, thankfully, if you're looking to expand your knowledge of prestige film, Netflix has some great options for you to watch right now. Even if the streaming service is putting most of its efforts into expanding its catalog of streaming series, Netflix still has a number of past Oscar winners, including a few of its own original critical darlings. Whether you're looking for a '60s classic like Bonnie and Clyde or a modern masterpiece like Roma, Netflix has you covered.  The 15 Coolest Tech and Gadget Reveals of 2021 (So Far) We've gathered up the gadgets we're most excited to test out in our own homes, many of which are set to be released later this year. Even if you'd never consider actually owning one of them, it's still cool to see where the industry is heading—sustainable and smart continue to be buzzwords—and what it's steering clear of. (Besides, you'd have to be a billionaire yourself to be able to afford half of them.) If the best tech featured at CES 2021 doesn't entice you, hold tight. It's only January. Just like you can rely on tech billionaire giants to keep getting richer, you can always rely on tech companies to release gadgets throughout the entire calendar year.
 30 Last-Minute, Under-$40 Valentine's Gift Ideas for Any Guy You just bought him a holiday gift, his birthday is coming up, and now, suddenly, it's Valentine's Day. Does it ever end? How silly of you to go back to work for a few weeks after the holidays and let yourself forget that shopping for gifts is your full-time job. You were busy, you forgot—whatever it is, you need a last-minute gift idea. Nothing crazy, just a little thoughtful something to show him you care. And preferably a two-day shippable one. Order one of these 30 last-minute, under-$40 Valentine's Day gifts for men in a few clicks, and then get back to your real job.  The Hands Down Best Booze to Drink Right Now (And You Can Buy It All Online, Too) Nothing can replace a favorite watering hole, but a healthy pour of something delicious at home is a respectable alternative—one most of us have taken liberal advantage of as our beloved bars and restaurants have been forced to close. Fortunately, there were many excellent options to choose from. Smaller craft distilleries were hit much, much harder by the pandemic than the big brands, most of which didn't suffer, at least financially. So while it can't be denied that the large "comfort brands" continued to release some really good spirits in 2020, it's remarkable that the craft world was able to put out some stellar bottles as well. Let's recognize all of these spirits, because when you find something pleasurable in trying times, even if it's small and perhaps inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, it's worth celebrating. Here are some of the very best bottles that were released in the past year, from whiskey to rum to tequila to vodka (with whiskey most heavily represented, due to its many subcategories, and because it's also the most intriguing in terms of flavor and complexity, in this writer's opinion). Raise a glass and toast to a healthier future, and some more new spirits to drink in it.
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Sunday, January 31, 2021
The Republican Party's Present and Future
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