The Most Terrifying Phrase in D.C. Has Resurfaced

If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser.       Which Republicans Are Seriously Going to Serve on This Trump Insurrection Commission?   There is no more terrifying a term in Washington for anyone who wants to know what actually happened than the phrase, "blue-ribbon commission." It raises memories of past monsters like Simpson-Bowles, and Tower (Iran-Contra), and 9/11—flashy public hearings followed by reports with all the sharp edges sanded off by internal politics, followed by leaks from dissatisfied staffers in which the staffers claim that they had The Answer, if only the commission members weren't so a) corrupt, b) partisan, and c) starstruck. In a few years, everybody gets jobs on cable news shows so they can opine on the work of the special blue-ribbon commission looking into whatever the next catastrophe is. A Blue-Ribbon Commission is the living embodiment of the concept of Better Than Nothing. And that's what Nancy Pelosi is proposing in the wake of January 6. Here's Charles P. Pierce on what we've learned from commissions past. Read More           Arsenio Hall Has Stories to Tell   If you were aware of pop culture in the eighties and nineties, Arsenio Hall was inescapable. The Arsenio Hall Show changed the late-night game: It was looser, brighter, with an eye on the future. "Tommy Mottola comes up to me at The Ivy and says, 'The lady with me, she is as gifted as Aretha.'" Arsenio listened to the demo Tommy handed him, booked the lady, and days later, Mariah Carey made her television debut. At Quincy Jones' behest, Arsenio introduced Will Smith to Benny Medina, who pitched him The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in a dressing room. "The place became a clubhouse. The first time Michael Jackson came on the show, he wasn't a booking. He was in back with orange juice and a mask on." Arsenio laughs. "He was way ahead of us on the mask thing." These are just a few true stories Arsenio Hall told Esquire's Dave Holmes for a profile in our March 2021 issue, which you can now read on Esquire.com. Hall is an icon—a legend. And next month, he's back in Coming 2 America. Man, did we miss him. Read More           The Best Hoodies to Wear Whenever and Wherever You Want   The thing about the humble hooded sweatshirt is that, at this point, it ain't all that humble. Now a star player in the big leagues with the world at its fingertips, the hoodie's developed a bit of an ego. It doesn't see any reason why it can't go on playing forever, and its fanbase seems to get bigger and bigger every day. Don't get it twisted: The hoodie is still putting up stellar numbers. But the scrappiness that defined the earlier stages of its career—built on the backs of skaters and countercultural types —isn't as present as it used to be. It hears talk of streetwear's impending demise, or the rise of casual tailoring, and scoffs, feeling protected by its prestige status and relatively approachable price-point. The hoodie, it thinks to itself, isn't going anywhere. Read More           Some of Apple's Best Products Are Marked Down Up to $100 on Amazon Right Now   Who said the benefits of President's Day, and its many sales, have to stop when you get back to work on Tuesday? Over the weekend, a few of the best Apple products were knocked down a few price points on Amazon—and as of this morning those deals are still kickin'. You can get up to $100 off, which is nothing to scoff at. So if you had plans to snag some AirPods with a wireless charging case, or a new iPad model, or an oldie-but-goodie Apple Watch Series 3, snag 'em now before they hit their list prices again. Get your shopping in before those prices settle back into their usual perches. Read More           A Patio Heater Will Be the Best Home Upgrade You've Made in Years   Along with other social distancing best practices, keeping gatherings small and outside has become crucial over the past nine months. That was no big deal over the summer, but winter's cold arrival has brought with it unprecedented demand for patio heaters—gas-burning or electric appliances that supply warmth via infrared energy. If you're late to the party and shopping for one of these appliances now, you've probably been put off by the prices you're seeing and the number of suspect options that have proliferated. The good news is that solid appliances are still available from reputable manufacturers. Take a look here at some buying advice based on our research with manufacturers, web sites, customer reviews, and our own experience with heating appliances. Then scroll down for a selection of heaters that will help you stay comfortable outside this winter. We've included a few that you're more likely to find in the workshop than in someone's yard, but they're more than capable of providing warmth on the patio in a pinch. Read More           Now You Can Read 88 Years Worth of Esquire Issues   We have a digital archive! It's called Esquire Classic, and through this portal you can read every page of every issue of Esquire ever published, going all the way back to the first edition in October 1933. But the archive is available to members only. Don't worry—it's affordable! The price of a medium—sorry, grande—coffee from Starbucks every month. And not only do you get access to Esquire Classic, but also everything on Esquire.com and the print magazine. Treat yourself to Esquire today. Read More         Read More on Esquire.com       Follow Us     Unsubscribe  Privacy Notice   esquire.com ©2021 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019