Jesse Singal

There’s a fair amount worth unpacking in Mark McKinnon’s piece on Obama’s struggles with the declining enthusiasm of young voters. But I think this part is key: President Obama is in trouble. Just 50 percent of college-age youth approve of his performance overall; that’s 5 points less than their 25-to-29-year-old peers. While that general measure […]

Paul Glastris pointed out to me that there had been a recent article on the very subject of taxis and libertarians (sort of)—Megan McArdle’s piece in the May issue of The Atlantic, where she focuses on a DC upstart company called Uber that is trying to address all that is terrible about cab service in […]

They’re voting in France’s presidential runoff, and Socialist Party candidate Francois Hollande is likely to prevail over incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy. The Guardian has a good rundown. As for further background for those, like me, who don’t know a lot about the French election or French politics in general, I’d recommend David A. Bell’s article in […]

As ThinkProgress points out, he has become the highest-ranking American official ever to support full-blown marriage equality (as opposed to civil unions). “His comments signify a split within the Obama administration,” Igor Volsky writes, “and may pave the way for President Obama — who says he supports civil unions and is still evolving on the […]

On Tuesday, North Carolina will vote on a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in the state. Nate Silver thinks it will pass. Now, North Carolina already has a law banning same-sex marriage. But, you know, the gays. They’re tricky and such. What drives this sort of homophobia? Crazy, pro-child-abuse preachers don’t help. Via Forbes, here’s […]

After Obama’s address at Ohio State yesterday, we’re not off to a good start in terms of having a substantive presidential campaign, are we? On Twitter on Saturday, campaign operatives jousted over the visuals of the Ohio rally. “View from floor during @BarackObama speech. Not the “overflow” crowd he promised,” tweeted Romney spokesman Ryan Williams. […]

It’s been real, as the kids say. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.

How do you all feel about the many, many YouTube videos of military folks being reunited with their families and/or dogs after their tours in Iraq or Afghanistan? See, for example, welcomehomeblog.com. I am torn on this one. I watch these videos when links to them come my way, and they’re very touching and tear-jerking. […]

Okay, yeah, so I get fixated on libertarianism sometimes. Mea culpa. But what’s the libertarian answer to the late-night cab crisis at DC’s Union Station (you should really read the story)? I guess in the wee-hour absence of regulation, “the market” (in a libertarian wonderland where anyone can start a cab company without the approval […]

Okay, a brief break from football-induced concussions and brutal homophobia in Africa. Here’s a link to “Things That Should Fall Out Of A Piñata At A Cinco De Mayo Party,” from The Awl. Said items include: 26) Gravy 25) Coupons for candy 24) Pictures of people hitting a piñata from a different piñata party. Everyone […]