In the James Bond film Quantum of Solace, a CIA honcho is criticized by a junior colleague for working with a disreputable character. “Yeah, you’re right,” replies the spook. “We should just deal with nice people.”
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Elon Musk—it’s been a terrific few weeks for Bond villains.
Trump is riding high just now. He has been elected president again and did so while winning more votes overall than did his Democratic opponent, whose name escapes me just now, as, indeed, it apparently eluded millions of Democrats on Election Day. (There is no such thing as the “national popular vote,” but, given that Trump won in 2016 with fewer votes coast-to-coast than did the wife of that guy who used to be the president a long time ago, the overall vote share is significant.) With his ridiculous Cabinet nominations, he has once again demonstrated that there is no depth of self-abasement to which he cannot bully Republicans into plumbing.
And he even got to MSNBC!
Kevin D. Williamson is national correspondent at The Dispatch and is based in Virginia. Prior to joining the company in 2022, he spent 15 years as a writer and editor at National Review, worked as the theater critic at the New Criterion, and had a long career in local newspapers. He is also a writer in residence at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. When Kevin is not reporting on the world outside Washington for his Wanderland newsletter, you can find him at the rifle range or reading a book about literally almost anything other than politics.
Please note that we at The Dispatch hold ourselves, our work, and our commenters to a higher standard than other places on the internet. We welcome comments that foster genuine debate or discussion—including comments critical of us or our work—but responses that include ad hominem attacks on fellow Dispatch members or are intended to stoke fear and anger may be moderated.
With your membership, you only have the ability to comment on The Morning Dispatch articles. Consider upgrading to join the conversation everywhere.