Torch & Crow Quick Takes — 08-16-25
Torch & Crow Quick Takes — 08-16-25
by Jim Reynolds | www.reynolds.com
Grook
When power lies and pundits spin,
And headlines mask the mess within,
Bob reads between the scripted takes—
And finds the truth behind the fakes.
The Crows Are Flying Off to Roost for the Evening
If you thought today might pass without at least one NYT cover-up, one MSNBC panic essay, and a public slapfight on X—think again. Bob sorted through the feathers and noise to bring you a dozen Quick Takes on the day's finest dysfunction. Sleep tight.
Quick Takes
Meeting Went Well. We're Hopefully Moving Toward Peace — President Donald Trump
Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin drew fire before it even landed. But his own post-summit words were steady, framing dialogue as the antidote to endless war. The press may sneer, but the bar is low: he got them talking. Leans Trump-positive.
What We Learned From Trump and Putin's Alaska Summit — Laura Gozzi, BBC News
Measured and factual, Gozzi recounts both leaders’ tones without panic. Refreshingly free of MSNBC-style tremors, it gives the reader just enough rope to decide if peace is progress. Leans neutral.
How Decades of Folly Led to Russia-Ukraine War — Michael Reynolds, Compact Magazine
A sober timeline of Western missteps, from NATO expansion to hubris in Kyiv. The war didn’t erupt from nowhere—it was primed by decades of denial and arrogance. Leans anti-establishment.
How Far Would Trump Go in Quest for Nobel Peace Prize? — Steve Benen, MSNBC
Benen can’t help himself: every peace overture by Trump is recast as narcissism. Where voters see reduced conflict, MSNBC sees a trophy hunt. Benen works for Maddow — you really don’t need to read this one to know what’s in it. Tool-worthy. Leans Trump-negative.
CIA Abused Its Power and Undermined America — Michael Shellenberger, X
Shellenberger uncorks another round of receipts, this time showing CIA meddling beyond its brief. Turns out the “deep state” wasn’t a punchline. Michael is always worth reading. Leans anti-CIA, pro-transparency.
DNI Emails Expose Fraud That Sabotaged 2018 Summit — Hans Mahncke, Federalist
Fresh emails reveal intelligence manipulation designed to tank Trump’s prior summit. Not a mistake—a sabotage. The spooks played politics, and America paid. Leans anti-intel establishment.
How Newsom's Redistricting Plan Could Backfire — Ed Kilgore, New York Magazine
California’s governor tightens the map for Democrats, but unintended cracks could emerge. Overreach sometimes draws blood from your own side. CA is 40% Red but only 17% represented in the legislature. Is there any juice left to squeeze? Leans skeptical of Dems.
Trump's Wins and the Left's Disturbing Pattern — Nicole Russell, USA Today
A reminder that every time Trump scores a win, the Left responds with hysteria instead of adjustment. Reflexive rage is not a strategy. The Left is stuck in George Costanza mode. They should consider doing the opposite. Leans Trump-positive.
Emanuel: Dems Should Go Centrist, Ditch Anti-Trump Mania — Barton Swaim, WSJ
Rahm Emanuel whispers what many Democrats fear to say out loud: Trump-derangement is costing votes. Pragmatism might be the only salvage path. Doing what is practical may not be on the Left’s menu. Leans pragmatic/Dem-critique.
Why the Left Isn't Marching for Universities — Gregory Conti, City Journal
Universities are bleeding prestige and cash, yet the activist Left has gone quiet. Perhaps because the rot is their project, not their enemy. How many ways can you say “losers”? Leans critique of Left/academia.
Immigration Raids Are Now Before the Supreme Court — Ian Millhiser, Vox
Vox frets over expanded enforcement, framing it as an attack rather than a constitutional question. But the legal tide may be shifting toward order over chaos. So you break into my house and then it takes a judge, a jury, and a trial to get you out? Leans progressive.
More Questionable Statistics, This Time on Crime — Jeffrey Anderson, Chronicles
Anderson dissects the latest statistical sleight-of-hand. Turns out creative math can make rising crime look flat, if you torture the numbers enough. Who out there doesn’t think they are cooking the books? Leans pro-truth/anti-spin.
👣 Roost Well, My Friends
Turns out, narrative entropy is real: lies decay, alliances shift, and trust dissolves in 280 characters or less. But Bob’s keeping his flashlight handy and his claws sharp. The only thing better than watching it all burn is knowing exactly who lit the match.
Note on Sources: Complete articles are available at RealClearPolitics.com. Titles are Bob-ified reconstructions.