Good Evening:
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A reminder that I will be joined by the estimable Ruth Ben-Ghiat tomorrow evening at 5:00 pm Eastern time on #DogShirtTV to discuss her book “Strongmen: How they Rise, Why They Succeed, How They Fall.” Information for paid subscribers who want to participate in the discussion is below the paywall. The YouTube show will be here:
A second reminder—because we actually have two #DogShirtTV episodes this week: On Black Friday, take a break from tearing out the hair of people in line for consumer goods and join me and historian Katja Hoyer for a discussion of her gripping new book, “Beyond the Wall: A History of East Germany” This one will be at 4:00 pm Eastern. Again, information for paid subscribers who want to participate in the discussion is below the paywall:
When you have a rare name, it always surprises you that other people have it too. Facebook informs me that there are a bunch of other Benjamin Witteses out there, though I have never met one.
I think I need to write to them all.
First step: Friend them all.
Yup.
Yup.
Okay, catching up on news of the weekend, which I spent reading Katja Hoyer’s and Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s books (see above) and rebuilding a staircase:
A hostage-release deal in Gaza is imminent unless it’s not.
A true nutcase has won the presidency of Argentina.
Israel is releasing more evidence of Hamas using Al-Shifa hospital for military and hostage-murder purposes—but apparently not enough for some people.
More assholery from Elon Musk.
Biden’s poll numbers continue to look bad; Trump’s continue to look remarkably good.
Gulp. Okay, bring on Monday.
Today’s #BeastOfTheDay, submitted by the estimable Matteo Carrabba, is this guy:
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