“VOTERS ARE SMARTER THAN THE MEDIA”: THE PUNDIT CLASS MISJUDGED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE by Molly Jong-Fast

Another election cycle, another abject failure of political reporters. Prompted by the blundered predictions of broadcast and print pundits, Molly Jong-Fast correctly heaps scorn on those who use their prominent platforms to deliver predetermined narratives about what voters want rather than actually paying attention to the populace. Perhaps more egregiously, the media tends to cover rhetoric with a blitheness to its social impact, and any discussion of policy — or, for incumbents, actual legislative record — is almost entirely absent. This time around, anyway, the voters mostly ignored the noise and largely made informed, reasonable decisions. It’s time for the political media to adjust their approach to speak to the cultural need and the truth of the moment. This article is published by Vanity Fair.

How I Learned the Art of Seduction by Melissa Febos

Writing for The New York Times, Melissa Febos recounts how her time working in restaurants among the wait staff shaped her ability to operate with cunning insight in interpersonal relationships. It’s a splendid, telling piece that’s full of beautifully observed details, including consideration of the way the implicit caste system in these commerce-based interactions carries a certain amount of unavoidable toxicity.