The Republican spending bill looks likely to pass after Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) reversed and said that he was not in the mood to oppose the legislation. Sure, scandals are rampant and another American caste system awaits, but oh well, them's the breaks. Meanwhile, Schumer is the same man who in cautiously denouncing the Trump administration's push to deport Columbia recent graduate Mahmoud Khalil—again, a legal permanent resident with a green card—felt compelled to first offer a lengthy condemnation of Khalil.
This might all sound harsh. But against the profound danger posed by this administration, together with the extremely low morale among Democrats, I don't see another way of viewing Schumer's decision to wave a white flag and help Republicans pass their stop-gap measure to avert a government shutdown. (Though I'm curious what you think. Did Schumer make the right call? Is he the right guy for this moment?) As NBC News reports, it doesn't even look like Schumer was able to get anything in return for his wild act of capitulation.
Anyway, it is Friday. In my continuing effort to end the work week on something positive or whimsical, I offer you a strong recommendation to attend BAM's revival of A Streetcar Named Desire if you live near New York City. It was nothing short of thrilling, particularly with Paul Mescal playing an absolute menace of a man. But it was Patsy Ferran as Blanche DuBois that left me reeling. Both performances are worth any effort you can put into getting your butt to Brooklyn to watch.
—Inae Oh
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