Opinion Today: Tim Walz’s goofiness, Google and presidential immunity

Updates from Times Opinion's blog.

View in browser|nytimes.com August 9, 2024 By Anna Marks Opinion Staff Editor In today's newsletter, we're offering some of our favorite recent entries from The Point, Times Opinion's blog. Our writers told you what they think about a landmark antitrust case, Tim Walz's goofiness and the consequences of the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity. Check them out below. Zeynep Tufekci on Google and antitrust → Michelle Cottle on Tim Walz → Jesse Wegman on the Supreme Court → Here's what we're focusing on today: Editors' Picks Jamelle Bouie The Real Reason Trump and Vance Hate Being Called 'Weird' It reminds voters how far out of the mainstream Republicans have gotten. By Jamelle Bouie More From Opinion The Ezra Klein Show Nancy Pelosi: 'It Didn't Sound Like Joe Biden to Me' The former speaker of the House discusses the election, Trump and the art of power. 58 MIN LISTEN Guest Essay Don't Be Fooled by the Crypto Resurrection Politicians' newfound love of crypto probably has more to do with a cynical bid for young voter support and Silicon Valley cash than a maturing of a financially perilous set of assets. By Eswar Prasad Paul Krugman Tim Walz and the Weird Politics of Free School Lunches Another reminder that MAGA isn't "populist." By Paul Krugman You Do Not Interrupt Kamala Harris If you do, you'll encounter a moment of authentic indignation. By Pamela Paul Guest Essay Paris Is Breaking There are no gold medals handed out at the Lycée Turgot. But the hip-hop curriculum at this public high school in France helps breaking flourish far from the country where it was born. By Jeff Chang and Giulia Frigieri Guest Essay My Beloved Italian City Has Turned Into Tourist Hell. Must We Really Travel Like This? Bologna has turned into a mortadella nightmare. By Ilaria Maria Sala Guest Essay What the Olympics Can Teach Us About Excellence It's not achieving a goal that matters. By Brad Stulberg Frank Bruni Donald Trump, Prince of Self-Pity There is no end to his hallucinatory disadvantages. By Frank Bruni David French Mockery Won't Increase Fertility Culture warriors aren't going to change plunging birthrates this way. By David French Matter of Opinion Tim Walz Is Vibing Democrats are trying to make the election about who is cool and who is weird. Will it stick? 39 MIN LISTEN Thalassa Raasch for The New York Times letters A Republican Governor's Plea to Stop the Personal Attacks Responses to an essay by Gov. Christopher Sununu of New Hampshire. Also: "Weird" as a campaign epithet; Cori Bush's defeat; famine in Sudan; the 1964 World's Fair. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. Games Here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Opinion Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018