Reading

A 2023 Column Contest grand-prize winner, Laurence Pevsner’s Sorry Not Sorry investigates why we’re sick of everyone apologizing all the time—and how the collapse of the public apology leaves little room for forgiveness and grace in our politics and culture.

Imagine, for a moment, a world where President Trump apologized for defaming E. Jean Carroll.

No, really, try to visualize him on Fox or Newsmax or in a grainy vertical video on Truth Social. See, in your mind’s eye, his sly grin transformed into sincere sorrow, while he says, “I am truly sorry to E. Jean Carroll, whom I raped many years ago and have defamed many times since then. I did something horrible back then and have only made it worse ever since. I know you may never forgive me, but I will regret what I have done to my dying day.”

The exercise I just asked of you is, of course, impossible. Trying to imagine Donald Trump apologizing sincerely is like asking you to picture the edge of the universe. You can describe it in theory, but it’s impossible for our puny minds to process.

Dear Mr. Driving Examiner in the Blue Ford Fiesta,

I’m Lily Brubaker’s dad. If you don’t remember, you failed her on her driving test yesterday, and I got really angry.

I’m sorry for jabbing my finger in your face like that. I shouldn’t have yelled at you or called your hat “dumb.” But I had no choice. Please let me explain.

When my daughter told me that you flunked her for “lurching” the car forward too quickly, I was so overwhelmed with relief, that I ran over to you to give you a big hug. But then I remembered that Lily was watching me, so I had to act like I was furious. Admittedly, I may have gone too far when I tossed your cowboy hat on the ground and stomped on it. (Sorry, didn’t realize it was made of straw and would crunch like that.)

You can’t imagine the stress I’ve been going through. It’s a well-known fact that a person’s brain isn’t fully developed until the age of twenty-five. I’ve been worried sick that Lily’s going to text or drive impaired and get in a crash. Teens have no impulse control, and that’s why I had to totally lose my shit on you.

- by Psyche Film

Watch at Psyche

Open immigration policies represent a strategic approach to addressing the migration crisis.

The post The Case for Open Borders appeared first on The Intercept.

- by Rebecca Hayes Jacobs

Read at Aeon

The state’s far-right government is escalating its fight against environmental protection with a rare use of public records law.

The post “Certainly Intimidation”: Louisiana Sues EPA for Emails With Journalists and Cancer Alley Residents appeared first on The Intercept.