From The Queen of Stuff

This week, a Supreme Court nominee was asked to define what a woman is and wouldn’t do it. It was a moment many of us will remember for a long, long time because a) Who would expect such a question during a confirmation hearing for our nation’s highest court and b) Who would expect the nominee to answer the way Ketanji Brown Jackson did? But here we are.

The confirmation hearings are just one of the stories sparking chatter here on Ricochet. You’ve likely seen plenty of other topics on the Member Feed as well. But have you seen all of them? If not, no worries. We’ve picked out a few posts for you to read, covering a range of subjects: a better way to question judicial nominees; the source of healing for our lives, societies, cultures, and nations; the need for more civil conversations around why Russia is invading Ukraine; and how to best use the oligarchs to stop Russia’s invasion. We’re also sharing community news, including upcoming live Ricochet events.

Have family members, friends, or former Ricochet members who’d enjoy this kind of member-only content? Share this newsletter and tell them they can join today and get their first 14 days free. You’ll help grow our community and provide some great conversation starters for your next gathering.

Speaking of being a member, remember: We’ll have a price increase soon. If you renew your membership now, you’ll lock in our current pricing for one more year.

Top Talkers

Full Size Tabby: Better Judicial Confirmations 

I suppose I’m likely ignorant and/or naïve (I’m just a retired corporate patent lawyer who did not attend a top tier law school), but it seems to me that we could learn a lot better information about judicial nominees (especially Supreme Court nominees), AND the nominees would have a lot less wiggle room to avoid answering questions, if rather than grandstanding on particular issues, the Senators asked some basic questions about the nominee’s process for reading, understanding, interpreting, and applying documents.

So begins a terrific proposal from Full Size Tabby for a better way to question judicial nominees. If you’ve been following the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson, we think you’ll enjoy diving into Tabby’s proposed questions, which include “Can a document later have meaning different from the meaning it had at the time it was written?” and “Can you imagine that an ambiguity in a document might render the matter so unclear that it would be inappropriate for a judge to resolve?” Great questions and a great read.

Ole Summers: From the Ground Up, or the Head Down

I expected it to be snowing this morning when I woke up for good. I had driven into northeastern New Mexico by what was for me an old and one time standard way for me to reach this retreat. It was well past dark when I began the roughly 60 miles through the canyons and mesas that follow the Cimarron back toward its origin along the rims and bank cuts of Johnson Mesa. It might have been too dark to see the colors of the “Spanish Shirts” below the rimrock that lays between Black Mesa and Cotton Mesa but they have been pretty well stamped into my mind for more than what is now a decade and half. Just the dark outline against a gray-banked sky is enough to bring life to a mental picture and touch some place well below skin deep.

Ole Summers sure knows how to set a scene. We were drawn into his storytelling right away and enjoyed reading about his trip and his time with a friend who’s been through considerable physical hardships but remains strong in spirit. We also liked the various observations Ole made along the way, including this one: “It is from the grass roots of foundational truths that not just our lives, our societies, our cultures and our nations can be built but it is from them that these can be healed after they are corrupted and the rot begins to travel down through the body.” Want more? You’ll have to read the post.

David Carroll: Thinking About the Russia Invasion of Ukraine 

If we do not understand the reasons for the invasion, both the stated reasons and the real reasons, there is no hope for any diplomatic solution. But any attempt by anyone these days to suggest either that Russia might have an arguable point or that it is not our function to be the world’s policeman results in an emotional backlash (complete with shouts of “Treason!”) that blocks any reasonable discussion.

It’s true there’s been heated debate about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And not everyone wants to consider the situation from all sides. David Carroll does just that here. He points out what he feels are justifiable reasons for countries invading each other and what Russia President Vladimir Putin’s reasons might be. He then shares his conclusion about whether those reasons are justifiable. We appreciate this thoughtful perspective as well as David’s point that people should be able to discuss the justifications without emotional backlash. Civil conversation is a beautiful thing.

But Wait, There’s More

iWe: The Wrong Oligarch Policy 

Yes, the Oligarchs live high. And yes, they have oodles of money and yachts and planes. But when we attack them we are making a major mistake, because we are missing the point.

There’s been a lot of discussion about how to use the Russian oligarchs to stop Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. But is punishing them the right solution? Will that achieve the desired objective? iWe doesn’t think so. In this brief post, he recommends a different approach. It’s an intriguing take on the issue.

ICYMI: Rob Long Discusses Being a Conservative Creative With The Salt Founder

In case you didn’t catch it the other day, Ricochet Co-Founder Rob Long talked to The Salt Founder Ellie Krasne about what it means to be a creative conservative — especially when Hollywood and the media are culturally dominated by the left. If you’re not familiar with it, The Salt is a terrific global community of Jews and friends of Jews who talk about politics and culture from perspectives not represented in mainstream Judaism. Check out Rob and Ellie’s conversation.

Now’s Your Chance To Chat With Our Editor-in-Chief About the Day’s News

Have you ever listened to Ricochet Editor-in-Chief Jon Gabriel’s “King of Stuff” podcast and thought, “I wish I could jump in and talk to him about the topic he’s discussing”? Then you need to check out his live show, “The Nightcap.”

At 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT every Monday through Thursday, Jon reviews the day’s big stories in an interactive environment where you can chime in and chat with him. To join the conversation, you’ll use the Callin app.

You can subscribe to “The Nightcap” here. Each episode is published on that webpage after it airs.

Ricochet Events

We’re hard at work creating great member-only events for you. Check out a few of them below, and visit the Ricochet Events page anytime for a quick, convenient look at what’s ahead.

Mark Your Calendars: Next ‘No Dumb Questions’ Webcast Is April 8

We’re excited to announce our next “No Dumb Questions” webcast guest is Glenn Loury, professor of economics at Brown University and host of Ricochet’s “The Glenn Show.” Bring your best questions for what should be a fascinating conversation. Our own Rob Long will moderate this event on Friday, April 8, at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

Remember: “No Dumb Questions” is a Ricochet members-only webcast. If you know some people who might enjoy it, please encourage them to join Ricochet. They’ll get their first 14 days for free, along with a pass to this event, and you’ll get a free month if they join! Send them an invite at ricochet.com/join.

Don’t Forget: ‘Take Back Our Schools’ Recording Live Podcast With Scott Walker 

It’s not too late to sign up! On March 30, former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, president of Young America’s Foundation, and former Wall Street Journal reporter Asra Nomani will join Bethany Mandel and Andrew Gutmann to record a live episode of Bethany and Andrew’s “Take Back Our Schools” podcast. They’ll record at Young America’s headquarters in Reston, Virginia, right outside of Washington, D.C.

Go to Ricochet.com/events for more details.

Now Available for Your Viewing Pleasure: ‘No Dumb Questions’ With Dennis Prager

Did you see this week’s “No Dumb Questions” webcast featuring Dennis Prager, radio talk show host and founder of PragerU? Or maybe you saw it but want to watch it again. Either way, it’s ready for you to enjoy! We know you’ll enjoy Dennis and Ricochet contributor and podcast host James Lileks’ wide-ranging discussion.

Remember: If you know folks who might enjoy these member-only webcasts, please encourage them to join Ricochet. They’ll get their first 14 days free, and you’ll get a free month if they join! Send them an invite at ricochet.com/join.

Comment of the Week

The Member Feed isn’t the only thing that keeps people coming back for more at Ricochet. The comments do, too, serving as the backbone of the smart, civil conversation that makes us us. This week’s comment of the week is from RightAngles, pulled from Full Size Tabby’s post about a different way to vet judicial nominees.

Remember, if you know someone who’d enjoy being part of the Ricochet community, we’re offering their first 14 days for free. Invite them to join the conversation today! And if you want to send us feedback on this newsletter, email greatest.hits@ricochet.com.

See you next week!

P.S. Want us to consider your post for this newsletter? Post by 5 p.m. ET Thursday.

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