The Ricochet Greatest Hits Weekly Edition
We’d like to welcome the college students who’ve joined the Ricochet community. Also, our upcoming No Dumb Questions with Erick Erickson, and other happenings.....
Before we get down to business, we’d like to welcome the college students who’ve joined the Ricochet community. We’re so glad you’re here and look forward to getting your thoughts on topics that grab your attention. Speaking of which …
For those of you who’ve been busy the past week and haven’t kept up with Member Feed posts, we’ve curated — just had to use that word — a few great ones for your attention. They focus on election “reform,” free COVID-19 test kits, our very existence, a questionable Seattle Police Department decision, and (bad) eco-friendly goods. We’re also giving you a heads up on the latest community news, including events, a guest podcast appearance, membership deals, and the member comment of the week.
Have family members, friends, or former Ricochet members who would enjoy this kind of member-only content? Share this newsletter and let them know they can join today and get their first 30 days free. You’ll help grow the Ricochet community and provide some great conversation starters for your next gathering (we’re thinking Super Bowl Sunday, of course).
Top Talkers
Ole Summers: Another Word on Elections
Ballot harvesting, wide-spread mail-in voting, drive-by drop boxes, ever-changing deadlines and several other techniques are thinly-veiled methods to make fraud easier. Their presence may or may not mean that fraud and cheating are there, but they certainly make it easier to do and harder to detect afterwards.
Election “reform” efforts by Democrats have been a hot topic, and Ole Summers does a great job diving into the issue. He looks at the reasons our election process is a bit of a hot mess, including Supreme Court inaction regarding who can change state election laws. Ole also touches on the importance of citizens questioning what the government does so we can protect the governed. We appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into this post.
Front Seat Cat: Tracking Americans or Free Test Kits?
It’s been two years. If there are a billion COVID test kits available, where have they been, as Americans have stood in long lines to get tested, hospitals, clinics and drug stores have run out, and there has been a tremendous need to have these on hand?
Needless to say, the government’s announcement that it will provide free COVID-19 rapid tests has had a mixed reception. Front Seat Cat sharply criticizes the move from a few angles. One good point: Are we supposed to trust the U.S. Postal Service to deliver these tests in a timely manner considering the issues it’s had lately? Front Seat Cat also wonders: Just how did the virus originate? The frustration in this post is palpable and will resonate with many.
Juliana: Where Have We Been?
Yesterday my daughter told me that she was driving at dusk with her three year old son in the car. She pointed out some clouds reflecting the sunset and said “Look Jude, at the pretty pink clouds.” His response, confidently stated, was “Those taste like lemonade inside.”
That first paragraph grabbed our attention, and so did the rest of the post. Juliana doesn’t just talk about the intriguing things kids say or babies do. She brings up deep questions, like whether we were all somewhere else before we got here and if there’s a parallel universe out there. It’s great fodder for consideration and discussion. We love that members like Juliana share their thoughts on introspective topics here at Ricochet.
But Wait, There’s More
RushBabe49: Say What? Seattle Police To Not Enforce Minor Traffic Violations …
Seattle’s crime rate is already skyrocketing, with new shootings reported on a daily basis, police officers quitting the force, and lawbreakers out on the street shortly after being arrested. This new (no) enforcement will just make easier for criminals to take over.
File this one under “In case you missed it … ” The Seattle Police Department will no longer issue tickets for minor traffic violations — like expired license tabs or cracked windshields — if they’d be the only reason for a traffic stop. RushBabe49 describes it as a rejection of broken-windows policing and is less than thrilled with where she thinks this is leading. She’s not alone, either. Quite a few people are unhappy about this, judging from the poll on a Seattle TV stations’s website.
Cow Girl: Weekly Whine
Question: Am I just being picky? What do you find using these ubiquitous virtue-signaling items?
If eco-friendly products have ever irked you, this short post is for you. Cow Girl picks on environmentally friendly napkins and straws, and we’re guessing quite a few of you will agree with her. As for us, we definitely share her dislike of those straws. Using them is like drinking through cardboard. No, thank you. No, no, no. Also: No. #no
Mark Your Calendars: Next ‘No Dumb Questions’ Webcast Is Jan. 26
Erick Erickson is our next “No Dumb Questions” guest! If you didn’t know, the host of “The Erick Erickson Show,” a nationally syndicated radio program, is a longtime friend of Ricochet. In fact, his radio show is also distributed by the Ricochet Audio Network.
Join us Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT as Ricochet Co-Founder Rob Long and Erick talk about the state of the talk radio medium, the upcoming midterm elections, and, of course, everyone’s favorite topic: the best cigar and bourbon recommendations.
Remember: This is a Ricochet members-only webcast. If you know anyone who might enjoy it, please encourage them to join Ricochet. They’ll get their first 30 days for free, and current Ricochet members get a free month if they join! Send them an invite at ricochet.com/join.
Rob Long Ponders American Culture on The Federalist Podcast
In case you missed it: Rob Long was on “The Federalist Radio Hour” podcast earlier this week. He joined The Federalist Culture Editor Emily Jashinsky to discuss why he’s so optimistic about current and future American culture. Check it out!
First ‘Nightcap’ Callin Show Is Jan. 25
Ricochet Editor-in-Chief Jon Gabriel’s new show, “The Nightcap,” debuts at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Tuesday, Jan. 25. This is a great opportunity to hear Jon review the day’s big stories in a fun, free-wheeling discussion — and to get more familiar with Callin, a new app and web platform that lets you create and cultivate podcasts and audio communities. Here is your Callin room discussion link for Tuesday’s chat!
Ricochet Passes for College Students
Remember, Ricochet is offering full-time and part-time U.S. college students and graduate students who are eligible a complimentary Ricochet membership! All they need to join is a valid student .edu email address. Please help spread the word so we can bring younger voices to our community so they can offer their unique perspectives on our civil conversations.
Help Us Spread the Word About Ricochet
Want an easy way to share what makes Ricochet so great? Pass along this nifty infographic. Thanks, as always, for your support!
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 Full Size Tabby, pulled from Front Seat Cat's post about the free COVID-19 test kits.
Remember, if you know someone who would enjoy being part of the Ricochet community, we’re offering their first 30 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 your post to be considered for this newsletter? Post by 5 p.m. Eastern time Thursdays.