Today's Opinions: America must step out of this self-destructive zombie dance

I helped run the 'Fire Pelosi' effort. Our toxic politics goes too far.; Republicans have made violence part of their brand; Dear grocery store owners: I don't work for you!; Ketanji Brown Jackson asks the right question about affirmative action; Elections aren't only about 'the economy, stupid' — and never were ; We're wearing our collective angst (in robe coats and furry slippers); Silverman's stumble opens a door in the D.C. Council at-large race ; Fairfax County's cash bail reform is open for public judgment; The chief twit tweets out misinformation; Cartoon by Dave Whamond; Amid rising autocracy, Latin American democracy is holding on; Lula's triumph is a win for Brazil's political center — not the left; Why Bolsonaro's stunning loss should give humans a glimmer of hope; The U.S. still doesn't have an ambassador in this important capital; Why hasn't the Ukrainian army bombed Russia? David Ignatius answered your questions.; Chat with Alexandra Petri and tell her your jokes; Ask Eugene Robinson about the latest news around the U.S. and world ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Sign up for this newsletter Read online Your morning dose of Post commentary and guest opinions.       By Michael Duffy Opinions editor-at-large  Email Journalist Amanda Ripley spent five years studying "high conflict" — divisions and disagreements that are self-destructive and resistant to resolution. The attack on Paul Pelosi in San Francisco early Friday morning reminds us that we will not overcome this condition if we rely on the same old solutions. "The usual intuition right now is to blame, quite understandably," Amanda writes. "Blame the dehumanizing rhetoric of certain GOP politicians, blame the lack of security at the Pelosis' home, blame mental health. That is all fair game. But if you think it will be enough to change this diabolical cycle we're in, you are going to be disappointed." Instead, she argues, we need to take different steps — steps that have worked in other conflicts — if we mean to turn conflict into coexistence. "What would 'different' look like? The only good option is to do counterintuitive things. We must step out of the zombie dance we are in." (Eric Risberg/AP) America must step out of this self-destructive zombie dance We need to take basic steps to lower the temperature in the United States. By Amanda Ripley ●  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   I helped run the 'Fire Pelosi' effort. Our toxic politics goes too far. What we say is often not what people hear. By Doug Heye ●  Read more »   Republicans have made violence part of their brand They bear responsibility for people who carry out their violent rhetoric. By Jennifer Rubin ●  Read more »   Dear grocery store owners: I don't work for you! It's not just grocery stores. Apparently, I also work at United Airlines, Target, CVS, Uniqlo and even McDonald's. By Rick Reilly ●  Read more »   Ketanji Brown Jackson asks the right question about affirmative action We can end affirmative action when we've eradicated the effects of slavery and anti-Black terror. By Eugene Robinson ●  Read more »   Elections aren't only about 'the economy, stupid' — and never were The economy is not the singular, overriding factor that decides American elections. By Perry Bacon Jr. ●  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   We're wearing our collective angst (in robe coats and furry slippers) Clothing trends track the political and social zeitgeist. What's happening out in fashion-land raises the question: Are we okay? By Susanna Schrobsdorff ●  Read more »   Silverman's stumble opens a door in the D.C. Council at-large race Credit to challenger Karim Marshall for bringing forward the concern. By Colbert I. King ●  Read more »   Fairfax County's cash bail reform is open for public judgment Those who represent a real danger to the community should remain behind bars, but those who do not should go home. By Alan Davis ●  Read more »     Editorial Cartoons The chief twit tweets out misinformation Twitter owner Elon Musk deletes his post about the attack on Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband after linking to a site that spreads right-wing misinformation. By Ann Telnaes ●  Read more »   Cartoon by Dave Whamond A guest editorial cartoon Read more »   Get breaking news alerts, offline reading lists and more. Download the app     The Post's View (Andre Penner/AP) Amid rising autocracy, Latin American democracy is holding on Brazil's presidential election is a positive story for democracy. By the Editorial Board ●  Read more »     Global Opinions (Tuane Fernandes/Bloomberg) Lula's triumph is a win for Brazil's political center — not the left Lula won, by the thinnest of margins, by gathering support from establishment economists, disillusioned centrists and the hard left. By Mac Margolis ●  Read more »   Why Bolsonaro's stunning loss should give humans a glimmer of hope How democracies are working to beat back the alliance of climate denialism and right-wing authoritarianism. By Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman ●  Read more »   The U.S. still doesn't have an ambassador in this important capital The failure to confirm President Biden's nominee for U.S. ambassador to India is damaging a vital relationship. By Ronak D. Desai ●  Read more »   Why hasn't the Ukrainian army bombed Russia? David Ignatius answered your questions. Read the transcript. By David Ignatius ●  Read more »     Today's Q&As READER Q&A Chat with Alexandra Petri and tell her your jokes Submit your questions now. Read more »   READER Q&A Ask Eugene Robinson about the latest news around the U.S. and world Submit your questions now. Read more »     Try our new daily mini meta crossword It's a week-long adventure that connects a daily 5x5 mini puzzle with a special reveal on Saturdays. Play game   We think you'll like this newsletter Check out Must Reads for a curated selection of our best journalism in your inbox every Saturday, plus a peek behind the scenes into how one story came together. Sign up »

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