Homer Simpson, Ray Romano, Randy Marsh, and Hal Wilkerson—all idiots. Good natured, bumbling, and well-intentioned, but idiots nonetheless. The clear implication is that these media-created dads are buffoons at best, and detriments to their own families at worst. Considering Peter Griffin of Family Guy has a stated IQ of 70, these near-neanderthals are certainly unnecessary in family life—except as an easy punchline used to cue the laugh tracks. Of course, the aforementioned half-wits are offset in media portrayals, not with wholesome, discerning, and forthright fathers.

On May 18, in St. Peter’s Square, the new Pope Leo XIV called for the Catholic Church to become a model of “unity, community, and fraternity within the world.” A central task of his pontificate will be addressing the social and economic crises of our time.

Israel has begun its attack on Iran:

Israel said it struck dozens of targets across Iran aiming to cripple Tehran’s nuclear program, pushing the region toward a new conflict with uncertain consequences.

Industrial policy has staged a remarkable comeback in Washington. Once a term used with caution, if not embarrassment, it’s now embraced across the political spectrum as a tool to reindustrialize America and outcompete China. Whether it’s semiconductor manufacturing, rare earth mining, or green energy technologies, federal policymakers increasingly believe that strategic government intervention is not only justified but necessary.

Israel’s airstrikes on Iran and US involvement shatter the illusion that America First guides President Trump’s Middle East policy. Article by Brandan Buck. 

[Philosophical Method: A Very Short Introduction by Timothy Williamson (Oxford University Press, 2020; xvii + 142pp)]

A couple of months ago, the following correspondence took place. I knew, of course, what sort of publication The New Yorker is, and based on the very first question I was certain that my name would be mentioned, no matter what. Hence, to forestall any possible misrepresentation, I decided to reply. But I refused to simply talk and insisted on doing things in writing so that I could later prove what was and wasn’t said.

Dear Professor Hoppe,

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted in 1996 to protect the privacy of patient health information. Its privacy rule restricts access to a patient’s medical records to authorized individuals and limits how information can be shared without patient consent.