Letterman used to have a segment called "Brush with Greatness." Well, today, I passed Tom Hanks on the street. He was standing -- waiting for a car, I think -- with a ball cap jammed over his head. It was a thrill to see him: an immortal, and a mensch.

"For ten, fifteen minutes, there had been a fair amount of excitement. The house had been raucous -- positively raucous." A few words from me -- political and otherwise -- about Opening Night at the Metropolitan Opera. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/a-quick-re...

"For ten, fifteen minutes, there had been a fair amount of excitement. The house had been raucous -- positively raucous." A few words from me -- political and otherwise -- about Opening Night at the Metropolitan Opera. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/a-quick-re...

Idle thought: If the American experiment is to be finished off — by Americans, of course; no one else — it will be by rationalization. Not hostility or aggression so much as rationalization. It is all around us.

In my opinion, an attorney general with dignity would not stand for this.

Idle thought: If the American experiment is to be finished off — by Americans, of course; no one else — it will be by rationalization. Not hostility or aggression so much as rationalization. It is all around us.

"Do you mind a little political rough-and-tumble with your Football Saturday? Well, I won't be long." A brisk, multi-item'd column by me. jaynordlinger.com/p/no-naivete...

In my opinion, an attorney general with dignity would not stand for this.

"Do you mind a little political rough-and-tumble with your Football Saturday? Well, I won't be long." A brisk, multi-item'd column by me. jaynordlinger.com/p/no-naivete...

In the latest episode of "Music for a While," I pay tribute to Rodion Shchedrin, the late composer. I read from some correspondence. I play musical examples. I think you will enjoy this "dipping in" to a rich, productive life. soundcloud.com/thenewcriter...

"Who are we?" Americans have always asked that question about their country. We have asked it a lot in recent years. My column today deals with that, and other issues. See what you think. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/scars-and-...

A Republican of the old school. A good school.

"The U.S. military has always emphasized obeying the laws of war, for all the difficulties that might cause. George Washington appointed the first judge advocate only a few weeks after taking command of the Continental Army." By @ignatiuspost.bsky.social. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

In the latest episode of "Music for a While," I pay tribute to Rodion Shchedrin, the late composer. I read from some correspondence. I play musical examples. I think you will enjoy this "dipping in" to a rich, productive life. soundcloud.com/thenewcriter...

Something finna “drop.”

"Who are we?" Americans have always asked that question about their country. We have asked it a lot in recent years. My column today deals with that, and other issues. See what you think. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/scars-and-...

I have no words -- I'll just link. An obit by @risenc.bsky.social. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/u...

For years, President Trump has called his critics "enemies of the people." This phrase has a horrible pedigree (and horrible present). American leaders should not use it. Can we all agree? (No.)

It was thrilling in 1991 when Russians tore down "Iron Felix." But, under Putin, Russia has now been re-Sovietized.

This is routine, like a weather report. "It's 75 degrees in San Diego today." This should not be.

🇺🇸?

If it weren't for the Niagara of news -- this would be a huge scandal and a grave concern. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/u...

"Putin will provoke the West again and again," said Vladimir Bukovsky in an interview with me (2019). "He will push things to the limit -- to test the strength and resolve of the West." How will we respond? I discuss this and other issues today. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/provocatio...

According to legend, Oliver Cromwell wanted his portrait painted "warts and all." That's how history should be presented -- warts and all, scars and all. www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

"Putin will provoke the West again and again," said Vladimir Bukovsky in an interview with me (2019). "He will push things to the limit -- to test the strength and resolve of the West." How will we respond? I discuss this and other issues today. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/provocatio...

I have interviewed ... well, countless people in my life -- people of various types -- and probably a couple of hundred dissidents. By no one have I been more impressed than by the North Koreans. The life of Kim Seongmin -- stunning. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/14/w...

A combination of Charlie and Charles -- @sykescharlie.bsky.social and Krauthammer -- is very satisfying indeed. Certainly to me. charliesykes.substack.com/p/a-reminder...

I greatly appreciated this discussion. Have a listen, see what you think.

In the Washington Free Beacon, an article by me about a national treasure, and his complications. freebeacon.com/culture/a-re...

I love the word "quite": "Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this obituary referred incorrectly to Tony Robbins, the popular self-help speaker. He is quite alive; it is not the case that he died this year." www.nytimes.com/2025/09/12/b...

"The fundamental things apply," goes an old song. In these difficult, and worsening, times, @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social and I have talked about some fundamental things in our society, and, really, all societies. The human drama does not change all that much. www.thebulwark.com/p/bulwark-on...

In the Washington Free Beacon, an article by me about a national treasure, and his complications. freebeacon.com/culture/a-re...

My friend @jianliyang.bsky.social is many things. A mathematician and political economist (Ph.D.s from Berkeley and Harvard). A dissident and democracy leader. Also: a poet. Such a gifted man (intellectually, morally, and artistically). substack.com/home/post/p-...

Last night, a young man of my acquaintance asked me a question. He had a grave, concerned look on his face. “Jay,” he said, “do you know a good book a person can read?” I said, “Sure, Manny, what subject do you have in mind?”

Cashier: "How's your morning been so far?" Me: "Fine, thanks. I haven't had time to screw it up yet." Cashier: "Me neither. Give me a few minutes." Me: "I'll need about a half-hour." Truth is, we'll both have good days. You too, I trust!

I don't like what refs and umps have to go through these days. The humiliation, the degradation. I'm inclined to think it was a better day when refs and umps ruled their respective domains -- mistakes and all. Anyway, a topic of debate. sports.yahoo.com/college-foot...

Do you know who David Rose was? He died only last month. Heroically. I confess, I did not know about him. I must have missed that "story." @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social has written about this amazing American. www.thebulwark.com/p/kirk-killi...

I believe that this reaction will be a dark mark on Rubio's record -- another one. It may well be something he is ashamed of in his own lifetime. We will see.

Violence is as old as man, obviously. But can we acknowledge that America has a particular problem? A column from me, heavy on the personal. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/america-th...

On the first anniversary of 9/11, I gave a speech in Greece, which you might find of interest all these years later. www.nationalreview.com/2002/09/chan...

"Pluralism is a key, a vital, part of these United States. Antioch and Cedarville, within shouting distance of each other. That's America." A journal, for your enjoyment. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/central-oh...

"Pluralism is a key, a vital, part of these United States. Antioch and Cedarville, within shouting distance of each other. That's America." A journal, for your enjoyment. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/central-oh...

The murder of Charlie Kirk is an evil event that blights our land. Words are too poor to express the necessary. May we work, daily, against evil, in any way we can.

“That red carpet in Anchorage seems not to have made much of an impression,” writes @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social. “Or perhaps Putin understood the gesture for what it was …” www.thebulwark.com/p/hey-donald...

Oh, geez, what a surprise. (Cynical? Or realistic?) apnews.com/article/la-l...

Lukashenko is Putin Jr. (Say this for Belarus: It continued to call its secret police the "KGB," not bothering with a different moniker.) apnews.com/article/bela...

Grim. A phenomenon our nation needs to confront. apnews.com/article/arre...

If I were NATO, I'd be careful about including the United States in my councils. (Trust me: Officials in Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and elsewhere know this. I have heard it from their own lips.) apnews.com/article/nato...

Anyone who thinks that Putin won't expand his war as far as he can is naïve. This, unfortunately, includes many who style themselves "realists." apnews.com/article/russ...

An idea for an article (perhaps it’s already been done). Missouri’s senators are Schmitt and Hawley (no, not Smoot and Hawley, although there is a resemblance on trade). Is there something about Missouri — Missouri in particular — that makes it elect politicians of that type?