Paul Glastris olympic host cities

The hard-earned expertise a city derives from hosting the Games — the knowledge its planners, contractors, technicians, security officials, and armies of volunteers gain on the job — can’t be put to use again. . . Instead, another city gets to make the same rookie mistakes.

The Washington Post, August 2, on why the Olympics should be held in a single location rather than different cities.

David Remnick trump and putin

Trump sees strength and cynicism in Putin and hopes to emulate him. Putin sees in Trump a grand opportunity. He sees in Trump weakness and ignorance, a confused mind. He has every hope of exploiting him.

The New Yorker, August 3, on Trump and Putin.

david pryce-jones terrorism in europe

Comparable to France though with fewer dead, Germany has experienced four acts of Islamist terror in a short space of time. Chancellor Angela Merkel at a press conference said she bore no responsibility for this spate of violence, and has no intention of changing her policy of open-door migration. . . . The ruling elites in these two major European countries show themselves to be not only helpless but out of touch with public opinion, indeed with reality altogether.

National Review, August 3, on European leaders’ reactions to terrorism in their countries.