Today, like five years ago, a controversial man has been transformed overnight into a one-dimensional saint, marshaled in a culture war that precludes measured thought. Once again, Americans are being asked to genuflect before an idol.

In becoming a martyr, Kirk has been reduced to slogans and half-truths that obscure the real tragedy of his death. But if Americans are to learn anything valuable from the deceased, both sides will need to find the courage to reject such opportunistic cant.

MAGA Finds Its George Floyd – The Atlantic

This short piece from Thomas Chatterton Williams echoes a longer one from him on the same topic, from July. As someone who’s both black and conservative, Williams may be one of the few people who can write a piece like that without being immediately dismissed without a hearing by (at least) one side.