Jay Nordlinger

"Tribalism or partisanship is an enemy of thinking -- an enemy of independent thought." I begin my column today with this subject and move on to sundry others. See what you like, and dislike. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/outgrowing...

Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof.bsky.social) is the chief foreign-affairs correspondent of the Wall Street Journal. He was born in Kyiv in 1969. About the Ukraine war, readers have learned a great deal from him. In a podcast, I have put some key questions to him. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/ukraine-at...

For the music-minded, a short review of a concert of piano trios, played by a starry threesome: Thibaudet (piano), Batiashvili (violin), and Capuçon (cello). Should have been a wonderful evening. "So help me, I have never been to a more boring concert." newcriterion.com/dispatch/the...

Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof.bsky.social) is the chief foreign-affairs correspondent of the Wall Street Journal. He was born in Kyiv in 1969. About the Ukraine war, readers have learned a great deal from him. In a podcast, I have put some key questions to him. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/ukraine-at...

For the music-minded, a short review of a concert of piano trios, played by a starry threesome: Thibaudet (piano), Batiashvili (violin), and Capuçon (cello). Should have been a wonderful evening. "So help me, I have never been to a more boring concert." newcriterion.com/dispatch/the...

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are both spectacularly hostile to Ukraine (and you never hear either one breathe a word of criticism of Putin). The sooner Ukraine can free itself of dependence on those two, the better. But how fast can it happen? Can it happen in time?

"The Ukrainians are heroic and innovative because they have been forced to be. I admire them no end: for their perseverance, their courage, their patriotism." This and other topics in my column today. See what you think. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/heroes-and...

"The Ukrainians are heroic and innovative because they have been forced to be. I admire them no end: for their perseverance, their courage, their patriotism." This and other topics in my column today. See what you think. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/heroes-and...

Josh Law, hero. God bless that young man. apnews.com/article/coas...

"Donald Trump and his family are executing corruption at a scale never previously contemplated in the American experiment. If we are to ever graduate from this era of brazen graft, the first step is to notice." A service, from Matt Welch. reason.com/2026/07/09/t...

By @jvl.bsky.social, so very moving. www.thebulwark.com/p/the-beginn...

People feel helpless to do anything about the degradation of our politics. But they are not, in fact, helpless: they can reward decency and penalize indecency. From me, a brief article on the Ramaswamy horror in Ohio. www.thenextmove.org/p/who-will-s...

Vivek Ramaswamy is a toxin in our public life. The only way to counter such an influence is not to reward it. Or endorse it. Mike DeWine and Rob Portman are marvelously decent men. Must they back Ramaswamy? Does party mean everything? From me, an article. www.thenextmove.org/p/who-will-s...

My column today touches on many subjects, beginning with France. Without law and order, a free society is impossible. My final subject is Matt Labash, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Ludwig van Beethoven -- together. Have a look. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/france-afl...

My column today touches on many subjects, beginning with France. Without law and order, a free society is impossible. My final subject is Matt Labash, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Ludwig van Beethoven -- together. Have a look. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/france-afl...

I realize that “politics ain’t beanbag” and all that. But what Ramaswamy has done in Ohio is just despicable. It should disqualify an individual from a position of public trust. I hope Ohioans send him packing, forever.

A message the Democrats should run on: Our great nation does not deserve to be allied with Putin. We are better than that. Redeem our nation, redeem our honor. No to Trump, no to Putin.

"A Shocking and Foul Alliance: On the United States and Russia against Ukraine." From me, an article that is part analysis and part cri de cœur. See what you think. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/a-shocking...

"A Shocking and Foul Alliance: On the United States and Russia against Ukraine." From me, an article that is part analysis and part cri de cœur. See what you think. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/a-shocking...

The Republican argument against Talarico amounts to “Fag!” “Trans!” But funny how Talarico is eager to debate his opponent, while his opponent — Mr. Macho — quails. Manly is as manly does. Pussies.

A sports video without music, enabling us to hear the sounds of sports? That is as sweet as it is rare. I begin my column today with this subject, moving on to spelling-bee kids and other phenomena. Included: a salute to a late, great soprano. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/a-sweet-mu...

A sports video without music, enabling us to hear the sounds of sports? That is as sweet as it is rare. I begin my column today with this subject, moving on to spelling-bee kids and other phenomena. Included: a salute to a late, great soprano. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/a-sweet-mu...

A master of his field. (Let me say, too, that I hope such people will always have a place at our military academies.) www.nytimes.com/2026/10/17/o...

All honor to the muckrakers of our time. wapo.st/47pNfHi

Give me hard-boiled atheists who support the Ukrainians against their murderers over these a-holes "of faith" who have aligned our country with Putin. apnews.com/article/hous...

"Ukraine and the Soul of America." An article from me, for your consideration. Thank you. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/ukraine-an...

Is it too much to say that, in a sense, Putin is on the ballot this November? We are in sore need of a Congress that will check the executive — particularly Trump’s grotesque, anti-American partnership with Putin.

"Ukraine and the Soul of America." An article from me, for your consideration. Thank you. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/ukraine-an...

You know the expression "above my pay grade"? I don't think I can explain the wacky sexual politics of MAGA. But I can provide examples, as many as you want. I devote my column today to this subject. See what you think. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/the-wacky-...

You know the expression "above my pay grade"? I don't think I can explain the wacky sexual politics of MAGA. But I can provide examples, as many as you want. I devote my column today to this subject. See what you think. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/the-wacky-...

See what you think.

In 2017, Charles Krauthammer, alarmed at what he was seeing on the right, wrote his last extended essay: "The Authoritarian Temptation." I thought of it last week when President Trump called for the arrest of reporters. From me, a column today. www.thenextmove.org/p/charles-kr...

For the music-minded, a review of the Philadelphia Orchestra, under Yannick Nézet-Séguin, in Carnegie Hall last night. The major work: Mahler's Symphony No. 5. newcriterion.com/dispatch/the...

"To me, 'charisma' is just a fancy word for rehearsals." I'm not sure about that. Anyway, she had it. Rode up in an elevator with her once. She was delightful, unforgettable. I loved her. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/14/a...

In 2017, Charles Krauthammer, alarmed at what he was seeing on the right, wrote his last extended essay: "The Authoritarian Temptation." I thought of it last week when President Trump called for the arrest of reporters. From me, a column today. www.thenextmove.org/p/charles-kr...

Populism is such a weird political and psychological phenomenon. The heroes of populism tend to live in ways that, in their extravagance, their sheer let-them-eat-cake gall, would make "elitists" blush, or retch. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

For the music-minded, a review of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, under Kirill Petrenko, in Carnegie Hall. newcriterion.com/dispatch/elg...

Martha C. Nussbaum, that formidable and versatile philosopher, has written a book about opera. From me, a review. freebeacon.com/culture/poli...

I have always loved Washington, DC, for various reasons. But a recent visit to the city was a bitter experience. Here is a very personal essay, but one that others will relate to, I know. Anyway, see what you think. www.thenextmove.org/p/our-nation...

Martha C. Nussbaum, that formidable and versatile philosopher, has written a book about opera. From me, a review. freebeacon.com/culture/poli...

I have always loved Washington, DC, for various reasons. But a recent visit to the city was a bitter experience. Here is a very personal essay, but one that others will relate to, I know. Anyway, see what you think. www.thenextmove.org/p/our-nation...

"Over the years, people have asked me, 'Do you think Donald Trump is a Russian asset?' I do not think so. But he's obviously an asset to Russia." Let me spend a couple of minutes on the distinction.

In which @casssunstein.bsky.social is polite -- and lethal. This is a model of lethality through politeness ... casssunstein.substack.com/p/defining-s...

I ask my friends with a cross around their neck, an American flag on their lapel, and “civilization” on their lips: What say you of this?

I think it was Max Eastman who said, “Stipulate that they are not agents of the Kremlin. If they were, how exactly would they behave differently?”

The trajectory of the GOP and the American Right is perfectly illustrated in Marco Rubio (and Mike Lee). My view in a nutshell: If you’re gonna become a nat-pop, like every other dolt on the block, just do it. And spare me the Greco-Roman veneer.

I never liked the language police -- people telling you what terms you had to use. For most of my life, the police were on the left. Now there are cops on the right, starting with the president. Some thoughts on this, and other matters, in my column today. www.jaynordlinger.com/p/a-presiden...

The Republicans around me absolutely pounded Merkel for her purchase of Russian gas (rightly, in my view). When Orbán did the same, after Putin's full-scale invasion, they were quiet. I expect them to be equally quiet with regard to Donald Trump.