See if you can find a clip of Senator Ted Cruz taking apart Chuck Hagel today. Hagel came off incredibly shifty and dishonest, while Cruz showed that being rhetorically tough doesn’t mean being bombastic or rude. Something about Cruz’s calm, unforced courtesy made the surgical precision of his questioning that much more effective. Cruz showed what happens when preparation, talent, and discipline come together.
Of Roots and Adventures
I have lived in Ohio, Michigan, Georgia (twice), Pennsylvania, Alabama (also twice), England, and Idaho. I left…
Our Most Popular Articles of 2025
It’s been a big year for First Things. Our website was completely redesigned, and stories like the…
Our Year in Film & Television—2025
First Things editors and writers share the most memorable films and TV shows they watched this year.…