Prologue Journal

Understanding current events through the lenses of the past and future.

Swamp Creatures Scurry

Wall Street Journal Unelected policy makers realize they shouldn’t have been making policy. https://www.wsj.com/articles/swamp-creatures-scurry-e99f0197

16 Books We Read This Week

Wall Street Journal The transformation of Anne Frank, the early days of the Federal Reserve, why matter still mystifies and more. https://www.wsj.com/articles/16-books-we-read-this-week-f8ab568a

The Limits of ‘Running Government Like a Business’

Wall Street Journal After a long and successful private-sector career, I came to Washington—and soon developed humility. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-limits-of-running-washington-like-a-business-policy-politics-compromise-outsider-024a394f

What’s Trump Trying to Say? Ask a Doctor

Wall Street Journal ‘Differential diagnosis’ can help make sense of the president-elect’s ambiguous words. https://www.wsj.com/articles/whats-trump-trying-to-say-ask-a-doctor-understanding-policy-politics-ff8bad51

New Democratic Governor Calls for Efficiency

Wall Street Journal Bipartisan DOGE vibes show that voters hate bureaucracy. https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-democratic-governor-calls-for-efficiency-9568c373

A Tale of Two State Insurance Markets

Wall Street Journal Florida fixed its market with reforms. California didn’t. See the results. https://www.wsj.com/articles/home-insurance-federalization-john-kennedy-california-florida-ron-desantis-eedc07f7

MAGA Cashiers a Check on Tulsi Gabbard as DNI

Wall Street Journal Speaker Johnson bows to Mar-a-Lago in ousting Intel Chair Mike Turner. https://www.wsj.com/articles/mike-turner-ousted-house-intelligence-committee-mike-johnson-donald-trump-house-gop-1363d4ef

Biden Offers a Bitter Last Word

Wall Street Journal His farewell speech was like his Presidency: needlessly divisive. https://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-biden-farewell-address-oval-office-social-media-tech-companies-61f69b7e

Mike Pence’s Truth Bomb in Hong Kong

Wall Street Journal On a visit to the territory, he calls for China to release imprisoned publisher Jimmy Lai https://www.wsj.com/articles/mike-pence-jimmy-lai-hong-kong-ubs-wealth-summit-china-234d4690

A Nod to Freedom at the American Economic Association

Wall Street Journal But the awards at its annual meeting reflect woke orthodoxy. https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-nod-to-freedom-at-the-american-economic-association-588a498c