Nice little show you got there... In Boston, a bizarre extortion trial involving movie-stereotype union Teamsters and celebrities from the hit television show Top Chef resulted in a verdict of not guilty for the Teamsters. Interestingly, "at least three witnesses testified that a top [mayoral] aide sought to withhold city permits for 'Top Chef' unless the show hired union members." 

Why is the Times so obsessed with communism? At reason, Marian Tupy deconstructs the recent NYT articles fawning over communism. Especially the bold claim that women "had better sex"... Tupy wryly observes: "The Western sexual revolution passed the communist bloc by, and ex-communist countries remain much more patriarchal than their Western counterparts to this day."

Lawyers without borders: The American Bar Association is urging Congress to vote to allow illegal immigrants to practice law in the United States. There's an old movie trope about immigrants having to take jobs in the U.S. that would have been beneath them in their old life. "In my country, I was attorney general." It's odd, given that state bars strenuously check the background of lawyers for crimes and good moral character that they now want people who've broken our immigration laws (and continue to do so) to be able to practice law. 

Paul Ryan's going to win his primary: His opponent, Paul Nehlen, who lost to him in the last primary by nearly 70 points, has revealed that he believes in the thoroughly debunked Pizza Gate conspiracy promoted by alt-right shock jocks. Alex Jones, presumably under the very real threat of litigation, renounced his Pizza Gate remarks earlier this year. When you're nuttier than Alex Jones, well, congratulations Speaker Ryan on your primary win.

The stupid "Border Adjustment Tax" is dead. But could a tax on advertisements be its replacement? Critics contend that such a measure would probably not survive a court challenge, as advertising is a commercial form of speech. They're right. However, if it results in the extinction of misleading ads like "Language Professors Hate Him!" and "Diabetes Breakthrough Leaves Doctors Baffled (Try It Tonight)," maybe it wouldn't be that bad...

Jeff Lord is the man for the job! While he's not personally a fan of Jeffrey Lord—tweeting "Sieg Heil!" at people is classless and never ironic—the recently fired CNN contributor, my colleague Jim Antle at our sister magazine, the Washington Examiner, makes a compelling case for President Trump to hire Lord as communications director. Here's the nutgraf: "Have you ever seen Lord seem the least bit flustered when it comes to defending the president in public? No matter how tough the case or how many liberals and Never Trump Republicans are trying to shout him down, Lord would plunge forward." A loyalist without the baggage of the Mooch. Minus the whole Nazi tweet. Bad timing! Sad!  

Never Invite Milo: At National Review, Elliot Kaufman pillories thoughtless College Republicans for bringing alt-right provocateur Milo Yiannapoulos to campus. College Republicans are worthless. (I know because I was one, once ... before I took a job on a campaign and had the wool lifted from my eyes.) Kaufman is critical and fair: "They are always broke, their leaders are always about to graduate, and nobody on campus ever cares about what they have to say." Milo? "He charges no speaking fees and, with minimal effort and planning from the students, guarantees them attention and controversy. He gives conservative student groups everything they could want." Except the real price is their souls. Because Milo Yiannapoulous is the devil. 

Commentary has snagged Sohrab Ahmari, and it's a great hire. His latest today on how President Trump will always disappoint his conservative apologist defenders is a must-read. Here's a taste: "The president reversed himself – again – in classic Trumpian fashion. Late Monday evening, he tweeted: “Made additional remarks on Charlottesville and realize once again that the #Fake News Media will never be satisfied… truly bad people!” Which made the afternoon statement look like a begrudging concession to an ungrateful press corps rather than a genuine expression. As if to validate the impression, Trump retweeted an alt-right figure a few hours later."

—Jim Swift, Deputy Online Editor

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