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1. �Days before Hillary Clinton became the presumptive Democratic nominee, Rebecca Traister’s profile of the candidate stirred a lively debate about the successes and failings of her campaign (“A Woman Running for President,” May 30–June 12). The New Republic’s Alex Shephard said that Clinton’s campaigning, described in the story as awkward, has undergone recent improvements. “Over the last week she’s seemed not only a natural campaigner but an inspiring one. When she looked out and said ‘Tonight’s victory is not about one person, it belongs to generations,’ it was hard not to get chills.” Many readers thought the profile was both intimate and evenhanded. “Easily the best piece I’ve read on HRC this season,” tweeted Vanity Fair’s Bryan Burrough. “Good access, balanced, thoughtful.” One anecdote in the story struck a chord with readers: After Traister asks Clinton about the sexism she’s faced, the candidate shares a story from her college years about being harassed while sitting for the LSATs by men who felt she was trying to take one of their spots in law school. One said to her, “If you get into law school and I don’t, and I have to go to Vietnam and get killed, it’s your fault.” Commenter StPeteMichael wrote, “I don’t believe for one second her story about the LSAT at Harvard. This is more of her play for sympathy and victimization.” “I believe it,” responded ZanziAnnie. “As I had the exact same situation happen to me at the LSAT a decade later (so minus the Vietnam War statement). Her statements reflect the sexism many of us have encountered when we dared to enter a traditionally male stronghold.” Many others were moved by how far we’ve come since the day Clinton took her exams. “I got choked up reading,” wrote Bustle’s Rachel Krantz. “I also learned from it that Clinton was born in a year when there were no women serving in the Senate. We’ve come a long way, baby. Almost all the way to the nuclear launch codes.”
2. �“Reagan’s apocalyptic theme, ‘The Empire is in decline,’ is interchangeable with Trump’s, even if the Gipper delivered it with a smile,” wrote Frank Rich in his story on the similarities between the former president’s campaign and that of the current Republican nominee (“What The Donald Shares With The Ronald,” May 30–June 12). Commenter Jeffrey.Davis, a “life-long Democrat” by his own admission, agreed with Rich’s assessment: “I can still remember my parents arguing with people, yelling, ‘Reagan can never be President! He’s a buffoon!’ The truly scary thing about this article is that it doesn’t even touch upon the fact that Reagan didn’t have the support of a fully functional propaganda machine — i.e., Rupert Murdoch and Fox News. Trump does! Talk about bringing a bazooka to a street fight! The Democrats have got to learn that a policy wonk can’t win a beauty pageant. And that’s what the Presidential Race is, folks!” At least one commenter felt the comparison was unfair to Reagan. “Perhaps he was still mostly known to the hoi polloi for his show business roles,” wrote Classicist. “But he at least had actual governing experience and was able to articulate reasonably consistent policy positions which, whatever you thought of them, at least gave the impression that he had thought about the issues for more than a fleeting moment.” “The difference between Reagan and Trump that comforts me,” wrote MWnyc: “Reagan was a disciplined candidate. Donald Trump seems not to have a disciplined bone in his body.” Many readers were intrigued by Rich’s comparison: “If you think there has never been a candidate like Trump and he can never win, go read Frank Rich’s column,” tweeted Tom Beer.
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3. “Landing in jail and seeing his mug shot go viral was the best thing to ever happen to Jeremy Meeks,” reads the headline of Jessica Pressler’s story on the handsome felon who became internet famous while serving time (“The Felon Is Hot,” May 30–June 12). “Americans love a redemption story,” wrote Clarknt67. “If his desire to turn his back on ‘the life’ is sincere, then good for him. If he is just looking to score quick cash off his infamy, with the help of sleaze purveyors, it won’t work out well.” “But America loves a fall from grace story even more,” argued aztecace1. Commenters were generally supportive of Meeks, despite the protests of some, like dudie.small, who wrote, “This is an affront and major insult to all law-abiding people who work hard to live and survive … how dare they give this lowlife any consideration.” “Never understood all the hate directed at this guy and the women who went gaga over him,” wrote DCSpence. “Women go gaga over good-looking dudes! As well they should. Nothing new or wrong about that. I hope he turns his life around and spends the next 20 years making money and keeping his nose clean.” Many just appreciated Pressler’s skillful writing. “The description of [his agent’s] spiritual awakening is the best paragraph I have ever encountered in an interview ever,” wrote chipsandguac.