THE COPE IS STRONG:

A lot of people don't want to confront the implications of what they just saw happen in LA, even those who are appalled by it. They want an out, just so they can go on, not be terrified, feel a tiny tiny bit in control still. It will be interesting to see what they come up with.

— Walter Kirn (@walterkirn) June 8, 2026

My cope was writing off California as a Third World banana republic, but that was years ago.