#nothing for polin week

[flamedork]

it's so interesting to me that the official bridgerton accounts just refuse to mention anything about the main series. i totally understand QC is the priority but it really just seems like a missed opportunity.

[hiyyihrts]

okay but real question is who is running the Bridgerton estate rn bc kanthony are honeymooning and going to India, Violet is getting her girls courted and married, Benedict and Colin are too busy fucking and sucking- who is paying for and handling all the shit bc it sure ain’t Gregory or Hyacinth !!

[friendly-jester]

i'm curious

i hate asking for reblogs but pls reblog for sample size <333

edit cuz i've seen a few people say they've read only one or a few books but not all which is my bad for not having that as an option it totally slipped my mind!! but in my opinion that counts as "just read the books" or as both so answer however you see fit :)

[sunshinejinx]

polin week 2024 : day two 🪞 favorite book scene

"For a moment Colin did nothing but blink. How was it possible he’d never noticed how big her eyes were? He’d known they were brown, of course, and ... No, come to think of it, if he were to be honest with himself, he would have to admit that if asked earlier this morning, he’d not have been able to identify the color of her eyes. But somehow he knew that he’d never forget again." @polinweek

[elphabasthropp]

bonus polin week ♡ day 5: favorite hand scene

colin, your hand! it is nothing. it is not nothing. stay there. please. let me.

[strnger1985]

Some bridgerton book fans are so pathetic they are like

“the show is gonna flop now bc they changed the gender of a toxic manipulative man into a woman😡”

like y’all said the same thing when the show was announced and they casted a black man to play simon, when kate was casted and it wasn’t a white woman, said the same thing when polin was the main couple instead of benophie (yet it got over a billion streams within the first week) can they pls just shut up now

“why can’t they follow the books” first off they never have in kanthonys book edwina and anthony don’t even have that whole wedding shit like they do in the show… none of the seasons are like their books

secondly THANK FUCK THEY AREN’T!! the show wouldn’t have existed if they kept it exactly like the books

the men in the books are vile

anthony is physically abusive towards kate and edwina

colin is emotionally abusive towards pen

benedict is just plain vile towards sophie

michael said to fran ( a woman who struggles with fertility) that he wants to keep her tied to a bed till she is with child… guilt trips her into marriage bc they had sex while fran just feels used…

THANK GOD THEY ARE NOTHING LIKE THE BOOKS

[herejusttosufferalong]

Note taking anon here, back from Tif's latest live. I have to start off by just saying holy fuck I have never been so deep in my delulu as I am now. Holy shit. This changed my perspective on a few things and DAMN.

Ok, onto the live...my note taking is not as thorough this time because Tif being the angel she is has created a link to share both the outline as well as all the pictures, videos and links to different media. Queen. Very importantly, she has asked everyone not to make posts of the document. Please share the link in chats, but away from the timeline and DO NOT tag any party involved (it's depressing that this has to be reiterated, but we all know someone will go rogue). Also, go say thank you to Tif...she spent over 20 hours this week working on this to share with us. Again, queen shit.

Tif brought up L's yellow phone case and compared it to the polaroid in N's phone...said keep an eye out for it to reappear. Said they also communicate in stories and songs 👀

Big piece of delulu feeding are songs L liked from a small Irish musician beginning of 2023. Holy shit guys. I'm currently listening and freaking out. Sampling of lyircs:

"Lovely to just lay here with you. You're kinda cute and I would say all of this. But I don't wanna ruin the moment. Lovely to sit between comfort and chaos" -- L both liked this song on the musician's page and then shared a Polin edit set to the song...

"Just because it won't come easily doesn't mean we shouldn't try"

"Where you go, I'll follow, no matter how far. If life is a movie, then you're the best part"

Around the time L was liking those songs, L and N went to a few of the same events as each other but were never photographed together. Seems like they may have been trying to be private/not be seen together on purpose

L posted a pic from one of those events that N may have taken...she used it months later to congratulate L on his TSOT press day

There was SO much more!!! I am happy to share more notes I took, but I think everything should be covered in the outline. What I've shared above are things that seemed to be more discussion around the things rather than straight timeline. If you want more, let me know.

Also, I have been a hard believer in nothing ever happened between them and now I am about 90% convinced it did. I have lots of thoughts and am currently processing. Will probably share later.

💜🥃

[moirindeclermont]

Fourth installment in my serie of Polin first times we didn't see in Bridgerton and this is actually a request from @renee561 , who asked my to talk about the first time they have pregnant sex.

Technically, they did have this after their reconciliation, but I'm assuming @renee561 is talking about the first time they did when Colin knew and it was a bit later in her pregnancy.

Thing is, for me it's difficult to pick a single time, because Colin would shower Pen with compliments and it would pass at least an hour everyday just taking in all the change in her body and Pen now is so much more sensitive than before, so it takes literally nothing to get her ready.

But one time it was particularly special, because Colin had to stay away from her for two whole weeks. Upon returning home, he would give a couple of days of rest to the servants, because he needs to be alone with Pen and he needs time to process everything that happen in those two weeks.

He would ask Pen to stand naked in front of the mirror, while Colin would be beside her, touching her everywhere as he lists all that changes he sees and feel.

Now that Pen's bump is well visible, he spends a lots of time there, massaging into her lovely skin lenients and creams that Kate recommended to them.

Of course, he would pay great attention to her breasts, now ever more fuller than before. Pen would keen at the feeling of his hand touching her, and sometimes even that is too much, so Colin has discovered that instead of going lighter - as he did in the beginning - he has to be a bit rougher. Pen rests her whole body against his as he grabs an handful and they kiss deeply at this point.

Then, Colin would pay great attention to her core. First he would ask Pen to lie down, his voice dropping an octave, and then he would kneel in between her legs and feel her. He can't resist giving a lick or two, before taking her. He makes sure she is comfortable and when she is wriggling, begging him to take her, that’s when he knows his wife is ready.

Two whole weeks without this, and Colin almost comes after he can even begin. But he has a mission. He knows that now the sensitivity means he can make her come at least twice before releasing himself. And while he is going at it, he makes sure to touch her all over. He can't get enough of her. My goddess, he calls her and it's appropriate because pregnant Pen is exactly what a goddess of life should look like.

Afterwards, when Pen is sleeping but he is still awake, he would tell the baby all about his two weeks away. And while he knows that Pen is actually awake, he doesn't mind the lie. When he finishs, he drys Pen's tears from her face - she doesn't have to explain, he knows - and kiss her goodnight, for real this time.

If you want a particular first tell me, I'll shall write about it - maybe without tears, like in this case because I'm a sap

[lukolabrainrot]

It’s the timing that makes me hopeful. The all important BRT announcements are out of the way. Leads are announced, production officially started, fandom is now formally in a drought phase of blurred bts snippets, Polin era is over. (“show leads” -wise at least, shipping is as strong as ever) 90 days done and almost two months of virtual SM silence (aside from few exceptions, and unproven rumors), the ground is literally perfectly paved for a slow coming out into the light. Now nobody can claim PR, (their reign time is over) or stealing of the spotlight away from leads (there will be no B/S for two years). I always suspected that some kind of society manipulation has been afoot, but if clues continue, followed by announcement, I would be fully convinced. And not even mad, frankly, good for them! I am too tentative to pop champagne yet, but an aperitif was just ordered 😉

I agree with a lot of this Anon!

I'm staying cautiously optimistic, but the most optimistic I have been since Papgate. Everything in PR with celebrities tends to be strategic... nothing is done by accident. So everything we have seen in the last few weeks since the Italy bday trip leads me to believe that they are slowly setting the stage for L/N to make an announcement. And I am almost certain from everything I've seen that L/N have been working on their relationship privately since way before the Italy bday trip. Which explains the public optics this summer imo.

[somedayillbepeterpan]

My laptop finally came 😭 I can finally make gifs again-- the one beautiful gift that Polin gave me aside from being the best season ever.

I give you on today's rewatch (from a couple of weeks really):

This literal Featherington race happening on Ep1 (I'll put commentary and try to make it like they do on the races 😂).

And the Featherington ladies are off, crossing the gate as they start this thrilling race. Philippa and Prudence starting off tight!

But what's this? A strong contender catches up in the form of the youngest daughter, Penelope!

Mama Featherington coming in with advise for the two eldest as Penelope races behind them, bobbing in an out of view. Prudence and Philippa are still tight as they come near the next gate.

But what's this? The youngest overtakes! Penelope coming in hot, with determination and wit, she overtakes her eldest sisters, as the only one who understood what Mama Feathers were talking about.

AND PENELOPE CROSSES THE FINISH LINE WITH NOTHING BUT WIT AND SASS!

Congratulations, Pen! Don't you worry, Prudence, her husband's just on his way from taking his blinders off.

Bonus analysis: Doors/gates/archways are a recurring theme on this season and that's how I found this little gem (cause I was looking for material for one of the other series I would like to start).

So good to be back 😭

[veninorchid]

Bridgerton S3 Review

Dearest gentle reader, I am disappointed, sadly.

And as I respect your opinion, so too, shall you respect mine. I'm not here to bash on #Polin fans and the fact that they enjoyed it, but what -was- season 3 of Bridgerton truly?

I love the Mondriches, but do they really need so much screen-time? What did their own ball add to the story exactly? Had the same feeling about the Dankworth-Finch ball at the end, but at least that one proved its necessity as -the reveal all- ball. Because there was of course no Duke of Hastings (Simon) to host it, so they improvised.

This season had too many stories going on at the same time which were all fighting for the spotlight when it should've focused on #Polin, cause that is what was advertised/hyped. It did not deliver…

Season 1 - Daphne and Simon They had the most screen-time and all other stories got a little bit of shine. But even then some of those had either Daphne or Simon in the picture/background. (Marina-Colin, with Daphne as chaperone is one of the examples) None of the other stories distracted from the main focus.

Season 2 - Kanthony Same here. While there was a lot going on in this season with Anthony courting Edwina and going all the way to the alter with her (creative license, since it didn't happen in the book) and then on the other hand we were seeing the other side with his having the thickest desire and longing for Kate. You could cut that shit with a knife, I tell you. But no side stories were overpowering. It was 90% lead character -stuff. Season 3 - Benedict---, I mean #Polin -minus the actual #Polin Were their (the directors/screenwriters) initial thoughts that we've been seeing them for 2 seasons, so we don't have to pay that much attention to the leads? Wrong! That was friendship, this is love, longing and passion. So much new ground to explore for these two. Little scenes like dancing in the church, stealing loving glances is cute and all, but we got nothing more than that. Nothing memorable.

No wait, we got carriage frolicking in part 1 and a mirror first time in part 2. You're right, I apologize. Anything else? Name any other thing you remember from this whole season. I'll wait, seriously.

Did maybe the night scene come up in your memories? Where they had an angry make out and he once again let his hand venture below? I felt the anger/passion in the coming together and pushing her against the shop, sure. The quick flash of him reaching between her thighs was more of a recycled scene from episode 4 or even from S03 Kanthony. I mean honestly. Was there really even a chance he'd take her in the streets? It felt unnecessary and forced. The dialogue was good and would've been better at their home where it's believable they could enter an intimate scene that -could- be finished if they so wanted it. Or not if his anger won over his desire. Did I mention they were both drinking before they met? I didn't say drunk, I said drinking.

I guess they improvised the whole Mme Delacroix scene (before the angry make out) with her offering advice and booze just to give Pen a reason to drink and coincidentally be in Colin's path for the scene? Wasted screen-time. Do I also need a drink to feel the -love- this season?

First part, Colin helping and chasing Pen. Second part, let's ignore and distance myself from her. They really stretched out Colin's pulling back from her because of the whole Whistledown thing, when they could've done fast forwards, saying things like 'Colin, it's been weeks. Or it's been so long, can we get passed this' just to show the time frame. But instead we get long minutes of silence and ignoring each other. Filming Colin from the back, zooming in. Then from the front zooming in. Then him watching her leave the house, slowly getting up from sleeping on the sofa, walking towards his desk. Lifting and opening and reading her old letters. Do you have any idea how long that feels? When she exited the bedroom and delivered her dialogue he could've already been behind his desk. Did we see Simon (S01E02) walk into the room, open his father's desk, take out the unopened letters etc.? No, the flashback ends with him already seated and holding the letters. Same thing could've been done here.

Oh, let's not forget side character-stuff. Let's talk more about that.

Again, I cannot stress it enough. Mondriches. Duke of Kent stuff and moving up, is fine. Seeing them struggle constantly onscreen is not. Wasted screen-time. You can easily have us hear about that in conversation. How miserable and sad he is because he had to close the bar when he became part of the ton. So many ways to handle that. Moving to part 2. Why did we have to get the whole preparation for their ball? What did it add to the story exactly? Just let everyone arrive at the ball and let that be the first we all see of the decorations. Did we see Lady Danbury prepare for the huge conservatory ball in S2? Lady Trowbridge's ball in S1? All of Her Majesty's balls? No, so it was wasted screen-time.

Francesca's story was sweet, bless her, but also unnecessary detailed. Was it the autism angle they were trying to push forward? I'm all for it, but only when you have a series with more than 8 episodes. (God, I miss 22 episode series) Because she is still a side character in #Polin's book, no matter which way you turn it. At Francesca's wedding we had the whole vows scene and everything and the two LEADS!!!! were stealing glances at each other while standing behind the whole ass family. You're the leads, act like it! It felt like S1 and S2 with them being in the background.

We all know Bridgerton's known for taking liberties with the wardrobe. The tailored waists for Pen enhance her body beautifully, but Cressida's wardrobe is bordering… scratch that! has taken a 250 MPH free-fall, into ridiculousness. I also absolutely did not care for -seeing- the reasons behind Cressida claiming to be Whistledown. Should've just kept her as a bitch. That's what we enjoyed about her. Fine, you decided on that development for her character, so here's an idea. She was so chummy with Eloise. Could've just had her tell Eloise that she was being pressured by her parents to marry and then being send to the country to live with a horrid aunt. Wasted screen-time. You only have 8 episodes to work with for crying out loud.

And then there's the side character of all side-characters. Benedict. Didn't they make the very -deliberate- decision to push back Benedict and Sophie's story in favor of #Polin as S3? To then give me so much useless Bentilly sexy time; Time that could've easily been given to #Polin things. If you can make up stories about him being confused as to his sexuality, you can just as easily come up with new, none book, stories for the actual leads. Could've left everything they forced on us about Benedict for his actual season. What's gonna be left for his own season? Wasted screen-time. Should've made him absent, continue the art-school in the background, anything. I mean, an extended honeymoon for Kanthony instead of a forced story to have them onscreen. Do the bloody same for Benedict and focus on #Polin. Every time we saw Benedict, he was playing twister with Tilly and later with what's his name (don't even care) It's not relevant, it's wasted screen-time.

I'm gonna end my review (rant!) with one last thing.

Shallow kisses. Heck it's acting, so you don't have to shove your tongue down your co-actor's throat, but keep your lips open and hollow out your mouth to at least make us think you're playing tongue-twister. As soon as their lips touched, they closed their mouths and it became a fervent peck-fest. Like kissing air and practicing in front of a mirror. Yes, they look good kissing each other, but the kissing itself was bleh.

First kiss in part 1 was going the right direction and was pretty believable, but after that… shallow as f*ck. And to think they were supposed to be increasing in passion after that first kiss. All of them were closed-mouth pecks, I'm sorry. Was it the height-difference that didn't allow them to actually suck each other's face off? ---------------

I will not do a TL;DR, because if you skip this review/rant, you will not have missed anything. Have a great day people.

Yours truly, Venin Orchid (aka Lady Regency-nerd) PS: did anyone notice the nice touch at the end? The Whistledown Silhouetted lady on the top of the page had been changed to look more like Penelope. You're welcome <3

[sea-owl]

Polin week day 1: Favorite Quote

So really, there was no urgent need to move up the wedding.

Except that he wanted to.

Colin's talk with the mama's through Portia's eyes. Set in the show verse.

"Damn!" Portia cursed as she read invitation sent to her to join Mr Colin Bridgerton and his mother Lady Bridgerton for tea. "I knew I should have encouraged Penelope to accept Lord Debling's offer. That foolish boy is going to break her heart all over again!"

For what other reason could he have to meet with just them and not have Penelope there besides wanting to end the engagement. To take back his proposal. Perhaps they can sue for breach of contract? Penelope was certainly not the one ending this, Portia knew that to be a fact. Or maybe she can orchestrate them being caught alone together, the boy is honorable enough. The ton might not have cared about them being alone together in the past but Portia knows if she makes a big enough deal about it so will they. Or Portia could strangle him with his own cravat. A dead fiancé will gather more sympathy than being jilted a month before a wedding.

As she walked across the square to the Bridgerton House Portia came up with more and more ideas to make sure Penelope ended up married. She will not let this boy ruin any chance their family had of securing themselves. Portia needed every possible daughter wed to increase their chances for a son, especially since Philippa had just given birth to a daughter. It seems Portia's curse of only seeing female descendants continues.

"Portia," Violet greeted her.

"Violet," Portia bowed her head.

Oddly enough this past season the two women have found themselves tentatively reforming a friendship. Portia couldn't tell you how but she suspects part of the reason is how tied together their two families have been, and was about to be even more closely tied. Or was.

"Do you know why Mr Bridgerton has called for us?" Portia asked. She was currently seated next to Violet on one of the couches. A servant recently brought tea and enough snacks to feed a small army.

Violet shook her head. "No he has not said. But it's probably nothing more than some pre wedding jitters."

Portia hummed as she sipped her tea. Pre wedding jitters can lead to a jilted woman.

Violet looked over Portia's shoulder at the door. "Oh Colin there you are."

"Mother," the boy greeted. "Lady Feathering."

Portia smiled. "Mr. Bridgerton."

"Come sit darling," Violet gestured to couch across form them. "Have some snacks."

The boy sat down but instead of devouring the plate in front of him he just picked up one of the sandwiches. Twisting the sandwich this way and that before putting it back down on the plate and the plate off to the side. How odd. Portia couldn't think of a time she has ever seen the boy turn down food.

The boy turned towards the mothers. "I am worried for Penelope, she has been so tried these past few weeks."

"Not to worry darling," Violet reassured him. "It's just the wedding preparations, all brides to be loose a little bit of sleep during the planning stages."

Colin looked down sheepishly. "Well I fear it may not just be the stress of wedding planning. We have been left alone on quiet a few occasions in the past few months."

Portia had to set down her cup. She was going to kill this boy for an entirely different reason now! Twice! Twice now she has had unwed mother to be in her home! They had barely escaped the scandal the last time it happened! Now this boy mocks them by possibly infecting her daughter with his spawn long before he offered marriage? Is this why he changed his mind back then, and why he wants to hasten any and all wedding preparations along now?

Portia glared at the boy, ready to tear into him when she felt a hand grab her wrist. Her glare turned onto Violet who gave her a look that said It's already done. Let's figure out how to navigate now

"I will speak to Anthony about requesting a special license," Violet said.

"And I will see the earliest we can move up the arrangements," Portia sighed.

Watching as a smile spread across her future son in-law's face and a softness fill his gaze at the mention of Penelope Portia found herself coming to the realization that perhaps there was no real urgent need to move up the wedding like he led them to believe. Perhaps he just wanted to be married sooner.

Either way it will bring Portia a possible grandson sooner, and if she was being honest she wouldn't mind having Penelope and her Bridgerton being in charge of the estate. At least she knew it would be good hands.

[a-girl-in-neverland]

Once again, im here to complain about the bridgerton subplots and changes

So spoiler for Season 3 ahead

I hated that they just cast Anthony and Kate aside. Do they really had to go RUNNING to India and couldnt wait for FRANCESCA'S WEDDING???? Hello??? Werent they the head of the family??

The intention with that is great and loving but is the showrunner allergic to having Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley in our screens for more than 3 minutes????

Like at that scene of the night before Polins wedding. Colin mentions that Kanthony has "come back"??? From where??? Did they run off again??

(Also i would really like to know who Edwina married and a bit of her love story)

The way in which the writers simply forgot about benedict's art/painting plot is atonishing. The build up of S1 to S2 was great, with the art school, but then in S3 is like that never happened?? Why didnt they explore more Benedict's lack of purpose or even his disappoinment with Anthony's actions?? Noooo, they just rather have him have sex with people all season long

(Before you come after me, im not critizing Benedicts sexuality, im just pissed that his character had barely nothing to do this season other than have sex, but i did enjoy a lot his scenes with eloise)

The Mondrichs plot was sooooo inconsequential and had nothing to do with any other one in the entire season. What was the point of keeping them?????

Somehow the writers in this show can make up irrelevant plots for lukewarm characters but cant come up with anything for the most beloved ones

And lastly about Michaela Stirling. So many people on twitter are fighting over this that is sickening. But lemme tell you this, all my life i had the pleasure (or better, the experience) to see many books i adore turn into movies/tv shows. Sometimes in adapting change is good, sometimes is necessary. But this change alters the whole story.

To be clear, i am NOT trying to be disrespectul, or homophobic or even mean about it. I dont mind the representation. In fact i think stories centered around LGBTQ+ leads, in this period of time, is a niche that could be much explored. Bridgerton could inspire people who belong in this community to write these stories, which is great.

However, the change of introducing Michaela completely transforms Francescas story. The second-love with the exploration of sexuality trope has great potential. But changing so greatly a story thats well known between the fans is risky to say at least.

Francescas book is not my favorite (by far actually) but it is for a lot of people, and a lot of readers have been enamoured with michael for the last 20 years, at least. So i understand if people get upset, because i would too if my favorite couple/story changed so much out of the blue

And honestly, i think this is one of the ways the show is trying to remain relevant. I AM NOT trying to say that TV should use LGBTQ+ love stories as clickbait. But be serious, the books were written as 8 straight love stories, in todays society people would be complaining if they followed if by the rule.

Anyway, Polin were wonderful. Nicola and Luke you are so so so loved, we couldnt have actors that loved their characters more

(And at this point i might be a Portia Featherington stan, she grew a lot on me)

If you read this far, i hope you have a great week and please dont come for my critics, they are not hate opinions, i just needed to rant <3

[hyacinthsgareth]

polin week 2024 - day one: forced proximity

Colin has decided that he does not like Lord Debling. He used to. Two weeks ago, Colin was sharing a pint with him and a few other gentlemen. But now? The sight of the man is making his blood boil. 

This, of course, has nothing to do with the fact that Lord Debling is currently dancing with Penelope Featherington for the second time this evening. Not. At. All.

continue reading on ao3!

[lilyofthevolume]

I wrote a whole ass fic for Polin week 2024 based on those Man about Town photos.

I regret nothing.

[thatstormygeek]

But one key group was left out. The Uncommitted Movement, the antiwar, pro-Palestinian action that placed second to Joe Biden in this spring’s discarded primaries, had spent weeks trying to move the convention, both in matters of symbol and substance, against the U.S.-armed slaughter in Gaza. In the end, their efforts had boiled down to one extremely achievable ask: to give a Palestinian-American — any Palestinian-American — or a doctor who had witnessed the suffering at the hands of the Israeli military a brief speaking slot, at any time during the four-day-long national pep rally. ... But the word that had come down on Wednesday turned out to be final. No Palestinian would be allowed to speak. ... Nevermind, too, that there was already a tearful presentation on the horrors of October 7, from the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American veteran of the IDF who is still being held hostage in Gaza — a presentation that the Uncommitted delegates made sure to attend in solidarity with the families of Israeli hostages, by the way. ... The refusal to platform a Palestinian speaker echoes nothing so much as the refusal, on orders of then-President and candidate Lyndon Johnson, of the integrated Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, under the leadership of Fannie Lou Hamer, at the 1964 Democratic Convention in Atlantic City, sixty years ago this month. It similarly ignores the substantive divide between the protesters outside the convention and the uncommitted delegates inside — the fact that the latter are trying to work within and in coalition with the institutional Democratic Party. While some, like some in the MFDP, will likely continue to work for Harris’ election this fall, the refusal to give the reformers even a token platform on the main stage fuels arguments that the party, and perhaps the entire political system as it stands, is too hopelessly corrupted to work with, and thus must be challenged or overthrown.

It seems that those instincts are now operating — that the Harris-Walz campaign and the convention planners decided they could afford to alienate Palestinian-Americans and their ever-growing contingent of allies on the antiwar left. That it would be better to disappoint and insult them than to challenge, in the mildest of ways, the pro-Israel contingent or the reactionary center. It was clear from last night’s programming that their play is going to be to appeal to disaffected Republicans and so-called “moderate” independents, by focusing on militarism, police, and Harris’s career as a prosecutor, locking away criminals and “securing” the border. She telegraphed that in the foreign policy section by declaring with almost Reaganite bravado: “As commander in chief, I will ensure America always has the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world.” I really think they could have done both. I don’t think that having a Palestinian woman, hijab and all, deliver what was at bottom a bog-standard Democratic convention speech, with a shoutout to her father’s Jerusalemite origins where others shouted out their Hispanic or Native American heritage would have necessarily detracted from that pivot. I think they could have shored up part of the Michigan Arab-American vote without scaring away the voters they hoped to gain by trotting out ex-Republican congressmen and the Genesee County sheriff. I want to believe that sacrificing the lives of tens of thousands of innocent Gazans, along with the other Omelas children of the world, in Haiti, Congo, and elsewhere, is not really the intractable trolley problem — a trade between potential victims of American fascism at home and the victims of American militarism abroad — it is made out to be. But maybe I’m naïve.