The Big Ben Show: Caroline Downey, Charles Murray

God and Goodbye New York

The latest episode of The Big Ben Show is here, featuring my thoughts on Election Day, Caroline Downey of National Review, and an interview with Charles Murray on his latest book on God and religion. You can watch the full thing here:

✍️ Feature

• In The Spectator, I write on Why Thomas Sowell Still Matters.

🌍 Foreign

• Julio Rosas: Mexico’s President Wants “Humanist” Cartel Approach

• Axios: Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum Groped, Presses Charges

• MSN: Mexican President Dismisses Report of Possible U.S. Military Mission

• WSJ: Russian Forces Near First Major Victory in Years

• Tablet: Bloodlands Africa — Sudan’s Endless War

• Spectator: The New York Way and London’s City Politics

🏛️ Domestic

• CNBC: Job Cuts in October Hit Highest Level for the Month in 22 Years

• Associated Press: Government Shutdown Threatens FAA and Airlines

• Semafor: Trump Complicates Shutdown Endgame in Congress

• WSJ: Why Trump’s Tariffs Are In Trouble

• Politico: Supreme Court Tariff Argument Takeaways

• Politico: Donald Trump’s Lame-Duck Dilemma

• Politico: With Slim Majority, Mamdani Takes Over a Divided City

• Axios: Trump and Mamdani Spar Over New York City Funding

• New York Post: Jewish FDNY Fire Commissioner Resigns

• New York Times: Schumer and Mamdani Define the Democrats’ New York

• Politico: Democrats’ Redistricting Wins in California

• Spectator: Establishment Democrats Win in Minneapolis

• ABC News: Trump-District House Democrat Won’t Seek Re-Election

• Punchbowl News: Political Winds Shift Against MAGA

• New Yorker: What the Democrats’ Good Night Means for 2026 and Beyond

• 6ABC: “Folks Are Tired of Chaos” — Gov. Shapiro Reacts to Democrat Wins

• KUOW: Seattle’s Election Results Boost Socialism

• Mediaite: David Axelrod Agrees with Marjorie Taylor Greene

• The Hill: Tucker Carlson and the Conservative Civil War

• Ace of Spades: “I Made a Mistake” — Heritage President Apologizes to Staff

• Audrey Fahlberg: A Generational Divide at Heritage on Israel

• Fox News: The Story — Fetterman Disagrees With Pelosi on Trump

📰 Media

• Variety: Amazon DSP & iHeartMedia Partner on Programmatic Audio Ads

💻 Tech

• WIRED: Scam Ads Flood Social Media, Former Meta Staffers Have a Plan

🧬 Health

• Bloomberg: Gen Z’s Cigarette Smoking Renaissance

• New York Times: RFK Jr. Takes on Big Food Companies

✝️ Religion

• Raw Story: Pope Leo XIV Critiques Trump in Conversation with Media

🏈 Sports

• Hollywood Reporter: ESPN Bets on DraftKings Post NBA Scandal

• Spectator: Why Do White Men’s Feelings Matter More Than Black Lesbians?

🎭 Culture & Hollywood

• Mediaite: Zohran Mamdani Gets Garb from High Priced Stylist to the Stars

• Hollywood Reporter: John Mulaney’s Supreme Court TV Show

• Variety: “Superman” Submitted as Drama for Golden Globes

• The Ankler: Sydney Sweeney on Building a Career

• Telegraph: Meghan Markle Plots Acting Comeback with Amazon-MGM

🪶 Quote

“Ever step you take is forever. You can’t make it go away... You think when you wake up in the mornin yesterday don’t count. But yesterday is all that does count. What else is there? Your life is made out of the days it’s made out of. Nothin else.”

— Cormac McCarthy