I thought the Talk of the Town on pronouncing De Santis's last name was a great example of the low-stakes, half-serious investigations that sometimes make it into that section.
Highlight for me this week was the baseball piece, although I usually like most of the sports content that ends up in the magazine.
I agree, that Talk was pretty good -- I liked that it wove in and out of a few different, related stories, instead of sticking tightly to one. Almost made it in.
I don’t want to nitpick here, but I think the This American Life comparison to Filkins’ piece is based on and perpetuates an error. The segment of that episode that focused on front-line government officials focused on _asylum officers,_ not Border Patrol. They have a fundamentally different role in the system and, as a result, a very different ideological bent -- indeed, the asylum officers’ union has become increasingly vocal on the dovish side of the immigration debate, as a counterbalance to the Border Patrol union’s increasing visibility on the hawkish side.
This is a very good clarification, and something I’d misunderstood (I’m far from an expert on the topic — though neither is Filkins, LOL.) I’ll clarify my wording, though I stand by my later point that that piece demonstrates an understanding this one lacks.
Asylum officers are not enforcement. They are employed by USCIS, the “benefits” (non-enforcement) immigration agency, and their role is the adjudication of humanitarian claims. In practice, they are the government employees who are charged with carrying out the US’ _humanitarian obligations._
I agree it's a bit silly to call the rule "unwritten" - of course it's written somewhere, even if it's not exactly posted on signs. I'd assume it's something they encounter frequently at Disney (though probably not with the fakes signing things and continuing after being asked to stop.)
I thought the Talk of the Town on pronouncing De Santis's last name was a great example of the low-stakes, half-serious investigations that sometimes make it into that section.
Highlight for me this week was the baseball piece, although I usually like most of the sports content that ends up in the magazine.
I agree, that Talk was pretty good -- I liked that it wove in and out of a few different, related stories, instead of sticking tightly to one. Almost made it in.
I don’t want to nitpick here, but I think the This American Life comparison to Filkins’ piece is based on and perpetuates an error. The segment of that episode that focused on front-line government officials focused on _asylum officers,_ not Border Patrol. They have a fundamentally different role in the system and, as a result, a very different ideological bent -- indeed, the asylum officers’ union has become increasingly vocal on the dovish side of the immigration debate, as a counterbalance to the Border Patrol union’s increasing visibility on the hawkish side.
This is a very good clarification, and something I’d misunderstood (I’m far from an expert on the topic — though neither is Filkins, LOL.) I’ll clarify my wording, though I stand by my later point that that piece demonstrates an understanding this one lacks.
And don’t be afraid to nitpick — nitpicking’s what we do here!!
Asylum officers are not enforcement. They are employed by USCIS, the “benefits” (non-enforcement) immigration agency, and their role is the adjudication of humanitarian claims. In practice, they are the government employees who are charged with carrying out the US’ _humanitarian obligations._
Ahhh I get it now. OK — recorrecting the correction.
I agree it's a bit silly to call the rule "unwritten" - of course it's written somewhere, even if it's not exactly posted on signs. I'd assume it's something they encounter frequently at Disney (though probably not with the fakes signing things and continuing after being asked to stop.)