Cold November mailbag

Korea-envy, combatting China, and when political courage worked out

Quick reminder that we’re having a third anniversary happy hour in DC on November 8, would love to see you if you’re free.

It’s suddenly chilly! And I will whine again about the fact that there is no school today for no clear reason.

Some positivity instead: The Covid vaccines saved over two million lives, generating about $6.5 trillion in value purely from reduced mortality. More investment is coming in to one of the new regional tech hubs that public policy is trying to create. I know the economy is terrible, but the United States has had (by far) the best inflation-adjusted GDP growth of any big economy. I’ve been enjoying watching Victor Wembanyama’s extremely long arms. An important victory achieved in the war on rats. The new Biden executive order on artificial intelligence seems pretty good, given realistic expectations. Worthwhile zoning reforms in British Columbia.

Question time.

BloopBloopBleepBleep: Did you hear Chris Ryan state that his Rewatchables white whale is “The Hun…