We Made It (Just About)
2022 was pretty bad. But 2023 is going to be much better.
by Ben Cohen
2022 was not an easy year by any means. Having just come out of a pandemic, we were immediately thrust into the prospect of a global nuclear war. The Russian invasion of Ukraine sent the world into a tailspin of panic and existential fear. The global economy tanked, as a result and we’ve been living in a constant state of anxiety ever since.
It is our job here at The Banter to report on the most pressing issues facing America. This can be extremely dispiriting given the relentlessness of the 24 hour news cycle, but when reviewing 2022 it becomes clear there is actually much to be happy about. It was in many ways a transformative year, with many positive trends that bode well for 2023 and beyond.
Nationalists are failing
The walls really do appear to be closing in on Donald Trump. From mounting legal issues to one of the saddest campaign starts in recent history, the Orange One really does look like a spent force in politics. The MAGA goons were crushed in the midterms and Trump has now resorted to selling superhero GIFs of himself to keep his political career afloat. The Trump threat isn’t over until it’s over of course, but we are seeing real signs that America is moving on.
The war in Ukraine is also going spectacularly badly for Vladimir Putin, and as a result most of us feel a lot more confident about and end to the war in 2023. Ukraine’s heroic stand has been inspiring to watch, and a real sign that human decency can prevail over the insidious rise of nationalism around the globe. Furthermore, we saw Trump knockoff Jair Bolsonaro voted out of power in Brazil, the strengthening of NATO, and the astonishing resurrection of President Biden’s faltering presidency.
It’s the economy, stupid
More practically speaking inflation is finally calming down and markets appear to be optimistic about the coming year. The job market is exceptionally strong and America is positioned to recover at a faster pace than all other G-7 nations. The economy has the power to make or break Presidents, and a recovery on the horizon is a huge positive for Joe Biden as we head into a new Presidential election cycle.
So yes, 2022 was pretty bad. But we are armed with effective vaccines to fight Covid, a much stronger Ukrainian army to battle Putin, a slew of Democratic victories across the country to keep MAGA fanaticism at bay, and a recovering economy to boot.
The Banter in 2023
Thanks to our growing subscriber base and subscriptions from new Banter Patrons, we are very much looking forward to an exciting 2023. More funds allow us to spend time doing in-depth, investigative pieces, and we will be doing much more of that in the coming months. We are extraordinarily grateful for your financial support, which makes all of what we do possible.
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As we sign out from 2022, here’s a round up of the biggest and best pieces we published this past year. Again, thank you for being here with us, and here’s to 2023!
Ben and the team at Banter
Vladimir Putin Has Severely Underestimated President Biden's Resolve
Russia's threat to invade Ukraine is not going the way Vladimir Putin wants it to thanks to Joe Biden and NATO's determination to stop him, says Ben Cohen.
How Ukraine Used Muhammed Ali's Rope-A-Dope Strategy To Smash Putin
Muhammed Ali defeated George Foreman in one of the most masterful displays of strategy ever seen in the boxing ring. Ukraine is doing the same to Russia, says Ben Cohen.
Republicans Are Building Their Paramilitary Wing
The Proud Boys and Oath Keepers are the rapidly organizing paramilitary wing of the Republican Party, writes Justin Rosario
Here’s What We Know About Merrick Garland And Trump
It’s not difficult to see how two-plus-two equals Trump’s in big trouble, writes Bob Cesca
Covid Really, Really Sucks
I'm not having a great time, writes Ben Cohen
Merry Christmas, Mom. I'm So Disappointed In You
"I would have assumed my father would have taken a baseball bat to Fat Larry’s skull after that. Instead, he tried to commit suicide."
Agents Of Chaos, Not Journalism
Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss were hand picked to promote the #TwitterFiles, not because they were good journalists, but because they were agents of chaos, says Ben Cohen.
A Dangerous New Escalation By Republicans Is Being Ignored
It started with Newt Gingrich, and ends with Marjorie Taylor Greene, says Justin Rosario
Biden Is Part Of A Dying Breed Of Democrats. We Need To Keep It Alive.
America's splintering political system is a sign we can't deal with big problems any more. What we need is a new generation of Biden style Democrats, writes Ben Cohen.
For The Eleventy-Billionth Time: There Is No Liberal Media Bias
For years, Republicans have been whining about a so-called liberal media bias. It’s familiar territory for those of us who follow American politics, says Bob Cesca
The Alt Left Is A Disgrace
Tulsi Gabbard is doing her best to re-elect Trump, assist Vladimir Putin, and dismantle the international order, writes Ben Cohen.
Biden And Sun Tzu's Art Of War
Republicans never saw this coming, says Ben Cohen.
Tucker Is No Alpha Male, So Why Is He Pretending To Be One?
There is a major flaw though in Tucker Carlson’s new mission to up America’s testosterone levels. And that is Tucker Carlson, says Ben Cohen
Republicans Would Have Murdered My Wife Over A Miscarriage
"Under the new anti-abortion regime of the Christo-fascist Supreme Court, there’s a very real chance Debbie would have died.” - by Justin Rosario
Thank Goodness Eric Boehlert Was On Our Side
Liberal media giant Eric Boehlert was killed in a tragic bicycling accident in his New Jersey hometown, writes Bob Cesca
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I hope to have your optimism concerning the prospects for 2023! Surely, this should be the year that a former dictator-in-waiting will get his comeuppance and might actually get fitted for an orange jumpsuit. We can only hope this dream does comes true. This would effectively put a nail in the Orange One's political comeback, which is pretty absurd just to think about it.
Who knows what will happen to Congress after Republicans gain control of the House in January? Let's hope that things will get so divisive that nothing deleterious can be pursued by them to screw up what has already been accomplished by Democrats earlier. Only time will tell here.
Wishing the team a very Happy and peaceful New Year! Looking forward to hearing your podcast next month.