Mishleic Thoughts on the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

Some thoughts I shared after my Monday Night Mishlei shiur on the eve of one of the most pivotal presidential elections in the history of our country.

This week’s Torah content has been sponsored by Yael Weiss. I forgot to ask her for a dedication message in advance, but in the meantime, I’ll dedicate this Torah content to the entire Weiss family: Rabbi and Sara, Yael and Esti, Eli and Benji, with a special shout-out to Rabbi Weiss Sr. Thank you for supporting what I do and for being part of my learning life, each in your own way!

Mishleic Thoughts on the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

In Mishlei 21:1 - Mishleic Fatalism, I shared my general view on presidential politics. My thoughts on Donald Trump, specifically, were expressed in Truman: On What Ruins a President, published shortly after the 2016 presidential election. I addressed the 2020 presidential election in an episode of The Stoic Jew Podcast titled Marcus Aurelius on the Fallout of the 2020 Election. I haven’t published any content about Kamala Harris, and aside from a few informal posts, I have largely kept my writings apolitical since 2020.

I recently considered writing an article to share my perspectives on the current election. It may come as a surprise that I don’t have many thoughts worth sharing … that is, unless you’ve read my Should I Follow the News? series (Part 1 and Part 2).

But there is one point I am absolutely certain of, and I felt compelled to share it. I’d prefer to present it without referencing specific details of this election, but that would reduce its impact. On a whim, I decided to share this idea after my Monday Night Mishlei shiur on the eve of the election. I’ve uploaded the 17 minute video here; it’s not available on my YouTube channel.

Naturally, I’ve placed it behind a paywall—after all, I’m neither insane nor masochistic. I suspect that limiting the audience to paid subscribers will foster a more civil and constructive discussion. To those who choose to engage in this manner, I look forward to hearing your thoughts! Thank you for supporting what I do!