Morning Jolt: The Controversy over Controversy

It wasn't that long ago — the 90s? — when controversy and being "edgy" was practically a requirement in popular culture.

You could start the day awakening to wacky, occasionally off-color "Morning Zoo" radio hosts on your clock radio and end it with an HBO series that pushed the envelope of the language, sex, or violence portrayed in a drama series. In between, your hours could be filled with Howard Stern, the furious voices of some corners of conservative talk radio, and hip-hop lyrics that its fans insisted were a form of nonfiction narrative about urban black culture but that usually seemed to offer a uncomfortably sympathetic portrayal of gang members, drug dealers, and pimps. Beyond hip-hop, the easiest way to stand out on MTV was to have the network either refuse to air your video as is or demand it be edited.

If you tuned in to stand-up ...

July 26 2018

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The Controversy over Controversy Jim Geraghty It wasn't that long ago — the 90s? — when controversy and being "edgy" was practically a requirement in popular culture. You could start the day awakening to wacky, occasionally off-color "Morning Zoo" radio hosts on your clock radio and end it with an HBO series that pushed the envelope of the language, sex, or violence portrayed in a drama series. In between, your hours could be filled with Howard Stern, the furious voices of some corners of conservative talk radio, and hip-hop lyrics that its fans insisted were a form of nonfiction narrative about urban black culture but that usually seemed to offer a uncomfortably sympathetic portrayal of gang members, drug dealers, and pimps. Beyond hip-hop, the easiest way to stand out on MTV was to have the network either refuse to air your video as is or demand it be edited. If you tuned in to stand-up ... Read More ADVERTISEMENT Top Stories Trumponomics Ramesh Ponnuru and Michael R. Strain Evaluating President Trump and the Republicans' economic policies, and their impact on the strong economy. Catholic Bishops Beg for a Clear Policy against Evil Michael Brendan Dougherty The insufficient reaction of cardinals to the sexual-abuse allegations against Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is appalling. Jim Jordan Announces Bid for Speakership Jack Crowe This is sure to ignite tension between Republicans lining up behind Representative Kevin McCarthy and the hardline conservatives in the Freedom Caucus. ADVERTISEMENT Requiem for a Restaurant Richard Brookhiser The opening of the Coffee Shop coincided with the beginning of Union Square's transition from druggie-infested dustbowl to crown jewel. No Trouble at All Stefan Beck The miniatures in Good Trouble are more like snow globes, and they could use a good shaking up -- or a shattering. The Border at Work Jerry Kammer After decades of negligence, it's time for worksite enforcement. Who Lost China? Robert D. Atkinson So who lost China this time? Pretty much everyone. Both parties and most economists accepted Beijing's 'innovation mercantilism.' Scalise Backs Rosenstein Impeachment Push, Ryan Rejects It Jack Crowe House conservatives' attempt to impeach the deputy attorney general has split the majority whip and the speaker. ADVERTISEMENT JOIN NRPLUS All Our Content. Fewer Ads. Members-Only Privileges. NRPLUS is everything you would associate with a digital magazine subscription, and a whole lot more ─ including up to 90% fewer on-site ads, access to our private Facebook group, full commenting privileges, and invites to our writer/editor conference calls. SAVE 40% TODAY Photo Essays Cartoons of the Day: July 25, 2018 Photoshop of the Day: July 23rd-July 27th ADVERTISEMENT Follow Us & Share 19 West 44th Street, Suite 1701, New York, NY, 10036, USA Your Preferences | Unsubscribe | Privacy View this e-mail in your browser.