Andy Smith

[Emma Camp @emmma_camp_]

If you want evidence that capitalism is a force for good, just visit a grocery store.

My ode to the humble American supermarket, for @WSJFreeEx

[Sam Rose @samwhoo]

This might be the most beautiful thing I've read in my life. What a privilege to be alive in 2026.

https://t.co/07BtpKswBu

[Jason Crawford @jasoncrawford]

A few centuries ago, the King of Spain could definitely afford better entertainment than you. Now, there is no better movie he can watch than the same movie everyone else is watching.

The democratization of entertainment, thanks to technology.

[Ben Sasse @BenSasse]

Friends-

This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.

Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do.

I’m blessed with amazing siblings and half-a-dozen buddies that are genuinely brothers. As one of them put it, “Sure, you’re on the clock, but we’re all on the clock.” Death is a wicked thief, and the bastard pursues us all.

Still, I’ve got less time than I’d prefer. This is hard for someone wired to work and build, but harder still as a husband and a dad. I can’t begin to describe how great my people are. During the past year, as we’d temporarily stepped back from public life and built new family rhythms, Melissa and I have grown even closer — and that on top of three decades of the best friend a man could ever have. Seven months ago, Corrie was commissioned into the Air Force and she’s off at instrument and multi-engine rounds of flight school. Last week, Alex kicked butt graduating from college a semester early even while teaching gen chem, organic, and physics (she’s a freak). This summer, 14-year-old Breck started learning to drive. (Okay, we’ve been driving off-book for six years — but now we’ve got paper to make it street-legal.) I couldn’t be more grateful to constantly get to bear-hug this motley crew of sinners and saints.

There’s not a good time to tell your peeps you’re now marching to the beat of a faster drummer — but the season of advent isn’t the worst. As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come.

Not an abstract hope in fanciful human goodness; not hope in vague hallmark-sappy spirituality; not a bootstrapped hope in our own strength (what foolishness is the evaporating-muscle I once prided myself in). Nope — often we lazily say “hope” when what we mean is “optimism.” To be clear, optimism is great, and it’s absolutely necessary, but it’s insufficient. It’s not the kinda thing that holds up when you tell your daughters you’re not going to walk them down the aisle. Nor telling your mom and pops they’re gonna bury their son.

A well-lived life demands more reality — stiffer stuff. That’s why, during advent, even while still walking in darkness, we shout our hope — often properly with a gravelly voice soldiering through tears.

Such is the calling of the pilgrim. Those who know ourselves to need a Physician should dang well look forward to enduring beauty and eventual fulfillment. That is, we hope in a real Deliverer — a rescuing God, born at a real time, in a real place. But the eternal city — with foundations and without cancer — is not yet.

Remembering Isaiah’s prophecies of what’s to come doesn’t dull the pain of current sufferings. But it does put it in eternity’s perspective:
“When we've been there 10,000 years…We've no less days to sing God's praise.”

I’ll have more to say. I’m not going down without a fight. One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jawdropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more. Death and dying aren’t the same — the process of dying is still something to be lived. We’re zealously embracing a lot of gallows humor in our house, and I’ve pledged to do my part to run through the irreverent tape.

But for now, as our family faces the reality of treatments, but more importantly as we celebrate Christmas, we wish you peace: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned….For to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9).

With great gratitude, and with gravelly-but-hopeful voices,
Ben — and the Sasses

[Scott Lincicome @scottlincicome]

Guys, pls stop with the "Ackshully Reagan loved protectionism" BS. Yes, he imposed some narrow tariffs (they were bad). But he generally supported free trade - esp with Canada! - and opposed protectionism. The exact opposite of Trump.

Here's his 1988 State of the Union Address:

[Andy Smith @andsmith]

@okcthunder

[OKC THUNDER @okcthunder]

Thunder fans, this is your chance to win one of these team-signed jerseys right in time for the Playoffs! 🎉

Here's how to enter:

- Like & reshare this post
- Comment with a Thunder GIF

[Scott Lincicome @scottlincicome]

a) we know the answer: tariffs generally ARE worse than other taxes (narrow base, limited transparency, ample gaming/distortion/unintended consequences/deadweight loss)
b) if tariffs are a budgetary lever, CONGRESS should be back in charge of them (incl for scoring reasons)

[Andy Smith @andsmith]

Listened to the latest @The_Kings_Hall podcast on “Trades, Universities, and Work Worth Doing”. Curious what role @Brian_Sauve @Eric_Conn and @DanBerkholder see for campus ministries like RUF @RUFNational and others?

[Andy Smith @andsmith]

@Wes_nship Just like @BrianReganComic bit on Fiedler Roofing Company!

[Sarah Isgur @whignewtons]

"One of the great heroes of my lifetime ...Zelensky is on the streets, wearing battle fatigues, ready to fight for his country. And Putin is sitting behind this massive table in this huge white room; a mausoleum where honesty and honor went to die." https://t.co/n0ZcaBLIx3

[Andy Smith @andsmith]

@GMRench Who is going after aspirin?

[Andy Smith @andsmith]

@CityofEdmond Shoutout to the @CityofEdmond account for clear, concise, and relevant updates

[Andy Smith @andsmith]

@smithpointO I can’t tell if you’re serious

[David French @DavidAFrench]

If you believe the main threats to the church come from outside, fear takes hold. As you lose political/cultural power then you're afraid other people are destroying the souls of those you love. What a terrifying idea.

Terrifying, but ultimately false.
https://t.co/e76NVXLEzC

[Andy Smith @andsmith]

To personalize and automate my retirement savings @M1_Finance #WhyIM1

[M1 @M1Finance]

We’re on a mission to make money management marvelous. So we're giving away $1,000, M1 hoodies, & M1 mugs to celebrate! To enter:

1. Retweet & tell us why you M1 (1 entry), or

2. Share a video & tell us why you M1 (5 entries).

Must tag us & use #WhyIM1 to qualify.

[Sarah Isgur @whignewtons]

Resolved, That Donald John Trump, President of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors and that the following articles of impeachment be
exhibited to the United States Senate:

ARTICLE I: ABETTING THE SACKING OF THE US CAPITOL

[Wes Blankenship @Wes_nship]

A Matthew McConaughey Christmas Carol