A reflection on modern democracy
The journalistic vultures at CNN finally got some roadkill a few weeks ago, after the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was accidentally added to a group chat with top Trump administration officials. The chat wasn’t formed to discuss an upcoming bachelor party (“White House Boyz Cabo Week”), or an outing to The Masters (“Donnie’s Fellas Hit Augusta”), but rather how best to bomb Yemen (“March Madness: Middle East”). Therein lay the problem: Mr. Goldberg usually doesn’t get the latest briefings on secret military operations—much less a chance to give his tactical input.
Up till now, most Americans (even Reddit defense nerds and Lockheed HR managers) haven’t been able to pitch their aerial bombardment ideas to top brass. Little did they know, becoming a magazine editor could have let them in on the ground floor. The aforementioned CNN sticklers denounced the group chat as a grave threat to operational and personnel security. They really are no fun—they are missing the point. Adding Mr. Goldberg to the group chat was a bold, brave decision meant to enhance our democracy and extend an olive branch to embattled Democrats.
For years, strategic military discussions have been handled solely by the mysterious creatures of the Pentagon. No one else got a say. Now, sources close to the president claim that new random numbers will be looped into executive group chats across an array of policy areas. Adding Mr. Goldberg was a pilot run to gauge the public’s reception. While the media clearly misunderstood, I’m quite excited for this initiative (and Donald, if you’re reading this, please add my number to “Tariff Sheriffs 2025”).
Real democracy-lovers can see how keying in random Americans to policy discussions will boost strategic brainstorming and empower fresh perspectives. A Miami drug dealer knows as much about supply and demand as Howard Lutnick, and who would say a Harlem sneaker peddler isn’t well versed in trading? These expanded group chats will usher in an era of governmental inclusivity that any upstanding Democracy should be proud of.
Of course, there was an ecumenical element to the plan as well. Our novel policy makers will be chosen by lottery, not by party, race, or creed. This means that an open-borders activist from Los Angeles will have an equal chance to weigh in on the immigration group chat as a keep-em-out rancher from Laredo. In administrations past, invitations to policy pow-wows were decidedly partisan. If you weren’t in the ruling party, you weren’t getting a ticket. By giving Democrats a seat at the deliberative table, Trump makes a selfless peace-offering to beleaguered liberals everywhere. As we saw, the first number added belongs to a man with more left-wing bona fides than the average city block in Portland.
Nation-healing. Diplomatic. Polarization-shattering. Strategic. These words rush to mind when contemplating Trump’s new idea. Now, sadly, no one can be forced to stay and contribute to these group chats (Mr. Goldberg exited his promptly). As the adage goes, you can lead a liberal to water, but you can’t make they/them drink. It is my sincere hope, however, that Americans will see this new opportunity for what it is: a chance to shape policy regardless of expertise or partisan affiliation. Going forward, strange texts you might’ve marked as spam in lesser days could just be your golden ticket to the policy world. See you in the group chats.
R. E. Slinkworth is a freshman communications major from Orlando, Florida. In his spare time, he enjoys prank-calling top defense officials and running modular airstrike simulations on rural polar bear communities in the arctic. He cannot be reached.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, modified by Irish Rover
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