Our Politicians Suck. But Our Voters Do, Too.

Key Points:

• A live fundraising show is being held in Ohio to support the Haitian community in Springfield, with all proceeds going to the Haitian Support Center; contributions can be made online for those unable to attend in person.
• Janan Ganesh argues in the Financial Times that Western democratic leaders are persistently unpopular due to a "followership problem," where voters reject necessary but costly policies, leading to difficult choices between reform and political survival.
• In the U.S., structural changes such as geographic partisan sorting, gerrymandering, and the democratization of primaries have contributed to lower-quality political leaders, indicating that both voters and the political system share responsibility for leadership issues.
• A New York Times report reveals that DraftKings discontinued AI technology designed to identify problem gamblers while continuing to use AI to target lucrative customers, highlighting ethical concerns about the online gambling industry's profit motives versus responsible gaming efforts.
• Critics argue for stricter regulations on online gambling, suggesting that society should impose significant barriers to access due to its addictive nature, but note there is little political will to curb the industry's growth given its powerful backing and popular support.