So, there’s Noah Millman’s post Biden Gives Up On America: The emotional subtext of the president’s nepotistic pardon.. And he links to comments from John Ganz and Ross Douthat.

I have no desire to comment specifically except to say this: Alongside what is surely some justified doubt, anxiety, and anger across the country and the world for any number of reasons, I’m worried about an exponentially malignant epidemic of self-fulfilling cynicism. One of the questions for myself going into the new year: How to maintain open and honest valuation, as well as real criticism, while avoiding cynicism and — somehow, somehow — spreading a little joy.

Wish me luck.