2016 Kicks Off in Iowa

Like tweens to a Taylor Swift concert, Republican hopefuls flocked to Iowa this weekend, in search not of sugary pop lyrics, but corn-fed hope.

U.S. Rep. Steve King’s (R-IA) Freedom Summit attracted what appears to be the heavy majority of the presidential field. Politico has a helpful summary.

Highlights of note: Scott Walker was a revelation to many. He can point to significant accomplishments in office, as opposed to those who can only claim to have the proper beliefs. This may distinguish Walker from Cruz, Paul, Rubio, and others. Immigration is still divisive and may be the issue that defines the race since there will be sharp disagreements. Jeb Bush will probably have a rough time attracting support in Iowa.

The Curmudgeonly Take: There is much to learn at such events, of course, but this process is flawed, to put it mildly. We leer at candidates as they flash their tail-feathers in snowy Iowa, a state with less than 1% of the country’s population. Most remarkably, we allow this 1% to make serious judgments about which candidates are viable and which are not. These judgments will influence donors, staffers, and media members. This is like a drunken frat house choosing a university president. This is like a sports bar’s patrons selecting a football team’s general manager. Granted, these similes are unflattering to Iowans, who really don’t deserve to be derided, but there is little reason to think that Iowa is at all representative of either the nation or the Republican party. There has to be a better way.

Jim Geraghty’s take on the proceedings can be found here.

Cuba Refuses to Change

Stunningly, Cuba has so far chosen to stay as is, even in light of major overtures from the United States. Far from giving more freedoms to its citizens, Cuban leaders left talks designed to repair relationships between the super power and the island mere miles from its shores. Cuba not only has its own share of political prisoners, but also protects American fugitives from justice.

American Sniper Continues Impressive Run

American Sniper appears to have lost less than 30% of its audience compared to last weekend, which is a remarkable number for a film that opened so large. The film should slide over the $200 million mark domestically and appears headed toward $300 million at least.

Union Membership Drops to 100 Year Low

Also of note, the rate of union membership in the United States continues to decline. According to federal estimates, around 11% of U.S. workers are unionized. Fascinatingly, public sector employees (36%) are much more likely to be in a union than their counterparts in the private sector (7%).