THEBESTOFTHEU.S.ANDINTERNATIONALMEDIAThefacesof2023DECEMBER29,2023/JANUARY5,2024VOLUME23ISSUE1163-1164WWW.THEWEEK.COMALLYOUNEEDTOKNOWABOUTEVERYTHINGTHATMATTERSContents3Editor’sletterlifetime,withthelikelyGOPnomineerunningonanagendaofOnDec.25,1860,asNorthandSouthmarchedclosertoconflict,revengeandretribution,allwhilebattlingfourcriminalcases.adiaristinArkansaswrotehowChristmasDayhadbeenshorton“rejoicing”(seeBriefing,p.12).“Someoftheusualceremo-Yetlookingthroughthismagazine,I’mremindedthatthereareniesaregoingon,”thediaristnoted,“butthereisagloomonthethoughtsandcountenanceofallthebetterportionofourpeople.”reasonsforoptimism,andthatmyexpectationsofdoom...