SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:06 P.M. ET: 

IS THIS HILLARY? – FROM THE HILL:  Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling on European leaders to enact stricter immigration policies in order to counter the growing threat of right-wing populism on the continent.   “I think Europe needs to get a handle on migration because that is what lit the flame,” Clinton told The Guardian in an interview published Thursday, referring to the rise of anti-immigrant politicians across Europe.  “I admire the very generous and compassionate approaches that were taken particularly by leaders like [German Chancellor] Angela Merkel," she said, "but I think it is fair to say Europe has done its part, and must send a very clear message — ‘we are not going to be able to continue provide refuge and support’ — because if we don’t deal with the migration issue it will continue to roil the body politic.”  What say she? Is this a sign she's running for president on a moderate – electable – platform?

TRANSITION – FROM FOX BUSINESS:  Los Angeles biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong is betting big on newspapers. After buying the Los Angeles Times for $500 million earlier this year, he’s invested $100 million to build a state-of-the-art newsroom and is hoping to turn a profit soon.  “The Catholic nuns say ’no money, no mission,’ and it’s very true,” Soon-Shiong said at The Grill, TheWrap’s annual media conference. “In order for the paper to survive, it has to thrive. In order to thrive, it has to be self-sustaining as a business.”  In a deal that closed in June, Soon-Shiong also agreed to buy the San Diego Union Tribune, Spanish-language Hoy and several small community newspapers. His investment firm, Nant Capital, agreed to pay $500 million for the papers and will assume $90 million in pension liabilities.  It's great to see someone who believes in newspapers put his money where his mouth is.  I hope he can make the Times a better newspaper, not simply another liberal mouthpiece. 

NOW HERE'S AN IDEA – FROM THE COLLEGE FIX:  The study of Western civilization is in such decline in higher education that it may take an act of Congress to ensure students learn about it, according to an academic group that promotes “intellectual freedom” and “virtuous citizenship.”  This may not be politically feasible under Democratic control of one chamber of Congress, though – a point conceded at last week’s conference call by the National Association of Scholars.  It was organized in part to bring attention to the association’s re-released 2011 study The Vanishing West: 1964-2010. The study documents “the disappearance of Western civilization courses from the college curriculum” and replacement with “world history” courses.  Western civilization courses were generally required in colleges and universities before they were overtaken by progressive political movements, according to President Peter Wood.  “We face a kind of civilizational crisis. The elites are so profoundly dissatisfied at who we are and what we are,” Wood said.  This could be the start of something big, but the intellectual establishments will try to crush it.

November 22, 2018