Media personalities and politicians have recently made remarks that have drawn attention. Fox News host Tucker Carlson suggested that nuclear weapons may not have been created by humans, while former New York Magazine writer Ross Barkan apologized for plagiarizing in his work. New York State Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher also offered a rationale for shoplifting.
Carlson, known for his commentary, posited on Monday that "Nuclear weapons . . . I don’t think were created by people." The New York Post's editorial board commented that when it comes to technology, "people" are the most likely inventors. The publication noted that Carlson's statement aligns with historical figures who attributed inventions like the printing press and trains to "devil's work."
In a separate incident, Ross Barkan, a former writer for New York Magazine, issued an apology on Wednesday for his writing practices. "I did not use citations as aggressively as I should have and did not paraphrase well enough," Barkan stated. The Post's editorial board responded, finding it "odd to apologize for plagiarism—passing off other people’s words as your own—by saying you ‘didn’t paraphrase well enough.’" The board added that writers are expected to produce original ideas, not just repackage existing ones.
New York State Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, in comments from August 13, defended the act of taking certain items, stating, "If you’re stealing things [like soap or toothpaste], you need them." The Post's editorial board countered this by saying that drugstores are locking up necessities due to organized mass theft, not individual need. The board characterized this stance as part of "the left's war on common sense."
Additionally, Senator Darline Graham (R-SC) admitted on Tuesday, "I’m not that informed on national security." The Post noted that while acknowledging her brother's significant role in security policy, it questioned whether the Senator could have prepared a more informed response for a debate.