FOR IMMEADIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: jeffhauser (at) gmail.com
A new abundance-oriented publication, The Argument, is in the process of staffing up to begin operations. Headed by former Atlantic staff writer Jerusalem Demsas, The Argument was pitched in May to prospective funders as “a mission-driven, for-profit media company that seeks to provide a positive, combative case for liberalism,” according to an invitation obtained by The Revolving Door Project.
The invitation calls the publication a “pro-abundance magazine” and says it “refuses to be boring.” On June 15, job openings for a “soon-to-launch substack” were publicized by the Slow Boring newsletter, with instructions to apply via email to an address with the domain “theargumentmag.com.”
In response to the news, Revolving Door Project Executive Director Jeff Hauser issued the following statement:
The Argument is more than a little ironic as a title for a factional publication committed to pushing strict adherence to centrist orthodoxy. I issued a challenge months ago to debate Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson, or any other abundance spokesperson in any venue of their choosing. We’re still waiting. How can abundance be centered in The Argument when its proponents won’t even rise to the challenge of an argument beyond the safe bubble of Twitter’s factional echo chambers? For instance, have the authors debated any environmentalists over issues like the fracking of natural gas or the fast track powering of AI data centers?
Unlike the abundists, RDP believes in engaged, vocal debate as a critical part of healthy political discourse. My challenge stands. Any abundance advocate willing to engage in a real debate on any platform and with any moderator of their choosing is encouraged to reach out and we will join them on their terms.
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