Daily Bafflements

• The field of “public-school consultancy” is booming, writes Alissa Quart in The Atlantic, an example of how, though “on the surface, public schools can seem egalitarian, especially with their websites’ emphasis on words such as ‘connection,’ ‘community,’ and ‘choice’ . . . despite this democratic vocabulary, money makes a big difference.” In The Baffler no. 29, Kim Phillips-Fein wrote about the inequalities that children face from a young age if we view family, rather than society, as the engineer of their future.

• Baffler contributing editor George Scialabba was on the radio talking to Peter Buffett about his recent essay on Christopher Lasch, D.H. Lawrence’s concept of “little needs” versus “deeper needs,” and why we are all modified versions of our baby-selves. “We can stimulate desires,” George says, “that’s the entire point of the advertising industry . . . but needs are a different matter.” Listen here!

• “Trump Trump” is an app that blocks Trump out. No more “I’m good for ratings,” no mockery, no Economist thinkpieces, no more of whatever it is he does that passes for rhetoric, or crappy rejoinders—no headlines at all. Just silence.