America’s Syria policy has been a series of disasters, errors and own goals, humiliating President Obama, devastating his credibility across the region, reducing chances for both a good deal with Iran and peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Oh, and it’s also paved the way for mass death and serial atrocities in Syria.

The New York Times has a long piece out today calling Bill De Blasio’s mayorship as the cutting edge of a new wave of liberal progressivism sweeping through American cities, yet manages to completely avoid talking about the pensions crisis roiling most blue municipalities.

The Christmas story suggests that we can somehow try to both be loyal members of our nations, our families, our tribes—and also to reach out to the broader human community of which we are also a part.