Rhetorical Argumentation
@cwtindale.bsky.social
Argumentation theorist; rhetorician, student of Greek Philosophy
Arg of Wk:
Alex Bruesewitz, former aide
"the media and President Trump’s other critics have spent more than a decade complaining about his use of social media. They keep calling it ‘unpresidential,’ but if the president is doing it, it is presidential by definition.”
equivocation?
Alex Bruesewitz, former aide
"the media and President Trump’s other critics have spent more than a decade complaining about his use of social media. They keep calling it ‘unpresidential,’ but if the president is doing it, it is presidential by definition.”
equivocation?
September 13, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Arg of Wk:
Alex Bruesewitz, former aide
"the media and President Trump’s other critics have spent more than a decade complaining about his use of social media. They keep calling it ‘unpresidential,’ but if the president is doing it, it is presidential by definition.”
equivocation?
Alex Bruesewitz, former aide
"the media and President Trump’s other critics have spent more than a decade complaining about his use of social media. They keep calling it ‘unpresidential,’ but if the president is doing it, it is presidential by definition.”
equivocation?
AofW:
Henry Abraham, Nobel psychiatrist:
if an airline pilot had half of the symptoms that the president of the United States has, we would not let him on an airplane; we certainly wouldn’t want to fly with him...and yet, we have a system which enfolds the president’s health in a shroud of secrecy.
Henry Abraham, Nobel psychiatrist:
if an airline pilot had half of the symptoms that the president of the United States has, we would not let him on an airplane; we certainly wouldn’t want to fly with him...and yet, we have a system which enfolds the president’s health in a shroud of secrecy.
September 6, 2026 at 2:04 PM
AofW:
Henry Abraham, Nobel psychiatrist:
if an airline pilot had half of the symptoms that the president of the United States has, we would not let him on an airplane; we certainly wouldn’t want to fly with him...and yet, we have a system which enfolds the president’s health in a shroud of secrecy.
Henry Abraham, Nobel psychiatrist:
if an airline pilot had half of the symptoms that the president of the United States has, we would not let him on an airplane; we certainly wouldn’t want to fly with him...and yet, we have a system which enfolds the president’s health in a shroud of secrecy.
Argument of the Week:
Chief Maracle, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte:
"‘Ontario’ belongs to a much deeper history of the Great Lakes than the modern international boundary running through them. [O]ur culture should not be eroded in that process [trade discussions] or our rights.”
Chief Maracle, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte:
"‘Ontario’ belongs to a much deeper history of the Great Lakes than the modern international boundary running through them. [O]ur culture should not be eroded in that process [trade discussions] or our rights.”
August 30, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Argument of the Week:
Chief Maracle, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte:
"‘Ontario’ belongs to a much deeper history of the Great Lakes than the modern international boundary running through them. [O]ur culture should not be eroded in that process [trade discussions] or our rights.”
Chief Maracle, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte:
"‘Ontario’ belongs to a much deeper history of the Great Lakes than the modern international boundary running through them. [O]ur culture should not be eroded in that process [trade discussions] or our rights.”
Arg of Week,
Will Self on Jason Arday
Neurotypical biography is continually reconstructed through live social situations. To challenge wholesale an autistic person's account of the facts of their life can therefore amount to something considerably more invasive than ordinary fact-checking.
Will Self on Jason Arday
Neurotypical biography is continually reconstructed through live social situations. To challenge wholesale an autistic person's account of the facts of their life can therefore amount to something considerably more invasive than ordinary fact-checking.
August 23, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Arg of Week,
Will Self on Jason Arday
Neurotypical biography is continually reconstructed through live social situations. To challenge wholesale an autistic person's account of the facts of their life can therefore amount to something considerably more invasive than ordinary fact-checking.
Will Self on Jason Arday
Neurotypical biography is continually reconstructed through live social situations. To challenge wholesale an autistic person's account of the facts of their life can therefore amount to something considerably more invasive than ordinary fact-checking.
Argument of the Week
Nobel Laureate Dimitry Muratov:
"There will never be 'victory', because what has been going on for nearly five years – no matter how it ends – can no longer be considered a victory. It cannot be a victory when two Slavic nations have ripped a million people to shreds."
Nobel Laureate Dimitry Muratov:
"There will never be 'victory', because what has been going on for nearly five years – no matter how it ends – can no longer be considered a victory. It cannot be a victory when two Slavic nations have ripped a million people to shreds."
August 16, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Argument of the Week
Nobel Laureate Dimitry Muratov:
"There will never be 'victory', because what has been going on for nearly five years – no matter how it ends – can no longer be considered a victory. It cannot be a victory when two Slavic nations have ripped a million people to shreds."
Nobel Laureate Dimitry Muratov:
"There will never be 'victory', because what has been going on for nearly five years – no matter how it ends – can no longer be considered a victory. It cannot be a victory when two Slavic nations have ripped a million people to shreds."
ArgofW:
Bret Stephens, NYT:
The problem with writing with A.I. is that it’s mentally enfeebling. As it becomes ubiquitous, it undermines not only our individual ability to write but also a society’s collective ability to reason, a culture’s inner capacity to create and everyone’s reason to care.
Bret Stephens, NYT:
The problem with writing with A.I. is that it’s mentally enfeebling. As it becomes ubiquitous, it undermines not only our individual ability to write but also a society’s collective ability to reason, a culture’s inner capacity to create and everyone’s reason to care.
August 9, 2026 at 2:16 PM
ArgofW:
Bret Stephens, NYT:
The problem with writing with A.I. is that it’s mentally enfeebling. As it becomes ubiquitous, it undermines not only our individual ability to write but also a society’s collective ability to reason, a culture’s inner capacity to create and everyone’s reason to care.
Bret Stephens, NYT:
The problem with writing with A.I. is that it’s mentally enfeebling. As it becomes ubiquitous, it undermines not only our individual ability to write but also a society’s collective ability to reason, a culture’s inner capacity to create and everyone’s reason to care.
AofW:
Chrystia Freeland, NYT:
it would be a grave mistake for Americans to treat their place in the world as an afterthought. Because the irony is that Washington is abusing its allies at precisely the moment when it needs them the most ... even the United States is weaker when it goes it alone.
Chrystia Freeland, NYT:
it would be a grave mistake for Americans to treat their place in the world as an afterthought. Because the irony is that Washington is abusing its allies at precisely the moment when it needs them the most ... even the United States is weaker when it goes it alone.
August 2, 2026 at 2:02 PM
AofW:
Chrystia Freeland, NYT:
it would be a grave mistake for Americans to treat their place in the world as an afterthought. Because the irony is that Washington is abusing its allies at precisely the moment when it needs them the most ... even the United States is weaker when it goes it alone.
Chrystia Freeland, NYT:
it would be a grave mistake for Americans to treat their place in the world as an afterthought. Because the irony is that Washington is abusing its allies at precisely the moment when it needs them the most ... even the United States is weaker when it goes it alone.
@redirect.bsky.app
AofW
Mark Daley, Western's AI officer
“The testing is critical. We need to know the cybersecurity capabilities of these models. But clearly the current testing environments are not secure enough, and right now we’re relying on the companies that make the models to do the testing"
AofW
Mark Daley, Western's AI officer
“The testing is critical. We need to know the cybersecurity capabilities of these models. But clearly the current testing environments are not secure enough, and right now we’re relying on the companies that make the models to do the testing"
July 26, 2026 at 2:53 PM
@redirect.bsky.app
AofW
Mark Daley, Western's AI officer
“The testing is critical. We need to know the cybersecurity capabilities of these models. But clearly the current testing environments are not secure enough, and right now we’re relying on the companies that make the models to do the testing"
AofW
Mark Daley, Western's AI officer
“The testing is critical. We need to know the cybersecurity capabilities of these models. But clearly the current testing environments are not secure enough, and right now we’re relying on the companies that make the models to do the testing"
AofW
Z. Mamdani:
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years”
Z. Mamdani:
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years”
July 19, 2026 at 2:04 PM
AofW
Z. Mamdani:
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years”
Z. Mamdani:
“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. And what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years”
AofWk:
Mary Beard on The Odyssey:
“Translations are never neutral renderings of the original. We have to remember that there is no one-to-one correspondence between Greek and English: the Greek languages encode the world differently. New translations show us new things, for us, about the texts.”
Mary Beard on The Odyssey:
“Translations are never neutral renderings of the original. We have to remember that there is no one-to-one correspondence between Greek and English: the Greek languages encode the world differently. New translations show us new things, for us, about the texts.”
July 12, 2026 at 1:47 PM
AofWk:
Mary Beard on The Odyssey:
“Translations are never neutral renderings of the original. We have to remember that there is no one-to-one correspondence between Greek and English: the Greek languages encode the world differently. New translations show us new things, for us, about the texts.”
Mary Beard on The Odyssey:
“Translations are never neutral renderings of the original. We have to remember that there is no one-to-one correspondence between Greek and English: the Greek languages encode the world differently. New translations show us new things, for us, about the texts.”
Arg of Week:
David Chalmers, philosopher of consciousness at N.Y.U.:
“I think the demand for philosophers with A.I. training is, if anything, outstripping the supply right now. It’s an area I encourage students to go into. I think these issues with A.I. will be front and center for a good while.”
David Chalmers, philosopher of consciousness at N.Y.U.:
“I think the demand for philosophers with A.I. training is, if anything, outstripping the supply right now. It’s an area I encourage students to go into. I think these issues with A.I. will be front and center for a good while.”
July 5, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Arg of Week:
David Chalmers, philosopher of consciousness at N.Y.U.:
“I think the demand for philosophers with A.I. training is, if anything, outstripping the supply right now. It’s an area I encourage students to go into. I think these issues with A.I. will be front and center for a good while.”
David Chalmers, philosopher of consciousness at N.Y.U.:
“I think the demand for philosophers with A.I. training is, if anything, outstripping the supply right now. It’s an area I encourage students to go into. I think these issues with A.I. will be front and center for a good while.”
Argument of the Week:
WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus:
"Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the 'once-in-a-generation' heatwave is now occurring nearly annually. We were warned."
WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus:
"Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the 'once-in-a-generation' heatwave is now occurring nearly annually. We were warned."
June 29, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Argument of the Week:
WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus:
"Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the 'once-in-a-generation' heatwave is now occurring nearly annually. We were warned."
WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus:
"Driven by climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of the 'once-in-a-generation' heatwave is now occurring nearly annually. We were warned."
AofW:
John Rapley:
Mr. Trump could never hide that he didn't have the option of using military force to bomb Iran into submission and seize its oil because the U.S. public wouldn't support a prolonged conflict. All future rivals will thus note ... the way to prevent U.S. aggression.
John Rapley:
Mr. Trump could never hide that he didn't have the option of using military force to bomb Iran into submission and seize its oil because the U.S. public wouldn't support a prolonged conflict. All future rivals will thus note ... the way to prevent U.S. aggression.
June 21, 2026 at 7:37 AM
AofW:
John Rapley:
Mr. Trump could never hide that he didn't have the option of using military force to bomb Iran into submission and seize its oil because the U.S. public wouldn't support a prolonged conflict. All future rivals will thus note ... the way to prevent U.S. aggression.
John Rapley:
Mr. Trump could never hide that he didn't have the option of using military force to bomb Iran into submission and seize its oil because the U.S. public wouldn't support a prolonged conflict. All future rivals will thus note ... the way to prevent U.S. aggression.
AofW:
Mark Carney:
“AI is here... AI can shorten our emergency room wait times and make a small business more competitive, if it is governed by Canadian values with a clear goal of improving the lives of all Canadians. That’s why we need an ambitious new strategy."
Mark Carney:
“AI is here... AI can shorten our emergency room wait times and make a small business more competitive, if it is governed by Canadian values with a clear goal of improving the lives of all Canadians. That’s why we need an ambitious new strategy."
June 14, 2026 at 7:31 PM
AofW:
Mark Carney:
“AI is here... AI can shorten our emergency room wait times and make a small business more competitive, if it is governed by Canadian values with a clear goal of improving the lives of all Canadians. That’s why we need an ambitious new strategy."
Mark Carney:
“AI is here... AI can shorten our emergency room wait times and make a small business more competitive, if it is governed by Canadian values with a clear goal of improving the lives of all Canadians. That’s why we need an ambitious new strategy."
AofW,
Mohsen Rezaei, Iranian adviser:
The President of the United States is betraying diplomacy for the third time. By continuing the naval blockade and making excessive demands in negotiations, he has once again proven that he is not inclined toward negotiation and is pursuing other objectives.
Mohsen Rezaei, Iranian adviser:
The President of the United States is betraying diplomacy for the third time. By continuing the naval blockade and making excessive demands in negotiations, he has once again proven that he is not inclined toward negotiation and is pursuing other objectives.
May 31, 2026 at 1:26 PM
AofW,
Mohsen Rezaei, Iranian adviser:
The President of the United States is betraying diplomacy for the third time. By continuing the naval blockade and making excessive demands in negotiations, he has once again proven that he is not inclined toward negotiation and is pursuing other objectives.
Mohsen Rezaei, Iranian adviser:
The President of the United States is betraying diplomacy for the third time. By continuing the naval blockade and making excessive demands in negotiations, he has once again proven that he is not inclined toward negotiation and is pursuing other objectives.
AofW:
Publisher Karen Brochu:
“The fact that [AI detector] Pangram is unable to identify something written in a culturally specific voice – [like] Vincentian oral storytelling tradition – as anything other than AI-generated is further proof of the (well-documented) biases found in AI.”
Publisher Karen Brochu:
“The fact that [AI detector] Pangram is unable to identify something written in a culturally specific voice – [like] Vincentian oral storytelling tradition – as anything other than AI-generated is further proof of the (well-documented) biases found in AI.”
May 24, 2026 at 1:56 PM
AofW:
Publisher Karen Brochu:
“The fact that [AI detector] Pangram is unable to identify something written in a culturally specific voice – [like] Vincentian oral storytelling tradition – as anything other than AI-generated is further proof of the (well-documented) biases found in AI.”
Publisher Karen Brochu:
“The fact that [AI detector] Pangram is unable to identify something written in a culturally specific voice – [like] Vincentian oral storytelling tradition – as anything other than AI-generated is further proof of the (well-documented) biases found in AI.”
Argument of the Week:
Maya Wang, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch:
“President Trump has been pretty hostile to the concept [of human rights] … it would be hard to imagine in a Trump-Xi meeting that human rights would figure meaningfully if at all in their discussions.”
Maya Wang, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch:
“President Trump has been pretty hostile to the concept [of human rights] … it would be hard to imagine in a Trump-Xi meeting that human rights would figure meaningfully if at all in their discussions.”
May 17, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Argument of the Week:
Maya Wang, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch:
“President Trump has been pretty hostile to the concept [of human rights] … it would be hard to imagine in a Trump-Xi meeting that human rights would figure meaningfully if at all in their discussions.”
Maya Wang, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch:
“President Trump has been pretty hostile to the concept [of human rights] … it would be hard to imagine in a Trump-Xi meeting that human rights would figure meaningfully if at all in their discussions.”
Argument of the Week:
Ali Vaez, Iran project director for the International Crisis Group think tank:
“There is no real policy process in this administration. The president makes decisions based on impulse more than process, therefore there are inconsistencies that happen all the time.”
Ali Vaez, Iran project director for the International Crisis Group think tank:
“There is no real policy process in this administration. The president makes decisions based on impulse more than process, therefore there are inconsistencies that happen all the time.”
May 10, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Argument of the Week:
Ali Vaez, Iran project director for the International Crisis Group think tank:
“There is no real policy process in this administration. The president makes decisions based on impulse more than process, therefore there are inconsistencies that happen all the time.”
Ali Vaez, Iran project director for the International Crisis Group think tank:
“There is no real policy process in this administration. The president makes decisions based on impulse more than process, therefore there are inconsistencies that happen all the time.”
Argument of the Week:
Marcello Guarini:
Action is needed to make sure AI systems are safely constructed and regulated. But a prerequisite for that is noticing what is going on. We all ned to take responsibility for noticing both the promise and perils of AI.
Marcello Guarini:
Action is needed to make sure AI systems are safely constructed and regulated. But a prerequisite for that is noticing what is going on. We all ned to take responsibility for noticing both the promise and perils of AI.
April 19, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Argument of the Week:
Marcello Guarini:
Action is needed to make sure AI systems are safely constructed and regulated. But a prerequisite for that is noticing what is going on. We all ned to take responsibility for noticing both the promise and perils of AI.
Marcello Guarini:
Action is needed to make sure AI systems are safely constructed and regulated. But a prerequisite for that is noticing what is going on. We all ned to take responsibility for noticing both the promise and perils of AI.
Argument of the Week:
Michael Pollen:
"The belief you can create a conscious machine depends on this metaphor that brains are computers. And that is just a sloppy metaphor. In brains, you do not have that neat separation between hardware and software."
Michael Pollen:
"The belief you can create a conscious machine depends on this metaphor that brains are computers. And that is just a sloppy metaphor. In brains, you do not have that neat separation between hardware and software."
April 12, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Argument of the Week:
Michael Pollen:
"The belief you can create a conscious machine depends on this metaphor that brains are computers. And that is just a sloppy metaphor. In brains, you do not have that neat separation between hardware and software."
Michael Pollen:
"The belief you can create a conscious machine depends on this metaphor that brains are computers. And that is just a sloppy metaphor. In brains, you do not have that neat separation between hardware and software."
AofW:
JohnRapley:
While the US produces more oil than it consumes, American refineries are not optimized to process most of it. So, the country exports most of its crude and then imports what goes into US cars. Therefore, the US can't cut its oil market off from the world.
JohnRapley:
While the US produces more oil than it consumes, American refineries are not optimized to process most of it. So, the country exports most of its crude and then imports what goes into US cars. Therefore, the US can't cut its oil market off from the world.
April 5, 2026 at 1:03 PM
AofW:
JohnRapley:
While the US produces more oil than it consumes, American refineries are not optimized to process most of it. So, the country exports most of its crude and then imports what goes into US cars. Therefore, the US can't cut its oil market off from the world.
JohnRapley:
While the US produces more oil than it consumes, American refineries are not optimized to process most of it. So, the country exports most of its crude and then imports what goes into US cars. Therefore, the US can't cut its oil market off from the world.
ArgofWeek:
Trump to Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi:
"We didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan, OK? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK? Right?”
Trump to Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi:
"We didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan, OK? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK? Right?”
March 22, 2026 at 10:51 AM
ArgofWeek:
Trump to Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi:
"We didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan, OK? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK? Right?”
Trump to Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi:
"We didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan, OK? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK? Right?”
Argument of Week:
Dmytro Kuleba:
“American commentators are again talking about a ‘short war’. They said the same about Russia’s war against Ukraine. It will be short only if Washington quietly scales down its goals, gives up on regime change in Iran, and sells a much smaller outcome as victory.”
Dmytro Kuleba:
“American commentators are again talking about a ‘short war’. They said the same about Russia’s war against Ukraine. It will be short only if Washington quietly scales down its goals, gives up on regime change in Iran, and sells a much smaller outcome as victory.”
March 8, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Argument of Week:
Dmytro Kuleba:
“American commentators are again talking about a ‘short war’. They said the same about Russia’s war against Ukraine. It will be short only if Washington quietly scales down its goals, gives up on regime change in Iran, and sells a much smaller outcome as victory.”
Dmytro Kuleba:
“American commentators are again talking about a ‘short war’. They said the same about Russia’s war against Ukraine. It will be short only if Washington quietly scales down its goals, gives up on regime change in Iran, and sells a much smaller outcome as victory.”
AofW
Dmitry Medvedev
The peacekeeper is at it again. The talks with Iran were just a cover. Everyone knew that. So who has more patience to wait for the enemy’s sorry end now? The US is just 249 years old. The Persian Empire was founded over 2500 years ago. Let’s see what happens in 100 years or so…
Dmitry Medvedev
The peacekeeper is at it again. The talks with Iran were just a cover. Everyone knew that. So who has more patience to wait for the enemy’s sorry end now? The US is just 249 years old. The Persian Empire was founded over 2500 years ago. Let’s see what happens in 100 years or so…
March 1, 2026 at 3:06 PM
AofW
Dmitry Medvedev
The peacekeeper is at it again. The talks with Iran were just a cover. Everyone knew that. So who has more patience to wait for the enemy’s sorry end now? The US is just 249 years old. The Persian Empire was founded over 2500 years ago. Let’s see what happens in 100 years or so…
Dmitry Medvedev
The peacekeeper is at it again. The talks with Iran were just a cover. Everyone knew that. So who has more patience to wait for the enemy’s sorry end now? The US is just 249 years old. The Persian Empire was founded over 2500 years ago. Let’s see what happens in 100 years or so…
AofW:
Jonny Dymond, BBC
...whatever may have been stripped from him, this is the King's brother, the late Queen's son. This was a senior member of the Royal Family whose activities for his country have led to investigation and arrest. It is hard to think of a much greater challenge for the Palace.
Jonny Dymond, BBC
...whatever may have been stripped from him, this is the King's brother, the late Queen's son. This was a senior member of the Royal Family whose activities for his country have led to investigation and arrest. It is hard to think of a much greater challenge for the Palace.
February 22, 2026 at 3:02 PM
AofW:
Jonny Dymond, BBC
...whatever may have been stripped from him, this is the King's brother, the late Queen's son. This was a senior member of the Royal Family whose activities for his country have led to investigation and arrest. It is hard to think of a much greater challenge for the Palace.
Jonny Dymond, BBC
...whatever may have been stripped from him, this is the King's brother, the late Queen's son. This was a senior member of the Royal Family whose activities for his country have led to investigation and arrest. It is hard to think of a much greater challenge for the Palace.