Snap out of it, America! Why the navel-gazing, whiny, ‘self-care’ malaise — where’s our optimism?

The Olympics feels like one big metaphor for life in America right now, doesn’t it?

Everything was supposed to go our way these Games. Just as this summer was promised to be the great, sunny, super-fun reward for our past year-and-a-half of lockdown. But Team USA is cratering. Our top stars are becoming dwarves of their once-brilliant, unstoppable selves. The Olympics itself feels bereft of pomp, circumstance, or any real joy.