Trump's persistent stickiness in the polls shows that we are hardly one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Rather, we are two warring tribes, hugely divided. And now more than ever, each side preaches mostly to its own chorus.

In all great political dynasties -- say, the Trumps, Bushes, Kennedys, Corleones,and Clintons, among others -- there are always "I, Claudius"-meets-"House of Cards"-like elements of infighting, intrigue and betrayal.

Perhaps I'm not the right audience for these new Ashley Madison commercials, since I hold the (judgy, puritanical, overly binary?) belief that committed relationships are infinitely better without cheating. But I will say that these three new spots -- delicate, wistful, illustrating that flicker of desire at the prospect of connection with an attractive stranger -- class up the joint.

Earlier this week, my Verizon Fios, my lifeline, the light of my life, the fire of my writing (such as it is) died. Over the next four days, I experienced all the stages of tech-support grief, except that such grief ends with powerlessness instead of acceptance.