"I’ve had some family or my own personal connection to WLW for 51 of my 61 years. WLW is a big deal. I hope I can live up to the people who’ve done this job before me."
Douthat’s opinion-writing background, which I once viewed as a liability, actually helped him here. He thinks about big questions for a living. Therefore, he knew where to push Trump beyond the usual talking points.
"I get to talk about sports on a daily basis. I haven't lost the fandom for these teams. This is what I want to do, be as successful as possible. And do it for as long as I possibly can."