To pass the time, David and Trevor compared hearing aids. One in slacks, one in jeans; one in purple polo shirt, one in purple button-down. Their wives nattered among each other, laughing, leaning in, touching the forearm of the other supportively. The men had already covered some important details: One had worked in insurance; one was in cattle ranching. Now they were talking earpiece specs and swapping tips on where to get the very best deals.

“Costco’s the best,” said one.

“The VA’s got ’em,” said the other.

These were wise men, and they had followed a star, a rising star over the News Corp. building. It had led them into a basement of Fox News headquarters on Sixth Avenue, in Midtown Manhattan. It had just rained outside, and inside, it was extremely humid. Together we all stood ben

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