Apocalypse Not Now!
Cartoonists, Kimmel and commentators (and the Pope) respond. Plus: solo Brandi and Bruce meets The Clash.
Yes, it’s still somehow free to subscribe to this nearly daily newsletter, and if you are already a subscriber, let’s hear from you, thanks! Greg Mitchell is the author of fourteen books and director of four films for PBS since 2022.
Happy, of course, that Trump pulled back on his promise to destroy Iran and all 5000 years of its civilization, but the ceasefire plan is shaky and he still must be removed from office. Bill Bramhall comments:
Kimmel, likewise, last night:
Before the cease-fire was announced, Pope Leo issued a strong rebuke of Trump, calling his threats “truly unacceptable.”
Heather Cox Richardson closed he post this morning like this:
Trump’s threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” was not just a reference to Iran. If he had destroyed Iran in our names, unhampered by the Republican Congress members who have vowed to defend the U.S. Constitution, it would also have been an epitaph for the United States of America.
Before the ceasefire announcement, I collected a few warnings from notables:
Sen. Ed Markey:
Donald Trump must be removed from office. Not only is he waging an illegal war—he’s threatening war crimes. To the members of our military: remember, you do not have to follow illegal orders.
Trump has really, seriously, frighteningly lost his mind. It won’t happen soon, but if Trump continues to deteriorate, Republicans won’t have any alternative but to remove him from office. Neither will America.
Sen Chris Murphy:
Everybody in that chain of command has to think hard about whether they want to be part of the execution of that order.
Former Republican, Norman Ornstein:
Of all things that keep me up at night, this is especially troubling. 2d term Trump has removed everyone who would block crazy orders, or try to tell him no. Now imagine him growing increasingly unhinged with dementia, ordering even more insane things. With no one trying to stop him
Veterans activist Paul Rieckhoff
It is so far past time to impeach and remove this man. This cannot be tolerated from any world leader—and especially not an American President. There is no defending this. Any leader that doesn’t speak out against it now is complicit and should themselves step down. Who in Washington will show the leadership we need and lead the way?
Bill Kristol:
Gen. Caine and Adm. Cooper should put a statement now making clear the U.S. military will not follow orders that would mean committing war crimes, including military actions whose purpose would be to destroy a country or a civilization.
President Trump has done the impossible: He has caused some Iranians to rally around a despised regime.
Music Picks
Brandi Carlile with a moving solo piano version of her recent “Church & State” song, which reveals a debt to Sandy Denny.
Not the greatest sound here but had to post Bruce doing my favorite Clash song (and with meaningful political lyrics) last night in L.A., “Clampdown.”
From Tunes to Toons
Goris:
Boris:
Davies:
Toth:
Goris again:
Photo Finish
Osprey in Spring, ready to fish in the Hudson.
Beautiful osprey!
I didn’t read this until after the agreement fell apart so it definitely was a failure again. No surprise. You take amazing bird pictures, have you had any published(more credits)?