Blood on Tracks, 1976/2026

More idiot wind from Trump, and horror from, and resistance to, ICE

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Stephen last night:

Washington Post:

The Trump administration acknowledged for the first time that members of the U.S. DOGE Service accessed and shared sensitive Social Security data without the awareness of agency officials, months after a whistleblower raised concerns.

But at least: Tony Dokoupil's second week in the "CBS Evening News" anchor chair was not much better than his first, according to Nielsen ratings data.

Trump at Davos yesterday among other revealing quotes:

"Usually they say, 'he's a horrible dictator-type person.' But sometimes you need a dictator."

“In a way, I'm jealous. In a way, I'm upset. There are a couple of people in the room, I can't stand them, and they've become very rich. There's nothing I can do about it. I would screw them if I could.”

Tom Nichols of The Atlantic wrote: “No one can be watching this Davos speech and reach any conclusion but that the President of the United States is mentally disturbed and that something is deeply wrong with him. This is both embarrassing and extremely dangerous.”

Heather Cox Richardson:

Today the El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner ruled that the death of 55-year-old Cuban-born Geraldo Lunas Campos detained in Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, was a homicide. Camp East Montana is a tent encampment where migrants have reported poor conditions and physical abuse. Lunas Campos died of asphyxiation after guards put pressure on his neck and chest during an altercation during which Lunas Campos asked for his medication. Two detainees testified that they saw guards choking Lunas Campos, who repeatedly told them he couldn’t breathe. The Trump administration has since tried to deport the two witnesses.

ICE agents are hanging around schools, threatening children. Reg Chapman of CBS News in Minnesota reported today that ICE has detained a five-year-old preschooler after using him as bait to get someone in his house to open their door. Then ICE transferred him and his father from Minnesota to detention in Texas. His family has an active asylum case and it does not have an order of deportation, meaning they are in the U.S. legally.

Jane Fonda on Colbert last night boosting Resistance to all this:

Bloody Good

Fifty-one years ago this week, Dylan released one of his greatest albums, “Blood on the Tracks.” As many know, he recorded it first in NYC, then in Minneapolis closer to his home town….. Much later the NYC tapes were released. “Tangled Up in Blue” was particularly interesting as lyrics in places quite different:

And the NYC “You’re a Big Girl Now.”

And the quiter NYC “Idiot Wind,” also with some different lyrics and some odd backing touches:

My wife pointed me to this wonderful clip of Willie Nelson, still growing out his hair, playing electric guitar (not seen much later) on Bob Wills’ classic “Stay All Night, Stay a Little Longer,” in 1974. Yes, that’s Jimmy Buffett with him.

Was surprised our friend Robert Kaplow's screenplay for "Blue Moon" has not won bunch of awards so far but he got Oscar nod today... and Ethan Hawke for Best Actor.

From Tunes to Toons

Nick Anderson:

Bramhall:

Brodner:

Luckovich:

Noth:

Clay Jones:

deAdder:

Photo Finish

From my camera to you, “New York Skyline.”