Cartoons Friday and More Glen Hansard

"Once" and forever.

Still free to subscribe to this nearly daily newsletter! Greg Mitchell is author of fourteen books and director of five films for PBS since 2022. In a previous life, he was a longtime editor at the legendary Crawdaddy. His latest film “Woody Guthrie and The Ghost of Tom Joad Today” is now streaming everywhere via PBS.

NY Times research today finds heartening major declines in social media numbers for leading MAGA/GOP influencers:

The shifts add to a growing body of evidence that suggests the audience for pro-Trump content has fallen from its heights and, for some creators, has reached new lows. Views are dropping for many of Mr. Trump’s greatest allies, while some figures on the right who have taken to criticizing Mr. Trump are showing uneven gains.

The shifts threaten to complicate messaging this year for Republican candidates, who have for years relied on a united front of content creators to rile up Republicans and guide them to the polls each election cycle.

“The vote is in November, but the heart of the midterms is happening now,” said Ryan Broderick, the founder of Garbage Day, a newsletter about online culture and influence. “A lot of the propaganda that they’re pushing out just isn’t really connecting the way it would have even three or four years ago,” he added.

Music Picks

Sticking with the late Glen Hansard for another day. Yesterday this song topped Barack Obama’s annual summer listening picks, “Song of Good Hope.”

A strong cover of the song by Glen’s very good friend Eddie Vedder.

One of Glen’s three musical heroes was Leonard Cohen. Leonard also died suddenly but not so unexpectedly and at a much older age but musical tribute shows and spontaneous performances broke out in that case—as they will for Glen. There are already massive crowds busking in tribute in Dublin. Here Hansard, aa few days after Leonard’s passing, does “So Long, Marianne,” in Antwerp.

And “Passing Through,” with apt lyrics for today and a good view of Glen’s persona. A cover of the live 1970s Cohen album on which this appeared was hanging prominently in Glen’s bedroom in the movie “Once.”

And one more for Cohen, again apt, “Who By Fire.”

And finally, Glen’s tribute to another amazing soul who died far too young, Nick Drake, “Place to Be.” Maybe the best Nick cover ever.

My new film “Woody Guthrie and The Ghost of Tom Joad Today” is now streaming everywhere via PBS and airing over many stations.

From Tunes to Toons

Two by Luckovich:

Ohman:

Sack:

Brmahall:

Goris:

Bagley:

de Adder:

Photo Finish

From my camera to you: “The Old Fisherman,” sunset on the Piermont Pier.