Greg Mitchell has authored more than a dozen books (see most of them here) and directed four recent PBS films. Subscribing to this newsletter is still FREE—so if you want to help fund, maybe purchase one of my books, thanks. Or recommend this Substack to a friend!
The Daily Show just got notice that it had earned one of those prestigious Walter Cronkite Awards, and Jon Stewart reacted with mock shock that his “fake news” show would win—until he learned that it was for a brand new category: “Comedic News.”
Perhaps the National Trust for Historic Preservation should get some sort of prize for filing a lawsuit to stop Trump’s construction of a new White House ballroom.
But then there’s this: The Trump administration is sharing air travelers’ names with immigration officials to locate people with deportation orders.
As you probably know, House Democrats released dozens of new images collected as part of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, including photos of Epstein with Trump, Bill Clinton, the Dersh, Bill Gates, and Woody Allen. Also a photo of that “Huuuge” Trump condom wrapper. Was even more amusing when we learned it was already in the Smithsonian.
For the Christmas season: This is not new but I always get a kick out of seeing this Dylan anecdote from Jonathan Cott:
We were driving down Sunset Boulevard — Christmastime in L.A. — looking for a place to eat, when Bob Dylan noticed Santa Claus, surrounded by hundreds of stuffed, Day-Glo animals, standing and soliciting on the street. “Santa Claus in the desert,” he commented disconcertedly, “it really brings you down.”
A few minutes later, we passed a billboard which showed a photo of George Burns pointing to a new album by John Denver and praising it to the skies. “Did you see that movie they appeared in together?” Dylan asked me. “I sort of like George Burns. What was he playing?”
“He played God,” I said.
“That’s a helluva role,” Dylan replied.
Speaking of Dylan, you may recall that we posted a terrific live performance a few weeks back of Joan Baez singing “No Kings” with upstart Jesse Welles. It was so popular they have now released a studio version.
Also just posted, Jeff Tweedy and band on World Cafe, with four fine songs and interviews. Since his lp is my album of the year, here you go:
Was amused to see online critiques of Taylor Swift on Colbert this week for resorting in her interview to saying, you know, “like,” so often. Made me remember Loudon Wainwright’s prescient song “Cobwebs” on this subject from, like, way way back.
From Tunes to Toons
Ann Telnaes:
Nick Anderson:
Loper:
Bramhall:
Wuerker:
Wuerker:
Matson:
Photo Finish
From my camera to you, today: “Nautilus Shell”
I always enjoy and get so much out of your newsletters. And I try to click on links in them…keep being strong and posting music, humor, and info for us; you’re one of the voices I “listen” to that calms my despair, and helps me remember we have more power than they assume we have.
great photograph