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!
Just out today from the forthcoming “Beatles Anthology 4” package, the historic first take of “In My Life,” live in the studio:
Two of my jounalistic heroes here in a lengthy chat about the media and Trump: Paul Krugman and longtime press critic/ombud/columnist Margaret Sullivan. Too much to excerpt much but here is link for all of it. Just a bit:
Krugman: The thing is, we now have a fair number of major media organizations that are owned effectively by billionaires, directly or indirectly, and appear to be being used to promote their personal interests.
Sullivan: It’s very disturbing because that’s not what owning a news organization should be about. We have the press in this country in order to provide truth and information to citizens so that they can do their part in the democracy. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing, not gilding our own lilies, or feathering our own nest, so it’s very disheartening.
The other thing that we’ve seen is media organizations or news organizations that are owned by big corporations, like ABC is owned by Disney. CBS is now owned by a big corporation that used to be called Paramount Global, then there was a merger. But, each of them was sued by Trump and the cases were highly defendable in court.
But those news organizations, or their parent companies, chose to settle. As Trump likes to say, “they gave me lots of money.” Well, they did give him lots of money. It wasn’t the right thing to do, and it’s part of this capitulation that we’re seeing. And it’s very, very damaging and unfortunate.
Then there’s this from Heather Cox Richardson:
A forthcoming book by reporter Olivia Nuzzi, about which the New York Times reported today, says that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a recovering heroin addict with whom she had a relationship, told her he uses psychedelics, despite claiming to have stopped using drugs decades ago.
Cool news that Jason Isbell will rejoin the Drive-By Truckers for at least one night—on the Colbert show on December 2. The announcement came to mark yesterday’s release of “The Definitive Decoration Day,” an expanded look back at their most hailed album together. The previously unreleased double album “Heathens Live at Flicker Bar, Athens, GA: June 20, 2002” is also included in the box set.
My favorite of their songs from back then was Isbell’s tribute to the former (late) members of The Band, which he did after leaving the Truckers for Austin City Limits: “Danko/Manuel.”
From Tunes to Toons
Bramhall:
Wuerker:
Steve Brodner:
Jesse Duquette:
More Brodner:
KAL on the climate conference:
Bramhall:
Photo Finish
From my camera to you: “Memorial to Holocaust Victims, Berlin.”
Enjoyed the Beatles' recording. Strong selection of cartoons.
I like the cartoons… if they’re less ‘funny’ consider the topic(s). Great, haunting picture of the Berlin Holocaust Memorial.