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!
Taylor Swift has yet another doc related to her tour, if that’s your jam (it’s not mine). She was the sole guest with Colbert last night if you want to find it. Myself, I will stick with the monologue:
And also from Colbert, this little bit responding to Trump’s new claims that lawnmowers are too damn complicated to operate these days:
Meanwhile, all you need to know about the Fed’s latest interest rate cut, from Paul Krugman:
In fact, Fed policy over the next few months barely matters. The important questions now are political: Will Trump destroy the Fed’s independence, and do to monetary policy what he has done to health policy — put it in the hands of charlatans and cranks?
Ligthen up! Just up this morning from NY Times, here is your link:
Best Comedy of 2025
Late-night came roaring back to life, Roy Wood Jr. delivered a must-see special and Amy Poehler made a must-listen podcast.
And from late 2024, enjoy, from Nate Bargatze’s Christmas special. Like his now famous George Washington sketches, but with Nate as an angel explaining Christmas….or Santamas.
On the other hand, this takeoff on the “Polar Express” was actually posted by the White House yesterday:
In our Raul Malo tribute yesterday, R.I.P., I forgot to include one of my favorite performances by him, for the special 1999 PBS all-star program re: Gram Parsons organized by Emmylou. Here he does “Hot Burrito #1”.
And Billy Bragg has a new (naturally political) holiday tune, “Put the Christ Back in Christmas.”
From Tunes to Toons
Ann Telnaes:
DeAdder:
Horsey:
Bramhall:
DeAdder again:
Sack:
Ohman:
Matson:
Ohman again:
Photo Finish
Our new feature, from my camera, let me know what you think. Today:
“View Through the Berlin Wall.”
Who knew Billy Bragg could put me in the Christmas spirit!?
Great music again especially Billy Brag; cartoons too.