Yes, it’s still somehow free to subscribe to this nearly daily newsletter, and if you are already a subscriber, let’s hear from you, thanks! Greg Mitchell is the author of fourteen books and director of four films for PBS since 2022. In a previous life, he was a longtime editor at the legendary Crawdaddy.
Colbert cold open on MAGA voters celebrating “victory” over Iran.
Jimmy on Trump’s already falling apart “cease” fire.
Latest from Trump this morning:
Meanwhile, the scale of the killing in Israeli strikes on Lebanon Wednesday is "horrific," the UN rights chief said, urging the international community to help end the unfolding "nightmare." NY Times: “In parts of Beirut, the Lebanese capital, cars were mangled, shop fronts were blown out and twisted rebar littered the streets on the morning after the deadliest day since the latest war between Israel and Hezbollah began last month. Lebanon’s health minister said more than 200 people had been killed and more than 1,000 others wounded in Wednesday’s strikes.”
New Pew poll: 60% of Americans have a negative opinion of Israel. Just 37% favorable. 80% of Democrats & 41% of Republicans have a negative view.
Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Mohammed Wishah was killed in an Israeli strike that targeted his vehicle in Gaza City. His death brings the number of Palestinian journalists killed since October 2023 to 262,
Lucian Truscott IV:
I guess we have reached the sad nadir as a nation that we should be thankful Trump is an outrageous crook. The only thing that’s saving us, and the world, from Trump using a nuclear weapon is his greed, even though it’s clear after this week that if he could figure out a way to make a buck from blowing up a civilization and killing millions of people, he would.
But the NY Times is keeping its eye on the ball, calling this “The politics of the F-bomb” : The Times analyzed which lawmakers favor the four-letter word. Democrats say it most.
New film coming on the man who has done everything, going back to Peter & Gordon days and so much since, Peter Asher, here’s the trailer:
Music Picks
Lot of folks loved my selection of the Staple Singers doing Bob’s “Hard Rain” the other day, so here they go with also timely “Masters of War.”
Robert Plant and his rootsy group dug out Led Zep’s “Ramble On” for Colbert last night (this was posted only online):
From Tunes to Toons
Bramhall:
Anderson:
de Adder:
Brodner:
Shneman:
Photo Finish
From my camera to you, today: “Hiroshima Carp baseball fan, at stadium that overlooked Ground Zero.”
Mavis has recorded 4 of the best albums of the past 20 years, the first with Ry Cooder producing and playing, then 2 of her 3 with Tweedy and now her latest....
I'm excited about the Peter Asher doc. I have had a lifelong adoration of Peter and Gordon. Thank you for your excellent daily posts!