Cartoons Tuesday!

Plus Jon Stewart meets Jane Fonda, and Kimmel and Krugman.

Yes, it’s still free to subscribe to this nearly daily newsletter! Greg Mitchell is the 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.

Kimmel last night:

Meanwhile, Jon Stewart welcomed Jane Fonda to talk about activism and the upcoming musical protest event in NYC this Sunday with 5000 viewing parties around USA:

Since she mentions her dad’s activism, I will mention upcoming “premiere” screenings (plus musical guests) for my PBS “Woody Guthrie and the Ghost of Tom Joad Today” film, narrated by Rosanne Cash, here in Nyack next Monday, at the Autry in L.A. on June 21, and for the Guthrie Center in Tulsa on June 25.

Paul Krugman on money and macho:

Clean energy has become a bogeyman in the culture wars: mining and burning coal are considered “manly” activities, while renewable energy is portrayed as woke and effeminate. Real men don’t worry about black lung and airborne particulates, let alone climate change.

So a combination of big money and fragile male egos drives Green Derangement Syndrome. And the same is true for both the Iran debacle and the refusal to learn from the catastrophe by turning to Ukraine.

Why was the United States so unprepared for the Iranian drone threat, despite the obvious successes of Ukrainian drones against Russia? Well, as investigative reporters delve into the story, I would urge them to follow the money.

America has a huge, highly profitable defense industry, dedicated to a suite of technologies that are rapidly being rendered obsolete, as $4 million Patriot missiles, that take years to build, are being used to shoot down $35,000 Shahed drones that can be manufactured in months.

So it wouldn’t be surprising if defense-industry interests are playing a significant role in the Trump administration’s refusal to admit that the rules of war have changed — the same way that fossil fuel companies have campaigned against the new realities of energy technology. After all, a deal with drone-savvy Ukrainians would mean less money going to US defense contractors.

Music Pick

Fine, quiet, version of “California Stars” by Woody’s granddaughter Sarah Lee Guthrie:

From Tune to Toons

Ohman:

Blitt:

Barry also provides this week’s cover:

Ann Telnaes on Trump nominating Blanche as attorney general:

Bramhall:

Lastt night’s game at Madison Square Garden:

Photo Finish

From my camera to you: Rare sighting, Snowy Owl on Hudson, at sunset.