Greg Mitchell is the author of more than a dozen books and now writer/director of three award-winning films aired via PBS, including “Atomic Cover-up” and “Memorial Day Massacre.” Now watch trailer for acclaimed 2025 film “The Atomic Bowl.” Before all that, he was a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy. You can still subscribe to this newsletter for FREE. Sustain this newsletter by ordering one of his books.
Busy night from late night hosts. Here’s how the Colbert monologue is summarized by his folks: “Vice President J.D. Vance dropped the NCAA football championship trophy at a White House ceremony, CBS News anchor Gayle King kissed the ground after returning from space, President Trump’s doctor says golfing is keeping him in good shape, and Sen. Bernie Sanders surprised the crowd at Coachella….”.
Jon Stewart was back in his Monday slot declaring that he “did not think Trump would get this authoritarian this fast.” This reminds me that we criticized Stewart back in January after he claimed that liberals were wildly overreacting and Trump might not be all that bad….Well, now:
Doing his typical deep, if often fun, dive, John Oliver on HBO explores Trump’s Terrible Tariffs.
Now, turning to films: Debuting on PBS tonight, an “American Masters” on the great graphic novelist and “Maus” man Art Spiegelman. Trailer here:
Last night we caught up via streaming with the previous American Master, the long-forgotten jazzy singer and pianist Hazel Scott, one of the most popular American entertainers (in clubs and movies and early TV) and civil rights activists—derailed by the McCarthy era blacklist which sent her to Paris for 15 years. Oh, she was also married to Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
On to music: Glad to see The New York Times this week picking as one of their top new songs of the week this one from the collaboration between longtime Louisiana rock/funk band Galactic and the “Soul Queen of New Orleans” (for the past 65 years), Irma Thomas. “People” is really vintage sounding from her ‘60s heyday:
As is “Where I Belong”:
And she has still got it live, as shown from this clip, less than a year ago at Jazzfest, with Mick and the Stones doing their first big USA hit—a cover of Irma’s “Time Is On My Side.” Fabulous:
From Tunes to Toons
Matt Davies:
Steve Brodner:
Matt Wuerker:
When I am down and about as depressed as I can be, along you come to make me feel much less hopeless. Laughter and music, two great medicines for the soul! Thank you!
That was a fun one to read!