Greg Mitchell has authored more than a dozen books (see most of them here) and directed four recent PBS films, including the current “The Atomic Bowl.” Long ago he was the longtime Senior Editor at the legendary Crawdaddy. Subscribing to this newsletter is still FREE—so if you want to help fund, maybe purchase one of those books, thanks. Or recommend this Substack to a friend!
Stephen on Susie Wiles dissing Trump and the gang and more.
Jake Tapper:
White House Chief of Staff Wiles told Vanity Fair that Trump “was on [Epstein’s] plane…he’s on the manifest. They were, you know, sort of young, single, whatever—I know it’s a passé word but sort of young, single playboys together.” Um…. “young”? Trump turned 50 in 1996.
Meanwhile, John Cassidy, The New Yorker:
As the anniversary of Donald Trump’s return to the White House approaches, keeping up with his family’s efforts to cash in is a mighty challenge. It seems like there is a fresh deal, or revelation, every week. Since many of the Trump or Trump-affiliated ventures are privately owned, we don’t have a complete account of their finances. But in tracking company announcements, official filings, and the assiduous reporting of a number of media outlets, a clear picture emerges: enrichment of the First Family on a scale that is unprecedented in American history…. in terms of the money involved, the geographic reach, and the explicit ties to Presidential actions—particularly Trump’s efforts to turn the United States into the “crypto capital of the world”—there has never been anything like the second term of Trump, Inc.
A reminder: that film “Bombshell” on official and media coverups in the wake of our atomic bombing of Japan in 1945 (for which I served as adviser and talking head on screen) is set to air nationally over PBS on January 6 via American Experience. If anyone wishes to interview yours truly or the director Ben Loetterman, contact me in Comments. Read more here. Trailer:
Not quite done with our Joe Ely tributes, so here is a “Best of” his live appearances on Austin City Limits that ACL put out last night.
On his final album this year, Joe with a cover of his old friend Townes, the classic “For the Sake of the Song.”
And how about a jaunty/sad holiday offering from Ry Cooder—on soldiers coming home damaged by wars—titled “Christmas Time This Year,” with the late Flaco Jimenez.
From Tunes to Toons
Luckovich:
Telnaes:
Loper:
Rogers:
Matson:
Photo Finish
From my camera to you, “Lake Mohonk, Late Autumn”
Mohonk was such a restful place to go, and beautiful in every season. My first time was snow everywhere, and the working fireplaces in the rooms made it all that much cozier. A safe place.
Excellent political cartoons as usual
Ann Telnaes drives it home
Political Cartoons have the power to make one understand the situations very well
The Washington Post is a shadow of its former self
This became quite apparent when Bezos arranged the firing of Ann