Cartoons Wednesday!

Plus T (Talarico) for Texas, Kimmel holds the fort, music from the Chapins.

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.

With Stephen gone (unless he pops up on another public access channel) it’s left to Jimmy to carry the ball.

Now win Ohio, Maine, North Carolina….

Paxton’s Texas Victory Opens a New Front in the Battle for the Senate

Many Democrats and some Republicans said the scandal-plagued Ken Paxton’s victory could turn Texas into a battleground state that will determine Senate control.

Paul Krugman comments:

So Texas Republicans have, by a huge margin, rejected Sen. John Cornyn, a hardline conservative whose great failing, from Donald Trump’s point of view, was that he occasionally took stands on principle. To replace him they chose the scandal-ridden, deeply corrupt Texas attorney general Ken Paxton, who received Trump’s endorsement precisely because of his vices. Paxton’s rottenness makes him a Trump kindred spirit and also guarantees that he will be dependent on Trump’s goodwill and hence slavishly loyal.

So much the better for the Democrats, who now may — may — have a chance at winning Cornyn’s Senate seat. However, despite Paxton’s utter unfitness for any public office – let alone Senator -- knowledgeable observers of Texas politics consider the race between Paxton and the Democratic nominee, James Talarico, no better than a tossup.

Meanwhile, from NY Times:

Israel pounded southern Lebanon on Wednesday, the latest strikes in its escalating military campaign against Hezbollah that could complicate efforts by the United States and Iran to reach a peace deal.

The new attacks were launched a day after Israeli strikes killed at least 31 people, including children, in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia group, has intensified just as diplomatic efforts to secure an agreement between the United States and Iran appeared to be inching forward.

New piece at the venerable New Republic:

Music Pick

We’ve just announced that Tom Chapin and the wonderful Chapin Sisters will be joining us here in Nyack for a major event/benefit surrounding my upcoming PBS film on Woody Guthrie, on June 15. For you locals, here is link for more info and tickets. I am hoping they may sing this Tom original, very topical and perfect for a Woody tribute, “Hold Our Ground Forever.”

From Tune to Toons

Wuerker:

Anderson:

Britt:

Luckovich:

Goris:

Kamensky:

Britt again:

Photo Finish

“Suburban Sunset,” Orangeburg, N.Y.