McCartney Re-unites With Lennon, plus: Our Usual Cartoons
And: Kimmel joins Colbert and John Oliver hits Netanyahu.
Greg Mitchell has authored 14 books and directed four PBS films since 2022. His latest, “The Atomic Bowl: Football at Ground Zero—and Nuclear Peril Today” has been airing over PBS stations and now streaming for free (key links to watch now and more here). A companion book is available, and you can read more or order here.. And subscribing to this newsletter is still somehow FREE.
Jimmy visited Stephen last night for his first interview describing the day he found out his show was shut down.
John Oliver’s segment on Netanyahu (and wife) this week is banned in Israel.
But the greatest, and most troubling, comedy segment—in his usual dark, pathetic style—came from Trump yesterday in his “speech” to the generals when he went up the down escalator here:
We were not respected with Biden. They looked at him falling down stairs every day – every day, the guy’s falling down stairs – and I said, that’s not our president. We can’t have it. I’m very careful, you know, when I walk down stairs, I walk…very…slowly. Nobody has to set a record. Just, try not to fall, ‘cause it doesn’t work out well. A few of our presidents have fallen, and it became a part of their legacy, you know. Walk nice and easy. You don’t have to set any records. Be cool! Be cool when you walk down, but don’t…don’t bop down the stairs.
The one thing with Obama…I had zero respect for him as a president, but he would bop down those stairs, I’ve never seen…da-da-da-da-teh-deh-bop-bop…I’ve never seen…he would go down those stairs, bop-bop, he wouldn’t hold on, he’d go down those stairs, I said, it’s great! I wouldn’t want to do it. I guess I could do it, but eventually, bad things are gonna happen, and it only takes one.
Must be love as he sure doesn’t need the money. Paul McCartney has opened yet another tour out West and he “reunites” with old pal John by singing (his voice more shaky now) a few songs that John wrote and/or sang lead. For example, here from Palm Springs two nights ago, is “Help!”
…and then, with John taking the lead on the big screen behind him, “I’ve Got a Feeling.” Got to hand it to Paul, he knows many prefer John, and yet he lets everyone see and hear why…
And, of course, more John on “Now and Then.”
From Tunes to Toons
Steve Brodner:
Never in the history of political cartooning have the illustrations been so on target as they are during Trump 2.0. Every MAGA and those who decided to stay home rather than vote for a woman should be forced to read and comprehend what each cartoon is saying. They are often humorous, but each one makes an extremely sad statement about the state of our nation.
You work hard to produce this Substack. Every post of yours is so excellent it’s a pleasure to read. Thanks!