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.” 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!
The New Yorker just posted its profile of Bari Weiss that CBS was so worried about. Very little new, but there’s this:
Weiss also seemed to be struggling with the fact that, at a time when the Trump Administration is routinely lying to the public and straining to justify blatant abuses of executive power, often with violent or deadly consequences, she was still wedded to the idea of news coverage as a contest of ideas, in which both sides of the debate are equally valid. Privately, she has expressed alarm at many of the Administration’s actions, a person close to Weiss told me. But, in her role as the editor-in-chief of CBS News, her main concern is being able to book its main players on her network’s shows.
Bill Bramhall, one of our regulars:
More for MLK Day. One of the great songs of our era, Allen Toussaint, “Freedom for the Stallion.”
Dylan at the March on Washington, “Only a Pawn in Their Game.”
Nina Simone, “Mississippi Goddamn”
And this:
NY Times headlines:
Noem Denies Use of Chemical Agents in Minnesota, Then Backtracks
In Minneapolis, a Pattern of Misconduct Toward Protesters
Legal and criminal justice experts said a ruling by a federal judge last week revealed conduct by immigration agents that evokes the civil rights era.
ProPublica:
A new investigation by ProPublica finds over 40 cases of immigration agents using potentially fatal chokeholds and other moves that can cut off breathing. “These arrests are playing out around the country, and often in full view of cameras and witnesses,” says ProPublica reporter Nicole Foy. She also reports that at least 170 U.S. citizens have been arrested by immigration agents.
Bari Weiss finally approved for airing last night that hot “60 Minutes” report she had delayed, claiming it did not get a response from the Trumpers. Now we learn, via Brian Stelter:
Alfonsi was very reluctant to make changes to the original report. But on Thursday, she was tasked with interviewing a Trump official, such as Kristi Noem or Tom Homan. Bari Weiss said she would personally book an interview, two sources told me. So "60 Minutes" producers flew to DC from New York, and Alfonsi flew in from Texas. But the promised interview did not materialize.
Everyone went home empty-handed…Alfonsi had warned about this in her December memo: "Their refusal to be interviewed is a tactical maneuver designed to kill the story. If the administration's refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a ‘kill switch’ for any reporting they find inconvenient."
I updated this newsletter with this yesterday morning but most of you did not receive it, so here again: On Saturday night, Bruce Springsteen played several songs (some with Gary U.S. Bonds) during his set at the Light of Day WinterFest concert in Red Bank, NJ, near his home. Introducing “The Promised Land,” Springsteen dedicated it to Renee Good and criticized ICE’s “Gestapo tactics.” New York Times account here. Below are some of Bruce’s comments.
This next song is probably one of my greatest songs. And I don’t want to be out of water tonight, but I wrote this song as an ode to American possibility … both to the beautiful but flawed country that we are, and to the country that we could be. Now, right now, we are living through incredibly critical times. The United States, the ideals and the values for which it stood for the past 250 years, is being tested as it has never been in modern times. Those values and those ideals have never been as endangered as they are right now.
So as we gather tonight in this beautiful display of love and care and thoughtfulness and community … if you believe in democracy, in liberty … if you believe that truth still matters, and that it’s worth speaking out, and it’s worth fighting for … if you believe in the power of the law and that no one stands above it … if you stand against heavily armed masked federal troops invading American cities, and using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens … if you believe you don’t deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest … then send a message to this President.
And as the Mayor of that city has said, ICE should get the fuck out of Minneapolis. So this one is for you, and the memory of the mother of three and American citizen Renee Good.
The speech and “Promised Land” follows….
And also “Atlantic City”:
From Tunes to Toons
Brodner:
Not everyone will get this, but what the hell:
Photo Finish
From my camera to you: “Along the Seine.”
I got it as soon as I said it aloud.LOL
"...just put your lips together and blow." Love it!