No Kings, Many Protests

Cartoons ask: Is it "Good to be King"?

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” coming to PBS in July. 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.

Grim update just now, two Democrats targeted:

Minnesota Lawmaker Is Assassinated in Targeted Attack, Governor Says

Melissa Hortman, a Democratic state representative, and her husband were fatally shot, Gov. Tim Walz said, and a separate attack targeted a state senator. Officials warned that the gunman was at large.

Meanwhile,.today’s the day….

My hero, Woody Guthrie, in his little-known “Mean Talking Blues,” took on a Trump-like persona:

I hate everybody don't think like me,
And I'd rather see you dead than see you free.
Rather see you starved to death
Than see you at work,
And I'm readin' all the books I can
To learn how to hurt,
Daily Misery, spread diseases,
Keep you without a vote,
Keep you without a union.

Next week’s New Yorker cover:

Ann Telnaes:

The King in “Hamilton”:

‘Cause when push, comes to shove, I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love…”

Tom Petty, “It’s Good To Be King”

Then there’s this, as I predicted:

Trump Shifts Deportation Focus, Pausing Raids on Farms, Hotels and Eateries

The abrupt pivot on an issue at the heart of Mr. Trump’s presidency suggested his broad immigration crackdown was hurting industries and constituencies he does not want to lose.

There’s a new one-hour BBC doc on Fairport Convention: