Racist Trump: "I Didn't Make a Mistake"

But oh boy, tens of millions of voters sure did. We have cartoon commentary, plus Woody Guthrie's slam against Donald's racist dad.

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Well, by now you’ve read or heard about Trump posting a video that includes image of the Obamas as apes in the jungle. Even some GOPers not thrilled about it—imagine!—though they seem to all feel that a simple, insincere, apology from Der Leader would be more than enough, and accepted his claim that he had nothing to do with it, a latenight staffer was to blame. Then they didn’t get even that, as Trump admitted late last night that he found the video himself and ordered it posted, plus:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump says he will not apologize for posting a racist video of the Obamas, adding, 'I didn't make a mistake.'

So let’s let the cartoonists do the talking, or drawing, or whatever.

Nick Anderson:

de Adder:

Brodner:

Bennett;

Trump even got the normally passive Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to lose it:

This disgusting video, posted by the so-called president, was done intentionally. F*ck Donald Trump and his vile, racist, and malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder. President Obama and Michelle Obama are brilliant, caring, and patriotic Americans. They represent the best of this country. It’s time for John Thune, Mike Johnson, and Republicans to denounce this serial fraudster, who’s sitting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue pretending to be the president of the United States.

David Marchese has a big interview just posted at NY Times with our old friend and colleague (1977-1978) Michael Pollan and his new book.

Throughout his work — which includes classic books like “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” (2006), about why we eat the way we do, and “How to Change Your Mind” (2018), about the science and uses of psychedelic drugs — Pollan has waded into ideas about the inner workings of the mind. Now, with his forthcoming book, “A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness,” which will arrive this month, he has jumped into the deep end. The book is both a highly personal and expansive multidisciplinary survey of questions around human consciousness — what it is, what causes it, what it’s for and what the possible answers might mean for how we choose to live. And as Pollan explained, with the rise of artificial intelligence as well as the relentless political pressure on our attention (that is, our minds), those questions, already profound, are becoming only more urgent.

Would you like an alternative or at least a bracing supplement for your Super Bowl Sunday?

One of the most bizarre football, or any sports, games took place on January 1, 1946, in Nagasaki. To mark the day in Japan, and raise morale (at least for the Americans), two all-star military faced off in the so-called Atomic Bowl, played on a killing field outside a middle school in Nagasaki which had lost 165 students and teachers to our atomic bomb just weeks earlier.

As many here know, my film “The Atomic Bowl” debuted over PBS last summer and has been streaming since. Here is the link to the PBS.org page where you can watch now or via the apps. Narrated by Peter Coyote. And more: the companion book. If you watch the film (53 minutes) or read the book, let me know in comments or in an email.

Go here for full reviews or responses to the film from notables (and more).

Seems apt today to feature cover version of Woody Guthrie song about his old racist landlord Fred Trump, here performed by a Woody scholar:

From Tunes to Cartoons

Horsey:

Bramhall:

Noth:

Sack:

Matson:

Photo Finish

From my camera to you, “Paris, 3 a.m.”