SNL's "White Potus," Plus Neil Young and Joan Baez at L.A. Rally
And Sam Cooke for Palm Sunday, and the usual cartoons,
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.” Before all that, he was a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy. At Blue Sky and Twitter: as @gregmitch. You can still subscribe to this newsletter for FREE. Sustain this newsletter by ordering one of his books.
Okay, here we go. Trump and the money changers for Easter, but his Bible now made in America and costs $1300, ”SNL” cold open last night.
First three minutes of Weekend Update.
And “The White Potus.” Jon Hamm as a truly mad man this time—RFK Jr.
Watched part of the big Anti-Oligarchy rally in L.A. yesterday afternoon, with AOC and Bernie, Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers and Neil Young, among others. Joan and Neil still at it after 60 years or so….then Bernie made surprise appearance at Coachella.
Neil with the inevitable “Rockin in the Free World” with Joan adding, “power to the people.”
Joan with my old pal Phil Ochs’ “There But for Fortune.”
And for Palm Sunday: Not at rally but maybe there in his spirit, the unmatched Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers, “Touch the Hem of His Garment.”
….and Sam with perhaps the greatest live vocal performance of the 1950s (or since?), “Nearer My God to Thee.”
From Tunes to Toons
Greg, I love love love it when you add anything by Sam Cooke, and Nearer To Thee broke me
This was a perfect song for this day, remembering when Jesus rode on a donkey into Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover, followed by the poor and downtrodden, some tossing leafy branches ahead of the humble procession, whilst a very different procession of Roman soldiers, enforcers of empire and authoritarian rule, also entered the city — a stark contrast, a demonstration of love and justice vs an arrogant proclamation of imperial power honouring a regime of cruelty
The cartoon selections: wow.
Also, I loved Phil Ochs. I happened upon him in 1969 singing on the lawn at San Fernando Valley State College (now Cal State Northridge). He was rallying support for the Moratorium Against the War rally that night at UCLA, which I attended. His passion and poetry.