The Purge Begins: CBS Axes Colbert

Plus: Trump sent Epstein a bawdy card, new music from Sheryl Crow and a fresh 'Hard Rain'

Still pressed for time this week as my “Atomic Bowl” film started to stream via PBS over the weekend (you can now watch here everywhere), and was published as a companion book, and see major piece at Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. Much more to come as the film airs over PBS stations through mid-August.

But first, you may have heard the news, not so surprising to some: CBS announced it is killing Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” next May due to “financial” reasons even though it has been top-rated in late night for nine years running and just this week got another Emmy nod. So: “truthiness,” at best. Of course, the likely reason is political (as network owner Paramount seeks favor from Trump for its big sale) and then there was Stephen mocking them for caving to Trump in that “60 Minutes” lawsuit. Anyway, Colbert’s gracious announcement last night:

You can find a lot of commentary online but here is Senator Elizabeth Warren: “CBS canceled Colbert’s show just three days after Colbert called out CBS owner Paramount for its $16 million settlement with Trump — a deal that looks like bribery. America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”

Rep. Jamie Raskin: “Trump’s rolling campaign of shakedown censorship, blackmail and purge has now felled the Late Show. But Stephen Colbert, a true-blue patriot and comic genius who skewers dunce-tyrants for a living, is irrepressible and invincible.”

From The Wrap site:

Breaking about the same time, the rumored Wall Street Journal story finally dropped re: Trump sending bawdy card to Epstein for his birthday:

I love that Trump responded by saying he never drew anything in his life—and, of course, various drawings he made years ago surfaced within an hour, generally done for charity auctions but with his trademark magic marker and signature. No doubt in a panic, he then ordered Bondi to release “pertinent” portions of grand jury testimony at Epstein’s trial. This is what I predicted a few days ago—like Nixon’s “limited hangout strategy,” to suggest he is coming clean but actually keep all the bad stuff hidden.

Earlier this week, Nobel laureates gathered in Chicago. CBS:

Nobel Laureates and leading nuclear experts gathered at the University of Chicago this week to discuss the continuing dangers of nuclear war and the need for prevention. Experts warned at a panel discussion Wednesday that the threat of nuclear war is increasing — but unlike in years past, many are oblivious to the threat.

The laureates and other participants held closed-door discussions Monday through Wednesday, on topics such as the effects of nuclear war with threats having "only grown in volume and complexity," how nuclear risks can be reduced or exacerbated by AI and other emerging technologies, and the history and future of nuclear close calls.

For the occasion, the venerable classical chamber groupKronos Quartet performed a dynamic new version of Dylan’s “Hard Rain,” joined by one of my faves, Allison Russell. Turns out she was one of the many singers appearing on the song released the same day. She kicks it off here, soon joined by Iggy Pop, Laurie Anderson, Willie Nelson and many others.

Sheryl Crow has a new single “The New Normal” which links Trump to Orwell and immoral and more:

From Tunes to Toons

Till Lauer for a New Yorker piece on the White House losing control of its own conspiracy theories: