Greg Mitchell has authored more than a dozen books (see most of them here) and directed four recent PBS films. Subscribing to this newsletter is still FREE—so if you want to help fund, maybe purchase one of my books, thanks!
Stephen last night (and see musical guest below).
A new Fox News poll finds the most disturbing news yet (for Trump, though he will call it Fake Survey): His approval rating is down to 41%, with disapproval at 58% —with 61% disapproval on economy and 64% on healthcare also all-time highs. Paul Krugman this morning expressed surprise that so many former Trump supporters actually may no longer believe his lies but instead rely on their brains and stomachs:
It may be that Trump is — bear with me here — actually paying a price for telling Americans not to believe their own eyes. As I’ve written recently, it’s important not to engage in false equivalence. Biden and company told Americans that their incomes were outpacing inflation, which was true but not what people wanted to hear. Trump keeps insisting that grocery prices are way down, which is simply a lie. And people may be noticing.
Then there’s this, from NY Times: “Sorry, Kim Kardashian: NASA released photos of a comet and debunked a viral conspiracy theory spread by some celebrities that an alien invasion was imminent.”
Sen. Ron Wyden this morning: EPSTEIN BOMBSHELL: my staff is releasing a new report showing JPMorgan Chase executives – all the way to the top – enabled Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.”
Meanwhile, after six members of Congress—all military veterans—put out a video reminding soldiers that they can refuse to carry out illegal orders, the Commander in Chief posted this today:
Then there’s this: When Trump announced this yesterday he called Mamdani a “Communist.” Perhaps they will compare what is more red—MAGA hats or Soviet-era posters.
Trump and Mamdani Will Meet at White House on Friday
The Grand Ole Opry turns 100 this year. The NY Times takes a look and listen at how the show defined the culture — and was reshaped by it — decade by decade.
Last night, Jesse Welles (who we featured as relative unknown over a year ago but now nominated for four Grammys) arrived at the Colbert show for another one of his very good and very topical tunes, this one “Join ICE.”
Up for a little lively banjo music? Here’s Rhiannon Giddens on a vintage banjo from the soundtrack to the Ken Burns series:
I’m always looking for an excuse to fit Townes Van Zandt in, so here is a T Bone Burnett quote and then an alt-version of Townes’ cover of “Dead Flowers” from an obscure album:
From Townes to Toons
Michael de Adder:
Dennis Goris:
Mike Luckovich:
Bill Bramhall:
Jack Ohman:
Enrico Pinto at The New Yorker imagines the ceiling of Trump’s new White House ballroom, an homage to the Sistine Chapel (and to January 6):
Photo Finish
From my camera to you, “Owl Be Seeing You,” near New Paltz, N.Y.
🙏
Your eye is a blessing to me.