SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024 Minnesota's new flag to follow: Yesterday, President Biden journeyed to the National Museum of African American History and Culture to offer an address. He was commemorating a major event. Early on, his offered the passage shown below. For the full transcri … | Continue reading
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024 It was trafficking in unknowns: What actually happened to Stormy Daniels back in 2006? We can't exactly answer that question. Beyond that, we can't say that voters should have been encouraged to explore the answer to that question in the fall of 2016. Start … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024 She (almost) gets it right: Elizabeth Spiers is "a contributing Opinion writer" at the New York Times. She's 47 years of age, which sounds like a good age to be. We could do without the snark lodged in the headline which sits atop her new column. That said, t … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2024 This is the way she proceeded: On one occasion, in 2006, did future candidate Donald J. Trump engage in sexual intercourse with director Stormy Daniels? Daniels says the gentleman did. The gentleman says he didn't. That said: As has been explained a million t … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024 MSNBC only: In recent months, we've often suggested that big news orgs like the New York Times should report on what is happening in the realm of "cable news." This morning, the Times has published such a report—above the fold on the front page of its print … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024 But what in the world does that mean? Is it true, what Stephanie Clifford said, speaking in a chilly Gotham courtroom—testifying under oath? In an early part of her testimony, she said that she preferred to be referred to as Stormy Daniels. In news reports … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024 How well do they deal with ideas? This week, we've been talking about the basic capability, or lack of same, within our upper-end press corps. We've also talked about their interest, or lack of same, when it comes to dealing with ideas. Do they really pref … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024 It's part of a very long story: At the start of Monday's report, we cited the gloomy numbers which have emerged from the latest administration of the New York Times/Siena College poll. This morning, during the 6 o'clock hour, Joe Scarborough trashed the me … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024 It started with Candidate Hart: Way back in 1987, excitement was building about former senator Gary Hart (D-Colorado) and his "new ideas," or about whatever remained of those new ideas from Hart's 1984 presidential campaign. According to the leading authorit … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024 Chunk of time to be lost: We're losing a chunk of time today. We won't be posting until this afternoon. | Continue reading
MONDAY, MAY 13, 2024 Our American cousin: On Saturday night, he didn't start raising his voice until 8:07 p.m. Or at least, that's the way we'd score it. We're speaking of The Man Who Screams, the Fox News Channel's Mark Levin. He didn't raise his voice until then—but at 8 p.m., … | Continue reading
MONDAY, MAY 13, 2024 The world's most basic distinction: As we type, the numbers from the swing states may be going from bad to worse. In this gloomy, brand-new report, the New York Times / Axios survey has Candidate Trump ahead of Candidate Biden is five of six such states. In f … | Continue reading
SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024 More numbers from the Times: How many students got arrested for participating in the seizure of Columbia's Hamilton Hall? This past Monday, we offered this instructive report on that very topic. That said: This past Thursday, the New York Times published a ne … | Continue reading
SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2024 Explains why Daniels did it: If you watch Red America's "cable news" channel, the god can do no wrong. For the record, the god in question is former president Donald J. Trump. The program in question airs at 5 p.m.—and yes, that helps explain why the progra … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024 What triggered Achaean rage? "Man [sic] is the rational animal," he's widely said to have said. We're referring to Aristotle, no last name required, an intellectual giant of the age of Classical Greece—an intellectual giant who also offered the view that all … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024 Paraphrase can be powerful too: The propaganda came early and often on this morning's Fox & Friends TV program. Our "cable news" is built on a system in which no one disagrees or pushes back or questions anything anyone else has said. As a result, Ainsley Ea … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024 Reasoning like an Achaean: Truth be told, it didn't take much to snap the Achaeans back into line. We return to the late Bronze Age—to the (presumably fictional) Achaean siege of Troy. In Book Nine of the western world's first poem of war, Agamemnon lord of … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2024 Blue America's faux journalism: Last night, a key word was largely given the night off on Blue America's "cable news" channel. The key word is "allegedly." At issue was the testimony by Stormy Daniels, very little of which can be confirmed for its accuracy. … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2024 In one key respect, we aren't: At the start of this week, we raised a pair of award-winning questions concerning those of us who live in present-day Blue America. Regarding November's election, we raised this awkward question: Have we possibly "earned our w … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2024Also, Hannah Dreier's Pulitzer Prize: Yesterday, to its credit if somewhat belatedly, the Washington Post finally began to try to explain.In yesterday afternoon's report, we linked you to David Nakamura's report. Yesterday morning, his report had appeared onli … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2024 Also, Hannah Dreier's Pulitzer Prize: Yesterday, to its credit if somewhat belatedly, the Washington Post finally began to try to explain. In yesterday afternoon's report, we linked you to David Nakamura's report. Yesterday morning, his report had appeared on … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2024...Agamemnon was the elect: Agamemnon, lord of men, never won an election. As far as we know, there were no elections, as we know them, during the late Bronze Age. Agamemnon, lord of men, never won an election. Clearly, though, Agamemnon was the elect.In the … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2024 ...Agamemnon was the elect: Agamemnon, lord of men, never won an election. As far as we know, there were no elections, as we know them, during the late Bronze Age. Agamemnon, lord of men, never won an election. Clearly, though, Agamemnon was the elect. In the … | Continue reading
MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024Also, Welker's repeated question: Kudos to the Washington Post for what it has started to try to do.In a lengthy report by David Nakamura, the paper has now started to try to explain the legal basis on which Donald J. Trump has been charged with a felony—actual … | Continue reading
MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024 Also, Welker's repeated question: Kudos to the Washington Post for what it has started to try to do. In a lengthy report by David Nakamura, the paper has now started to try to explain the legal basis on which Donald J. Trump has been charged with a felony—actu … | Continue reading
MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024 ...are we all Achaeans now? We start today with a question: What is the total student enrollment at Columbia University? You're asking an excellent question! At this site, we have a close relative who will be a freshman there in the fall. Her exploits as a sch … | Continue reading
MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024...are we all Achaeans now? We start today with a question:What is the total student enrollment at Columbia University?You're asking an excellent question! At this site, we have a close relative who will be a freshman there in the fall. Her exploits as a school … | Continue reading
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024The New York Times doesn't seem sure: For starters, we strongly agree with Nia Prater concerning one basic point.Last week, Prater began writing for New York magazine about the arrests by the NYPD at Columbia University.On Wednesday, she did an initial post on … | Continue reading
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2024 The New York Times doesn't seem sure: For starters, we strongly agree with Nia Prater concerning one basic point. Last week, Prater began writing for New York magazine about the arrests by the NYPD at Columbia University. On Wednesday, she did an initial post … | Continue reading
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024 What viewers were told on Fox: It's the wonderful thing about "cable news." Everybody gets to go to bed happy! Yesterday, starting at 4 p.m., Blue America was reassured about what Hope Hicks had said. Late last night, in the 11 p.m. hour, viewers in Red Amer … | Continue reading
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024What viewers were told on Fox: It's the wonderful thing about "cable news." Everybody gets to go to bed happy!Yesterday, starting at 4 p.m., Blue America was reassured about what Hope Hicks had said. Late last night, in the 11 p.m. hour, viewers in Red Americ … | Continue reading
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024It depends on which channel you watch: Do we the people get the national discourse we deserve?We wouldn't recommend such a sour outlook. That said, the question popped into our heads this morning when we reviewed the online Washington Post.Oof! As of 8:30 thi … | Continue reading
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024 It depends on which channel you watch: Do we the people get the national discourse we deserve? We wouldn't recommend such a sour outlook. That said, the question popped into our heads this morning when we reviewed the online Washington Post. Oof! As of 8:30 … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2024Except they're totally different: Their concerns are our concerns! Except. of course, for the fact that they're totally different.The two different leadership guilds agree on one basic point. In Red America and in Blue America, those guilds are speaking out, on … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2024 Except they're totally different: Their concerns are our concerns! Except. of course, for the fact that they're totally different. The two different leadership guilds agree on one basic point. In Red America and in Blue America, those guilds are speaking out, … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2024 Please remove their protective gear! Watching cable news was especially painful this morning. On Morning Joe, the message was gloomy. The messages went like this: The barricade brigade at UCLA aren't helping anyone in Gaza. In fact, they have the whole Amer … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2024Please remove their protective gear! Watching cable news was especially painful this morning.On Morning Joe, the message was gloomy. The messages went like this:The barricade brigade at UCLA aren't helping anyone in Gaza. In fact, they have the whole America … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024Joe Scarborough's major concern: For roughly 90 minutes today, the whole (cable news) world was watching.The Fox News Channel had stayed live from L.A. all through the past two nights. For two straight nights, its overnight reruns were kicked to the curb. In … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024 Joe Scarborough's major concern: For roughly 90 minutes today, the whole (cable news) world was watching. The Fox News Channel had stayed live from L.A. all through the past two nights. For two straight nights, its overnight reruns were kicked to the curb. I … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2024O'Donnell gets it right: Lawrence O'Donnell remembers. He also broke out of a type of box with some comments he made last night.In this age of "segregation by viewpoint," it's very rare to see someone on cable news do what O'Donnell did. He made a significan … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2024 O'Donnell gets it right: Lawrence O'Donnell remembers. He also broke out of a type of box with some comments he made last night. In this age of "segregation by viewpoint," it's very rare to see someone on cable news do what O'Donnell did. He made a signific … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2024Agamemnon will have to wait: As it turns out, the rage of Achilles—along with the rage of Agamemnon himself—is going to have to wait. So too for that one overwhelming human concern—the one concern which lay behind their famous bouts of rage. Can we learn to … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2024 Agamemnon will have to wait: As it turns out, the rage of Achilles—along with the rage of Agamemnon himself—is going to have to wait. So too for that one overwhelming human concern—the one concern which lay behind their famous bouts of rage. Can we learn to … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024George Conway, One Other Guy: We just saw George Conway on Deadline: White House refer to Donald J. Trump as "a narcissistic sociopath." He also used the term "psychopathy" as he discussed Trump's mental / emotional state. As we've recently noted, Conway ha … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024 George Conway, One Other Guy: We just saw George Conway on Deadline: White House refer to Donald J. Trump as "a narcissistic sociopath." He also used the term "psychopathy" as he discussed Trump's mental / emotional state. As we've recently noted, Conway h … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024Suppressing the doorman's (false) tale: Once again, it's time for us to fess up. We'll start by quoting the first paragraph of the guest essay we discussed in this morning's report. The essay appeared in the New York Times. Headline included, it starts exac … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024 Suppressing the doorman's (false) tale: Once again, it's time for us to fess up. We'll start by quoting the first paragraph of the guest essay we discussed in this morning's report. The essay appeared in the New York Times. Headline included, it starts exa … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2024But then, up jumps the Times: As far as we know, President Lincoln never voiced concern about the future of "our democracy." His moral insights and intellectual skills came from the realm of the gods. In one of his two most famous speeches, he used language … | Continue reading