Brava, Heather, and thank you for this brilliant overview of today’s highlights! I feel terrible though that because of the significance of this news you didn’t give yourself a Sunday off to rest and get an early night ... perhaps tomorrow.
A perfect conclusion.
“At a time when authoritarians are trying to demonstrate that democracies can…
Brava, Heather, and thank you for this brilliant overview of today’s highlights! I feel terrible though that because of the significance of this news you didn’t give yourself a Sunday off to rest and get an early night ... perhaps tomorrow.
A perfect conclusion.
“At a time when authoritarians are trying to demonstrate that democracies cannot function nearly as effectively as the rule of an elite few, he is proving them wrong.
I agree, a brilliant summary that I very much appreciate since I did not get to the news today and was so surprised at the final vote! Biden is bad-mouthed in the news nearly every day, be it The NY Times, and more surprisingly to me, The Washington Post, as well as other news outlets. I think his decision on Afghanistan started the negativity. I think he is doing an admirable job and I believe history will look upon him with the respect he deserves now.
I haven't watched the so-called "news" channels for years because they've all gone south and do not represent real events in other directions, other view points. Thank Goodness for Heathers synopsis.
We can grow HCR's audience by suggesting that our friends, neighbors and relatives try visiting https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/ And that invitation should be in HCR's 'Letter' each day as well, which is available to non-subscribers. I've directed others to this newsletter, although most haven't becom paying subscirbers.
I post her letter every day on Facebook and now I see others posting it as well, so the Heather readers are growing. I also see people recommending it including a person on the more intolerant progressive site here in Salem.
Talia Spot on from someone who listened to FDR’s Fireside chats (31 from 1933 to 1945). Like FDR, Heather writes accurately, credibly, and with a tone of friendly sincerity that instills trust and admiration. Heather is our modern-day Edward R. Murrow!
I only watched about 2 minutes of Face the Nation yesterday before Margaret Tight Dress cleverly segued from Biden's HUGE SUCCESS with this bill signing, to whining and warning that he will never bring down inflation. Who needs enemies...
Kathleen Allen -- "I just signed up for a new online publication: 1440 Daily Digest (free)"
I have been a subscriber for quite some time, and I concur... it is definitely worth it.
1440 provides an impartial view of what’s happening in the world so our readers can form their own conclusions. We scour hundreds of sources each day to bring you a single morning briefing thoughtfully curated by experts.
I agree. I listen to some mainstream news( CNN and MSNBC mostly) , read the New York Times and some news on social media every day, and the Biden bashing continues unabated. Even yesterday with the passage of this monumental bill, the talk on CNN was still harping on gas prices ( even though they are down) and the hot button topic of inflation. I really think this is a lot of the reason for his low ratings. I remember back to the awful Trump years and the mainstream media fawning over his every word, I do have to wonder if these billionaire owned news outlets are sabotaging Democrats. What do others think ?
I think that the "news" outlets like CNN and the legacy networks are in a desperate fight for eyes and ears. I think they jump on negative polls and stories that are sensational based on that competition. The "inflation story" is low hanging fruit. Show a few pictures of gas pump signs, interview a couple of angry customers - bingo, a story with draw that cost nothing in research or hard reporting. That's not news. That's cheap and lazy infotainment.
They are fighting for ad dollars to survive. And the fight will be more brutal as the majority of Americans are shifting from cable to streaming. Since we "cut the cord" we haven't watched CNN, MSNBC or the other alphabet soup survivors at all. For me, they are a blur of angst and ads.
I read my news from a Google aggregation of international outlets - dumping foolish ones and adding respected ones on a regular basis. I read Heather. I read Hubbell, Reich, Rather and TCinLA. So 90% of my news is read - not viewed. I have almost completely removed advertising from my consciousness. A work in progress, of course.
We watch the PBS NewsHour. Turn it off. Eat dinner. And then stream entertainment or read a book before nodding off. Nothing beats drifting off to sleep with your last thoughts being from Ted Lasso.
When the legacy networks were first evolving they were split into two divisions. Entertainment which made money with ads (yes, dancing boxes of cigarettes) and a news division that lost money - but that division was committed to accuracy and integrity. Murdoch was part of a cable news trend that trashed that idea. News and skewed "news" became the money maker. He brought the London Tabloid to the screen. I refuse to participate. And as much as I agree with Rachel Maddow's views, I just can't listen to her. My thumb became numb from hitting the mute button as the ads intruded our living room. I did read her book about oil. :) It was compelling.
No, I don't think that billionaire news outlet owners are deliberately targeting Democrats or President Biden. I just think their business models are built on sensationalized reporting and minimal investment in really lazy reporting. Maybe a new generation of journalists will have read Sinclair Lewis or have been inspired by Ida Tarbell. Until then, network news is just a rehash of what you can read....with insultingly stupid ads. JMO.
Well said (and well-lived!) The last legacy TV program I watched with regularity was CBS Good Morning America through the 80s. Watched evening news with Cronkite and Rather regularly as I do with PBS News today. Otherwise, I read, not watch. TV is a wasteland. Our first TV set, we we used to joke, was to watch Political Conventions and ACC basketball tournaments :-) .
Todays pundits are not really discussing topics, they are parrots. Their understanding of the issues is miniscule. The worst part is that it is obvious. Sometimes they all sound like Sarah Palin! Substantiation? What is that? Everyone is a young pretty face because they are cheaper to hire for cable news and as all young people do, they think they are so very smart. There isn't a single person in TV right now that will grow up to be a Walter Cronkite. Most will be gone and forgotten in 10 years. The appeal of HCR, Rachel Maddow, Jon Stewart et al is that they do the work.
I agree. I don’t understand why the Times continues to bash Biden and ignore the administration’s positive achievements. Inflation is a global problem.
The MSM writes what they think will garner them the most support. If they looked at the polls at all they would realize that the general population has moved on to the demolition of rights.
They are sabotaging the opposition and the orange one would always draw an audience, whenever he was the topic on the screen, as the ratings brought in more revenue.
We watch the local news on NBC and also at least part of the national news. If, they start blithering on about gas prices, etc. I either mute it or turn it off.
There was a time when the News department of the networks was not expected to make money, it was a public service required by regulations, in order to continue to keep a broadcasting license. That has all been discarded. Congress could fix all of this, but have a disincentive to do so. Big business tells congress what to do most of the time.
The Afghanistan mess was a set up by chump. If he had “won,” it would have been lying business as usual and repubs spin machine would have nominated him for the Nobel prize. Joe was slow to figure out just how Machiavellian chump’s deal was, but our “free press” never did. And Lordy, did Rupert jump on that.
The abuse of facts by Republicans around the already established Republican agreement under tRump tp pull out of Afghanistan, which Biden stayed committed to, is where the negativity started. And Biden knows to ignore and just soldier on - with Great Success!!
On numerous occasions I have written the editorial board of both WaPo and NYT asking if they too are trying to rid our nation of this pesky thing called democracy!!
I have a 96-year-old friend, true blue on a red mountainside, who served in Europe and SE Asia in WWII and after. Similar outlook on life. I loved Norman Lear's piece, but wish I hadn't dipped into the comments.
Morning, Rowshan! I was expecting to see a "picha" from Heather with maybe a nod to this exciting news. But Heather being Heather, she never fails to deliver!
As far as that pesky thing called democracy: Many people believe, it seems, authoritarianism is the preferred path for the country, with a leader who can quickly implement where we need to be and what we need to do. In contrast, democracy is messy as it marches slowly down that path, gathering all the many voices of the people who demand to have their say in where we need to be and what we need to do. How ghastly! How gruesome! How frightful! How utterly delightful!
I bet that many of those in this country who idealize authoritarianism haven’t a clue about how it will deprive them of their freedoms. Some are so focused on their biases and bigotry that they are willing to bite their noses to spite their faces rather than delight in democracy!
"Every word, holy or broken – this is the fulcrum of the song as Cohen first wrote it. Like our forefathers, and the Bible heroes who formed the foundation of Western ethics and principles, we will be hurt, tested, and challenged. Love will break our hearts, music will offer solace that we may or may not hear, we will be faced with joy and with pain. But Cohen is telling us, without resorting to sentimentality, not to surrender to despair or nihilism. Critics may have fixated on the gloom and doom of his lyrics, but this is his offering of hope and perseverance in the face of a cruel world. Holy or broken, there is still hallelujah."
Also watched the little video after the kd lang one with the gorgeous little girl who told her mom she (little girl) was ugly!!! Her mom sure did fix that! What a little dollbaby.
I, too, have to admit to not completely understanding Cohen's lyrics, even after looking up the explanation in Roling Stone today. Seems the goal of this beautiful song is to reclaim "Hallelujah."
It is a very big deal to read some positive news for a change. The authoritarians are bought and paid for by big dark money like the Koch network who are only interested in themselves. They were quite happy with the Tax and Jobs Act of 2017. That bill was unpopular with the public.
There was a token tax cut for us peons, although the change from personal exemptions + standard deduction to only the larger standard deduction actually cost me over $500 in taxes that year, because it no longer paid to itemize.
I recall that whatever the savings was to the average citizen would expire in a few years. I’m wondering if that has already happened.
Brava, Heather, and thank you for this brilliant overview of today’s highlights! I feel terrible though that because of the significance of this news you didn’t give yourself a Sunday off to rest and get an early night ... perhaps tomorrow.
A perfect conclusion.
“At a time when authoritarians are trying to demonstrate that democracies cannot function nearly as effectively as the rule of an elite few, he is proving them wrong.
This is a very big deal indeed.”
I agree, a brilliant summary that I very much appreciate since I did not get to the news today and was so surprised at the final vote! Biden is bad-mouthed in the news nearly every day, be it The NY Times, and more surprisingly to me, The Washington Post, as well as other news outlets. I think his decision on Afghanistan started the negativity. I think he is doing an admirable job and I believe history will look upon him with the respect he deserves now.
NEWS. N. E. W. S.
North
East
West
South
I haven't watched the so-called "news" channels for years because they've all gone south and do not represent real events in other directions, other view points. Thank Goodness for Heathers synopsis.
Reading Heather's letters feels to me like it must have felt to Americans listening to FDR's Fireside Chats during World War Two.
Wish she had the audience he had.
We can grow HCR's audience by suggesting that our friends, neighbors and relatives try visiting https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/ And that invitation should be in HCR's 'Letter' each day as well, which is available to non-subscribers. I've directed others to this newsletter, although most haven't becom paying subscirbers.
I post her letter every day on Facebook and now I see others posting it as well, so the Heather readers are growing. I also see people recommending it including a person on the more intolerant progressive site here in Salem.
Same here
I forward her Letters to about nine friends every day. Some are Republicans, and they urgently need to be exposed to the truth.
Me, too!
As have I.
Talia Spot on from someone who listened to FDR’s Fireside chats (31 from 1933 to 1945). Like FDR, Heather writes accurately, credibly, and with a tone of friendly sincerity that instills trust and admiration. Heather is our modern-day Edward R. Murrow!
👏🏻👏🏻
Nice analogy!
YES!!
I only watched about 2 minutes of Face the Nation yesterday before Margaret Tight Dress cleverly segued from Biden's HUGE SUCCESS with this bill signing, to whining and warning that he will never bring down inflation. Who needs enemies...
I just signed up for a new online publication: 1440 Daily Digest (free) ... might be worth a look:
https://join1440.com/newsletter/8-6-2022/
Kathleen Allen -- "I just signed up for a new online publication: 1440 Daily Digest (free)"
I have been a subscriber for quite some time, and I concur... it is definitely worth it.
1440 provides an impartial view of what’s happening in the world so our readers can form their own conclusions. We scour hundreds of sources each day to bring you a single morning briefing thoughtfully curated by experts.
"𝑊𝑒 𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟 100+ 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜. 𝐶𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠, 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑠, 𝑏𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒—𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑓𝑖𝑣𝑒-𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑."
Wow! A breath of fresh air - so good to hear!!
I signed up about 2-3 months ago. I find it a good way to slowly start my news day before diving into Heather and other news.
Excellent - good to know ... seems more oriented to news than gossip and partisan hype ....
As have I
I agree. I listen to some mainstream news( CNN and MSNBC mostly) , read the New York Times and some news on social media every day, and the Biden bashing continues unabated. Even yesterday with the passage of this monumental bill, the talk on CNN was still harping on gas prices ( even though they are down) and the hot button topic of inflation. I really think this is a lot of the reason for his low ratings. I remember back to the awful Trump years and the mainstream media fawning over his every word, I do have to wonder if these billionaire owned news outlets are sabotaging Democrats. What do others think ?
I think that the "news" outlets like CNN and the legacy networks are in a desperate fight for eyes and ears. I think they jump on negative polls and stories that are sensational based on that competition. The "inflation story" is low hanging fruit. Show a few pictures of gas pump signs, interview a couple of angry customers - bingo, a story with draw that cost nothing in research or hard reporting. That's not news. That's cheap and lazy infotainment.
They are fighting for ad dollars to survive. And the fight will be more brutal as the majority of Americans are shifting from cable to streaming. Since we "cut the cord" we haven't watched CNN, MSNBC or the other alphabet soup survivors at all. For me, they are a blur of angst and ads.
I read my news from a Google aggregation of international outlets - dumping foolish ones and adding respected ones on a regular basis. I read Heather. I read Hubbell, Reich, Rather and TCinLA. So 90% of my news is read - not viewed. I have almost completely removed advertising from my consciousness. A work in progress, of course.
We watch the PBS NewsHour. Turn it off. Eat dinner. And then stream entertainment or read a book before nodding off. Nothing beats drifting off to sleep with your last thoughts being from Ted Lasso.
When the legacy networks were first evolving they were split into two divisions. Entertainment which made money with ads (yes, dancing boxes of cigarettes) and a news division that lost money - but that division was committed to accuracy and integrity. Murdoch was part of a cable news trend that trashed that idea. News and skewed "news" became the money maker. He brought the London Tabloid to the screen. I refuse to participate. And as much as I agree with Rachel Maddow's views, I just can't listen to her. My thumb became numb from hitting the mute button as the ads intruded our living room. I did read her book about oil. :) It was compelling.
No, I don't think that billionaire news outlet owners are deliberately targeting Democrats or President Biden. I just think their business models are built on sensationalized reporting and minimal investment in really lazy reporting. Maybe a new generation of journalists will have read Sinclair Lewis or have been inspired by Ida Tarbell. Until then, network news is just a rehash of what you can read....with insultingly stupid ads. JMO.
yes to your comments here , and thanks so much for the ‘gift link’ to Dana Milbanks’ WAPost piece yesterday. Very important piece.
My ❤️ Button won’t work, but I agree totally with everything you’ve said.
Well said (and well-lived!) The last legacy TV program I watched with regularity was CBS Good Morning America through the 80s. Watched evening news with Cronkite and Rather regularly as I do with PBS News today. Otherwise, I read, not watch. TV is a wasteland. Our first TV set, we we used to joke, was to watch Political Conventions and ACC basketball tournaments :-) .
My favorite memory of legacy TV was definitely Cronkite. But also, the greatest TV series ever created and, IMO, never surpassed - The Twilight Zone.
Ever feel like you are living in one of those episodes?
Todays pundits are not really discussing topics, they are parrots. Their understanding of the issues is miniscule. The worst part is that it is obvious. Sometimes they all sound like Sarah Palin! Substantiation? What is that? Everyone is a young pretty face because they are cheaper to hire for cable news and as all young people do, they think they are so very smart. There isn't a single person in TV right now that will grow up to be a Walter Cronkite. Most will be gone and forgotten in 10 years. The appeal of HCR, Rachel Maddow, Jon Stewart et al is that they do the work.
You are 100% correct!!! True journalism on tv or cable is exceedingly rare these days!
I agree. I don’t understand why the Times continues to bash Biden and ignore the administration’s positive achievements. Inflation is a global problem.
The MSM writes what they think will garner them the most support. If they looked at the polls at all they would realize that the general population has moved on to the demolition of rights.
They are sabotaging the opposition and the orange one would always draw an audience, whenever he was the topic on the screen, as the ratings brought in more revenue.
That is my thought, as well.
We watch the local news on NBC and also at least part of the national news. If, they start blithering on about gas prices, etc. I either mute it or turn it off.
I think “Of Course” is the only answer. It keeps their ad money flowing. That is the circulation system of our body politic.
There was a time when the News department of the networks was not expected to make money, it was a public service required by regulations, in order to continue to keep a broadcasting license. That has all been discarded. Congress could fix all of this, but have a disincentive to do so. Big business tells congress what to do most of the time.
The Afghanistan mess was a set up by chump. If he had “won,” it would have been lying business as usual and repubs spin machine would have nominated him for the Nobel prize. Joe was slow to figure out just how Machiavellian chump’s deal was, but our “free press” never did. And Lordy, did Rupert jump on that.
Obviously Murdoch and Bezos both think they know what's best for the nation.
Bezos at least supports the Washington Post, rather than Faux Snooze.
Doesn't Bezos own the Wapo?
Yes, Bezos owns WAPO, via an LLC.
I agree!
The abuse of facts by Republicans around the already established Republican agreement under tRump tp pull out of Afghanistan, which Biden stayed committed to, is where the negativity started. And Biden knows to ignore and just soldier on - with Great Success!!
On numerous occasions I have written the editorial board of both WaPo and NYT asking if they too are trying to rid our nation of this pesky thing called democracy!!
Pesky thing...
Thank you Jacki.
There's a serious ageism thing in our society. Read Norman Lear's piece in the NYT about turning 100.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/27/opinion/archie-bunker-donald-trump-norman-lear.html. President Biden is just a kid.
I have a 96-year-old friend, true blue on a red mountainside, who served in Europe and SE Asia in WWII and after. Similar outlook on life. I loved Norman Lear's piece, but wish I hadn't dipped into the comments.
Heather will have a much happier Sunday off, now that she's been able to give us this news!
HE IS PROVING THEM WRONG.
Morning, Rowshan! I was expecting to see a "picha" from Heather with maybe a nod to this exciting news. But Heather being Heather, she never fails to deliver!
As far as that pesky thing called democracy: Many people believe, it seems, authoritarianism is the preferred path for the country, with a leader who can quickly implement where we need to be and what we need to do. In contrast, democracy is messy as it marches slowly down that path, gathering all the many voices of the people who demand to have their say in where we need to be and what we need to do. How ghastly! How gruesome! How frightful! How utterly delightful!
Morning, Lynell! I was expecting the same thing.
I bet that many of those in this country who idealize authoritarianism haven’t a clue about how it will deprive them of their freedoms. Some are so focused on their biases and bigotry that they are willing to bite their noses to spite their faces rather than delight in democracy!
Yes, Lynell. It makes me want to shout!
https://youtu.be/rWRsJ-mDU5o
🙋🏻🙋🏼🙋🏽🙋🏾🙋🏿🗽
And after I shouted and danced, this popped up on my news feed:, "Hallelujah":
https://fb.watch/eMUHRK4rME/
From Rolling Stone:
"Every word, holy or broken – this is the fulcrum of the song as Cohen first wrote it. Like our forefathers, and the Bible heroes who formed the foundation of Western ethics and principles, we will be hurt, tested, and challenged. Love will break our hearts, music will offer solace that we may or may not hear, we will be faced with joy and with pain. But Cohen is telling us, without resorting to sentimentality, not to surrender to despair or nihilism. Critics may have fixated on the gloom and doom of his lyrics, but this is his offering of hope and perseverance in the face of a cruel world. Holy or broken, there is still hallelujah."
And HALLELUJAH!!! The FBI has just raided Mara Largo, the former U.S. President's home!!!!
Just saw a headline, but didn't read yet...Hallelujah is so right!
Astounding! The law is finally moving.
Thanks MaryPat - that song always brings tears to my eyes - no matter WHO sings it but K D Lang really belts it out there.
Also watched the little video after the kd lang one with the gorgeous little girl who told her mom she (little girl) was ugly!!! Her mom sure did fix that! What a little dollbaby.
Excellent, MaryPat!
Thanks, Lynell. I danced to this, too. Hope, and energy for the work we still need to do before November.
Thank you, too, MaryPat!
Thank you for this! I admit to not completely understanding the lyrics but loving the song.
I, too, have to admit to not completely understanding Cohen's lyrics, even after looking up the explanation in Roling Stone today. Seems the goal of this beautiful song is to reclaim "Hallelujah."
Yep, I was right! W.....E.....L.....L Let me hear you S.....H....O...U...T!!!!
Whoooheee...that felt good!
Perfect at 5:38am PST!
I bet I know what song you posted. Let me go see if I'm right...
I danced the whole thing! Shout!!
Just makes me smile and laugh, Christine FL! Thx!
Morning Sister Rowshan…a complement to this Letter with also a compliment included to HCR.
Robert B. Hubbell “Keep This List” https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/keep-this-list?r=l2aa7&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Let’s go let’s go let’s go! For Democracy.
🗽
Morning, my sister, Christine, and thank you for the link! We’re on our way!
I copied it to fb, will add info on how our reps & senators voted.
Ditto what Rowshan said. ❤️🔥💥
Thanks, Imogene❣️
It is a very big deal to read some positive news for a change. The authoritarians are bought and paid for by big dark money like the Koch network who are only interested in themselves. They were quite happy with the Tax and Jobs Act of 2017. That bill was unpopular with the public.
Indeed, it is a very BIG deal!
There was a token tax cut for us peons, although the change from personal exemptions + standard deduction to only the larger standard deduction actually cost me over $500 in taxes that year, because it no longer paid to itemize.
I recall that whatever the savings was to the average citizen would expire in a few years. I’m wondering if that has already happened.
The r’s are doing all they can to undermine our democracy for that very reason. They prefer to rule as authoritarians.
The r’s want to rule, dominate, eliminate, impoverish, enslave, brainwash, and drain the country of education and the educated.
The empire. Mapped out for decades. And this isn't maybe.