FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2025 This is our own "night assault:" As we've noted in the past, the "night assault" which occasioned the death of sacred Troy isn't described in the Iliad. That said, make no mistake—we're currently experiencing our own present-day "night assault." The Iliad … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025 We'll suggest that you listen to Reason: “What can you say about a twenty-five-year-old girl who died?” We apologize for repeating the opening line of the 1970 Erich Segal blockbuster novel, Love Story. That opening line popped into our heads as we pond … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025 Did he spot a ball of worms? Is something wrong with Elon Musk? No, really—is something "wrong" with Musk? We've shared some of the gentleman's tweets in recent days. We should have included his additional comment, offered this Monday, about the ball of … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 ...we explain the need for five votes: Jobs in the Senate must be the greatest jobs in the world! We say that after watching the things people will do to avoid ever losing such jobs. Three extremely shaky nominees—Kennedy, Gabbard and Patel—still await … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 Two days later, this: We're going to start today's report with rare words of self-endorsement. We revealed the framework for this week's rumination when we posted Monday morning's report. The one-word framework was this: MADMEN We said the commander is … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025 Our series resumes tomorrow: Over at the Washington Post, Ruth Marcus has given voice to a matter of opinion. Her column appeared on the Post's web site one hour before we walked in the door. On the front page of the site, it was teased in the following … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025 We won't post until later: In the critically-acclaimed film of the same name, Joseph Cotten scoured post-war Vienna is search of "the third man." In recent weeks, Blue America's tribunes have been scouring the countryside, looking for "the fourth vote." … | Continue reading
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025 There's no such technical term: For the record, Elon Musk isn't "a madman" or a nut. As we detailed this morning, there are no such technical terms. The same can be said for Donald J. Trump. On the other hand, in this morning's print editions, the New Yor … | Continue reading
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2025 The silence has been a surrender: A far as we know, "madman" isn't, and has never been, a technical clinical term. As far as we know, it isn't a term that's used within the fields of psychiatry or psychology. As far as we know, it isn't a term that's used … | Continue reading
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2025 It's the stupidity, Stupid: In this morning's New York Times, David Brooks is taking an important step in a new direction. He's extending, or seeking to extend, the possibilities found within our journalistic language. Headline included, his column starts … | Continue reading
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2025 Is a modern American Samson tearing the pillars down? In the realm of children's books, Horton famously heard a Who. Last week, a certain commander—he may also be a nutcase!—wrestled the WHO to the ground. The WHO in question here is the World Health Or … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2025 A flyweight took over from there: Last evening, on the Fox News Channel, Sean Hannity ended his "cable news" program as he always does: HANNITY (1/30/25): Let not your heart be troubled. Why? Greg Gutfeld is up next to put a smile on your face. Have a gre … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2025 So was Campos-Duffy: On page A1 of today's print editions, Elisabeth Bumiller gets it right in the New York Times. Bumiller is reporting President Trump's demented behavior at yesterday morning's press event. His madness has never been more apparent. Her … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025 And so was "Tampon Tim:" We couldn't help thinking of True Grit—more specifically, of the Coen Brothers' 2010 adaptation of the highly regarded Charles Portis novel. Midway through the film, its admirable young heroine, evading the ferryman, rides Littl … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025 One worker had no idea: Yesterday afternoon, hours before the plane disaster, Robert F. Kennedy was being discussed on the cable show, Deadline: White House. The nominee had completed a weirdly hapless performance at the first of his confirmation hearin … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2025 He "probably did say that!" What did Robert F. Kennedy Jr. say and when did Robrt F. Kennedy Jr. perhaps or possibly say it? Senator Bennet (D-Col.) was trying to find out! At Mediaite, David Gilmour provides the videotape, and he's done some transcrip … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2025 At Fox, that claim was a "lie:" On it came, right there last Saturday night, right on the Fox News Channel. On came the TV show called The Big Weekend Show. The program comes close to being the dumbest of the channel's weekend fare. Four field workers … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2025 King Lear saves Cali again: He makes so many odd remarks that they tend to be quickly forgotten. In this morning's report about the commander, we forgot to cite the news report, from last Friday's Washington Post, about the shape of (California's) water. … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2025 Campos-Duffy keeps playing with fire: The workers were swinging their nine-pound hammers quite early this past Sunday morning. Their work songs help make the hours pass as they perform their labors. Some are paid millions of dollars per year for the eigh … | Continue reading
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025 Bret Stephens on DEI: Gail Collins says she went to the Dylan film—but in her new Conversation with Bret Stephens, she doesn't say whether she liked it. Stephens says he's planning to see the film. But in his new Conversation with Collins, he spends a sub … | Continue reading
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025 Campos-Duffy, playing with fire: Rachel Campos-Duffy is part of the Fox News Channel Work Song Group. Ever since May 2021, Campos-Duffy has been a lead singer on the newly reorganized TV program, Fox & Friends Weekend. In recent works, vast change has com … | Continue reading
SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2025 A drunken blues man, plus Becka: Based upon his own implied account, James Mangold is a narrative genius. As we noted yesterday, he isn't constructing Wikipedia entries. He isn't one of those Disney Hall of the Presidents types. He knows how to take a rea … | Continue reading
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2025 The strongman's no longer last: In fairness, Tinseltown's James Mangold is an accomplished maker of entertaining Hollywood feature films. He even made two X-man movies! He did so when he was approaching 50, then when he was more than 50 years old. In 20 … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2025 A nutcase, completely unknown: In full fairness, let it be said: Manohla Dargis is a highly accomplished film critic. In her review for the New York Times, she didn't rank A Complete Unknown as an "NYT Critic's Pick." In her review, she seemed to work the … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2025 In our view, an extreme disappointment: On this, the very day we saw it, the film in question received a string of major Oscar nominations: Best Picture: A Complete Unknown Best Director: James Mangold Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet Best Supporting Actre … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2025 But also, as always, the deluge: At one point, The Stumblebum turned to the silly stuff when he spoke with The Sideman last night. It started at 9 o'clock Eastern. Can't you hear them cuckoos hollerin' when you hear what he said? The question is drawn f … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2025 In search of the missing 36 percent: Is "something wrong" with President Trump? Also, was something wrong with President Biden over the past few years? In each case, we'll guess that the answer is yes. We'll also guess that the two commanders were (and … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2025 Also, the Wall Street Journal gone wild: "Back out of all this now too much for us?" So begins the poem Directive, a "wonderfully mysterious" later effort by Frost. You may find the poem "wonderfully mysterious." You may simply find it hard. We've cite … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025 Also, secrets leak out on The Five: We know! This morning, in a burst of temporary madness, we promised to share the history of the naming of Denali—that is to say, of the former and possibly future Mount McKinley. According to the leading authority, the … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2025 Of our own pair of Kings George: When the madness surfaces in a King George, the silly stiff may surface first. So it was yesterday morning! As recorded by an invaluable drummer, here's what pretty much happened first: After the inauguration . . . I'm su … | Continue reading
MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2025 "With God On Our Side" Again: As a general matter, we heard the same thing Frank Bruni heard—and we haven't even heard the whole speech yet. This was Bruni's instant take at the New York Times: The Line in Trump’s Speech That Will Echo in Time “American c … | Continue reading
MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2025 Two roads diverged in a wood: In our view, it was an intriguing phone call. Borrowing language from the early Dylan, the phone call in question came from "somewhere out in the United States." More specifically, it came from Alexander from New York (as bes … | Continue reading
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2025 One way we Blues have lost votes: In the face of our failing nation's ongoing "American carnage," we've been thinking—and thinking and thinking—about a certain old song. We refer to the old American song, Lady of Carlisle. For the record, this old Ameri … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025 Dana Perino's complaint: What kind of attorney general will Pam Bondi be? We can't tell you that. That said, we were amused by one part of the caterwauling on last afternoon's The Five concerning Bondi's confirmation hearing. The caterwauling came from Da … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025 The governor also uses: Let the word go forth to the nations: Peter Hegseth, the Trump nominee, uses a ton of hair product! Stating the obvious, it's his perfect right to do so. At this site, we're inclined to think it's a slightly odd look. But then agai … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2025 How we Blues (may have) lost one vote: As part of its ongoing series of focus group sessions, the New York Times has spoken with twelve men who voted for Candidate Trump. The report appears beneath this headline: ‘Where’s Our Place in Society?’: 12 Men … | Continue reading
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2025 What they're permitted to say: Eight years ago, he gave his first speech as the American president. The speech had a slightly unusual theme. That theme was "American carnage." Fun fact—and at this point, is there any other kind: In President Carter's "m … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025 Also, how did we earn our way out? Even as we've "moved on" with our subject matter this week, we haven't abandoned this important basic belief: Those of us in Blue America need to develop a stronger sense of how and why we lost the last election. More … | Continue reading
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025 The inspiring Hegseth doesn't: Full disclosure! We're so old that we can remember the murders in New Orleans. The rampage in question took place in the early morning hours of January 1 of this very year. Fourteen days later, the murderous rampage has d … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2025 Jack Smith wouldn't quite say yes: Within the past week, we asked a basic question about the events of January 6, 2021: On January 6, 2021, did President Trump know there was going to be a riot at the Capitol Building? That was our basic question. Extend … | Continue reading
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2025 ...of our failing nation: We awoke today to what we'd call a stumblebum conversation. It occurred in the first half hour of this morning's Morning Joe. At issue was the FBI background check—or the lack of same—which has been conducted—or possibly not—on … | Continue reading
MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2025 Also, a touch of the labyrinthitis: As it turns out, Pete Hegseth was a team player at the Fox News Channel. As it turns out, he had been working for weekend rates: Financial Disclosure Reveals How Much Pete Hegseth Was Making at Fox News The Washington P … | Continue reading
MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2025 Every flyweight a king: We're prepared to assume that the fellow in question actually isn't a flyweight. We're even going to say his name: David Wallace-Wells Right there, that's the gentleman's name—the name of the person in question. You may not recogni … | Continue reading
SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2025 ...is helped by our lack of language: The dumbest person who ever lived has succumbed to his latest brainstorm: Trump Calls Officials Handling Los Angeles Wildfires ‘Incompetent’ President-elect Donald J. Trump offered fresh criticism early Sunday of the … | Continue reading
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2025 Though also, in search of Obama: Finally! At long last, the rough, rude talk of real men is back! This very morning, these are the headlines which sit atop the posts at Mediaite: Trump Spikes the Football After Special Counsel’s Resignation: ‘The Stench o … | Continue reading
SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2025 Trap of Timpf stays shut: The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin once said. At long last, we can finally say that he seems to have had it wrong. It's true! A nation's cities can be devoured by flames. But a nation's capacity for intelligent discourse can be … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2025 World's richest nutcase relents: Just for the sake of preserving the record, here's the heart of the news report from CNN: Elon Musk now has a new, lower target number for DOGE’s budget cuts Elon Musk has walked back his previous claim that he could cut a … | Continue reading
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2025 ...Fox News was devouring the discourse: What ever happened to all those drones—to the drones which were swarming all over New Jersey? We'd been wondering in recent days. Yesterday, somebody asked. As seen on the Fox News Channel, a reliable Stepford inqu … | Continue reading