Evening Roundup, September 5
Featuring Sen. Mark Warner, Tom Malinowski, Peter Harrell, Jeff Nesbit, Carron J. Phillips, Rep. Greg Casar, Regina Benjamin, Marissa Rothkopf, Deplorable RFK, Contrarian Podcast & introducing...Rex!
COVID denialism & international law: Sen. Mark Warner on RFK Jr. testimony & Venezuelan boat strike
Senator Mark Warner attended two Senate hearings yesterday: one with Health Secretary RFK Jr. and another for Fed nominee Stephen Miran. RFK could not answer simple COVID facts while Miran explained that he plans to keep his White House job while simultaneously serving...
Democrats must say it loudly: America is great
In 1920, the man who would become my step-dad survived a bout with childhood polio that left him with a bum leg for life. He pulled a reverse Trump—using a family doctor to cover up a real disability—to join the Army in World War II. And though he bravely limped around to practice baseball with me when I was a kid, he was never able to run.
The 'charlatan' at HHS is a public health emergency
By Jeff Nesbit
The rot at the top is metastasizing, crippling the nation’s ability to respond to health threats and fueling dangerous policy at the state level.
Stephen A. Smith, and the chronic irresponsibility in political commentary
By Carron J. Phillips
ESPN’s favorite loudmouth has a new radio show that will focus on politics despite his superficial understanding of the subject.
Immigrants are not the problem: Rep. Greg Casar on redefining the enemy
Jen is joined by Congressman Greg Casar to talk Texas redistricting (and the resulting disenfranchisement of the Latino community), RFK Jr.’s disastrous Senate hearing, and how the Democratic Party needs a platform that goes beyond anti-Trump sentiment.
Why has medicine become political? Dr. Regina Benjamin on vaccine mandate bans
In a special edition of The Tea April sat down with the 18th U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin to talk vaccine bans, the importance of public health, and RFK Jr.
Peach cardamom coffee cake
I am grateful for this cake and for The Contrarian. For this week’s recipe, I had to take time to bake and photograph the cake and then write about it, which meant I couldn’t listen in real time on Thursday to that snuffling, wheezing bulldog of a health secretary defend at the U.S. Senate his demented views on vaccines…
The Trump Family's Crypto Empire. And the Battle over the Epstein Files
Donald Trump has been making a lot of money while he's been President, but he has also been making a lot of money because he's President.
Contrarian Pet of the Week
We told you we wanted to have fun, and we take fun seriously at The Contrarian. Each week we will share The Contrarian pet(s) of the week. (The pet need not be contrarian.) Subscribers are invited to submit their furry friend!
Great work, Contrarians. On every front. And I'm esp. overjoyed that my monthly subscription helps Norm's GREAT work on the legal ramparts.
Meanwhile: back at the WaPo: if anyone else here still goes there to visit: the Trumpist takeover of the Editorial Board is pretty much complete. This past week, editorial after editorial makes the WSJ look like The Village Voice.
Today's gem was a robust defense of rebranding DoD as the Dept. of War.
And they make it impossible to determine who exactly is ON the EB these days.
Additionally, the paper's AI comments censorship continues to deepen. Two perfectly apt phrases I couldn't use in comments today: 'Trumpist insanity' and 'right-wing nutjobbery'.
Sigh. I still like the work of the remaining dig.stuff.up journalists. But the rest has become nothing but fishwrap and birdcage liner. And Dana Milbank's powerful voice is now going to be writing about nature.
Dr Benjamin on Tea with April has a great public service message. Other great columns today Undaunted heroes and the national disaster RFK Jr. is causing among others!