Political Theatre category archive
Phoning It In, Reprise 0
“Mr. President, Emoluments calling on line two.”
Twits on Twitter X Offenders
0
Sam and the crew discuss a disgusting Xcretion from Utah Senator Mike Lee (then veer into a brief discussion of the split over Iran in right-wing what-passes-for discourse).
One more time, “social” media isn’t.
A Show of Farce 0
David points out that Donald Trump’s narcissistic personality disorder birthday treating America’s military as a blow-up doll for his own personal gratification bash did not go so well. (Warning: Short promo at the end.)
A Tune for the Times 0
(Warning: Mild language.)
From the Youtube page:
Here’s a bit of (rude) fun to mark Donald’s birthday, with thanks to two people on social media who recommended the song to us, and we were amused. It’s derived from the Frozen movie and originally titled “Fixer Upper” (and sung by cute trolls, about a hoped-for marriage). Since it may be a niche reference unless you have kids/grandkids or are pretty young yourself, you can find the original here: • Maia Wilson, Cast of Frozen – Fixer Upper … .
In case this critique of Trump and his administration’s actions be conflated, this is also a chance to wish the US Army and all its veterans a happy 250th birthday! We couldn’t fit the graphic into the full-on montage, but found this cautionary phrase telling from the first Commander-in-Chief, George Washington, in his 1796 Farewell Address:
“ … disorders and miseries gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.”
All the News that Fits 0
David comments on ABC’s decision to fire Terry Moran and how it amounts to knuckling under to Trump self-censorship. A quote:
You don’t need to shut down the press when the press is too scared to speak . . . .
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
If you wish to take issue with peaceful demonstrators with whose views you disagree, be sure to conduct your counter-demonstration with politeness.
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A Matter of Priorities 0
At the Idaho State Journal, Lauren Necochea looks at Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and follows the money. A snippet:
Dis Coarse Discourse 0
(Warning: Short commericial at the end.)
The Predator’s Playbook 0
Michael in Norfolk perceives a pattern.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Lawrence O’Donnell minces no words in commenting on Donald Trump’s restoring the names of military bases so as to honor the Secesh.
Via C&L, which has the transcript.
One Thing Is Not Like the Other Thing, Reprise 0
At AL.com, Jared Margulies, Emily Wittman, Janek Wasserman, and Luke Herrine, Jewish faculty members at the University of Alabama, argue that conflating opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza with antisemitism, as Alabama senator Katie Britt recently did, is a misdirection play. Given dis coarse discourse, methinks it a timely and worthwhile read. Here’s a tiny bit from early in the article:
A Tune for the Times 0
From the Youtube page:
“Agony” is one of the many extraordinary and hilarious songs from Stephen Sondheim’s magnificent “Into the Woods” (1986) which has long been a family favourite. The original involves two fairytale princes reflecting on their painful pursuit of maidens within the intertwined plots of Brothers Grimm tales. Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen did a great job in the 2014 movie but we think the most perfect take was sung by Robert Westenburg and Chuck Wagner in the original Broadway production.
It would naturally have been better to cast Alfie as the Second Prince … but needs must with topical parodies, and he was off playing cricket for Faversham today. So this is Ben and Tom (with help and some giggling behind the scenes from Danielle and Tess) using the song to reflect on the unamicable breakup – playing out on all our social media feeds around the world – between the two powerful but petulant men at the centre of the American government, Elon Musk and Donald Trump. It’s hard not to get the popcorn out and wait for the next move in their toddler antics, especially if you are not a fan of the administration and its manic instability. It was tempting to try to shoehorn more references in (to bills, lawns, karma, tariffs, and pork), but we mostly gravitated to Sondheim’s original framework because it’s so strong. Plus, there’s a reprise of “Agony” in Act II so this may end up as a Suella Braverman-style refrain.