Political Theatre category archive
A Tune for the Times 0
From the Youtube page:
One of our favourite Coldplay songs is “Viva La Vida” – with its nod to Frida Kahlo, its lavish strings, its rotation and roar, its bells and history, and its heel-thumping singalong harmonic personality. It means “Long Live Life” and was released in 2008.
Our version takes the sense of history, the pain, the trauma, and the notion of world rule, and applies it to the most disgusting media spectacle to date – with already several to choose from – of the new US administration. Like many around the world, as well as disheartened friends in the US, we watched the undignified ambush of Zelensky’s trip to the White House with dismay and pity. It was a very unbecoming sight – just at a human level – even without all the higher stakes, deals, implications, and nightmares unfolding as another win is handed to Putin, and more pressure placed on Ukraine.
Like many we are hoping for a miraculous path forward that can somehow turn Trump’s intensity into an outcome that can transform into a lasting peace – but given how misdirected the fury and energy and narrative is at the moment, it’s quite hard to see it turning out other than a quickfire US withdrawal of support. If that happens, we’re in a cowardly new world.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
Another person hears that rhyme from Munich 87 years ago.
And, in possibly related news, Field has a wonder.
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*Mark Twain.
When Fiction Becomes Reality 0
At The Philadelphia Inquirer, Kathryn Grossman makes a strong case that, under the Trump maladministration, we are being transported into the world of George Orwell’s 1984.
The Deserter 0
Der Spiegel takes an in-depth look at Donald Trump’s decision to abandon America’s allies, as illustrated by his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A snippet (emphasis added):
Methinks it safe to say that, under America, America is no longer “a shining city on a hill,” to quote Ronald Reagan.
What it seems to be becoming gives me shudders.
And methinks it is influenced in great part by the legacy of America’s original sin of chattel slavery.
The Rule of Flaw 0
At Above the Law, Kathryn Rubino interprets the inducement to incitement.
A Tune for the Times 0
Warninng: Short promo from minute one to minute two.
Name Gamers 0
At the Tampa Bay Times, Daniel Ruth notes that Republicans’ fascination with renaming things has reached the Florida legislature, so he offers several suggestions. Here’s just one of them; follow the link for the others.
We could rename the thoroughfare outside Trump’s cheesy resort the Convicted Felon Freeway.
Fingers in Their Ears 0
Farron observes that some elected Republican officials are making excuses so as not to have to listen to their constituents if those constituents have the temerity to take exception to the actions of Dear Leader.
DOGE Bull 0
At Above the Law, Joe Patrice provides (yet) more evidence that Elon Musk’s DOGE really doesn’t have a clue about how government works or what it (DOGE) is doing.
A Tune for the Times 0
(Mild language.)
Russian Impulses, Reprise 0
The Rude One is not sanguine. Here’s a tiny bit from his article; follow the link for the rest (warning: rudeness):
The effect of this meeting was to take the United States out of its place as a leader in the world. We are now on our way to becoming like Russia . . . .