Peter Sagal

specialto.thebulwark.com/p/the-corrup...

The Corruption of Lindsey Graham

A case study in the rise of authoritarianism. Sen. Lindsey Graham is a central player in the Republican party’s capitulation to Donald Trump. We can watch the GOP's turn to authoritarianism by review...

Least important thing about this, but it’s another distorting effect of the Electoral College. There were more Trump voters in CA, a “blue state,” than in MS, AL and MO combined.

tony romm @tonyromm.bsky.social

NEW: In a stunning admission, the Trump administration admitted in court documents that it canceled billions in energy grants to states "based solely" on politics -- and whether that state was represented by Democrats and backed Harris in 2024. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/b...

Trump Administration Admits Canceling Grants to States That Did Not Vote for Him

Federal officials said in court documents that they halted billions of dollars in funding for energy projects to states “based solely” on whether they backed President Trump in the 2024 election.

Friends: no major paper had an obit ready for Sen Graham, because, why would you? What you’re seeing this morning are fast write-ups to relay the basic news. You’ll see more complete obituaries later today and tomorrow, all of which will mention the thing you’re angry they’re not mentioning.

Sandy Weiswasser for President.

www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/u...

Trump Gutted the Kennedy Center. A Tour Guide Wants You to See It Anyway. (Gift Article)

In a dogged demonstration of love for a Washington institution, Sandy Weiswasser is among a few dozen volunteers still showing dwindling visitors a hollowed-out building.

NYT reports that President Trump’s new plane is a flying target.

Trump demands the reporters be subpoenaed.

Times gets subpoenas withdrawn.

Then:

Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com

JUST POSTED: A deep investigation by The NYT of shortcuts taken to get President Trump his Qatari-donated plane in time for POTUS to show it off during 250th anniversary events-compromises that leave the plane more vulnerable to potential threats (Free link) www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/u...

Inside the Rushed Effort to Get Trump His New Air Force One

A New York Times investigation found that President Trump’s push to speed delivery of the aircraft led to ballooning costs and trade-offs in safety features.

Part of the role of government is oversight of capital (writ large -- wealth, industry, owners, managers etc) because who else can hold them to account? Now the Government is intentionally refusing to do that. Now there is no one to call.

www.nytimes.com/2026/07/19/u...

Trump Gutted Civil Rights Agency, Stifling U.S. Scrutiny of Workplace Bias (Gift Article)

A little-known federal office spent decades investigating potential discrimination by government contractors — until it was stopped by the Trump administration.

did he not have a horse

If you are in or can get to Chicago this summer, cadge a ticket to “ICE BOY!” At the Goodman, just to watch Nick Offerman, as great as he is, get outshined by his astounding wife, Megan Mullaly, in an utterly ridiculous, hilarious musical about Eugene O’Neill, the “theatah,”, and anthropology.

I’m mostly struck that as far as anyone knows, yesterday Graham was in good health and this morning he’s gone. And now the Intertubes are gloating and condemning and mocking.

We are all Scrooge, and today is Christmas morning. It’s not too late. Start working on your obituary now.

Some lovely details in this obit of Sam Neill, including that in that immortal, iconic shot of him seeing a living dino for the first time in Jurassic Park, he was looking at a piece of paper with an X on it.

wapo.st/4gFnqZH

Sam Neill, versatile actor who starred in ‘Jurassic Park,’ dies at 78

The New Zealander drew international acclaim for roles as gruff loners and unhinged villains. He was best known for playing paleontologist Alan Grant.

It really does look good, but mainly its an excuse to (once again) post the New Yorker piece it's based on, one of the finest examples of comic writing I've ever seen, by the great Ian Frazier.

www.newyorker.com/magazine/199...

Coyote V. Acme

From 1990: “Much as he has come to mistrust Defendant’s products, Mr. Coyote has no other domestic source of supply to which to turn.”

Every Film Now @everyfilmnow.bsky.social

Final trailer for ‘COYOTE VS. ACME’ has been released. In theaters August 28. #CoyoteVsAcme

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A tribute to a giant, by one of his peers. RIP.

Derf Backderf @derfbackderf.bsky.social

Another giant of comics has left us. From 1965 to 1990, Oliphant was THE dominant political cartoonist in the US (even though he was an Aussie). A generational talent. A complicated guy. Often problematic, often brilliant, always scathing and funny.

Pat Oliphant, Cartoonist Who Skewered the Powerful, Dies at 90 (Gift Article)

The winner of countless awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, he was described in 1990 as “the most influential political cartoonist now working.”

I never ever lock up my Brompton outside, which has led me to bring it some pretty fancy places and saying “May I check this?”

Donnachadh McCarthy @donnachadhmc.bsky.social

3 of 12 bikes reported stolen on bike register yesterday were Bromptons. Including my ebrompton again. 2nd in 6 months.😥 Despite my using £250 LiteLok. They cut the stand instead. 😥 Brompton need to introduce tracking. @bromptonbicycle.bsky.social

Thank god I went to see it two months ago. Dammit.

ABC 10News @abc10news.bsky.social

The Maritime Museum of San Diego will permanently close its 18th century replica frigate the HMS Surprise on Aug. 1, 2027, following an assessment that keeping the ship at the museum is no longer financially viable.

Maritime Museum announces permanent closure of HMS Surprise on Aug. 1, 2027

The Maritime Museum of San Diego says it will close its historical replica, the HMS Surprise, on Aug. 1, 2027.

Last night, @chrislhayes.bsky.social used the occasion of the WHCD to discuss the performance of the press in his open. He makes an important distinction between ownership and the actual reporters/editors who are continuing to do the work.

all-in-with-chris-hayes.simplecast.com/episodes/chr...

Chris and Jen instantly react to the White House Correspondents' Dinner | All In with Chris Hayes

Donald Trump attends the White House Correspondents’ Dinner amid his escalating war on the free press.

I met Oscar 35 years ago in LA. A "wunderkind" even then, and the only one I know who lived up to that crippling label. He was responsible for the single greatest theatrical experience of my life: the premiere of "Angels" at the Taper, Too in 1991.

www.nytimes.com/2026/07/22/t...

Oskar Eustis Is Stepping Down From the Public Theater

Eustis has been the Public Theater’s artistic director for 21 years, stewarding Free Shakespeare in the Park, nurturing “Hamilton” and navigating the coronavirus pandemic.

I was off social media for almost a week and yet nothing in the world has changed at all, for better or worse. Strange.

Thanks to Gordon, below, for reminding me there's another reading of that delightful essay you can listen to:

www.thisamericanlife.org/117/you-gonn...

Lunch - This American Life

Family dynamics seen strictly from the parents' perspective.

Gordon M. Bloem @gordonbloem.bsky.social

I love Frazier’s writing. I was introduced to it by Garrison Keillor when Frazier read this on PHC. youtu.be/kNrQFgWcCd0?...

Ian Frazier reads "Laws Concerning Food and Drink; Household Principles; Lamentations of the Father"

YouTube video by The 92nd Street Y, New York

Me, a sophisticated, experienced parent trying to get his 3yo ready for bed, knowing the power of the illusion of choice: "Would you like to wear the Bluey jammies or the Thomas The Tank Engine jammies?"

3yo thinks.

Then: "The Thomas jammies... but not those ones."

Getting away from it all this week, which includes the Internets. Enjoy your guest host on Wait Wait, Mr Tom Papa, and remember: be the poster you wish to see in the world.

Thank you, Milwaukee, for a delightful show, thanks to Jason Narducy for coming up to tell stories about being an 11 year old punk musician And thanks to the kid in the audience who asked why only Alzo and I don’t have chairs. I thought he had a point and sat down. Then, so did Alzo.

Reply to @petersagal.bsky.social

Obviously a tad biased, but we’d be doing a lot better as a nation if under the rule of Jewish grandmothers, or a Bubbeocracy.

Is this the first use in the wild of “Chotiner” to describe an action by someone who is not Isaac Chotiner? If so, should it not be “chotinered?”

Haydon @haydonmp.bsky.social

I can’t imagine a more personally humiliating thing than to be Chotiner’d by Douthat. Astonishing.