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It turns out there is a consequence to being boldly and blatantly lied to nonstop for years on end: people begin to get the feeling that you’re not telling the truth. That feeling is one of the few sensations that crosses political lines. “For as much as Americans disagree these days, one common denominator runs through American life: a profound distrust of the institutions and industries that make the country run. Whether on data centers, chemicals in food, the Epstein files or the war in Iran, Americans across the political spectrum say they have the feeling that they are being lied to.” That feeling is likely to show up bigly at the polls during the midterms, and that might sound like good news; Trump voters turning on him and Democrats turning on those who haven’t fought hard enough for their own base (or the Constitution). The problem is that no single election can restore the trust that has not just been tested, but has been smashed to smithereens. “Political scientists and sociologists have said for decades that a healthy society needs trust, both in fellow citizens and in political institutions. It greases the wheels of collective action and political change. Without it, people do not cooperate with each other or with the authorities. That can lead to political paralysis.” Sabrina Tavernise in the NYT (Gift Article): ‘I Was Sold a Bill of Goods’: Americans and the Distrust Election. The question for those who feel they’ve been sold a bill of goods is whether there’s anything else left on the shelf that seems trustworthy. The breaking of our trust in institutions was clearly intentional, even if that obliteration has unintended victims in the midterms. The question is whether we can put the pieces Trumpty Dumpty leaves behind back together again.
+ “Those who played a role in Mr. Trump’s rise to power have acted not just unwisely, but culpably. Even so, it is now apparent that many Americans — probably enough Americans — are determined to live within the truth rather than the lie, to fight for their civic and political self-respect, to return a sense of humanity to a nation that has grown too cold, too callous and too cruel.” Jonathan Rauch and Peter Wehner in the NYT (Gift Article) with a very interesting piece: Trump Has Finally Lost the Plot.
2
Mute to Kill
If a demented dictator talks and talks but there are no news cameras to record it, does he make a sound? No. Isn’t that awesome? “The major US television news outlets agreed to suspend their video coverage of Donald Trump after the administration banned journalists from several outlets from entering the White House grounds.” Between a pending court case and the press pool giving Trump the silent treatment, one assumes that the ban won’t hold, and we’ll be forced to suffer the relentless feed once again. So enjoy the break while you can. And remember, this isn’t just Trump. Here’s how his top administration officials (and GOP 2028 front-runners) have reacted to one of the most blatant First Amendment violations we’ve ever seen. Rubio defends Trump’s banning of media organizations, arguing there aren’t ‘soldiers kicking down the doors’ of the outlets. And, Vance defends Trump’s media ban as ‘totally appropriate.’
3
David is Goliath
Team Trump may still end up with friendlier media coverage in the near future. That’s just one of the outcomes of the now certain media mega-merger. The Hollywood Reporter: That’s All? Team Paramount Nabs Warner Bros. With Only Minor Concessions to States.
+ “The Ellison family’s ties to President Trump — which included a dinner that David Ellison hosted in April ‘honoring the Trump White House’ — have made many Democrats and a sizable contingent in Hollywood wary of his growing power. His empire will now span CNN and CBS News; HBO, MTV, BET, Comedy Central and TNT; the Paramount+ and HBO Max streaming services; and two of Hollywood’s oldest movie studios. Put another way, Mr. Ellison will soon have Batman, Harry Potter, Captain Kirk, Wonder Woman, Ethan Hunt, Maverick and SpongeBob SquarePants reporting to him.” The ‘Kid’ Takes Over: David Ellison Becomes a Hollywood Colossus.
+ Nieman Lab: David Ellison will get control of CNN after all (and don’t pretend an ‘independent editorial board’ will mean otherwise).
+ Press Freedom Groups Demand David Ellison Back CNN Lawsuit Against Trump White House Ban. (Between Paramount and Warner Bros, there must still be a laugh-track machine available.)
4
Your Risk is Their Reward
DraftKings has the technology to identify users most at risk of developing serious gambling problems. But those users are also some of the most valuable. So the technology is used exactly how you’d bet it would be. “DraftKings makes money when gamblers lose money. And the model sought to identify those it could get to lose the most. It scored each customer based on their habits: The higher the score, the more money a gambler was likely to lose for each promotion offered.” How DraftKings Uses A.I. to Target the Gamblers Likeliest to Lose. “This betting data may also contain signs that a person is headed for trouble. Yet when employees developed a machine learning model that would have assigned users ‘risk scores,’ the company sidelined it.”
5
Extra, Extra
The King’s Speech: “But I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world? Or, do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly? Never giving them a chance to kill and destroy countries again? ... Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations? ... But I believe we’ll make a deal, right after the election.” Trump gave another totally sane speech rooted in reality at the UN.
+ Maine Character Energy: “To skirt campaign finance laws and conceal the source of the funds, Navatek planned to funnel the donation through a shell company. The CEO wanted assurance that Collins would know where the money came from. Reed confirmed that she would, the executive said — and that Navatek would get its government contracts.” This would’ve been really bad back when we had laws. ProPublica: The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way.
+ Flying Cartel: “Of chief concern, these people said, is the continued exploitation of individuals with recent battlefield experience in the Russia-Ukraine war, a conflict that has featured near-continuous evolution in drone tactics and technology. The government assessment, which has not been previously reported, warns, too, that counternarcotics authorities in the U.S. and Mexico are dangerously unprepared for the challenges this shift will pose.” I keep worrying and warning about technology’s leveling of the military playing field. It extends to drug cartels. WaPo (Gift Article): Drug cartels are making alarming drone advances, U.S. assessment warns.
+ Deport into a Storm: “Despite mounting costs and complexities, they said, the contracts require minimal oversight over how the money is spent and how the migrants are treated, even though some of the third countries are ruled by authoritarian regimes.” How Trump turned a refugee bureau into a $410 million deportation operation.
+ Drop Shipping: “The sound came out of nowhere. It began as an unnerving high-pitched hum, like a mosquito flying around a dark room at bedtime, and it grew louder as it drew closer. A family lounging in a backyard pool in Richardson, Texas, just north of Dallas, couldn’t help but notice it. ‘There’s another one coming this way!” shouted Eric Anderson from his pool float, pointing to an area above a tall line of trees. His 9-year-old daughter, Isla, removed her swim goggles for a clearer look at what could be a scene from science fiction.” It’s a bird, it’s a plane ... nope, it’s a delivery. It’s Raining Boxes: Amazon Drones Overwhelm a Texas Suburb.