Thank you for the excellent conversation in The Relay. The consensus seems to be that it is righteous for artists and podcasters to pull their material from Spotify as a form of protest against the kinds of programming the streaming platform subsidizes (i.e.—not provides but pays for).
I want to elaborate on a couple of things that your comments helped clarify for me. As David Crosby, of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, said in a recent interview, his decision to pull his material from Spotify isn’t about Joe Rogan—it’s about the streaming service that’s financing and disseminating Rogan’s racism and COVID disinformation. (I can’t find the link to the interview but will post it when I do.)
If the United States government tried to shut down Rogan’s program, I would be one of the first in line to protest that decision—and the ACLU would immediately defend Rogan and his right as an American citizen to say despicable things. But that’s not what’s happening here. Rogan chooses what he wants to say, Spotify chooses to give him a platform and pay him enormous sums of money, and the rest of choose to support that, remain neutral, or leave in protest.
Jon Stewart weighed in on the controversy and suggested the reaction to Spotify and Rogan’s content was overblown. “Don’t leave, don’t abandon, don’t censor – engage,” he said. There is so much wrong with this I’m not sure where to start but it does remind me that Jon Stewart is not an ally (remember his 2010 Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear which was essentially an exercise in both-siderism). First of all, what exactly are we abandoning if we leave Spotify? There are many other streaming services that treat artists better than Spotify does. Second, I have no interest in engaging with the likes of Joe Rogan. Third, canceling my Spotify account or pulling my podcast isn’t censorship. To say otherwise is malicious nonsense and makes me wonder (again) who Stewart is pandering to. I can’t prevent Rogan from doing anything. Nobody’s trying to suppress his content, we simply don’t want to support it or the company that pays him too be a racist. Not too long ago the Republican Party would have said this is the free market at work.
Finally, I want to make it clear that I understand that 1) many artists do not have control over their music so therefore cannot make a unilateral decision to leave Spotify even if they wanted to and 2) some musicians and podcasters rely on the income they receive from Spotify and shouldn’t be expected to make a sacrifice that will make their lives more difficult. It’s one of the most dangerous things about these massive companies—they make themselves, in one way or another, indispensable to our lives. For example, I know a lot of people who revile Facebook and never use their personal accounts, but for business reasons they need the engagement or they need to be able to use Facebook ads.
The bottom line is we do the best we can when we can. And we stick together.
Now it’s time to vote for the one person you think did the most good this week. Please explain the reasons for your choice. I’ll post the results tomorrow evening at 8:15 p.m.
I have to nominate Col Alexander Vindman this week for filing a lawsuit against Jr, Rudy & White House staffers for their appealing mistreatment of a patriotic and heroic American
I assume you mean for their appalling mistreatment of Col Vindman. I completely agree with you and believe the lawsuit should Include the former, disgraced president for firing this great man out of sheer spite and retribution which should be illegal and disallowed behavior on the part of a president.
We Americans are the most stupid people living on this planet. We don't care if we appoint an idiot or a crook to be a president--this stupid after 246 years. those Founding Fathers were idiots also for having allowed slavery and prejudices to exist. Love, James R. McCLURE.--Please pardon my intrusion here and I am thankful if this can get to the people who will do something to correct this idiocy?
Please forgive me for having split your name. Your name is Rosemary and not Rose Mary. You already knew that so let me slip an ironic detail in here--Rose=sore--because of those wicked thorns.----I am now beginning to see the replies etc. I don't know why 'flutter' has screwed the simplicity of it up, but thanks for getting me to this point. Love, James+p;us numbers.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPLY AND LIKE. I NEVER DO KNOW HOW OR EHEN I AM POSTING ANYTHING THAT I ORIGINATE--A MUSLIM COUNTRY DEMANDS THAT THEIR PRESIDENTMUST BE HIGHLY- EDUCATED; THIS TELLS THAT IF WE 'CHRISTIANS' ARE THIS STUPID WITH OUT POLITICS,THEN WE CANNOT BE ANY SMARTER WITH OUR RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS. WE DON'T NEED TO BE SENDING OUR MISSINARIES ALL OVER THE GLOBE TELLING OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIFE.----PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO ANYBODY WHO WOUD PLEASE DO ME THE FAVOR OIF REPOSTING THIS AND GETTING IT TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS ENOUGH SENSE TO REMEDY THIS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO POST TO MY FOLLOWERS. 0--AHA--THANK YOU ROSEMSRY--YOU JUST GAVE THIS OLD 91-YEAR-OLDMAN AN IDEA---I JUST WROTE SOMETHING TODAY AND IFI SEND IT TO YOU, I HOPE YOU WILL GET IT POSTED--IF POSSIBLE, BUT I WIOLL HAVE TO POSTITWITH MY NUMBER THAT FOLOLOWS MY NAME, I GUESS? I WAS KICKED FROM FB BECAUSE I AM 'TOO VIOLENT.' I ACTUALLY THINK THE WEALTHY CROOKS SHOULD PAY THE TIME IF THEY COMMIT THE CRIME/ ITRIEDTO GET A NEW ACCOUNT WITH FB WHENTHE IDIOTSSAIDIT IS EASY. BS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE DUMB BUTTS TOLD ME I WAS USING THE WRONG 'USER NAME'AND ALSOTHE WRONG PASSWORD. HOW COULD THEY HAVE BEEN WRONG IF THEY WERE CREATING A NEW ACCOUNT? THANKS AGAIN ROSE MARY. I WILL TRY NOT TO MAKEA PEST OF MYSELF. LOVE, JAMES McCLURE ON TWITTER BY A LIMB?
What part of "Thou Shalt Not Kill" is it that we hypocritical bastards don't understand? Instead of saying you are a "Christian", why in the hell don't you try to demonstrate that by setting examples to impress others rather than just showing the world how wicked and ignorant you are? We Americans are the most stupid people living on this planet. Nobody, for 246 years, has ever had the common sense to require that a president must have any intelligence at all. There is a Muslim country which demands that their president must be highly- educated. This makes it plain to me that if we Christians are this stupid with our politics, then we cannot be any smarter with our religious teachings. Why aren't those half-assed televangelists trying to do something about all of these wicked killings with those illegal weapons? All of those who praised and upheld Trump are not worth a damn. How many raised a voice when we were caging innocent children and separating them from their loving family? We displayed them publicly, as if they were animals. Christ commanded us to never harm the little children. Either those scamming hypocrites haven't read this or they just don't give a damn what Christ said? Too many of them have a greater fascination with money and fame than they do in serving God. Too many people twist the words of the Bible to make them mean what they want to believe. At least half of what we are taught by our preachers, whether by those of good intentions, or the
scammers, is non-Biblical, just damned lies. The Bible says to prove al things. The only thing I can see that we have managed to prove is how damned ridiculously stupid-as-hell that we are. I'll bet the boy scouts have stricter standards than a presidential candidate. Anybody who will appoint a draft- dodger to command our armed forces is not very smart. Our own 'government' was so stupid as to tell Herr Trump that he could do anything he wished to do and we would never indict him, so long as he stayed in office. (It doesn't look like we will ever indict him while he remains alive.) That was a guaranteed dictatorship. Trump is America's first dictator. It is a shame that so many people who think they are Americans want the sorry traitor back into office, even after he has tried to openly destroy our vestige of democracy. If anybody prefers to live in a dictatorship, then I wish you would go to Russia and then we would all be a lot better off. Then you could be shoved from a tall building to your sentenced death by Trump's wonderful friend, Vladimir Putin's system of justice.
The Founding Fathers were idiots also, for having allowed slavery and prejudices to exist. Hopefully, someday somebody in this country will get their head removed from their ass and start doing something sensible? The damned bastards in the Senate and Congress certainly haven't done anything meaningful toward creating a decent government. What good does it do America to have 1,400,000 damned lawyers? If the idiots who are called professors and are supposed to be teaching law don't even know what I am telling you? Alan Durshowitz is such a damned crooked moron that he said Trump did not incite the insurrection. He said Trump was only using his free speech. BS! No damned president of this country has ever had the freedom of speech to do what Trump and the present- day "Republican Party has pulled off. Animals sellect their leader a lot more sensibly than we idiotic humans choose ours. You are now aware of the situation at hand. Make an effort to correct it. Love, James R. McClure, age 91. I would like to live to see these things happen.
Dear friends, please allow me to try to express my pleasure in being able to post on SUBTRACK. I couldn't post anything anywhere. I was ejected from fb because I was told I am "too violent" because I so eloquently described what should be done with the sorry senators who are committing treason. I had been on Twitter several years ago and had only tweeted twice. Now that I have been back for two months, I see some smart-ass has tried to improve it and screwed it up. I still haven't figured out how to tweet my own messages. The young whippersnappers have screwed up my life and caused me to be an illiterate. I could read magazines, my mail and the newspaper but the geniuses of today's short- changing crooks cut down on the size of the print so much that I could still see it if it is black ink, but the sorry cheap bastards now print in a dim gray watered down ink that I can barely see and certainly cannot read. This says a lot about our idiots in the Department of Education by allowing the propagation of ignorance and stupidity. Trump nominated a wealthy woman to head the Department and she never had taught in school. She probably slipped him a billion dollars bribe for having nominated her? There just isn't much honesty among liars, thieves and crooks. I could work those Crypto Quote puzzles as well as anybody I know. But now, all of that has ended. If I didn't have high contrast on tis pc, I couldn't see the print. I cannot read the stupid grocery labels when dim white letters are printed over a pink background, etc. There is a lot more with SUBTRACK than I realized. I don't have the equipment to even use the service if I wanted to pay the fee to join. There are more than 100 so-called 'social media.' It is my opinion that SUBTRACK is, a much better platform for posting than any of them. Hopefully, you will permit me to sneak a few things in once in a while, if nothing but a little attempt at humor. Thanks a lot. Love, James R. McClure.
I disagree with her on everything but I think that Liz Cheney is fighting harder for our democracy than almost any other American and certainly she has more guts than most. I salute her
I second or third this suggestion. The cashier in Alexandria who asked Youngkin where his mask was, then told him to read the room when he said something about choice.
Going by what I'm seeing on Twitter, there are those who are hysterically insisting that 'choice' is censorship. Artists have chosen to walk away from Spotify. Nice one, I'm good with that. Who needs their art, at which they have all worked very hard, associated with a platform that allows an offensive racist ranter? But the cry is going up - 'Censorship is BAAAAAAD!' (Y'know, like a sheep...?) I choose NOT to eat MacDonalds food. I don't like it, it's bad for me and I don't like the deception this mega company engages in. So am I 'censoring' or 'cancelling' MacDonalds? It's getting very weird!
Good Human of the Week? Have to pick Mr Biden, I think. For not backing down from Putin the Putz.
His title is President. I agree, President Biden is working against the likes of 45 and his cult who spread their BS to the cult and the fringe right groups who believe they have the upper hand. They don't know the perseverance of true Patriots, not the Faux angry mob of 1/6. The slings and arrows at the true President are soaked with hate, bullies and lies. RIP Republican Party.
That's where the strength lies for those supporting Biden. More strength in his absolutely Presidential dignity in never responding to the cult idiots of every level.
Excellent point. 45 would have to look for dignity in the dictionary (if he weren't functionally illiterate). I know 2 people who are functionally illiterate. Frankly, my heart goes out to anyone who suffers from this issue. I did see that he 'wrote' a book and by his own words said, "it is a picture book."
I am still reeling at how undignified, crass and obnoxious 45 is. Especially after the quiet dignity of Barack Obama and his beautiful wife and family.
I so agree, 45's crassness was stunning. The difference between the two men and their families, was like first being in a comfortable warm place then getting thrown into a pool full of ice, naked. Shockingly horrible.
Fabulous analogy! Here, we only knew him as the fat git on 'The Apprentice' who kept yelling, 'You're fired!' and of course, wondered why on earth he got elected over a former president's wife. FFS....
A dictator hires incapable family and friends for positions that President Biden selected qualified persons - not his personal family and friends. Me thinks the gqp is screaming their BS about President Biden's KEPT promise.
Where is that 'beautiful fence' your dictator promised? When did you rid America of Obama Care? 45 was too busy golfing, grifting and conning America. Those golf games were VERY PROSPERUS for 45.
Little Amy was put in the SCOTUS faster than the vaccine, speed of light, and 45 eating a hamburger, including fries. The worse news is that she is there for the next 40+ years. IMHO, the Supreme (overly advertised as 'supreme') should not be a lifetime appointment. For each party, 20 years is enough time to do plenty of damage. Amy is a believer that the 'man is head of the house.' Amy, if that is correct, how did you get the benefits of the women's movement and end up in the SCOTUS?? Or you could recuse yourself and go back to hubby dearest.
Kudos and many thanks to Mary Trump for creating a place for astute and thinking (non-right wings) people to discuss issues. Thanks again, Mary. (Sorry, I get carried away in my anger of that glob of burgers.)
Which makes me question how illiterate or ignorant his followers are that they don’t understand or factor in that this narcissist doesn’t give a damn about any of them,
45 will hide everything that might denigrate him in any way. There are no requirements for being president, just a certain age and born in the USA. (I am not a scholar on this, but I do feel the bar is entirely TOO LOW.)
He is not only illiterate, his favorite comrades, mtg, lg, lp, tc, et al., have no clue of history, world events, and especially American issues.
The good news about 45 is that he made us all sit up in complete horror, disbelief, and alarm. He has changed the landscape, not for the better, but WE can do better.
I was absolutely thrilled when I saw that Col. Vindman filed a lawsuit against those involved, including Trump, for engaging in a conspiracy of witness intimidation. First, stepping up to speak the truth in the Impeachment trial, which he was warned not to do, & standing up yet again to a former president. His belief in America and its rule of law and for doing the right thing is to be commended. Now, THAT takes guts & he's my Good Human of the Week!
Well said, Mary! And lovely pic. My vote this week is also for Marc Elias and his team. They have been relentless in their legal efforts to combat voter suppression tactics in state after state. He's also been doing everything he can to make the case for federal voting rights legislation, and their Democracy Docket website, https://www.democracydocket.com/, and newsletter are very informative and explain the gravity of this issue very clearly. I'm not sure when they sleep, but I am very, very grateful for them.
I would like to give a shout out to both, Glenn Kirshner, and Farron Cousins for the reporting they have been doing for quite a few years now. They talk about how they feel about the crickets from the DOJ. Glenn, having been a prosecutor for over 30 years has a good sense into the workings of the DOJ, his former department. Even he is at a loss for the lack of anything newsworthy into our current absence of holding those accountable. I know justice moves slowly, but gee whiz, it would be nice to see something happening.
Agree. Glenn has been a rock.I learn a lot from him about con law and love his passion for justice. My cats look at me when he says " Justice" because they kbkw I'm going to say "MATTERS!"
Regarding Spotify. In the 19thC, Oliver Wendell Holmes of the Supreme Ct. made it law that you cannot yell, FIRE, in a crowded theater w/o being prosecuted for it. Similarly, people Die when misinformation is promoted during a worldwide pandemic.
Personally painful though his actions are, leaving his career in limbo, Brian Flores , by filing his lawsuit this week, has finally torn open the threads of systemic insults that form much of the fabric of the National Football League. Coach Flores redefines the title, "A stand-up guy."
Jane Fonda, teaming with Greenpeace, starting off another year off environmental activism!! - I participated in her new round of ‘Fire Drill Fridays’ yesterday, 2/4/22. Jane has been an activist for social justice her entire adult life - sometimes to the detriment of her own acting career. Now she has truly taken on the charge of creating change in environment policy so we can slow global warming and preserve our planet. She went live weekly all during the start of the pandemic and she is back in 2022, hosting LIVE sessions on Fridays on social media …. Interviewing experts on various environmental topics. Interviewing scholars and celebrities alike, using her voice and experience and huge platform to advocate for better policy surrounding land preservation, green energy, green legislation - she is the living, breathing example of USING YOUR LIFE to change the world. She has developed a huge following. Gives out resource information. Cheers us on. Marches with us. She is passionate and knowledgeable and inspirational!!! I encourage this community to check out her next Fire Drill Friday event. Always free and open to all, virtual and safe during our ongoing pandemic.
Here is lineup to this week’s Fire Drill Friday - Please watch!!! :
Fire Drill Friday with Jane Fonda, Annie Leonard, and Folabi Olagbaju
Our cultural obsession with celebrity is deeply dangerous...it brought us a president famous for being famous. It brought us a podcast superstar who believes that he has no responsibility for anything said on his platform. It brought us a late night host who believes he is the arbiter of social norms. Artists have the right to choose the platforms that host their music. Listeners have the right to delete Spotify. Jon Stewart has the right to make uninformed statements. I have the right to ignore both Rogan and Stewart.
I vote for Alexander Vindman for his bravery in speaking up with his information knowingly putting himself in danger. In standing by his evidence others are encouraged to come forward and speak the truth that will make possible the hearing of sufficient evidence to proceed with the proper outcome.
North Carolina Supreme Court for striking down the redistricting map. They have until 2/18 to redraw the map. The court found the lines drawn gave a distinct advantage to republicans.
Dan Rather. He's articulate, kind, passionate, and doing a great job of explaining, teaching, tugging us toward a hopeful goal. Few of his age can match his workload.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (Ret.) for still believing that "Here - right matters" and filing lawsuits against close aides and allies of the former administration. I'd like to see more people insist on accountability for the relentless harassment and threat-making practiced by that group.
Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger are my nominees for Good Human of the Week. They have been censured by the Retrumplicans for speaking the truth. Is there no end to this insanity?
These actions of censoring people for standing up for their noble beliefs ( when they are not lying propaganda ) are sheer self-serving retribution and spite. How can they be allowed outside of the kindergarten playground?
I have to agree with Laegatha-Storm. HE has given Putin a run for his Billions- Good job Joe! And stop telling me about who I can support with MY dollars and time! I DECIDE WHAT I WANT TO SUPPORT! Not You or THEM!
Again, well said, Mary. And looking at the nominations for good person of the week, it does my heart good to see so many deserving names. I have to go for the woman who stood up to Gov. Youngkin as she is all of us.
Good Humans: Women. It's gotten virtually no notice, but to those who have been in the fight since it's introduction, the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), that passed the Virginia legislature in 2020, is official, after a 2-year waiting period, as the 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution as of January 27, 2022. Naturally, this doesn't come without controversy: the amendment has yet to be published--meaning, the recognition of women's equality under the law must be championed! https://www.eracoalition.org
Mayor of Kiev who says she will die for Ukraine and all the Ukrainian civilians who marched through the streets of Kiev today in protest of what seems like an inevitable Russian invasion.
Ai Weiwei - consistently pushing the envelope on human rights for China, for refugees, for freedom of expression all over the world. I'm reading his book, 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows, right on the heals of reading Radical King edited by Cornel West. Ai Weiwei and MLK are overlapping in many ways. In the face of cruelty they both just keep pushing for what's right and for human dignity. He would be a wonderful interviewee.
I only want to offer Mike Pence as an honorable mention without casting any judgement of where he’s been for the last year. He spoke clearly in condemnation of Trumps intent to overthrow the the election.
Marc Elias is a relentless warrior in defense of democracy.
I like the honorable mention for Mr. Pence. Unfortunately, it is too little, too late. I am waiting for the other shoe to drop, will he back pedal? What might he have started? Perhaps more of the gop party might feel stronger. Who of them remembers 5 years ago when Republicans had a platform, stood for being conservative and was still the party of Lincoln and other great presidents? I am a former, lifelong Republican. I can no longer stand with them.
I vote for Marc Elias too because he and his legal team have done such heroic work saving our democracy. His victories in court are something to behold.
Wow! A few things...First, Jon Stewart did not say that leaving Spotify is censorship. He didn't urge people not to abandon Spotify. His point was that the tendency to demonize and shun anyone who doesn't agree with you doesn't lead to civilized and productive discourse. So much easier to get on one's high horse and smugly label someone a racist or a sexist or white supremacist than to confront them and their ideas, holding yourself too pure to get down to their level. Wouldn't it be better to engage with the likes of Joe Rogan and expose his "ideology" for the superficial, crass, opportunistic drivel that it is than to simply take your marbles and go home? And the cheap shot about the Rally to Restore Sanity was extremely disappointing and, I think, beneath you. You're smart enough to understand what parody and irony are, aren't you? And have you forgotten that Stephen Colbert was there as well? He's been one of your biggest boosters, and I wouldn't be surprised if your publisher was delighted at the Colbert bump you got from your appearance on his show. Is he tarred with the same brush as Jon Stewart? Not an ally....whatever than means?
And now for something completely different...Good Human of the Week (only because there isn't a "Courageous Human of the Week" category): Fani Willis, Fulton County, Georgia DA. For obvious reasons.
Agree with those who support Marc Elias. He and his team continue to fight to protect voting rights and our democracy, and win. Thank god for him and them.
Mary Its True: "Monolithic" Companies intertwined together can control artists to not be able to express their views, and others would suffer from disconnection from Spotify from the size of their company etc Its Very Important to draw distinctions between what is possible for artists wealthy and strong enough within their own system to walk away from spotify vs Smaller Newer Entities That Cannot. Very Good Analysis of The Structure of Protests vs The Censorship Realities. I myself have created content, sold it, but now I must plot a bigger plot to include and share the secrets about creative music: Ive Learned, AND create access for more musical therapy, Sound Wave Editing, for more people, So I am intensely familiar with ALL THE BARRIERS around This Joe Rogan Issue. THANK YOU for saying succinctly what THE TRUTHs about Joe Rogan And Spotify really are, Bravo, Your Fan John Pillin
Do you suppose that Mike Pence and Chris Christie have opened the crack to get the right back to having a platform, ideas, and conservative ideals? That is a lot to ask. . .
I must express thanks to Marc Elias for working continuously to preserve the integrity of our upcoming elections; elections that Republicans are shamelessly working to corrupt.
Several issues about Joe Rogon– platforms such as Spotify and Facebook (and radio when Rush Limbaugh was on air) protect their financial interests, and in a democracy, have the right to free speech. The problem is that their popularity gives credence to topics discussed that are not in the public’s best interests. The critical thinking skills of listeners are sorely tested listening to the barrage of issues covered in a program (myself included). Another problem is our 21st c encounter with a pandemic which is clearly a public health problem, not a private medical one. Public health deals with deadly contagious diseases. Private health deals with those non-contagious diseases which do not endanger others. One has the luxury of choosing a cancer treatment, but not one in which millions have died world wide.
Good Human of the Week: Marc Elias for yet another victory for democracy, this time in North Carolina. A mighty fighter for good, this man.
Gets my vote too.
Well said!
I agree 100%! I love listening to him as well!
I also vote for Marc Elias. Mary M McClellan said the reason why best.
I have to nominate Col Alexander Vindman this week for filing a lawsuit against Jr, Rudy & White House staffers for their appealing mistreatment of a patriotic and heroic American
I assume you mean for their appalling mistreatment of Col Vindman. I completely agree with you and believe the lawsuit should Include the former, disgraced president for firing this great man out of sheer spite and retribution which should be illegal and disallowed behavior on the part of a president.
Amen!
We Americans are the most stupid people living on this planet. We don't care if we appoint an idiot or a crook to be a president--this stupid after 246 years. those Founding Fathers were idiots also for having allowed slavery and prejudices to exist. Love, James R. McCLURE.--Please pardon my intrusion here and I am thankful if this can get to the people who will do something to correct this idiocy?
Please forgive me for having split your name. Your name is Rosemary and not Rose Mary. You already knew that so let me slip an ironic detail in here--Rose=sore--because of those wicked thorns.----I am now beginning to see the replies etc. I don't know why 'flutter' has screwed the simplicity of it up, but thanks for getting me to this point. Love, James+p;us numbers.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPLY AND LIKE. I NEVER DO KNOW HOW OR EHEN I AM POSTING ANYTHING THAT I ORIGINATE--A MUSLIM COUNTRY DEMANDS THAT THEIR PRESIDENTMUST BE HIGHLY- EDUCATED; THIS TELLS THAT IF WE 'CHRISTIANS' ARE THIS STUPID WITH OUT POLITICS,THEN WE CANNOT BE ANY SMARTER WITH OUR RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS. WE DON'T NEED TO BE SENDING OUR MISSINARIES ALL OVER THE GLOBE TELLING OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIFE.----PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO ANYBODY WHO WOUD PLEASE DO ME THE FAVOR OIF REPOSTING THIS AND GETTING IT TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS ENOUGH SENSE TO REMEDY THIS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO POST TO MY FOLLOWERS. 0--AHA--THANK YOU ROSEMSRY--YOU JUST GAVE THIS OLD 91-YEAR-OLDMAN AN IDEA---I JUST WROTE SOMETHING TODAY AND IFI SEND IT TO YOU, I HOPE YOU WILL GET IT POSTED--IF POSSIBLE, BUT I WIOLL HAVE TO POSTITWITH MY NUMBER THAT FOLOLOWS MY NAME, I GUESS? I WAS KICKED FROM FB BECAUSE I AM 'TOO VIOLENT.' I ACTUALLY THINK THE WEALTHY CROOKS SHOULD PAY THE TIME IF THEY COMMIT THE CRIME/ ITRIEDTO GET A NEW ACCOUNT WITH FB WHENTHE IDIOTSSAIDIT IS EASY. BS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. THE DUMB BUTTS TOLD ME I WAS USING THE WRONG 'USER NAME'AND ALSOTHE WRONG PASSWORD. HOW COULD THEY HAVE BEEN WRONG IF THEY WERE CREATING A NEW ACCOUNT? THANKS AGAIN ROSE MARY. I WILL TRY NOT TO MAKEA PEST OF MYSELF. LOVE, JAMES McCLURE ON TWITTER BY A LIMB?
What part of "Thou Shalt Not Kill" is it that we hypocritical bastards don't understand? Instead of saying you are a "Christian", why in the hell don't you try to demonstrate that by setting examples to impress others rather than just showing the world how wicked and ignorant you are? We Americans are the most stupid people living on this planet. Nobody, for 246 years, has ever had the common sense to require that a president must have any intelligence at all. There is a Muslim country which demands that their president must be highly- educated. This makes it plain to me that if we Christians are this stupid with our politics, then we cannot be any smarter with our religious teachings. Why aren't those half-assed televangelists trying to do something about all of these wicked killings with those illegal weapons? All of those who praised and upheld Trump are not worth a damn. How many raised a voice when we were caging innocent children and separating them from their loving family? We displayed them publicly, as if they were animals. Christ commanded us to never harm the little children. Either those scamming hypocrites haven't read this or they just don't give a damn what Christ said? Too many of them have a greater fascination with money and fame than they do in serving God. Too many people twist the words of the Bible to make them mean what they want to believe. At least half of what we are taught by our preachers, whether by those of good intentions, or the
scammers, is non-Biblical, just damned lies. The Bible says to prove al things. The only thing I can see that we have managed to prove is how damned ridiculously stupid-as-hell that we are. I'll bet the boy scouts have stricter standards than a presidential candidate. Anybody who will appoint a draft- dodger to command our armed forces is not very smart. Our own 'government' was so stupid as to tell Herr Trump that he could do anything he wished to do and we would never indict him, so long as he stayed in office. (It doesn't look like we will ever indict him while he remains alive.) That was a guaranteed dictatorship. Trump is America's first dictator. It is a shame that so many people who think they are Americans want the sorry traitor back into office, even after he has tried to openly destroy our vestige of democracy. If anybody prefers to live in a dictatorship, then I wish you would go to Russia and then we would all be a lot better off. Then you could be shoved from a tall building to your sentenced death by Trump's wonderful friend, Vladimir Putin's system of justice.
The Founding Fathers were idiots also, for having allowed slavery and prejudices to exist. Hopefully, someday somebody in this country will get their head removed from their ass and start doing something sensible? The damned bastards in the Senate and Congress certainly haven't done anything meaningful toward creating a decent government. What good does it do America to have 1,400,000 damned lawyers? If the idiots who are called professors and are supposed to be teaching law don't even know what I am telling you? Alan Durshowitz is such a damned crooked moron that he said Trump did not incite the insurrection. He said Trump was only using his free speech. BS! No damned president of this country has ever had the freedom of speech to do what Trump and the present- day "Republican Party has pulled off. Animals sellect their leader a lot more sensibly than we idiotic humans choose ours. You are now aware of the situation at hand. Make an effort to correct it. Love, James R. McClure, age 91. I would like to live to see these things happen.
Dear friends, please allow me to try to express my pleasure in being able to post on SUBTRACK. I couldn't post anything anywhere. I was ejected from fb because I was told I am "too violent" because I so eloquently described what should be done with the sorry senators who are committing treason. I had been on Twitter several years ago and had only tweeted twice. Now that I have been back for two months, I see some smart-ass has tried to improve it and screwed it up. I still haven't figured out how to tweet my own messages. The young whippersnappers have screwed up my life and caused me to be an illiterate. I could read magazines, my mail and the newspaper but the geniuses of today's short- changing crooks cut down on the size of the print so much that I could still see it if it is black ink, but the sorry cheap bastards now print in a dim gray watered down ink that I can barely see and certainly cannot read. This says a lot about our idiots in the Department of Education by allowing the propagation of ignorance and stupidity. Trump nominated a wealthy woman to head the Department and she never had taught in school. She probably slipped him a billion dollars bribe for having nominated her? There just isn't much honesty among liars, thieves and crooks. I could work those Crypto Quote puzzles as well as anybody I know. But now, all of that has ended. If I didn't have high contrast on tis pc, I couldn't see the print. I cannot read the stupid grocery labels when dim white letters are printed over a pink background, etc. There is a lot more with SUBTRACK than I realized. I don't have the equipment to even use the service if I wanted to pay the fee to join. There are more than 100 so-called 'social media.' It is my opinion that SUBTRACK is, a much better platform for posting than any of them. Hopefully, you will permit me to sneak a few things in once in a while, if nothing but a little attempt at humor. Thanks a lot. Love, James R. McClure.
I disagree with her on everything but I think that Liz Cheney is fighting harder for our democracy than almost any other American and certainly she has more guts than most. I salute her
Ms. Cheney indeed in fighting for democracy. It takes guts to be treated like dirt and still hold you head high. Kudos to her.
Ditto
Hear hear!
I couldn't stand her until l saw the guts and backbone she has shown. Well done!
This week I vote for this brave lady in Alexandria, Virginia for calling out her Gov Youngkin for not wearing a face mask!
https://twitter.com/news_mtorres/status/1489364161440231426?s=21
Yes! She spoke out when no one else did. Moxie speaks truth to power!
That was epic! Brava.
Yes!
Yeah, read the room governor! Epic!
I second or third this suggestion. The cashier in Alexandria who asked Youngkin where his mask was, then told him to read the room when he said something about choice.
Going by what I'm seeing on Twitter, there are those who are hysterically insisting that 'choice' is censorship. Artists have chosen to walk away from Spotify. Nice one, I'm good with that. Who needs their art, at which they have all worked very hard, associated with a platform that allows an offensive racist ranter? But the cry is going up - 'Censorship is BAAAAAAD!' (Y'know, like a sheep...?) I choose NOT to eat MacDonalds food. I don't like it, it's bad for me and I don't like the deception this mega company engages in. So am I 'censoring' or 'cancelling' MacDonalds? It's getting very weird!
Good Human of the Week? Have to pick Mr Biden, I think. For not backing down from Putin the Putz.
His title is President. I agree, President Biden is working against the likes of 45 and his cult who spread their BS to the cult and the fringe right groups who believe they have the upper hand. They don't know the perseverance of true Patriots, not the Faux angry mob of 1/6. The slings and arrows at the true President are soaked with hate, bullies and lies. RIP Republican Party.
That's where the strength lies for those supporting Biden. More strength in his absolutely Presidential dignity in never responding to the cult idiots of every level.
Excellent point. 45 would have to look for dignity in the dictionary (if he weren't functionally illiterate). I know 2 people who are functionally illiterate. Frankly, my heart goes out to anyone who suffers from this issue. I did see that he 'wrote' a book and by his own words said, "it is a picture book."
I am still reeling at how undignified, crass and obnoxious 45 is. Especially after the quiet dignity of Barack Obama and his beautiful wife and family.
I so agree, 45's crassness was stunning. The difference between the two men and their families, was like first being in a comfortable warm place then getting thrown into a pool full of ice, naked. Shockingly horrible.
Well said
Fabulous analogy! Here, we only knew him as the fat git on 'The Apprentice' who kept yelling, 'You're fired!' and of course, wondered why on earth he got elected over a former president's wife. FFS....
A dictator hires incapable family and friends for positions that President Biden selected qualified persons - not his personal family and friends. Me thinks the gqp is screaming their BS about President Biden's KEPT promise.
Where is that 'beautiful fence' your dictator promised? When did you rid America of Obama Care? 45 was too busy golfing, grifting and conning America. Those golf games were VERY PROSPERUS for 45.
Little Amy was put in the SCOTUS faster than the vaccine, speed of light, and 45 eating a hamburger, including fries. The worse news is that she is there for the next 40+ years. IMHO, the Supreme (overly advertised as 'supreme') should not be a lifetime appointment. For each party, 20 years is enough time to do plenty of damage. Amy is a believer that the 'man is head of the house.' Amy, if that is correct, how did you get the benefits of the women's movement and end up in the SCOTUS?? Or you could recuse yourself and go back to hubby dearest.
Kudos and many thanks to Mary Trump for creating a place for astute and thinking (non-right wings) people to discuss issues. Thanks again, Mary. (Sorry, I get carried away in my anger of that glob of burgers.)
We can certainly sympathize with the functionally illiterate, but they can't be stupid in every way, and they definitely shouldn't be president.
Which makes me question how illiterate or ignorant his followers are that they don’t understand or factor in that this narcissist doesn’t give a damn about any of them,
Yes!
45 will hide everything that might denigrate him in any way. There are no requirements for being president, just a certain age and born in the USA. (I am not a scholar on this, but I do feel the bar is entirely TOO LOW.)
He is not only illiterate, his favorite comrades, mtg, lg, lp, tc, et al., have no clue of history, world events, and especially American issues.
The good news about 45 is that he made us all sit up in complete horror, disbelief, and alarm. He has changed the landscape, not for the better, but WE can do better.
My Good Human of the week is Marc Elias. His unwavering fight to protect our democracy is amazing. His key victories especially in NC made my week.
Ditto to the above vote for Marc Elias.
I was absolutely thrilled when I saw that Col. Vindman filed a lawsuit against those involved, including Trump, for engaging in a conspiracy of witness intimidation. First, stepping up to speak the truth in the Impeachment trial, which he was warned not to do, & standing up yet again to a former president. His belief in America and its rule of law and for doing the right thing is to be commended. Now, THAT takes guts & he's my Good Human of the Week!
Well said, Mary! And lovely pic. My vote this week is also for Marc Elias and his team. They have been relentless in their legal efforts to combat voter suppression tactics in state after state. He's also been doing everything he can to make the case for federal voting rights legislation, and their Democracy Docket website, https://www.democracydocket.com/, and newsletter are very informative and explain the gravity of this issue very clearly. I'm not sure when they sleep, but I am very, very grateful for them.
I would like to give a shout out to both, Glenn Kirshner, and Farron Cousins for the reporting they have been doing for quite a few years now. They talk about how they feel about the crickets from the DOJ. Glenn, having been a prosecutor for over 30 years has a good sense into the workings of the DOJ, his former department. Even he is at a loss for the lack of anything newsworthy into our current absence of holding those accountable. I know justice moves slowly, but gee whiz, it would be nice to see something happening.
Agree. Glenn has been a rock.I learn a lot from him about con law and love his passion for justice. My cats look at me when he says " Justice" because they kbkw I'm going to say "MATTERS!"
Yes, Marc Elias!
Regarding Spotify. In the 19thC, Oliver Wendell Holmes of the Supreme Ct. made it law that you cannot yell, FIRE, in a crowded theater w/o being prosecuted for it. Similarly, people Die when misinformation is promoted during a worldwide pandemic.
Isn’t it time to legislate against promoting lies that damage the public?
Liz Cheney
She is one of the very few so- called -Republicans with a spine!
Personally painful though his actions are, leaving his career in limbo, Brian Flores , by filing his lawsuit this week, has finally torn open the threads of systemic insults that form much of the fabric of the National Football League. Coach Flores redefines the title, "A stand-up guy."
Jane Fonda - Good Human of the week!!
Jane Fonda, teaming with Greenpeace, starting off another year off environmental activism!! - I participated in her new round of ‘Fire Drill Fridays’ yesterday, 2/4/22. Jane has been an activist for social justice her entire adult life - sometimes to the detriment of her own acting career. Now she has truly taken on the charge of creating change in environment policy so we can slow global warming and preserve our planet. She went live weekly all during the start of the pandemic and she is back in 2022, hosting LIVE sessions on Fridays on social media …. Interviewing experts on various environmental topics. Interviewing scholars and celebrities alike, using her voice and experience and huge platform to advocate for better policy surrounding land preservation, green energy, green legislation - she is the living, breathing example of USING YOUR LIFE to change the world. She has developed a huge following. Gives out resource information. Cheers us on. Marches with us. She is passionate and knowledgeable and inspirational!!! I encourage this community to check out her next Fire Drill Friday event. Always free and open to all, virtual and safe during our ongoing pandemic.
Here is lineup to this week’s Fire Drill Friday - Please watch!!! :
Fire Drill Friday with Jane Fonda, Annie Leonard, and Folabi Olagbaju
https://facebook.com/events/s/fire-drill-friday-with-jane-fo/648038299805363/
Thank you for this link! I was watching it faithfully a while ago and lost touch.
Our cultural obsession with celebrity is deeply dangerous...it brought us a president famous for being famous. It brought us a podcast superstar who believes that he has no responsibility for anything said on his platform. It brought us a late night host who believes he is the arbiter of social norms. Artists have the right to choose the platforms that host their music. Listeners have the right to delete Spotify. Jon Stewart has the right to make uninformed statements. I have the right to ignore both Rogan and Stewart.
I vote for Alexander Vindman for his bravery in speaking up with his information knowingly putting himself in danger. In standing by his evidence others are encouraged to come forward and speak the truth that will make possible the hearing of sufficient evidence to proceed with the proper outcome.
Mary, is this the MSNBC interview with David Crosby?
https://www.msnbc.com/katy-tur/watch/david-crosby-on-spotify-we-don-t-feel-that-it-s-a-place-we-want-to-be-132382789883
Thanks, Caroline. I don't think is the one I had in mind but it was really helpful.
You are welcome.
North Carolina Supreme Court for striking down the redistricting map. They have until 2/18 to redraw the map. The court found the lines drawn gave a distinct advantage to republicans.
Good Human of the Week - Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker. He presented a budget that will give all of the people of Illinois a $1B tax cut.
Dan Rather. He's articulate, kind, passionate, and doing a great job of explaining, teaching, tugging us toward a hopeful goal. Few of his age can match his workload.
President Biden for standing up to Putin and Col.Vindman for his bravery and patriotism.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (Ret.) for still believing that "Here - right matters" and filing lawsuits against close aides and allies of the former administration. I'd like to see more people insist on accountability for the relentless harassment and threat-making practiced by that group.
Joe Biden for the Buy American executive action and the pro-Union speech to Ironworkers.
Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger are my nominees for Good Human of the Week. They have been censured by the Retrumplicans for speaking the truth. Is there no end to this insanity?
These actions of censoring people for standing up for their noble beliefs ( when they are not lying propaganda ) are sheer self-serving retribution and spite. How can they be allowed outside of the kindergarten playground?
I have to agree with Laegatha-Storm. HE has given Putin a run for his Billions- Good job Joe! And stop telling me about who I can support with MY dollars and time! I DECIDE WHAT I WANT TO SUPPORT! Not You or THEM!
Again, well said, Mary. And looking at the nominations for good person of the week, it does my heart good to see so many deserving names. I have to go for the woman who stood up to Gov. Youngkin as she is all of us.
Great article Mary. I agree with you with your stance on Spotify. Jamie Raskin still gets my vote as good human of the week. Also Matt Dowd.
Good Humans: Women. It's gotten virtually no notice, but to those who have been in the fight since it's introduction, the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), that passed the Virginia legislature in 2020, is official, after a 2-year waiting period, as the 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution as of January 27, 2022. Naturally, this doesn't come without controversy: the amendment has yet to be published--meaning, the recognition of women's equality under the law must be championed! https://www.eracoalition.org
Mayor of Kiev who says she will die for Ukraine and all the Ukrainian civilians who marched through the streets of Kiev today in protest of what seems like an inevitable Russian invasion.
Ai Weiwei - consistently pushing the envelope on human rights for China, for refugees, for freedom of expression all over the world. I'm reading his book, 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows, right on the heals of reading Radical King edited by Cornel West. Ai Weiwei and MLK are overlapping in many ways. In the face of cruelty they both just keep pushing for what's right and for human dignity. He would be a wonderful interviewee.
I only want to offer Mike Pence as an honorable mention without casting any judgement of where he’s been for the last year. He spoke clearly in condemnation of Trumps intent to overthrow the the election.
Marc Elias is a relentless warrior in defense of democracy.
I like the honorable mention for Mr. Pence. Unfortunately, it is too little, too late. I am waiting for the other shoe to drop, will he back pedal? What might he have started? Perhaps more of the gop party might feel stronger. Who of them remembers 5 years ago when Republicans had a platform, stood for being conservative and was still the party of Lincoln and other great presidents? I am a former, lifelong Republican. I can no longer stand with them.
I vote for Marc Elias too because he and his legal team have done such heroic work saving our democracy. His victories in court are something to behold.
Wow! A few things...First, Jon Stewart did not say that leaving Spotify is censorship. He didn't urge people not to abandon Spotify. His point was that the tendency to demonize and shun anyone who doesn't agree with you doesn't lead to civilized and productive discourse. So much easier to get on one's high horse and smugly label someone a racist or a sexist or white supremacist than to confront them and their ideas, holding yourself too pure to get down to their level. Wouldn't it be better to engage with the likes of Joe Rogan and expose his "ideology" for the superficial, crass, opportunistic drivel that it is than to simply take your marbles and go home? And the cheap shot about the Rally to Restore Sanity was extremely disappointing and, I think, beneath you. You're smart enough to understand what parody and irony are, aren't you? And have you forgotten that Stephen Colbert was there as well? He's been one of your biggest boosters, and I wouldn't be surprised if your publisher was delighted at the Colbert bump you got from your appearance on his show. Is he tarred with the same brush as Jon Stewart? Not an ally....whatever than means?
And now for something completely different...Good Human of the Week (only because there isn't a "Courageous Human of the Week" category): Fani Willis, Fulton County, Georgia DA. For obvious reasons.
Agree with those who support Marc Elias. He and his team continue to fight to protect voting rights and our democracy, and win. Thank god for him and them.
Mary Its True: "Monolithic" Companies intertwined together can control artists to not be able to express their views, and others would suffer from disconnection from Spotify from the size of their company etc Its Very Important to draw distinctions between what is possible for artists wealthy and strong enough within their own system to walk away from spotify vs Smaller Newer Entities That Cannot. Very Good Analysis of The Structure of Protests vs The Censorship Realities. I myself have created content, sold it, but now I must plot a bigger plot to include and share the secrets about creative music: Ive Learned, AND create access for more musical therapy, Sound Wave Editing, for more people, So I am intensely familiar with ALL THE BARRIERS around This Joe Rogan Issue. THANK YOU for saying succinctly what THE TRUTHs about Joe Rogan And Spotify really are, Bravo, Your Fan John Pillin
Please tell me if I am now posting on Mary L. Trump or SUBSTACK ? Thanks. James R. McClure.
Do you suppose that Mike Pence and Chris Christie have opened the crack to get the right back to having a platform, ideas, and conservative ideals? That is a lot to ask. . .
I must express thanks to Marc Elias for working continuously to preserve the integrity of our upcoming elections; elections that Republicans are shamelessly working to corrupt.
Well said Mary. Thank you!
Pence rejects the claim he could overturn the election. I never thought he’d say the words, “trump was wrong!”
I knew he thought it but never imagined he publicly say it!
Good on him!!!!!
However, late to the discussion…
But why did he wait? Was it out of fear for his own future that he said that?
I believe so. That and possibly whatever they are discovering inside the investigation.
Kindness goes a long way.
Several issues about Joe Rogon– platforms such as Spotify and Facebook (and radio when Rush Limbaugh was on air) protect their financial interests, and in a democracy, have the right to free speech. The problem is that their popularity gives credence to topics discussed that are not in the public’s best interests. The critical thinking skills of listeners are sorely tested listening to the barrage of issues covered in a program (myself included). Another problem is our 21st c encounter with a pandemic which is clearly a public health problem, not a private medical one. Public health deals with deadly contagious diseases. Private health deals with those non-contagious diseases which do not endanger others. One has the luxury of choosing a cancer treatment, but not one in which millions have died world wide.