They came here fleeing persecution; rather than give them refuge, Marco Rubio’s state department will send them to die in countries they’ve never been to. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/w...
War Crimes Seem To Be Official US Policy Now
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Mem Shannon with a song for our times:
"I'm sick of these SOBs
They're driving those SUVs"
youtu.be/rMuTkMTeqrw?...
"Lone Pine Hill" is still a song that makes my hair stand up on end. Hard to believe a 20 something old wrote it, much less one living in the 21st century.
Got a theory that we are all living through a crisis of agency, at least online. Bots, algorithms, clip armies, & the flood of AI stuff have scrambled notions of popularity, turned everything into a ‘psyop’. AI tools/ agents are reversing the fundamental human, collaborative promise of the internet
So the two DOGE staffers who used ChatGPT to cut all those grants and programs and who struggled to define DEI in that viral deposition footage have a new startup: DOGE for the public sector. I wrote about them and the myth of the “builder” as a disguise for something more insidious
Sonny Rollins "Plus 4" catches an early session in his career. It documents his tragically short stint with Richie Powell and Clifford Brown before their tragic deaths. The hard bop is driving and muscular and is a captivating illustration of this group's chemistry.
5/5
youtu.be/aL6zNpVBTPE?...
I've spent months speaking to current & retired Black service members about being part of the military in this political moment. What I found were officers and soldiers despondent at the resurgence of racism, yet often insistent that they were fighting for what this country could be, not what it is.
"In the Spirit" is the debut of The Holmes Brothers and shows the group as a work in progress. In particular, the instrumentation is a little too florid and often crowds out the vocals. When the vocals are allowed to shine, it is obvious why they became so beloved.
3/5
youtu.be/cLVz4lCrdt8?...
They devoted their lives to serving the United States. Now the nation’s top military leader is sending the message that they’re not welcome.
"The Good Life" by Justin Townes Earle is an auspicious debut. While a couple love songs fall flat, the rest showcase his compelling performances and lyrics. A particular highlight is the sharply written Civil War tale "Lone Pine Hill" that ranks among his best work.
5/5
youtu.be/XA84Y2Dg9NM?...
