No Commercial Breaks, Death Threats
There’s an endless supply of content available these days. Instead of providing the average media consumer with a cross-section of differing views, the content gets filtered through social graphs and algorithms, before being pumped into our overflowing silos of political and cultural homogeneity. We don’t even get a commercial break. The ad nauseam ads follow the same trends as the content they support. And both the content and the ads are only getting more extreme, a trend that has accelerated in 2025. Bloomberg (Gift Article) surveys the center of the new media universe to provide a detailed and interesting look at how ads and content are merging, even as audiences divide. YouTube’s Right-Wing Stars Fuel Boom in Politically Charged Ads. “On YouTube’s conservative airwaves, podcast hosts tout products that let people buy into the MAGA crowd: Republican Red Winery vintages for toasting the “silent majority;” Black Rifle Coffee for caffeinating gun owners; XX-XY Athletics for workout clothes symbolizing opposition to the ‘lunacy of the left social agenda.’ … Other advertisers lean heavily on political appeals: Seven Weeks Coffee says its name refers to the idea that a coffee bean is about the size of a fetus at seven weeks, when abortion opponents say a heartbeat can be heard. My Patriot Supply, a survival-kit seller, promotes self-reliance as a ‘patriotic duty.'” (I wish I could come up with a pithy and humorous way to end this blurb, if only so I could be considered an Ad Lib who ad-libs.)
The Threat Hanging Over America
Earlier this week, six lawmakers with military credentials released a video in which they reminded “their still-serving counterparts in a short online video that they are obligated to refuse illegal orders.” Trump responded to the video by going full all cap, describing the call to follow the law as seditious behavior, and arguing the lawmakers should be “ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL … An example MUST BE SET.” In another post, he wrote: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” He also “reposted 16 Truth Social posts, including one that advocated for hanging the Democrats, like ‘GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD.'” (Guys, I always forget, are we supposed to take threats to hang political opponents literally or seriously?) While we’re on the topic of providing advice to our peers, I would suggest that journalists and editors are obligated to refuse the temptation to cover this insanity like it’s normal.
+ The call to refuse illegal orders mostly refers to the invasion of US cities by US military personnel, and the threats of many more such deployments. But it could also relate to the boat bombings. Top military lawyer raised legal concerns about boat strikes.
Homicide Effects
“The drop-off spans both red and blue states and has unfolded even as police departments have struggled to fill vacancies and Americans have purchased guns at a staggering pace — a practice often linked to higher rates of violence.
It began during the administration of President Joe Biden and has persisted under President Donald Trump, who has continued to portray cities as lawless while deploying the National Guard and federal law enforcement agents to help local police combat crime.” WaPo (Gift Article): These five cities help explain why homicide rates are down across the U.S. “There is no one reason or no silver bullet for what makes crime go up and crime go down. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.” (As is anyone who tells you there’s a current state of emergency that requires deploying troops to cities.)
Serial Fillers
“There are almost as many med spas as McDonald’s in the US, ready to serve you a smoother forehead, glowier skin, and fuller lips. Are you safe placing an order?” Med Spa Nation. “Like McDonald’s, people keep going to med spas despite what a lot of health care professionals say—fast filler, like fast food, isn’t generally recommended by doctors.”
Extra, Extra
Peace Nix: “The U.S. and Russia have drawn up a plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine that calls for major concessions from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a person familiar with the matter.” Does it seem like a few interested parties are absent from these peace talks? EU leaders say they and Kyiv must be involved in peace talks.
+ Raw Nerve: Is having sushi for lunch a significant political statement? Sometimes, yes. Taiwan president shows support for Japan in China dispute.
+ Someone Heard the Tree Fall in the Forest: “If Bill made repairs, it might seem like the Forest Service was getting along fine with a smaller staff, justifying Trump’s cuts to government. But if he didn’t, people might get hurt. Even die.” WaPo (Gift Article): They retired from the government. Now they’re back, protecting forests Trump abandoned.
+ Larry, Larry, Quite Contrary: The bids are due from potential Warner Bros suitors. You can already guess who has the inside track with regulators. Larry Ellison discussed axing CNN hosts with White House in takeover bid talks.
+ Doc Crock: “The agency’s webpage on vaccines and autism, updated on Wednesday, now repeats the skepticism that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voiced about the safety of vaccines, though dozens of scientific studies have failed to find evidence of a link.” C.D.C. Changes Website to Reflect Kennedy’s Vaccine Skepticism.
+ Showing a Lot of Potential: U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols. “Instead, the Coast Guard will classify the Nazi-era insignia as ‘potentially divisive.'”
+ Disaster Plan: “A federal indictment charges U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida with stealing $5 million in federal disaster funds, laundering some of the money through straw donors to her congressional campaign and then conspiring to file a false tax return, the Justice Department announced.”
+ Funeral Directors: George W. Bush and Liz Cheney gave eulogies at Dick Cheney’s funeral. Trump and Vance were not on the guest list.
+ Crash Testing for Dummies: For the first time ever, American car companies will soon be required to test vehicle safety using dummies that are representative of women.
+ Take No Prisoners: “His will to survive as a P.O.W., he later said, was built on memories of his domestic life and the hope of returning one day to his family. Those thoughts sustained him after he was shot down and forced to eject from his F-105 Thunderchief during a bombing mission over North Vietnam on Oct. 27, 1967, and they continued to sustain him in prison camps, including the notorious ‘Hanoi Hilton,’ where he was starved, tortured and subjected to mock executions … Three days before he landed at Travis Air Force Base, he was handed what he described as a ‘Dear John’ letter from his wife.” NYT (Gift Article) with the surprising backstory behind a very well known photo. Robert L. Stirm, Returning P.O.W. in Pulitzer-Winning Photo, Dies at 92.
Bottom of the News
“Lemon, a five-pound Chihuahua, waited at the starting line until her owner signaled ‘go,’ then pulled a wheeled cart weighing 260 pounds down a 16-foot chute. Amid applause, the pint-size canine trotted to her crate for treats, water and rest until the next round of the North American Weight Pull Association competition. Lemon, competing in the 10-pounds-and-under weight class, pulled 52 times her weight. That would be the equivalent of a 175-pound man pulling an average-size forklift.” WSJ (Gift Article): The Tiny Dogs That Can Pull 100 Times Their Weight. (My beagles can barely do downward dog.)
