For example in Rolling Stone’s “200 Greatest Singers of All Time”, they cited Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke, Billie Holiday, Mariah Carey, Ray Charles, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Otis Redding and Al Green. I assume their criteria included overall popularity via record sales. Not sure why Michael Jackson, Little Richard, Smokey Robinson or B.B. King weren’t prominent on that list, while including too many with debatable “talent”.

I would look at it using a different metric.

Of all of the record companies back in the day, only one had singers who were unique, could do more than just hit the notes, weren’t signed just for looks and powerful voices with natural vibrato was mandatory: Motown.

Given the important releases over their run, I would ask if singers deemed influential based on popularity and sales would have been signed by Motown?

ABSOLUTELY

Steve Perry, Tina Turner, Elton John, George Michael, Billy Ocean, Bobby Caldwell, Shirley Bassey, Lou Gramm, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, George Benson, Ann Wilson, and Roberta Flack

Singers with power, natural vibrato, a distinctive style and sound.

BTW – Wouldn’t it have been interesting had James Brown and Peter Wolf been able to team up?

DEBATABLE

Freddie Mercury, Dan Hartman, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Mick Hucknall, Roy Orbison, Annie Lennox, Patsy Cline, David Clayton-Thomas, Linda Ronstadt, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Tom Jones, Toni Tennille, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Brad Delp, Richard Marx and Bonnie Tyler

Some of these singers had a distinctive sound and could definitely hit the notes; some had forced vibrato but were they good enough to make it past Motown’s Artist and Repertoire Department just to give Berry Gordy a listen? Debatable.

MAYBE…

Tracy Chapman, Darius Rucker, Kenny Loggins, J.T. Taylor, Melissa Etheridge, Jim Seals and Dash Crofts, Olivia Newton-John, Robert Palmer, Alicia Keys, Bonnie Raitt, Cat Stevens, Steve Miller, Adele, Gregg Allman, Don Henley, Carole King, Christina Aguilera, Amy Winehouse, Bob Seger, Michael Bolton, Barbra Streisand, Rick Astley, Tammy Wynette, Hank Williams, Carrie Underwood, Joe Cocker, Peter Cetera, Jackson Browne, Lady Gaga, Eric Clapton, Bryan Adams, Van Morrison, Chris Isaak, and Huey Lewis

Distinctive sounds but would they be good enough if having to survive a sing-off against Aretha Franklin or Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder? Maybe.

On another note, you think Ozzy Osbourne would have been signed after an audition for Motown…?

PROBABLY NOT

David Bowie, Taylor Swift, Glenn Danzig, Billie Eilish, Lou Reed, John Mellencamp, Gwen Stefani, Karen Carpenter, Roger Daltry, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Iggy Pop, Sonny Bono and Cher, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, Dolly Parton, Fiona Apple, Chris Martin, Selena Gomez, Lana Del Rey, Debbie Harry, David Hasselhoff, Steven Tyler, Willie Nelson, Kurt Cobain, Robert Plant, Nancy Sinatra, Stevie Nicks, Kid Rock, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Billy Idol, Mick Jagger, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Rick Springfield, Belinda Carlisle, Jimi Hendrix, Axl Rose, Pat Benatar, Elvis Costello, George Thorogood, Daryl Hall, Glenn Frey, Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, Ric Ocasek, Neil Young, Madonna and Joan Jett

Some of these artists were product aided by MTV visuals. A lack of actual talent was tolerated as long as sales came in to support record company overhead. Some could hit the notes as that’s all that could really be asked for, could scream in pitch, but were they great “singers”? Nope.

And don’t get me started on actors and actresses who “sing” because their agents won’t risk their jobs telling them the ugly truth.

John Travolta, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Bacon, Johnny Depp, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Cruise, Reese Witherspoon, Val Kilmer, and Christian Bale….

The IMDB post neglected to mention Michelle Pfeiffer also co-starred in “Grease 2”, possibly at the request of Michelle herself.

Today’s soft-singing, breathers probably wouldn’t have even considered a Motown audition for obvious reasons including having fragile egos that would’ve been dashed by restrained laughter as they were leaving the room.

And when it comes to boy, girl and vocal group bands, one could argue The Jackson 5, The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, just to name a few, set the standard. Do you think The Backstreet Boys, Osmonds, *NSYNC, Partridge Family, Monkees, Spice Girls, Destiny’s Child or BTS were as unique?

And for those of you who may take this is as a race hit piece, Rare Earth, R. Dean Taylor, Chris Clark, William Goldstein and Charlene were Motown signings.

Again, some had distinctive sounds but good enough to satisfy Motown Records customers who had clear expectations for vocal talent? Probably not.

Finally, any list of greatest singers will not include rap “artists”.

What does that tell ya?

It’s just about how good they are about concealing it.

The TRUST Myth

We’re told we can trust our leaders. Their words affect our daily lives and when repeated by our media, have profound effects on everything from grocery and gas prices to world peace.

However, there’s a very small number of people in the United States who can lie with near total impugnity. None of us can lie about our boss or to our customers without being promply fired. But if you’re one of the 635 on Capitol Hill (clearly not the best and brightest 635 in America either….), and as long as you’re on the clock, you can say anything you want about anything or anybody.

Must be nice….

The Senators and Representatives shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
— United States Constitution (Article I, Section 6, Clause 1)

And they’d NEVER abuse that privilege, right?

“If you like your doctor, you can keep you doctor. If you like your plan, you can keep your plan.”
— President Barack Obama, PolitiFact ‘Lie of the Year’

Obama knew Republicans would be hard pressed and/or gutless trying to prove “high crimes and misdemeanors” here as presidents were not included in the Clause, so he just repeated this whopper over three dozen times.

We had politicians on the floor of the Senate accusing a presidential candidate of not filing income taxes (knowing he did), and after the election one was called on the mistruth to which he responded, “Well, he didn’t win, did he?”

Americans have to live with the daily ramifications of falsehoods spoken and written by House and Senate politicians, echoed by both legacy and social media. Imagine how much better life could be if the elected were required to be honest….

The Only MEN ARE SLOBS Myth

There are probably hundreds of instances where women declare men slobs, pigs, etc. Husbands and boyfriends are the butt of such declarations on women’s talk shows, op-ed and social media posts, and are never called on it.

That’s because women know and consciously deflect from an ugly truth: they can be easily outed as mockable projection hypocrites if their behavioral tendencies were exposed and publicly acknowledged.

Go to any department store and look at the women’s clothing and shoe aisles. One will see blouses and dresses strewn on the floor under the hung garments. Women just throw garments anywhere but back on the racks where they found them. Shoes, instead on being put back in place after being tried on, are just left on the floor to be walked around or tripped over.

Laura has also decribed the horrors of using a women’s public restroom.

Shit, piss and menstraul fluid literally splattered on and around toilet seats, soiled femine hygene products left on the floors or stopping up toilets… yeah, it’s fuckng gross and the same women who punchline men as slobs will NEVER tell you how disgusting they are behind closed stalls.

The Myth About ACADEMICS

There is this perception that teachers and professors have the last word during any discussion. If one has any doubt, their academic credentials are thrown back in your face in an attempt to shut down any disagreement one may have with their conclusions. But why must we take their conclusion as the final word?

Because we’ve been trained to accept their word.

Teachers have the ultimate power, by issuing grades from first grade through college, to certify or destroy an academic record that has profound implications for an employment career. Since their grades are as simple as right or wrong, the implication is they know more than the student which most of the time is correct.

However in recent years, teachers (who are never given the opportunity to be vetted by parents) enter the classroom, not with the mission to educate children with the tools needed to function in society but with personal agendas that may be at odds with the values with parents. But because they are teachers with the power to destroy the academic record of any child, those agendas have been legitimized.

Parents are given no proof of the proficiency of any teacher but are supposed to accept they are good teachers simply because they’re employed by a school. We have no prior assurance teachers are actual decent people. But again because they are teachers, parents are not allowed to question their competence and sanity even when they repeatedly behave in deviant manners.

The LAWYER Myth

Given the lofty compensation for their emergency services (they’re mostly only hired when bad things happen), one would think lawyers are the ultimate professionals. Cinematic and television portrayals collectively sure give that impression.

And where’s the proof?

When looking for a lawyer, you’re presented with a headshot (usually taken when he or she was much younger). You’re to be impressed by the law school attended, their degrees, their years since passing the bar exam, and years in a legal area of expertice. But there’s one piece of very important information you won’t see in a lawyer’s bio.

When a professional sports team is looking for a new coach, the first metric their fans look at are the wins and losses. That’s the easiest way to gauge if that coach candidate is worth consideration. However with lawyers, you will NEVER see the wins and losses of any law firm or individual attorney on any website.

So how do you know if the hundreds of dollars per hour, or contingency, is going to a good lawyer or a bad one?

You won’t.

Ask an attorney for the number of their wins and losses and see what happens. Note the grammar in their response for a quick clue.

The DOCTOR Myth

Again because of their level and years of education, we’re told it’s extremely problematic to ever question the conclusion of a medical professional. But doctors and lawyers share one commonality in said professions.

They don’t perform law or medicine. They “practice”.

That long-standing word description alone should be pause for concern as the common definition is it’s a “method of learning by repetition”. Do you really want someone learning when your finances, freedom, health or life is on the line? Like lawyers, you’re to assume high-priced doctors are good at what they do despite your not given any documentation to back it up.

How many patients have they cured? How many have sued them for a misdiagnosis or negligence? How many patients have they lost?

Despite the high compensation demanded for their services, neither offer a guarantee of success.

If you don’t ask, they won’t tell you. If they do respond, they’ll probably hide behind HIPPA so they still won’t tell you.

The HEALTHY FOOD Myth

Just read the ingredients on any food product you purchase at your market of choice and you’ll be left dumbfounded because, chances are, you can’t even pronounce some of the chemicals added to what we consume on a daily basis.

It might surprise you to learn that many food additives found in bread, baked goods, and candy manufactured in the United States are banned or restricted in Europe and other parts of the world because of potential health risks. U.S. consumers generally assume that items on grocery store shelves have been vetted for safety, but a loophole in the approval process of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) means that 99 percent of new food chemicals aren’t evaluated before they are added to products.
— Everyday Heath

While the excuse may be these chemicals are added for visual and palate aesthetics or preservation, many of these additives have quite negative short and longterm health ramifications. High fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, monosodium glutamate are some of the most widely used culprits. Funny how when you see drug commercials that reveal those pesky, possible negative side effects (that inconveniently include death), we’re never given similar warnings when it comes to the ingredients added to our food.

Are they trying to kill us?

The HOUSING SHORTAGE Myth

For anyone listening to news reports about the affordability and/or availability of homes, disregard all the metrics given as there’s one very important factor the media leaves out.

Realtors.

They set local and regional market prices based on their personal commission demands. They are the ones assuring hallucinating sellers how valuable their neglected or damaged homes are. There are more protections for buying a used car than a home purchase worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Why are the homes neglected or damaged? Because some people bought over-their-head and after mortgage, bills, and daily expenses, had little money left, let alone for routine maintenance. When the inevitable happens and repairs are required, handyman cheap appears to be the remedy of choice and shoddy workmanship will be discovered belatedly by subsequent owners.

If you have the misfortune of searching for a home, there’s one constant: the condition of the homes you’ll see range from tolerable to you-must-be-high. From experience it’s safe to say 98% of the homes you’ll tour are in some way damaged. To a seller and realtor, the buyer is a mark. They want your money and conscience is in very short supply.

Unless you have the wealth to build from ground up you’ll be choosing from poorly maintained, insect and/or rodent infested, mold and/or water damaged homes with inflated prices that will help an entitled seller hit the lottery and the greedy realtor receive that generous commission. If that house was initially listed at an realistic price with honest verbal and pictorial descriptions (big IF), it’ll most likely be scooped up quickly by another realtor/broker who’ll put the minimum into that house and flip it at a hefty markup. It’s the optional ethics of realtors that make home prices unaffordable for most buyers, not to mention the ripple effect of jacking up the property taxes of all those around that home.

Also be wary of the typical descriptions of houses found online: “meticulously maintained”, “nestled in”, “cozy”, “spacious” and other glowing adjectives that will be fodder for instant disappointment when you visit the property. Getting honest disclosures from realtors (required by law in some states) about the house is like pulling teeth. You’ll only be told what you know to ask. Then it’s a question of how much potential money you’re willing to tolerate or invest in that house after buying that expensive shack.

Despite all you’re told, there is no housing shortage.

There IS a shortage of houses that are worth the asking price.

The QUALITY Myth

Speaking of overpriced, there was a time in America if you were to spend a little more money on an item , you were assured of receiving something of higher quality that would last for many, many years.

Those were the days.

Cars actually had steel frames and bodies that could withstand a simple bump and could inflict even more damage to whatever it came in contact with. The left saw that as unfair, so all cars were subsequently constructed with lighter materials so damage would be more equitable.

Just look at some of the 60’s era kitchen appliances you can still find in homes currently for sale.

Today, the more you spend on anything, you’ll purchase the inferior in order to get you to repeat that sad cycle. Any product or service you don’t buy often will be used against you. The quality will be questionable at best to assure multiple repeat visits that will never fix the problem. Whether we’re talking about an appliance, store, auto mechanic, finding someone who’s first mission isn’t to rip you off is like seeking the Holy Grail.

As this appears to be the current business model, not sure when our money will be respected again.

The MEDIA Myth

We’re told to trust the media, and who says that the most?

The media.

Without those who consume their product, their overinflated salaries don’t happen. News anchors must come off as authorities on any given topic and when the inevitable happens and they get something very wrong, apologies and retractions are as brief and short as possible. To make matters worse, whether we’re talking about the news or entertainment industries, these people truly believe they are smarter that the American people whose ignorance on any given topic should be solely blamed on… the media.

Our job is to control what people think.
— Mika Brzezinski, 2/22/17

Note the use of terms used when describing the American people: “average”, “everyday”, “ordinary” people. Think of the narcissistic arrogance and sense of privilege it takes to constantly look at others in that fashion. It gives too many the license to misinform and/or manipulate because they believe they know what’s best for the public, and for those they prefer and deem protectable.

Many of today’s journalists also believe if it’s something they’ve never heard of, it never happened. What could go wrong with that thinking?

Also be wary whenever a journalist cites an “expert” to justify a conclusion. More times than not like “anonymous sources”, those experts are not named and if so, the number is as few as possible. That “source” can also be an academic (see: above), or based on past incidents, can be made up altogether.

Arrogance crosses into the entertainment industry where television and movie celebrities believe they’re deep thinkers and know it all simply because of where they work, not to mention those who work for them who don’t have the guts to risk their employment and tell these entertainers when they’re wrong. As a result, embarrassingly misinformed musings are distributed to the masses.

It has been brought to my attention that, in my support of Palestine, I have inadvertently re-posted articles, and/or statements, that have contained misinformation and falsehoods. I am aware how sharing inaccurate content can cause confusion and distress; for this I am deeply sorry. I will certainly endeavour to be more diligent in future to verify anything I share online.
— Guy Pearce, actor

“Inadvertently”….

For the most part, disregard their opinions unless you put them in the parody column.

When it comes to the world of broadcast sports, on-air pundits could be the worse as too many believe they’re also comedians instead of analysts. Their jokes and segments aren’t funny, and we’re to embrace their condescending belief that eye candy is necessary to keep men interested.

Stop.

There are other examples of myths that will inevitably come to mind as life continues.

Trump supporter slams Charlie Kirk fans for trying to cancel celebrating liberals: ‘It’s freedom of speech’

Ah, how memories are conveniently short.

Around a decade ago, the left discovered and conducted what they branded #CancelCulture: a practice where people rummaged through the social media posts, videos, and quotes of those they didn’t like (in some cases, going back years) and used them for public shaming resulting in the desired loss of careers, businesses, etc.

Cancel culture (aka “canceling”) is a form of boycott that involves removing support for a person, organization, product, brand, or anything else due to an issue that a community or group disapproves of or finds offensive. It can involve a variety of actions, including boycotting or group shaming, often via social media.
— VeryWellMind.org

The left thought that a very cool, trendy and justified thing, of course until now when it’s happening to them.

Boston Globe: Call off the blacklists

The legacy media is intentionally ignoring the hundreds of liberals on social media celebrating Charlie Kirk’s murder, implying all the “toxic rhetoric” is coming from the right.

NBC News is probably quite frustrated that the right doesn’t instinctively and violently take to the streets. Many on the left have been outed by their social media posts, resulting in the loss of jobs in almost every employment sector, thus they’re now assuming victim status.

NPR: People are losing jobs due to social media posts about Charlie Kirk
CNN: People are getting fired for celebrating Kirk’s murder; coordinated effort
NBC News: Teachers and professors nationwide fired over social media posts
TIME: Right-Wing Extremists Are Responsible for More Political Violence
Newsweek: Is the Right Embracing ‘Cancel Culture’ After Kirk’s Assassination?

No one is forcing anyone to be silent, then again free speech does have ramifications, good and bad. For far too long, the left has gotten away with the lack of ramifications for their speech.

Until now.

The Far Right Is Already Blaming the Left For Charlie Kirk’s Shooting
MSNBC’s Zadrozny: ‘It’s Pretty Hard’ to Find Extreme Left-Wing Content Online, ‘Not That Much’
Cato Institute: Politically Motivated Violence Is Rare in the United States
Right-Wing Terror Attacks Plunged in 2025, Left-Wing Attacks Ticked Up: Study

As a public service to those in manipulative denial, the following is an unofficial list of media actually reporting the news; not inciting it.

‘That Era Is OVER’: FBI Ends ADL Partnership After TPUSA ‘Extremist’ Designation
FL biologist sues state agency over firing linked to social media post on Kirk’s death
Infamous climate scientist Michael Mann resigns Penn role after Kirk ‘Hitler’ posts
Trans Democrat Drops Out Of Race After Trying To Fundraise Off Hating Kirk
Here’s a list of the New England workers suspended for posting about Kirk’s killing
‘Meloni Like Kirk’: Threat Against Italian PM From Pro-Palestine Activists
Professor fighting dismissal for calling Charlie Kirk a ‘Nazi’ handed legal win
Fort Worth Bureaucrats Caught Mocking Charlie Kirk After Assassination
Rasmussen Poll: Over half of liberals call Kirk assassination ‘understandable’
‘A legacy I will never vote to honor’: Clyburn on House resolution honoring Kirk
German soccer star who condemned Kirk shooting banned from posting online
Hillary Clinton slams Christian white men two weeks after Kirk assassination
State Dept. of Ed employee fired after saying Kirk’s death was ‘well deserved’
GoFundMe allows fundraisers supporting violence against Kirk memorials
Canyon Lake first responder fired after posting anti-Charlie Kirk statement
Turning Point removed from University of Cincinnati with no explanation
Leftist gun club tied to violence recruiting at Georgetown echoes Kirk killing: ‘Hey fascist! Catch!’
Dems Quietly Move to Censor Images of Kirk, Zarutska from Campaign Ads
Teen arrested for threatening vigil for Charlie Kirk at UTSA campus
Fired over post about Charlie Kirk, Ball State staff member sues university president
Sisters who trashed Kirk memorial whining they’re jobless, beg for cash online
Customer orders Charlie Kirk’s Starbucks drink, finds disturbing hate message
Daughter Comes Home From School, Says She Hates Kirk Without Knowing Why
Anti-Charlie Kirk Pastor Receives Minute-long Standing Ovation From Congregants
Baptist Church Cheers as Pastor Says ‘Evil’ and Racist’ Charlie Kirk is Likely in Hell
The Economist Cites A Study By Literal Antifa To Talk About ‘Right-Wing Violence’
North Carolina Antifa Cop Fired Over Insane Social Media Posts
Keith Olbermann appears to threaten CNN’s conservative pundit Scott Jennings
ABC’s Jon Karl: ‘The Murder of Charlie Kirk Was Not a Political Act’
Kirk tribute scrapped by Sinclair; local TV giant got threats against its ABC stations
Jimmy Kimmel Returns: ABC Ends Suspension Starting Tuesday
Charlie Kirk, White Supremacist, Dead at 31
Rep. Jasmine Crockett slams White lawmakers who voted to honor Charlie Kirk
Easton nurse faces backlash, threats over Charlie Kirk comment, FB post says
Ilhan Omar Doubles Down on Her Horrific Comments About Kirk’s Assassination
Pink ‘Exposed’ For ‘Crossing The Line’ With ‘Disgusting’ Charlie Kirk Post
Ohio sheriff considering criminal charges over Democrats’ Trump buttons at fair
Kirk hater ruins boyfriend’s business with online rant, whines about cancel culture
Charlie Kirk Legacy Should Be in ‘Dustbin of History,’ Ilhan Omar Says
TikTok Puts “Off The Press” Outlet In Time Out For Posting Charlie Kirk News
Ex-California teachers union official charged in Sacramento TV station shooting
Armed man detained at site of planned memorial service for Charlie Kirk
Napleton Auto Group’s legal counsel on Kirk’s death: ‘Burn in the deepest depths of hell’
Munroe Falls councilman resigns following backlash over Kirk social media post
ABC TV station struck by gunfire days after broadcaster pulled Kimmel from the air
Ashland County Fair board boots Ashland County Dems booth for ‘offensive’ buttons
State Farm Stadium Vendor Who Celebrated Kirk’s Assassination: Lola’s Tacos
Bernville Borough closes offices following mayor’s assassination attempt comment
David Letterman slams ABC for putting Jimmy Kimmel on pause over Kirk comments
Boston Common Prayer Vigil for Kirk Disrupted by Violent Antifa Terrorists
Texas AG investigates FB group doxxing kids starting TPUSA chapter at school
Some Dems oppose resolution honoring Kirk and condemning political violence
House Dem says Kirk wanted to ‘roll back rights of women and Black people’
Congressional Black Caucus Reject Resolution Honoring Charlie Kirk
Gwinnett woman arrested after Charlie Kirk memorial sign vandalized
Two women arrested for vandalism of Charlie Kirk memorial in Bentonville
Man accused of phoning in threats to Henderson casino over Charlie Kirk sign
MI state Rep. Cuts Head Off Chicken, Invites Supporters to “Slay Republicans”
U. of Tennessee Knoxville Prof Faces Firing Claiming Kirk’s Kids Are ‘Better Off’
“Fuck Charlie Kirk, racist bastard, spit on yo grave” – Dems march in NYC
Florida teachers’ union protecting educators from posts backlash after Kirk death
Bergen County criticized for not flying flags at half-staff after Charlie Kirk killing
Auburn University president terminates employees over “hurtful” posts
Writers Guild Rips ABC’s Decision: “The WGA Stands With Jimmy Kimmel, Writers”
Stephen King’s ‘The Long Walk’ Bombs Following Kirk Comments: 33-Year Low
Voicemail on Michigan “Rest in Peace Charlie Kirk” billboard, “Take the fucking sign down”
Oberlin student: we ‘need to bring back political assassinations’ in wake of Kirk murder
Ball State Terminates Director Suzanne Swierc After She Defended Kirk’s Assassination
Office Star: Hollywood Elite Were Popping Champagne Over Charlie Kirk’s Death
GW removes staff member from internal directory, signaling departure after Kirk post
ABC Suspends ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ “Indefinitely” Over Charlie Kirk Comments
Black Preacher Insists Kirk Wasn’t Assassinated, He Was Simply “Murdered”
House GOP Move to Strip Ilhan Omar of Committee Seats After Kirk Comments
SBC Pastor Suggesting Charlie Kirk Was ‘Carnal,’ Unempathetic, and Racist
Jasmine Crockett Says People On The Left Can’t ‘Make A Shot From 200 Yards’
Bomb squad rush to TPUSA’s Phoenix HQ as city prepares to host Kirk funeral
Las Vegas Realtors removes incoming board member over Charlie Kirk comments
Two Coastal Carolina University staff the latest to mock the Charlie Kirk Assassination
Marble Falls staffer loses job after social media post on Charlie Kirk
Wake County teacher faces backlash for posting Charlie Kirk should ‘rot in hell’
Florida restaurant operator fired after his wife’s posts mocking Kirk ‘upset servers’
Barrington HS teacher faced online backlash for allegedly celebrating Kirk’s assassination
Rep. Andre Carson’s Staffer Says Slain Kirk ‘Casualty of the Violence He Incited’
Liberal loses job at Microsoft over celebrating Charlie Kirk
Cleveland Fire Chief placed on leave for post: “Bring out the next sacrifice!!”
Indiana Department of Child Services lawyer FIRED for post about Charlie Kirk
Bowdoin College cancels Charlie Kirk vigil after ‘credible’ threat
UAH department chair: Kirk ‘racist, sexist, and homo/transphobic’ language
Two Ball State U. employees under investigation for Kirk assassination posts
‘How you die does not redeem how you lived’; Pastor’s Anti-Charlie Kirk Sermon
Tulsa Public Defender’s Office embroiled in controversy following Kirk’s death
Professors’ group backs faculty, silent on condemning Kirk attack
Tennesseans fired, disciplined for reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death
UCLA Places Race and Equity Director Who Celebrated Kirk Assassination on Leave
UNC Wilmington students deface Charlie Kirk mural with BLM
Texas State U EXPELS Student Caught Mocking Kirk’s Assassination During Event on Campus
Kimmel suggests Kirk assassin was ‘MAGA gang’ despite reports of leftist leanings
Spanberger REFUSES to Comment on Staffers Supporting Political Violence
Secret Service Agent Who Said Charlie Kirk Deserved to be Assassinated to Be Fired
Montel Williams Says Kirk Killer Was Motivated by “Love” Not Ideology
Amanda Seyfried under fire for calling Charlie Kirk ‘hateful’ after his murder
MA Teachers Association faces backlash for asking districts not to punish teachers for comments about Charlie Kirk
ABC’s Gutman: Kirk Assassin’s Texts With Trans Lover Were ‘Intimate,’ ‘Touching’
Lib Woman Trashes Charlie Kirk Memorial
Houston Texans draw outrage for tribute to victims of violence without mentioning Kirk
Antifa Reddit post saying why Kirk and those like him deserve to be killed
Trans Team USA cyclist tells female protesters ‘go suck a sawn-off shotgun’
Michael Keaton Calls Charlie Kirk’s Death By Gunfire ‘Ironic’
Nashville Public Defender Calls Kirk ‘Fascist Organizer’ Unworthy of Empathy
Starbucks Under Fire for Allegedly Banning “Charlie Kirk” from Drink Orders
100+ Texas teachers will have certification suspended over Kirk social media posts
Professors defend Charlie Kirk assassination on Bluesky
Longtime Philly Politician Anthony Hardy Williams Condemns Charlie Kirk
‘Fuck Charlie Kirk”: Elliot Forhan, Ohio Democratic candidate for attorney general
Florida woman arrested for pushing 73-year-old during Kirk event in The Villages
Streamer “Destiny” Calls For Conservatives to be Killed More Often
WaPo Editor Fired for Justifying Kirk Assassination, Double-Down Is Even Worse
Real Housewife star declared Kirk was asking for assassination
Frozen yogurt joint ‘receiving hate’ and death threats following Charlie Kirk tribute
NJ doctor resigns after nurse said he ‘cheered’ Charlie Kirk’s death
Bob Vylan Responds to Kirk’s Assassination With ‘Rest in Piss’ During His Show
Pastor Blasts ‘Negro Preachers’ For HONORING ‘Racist’ Kirk During Their Services
CA state senator labels Charlie Kirk ‘a vile bigot who’ normalized ‘dehumanization’
TV anchor resigns after being suspended for airing ‘non-partisan tribute’ to Kirk
Montgomery Public Schools teacher placed on leave after mocking Kirk’s death
Texas Tech student expelled after video showing Charlie Kirk rant on campus
Loveland family’s memorial to Charlie Kirk burned (Colorado)
‘It has been an honor’: Chesterfield school board member resigns after comments on Kirk murder
New Republic Urges Democrats: Shun Empathy After Kirk Assassination — Be ‘Callous, Short of Cruel’
Demonic Lib Woman Cackles Contemplating More Deaths
CA Democrat Branch Rejects GOP Invite to Kirk Vigil Because He Was ‘Fascist’
Teen arrested ‘destroying’ Charlie Kirk memorial
Eric Adams Advocate Fired from City Job After Posts Critical of Charlie Kirk
TMZ’s Harvey Levin Walks Back Staff’s Applause for Kirk’s Death
Pro-Abortion U of Montana Students LAUGH at Charlie Kirk Being Fatally Shot
Harvard Law professor spreads debunked rumor about Kirk assassination suspect
Jax Councilman urges removal of city appointee over Kirk assassination comment
American Airlines, Delta pilots grounded after celebrating Kirk assassination
Florida Democrat Mocks Charlie Kirk’s Faith in Post Calling Him a ‘Fitting Sacrifice’
Manitoba cabinet minister won’t lose job over repost condemning Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk’s Legacy Deserves No Mourning
Germany’s reaction to Charlie Kirk’s killing was beyond disturbing
Unhinged Leftist Woman Calls for Kirk’s Family to Be Murdered
Teacher showed Kirk assassination video to 10, 11-year-olds
North Idaho College Investigating Professor’s Charlie Kirk Statements
NY and NJ skipped flag order for Charlie Kirk despite Trump directive
GLAAD Smears Kirk, Puts Target On Back Of Other Conservative Activists
Vegas sports broadcaster terminated after social media posts on Kirk shooting
Oskaloosa School Board considers teacher’s termination after inflammatory social media post
Muncie Human Rights Commission president said Charlie Kirk “deserved” the shooting
Ohio Rep. demands resignation of local judge over ‘shocking’ Kirk comments
Nurse claims she was suspended after calling out doctor who said Kirk ‘had it coming’

Obama Blames Trump for Kirk Assassination: ‘Extreme Views Not in My White House”
DC Comics Cancels RED HOOD After ONE Issue Due To Writer’s Comments About Kirk
Scarborough teacher accused of showing Charlie Kirk murder video to kids
ZDF German Public TV: Charlie Kirk Responsible for his own death
Left Cancels Ezra Klein for Claiming ‘Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way’
‘We refuse to repeat this cycle’: BLM rejects ‘reactionary violence’ after Kirk killing
Bluesky Posters Call for Deaths of Prominent Republicans, Conservative Media Figures
Junto Wealth wealth manager in Norristown celebrates the killing of Charlie Kirk
Cincinnati Restaurant faces fallout over ‘offensive’ Charlie Kirk post by co-owner
Delta Pilot Celebrates Charlie Kirk’s Death
NY teacher suspended after celebrating Kirk’s assassination
U of Alabama Law Prof Runs Group Designating Kirk’s Group on “Hate Map”
First responders face investigations over social posts about Kirk killing
Office Depot worker axed after refusing to print flyers for Charlie Kirk vigil
Texas State professor fired: Advocated political violence at a socialism conference
Fired MSNBC analyst defends remarks about Kirk, says network caved to ‘mob’
WNBA player Natasha Cloud deletes post about Charlie Kirk assassination suspect
During moment of silence in the House for Kirk, Democrats erupt in outrage
Marine fired over mocking Kirk killing; Pentagon puts military members on notice
The SANE leave Dem Party After Witnessing Liberals CELEBRATING Kirk Assassination
Jasmine Crockett Claims the Right Needs to Change After Kirk Assassination
USA Cycling responds after trans Olympic alternate celebrates Kirk’s assassination
ABC Proclaims Charlie Kirk Had it Coming, Students Didn’t Want Him on Campus
Office Depot worker axed after refusing to print flyers for Charlie Kirk vigil
Public DA in Montana reportedly made MULTIPLE posts ATTACKING Kirk
Phoenix Suns Beat Writer Gets Fired After Series of Controversial Charlie Kirk Posts
Owner of Gentle Care Animal Hospital in Oklahoma suggested Kirk “is only the first!”
Nancy Pelosi Defends Dems’, the Left’s Violent Rhetoric After Kirk’s Assassination
Monroe Falls OHIO city councilman says the world is better now that Kirk has been killed
National backlash erupts after NM doctor says Charlie Kirk ‘deserved’ to die
Outcry over FEMA employee’s ‘revolting’ comments about Charlie Kirk
Leftists Make Figurine Mocking Charlie Kirk’s Death
More Moonbats Celebrating Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
Clemson Professor Celebrates Charlie Kirk’s Death Online
NY Times corrects claim Kirk made antisemitic statement in story about political views
Marine officer fired from recruiting duty over Charlie Kirk social media post
Democrat Ilhan Omar: Conservatives Who Supported Charlie Kirk Are ‘Full of Shit’
MTSU assistant dean fired over ‘callous’ comments on Charlie Kirk’s death
GLAAD’s Statement on Kirk Proves Not Just Fringe Leftists Justifying Political Violent

Don Lemon Listens Silently As D.L. Hughley Calls Charlie Kirk ‘Horrible Human Being’
Secret Service employee who celebrated Kirk’s assassination put on immediate leave
Chris Cuomo Says He Wouldn’t Be ‘Surprised’ If Musk Were ‘Murdered’
Stephen King Apologizes After Falsely Claiming Charlie Kirk Called for “Stoning Gays”
Florida DOE announce investigations into teachers who celebrate Kirk’s assassination
Actress Amber Tamblyn Mocks that Kirk’s Daughter Witnessed His Gory Assassination
Utah Transgender Had Song ‘Charlie Kirk Dead at 31’ on SoundCloud Before Assassination
NYT Forced To Issue Correction After Making Egregiously False Claim About Charlie Kirk
Former USA Health contract nurse’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s death lead to outrage
Nasdaq fires employee over social media posts on Charlie Kirk shooting
Obama’s offensive and tone-deaf post about Charlie Kirk’s assassination backfires
Oxford University Union’s president elect accused of celebrating Kirk’s assassination
European Parliament snubs request for Kirk minute of silence after assassination
Threat to ‘Kill All Charlie Kirks’ Spray-Painted on Seattle College Campus
Carolina Panthers Fire Staffer Over insensitive Kirk Assassination Posts
Criminal Law Professor Says “Sorry Not Sorry” About Charlie Kirk’s Death
University of North Texas Student Confronts Classmates Laughing at Kirk Assassination Video — Says Professor Kicked Her Out for Speaking Up
U Of Michigan Prof Says Kirk Assassination Is ‘Solution’ To ‘Violent Rhetoric’
Oregon teacher, city councilor faces backlash for celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death
Councillor Resigns After ‘Good Riddance’ Kirk Post
Vile protester screams ‘Fuck Charlie Kirk’ as he drives through vigil
Gun deaths ‘worth it’: Texas councilwoman shares Charlie Kirk remark, draws ire
‘Look At The Record’: AOC Blames 2A Supporters For Charlie Kirk Assassination
Naples school employee put on leave over posts about murder of Charlie Kirk
South Park pulls episode on MAGA influencers after Charlie Kirk shooting
Good Morning Britain guest compares Kirk to KKK leader
Jezebel statement after paying witches to curse Kirk two days before assassination
Left-wing fanatics celebrate the death of Kirk, say he ‘deserved’ to be shot
MSNBC Guest Speculates Kirk Was Shot by ‘Supporter’ Firing Gun ‘in Celebration’
Gov. J.B. Pritzker Blames Trump After Kirk Assassinated: ‘Rhetoric Often Foments’ Violence

One result will most probably cause increased political desperation on the Democrat left in the very near future.

The Republican Party is seeing a “Charlie Kirk effect,” with moderate Democrats and Independents switching party affiliation at breakneck speed. Freshly emancipated former Dems told The Post they were horrified by the assassination of the 31-year-old podcaster last week — who they thought of as kind and reasonable — and further disgusted by the ghoulish celebration of his killing by many lefties.

Turning Point was flooded with over 32,000 inquiries to start new chapters in the 48 hours following Kirk’s murder, where the group had roughly 2,100 chapters before Kirk’s death.

The trend spread on social media, too, as users lighted up platforms announcing their departure from the Democrat Party.
— New York Post, 9/16/25

This is by no means a complete list and it usually takes awhile for liars to eventually to tell the truth…

The Atlantic: Left-Wing Terrorism Is on the Rise
Left-wing terror attacks reach record highs in 2025 — fueled by Trump opposition

The media may try to whitewash leftist sentiment; that’s nothing new. It’s just a really inconvenient time for them to have to do their jobs and report the truth.

Things began to change in the 90’s….

…

In 1998, Burger King used the Ohio Players’ 1974 hit “Fire” in an appropriate manner for one of their commercials. Granted, it was a 24 year old song at that point, Burger King had money, and the band members were dying off at an alarming rate. But the use of what were #1 hits as music beds was a spotty practice at best.

But that could all be about to change.

…

While watching HGTV (long story for another time), I heard the latest commercial for Sleep Number mattresses, complete with a lame remake of the 1995 #1 hit “Love Will Keep Us Together” from The Captain and Tennille’s debut album.

So why would Sleep Number use a remake instead of the widely-known better version?

It turns out “Love Will Keep Us Together” was written and originally recorded by Neil Sedaka. Yes, his version was nowhere near as good as the Toni Tennille version but as it turns out, there could be more to it.

Neil Sedaka released his version in 1974. Could it be because the copyright of that song no longer applies?

Generally, for most works created after 1978, protection lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. For anonymous works, pseudonymous works, or works made for hire, the copyright term is 95 years from the year of first publication or 120 years from creation, whichever comes first. When the copyright term expires, a work becomes part of the public domain, and anyone can use it without permission from the author.
— U.S. Copyright Office, The Lifecycle of Copyright

Seeing how that song was written and published before 1978, things get a bit murky.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 303, and in accordance with chapter 14, no sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, shall be subject to copyright under this title. With respect to sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972, the preemptive provisions of subsection shall apply to activities that are commenced on and after the date of enactment of the Classics Protection and Access Act. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to affirm or negate the preemption of rights and remedies pertaining to any cause of action arising from the nonsubscription broadcast transmission of sound recordings under the common law or statutes of any State for activities that do not qualify as covered activities under chapter 14 undertaken during the period between the date of enactment of the Classics Protection and Access Act and the date on which the term of prohibition on unauthorized acts under section 1401(a)(2) expires for such sound recordings. Any potential preemption of rights and remedies related to such activities undertaken during that period shall apply in all respects as it did the day before the date of enactment of the Classics Protection and Access Act.
— U.S. Copyright Office, Duration of Copyright

If you’re confused by that, you’re probably not alone and that’s all a company may need to look at all the great songs produced before 1978 and have re-imagined remakes inserted into their commercials.

…

Interesting how Princess Cruises used the “Love Boat Theme” from 1977, originally performed by singer and actor Jack Jones, remade by britist actress and singer Hannah Waddingham. 1977 is one year out from that magic 1978 date where copyrights are more potently protected.

But again we’re back to the debate about how this current crop in the entertainment industry remains so lacking when it comes to original thinking and creation that the public continues to endure unnecessary (and in most cases inferior) remakes, reboots, origins, and now reimagined renditions of hit songs that are in no way as memorable as the original.

And if there’s a legal hole where copyrights of those classics are in that gray area, look forward to more very lame versions of songs, inserted into commercials, TV shows and movies.

Only the beginning (to quote a Chicago lyric)….

…

“25 or 6 to 4” written by Robert Lamm and recorded by Chicago in 1969. At least they used the original.

There IS a pattern.

For example, Attorney John Eastman represented President Trump regarding the results of the 2020 election. Eastman is highly credentialed and experienced. He’s not an attention-whore crackpot reciting a desired outcome while unable to offer specifics to back it up. And that’s why we had to be destroyed.

An attorney discipline judge in California has rejected a request from ex-Trump election lawyer John Eastman to reactivate his law license following her recent recommendation that he be disbarred, which rendered him unable to practice law for now. Eastman, who devised a multi-step plan for then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election and was part of the effort to appoint fake electors in several states, wants to keep practicing law so he can represent clients and pay his own legal bills as he fights criminal charges stemming from the 2020 election efforts.

Judge Yvette Roland, who oversees state bar proceedings in California, recommended in March that Eastman be disbarred for his election subversion efforts. His license was immediately revoked while the ethics proceedings continue.
— CNN, 5/2/24

Lawyers normally refrain from targeting their own because, heaven forbid, that dog get turned loose on them one day. Given their generous incomes thus lifestyles, they have a lot to lose.

Ask any host, pundit, latenight comedian, podcaster or blog writer at CNN to explain why Eastman must be disbarred, they’d probably recite that the 2020 election was “the most secure in history” because someone said so. They probably couldn’t explain the nuances with state election law and how it affected federal elections, voting machine function and dynamics, especially when state legislatures violated their own laws using the pandemic to justfy their violations meant to give basement-Joe Biden any advantage.

Democrats routinely seek to destroy anyone deemed a threat to their perks of power. They use the power of law enforcement to require an opponent to acquire pricey legal represenation that results in a prompt financial ruin of most people, let alone the very possibility of imprisonment. Rogue lawyers and firms not willing to defend Democrats are threatened with their careers.

John Eastman is one of those lawyers.

He recently spoke to a gathering in Lansing, Michigan. Hear how much of what he said are things the media never bothered to tell the public, for obvious reasons.

…
When it comes to “The Big Lie”, millions of Americans would be asking Democrats and their media just who’s telling it?

The blowback from family members, close friends, and employers are usually devastating, given the words “liberal” and “tolerance” are like oil and water. Following through takes bravery most can’t understand and/or are not willing to risk, which makes it infinately more admirable, especially when sincere.

On November 29, 2022, Tucker Carlson alerted us to the story of Winston Marshall who decided to jump into the light, paid for it with the loss of his chosen career in the “Mumford & Sons” band he co-founded, and was invited to share his perspectives last month in the halls of the University of Oxford to debate that current topic of great concern: democracy.

On April 25th, Marshall was invited to debate a motion that “This House Believes Populism is a Threat to Democracy”.

…
Also invited was Democrat Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. As her remarks, based on the premise that “populism is a threat to democracy due to voters being manipulated” are familiar on this side of the pond, you can view her presentation here.

Like most liberal Democrats, she did break courtesy norms and interrupted Marshall when he made logical points, simply because he struck uncomfortable nerves Pelosi just couldn’t let go countered. For that reason, the legacy media didn’t let the American people know of this event and witness her humiliation in real time.

Logic is easier to censor than spin.

I’ll preface my commentary with the obvious: All of the “mostly peaceful” protests by our “college educated” on campuses nationwide that are clearly pro-Hamas and aimed at Jewish students are wrong, illegal, and all involved should either go back to the classes their parents and taxpayers are funding or be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

But why the sudden sanctimonious outrage from the media and pundit class, billionaire donors, business leaders, and politicians? Why are the harassment and threats against Jewish students a red line that’s been crossed and now found to be totally unacceptable? It’s only because the current violence hits too close to home.

Several major donors have called a hard stop to their past donations:

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a Columbia graduate, said he was stopping donations immediately and charged the college with failing to keep its Jewish students safe. Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman, a business school graduate, said he would stick with a stop on donations which began shortly after the October 7 Hamas massacres. Cooperman, industrialist Len Blavatnik and Kraft have donated nearly $100 million in total to Columbia, according to some estimates — money that has created multiple buildings on campus, scholarships for engineers, and a center for Jewish students.
— New York Post, 4/22/24

These opportunistic hand-wringers are hardly consistent.

After Eric Garner’s death in 2014 death and Freddie Gray’s in 2015, college students eagerly joined the burgeoning #BlackLivesMatter #DefundThePolice movements. Permitless street protests started becoming a new norm where traffic was strategically snarled, and thousands of commuters were held hostage to those who believed they could demand to be heard at the inconvenience of others.

Many of those protests resulted in millions of dollars of public and private property damage, looting of businesses, and burning of buildings and homes in predominantly black neighborhoods. Still, we were all told to deal with it because protesters were exercising their right to free speech.

Arrests and prosecutions were minimal, and the few charged were dismissed.

Those protests also resulted in compliant progressive local legislatures beginning to actually defund their law enforcement agencies, resulting in unsafe streets for citizens and the assassination of police officers nationwide. The negative ramifications to public safety felt since have been profound.

After President Donald Trump’s 2016 election, students from high school through college were encouraged to leave campuses and take to the streets, again without permits, and to disrupt traffic, again resulting in the expected public and private property damage. The outrage from those with influence was minimal because the protesters were exercising their right to free speech.

Arrests and prosecutions were minimal, and the few charged were dismissed.

After George Floyd’s death in 2020 (and too many still don’t know that the actual cause was self-inflicted), tens of thousands of protesters, including college students, took to highways and streets for the summer, causing intentional disruptions for thousands of commuters, damaging and/or destroying hundreds of public and private buildings, attacking law enforcement, burning and looting businesses and homes, primarily in black neighborhoods. Once again, the American people were told to suck it up because the protesters were exercising their right to free speech.

Arrests and prosecutions were minimal and the few charges were dismissed.

Many politicians embraced, encouraged and rewarded the tumult.

Conservatives have been met with threats and eventual violence after being invited to speak on college campuses for many years, but the outrage was minimal and we were told to suck it up because the protesters were exercising their right to free speech.

Arrests and prosecutions were minimal and the few charges were dismissed.

Female activists have been met with threats and eventual violence after being invited to speak on college campuses against the unfair and dangerous incursion of transgender athletes into their sports. The outrage was minimal and the women were told to suck it up because the protesters were exercising their right to free speech.

Arrests and prosecutions were minimal and the few charges were dismissed.

It could be argued if those now expressing their outrage had stepped in and efficiently cracked down on the illegal street takeovers and protests back in 2014, the red line between common decency and anarchy would not have been crossed. In almost every case, college students contributed to the ranks of unruly protesters, participated in the mayhem, destruction and afterward returned to the safety and warmth of their dorms or homes.

Almost all of the pundits on the left and the news networks gave aid and comfort to the violent protesters by labeling them as #MostlyPeaceful despite the clear optics to the contrary.

Almost all of those who donate hefty sums to colleges and universities and are quite vocal today forced their businesses to fully embrace the #BlackLivesMatter grift, despite the internal rifts that would be caused.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for Robert Kraft and others to admit their error in judgment and apologize to the many Americans who’ve been casualties of crime because the police couldn’t come when needed.

There was no legislation introduced on Capitol Hill offered to outlaw the activities of #Antifa and other anarchists whose sole mission was to exploit grievances as an excuse to commit acts of destruction; maybe because some of the protesters are relatives of those same legislators.

All of the protests, excused and/or applauded by the left, resulted in hundreds of injuries and death. Those lives didn’t matter and have been forgotten by all those now belatedly expressing horror and outrage.

And who are Ivy League college presidents and administrators now calling to quell unruly antisemitic students and outside agitators? Ah yes, the very police they had no problem smearing, defunding and/or removing from their campus safe spaces, acquiescing to activists and radicals. Funny how irony inconveniences the small college-educated mind.

The threats and violence against Jewish students on college campuses and street/highway takeovers by the pro-Hamas-indoctrinated are the direct result of not shutting down misguided and illegal student-fueled protests ten years ago. It’s shameful that it took a decade of this societal breakdown and violence before wealthy Jewish donors finally woke up to the fact that it was always going to end with attacks on the Jews.

The toothpaste is out of the tube.

There’s an obvious problem with the subscription business model. While most people will listen to a song they like an untold number of times, people may listen to a podcast episode once; maybe twice? And then all it does is take up space. Not exactly a good use of valuable and expensive storage space and now the geniuses at these businesses are taking notice.

Apple has quietly tightened its reporting of how many people listen to podcasts, sending shock waves through an embattled audio industry still reeling from the end of the COVID-era production bubble. The shift, Apple wrote in a blog post, was technical: The dominant podcasting platform had begun switching off automatic downloads for users who haven’t listened to five episodes of a show in the last two weeks.

But while few users noticed the shift, some of the biggest podcasts in the world saw their official listener numbers drop dramatically. Long-running shows that publish frequently were hit particularly hard. A user who listened to a show like The New York Times’ The Daily a few times, subscribed, but stopped listening would continue to count as a download indefinitely.
— Semafor, 1/14/24

I’ve commented on, what I consider, the failed subscription business model because while you pay for certain things you like, you’re also forced to pay for many more things you don’t. In this case, you may have a person you enjoy hearing from but you’re also paying for the likes of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Meghan Markle, and almost every cable news personality and it’s doubtful anything you hear makes you want to hear it over and over again.

Even podcast executives believe the changes are part of a necessary shakeout in an industry whose bubbly inflation helped create the industry’s recent boom and bust.

But privately, reactions to the change have ranged from mild annoyance to legitimate alarm. Some advertising deals were inked under the assumption that shows had audiences they no longer have. The update also means that some shows could struggle to meet minimum download agreements. The fact that no major podcasts would talk about how much they lost is a sign that many big shows aren’t ready to admit how much their audiences have shrunk.

This could create some real problems in an industry that, in some cases, paid hefty up-front money to “personalities” and at some point will have to have awkward discussions with narcissists involving pay restructure because few are really rushing to hear what they say.

But even if it is not responsible for a sudden drop, podcast publishers are bracing themselves for a decline. “From our detailed analysis, these adjustments will largely impact download numbers on back catalog episodes, which are typically categorized as content older than 7 days,” Acast CEO Ross Adams wrote in a blog post on Thursday.‍ “However, it’s important to note that these adjustments do not reflect a change in the unique audience a podcast has, simply the number of downloads per user. On the whole, this will mean more accurate measurement and a more efficient depiction of a podcast’s total listens.”

You know who loves accuracy? Advertisers. And you know who doesn’t love paying for impressions that aren’t really impressions? Yeah, you get the drift. As this plays out, I will be interested to see how advertisers react to these changes.
— The Verge, 10/17/23

I can’t imagine how much a publisher pays on a monthly basis for storage, or if they own their own servers, how much it’s going to cost to expand, but if you’re having trouble getting advertisers or can’t tell them accurately what the reach to consumers is, that could be a problem.

It appears it now is.

Granted, a lot of the discussion centers around their reach to a smartphone, which nowadays also connects and sends content to automobiles (that strategically stopped putting CD players in them a few years ago). When phone manufacturers upgrade, it creates havoc downwind and that’s part of the problem.

Again, the subscription business model was ripe for those who wanted to take a website public, make a gob of money off screwed content creators, hire hundreds of employees, meanwhile forcing their consumers to pay for programming they like and programming they never consume. That is a model doomed for failure and it’s only a matter of time, especially when consumers revolt.

The geniuses as NBC decided to buck tradition, screw over the millions of football fans who already paid for cable subscriptions, and made the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs playoff game available only to those who bought a subscription to Peacock, and went as far as openly bragging about it. Yet another act of public relations arrogance, thus stupidity.

And if it’s any consolation….

Peacock finished the June quarter with 24 million subscribers, up from 22 million at the end of March — but the streamer lost $651 million over the same three months.

Sadly, those losses have pretty much become par for the course. The NBCUniversal streaming platform lost $704 million in the prior quarter (and $467 million in Q2 2022). The company expects to post “peak” losses from streaming — to the tune of $3 billion — in 2023. Good thing Comcast is soon to come into about $9 billion in streaming bucks through the sale of its Hulu stake to Disney.
— Yahoo! Entertainment, 7/27/23

Chances are very good that once their tech-challenged, NFL playoff broadcasts are over, Peacock subscription will be cancelled en masse and they have it coming.

It’s no surprise the podcast industry is cratering. Most of those, who deem themselves important, aren’t creative enough to find new ways to talk about the same thing. They seem to believe an audience will be perpetually enamored simply because they said it. But they are still a part of what we used to refer to as the “entertainment business”. With few exceptions, people talking isn’t really all that entertaining.

Especially when it comes to people who have nothing else of value to give the world.

Pure arrogance, but based on what?

In September of 1990 when I got a job in the upstart Fox Broadcasting Company (pre-Fox Sports and Fox News), one of the first things I noticed was how some people believed they had to “dumb” things down for their audience. Think about the inflated sense of self it takes to assume you’re smarter than millions of people simply because of where you work.

I experienced that attitude throughout my dozen years in Hollywood and that sense of disdain for those who consume their products resulted in simplistic and insulting programming like “Honey Boo Boo” and almost everything on TLC. Do you really think these people would create demeaning productions of those in their industry or neighborhood? No, but they seek out the easily exploitable so they can laugh at us behind our backs and boost their fragile egos.

In the world of politics, we have an elected class that has no problem lying to our faces. Because of abused Constitutional protection, they believe they’re smarter than the public and they’ll have a portion of the media class that will cover for them. We can easily point to many in city councils, state legislatures, and even on Capitol Hill who clearly aren’t the brightest or emotionally stable our nation has to offer but they managed to get elected with something that’s coveted by all grifters: trust.

Watch any news or opinion show, local and national, and observe the formula they all use. You’ll never watch those shows the same way again.

After their opening monologues, they introduce a guest, start out with an elongated summary of the topic (to assure us all about how much THEY know) and end it in a way the guest has to respond with “I agree with you…”. The host is thereby validated by the invited expert on the topic. This also validates the host’s value to his or her employer.

However their “values” are only as good as the company cutting their check.

We’ve seen many who were once reporting for a conservative network jump to a liberal one and their rock-solid values suddenly dissolve. “Christian conservative” Alisyn Camerota anchored for Fox News before jumping to CNN. Kaitlan Collins blogged for the conservative Daily Caller out of college, became a White House correspondent and now host at liberal CNN. Shepard Smith anchored at Fox News before coming out with “fagitude” and moving to CNBC. That didn’t last long.

Kinda’ makes you wonder what their values really were prior to their change of venue.

Unlike politicians with elections and term limits, media personnel are imposed on the public and their bios are normally concealed by their employers. How they got to their current positions could be embarrassing once revealed. Experience, lack of, nepotism, sexual fast-track; all are at play when it comes to the media ladder.

News and opinion broadcasts are splattered with hosts showing us pictures of their wives, children, moms, dogs, family celebrations, vacations, etc. They’re just like us so we must appreciate them in return.

Oh, and don’t forget to buy their latest new book!

Equally as insidious are the politicians and officials who find those convenient parachutes once they’re forced out of their government jobs and suddenly realize their sweet paychecks have ended.

We have a conservative nonprofit who absorbs newly out-of-work Republicans despite the damage they may have done to the base. Vice President Mike Pence got a “fellowship” with the Heritage Foundation shortly after leaving office. Former Trump border czar Ken Cuccinelli also wound up there until he could get another lucrative gig doing what he did after he was Virginia Attorney General: securing state delegates around the nation AGAINST Donald Trump in 2016. Yes, he’s doing it again now and people like him continue on because they assume we’re all too stupid to notice and donor dollars pay well.

Former politicians and officials get paid “contributor” gigs at CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and broadcast news, no matter why some are no longer employed and compensated by taxpayers (government pensions notwithstanding). Andrew McCabe, John Bolton, Jennifer Palmieri, Marie Harf, Stephen Moore, John Brennan, Kellyanne Conway, William Barr, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Claire McCaskill and Kayleigh McEnany get to blab away uncontested, simply because they’re considered experienced “experts” who can attempt to redirect an ignorant consumer base towards a preferred and approved narrative.

Why do we have such a political and social chasm between men and women voters?

Well, if you have smug media professionals targeting women with intellectually stimulating programming like “The Today Show”, “Good Morning America”, and “The View”, it’s easy to understand why so many see things differently that the rest of the voting blocks. They trust the information is true despite how ridiculous and error-ridden. They specifically look down on their female audience and play to hyper-emotion over substance.

While talk radio is crowded enough with whiners like Dan Bongino, Mark Levin, Charlie Kirk, Steve Bannon and other small market wrist-slitters, everyone and his brother now has a podcast. You know, a product some people pay for to use only once. Talk about a racket.

Podcasts are another vehicle for former politicians, celebrity wannabes and pundit types to fortify your trust in them and others who hope to get a more lucrative media job by out-shocking the competition. They serve as the potential bench of future “talent” to be inflicted on the nation simply because of a dubious social media reach.

Why do we have so many “fact checkers”? Again, because almost all media jobs are dependent on consumers trusting THEM. Anything that may cast doubt on what we’re being told or have been told by the overpaid has to be squelched by all means necessary. Media people seldom admit they’re wrong about anything. The Washington Post and New York Times have not given their Pulitzer Prizes back despite their Trump “Russia collusion” coverage being proven bogus. Whenever the media is proven wrong, their contrition seldom matches the initial air horns. Retractions are buried and on-air corrections take up a couple of sentences before the end of the broadcast.

It’s enough to question just how much all of these people, who get paid to share with us their abundant wisdom, really know and really care about us.

There is an on-air persona and an off-air.

Many of these people are truly horrible and genuinely believe we must believe what they say because their lofty salaries depend on it. While they claim to feel the pain their preferred politicians inflict on us, they’re quite comfortable while telling us all is not that bad. They’re the first to agree on the need to start and/or perpetuate a war their prep-schooled children won’t have to participate in. They’re the first to tell us it’s hot in the summer and drinking water is a good idea because they assume we’re that stupid and they’ll save lives. They can afford an electric car as a status symbol to save the planet while their gas range is off limits. They can and will start race violence in the streets (always great video) and go home to a secured, gated community with appropriate protective measures.

They consider themselves of extraordinary value and we should be damn grateful they exist.

And whenever we’re told about something that “the public doesn’t know” (as if we’re expectedly stupid), it’s because those who are lavishly paid declined to inform the American people for whatever partisan objective.

For them to call us “everyday”, “average” or “ordinary”, that translates as we are exploitable, expendable and don’t you forget it.

Don’t get me started on “workers”….

“Crybabies and losers say life isn’t fair. And Trump is both,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said. “Want to be President? Then get in the ring pal.”

“He needs to step up and do it. Nobody is entitled to this nomination”, said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said, “Former President Trump, the tough guy? The guy that says he’s gonna fight for America but he’s not willing to stand up, he’s gonna wimp out? Wimp out and not get on that debate stage?”

“I think it’s a mistake not to do the debates, but that’s going to be up to him and his campaign,” Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel told Fox News on Wednesday.

Of course being the experienced strategist, Donald Trump ignored the noise and replaced it with air horn blasts.

As it becomes increasingly likely that Donald Trump will skip the first Republican presidential debate next month, the ratings-obsessed ex-president is thinking about counterprogramming the Fox News event by appearing on Tucker Carlson’s Twitter show at the same time, Vanity Fair reported on Wednesday.
— Daily Beast, 7/19/23

That would be quite the tag team gut punch. Imagine the humiliation and ensuing mockery if a social media live stream drew more views than a nationally televised event.

Donald Trump has compelling reasons to skip over the bear trap.

“Ronald Reagan didn’t do it, and a lot of other people didn’t do it,” the former president said during an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” last weekend.

Former President Donald Trump again said he might ‘possibly not’ participate in the first Republican primary debate scheduled for August 23. But in a phone interview Thursday with Reuters, the ex-president went a step further and said he might plan some counter-programming to the debate. Trump said he was entertaining offers to hold a separate event during the debate or later in the same evening.

‘We’ve had a lot of offers, whether it’s a rally or whether it’s an interview by somebody else,’ he said. ‘Not to be braggadocios but the debate will not be a very exciting one if I’m not there.’

Almost all are in agreement with that forecast which is why Fox News seems to be pushing the GOP presidential candidates to implore Trump to show up to the Milwaukee debate.

Fox News personalities Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade, John Roberts and Piers Morgan have all come out in agreement: In their opinion, Donald Trump should absolutely participate in the first Republican presidential candidates debate of the 2024 cycle, which will be held next month in Milwaukee — and broadcast on their very own Fox News.

The former president has refused to commit to the Aug. 23 debate, and he indicated as recently as Sunday that he’s leaning against it. (“When you have a big lead, you don’t do it,” he told interviewer Maria Bartiromo.) So in the meantime, various hosts on Fox have taken it upon themselves to use the network’s airwaves to try to make the case to the man himself.

And we should always be skeptical of almost everything proclaimed by the media, about the media. In fact, assuming the opposite is safest.

Fox News management has not encouraged on-air talent to lobby Trump to appear at the debate, according to a network official familiar with the situation.
— Washington Post, 7/22/23

Based on past experience, Trump is wise to be careful when it comes to getting a fair shake from Fox News and their debate moderators.

Executives at the Rupert Murdoch-owned network, though, are scrambling to get Trump to show up in August, as my colleague Gabriel Sherman reported earlier this week. “Fox is trying to get Trump to say yes. They’re offering him the world to show they can be trusted,” a top GOP operative who was briefed on the conversations between the campaign and the network told Sherman, with one senior Trump campaign official noting that host Sean Hannity has been in frequent contact with the former president to try to smooth relations between Trump and the network.
— Vanity Fair, 6/3023

Following the Dominion defamation lawsuit that Fox settled for $787.5 million, the company reportedly placed a “soft ban” on putting Trump on air.
— Business Insider, 7/22/23

Fox News would clearly be the loser if Trump declined to participate in the upcoming debate. Trump knows that advertisers are monitoring instead buying up ad space because why spend the money if a sizable audience won’t be there? This is where Donald Trump has all the leverage over Fox News. This won’t be the only debate on the channel and an absence for the first one would send a message, loud and clear to any other network as well as the Commission on Presidential Debates, of which he’s also likely to tell go pound sand… that is, until the last minute.

The reality is the other GOP Republican presidential candidates NEED Donald Trump there so they can try and punch up. The need the exposure on a national platform to try and convince voters what they say they’d do if elected president. The looming problem for them is that they’ve yet to feel the sting of a looming 24/7 liberal media onslaught. No Republican has ever had to weather the five-year-plus storm Donald Trump endured and still received the most votes a GOP presidential candidate ever has. The Republican bottomfeeders claim to be tough, but we’ve also seen our candidates back off many times just when the ground-and-pound on the Democrat was most effective.

Donald Trump is the only candidate who won’t tell the American people what he will try to do. Donald Trump has done it. He has a documented and unprecedented track record as president.

He has no reason to go on a stage, totally outnumbered by opponents in a forum “moderated” by the Jersey Girl and Eddie Munster, and respond to insults from Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie to defend promises kept.