Tim O'Brien - "We Belong to the Union"

This song, which comes from Australia, reminds me of the Pogues' "Fairytale of New York," a favorite of mine. What a great inspirational song. Dedicated to all the current and future union members.

Woody Guthrie - "You Gotta Join the Union"

To all the workers at Starbucks and Amazon.

Elvis Presley - Peace in the Valley (Ed Sullivan Show)

I think this is my favorite song from his Sullivan show appearance. The harmony is exquisite.

First on CNN: Jared Kushner details West Wing 'war' with 'toxic' Steve Bannon in new book

Source: Kaitlan Collins/CNN

Jared Kushner details his clashes with Steve Bannon in his new book, describing a “toxic” West Wing presence who accused him of “undermining the President’s agenda” and threatened to break him “in half” if Kushner turned on him.

The detailed account in the memoir – set to be published next month – provides fresh insight into the pernicious environment inside former President Donald Trump’s West Wing. Coming just as the former President gears up for a 2024 campaign, excerpts from the book reveal how viciously the Trump team turned on one another from the earliest days of the administration, and how distrust and resentment affected every aspect of governing.

Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser writes that Bannon once yelled and threatened him in the Cabinet Room after Gary Cohn, a senior economic adviser, informed Kushner that Bannon was leaking negative information about him.

“Steve, you gotta stop leaking on Gary,” Kushner said he told Bannon. “We’re trying to build a team here.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/politics/jared-kushner-steve-bannon-west-wing/index.html

Tony Dow, Who Played Wally Cleaver on 'Leave It to Beaver,' Dies a Day After Erroneous Announcement

Source: Variety/Pat Saperstein

Tony Dow, the actor and director best known for playing the stalwart older brother Wally Cleaver to Jerry Mathers' Beaver in the iconic series "Leave It to Beaver," died Wednesday after it was incorrectly announced Tuesday that he had died. He was 77.

"We have received confirmation from Christopher, Tony's son, that Tony passed away earlier this morning, with his loving family at his side to see him through this journey. We know that the world is collectively saddened by the loss of this incredible man," read the statement on his official Facebook page.

His son Christopher said in the Facebook statement, "Although this is a very sad day, I have comfort and peace that he is in a better place. He was the best Dad anyone could ask for. He was my coach, my mentor, my voice of reason, my best friend, my best man in my wedding, and my hero. My wife said something powerful and shows the kind of man he was. She said: 'Tony was such a kind man. He had such a huge heart and I've never heard Tony say a bad or negative thing about anyone.'"

(snip)

Mathers remembered Dow on Facebook, writing "He was not only my brother on TV, but in many ways in life as well. Tony leaves an empty place in my heart that won't be filled. He was always the kindest, most generous, gentle, loving, sincere, and humble man, that it was my honor and privilege to be able to share memories together with for 65 years."

Read more: https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/tony-dow-dead-wally-cleaver-leave-it-to-beaver-1235326146/

Georgia judge upholds decision to keep Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on ballot

Source: Marshall Cohen/CNN

A Georgia judge on Monday upheld Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s eligibility to run for reelection, handing another defeat to the activist groups that have tried to use the US Constitution’s ban against insurrectionists holding office to disqualify GOP candidates.

The groups have targeted lawmakers who aggressively tried to overturn the 2020 election and stoked the violence on January 6, 2021.

Greene, a prominent conspiracy theorist, won her GOP primary in May. The judge’s ruling does not change the status quo: Greene will appear on the ballot for the November general election, where she is heavily favored to win another term.

The challenge against Greene was lodged based on the 14th Amendment, which prohibits any officeholder who engaged in an insurrection against the US to return to their elected positions.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/26/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-reelection/index.html

Update: Tony Dow in hospice care, his wife and son say

Source: BY KENAN DRAUGHORNE/Los Angeles Times

“Leave It to Beaver” star Tony Dow is not dead, according to his family members.

Dow’s death was widely reported Tuesday morning, including in The Times, until his wife and son told CBS and Fox, respectively, that Dow was still alive. Both said that the famed actor was in hospice, with his son Christopher telling Fox that his father was “in his last hours.”

“This is a difficult time,” Christopher Dow told Fox. “Yes he is still alive but in his last hours. Under hospice care.”

Lauren Dow spoke Tuesday with George Pennacchio of ABC7, who said she was “understandably distraught and grief-stricken.” Pennacchio said Tony Dow experienced some health issues overnight, leading Lauren to imply he had passed away while speaking to people close to her.

Saying she’s been “a little fuzzy” with the grief surrounding the moment, Lauren told Pennacchio she felt “foolish” and apologized for the miscommunication.

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-07-26/tony-dow-who-played-wally-cleaver-on-leave-it-to-beaver-dies-at-77

Vanity Fair: AFTER THE GOLD RUSH (about Clownface and Ivana from Sept. 1990)

House Republicans plot investigative revenge on January 6 panel as Trump itches for payback

Source: Melanie Zanona, Gabby Orr and Zachary Cohen, CNN

House Republicans are plotting revenge on the select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection, as the GOP weighs a broader effort to re-litigate some of Donald Trump's biggest election grievances if it recaptures the House majority.

The former President has been itching for payback and leaning heavily on his Capitol Hill allies to defend him against a recent slew of damaging revelations about his role in the deadly attack on the US Capitol. Now, as Republicans search for ways to undermine those findings, their party has started to lay the groundwork to investigate the select committee itself.

Republicans have already asked the January 6 panel to preserve a broad range of documents in its possession -- a signal they're preparing to force those records to be turned over should they wield powerful committee gavels next year. And privately, Republican sources say there have been discussions about subpoenaing members of the select committee, particularly Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who is fighting an uphill battle for reelection, and retiring Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, if both Republicans are private citizens next year.

It's an idea that has garnered support among allies of the former President. But House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy -- who has refused to comply with a subpoena from the select committee and has long held that the panel lacks the authority to haul in private citizens -- is cool to the idea, according to a Republican source familiar with his thinking.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/15/politics/house-republicans-investigation-plans-trump/?dicbo=v2-0f631f895c3212b04190c0fdc2dd5852&hpt=ob_blogfooterold

Ivana Trump's death ruled accidental by medical examiner (Updated)

Source: CNN

(CNN)Ivana Trump, an ex-wife of former President Donald Trump, died of "blunt impact injuries" to the torso, New York City's medical examiner said Friday.

Trump, a longtime businessperson, died in her home in New York City on Thursday at age 73.

The New York Police Department had said Thursday there did not "appear to be any criminality" related to her death. According to a statement, police received a 911 call about an "aided individual" at about 12:40 p.m. ET and found a "73 year-old female unconscious and unresponsive."

The Fire Department of New York said it responded to a report of an individual suffering cardiac arrest at the residence, with the time and place of that response matching the location the NYPD associated with Trump. The fire department said the victim was dead on arrival.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/15/politics/ivana-trump-cause-of-death-medical-examiner/index.html