REALITYCHEX.COM - Constant Comments - The Commentariat -- March 13

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Zoë Schlanger in the Atlantic: "Throw out your black plastic spatula. In a world of plastic consumer goods, avoiding the material entirely requires the fervor of a religious conversion. But getting rid of black plastic kitchen utensils is a low-stakes move, and worth it. Cooking with any plastic is a dubious enterprise, because heat encourages potentially harmful plastic compounds to migrate out of the polymers and potentially into the food. But, as Andrew Turner, a biochemist at the University of Plymouth recently told me, black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid." This is a gift link from laura h.

Mashable: "Following the 2024 presidential election results and [Elon] Musk's support for ... Donald Trump, users have been deactivating en masse. And this time, it appears most everyone has settled on one particular X alternative: Bluesky.... Bluesky has gained more than 100,000 new sign ups per day since the U.S. election on Nov. 5. It now has over 15 million users. It's enjoyed a prolonged stay on the very top of Apple's App Store charts as well. Ready to join? Here's how to get started on Bluesky[.]"

Washington Post: "Americans can again order free rapid coronavirus tests by mail, the Biden administration announced Thursday. People can request four free at-home tests per household through covidtests.gov. They will begin shipping Monday. The move comes ahead of an expected winter wave of coronavirus cases. The September revival of the free testing program is in line with the Biden administration’s strategy to respond to the coronavirus as part of a broader public health campaign to protect Americans from respiratory viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), that surge every fall and winter. But free tests were not mailed during the summer wave, which wastewater surveillance data shows is now receding."

Out with the Black. In with the White. New York Times: “Lester Holt, the veteran NBC newscaster and anchor of the 'NBC Nightly News' over the last decade, announced on Monday that he will step down from the flagship evening newscast in the coming months. Mr. Holt told colleagues that he would remain at NBC, expanding his duties at 'Dateline,' where he serves as the show’s anchor.... He said that he would continue anchoring the evening news until 'the start of summer.' The network did not immediately name a successor.” ~~~

~~~ New York Times: “MSNBC said on Monday that Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary who has become one of the most prominent hosts at the network, would anchor a nightly weekday show in prime time. Ms. Psaki, 46, will host a show at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, replacing Alex Wagner, a longtime political journalist who has anchored that hour since 2022, according to a memo to staff from Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s president. Ms. Wagner will remain at MSNBC as an on-air correspondent. Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s biggest star, has been anchoring the 9 p.m. hour on weeknights for the early days of ... [Donald] Trump’s administration but will return to hosting one night a week at the end of April.”

New York Times: “Joy Reid’s evening news show on MSNBC is being canceled, part of a far-reaching programming overhaul orchestrated by Rebecca Kutler, the network’s new president, two people familiar with the changes said. The final episode of Ms. Reid’s 7 p.m. show, 'The ReidOut,' is planned for sometime this week, according to the people, who were not authorized to speak publicly. The show, which features in-depth interviews with politicians and other newsmakers, has been a fixture of MSNBC’s lineup for the past five years. MSNBC is planning to replace Ms. Reid’s program with a show led by a trio of anchors: Symone Sanders Townsend, a political commentator and former Democratic strategist; Michael Steele, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee; and Alicia Menendez, the TV journalist, the people said. They currently co-host 'The Weekend,' which airs Saturday and Sunday mornings.” MB: In case you've never seen “The Weekend,” let me assure you it's pretty awful. ~~~

~~~ AP Update: "Joy Reid is leaving MSNBC, the network’s new president announced in a memo to staff on Monday, marking an end to the political analyst and anchor’s prime time news show."

Y! Entertainment: "Meanwhile, [Alex] Wagner will also be removed from her 9 pm weeknight slot. Wagner has already been working as a correspondent after Rachel Maddow took over hosting duties during ... Trump’s first 100 days in office. It’s now expected that Wagner will not return as host, but is expected to stay on as a contributor. Jen Psaki, President Biden’s former White House press secretary, is a likely replacement for Wagner, though a decision has not been finalized." MB: In fairness to Psaki, she is really too boring to watch. On the other hand, she is White. ~~~

~~~ RAS: "So MSNBC is getting rid of both of their minority evening hosts. Both women of color who are not afraid to call out the truth. Outspoken minorities don't have a long shelf life in the world of our corporate news media."

New York Times: “Chuck Todd, the former 'Meet the Press' moderator and a longtime fixture of NBC’s political coverage, told colleagues on Friday that he was leaving the network. A nearly two-decade veteran of NBC, Mr. Todd said that Friday would be his last day at NBC.... Mr. Todd, 52, is the latest TV news star to step aside at a moment when salaries are being scrutinized — and slashed — by major media companies. Hoda Kotb exited NBC’s 'Today' show this month, and Neil Cavuto of Fox News and CNN’s Chris Wallace departed their cable news homes late last year.”

CNBC: “ CNN plans to lay off hundreds of employees Thursday [Jan. 23] as it refocuses the business around a global digital audience.... The layoffs come as CNN is rearranging its linear TV lineup and building out digital subscription products. The cuts will help CNN lower production costs and consolidate teams, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic changes. Certain shows that are produced in New York or Washington may move to Atlanta, where production can be done more cheaply, said the people. For the most part, the job cuts won’t affect CNN’s most recognizable names, who are under contract, said the people. CNN has about 3,500 employees worldwide.... NBC News is also planning cuts later this week, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic changes. While the exact number couldn’t be determined, the job losses will be well under 50....”

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Mar122011

The Commentariat -- March 13

David Sirota, in a Washington Post op-ed, thinks we're living in a 1980s timewarp.

Maureen Dowd doesn't think a no-fly zone over Libya is a good idea, & she takes to occasion to slam Paul Wolfowitz, which all by itself is a good idea.

Nicholas Kristof gives a full-throated endorsement of increasing teacher pay, & he explains why. He's right.

AND Frank Rich sings his swan song.

The Associated Press reports that union leaders had asked both Vice President Biden & Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to go to Wisconsin in support of public unions. Nothing doing.

Bio-Diversity. Ben Smith: "Aides to John McCain initially added Sarah Palin to his 'short list' of potential running mates because McCain wanted a woman on the list, according to his campaign manager."

Bill Maher & Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) argue about the content of the Kuran:

Right Wing World

What I love about New Hampshire is ... you're the state where the shot was heard around the world in Lexington and Concord. -- Michele Bachmann, in a speech yesterday in New Hampshire ...

... CW: See, there is a Lexington Ski Club in New Hampshire, and Concord is the New Hampshire state capital. Any doofus could make the mistake of moving Lexington & Concord, Massachusetts, to New Hampshire, though a doofus running for president, speaking from prepared text in the critical state of New Hampshire, might be advised to find out where "the shot heard 'round the world" was actually fired. Video clip here. ...

... Derek Wallbank of the Minneapolis Post: Bachmann said the same thing at a Friday night fundraiser in New Hampshire. ...

... Scott Conroy of Real Clear Politics: "Bachmann's contorting of a basic fact about the fight for American independence was made all the more glaring because of her repeated references throughout her speech to the nation's founding."

Lawrence O'Donnell parses Newt Gingrich. Now we know what the Newt really meant:

Local News

Another Candidate for America's Worst Governor. Chris Christoff of the Detroit Free Press, on the way Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican, added a $100 appropriation to a bill, which makes the bill exempt from voter referendum. The bill, which Democrats & the AARP oppose, taxes "pensions and other retirement income while cutting business taxes."

A farmer brings his tractor to Madison to participate in a farmer tractor-parade protest of the new Republican law that allows Gov. Walker to eliminate or reduce programs like BadgerCare, which assist Wisconsin farm families. Getty image.Jessica VanEregen of the Madison, Wisconsin, Capital Times: farmers, most of them Republicans, are brining their tractors to Madison (Saturday) to protest the Republican "reform" bill which Gov. Walker signed into law last week. According to a spokesman for the Wisconsin Farmers Union, "many of those coming to Madison are upset by the realization that Walker's agenda is 'sacrificing Wisconsin's quality of life for everyone, not just unions.'"

News Ledes

New York Times: "Japanese officials struggled on Sunday to contain a widening nuclear crisis..., saying they presumed that partial meltdowns had occurred at two crippled reactors and that they were bracing for a second explosion, even as they faced serious cooling problems at four more reactors." Story has links to other Times stories about the quake, tsunami & aftermath. ...

... Update: "Japan faced mounting humanitarian and nuclear emergencies Sunday as the death toll from Friday’s earthquake and tsunami climbed astronomically, partial meltdowns occurred at two crippled plants and cooling problems struck four more reactors. In one town alone, the port of Minamisanriku, a senior police official said the number of dead would 'certainly be more than 10,000.' The overall number is also certain to climb as searchers began to reach coastal villages that essentially vanished under the first muddy surge of the tsunami, which struck the nation’s northern Pacific coast."

... CNN: "The powerful earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami Friday appears to have moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and shifted the Earth on its axis." ...

... Guardian: "Several years ago, the seismologist Ishibashi Katsuhiko stated, specifically, that such [a nuclear plant] accident was highly likely to occur. Nuclear power plants in Japan have a 'fundamental vulnerability' to major earthquakes, Katsuhiko said in 2007."

AP: "Libyan state television reported Sunday that forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi have retaken the oil town of Brega in eastern Libya, swiftly advancing on the poorly equipped and loosely organized rebels. The report could not immediately be verified. Libyan TV has issued faulty reports claiming territory in the past." ...

... Politico: "The White House on Saturday lauded Arab nations for their global call to do more in pressuring the Qadhafi regime and supporting the Libyan opposition."

AP: "Israel said Sunday it has approved hundreds of settler homes after five members of an Israeli family — including three children — were knifed to death as they slept in a West Bank settlement over the weekend. The attack and the government's response threatened to drive Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking even further out of reach."

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: "Unbowed and unrepentant, 14 Democratic state senators returned to the Capitol on Saturday and received a tumultuous welcome from tens of thousands of pro-labor demonstrators." ...

... Reuters: "Up to 100,000 people protested at the Wisconsin state Capitol on Saturday against a new law curbing the union rights of public workers that is seen as one of the biggest challenges in decades facing U.S. organized labor."

AP: NFL "owners imposed a lockout on the players Saturday, essentially shutting down operations. That came hours after talks broke off and the union dissolved itself, meaning players no longer are protected under labor law but instead are now allowed to take their chances in federal court under antitrust law. Nine NFL players, including superstar quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, and one college player headed for the pros filed a class-action lawsuit in Minnesota and asked for a preliminary injunction to block a lockout, even before it went into effect.

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