The Ledes

Monday, June 30, 2025

It's summer in our hemisphere, and people across Guns America have nothing to do but shoot other people.

New York Times: “A gunman deliberately started a wildfire in a rugged mountain area of Idaho and then shot at the firefighters who responded, killing two and injuring another on Sunday afternoon in what the local sheriff described as a 'total ambush.' Law enforcement officers exchanged fire with the gunman while the wildfire burned, and officials later found the body of the male suspect on the mountain with a firearm nearby, Sheriff Robert Norris of Kootenai County said at a news conference on Sunday night. The authorities said they believed the suspect had acted alone but did not release any information about his identity or motives.” A KHQ-TV (Spokane) report is here.

New York Times: “The New York City police were investigating a shooting in Manhattan on Sunday night that left two people injured steps from the Stonewall Inn, an icon of the L.G.B.T.Q. rights movement. The shooting occurred outside a nearby building in Greenwich Village at 10:15 p.m., Sgt. Matthew Forsythe of the New York Police Department said. The New York City Pride March had been held in Manhattan earlier on Sunday, and Mayor Eric Adams said on social media that the shooting happened as Pride celebrations were ending. One victim who was shot in the head was in critical condition on Monday morning, a spokeswoman for the Police Department said. A second victim was in stable condition after being shot in the leg, she said. No suspect had been identified. The police said it was unclear if the shooting was connected to the Pride march.”

New York Times: “A dangerous heat wave is gripping large swaths of Europe, driving temperatures far above seasonal norms and prompting widespread health and fire alerts. The extreme heat is forecast to persist into next week, with minimal relief expected overnight. France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece are among the nations experiencing the most severe conditions, as meteorologists warn that Europe can expect more and hotter heat waves in the future because of climate change.”

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Marie: Sorry, my countdown clock was unreliable; then it became completely unreliable. I can't keep up with it. Maybe I'll try another one later.

 

Commencement ceremonies are joyous occasions, and Steve Carell made sure that was true this past weekend (mid-June) at Northwestern's commencement:

~~~ Carell's entire commencement speech was hilarious. The audio and video here isn't great, but I laughed till I cried.

CNN did a live telecast Saturday night (June 7) of the Broadway play "Good Night, and Good Luck," written by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, about legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow's effort to hold to account Sen. Joe McCarthy, "the junior senator from Wisconsin." Clooney plays Murrow. Here's Murrow himself with his famous take on McCarthy & McCarthyism, brief remarks that especially resonate today: ~~~

     ~~~ This article lists ways you still can watch the play. 

New York Times: “The New York Times Company has agreed to license its editorial content to Amazon for use in the tech giant’s artificial intelligence platforms, the company said on Thursday. The multiyear agreement 'will bring Times editorial content to a variety of Amazon customer experiences,' the news organization said in a statement. Besides news articles, the agreement encompasses material from NYT Cooking, The Times’s food and recipe site, and The Athletic, which focuses on sports. This is The Times’s first licensing arrangement with a focus on generative A.I. technology. In 2023, The Times sued OpenAI and its partner, Microsoft, for copyright infringement, accusing the tech companies of using millions of articles published by The Times to train automated chatbots without any kind of compensation. OpenAI and Microsoft have rejected those accusations.” ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: I have no idea what this means for "the Amazon customer experience." Does it mean that if I don't have a NYT subscription but do have Amazon Prime I can read NYT content? And where, exactly, would I find that content? I don't know. I don't know.

Washington Post reporters asked three AI image generators what a beautiful woman looks like. "The Post found that they steer users toward a startlingly narrow vision of attractiveness. Prompted to show a 'beautiful woman,' all three tools generated thin women, without exception.... Her body looks like Barbie — slim hips, impossible waist, round breasts.... Just 2 percent of the images showed visible signs of aging. More than a third of the images had medium skin tones. But only nine percent had dark skin tones. Asked to show 'normal women,' the tools produced images that remained overwhelmingly thin.... However bias originates, The Post’s analysis found that popular image tools struggle to render realistic images of women outside the Western ideal." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: The reporters seem to think they are calling out the AI programs for being unrealistic. But there's a lot about the "beautiful women" images they miss. I find these omissions remarkably sexist. For one thing, the reporters seem to think AI is a magical "thing" that self-generates. It isn't. It's programmed. It's programmed by boys, many of them incels who have little or no experience or insights beyond comic books and Internet porn of how to gauge female "beauty." As a result, the AI-generated women look like cartoons; that is, a lot like an air-brushed photo of Kristi Noem: globs of every kind of dark eye makeup, Scandinavian nose, Botox lips, slathered-on skin concealer/toner/etc. makeup, long dark hair and the aforementioned impossible Barbie body shape, including huge, round plastic breasts. 

New York Times: “George Clooney’s Broadway debut, 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' has been one of the sensations of the 2024-25 theater season, breaking box office records and drawing packed houses of audiences eager to see the popular movie star in a timely drama about the importance of an independent press. Now the play will become much more widely available: CNN is planning a live broadcast of the penultimate performance, on June 7 at 7 p.m. Eastern. The performance will be preceded and followed by coverage of, and discussion about, the show and the state of journalism.”

No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land. -- Magna Carta ~~~

~~~ New York Times: “Bought for $27.50 after World War II, the faint, water stained manuscript in the library of Harvard Law School had attracted relatively little attention since it arrived there in 1946. That is about to change. Two British academics, one of whom happened on the manuscript by chance, have discovered that it is an original 1300 version — not a copy, as long thought — of Magna Carta, the medieval document that helped establish some of the world’s most cherished liberties. It is one of just seven such documents from that date still in existence.... A 710-year-old version of Magna Carta was sold in 2007 for $21.3 million.... First issued in 1215, it put into writing a set of concessions won by rebellious barons from a recalcitrant King John of England — or Bad King John, as he became known in folklore. He later revoked the charter, but his son, Henry III, issued amended versions, the last one in 1225, and Henry’s son, Edward I, in turn confirmed the 1225 version in 1297 and again in 1300.”

NPR lists all of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize winners. Poynter lists the prizes awarded in journalism as well as the finalists in these categories.

 

Contact Marie

Email Marie at constantweader@gmail.com

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Tuesday
Nov042014

Gubernatorial Race Results

Trip Gabriel of the New York Times: "Republicans won the two most intensely followed, high-stakes governor's races of the year as Rick Scott of Florida and Scott Walker of Wisconsin won re-election on Tuesday in states that both parties are looking to as a gauge of voter sentiment in the run-up to the 2016 presidential campaign. Their victories were part of a sweeping tide of Republican victories in governors' races. With Republican control of a majority of legislatures, the party was left in firm control of the nation's state capitals.... Surprise winners for the Republicans included Bruce Rauner, a money manager who defeated the Democratic incumbent, Pat Quinn, in Illinois, and Larry Hogan, who defeated the current Democratic lieutenant governor of Maryland, Anthony Brown. In Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback, on the defensive because of the state's embattled fiscal situation, turned back his Democratic challenger, Paul Davis. In Maine, Gov. Paul R. LePage, a staunch conservative, defeated Mike Michaud, a Democrat. And in Massachusetts, Martha Coakley, the Democrat, lost a close race to Charles Baker, the Republican." ...

... The Times' interactive map is here.

States are listed in alpha order.

Alabama. Gov. Robert Bentley (R) has won re-election.

Arizona. Doug Ducey (R) has won the race.

Arkansas. Asa Hutchinson (R) has won the gubernatorial race. The current governor, Mike Beebe, is a Democrat.

California. Jerry Brown has been re-elected to his 4th term. ...

... Seema Mehta of the Los Angeles Times: "California voters decisively elected Gov. Jerry Brown to a historic fourth term Tuesday, a rare bright spot for Democrats on a night when Republicans celebrated huge victories in the rest of the nation. Brown handily defeated GOP challenger Neel Kashkari and voters also approved the two propositions that the incumbent championed -- a $7.5-billion water bond measure and a state rainy-day fund."

Colorado. Lauren French of Politico: "Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has been reelected, fending off GOP challenger Bob Beauprez, according to The Associated Press. The Democrat trailed Beauprez in the polls for most of Election Day, but eventually pulled ahead, earning 48.3 percent of the vote with 93.4 percent of precincts reporting. Beauprez trailed by only 1 percentage point."

Connecticut. Matthew Kauffman, et al., of the Hartford Courant: "Gov. Dan Malloy appeared poised to pull ahead of Republican challenger Tom Foley as Connecticut's neck-and-neck race for governor came to a close. Around 12:30 a.m., as registrars in Hartford, Bridgeport and elsewhere were still tallying votes, Malloy gave a rousing speech to supporters, telling them 'We are going to win this thing' -- while stopping short of declaring victory. Twenty minutes later, Foley in turn told supporters 'We probably have lost this race' -- while stopping short of conceding." ...

... Here's where the Connecticut race stands now.

Florida. Aargh! The NYT has called the race for Gov. Scott. Very bad for the working poor who need health insurance. ...

... Marc Caputo, et al., of the Miami Herald: "Bolstered by a $100 million campaign and a stronger economy, Gov. Rick Scott overcame his own political liabilities and a fierce challenge from Democrat Charlie Crist on Tuesday as he won a second term that solidified Republican control of the state. Polls showed the race would be tight, and it was. As Scott clung to a 1.4 percentage point lead, Crist conceded before 11:30 p.m." ...

... With 95 % of the vote in, Scott is about 120K votes ahead. ...

... Crist's early lead has evaporated @ 7:50 pm ET. ...

... Crist is asking for an emergency court order to keep the polls open an extra hour in -- wait for it -- Broward County, because of voting machine problems. Update: Crist's petition has been denied, but everyone in line in Broward County @ 7:00 pm will be allowed to vote. ...

... Crist (D) is ahead in early returns.

Georgia. Gov. Nathan Deal has retained his seat over challenger Jason Carter (D).

Kansas. Maybe the worst governor in the U.S., Sam Brownback (RTP), kept his job. ...

... Bryan Lowry & Suzanne Perez Tobias of the Wichita Eagle: "Gov. Sam Brownback triumphed over Democrat Paul Davis late Tuesday, collecting 50 percent of the vote in a hard-fought race."

Illinois. Bruce Rauner (R) has unseated Pat Quinn (D).

Maine. The horrid Gov. Paul LePage won in a three-way race. ...

... Steve Mistler of the Portland Press Herald: "Republican Gov. Paul LePage secured a second term early Wednesday morning, defeating Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud after a long, expensive and often bitter campaign. Michaud conceded defeat at 12:30 a.m. in a speech at the Port City Music Hall. LePage triumphantly took the stage at the Franco American Heritage Center in Lewiston before Michaud finished his speech."

Maryland. Larry Hogan (R) defeated Anthony Brown (D). ...

... John Wagner & Jenna Johnson of the Washington Post: "Republican businessman Larry Hogan pulled off a stunning upset in heavily Democratic Maryland on Tuesday, winning the governor's race against Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown by relentlessly promising to roll back tax increases and chart a new direction for the state."

Massachusetts. Charlie Baker (R) beat Martha Coakley (D) by a slim margin. (Thanks, Boston Globe!) ...

... Robert Scalese of the Boston Globe: "Democratic gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley called Republican candidate Charlie Baker Wednesday morning to congratulate him on his victory. Coakley will address supporters at 11 a.m., according to multiple reports."

Michigan. Gov. Rick Snyder (R) has won re-election, per NBC News.

Minnesota. Gov. Mark Dayton (D) is the projected winner, per NBC News.

Nebraska. NBC News has called the race for Republican Pete Ricketts.

Nevada. Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) prevails.

New Hampshire. NBC News has called the race for Gov. Maggie Hassan (D).

New Mexico. NBC News projects Gov. Susana Martinez (R) has won re-election.

New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) retains his seat, per CNN.

Ohio. NBC News has called the Ohio race for Gov. John Kasich (R).

Oregon. The New York Times has called the race for Gov. John Kitzhaber (D). ....

... Laura Gunderson of the Oregonian: "Rep. Dennis Richardson refused to concede the governor's race on Tuesday night, saying the margin was too slim and that he planned to 'go to bed happy tonight.' About the same time Richardson spoke at his election party in Clackamas, Gov. John Kitzhaber thanked his supporters at the Democrats' function in downtown Portland for the "incredible honor" to serve another four years."

Pennsylvania. Democrat Tom Wolf defeats Gov. Tom Corbett.

Rhode Island. Gina Raimondo (D) won the race.

South Carolina. NBC News projects Gov. Nikki Haley (R) has won re-election.

South Dakota. Republican Dennis Daugaard has won re-election.

Tennessee. Gov. Bill Haslam (R) has won re-election.

Texas. CNN projects Greg Abbott (R) wins over Wendy Davis (D).

** Wisconsin. Scott Walker hangs onto his seat. ...

... Jason Stein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Republican Gov. Scott Walker defeated Democrat Mary Burke Tuesday, ensuring himself a second term in Madison and raising the prospect of a political future at the national level."

Wyoming. Gov. Matt Mead (R) has won re-election.

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