Just One Thing: More immunity thoughts
It’s understandably difficult to think about yesterday’s Supreme Court decision regarding presidential immunity without centering too much on Donald Trump. The Court was writing for the future as much as for the present, and writing to protect the presidency rather than to protect the former president. It’s challenging to think that a president could do something he absolutely knows is illegal, such as take a bribe to grant a pardon, and be immune from it. It’s also challenging that a president could do something he honestly believes is legal and then be charged with a crime by an ambitious ideological or political opponent in the next administration. The Court is trying to make sure a president can do the job. That is the most important thing. Now let’s just not elect people likely to break the law.
One More Thing: Joe Biden and the Emperor's New Clothes
Great note by the always insightful Ben Hunt. Well worth your time: Joe Biden and the Common Knowledge Game - Epsilon Theory
(thus the picture of the streaker for today's blog)
Today's Guests
There are just a few thriller writers that I think are truly the "A-list". Mark Greaney is certainly on that list. He's most famous for the "Gray Man" series, one of which has already been made into a movie. But a couple years back he released a book called "Armored" with a new main character, a more normal sort of guy than the insanely talented bad-ass known as the Gray Man, named Josh Duffy. Duffy's wife is also a big part of that first book. I very much enjoyed "Armored" and told Mark that I hoped he'd write a sequel and that Nichole, the wife, would play a bigger role because she's a super-interesting character in her own right. Thanks entirely to me (by which I mean thanks not at all to me), Mark's back with "Sentinel", the sequel to "Armored" in which Nichole does indeed play a bigger role. It's a very fun summer read and I encourage you all to get it and have some fun. You don't have to read Armored first to enjoy this one but you might as well...
Mark Greaney (markgreaneybooks.com)
Strippers in the city? Following up on our conversation yesterday with Central City Mayor Jeremy Fey on the topic of whether the city will change their rules so that sexually-oriented businesses (specifically bars that have strippers) can operate in the city, resident Zane Plsek joins me to explain why he opposes this potential change.
Greg Metzger is the Chief Field Coordinator for the SOFO Shark Program. We'll talk about this remarkable discovery: Baby great white shark reveals huge nursery near NYC in scientific first (nationalgeographic.com)
SOFO Shark Research and Education Program | South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center
Other Stuff
Unacceptable: Pattern of Brain Damage Is Pervasive in Navy SEALs Who Died by Suicide - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
It's not the content that's amazing. It's the source:
Seriously, THAT's the term you're gonna use? Why Men Are ‘Rawdogging’ Flights | GQ
Maybe these two deserve each other: Minnesota politician arrested for assaulting housemate with a live tarantula - Boing Boing
Sure, this is kinda bad but it’s also kinda common: Democrats “freaking out” about having to campaign with Biden (axios.com)
I’m hesitant to play psychologist, mostly because I have zero training in it and also because I’ve never met Joe Biden but plenty of people are bringing this up so I’ll mention it:
From Axios:
- The time of day is important as to which of the two Bidens will appear.
- From 10am to 4pm, Biden is dependably engaged — and many of his public events in front of cameras are held within those hours.
- Outside of that time range or while traveling abroad, Biden is more likely to have verbal miscues and become fatigued, aides told Axios.
So...what about this? Late-day confusion in people with dementia - Mayo Clinic
Not even if I could afford it: The Boston Celtics are now for sale (axios.com)
I owe you a couple of topics from yesterday:
This is some really remarkable reporting: What If the Most Notorious Murder of a Gay Man Wasn’t a Hate Crime? | The Free Press (thefp.com)
If there is any weapons trafficking in the world that the US must do everything possible to stop, it’s the acquisition by Mexican drug cartels of advanced weaponry: Mexican cartels boast of increased firepower, including US weapons (usatoday.com)
Don't go woke, sell lots of tickets: ‘Inside Out 2’ Becomes Quickest Animated Film To Gross $1 Billion (forbes.com)
Inside Out 2 - Worth It or Woke - BASED Movie Reviews
Did INSIDE OUT 2 Go Woke? | Did INSIDE OUT 2 Go Woke? (movieguide.org)
Good: Denver closes final hotel shelter for migrants | FOX31 (kdvr.com)
Shoot the trespassers: Crowds swarm Colorado farm to see mysterious monolith (denverpost.com)
Today's Videos
This is the most Monty Python thing I've ever seen that isn't by Monty Python.
A Dutch comedy skit skewering English sports...info about the series (which ran for 20 years but stopped in 2010) here: Jiskefet (TV Series 1990–2010) - IMDb
If you love, really love, music, you will enjoy (but also be somewhat saddened by) this video