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Margaret Sullivan, former public editor of the New York Times, calls out newspaper for "false balance nonsense" in coverage of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, writing its "politics coverage often seems broken and clueless — or even blatantly pro-Trump."

An ugly case of 'false balance' in the New York Times The mainstream media is still getting it wrong about Trump

Two things on "Kamala won't take Trump's bait on race" narrative. This is what kept Obama from speaking much on race, particularly in office. Because it builds negatives w/white voters. It also keeps Kamala herself from talking on history she is making.

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NPR quotes statement from the Army: Trump campaign was warned about laws involving political activities at Arlington National Cemetery; a staffer there was "abruptly pushed aside"; the staffer "and her professionalism (have) been unfairly attacked."

Fallout from Trump’s Arlington National Cemetery visit continues after campaign video The TikTok post from Trump includes video taken at Arlington National Cemetery where campaign activities are prohibited by law and in a section where outside filming and photography is not allowed.

After reporting on physical altercation at former president Donald Trump's visit to Arlington National Cemetery, NPR now reports the visit likely violated a federal law, amid reaction from family of another soldier whose grave was shown in Trump's video.

Fallout from Trump’s Arlington National Cemetery visit continues after campaign video The TikTok post from Trump includes video taken at Arlington National Cemetery where campaign activities are prohibited by law and in a section where outside filming and photography is not allowed.

I watched a whole documentary film on the Brat Pack phenomenon which didn't sum up the origin of the term as well as Rob Lowe's brief explanation here. Including a valid take on why it was ultimately the result of terrible journalism. WATCH:

Rob Lowe Didn't Care About Being Named A Member of "The Brat Pack" | Where Everybody Knows Your Name Ted Danson and Rob Lowe finally sit down after years of missing each other! Ted asks the “Unstable” star about a contradiction he’s spied in his work. Rob te...

Had amazing panel at National Book Festival on Saturday. While I'm waiting for the Library of Congress to put that video up, here's last year's panel with Linda Villarosa, (Under the Skin) and Robert Samuels (His Name Is George Floyd), How Racism Happens:

How Racism Happens with Robert Samuels and Linda Villarosa What is systemic racism? In “Under the Skin,” Linda Villarosa exposes forces in our healthcare system that cause Black people to "live sicker and die quicker...

I've posted a lot on Poynter's Diverse Voices: an amazing, tuition-paid opportunity for journalists from marginalized communities to learn how to bring more of themselves to the work, and network w/powerfully, talented people. Apply now! DETAILS:

Power of Diverse Voices: Writing Workshop for Journalists of Color (2024) - Poynter Develop the confidence and skills to share your unique perspective in persuasive writing. Apply for this competitive program by Sept. 6.

One reason YouTube is dominating TV viewership: Showtime has put a lot of episodes of Dexter on YouTube for free viewing. I always loved the first four seasons of this show about a serial killer of murderers. Here's the first episode to get you started:

Dexter | Season 1 Premiere | Full Episode (TV14) Forensic analyst Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) hides his double life as a serial killer from his vice squad officer sister (Jennifer Carpenter), his cowork...

Looks like the Beyonce rumors paid off: Vice President Kamala Harris drew 26.2 million viewers over 15 networks Thursday in the final night of the DNC, according to Nielsen. Her speech alone averaged nearly 29 million viewers. Previous nights drew just above 20 million viewers.

Third story in my really busy week was an interview w/Jon Stewart - who hasn't talked much since returning to The Daily Show 6 months ago - w/showrunner Jen Flanz. They talk on how show is going and why he didn't feel vindicated after Biden dropped out:

Jon Stewart doesn't feel vindicated bringing 'The Daily Show' to a Harris-led DNC Stewart and The Daily Show’s executive producer Jennifer Flanz say the show is “clicking” with correspondents in the host chair. Is that a sustainable format for the late night comedy show? They’ll revisit that question after the DNC.

The second story in my blockbuster week was a sad one: talk show pioneer Phil Donahue died. I had prepped an obituary after interviewing him in 2021. When we connected via Zoom, he and wife Marlo Thomas struggled to unmute the laptop and it was very cute.

Pioneer talk show host Phil Donahue dies at 88 The broadcaster was hailed as the father of the modern audience-participation daytime talk show. Donahue's taste for controversial and polarizing subjects birthed a new genre of television.

Had a great interview with Jon Stewart (and showrunner Jen Flanz) before his live Daily Show tonight from the DNC about coming to Chicago, his 6 months back in the host chair and why he doesn't feel vindicated by Biden dropping out for Harris:

Jon Stewart doesn't feel vindicated bringing 'The Daily Show' to a Harris-led DNC Stewart and The Daily Show’s executive producer Jennifer Flanz say the show is “clicking” with correspondents in the host chair. Is that a sustainable format for the late night comedy show? They’ll revisit that question after the DNC.

Proud to note: Saturday I'll be at the National Book Festival, moderating a panel w/authors Ayana Mathis (“The Unsettled”) and Viet Thanh Nguyen ("The Sympathizer") - not on THEIR books but on James Baldwin's centennial, his impact on writers worldwide.

Attention all NPR fans & book lovers! NPR Extra Attention all NPR fans & book lovers! August 20, 202412:37 PM ET Sommer Hill Once again NPR is partnering with the Library of Congress for the National Book Festival for another year of stories, meet and greets and book signings. This year’s festival is at the Walter E. Washington Conven...

About 20 million people watched 1st night of the Democratic National Convention Monday on 13 TV platforms, according to Nielsen. That outrates the 18 million who showed for 1st night of the Republican National Convention in July and the 15 million who watched 1st DNC night in 2020.

Hey TV Threads, Phil Donahue made wonky talk a compelling daytime TV genre, mixing an earnest love for journalism, passion for truth and an eye for provocation. Here's my obituary for/tribute to the inventor of the audience participation talk show, incl. my interview w/him just 3 years ago:

Pioneer talk show host Phil Donahue dies at 88 The broadcaster was hailed as the father of the modern audience-participation daytime talk show. Donahue's taste for controversial and polarizing subjects birthed a new genre of television.

After years of hoping and waiting by fans, NBC's groundbreaking cop drama "Homicide: Life on the Street" is finally streaming on Peacock. Here's a look at why that matters, why it took so long and what showrunner Tom Fontana has to say about it all:

Groundbreaking police drama 'Homicide: Life on the Street' is finally streaming The seven-season show about a Baltimore police homicide unit didn’t feature gun battles and car chases. The tone, pacing and camera work were all groundbreaking when the show started in 1993.

Terrible news for the NPR family: John Lansing, our former CEO who led the company with skill and sensitivity through COVID and layoffs has died at age 67. DETAILS:

John Lansing, the steady CEO who led NPR through the pandemic's crises, dies at 67 Lansing tangled with titans, kept the network’s shows on the air even as its offices closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and steered NPR through what he defined as an “existential” financial crisis.

"Dear White People" creator Justin Simien speaks frankly in my interview w/him for KCRW's The Business, revealing how feeling held back in Hollywood because of his identity as a Black, gay man led him to create the MGM+ docuseries "Hollywood Black."

Exploring Black cinema: Justin Simien on Hollywood Black | The Business Filmmaker Justin Simien discusses ‘Hollywood Black,’ his docuseries exploring a century of Black cinema from minstrel shows to modern blockbusters.

Felt great to join Code Switch's B.A. Parker to vent on how The Bachelor franchise handles race, including audio of the 8 seconds of silence which resulted when I asked producers from the show about past controversies when Black people star.

Race, Romance and Reality TV : Code Switch Reality TV has been referred to as a funhouse mirror of our culture. But even with its distortions, it can reflect back to us what we accept as a society – especially when it comes to things like gender, sexuality and race. On today's episode we get into all of that, zeroing in on the Bachelorette...

The Bachelor, a reality TV franchise which has struggled w/race, has cast its 2nd Black man as star for season 29, ex-pro basketball player and day trader Grant Ellis. Racial controversies brought departure of longtime host Chris Harrison during tenure of Matt James, The Bachelor's 1st Black male star, in 2021.

Seth Meyers comes back from summer vacation with receipts to prove he was calling Trump and MAGA Republicans weird on NBC's Late Night WAY before Tim Walz made headlines with it. WATCH:

Seth Meyers Catches Up on the Worst Three Weeks of Donald Trump's Campaign: A Closer Look Seth takes a closer look at Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race, Trump's reaction to Kamala Harris securing enough delegates to become the Democr...

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In my book, Race-Baiter, I wrote how conservative firebrands Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck began as "happy warriors" tweaking liberals for earnestness and self-seriousness before becoming toxic scolds. Interesting to see Harris and Walz capture that dynamic now for liberal ideas. https://www.amazon.com/Race-Baiter-Wields-Dangerous-Divide-Nation-ebook/dp/B008YBCV2C?ref_=ast_author_mpb

New NPR/PBS news/Maris poll shows Kamala Harris jumping to a slight lead over Donald Trump nationally. This poll, of course, was taken before Harris announced Tim Walz as her running mate. DETAILS:

Poll: Harris jumps to a small national lead over Trump Vice President Harris has upended the presidential race and has now built a 51%-48% lead over former President Trump, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll.

So the naming of Tim Walz raises another question: Who should play him on Saturday Night Live? Steve Martin? Jim Gaffigan? The ghost of Chris Farley? When Biden was named president-elect, I did a story asking mimics like Jay Pharoah and Darrell Hammond why such impressions are so tough and so crucial. READ:

Here's The Deal, Folks: A POTUS Impression Is Harder Than It Looks As Jim Carrey works on his best Joe Biden for Saturday Night Live, we ask other impressionists how they've done it. Darrell Hammond says he wishes people understood how tough impressions really are.

As a companion to my feature for NPR on the 40th anniversary of Purple Rain, here's an essay w/personal observations on being a young musician inspired by the film, along with extra quotes from members of The Revolution on Prince's life and legacy. READ:

Purple Rain at 40: Speaking with The Revolution on the film which made Prince a pop superstar and changed my life I sat in a darkened movie theater 40 years ago, transfixed by a story that felt like it was centered on my pop culture life. Only years later, would I wind up living a reality that felt imported stra…

More nerdiness: Love Superman & Lois. But I am beyond tired of retelling the Doomsday storyline. Also super tired of battles where Superman just punches people. He's had an array of powers for decades; lets see him use them in a smarter, subtler way.

Superman And Lois | Season 4 | Superman vs. Doomsday The sneak peek you won’t believe.Catch the 2-hour premiere of the Final Season Thursday, October 17 to see how the rest will play out.