John Blake reporting for CNN:

What happened to the funk?

I ask this because I also grew up during funk’s golden era. I watched live performances of groups like Earth Wind & Fire as they drove crowds to a funk frenzy. I studied “Soul Train” every weekend to catch the latest dance moves that I could never learn. I never purchased an Afro-Sheen blowout kit to look like my favorite funk performers, but I proudly carried an Afro pick with a handle shaped like a clenched Black fist to capture their defiant “Get the Funk Out Ma Face” attitude. For my family and friends, funk wasn’t just a musical genre — it was a lifestyle and attitude built around what one music critic called “sweat and sociability.”

And then the music lost its groove. The ‘80s and ‘90s brought hip hop, grunge, rap and alternative rock. Today’s charts are dominated by plastic dance pop that feels like it’s been assembled by an AI bot.

I can’t help but wonder: Why did funk music lose its popularity? And did we lose something more than danceable rhythms when it went away?

Beautifully put — and tragically true. Funk wasn’t just a sound; it was a vibe, a movement, a cultural force that radiated pride, creativity, and human connection. When you heard Parliament drop the bass or Earth, Wind & Fire explode into a horn section, you weren’t just listening — you were participating. Funk demanded you feel it, not just consume it.

John Blake’s piece taps into something a lot of us feel but can’t always articulate: the loss of music as shared experience. Funk was sweaty, joyful, messy, communal. It came from real people with real instruments, flaws and all, and it celebrated the full spectrum of human culture — its pain, pride, humor, and swagger. And yeah, it had groove for days.

Today’s music industry — algorithm-driven, auto-tuned, and precision-packaged — too often feels like it’s missing that soul. The shift away from music education in public schools didn’t just kill brass sections and jam sessions; it silenced a pipeline of working-class creativity. Now, kids are told to produce loops and beats on laptops, not pick up a trumpet or learn four chords on a bass.

Some say it’s partly because the Reagan administration pulled funding to musical education programs in public schools. Kids didn’t learn how to play instruments anymore, so they turned to rap and hip-hop.

And yet — the hunger for funk never fully left. You still hear it in the DNA of artists like Anderson .Paak, Bruno Mars, Thundercat, and Vulfpeck. The groove lives, even if it’s buried under streaming stats and TikTok trends.

Maybe the real question isn’t just “what happened to the funk?” — but “how do we bring it back?” Not just the sound, but the spirit. The jam sessions. The dancing in the living room. The Afro pick in the back pocket. The sweat and sociability.

Thats the real revolution waiting to happen.

Trump’s infamous claim — that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose any supporters — was once shocking hyperbole. Now, it feels chillingly literal. Except the shots aren’t coming from a gun — they’re coming from reckless economic policies that are crippling working Americans, in broad daylight, with zero consequences.

While Wall Street hemorrhages trillions, inflation eats away at paychecks, and job losses mount, Trump and his enablers cheer from the sidelines, unfazed and unaccountable. The damage isn’t theoretical. It’s real. It’s personal. And it’s targeted — not at the powerful, but at the everyday people holding this country together.

This moment isn’t just about stock tickers and GDP charts — it’s about economic violence. Wages that can’t cover rent. Healthcare out of reach. Retirement dreams erased. And still, his supporters shrug. The Fifth Avenue test was never a metaphor. It was a warning.

And now we’re living it.

Behold: the official “reciprocal tariff formula” as posted by the U.S. Trade Representative annotated by Ben Brkowitz. A dizzying display of pseudo-academic nonsense dressed up with Latin variables and mathematical flair — all to justify economic policies that make absolutely zero sense in the real world.

Let’s be honest: this isn’t economics, it’s theater. A PR stunt in equation form. And while it might look impressive at a glance, it’s built on sand. Because slapping tariffs on allies in the name of “fairness” — using formulas like this one — doesn’t help American workers. It raises prices, invites retaliation, and destabilizes global trade.

You can’t run a 21st-century economy with 19th-century protectionist dogma and a whiteboard full of nonsense. But hey, as long as it looks “smart” on Fox News, who cares about consequences, right?

Tariffs by formula? More like economic malpractice in disguise.

$9.6 trillion. That’s how much value U.S. stocks have lost since Donald Trump took office again. $5 trillion of that vanished in just the last two days — the largest two-day drop in history. Meanwhile, four American soldiers have died in service overseas.

And what’s Trump doing? As Wall Street melts down and the world watches in stunned disbelief, Trump’s response is Golfing. Again.

This is the same man who once claimed he’d be “too busy” in the White House to ever hit the links:

But as of Day 76 of Trump’s second term, he’s already logged 19 days on the golf course. That’s 25% of his time in office spent not working, not leading, but swinging a driver while Americans lose jobs, savings, and loved ones. That’s not leadership — that’s negligence dressed in khakis.

Remember Ben Stein? The monotone teacher from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off who somehow made “voodoo economics” unforgettable? Well, turns out he’s still schooling us—this time on something MAGA desperately needs a refresher on: the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act.

For the uninitiated: Smoot-Hawley was a protectionist tariff passed in 1930 meant to “protect American jobs.” Instead, it helped plunge the world into the Great Depression. Other countries retaliated with their own tariffs, global trade collapsed, and millions lost their livelihoods.

Sound familiar?

Fast forward nearly a century, and we’ve got Trump 2.0 spinning the same tale—tariffs as salvation, isolationism as strength. It’s the exact playbook that failed miserably the first time. But MAGA seems hellbent on repeating it, minus the history book.

Ben Stein walks through it with clarity, wit, and actual facts. And if you’re part of the flag-waving crowd that thinks economic nationalism will somehow create prosperity—this is your wake-up call.

So yes, every MAGA voter should be required to sit down, take notes, and maybe—just maybe—learn something before cheering the next economic train wreck disguised as “patriotism.”

UPDATE: Director John Hughes told Ben Stein, who had a degree in Economics, to present an actual Economics lecture in his scenes. Hence nothing Stein says (aside from the roll call) is scripted.

If anyone has earned the right to drop a “I told you so” on a daily loop, it’s Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton. These two women warned us—repeatedly—about the dangers of Trumpism, about the fragility of our democracy, about exactly the chaos we’re seeing unfold right now.

And they were mocked. Dismissed. Called shrill. Unelectable.

But here we are, watching democracy buckle under the weight of corruption, incompetence, and authoritarian cosplay—and suddenly everything they said hits like prophecy.

So yes: Say it louder.

Make the slogan a mic drop. Put it on bumper stickers, billboards, tote bags. Let it ring out across every state that rolled their eyes in 2016 and 2020.

Because the truth hurts. And it’s about damn time the truth got the last word.

We’re only 75 days into Trump’s second go at the presidency—and it already feels like a full term’s worth of disaster. Let’s take stock of the damage so far:

1. Prices are surging. Inflation is back on the rise and everyday Americans are feeling the squeeze—at the grocery store, the gas pump, and their utility bills.

2. 401(k)s are tanking. The markets hate instability, and this administration is delivering it in spades. Retirement dreams are evaporating.

3. We’re barreling toward a recession. Economists are waving red flags, and the White House is too distracted with culture wars and Twitter rants to notice.

4. Elon Musk is laying off thousands. The so-called “genius” of American innovation is gutting jobs left and right.

5. Dodge is laying off veterans. Yes, veterans—the very people Trump claims to champion.

6. He’s gone soft on Russia. Again. Putin is playing Trump like a fiddle while Ukraine bleeds and NATO strains.

7. We’ve lost our allies. U.S. credibility? Shot. No one trusts us to lead, much less to keep our word.

8. Defense is a joke. Inexperienced loyalists are running the Pentagon while serious minds are sidelined.

9. Measles deaths are back. Public health is collapsing. Misinformation and anti-vax lunacy are putting children in graves.

10. Billionaires are bankrolling votes. Forget democracy—this is oligarchy in real time.

We’re only 75 days in.

This isn’t just dysfunction—it’s demolition. The foundations of American governance, diplomacy, and public health are all under assault. If this is what the first 2.5 months look like, imagine the rest.

Terrified? Yeah. You should be. And so should anyone who believes in facts, democracy, and a future worth inheriting.

1,386 days to go.

Don’t get me wrong—I’ve rarely found myself nodding along with anything Mike Pence has said over the years. But credit where credit’s due: he finally got something right.

The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history.

Let that sink in. While Trump rails against taxes and claims to be the champion of the working class, his tariffs functioned as a massive, stealth tax on American consumers. They hit everyday people at the checkout line while pretending to punish foreign governments.

And now? Pence is suddenly seeing the light. Maybe having a mob chant for your hanging during an insurrection sharpens your sense of clarity. Funny how that works.

Whether it’s too little too late is up for debate. But one thing’s certain: when even Mike Pence is calling out Trump’s economic disaster in plain terms, the cracks in the MAGA facade are starting to show.

The Economist reporting:

When The Economist uses words like “looted, pillaged, raped and plundered” only to mock the president of the United States for saying them — well, you know things are off the rails.

On April 2nd, Donald Trump unilaterally detonated over a century of U.S. trade policy, launching what he hailed as “Liberation Day.” The truth? It was a deeply destructive, economically illiterate, and globally destabilizing move that marks one of the most dangerous turns in modern American history.

It’s hard to know which is more unsettling: that the leader of the free world could spout complete drivel about its most successful and admired economy. Or the fact that… he committed the most profound, harmful and unnecessary economic error in the modern era.

Trump’s grasp of economics seems inspired more by 19th-century protectionist fairy tales than any serious understanding of how the modern global economy works. His admiration for the tariff-heavy era before the Great Depression is not only misplaced — it’s outright dangerous. Economists overwhelmingly agree: tariffs deepened the Great Depression, and they will harm working people now just as they did then.

But here we are. A man with zero understanding of global trade is dragging America backward, cheered on by a party either too afraid or too complicit to stop him. And invoking the 25th Amendment? Sure, on paper it sounds sane. But look at the bench — JD Vance would be next in line. That’s like trading an arsonist for the guy who sells gasoline.

How did we get here? Through decades of anti-intellectualism, media echo chambers, and a political culture that rewards spectacle over substance. Trump didn’t create this moment—he’s the symptom. But make no mistake: this “Liberation Day” may one day be remembered not as a course correction, but as a historic unforced error.

And the rest of the world? It’s already planning how to limit the damage—because they know America just abdicated its economic leadership.

Bernie Sanders is not mincing words. In a powerful and urgent address, he laid out exactly what’s at stake in this political moment—and he nailed it:

Under Donald Trump, this country is hurtling rapidly toward oligarchy, toward authoritarianism, toward kleptocracy and toward more and more income and wealth inequality.

This isn’t hyperbole. It’s a clear-eyed diagnosis of a nation teetering on the edge, driven by a GOP that has become fully captive to the billionaire class. Sanders echoed the warning first given by Lincoln—of a government of the people, by the people, for the people—and made it painfully clear: today’s reality is a government of, by, and for the billionaire class.

But here’s where the tide turns. Sanders isn’t just issuing a warning—he’s building a movement. Alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, he’s launched a “Fighting Oligarchy Tour”, hitting battleground states from Nebraska to Arizona. The message is resonating. Crowds are turning out in force. The energy is real.

The people of our country are sick and tired of Trumpism. They are tired of Oligarchy. They are tired of authoritarianism. And they are prepared to fight back.

And that right there? That’s the GOP’s worst nightmare. Not just resistance—but organized, energized, and mobilized resistance.

If Bernie is right—and history suggests he is—the fight to preserve American democracy is far from over. It’s just getting started.

MSNBC viewers have officially seen the last of Steve Kornacki’s big board. The beloved data guru, known for his high-energy election coverage and unparalleled ability to break down numbers in real time, has signed a new deal with NBC—one that expands his role across NBC News and NBC Sports but excludes MSNBC.

Stephen Battaglio, in the LA Times:

The popular data maven has signed a deal with NBC that will expand his presence across the network’s news and sports divisions. But the new contract does not include working for MSNBC, which is being spun off into a new corporate entity formed by parent company Comcast.

This is a huge loss for MSNBC. Kornacki brought an unmatched level of excitement and clarity to election coverage—turning dry data into must-watch television. His departure is just the latest sign that MSNBC is slowly bleeding talent, making its future look increasingly uncertain.

Without Kornacki at the big board, election nights will never be the same.

Val Kilmer, the legendary actor known for his unforgettable performances as Batman, Doc Holiday, and Jim Morrison, has passed away at the age of 65. His career was defined by a mix of intensity, charm, and an ability to completely embody the roles he played.

To me, though, he will always be Tom ‘Ice Man’ Kazansky—the cocky yet cool fighter pilot from Top Gun, a role that cemented his place in cinematic history.

Kilmer’s talent and presence on screen were undeniable, and his contributions to film will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Ice.

Could this be Apple’s new PC?

The DIY Synths Database is a “curated collection of 68 DIY-friendly hardware synthesizers and related standalone musical equipment”.

My personal favorite - the Real Sid synth. A programmable Arduino shield that uses the MOS Technology 6581/8580 SID chip used in the mighty Commodore 64.

Rights and democracy have become purely a function of how wealthy you are in America. The wealthiest 1% are protected by the law but are not bound by the law and the bottom 99% are bounded by the law and not protected by it.

The Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller (2025, Mar 18). The White House Is Run By CHEAP HUCKSTERS and FRAUDS (w/ Scott Galloway & Jessica Tarlov)

Donald Trump just spent two hours on the phone with Vladimir Putin—and he got completely outmaneuvered. Putin walked away with exactly what he wanted: a halt to Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and a month-long pause in hostilities. Trump, meanwhile, got nothing but played.

Putin is employing the classic Russian art of the “no” deal—a strategic trap that Trump fell into headfirst. As Nick Paton Walsh puts it in his analysis for CNN:

The vaudeville theater of the past month should provide little comfort that the war is suddenly headed toward peace. Yes, the Trump administration has talked peace in a way that nobody has done so far in this war. But they have also managed to confirm, in short shrift, that Moscow looks for cracks of weakness and mercilessly drives a tank through them.

Trump felt he could either persuade, coax, or outsmart Putin. He has yet to do any of that. He has palpably lost in their first direct diplomatic face-off. For millions of Ukrainians his next choice defines their lives. Does he lose interest, apply pressure, or again provide concessions? It is a dizzying prospect.

His adversary is focused not on improved relations with Russia’s decades-long adversary, the United States, or with its current president, Donald Trump, but instead on victory in its most existential conflict since the Nazis.

These are not two similar perspectives to the deal. The art of one is more applied than the other.

Trump thought he could persuade, charm, or outfox Putin. He’s done none of that. Instead, he’s been humiliated in their first major diplomatic test. And the consequences for Ukraine are dire.

Putin’s strategy is clear: victory at all costs. Trump’s? Floundering weakness and misguided arrogance. These aren’t two sides playing the same game—Putin is playing chess while Trump struggles with checkers. And the world is noticing.

Donald Trump’s cabinet of billionaires reflects a long-standing disconnect between Republican voters and reality. Somehow, a large chunk of the GOP base still believes that the interests of the ultra-wealthy align with their own. But as Bill Maher famously pointed out over a decade ago, that’s nothing more than a dangerous fantasy:

We have this fantasy that our interests and the interests of the super rich are the same; like somehow the rich will eventually get so full that they’ll explode, and that the candy will rain down on the rest of us; like they’re some kind of piñata of benevolence. But here’s the thing about a piñata – it doesn’t open on its own, you have to beat it with a stick.

Bill Maher March 12, 2011

And Maher was spot on. The billionaires in Trump’s orbit aren’t looking out for working Americans—they’re hoarding wealth, rewriting tax laws to benefit themselves, and gutting the social safety net. If I were a billionaire, I’d be worried right about now—because sooner or later, people are going to realize that piñatas don’t break open on their own.

It’s official — AFC Richmond is coming back for a 4th season! Fans of Ted Lasso have reason to celebrate as the entire management team — Coach Lasso, Coach Beard, Roy, Leslie, Keeley, and Rebecca — are set to return in January.

Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD US Networks, shared the excitement:

We — along with countless fans around the globe — have been rooting for another season, and it is an incredible feeling to be able to say, ‘Yes, it’s happening!’ We thank our partners at Apple and can’t wait for Jason and the entire Ted Lasso dream team to step back onto the pitch and deliver another season of this phenomenal series.

Here’s hoping the new season recaptures the magic and heart of Season 1 — because that’s when Ted Lasso was at its absolute best. Time to get your biscuits ready!

Representative John Larson didn’t hold back during the recent congressional hearing, calling out Elon Musk’s glaring absence and the broader Republican agenda to undermine Social Security. Larson’s frustration was palpable:

We’re an equal branch of the government. And you start off with a blather? And would you look at the empty seats here? Where is Elon Musk? I am sure he is a genius. And is a very credible person because of the wealth he has accumulated, but that does not put him above the law or the responsibility to come before this committee and Congress. If he is so great, if his plans and all the fraud and abuse that he found are so evident—why isn’t he here explaining it? You know why. ‘Cause he is out to privatize Social Security.

Bingo. Social Security is one of the best-run government programs in history. If Musk and his crew of Silicon Valley “bro coders” have really uncovered evidence of fraud or abuse, they should be standing before Congress, laying it all out. But they aren’t—because they’ve got nothing. Nada. Zero. This is exactly what the Republicans and Wall Street want: control over trillions of dollars in Social Security funds so they can siphon off the hard-earned money of American citizens.

Larson nailed it when he said the American people weren’t born yesterday. But MAGA voters? That’s another story. They voted these fools into office, and now we’re all paying the price. The GOP’s goal isn’t to “fix” Social Security—it’s to dismantle it, privatize it, and hand it over to the same billionaires who already have more wealth than they could spend in a hundred lifetimes.