Friday, September 19, 2025
How Pre-emptive Capitulation by Corporate Giants Is Handing Media Control Over to Trump
Flattering the Beast
THE CRITIC: For now, the kingdom has bought off the monster
In the olden days, a kingdom threatened by a strangely-tinted, tiny-handed, fire-breathing beast might opt to attempt to buy it off with a princess or two. Obviously times have moved on since then. Now we offer them a night at Windsor Castle.
Nothing so emphasises our declining place in the world as our national abasement before Donald Trump. A hundred years ago, such a man turning up in Britain would have been horsewhipped. These days, nothing is too much trouble. So he gets a second state visit, and a banquet and the Red Arrows and the Red Devils and everything else we can give him.
Everyone knows why Keir Starmer is doing this, and however unpleasant it is to watch, most people seem to accept that he has to do it. He approaches Trump as one might a very rich but increasingly senile relative who is in the habit of changing their will on a daily basis. Yes, Mr President. So wise, Mr President. How interesting, Mr President. How unfair the Nobel Committee are to you, Mr President. » | Robert Hutton | Thursday, September 18, 2025
In the olden days, a kingdom threatened by a strangely-tinted, tiny-handed, fire-breathing beast might opt to attempt to buy it off with a princess or two. Obviously times have moved on since then. Now we offer them a night at Windsor Castle.
Nothing so emphasises our declining place in the world as our national abasement before Donald Trump. A hundred years ago, such a man turning up in Britain would have been horsewhipped. These days, nothing is too much trouble. So he gets a second state visit, and a banquet and the Red Arrows and the Red Devils and everything else we can give him.
Everyone knows why Keir Starmer is doing this, and however unpleasant it is to watch, most people seem to accept that he has to do it. He approaches Trump as one might a very rich but increasingly senile relative who is in the habit of changing their will on a daily basis. Yes, Mr President. So wise, Mr President. How interesting, Mr President. How unfair the Nobel Committee are to you, Mr President. » | Robert Hutton | Thursday, September 18, 2025
The Man Who Made Us Melt
THE CRITIC: Robert Redford was a charismatic actor and a masterful storyteller
“I can’t swim!” Robert Redford uttered many immortal lines over his long film career, but there was something about the revelation, halfway through Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, that stuck in the mind. Up to that point his character — Sundance — had been cool and tough, the gunfighter so famous that his name stops duels before they begin. Now suddenly he was vulnerable and scared and angry, preferring to face the impossible odds of fighting his pursuers than a jump off a waterfall. » | Robert Hutton | Tuesday, September 16, 2025
“I can’t swim!” Robert Redford uttered many immortal lines over his long film career, but there was something about the revelation, halfway through Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, that stuck in the mind. Up to that point his character — Sundance — had been cool and tough, the gunfighter so famous that his name stops duels before they begin. Now suddenly he was vulnerable and scared and angry, preferring to face the impossible odds of fighting his pursuers than a jump off a waterfall. » | Robert Hutton | Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Trump & His Billionaire Cronies Control Almost ALL Major Media Now—And Social Media is Next
Adolf Hitler could have taken a few lessons from Donald Trump! Trump's Reich is beginning to make the Third Reich look like a picnic-in-the-park! — © Mark Alexander
Pop Culture Takes Up Smoking Again
THE NEW YORK TIMES: From movies and TV shows to music, the habit is no longer taboo. It’s even being celebrated for the way it makes characters look cool or powerful.
In the new romantic dramedy “Materialists,” about 21st-century dating, Dakota Johnson loves cigarettes.
Playing Lucy, a New York matchmaker, she’s puffing when she gossips with a pal during a work party. Later, she holds a lighted cigarette near her face while flirting with an ex. There’s no hand-wringing over her smoking. She’s just a smoker. And she’s wildly on trend. That’s because, at least in the world of entertainment, cigarettes are once again cool.
“Materialists” is just the tip of the ash. The musicians Addison Rae and Lorde both mention smoking in recent singles. The stars of “The Bear” are smokers on- and offscreen. The “Housewives” count many among their ranks, and the Bravo enterprise recently had a viral moment thanks to smoking. Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd smoke in the big-screen comedy “Friendship,” while the chic Seema (Sarita Choudhury) on the series “And Just Like That” does as well. In the kitschy video for her track “Manchild” Sabrina Carpenter uses a fork as a cigarette holder. Even Beyoncé has lit up onstage during her Cowboy Carter Tour. In one instance, she throws the cigarette on a piano, which artfully ignites as she performs “Ya Ya.” If Beyoncé is doing it, you know it’s reached the upper echelon of culture. » | Esther Zuckerman | Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The Allure of Smoking Rises Again: The cool factor of cigarettes has proved hard to shake. »
Is smoking cool again?: Attempts to stamp out cigarettes could be having unintended consequences »
IHIP News: Trump the FAKE Strongman FALLS APART in Front of the Entire World
Strong language alert!
That my country felt is right to spend so many millions of pounds on an unprecedented second state visit to this fascist dictator is a national disgrace. More especially at a time when so many children are going hungry in the country and so many people, even working people, have to go to foodbanks to try and put sone sustenance on the table for their loved ones. Crowns, tiaras and jewels empty stomachs do not fill! This is truly disgusting. Shame on our Establishment! — G Mark Alexander
Massimo Scali & Ethan Burgess Perform at the Skating Club of San Francisco's 2025 Ice Show
Best Salad for Kebabs - Spicy Turkish Spoon Salad, Gaziantep Kasik Salatasi
Apr 7, 2023 | Gaziantep Kasik Salatasi, the Spoon Salad, is a super flavorful salad originating in Gaziantep, Turkey. This popular Turkish salad is known for its fresh and vibrant flavors and is one of the best side dishes served with kebabs. The flavors come from the sauce which is made with 10 different spices. The sauce is so delicious, it has to be eaten with a spoon, hence the name.
Isot pepper, also known as Urfa biber, (Hungry Man’s affiliate link) is a unique type of dried chili with smoky flavors and dark maroon colors due to the specific "sweating" process used for drying the chilies. As the name suggests, it's associated with the city Urfa and is the main ingredient for local recipes in the region, such as "Cig Kofte".
Please click here for the full recipe, then click on ‘more’.
HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN can be supported on Patreon here.
WIKIPEDIA : Gaziantep Province »
Isot pepper, also known as Urfa biber, (Hungry Man’s affiliate link) is a unique type of dried chili with smoky flavors and dark maroon colors due to the specific "sweating" process used for drying the chilies. As the name suggests, it's associated with the city Urfa and is the main ingredient for local recipes in the region, such as "Cig Kofte".
Please click here for the full recipe, then click on ‘more’.
HUNGRY MAN KITCHEN can be supported on Patreon here.
WIKIPEDIA : Gaziantep Province »
Turquie : un chanteur visé par le gouvernement pour une chanson évoquant une relation homosexuelle
LE FIGARO : Le ministère turc de l’Intérieur a annoncé jeudi soir avoir déposé une plainte pour «obscénité» contre le chanteur populaire turc Mabel Matiz alors que la pression judiciaire sur les artistes s’est récemment accrue en Turquie.
Le ministère turc de l'Intérieur a annoncé jeudi soir avoir déposé une plainte pour «obscénité» contre le chanteur populaire turc Mabel Matiz alors que la pression judiciaire sur les artistes s'est récemment accrue en Turquie.
Sortie le 5 september dernier, la chanson ?Perperisan («Épuisé» en turc) du musicien plusieurs fois primé et très populaire Mabel Matiz a attiré les foudres du gouvernement islamo-conservateur de Recep Tayyip Erdogan avec ses paroles évoquant une histoire d'amour entre deux hommes. «Je souhaite être mise à nu et placée sur un oreiller avec lui/ Qu'ils me trouvent épuisé/ Alors qu'ils me crucifient», dit le refrain de la chanson pop du musicien âgé de 40 ans et ouvertement homosexuel. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 19 septembre 2025
Le ministère turc de l'Intérieur a annoncé jeudi soir avoir déposé une plainte pour «obscénité» contre le chanteur populaire turc Mabel Matiz alors que la pression judiciaire sur les artistes s'est récemment accrue en Turquie.
Sortie le 5 september dernier, la chanson ?Perperisan («Épuisé» en turc) du musicien plusieurs fois primé et très populaire Mabel Matiz a attiré les foudres du gouvernement islamo-conservateur de Recep Tayyip Erdogan avec ses paroles évoquant une histoire d'amour entre deux hommes. «Je souhaite être mise à nu et placée sur un oreiller avec lui/ Qu'ils me trouvent épuisé/ Alors qu'ils me crucifient», dit le refrain de la chanson pop du musicien âgé de 40 ans et ouvertement homosexuel. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 19 septembre 2025
Trump: Critical TV Networks Could Lose Licenses | DW News
'Death by a Thousand Cuts': Garry Kasparov on How Democratic Rights Can Slowly Slip Away
‘The Cult of the Leader’: The Professor Who Left America Says Fascism Is Flourishing
Sep 14, 2025 | US President Donald Trump is a fascist, running an authoritarian regime. We hear this allegation a lot, now. But is he? Really?
Fascism expert Jason Stanley says he moved with his family to Canada so that he could leave behind, and protest against, the political climate in the United States. Today, Stanley, a University of Toronto philosophy professor, and author of Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future, argues that American exceptionalism has blinded many Americans from thinking fascism could ever take root in their country. And he discusses if fascism could flourish here in Australia.
Jason Stanley appears in Curious at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday 28 September and in Melbourne on Thursday 2 October, presented by The Wheeler Centre.
Fascism expert Jason Stanley says he moved with his family to Canada so that he could leave behind, and protest against, the political climate in the United States. Today, Stanley, a University of Toronto philosophy professor, and author of Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future, argues that American exceptionalism has blinded many Americans from thinking fascism could ever take root in their country. And he discusses if fascism could flourish here in Australia.
Jason Stanley appears in Curious at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday 28 September and in Melbourne on Thursday 2 October, presented by The Wheeler Centre.
Senior Minister Brushes Off Trump’s Advice to Use Military to Control UK Borders
THE GUARDIAN: Peter Kyle says bolstered Border Force is tackling small boat crossings, as second person is deported ‘under one in, one out’ scheme
One of Keir Starmer’s senior ministers has dismissed suggestions by Donald Trump that the British government call out the military to help deal with irregular migration.
Peter Kyle, the UK business secretary, brushed off the comments, which the US president made on Thursday at the end of his two-day state visit.
Trump told a press conference at Chequers: “You have people coming in and I told the prime minister I would stop it, and it doesn’t matter if you call out the military, it doesn’t matter what means you use.”
Kyle said on Friday, however, the government did not need to call on the armed forces to deal with small boat crossings, hours after the UK successfully deported a second asylum seeker to France under the “one-in, one-out” pilot scheme.
He told BBC Breakfast: “What [Trump] suggested was that the military are used, but we have the UK Border Force. It is now established and has been reinforced and bolstered, and has new powers under this government. » | Kiran Stacey, Policy editor | Friday, September 19, 2025
One of Keir Starmer’s senior ministers has dismissed suggestions by Donald Trump that the British government call out the military to help deal with irregular migration.
Peter Kyle, the UK business secretary, brushed off the comments, which the US president made on Thursday at the end of his two-day state visit.
Trump told a press conference at Chequers: “You have people coming in and I told the prime minister I would stop it, and it doesn’t matter if you call out the military, it doesn’t matter what means you use.”
Kyle said on Friday, however, the government did not need to call on the armed forces to deal with small boat crossings, hours after the UK successfully deported a second asylum seeker to France under the “one-in, one-out” pilot scheme.
He told BBC Breakfast: “What [Trump] suggested was that the military are used, but we have the UK Border Force. It is now established and has been reinforced and bolstered, and has new powers under this government. » | Kiran Stacey, Policy editor | Friday, September 19, 2025
Strike Action Across France as Hundreds of Thousands Join Protests
THE GUARDIAN: Disruption seen across country as PM Sébastien Lecornu urged to rethink budget cuts
Hundreds of thousands of people have marched in street demonstrations across France as trade unions held a day of strike action to pressure the new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, to rethink budget cuts and act on wages, pensions and public services.
There was disruption to public transport as train, bus and tram drivers went on strike, hospital staff joined protests and nine out of 10 pharmacies were closed as pharmacists protested against pricing policies. About one in six teachers at primary and secondary schools went on strike, as well as school canteen staff and monitors. Several high schools from Paris to Amiens and Le Havre were blockaded by students. Protesters held more than 250 demonstrations and marched in cities from Paris to Marseille, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier.
“The anger is huge, and so is the determination – my message to Mr Lecornu today is this: it’s the streets that must decide the budget,” said Sophie Binet, head of the leftwing CGT union, as Macron’s new prime minister scrambles to put together a budget for next year, as well as form a new government. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Thursday, September 18, 2025
Hundreds of thousands of people have marched in street demonstrations across France as trade unions held a day of strike action to pressure the new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, to rethink budget cuts and act on wages, pensions and public services.
There was disruption to public transport as train, bus and tram drivers went on strike, hospital staff joined protests and nine out of 10 pharmacies were closed as pharmacists protested against pricing policies. About one in six teachers at primary and secondary schools went on strike, as well as school canteen staff and monitors. Several high schools from Paris to Amiens and Le Havre were blockaded by students. Protesters held more than 250 demonstrations and marched in cities from Paris to Marseille, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier.
“The anger is huge, and so is the determination – my message to Mr Lecornu today is this: it’s the streets that must decide the budget,” said Sophie Binet, head of the leftwing CGT union, as Macron’s new prime minister scrambles to put together a budget for next year, as well as form a new government. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Thursday, September 18, 2025
L’armée israélienne affirme qu’elle va utiliser «une force sans précédent» à Gaza-ville et appelle la population à évacuer
LE FIGARO : Après des semaines de bombardement intensif, Tsahal a lancé mardi son opération terrestre sur la ville de Gaza.
L'armée israélienne a indiqué ce vendredi matin qu'elle va utiliser «une force sans précédent» à Gaza-ville, et appelle la population à évacuer. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 19 septembre 2025
L'armée israélienne a indiqué ce vendredi matin qu'elle va utiliser «une force sans précédent» à Gaza-ville, et appelle la population à évacuer. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 19 septembre 2025
Black Student Found Hanging in Mississippi: Why Far-Right Rhetoric Fuels Rising Racism
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.
Jenny Welch: “Fascists Are Coming for Our Rights.”
Trump Pressures Broadcasters Over Critical Coverage, Escalating Attack on Speech
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The president’s suggestion that broadcasters should lose their licenses because of criticism of him indicated that his assault on critics’ language is driven in part by personal animus.
President Trump said on Thursday that regulators should consider revoking the licenses of broadcasters that air negative coverage or commentary of him, indicating that his assault on critics’ language is motivated at least in part by personal animus.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Mr. Trump called the networks “an arm of the Democrat party” who are out to get him.
“I have read someplace that the networks were 97 percent against me, I get 97 percent negative, and yet I won and easily,” Mr. Trump said as he returned to Washington following a state visit to Britain, adding: “I would think maybe their license should be taken away.”
The comments were a remarkable escalation in a coordinated attack by Mr. Trump and his top aides, who are using the threat of the power of the American government to silence criticism or dissent following the assassination of the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
In the last week, White House has moved to target the tax status of liberal groups, monitor online speech, deny visas and threaten to designate certain groups as domestic terrorists. The administration has argued such measures are necessary to crack down on hate speech that could incite violence, even as Democrats and others warn that it amounts to a crackdown on opposing views. » | Zolan Kanno-Youngs | Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a White House correspondent. He reported from Washington. | Published: Thursday, September 18, 2025; updated: Friday, September 19, 2025
With Americans' penchant for violence, one can but wonder whether the US is heading for another revolution. The Orange One is pushing Americans to the edge, methinks. — © Mark Alexander
President Trump said on Thursday that regulators should consider revoking the licenses of broadcasters that air negative coverage or commentary of him, indicating that his assault on critics’ language is motivated at least in part by personal animus.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Mr. Trump called the networks “an arm of the Democrat party” who are out to get him.
“I have read someplace that the networks were 97 percent against me, I get 97 percent negative, and yet I won and easily,” Mr. Trump said as he returned to Washington following a state visit to Britain, adding: “I would think maybe their license should be taken away.”
The comments were a remarkable escalation in a coordinated attack by Mr. Trump and his top aides, who are using the threat of the power of the American government to silence criticism or dissent following the assassination of the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
In the last week, White House has moved to target the tax status of liberal groups, monitor online speech, deny visas and threaten to designate certain groups as domestic terrorists. The administration has argued such measures are necessary to crack down on hate speech that could incite violence, even as Democrats and others warn that it amounts to a crackdown on opposing views. » | Zolan Kanno-Youngs | Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a White House correspondent. He reported from Washington. | Published: Thursday, September 18, 2025; updated: Friday, September 19, 2025
With Americans' penchant for violence, one can but wonder whether the US is heading for another revolution. The Orange One is pushing Americans to the edge, methinks. — © Mark Alexander
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