Issue 209: The NRA, Old Town Road, Scam Artist Strippers, and Senior Selfies
I have to admit the main thing on my mind today is the senseless gun violence in this country, the failure of politicians to act, and the disgusting rhetoric from "Republicans" like Trump and minority leader Kevin McCarthy that blame the problem on video games... which no scientific evidence supports. I go on a rant below about starting a new NRA, but after that, the rest of this newsletter is pretty escapist...
We Need A New NRA. The NRA was started as an advocacy group to promote training and safety, was taken over by fringe hardliners in the 1970s, and since has become one of the most vocal, pernicious, and effective lobbyist groups in American politics. (Read the whole history here).
Due, in part, to the NRA's manipulation of the media and propaganda directed at gun owners, the NRA has made gun rights in this country more divisive than they need to be. In fact, a vast minority of gun owners are members of the NRA and many feel the NRA no longer represents them.
To break through the polarizing anti-gun / pro-gun debate in this country, I believe we need sensible gun owners to found and support a new NRA. This new NRA (NNRA? SGO? Sensible Gun Owners?) wouldstaunchly defends the second amendment right to bear arms while advocating for sweeping gun control legislation. Their first order of business would be to immediately lobby congress to pass universal background checks, red laws to get hands out of the mentally ill and domestic abusers, and an assault weapons ban – which are supported by the majority of Americans. Even a majority of NRA members support universal background checks. Then, they should advocate for the second amendment rights of all Americans, including and especially, people of color – on which the NRA's silence goes in direct conflict of their stated mission.
I truly believe it would shift the gun debate in this country if responsible gun owners started an organization in opposition to the NRA. I also think people who don't use or own guns need to stop vilifying all gun owners. Whadya think?
Spoonbenders, by Daryl Gregory is a novel about a dysfunctional family of con artist psychics, some of which actually may have supernatural powers.
It's kind of like The Royal Tenenbaums meets tv magicians of the 70s with some Cold War espionage, black ops, and The Mafia. I really enjoyed the shifting perspectives and how well the character studies are written. The book was a Nebula Award Finalist and appeared on many Best Book of 2017 lists. Also, I really like the cover design.
I give Spoonbenders 5/5 Bookies.
I'm pretty excited about the upcoming Constance Wu / Jennifer Lopez movie Hustlers (even though the trailer is awful), so I decided to read the New York Mag article it was based on.
It's an insane story and – while not nearly as well written as other long form articles optioned to be movies – does have a pretty clear narrative.
Some of the most interesting things I read, watched, or listened to in recent weeks:
Hooked On Pop: The $50M Beat Marketplace That Broke the Billboard
One of my new fave podcasts explains BeatStars.com and the beat behind Lil Nas X's record-breaking "Old Town Road."
538: How Much Trouble Could Mark Sanford Cause Trump In The 2020 GOP Primary?
Remember the politician who "went missing while hiking the Appalachian trail" but was really cheating on his wife? He might primary Trump.
NYT OpEd: Smash The Wellness Industry
I disagree its assumption that men don't have eating issues BUT overall this is an eye-opening piece on how "wellness" is just a rebranding of a toxic diet food industry.
One of the most instrumental figures in creating gridlock in Congress and normalizing Trump is Mitch McConnell. Donate what you can to his eventual challenger in 2020 via the Ditch Mitch Fund.
The Lofoten Islands in Norway are North of the Arctic Circle and is basically full of old fisherman's cabins that have been retrofitted into jaw-droopingly beautiful Instagram-worthy boutique hotels and rentals.
This is one of my favorite bits I've directed for Jimmy Kimmel Live so far. We had a blast talking to these older folks
Thanks for reading! I'd love to get your feedback. Favorite segment? What's working? What's not working? What do you want to see more of?