“The real problem of humanity is as follows: we have Paleolithic emotions, Medieval institutions, and godlike technology.”
– E.O.Wilson
Conspiratorialism and neoliberalism: If “there is no such thing as society,” then all evil must be the fault of evil individuals.
Gang Databases: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Humans vs the alternative – Sharp Little Pencil
What will we call Iceland when all the ice is gone?
Inside the Silicon Valley push to breed super-babies
The mislabeled energy drink that could give you a DUI … or worse.
20 Best Countries For Work-Life Balance—And U.S. Isn’t On It
Investors snap up a growing share of US homes as traditional buyers struggle to afford one
Why Your Voice Sounds Different to You Than to Others
Why you shouldn’t visit Las Vegas
Ryne Sandberg, a baseball Hall of Fame player primarily for the Chicago Cubs, dies at 65
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor, musician, director, and producer, dies at 54
Michael Ochs, Pop Culture’s Preeminent Photo Archivist, Dies at 82
Vince Calandra, ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ Talent Booker Who Helped Bring on The Beatles, Dies at 91
Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Icon, Dies at 71
How a fake astronaut fooled the world, broke women’s hearts, and landed in jail
A toddler tells a joke.
A history of… pizza
Now I Know: The Smell of Time Passing? and The Number That’s Illegal to Share and Do Not Fry This At Home and Getting Divorced Over an Illegal Hyphen? and The Burger With a Side of Insensitivity
Two steps back
RFK Jr. Reportedly Planning to Fire All U.S. Preventive Services Task Force members and replace them with members of his choosing
Treasury Sec Admits ‘Backdoor’ Scheme to Privatize Social Security
EPA deepens environmental rollback with delays, deregulation, and industry favoritism
Delays and dysfunction: How FEMA overhaul failed Texas flood victims
FCC abandons the future
Memo allows federal workers to persuade coworkers that their religion is ‘correct’
Mass Firings at Department of Education Are Already Harming US Students
By Refusing to Show Faces or Badges, ICE Opens Door to Vigilante Impersonators
Venezuelan Little League team denied entry into the US amid travel ban
Doctors in Elected Office Are Turning Their Backs on Science
Republicans keep voting for bad bills to suck up
The worst chief justice of all time
“Unitary Executive” is a euphemism for Tyrant
Fight back
WATCH: “How Can YOU Defend Our Democracy?” Panel discussion with Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Professor Lauren DesRosiers, and Corey Dukes. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) writes: “Refuse to normalize what is happening to our country — because it is not normal. We must stay in touch with our outrage and refuse to accept the idea that the deluge of unconstitutional, horrific actions is our new normal. What is happening is not normal, and we can’t accept it as such.”
ACTION: Stop Palantir’s mass surveillance dragnet targeting immigrants. FOTUS’s billionaire mega-donor, Peter Thiel, is profiting from the violence. The Thiel-founded big-tech company Palantir has a $30 million contract with ICE to surveil and track immigrants so it’s easier for the regime to raid workplaces, schools, and homes. And that’s only one of Palantir’s contracts — in all, the company has received at least $113 million of taxpayer money since January.
ACTION: Not only is extremist adviser Stephen Miller pushing an inhumane immigration policy, but he is also buying hundreds of thousands of dollars of stock in the company the government is contracting with to carry out the very policies he advocates. He is the driving force behind some of the most harmful anti-immigrant measures in modern U.S. history. Support Rep. Robert Garcia’s call to investigate Miller’s misconduct, and demand that every member of the House Oversight Committee join him.
MUSIC OBITS
Alan Bergman, Oscar-winning lyricist who helped write “The Way We Were,” dies at 99
Tom Lehrer, Musical Satirist With a Dark Streak, Dies at 97. Songs and lyrics, with all copyrights permanently and irrevocably relinquished since 2007. LOC interview (2015). Full Copenhagen Performance. The Tom Lehrer Wisdom Channel. Poisoning Pigeons in the Park and The Vatican Rag and Silent E and The Element Song– Tom Lehrer
Cleo Laine, who boasted a four-octave range, has died at 97. Send In The Clowns – Cleo Laine
From 1958 to 1964, she was the most popular female singer in the United States, selling 40 million records. (Musical links within)
Paranoid -Black Sabbath
Coverville 1543: The Ozzy Osbourne Tribute
MORE MUSIC
The Day I Saw An Angel Fly – Sharp Little Pencil
Lachian Dances by Leoš Janáček
Coverville 1541: The Jack White Cover Story II and 1542: This Day in Covers: July 17, 2025
Jolanta and Fotographia– Peter Sprague
My Misery – Jake Wesley Rogers
Your Summer Playlist, Courtesy of the Internet Archive: Anchored by the expansive Grateful Dead collection, our Live Music Archive features nearly 300,000 items for endless, easy, summer listening. Search for your favorite artist or discover someone new.
K-Chuck Radio: The First Cut Is The Deepest
Daniel Leaves by Bill Conti from The Karate Kid Part II
Coldplay: Tiny Desk Concert (March 9, 2020)