Top Ten - Trump's 78 + RICO; Rogan and Tucker reshaping media; Is Rent a sleeper issue?
Sugar Hill Gang, Billy Joel, and Anthony Bourdain's outstanding Negroni recipe
A plurality of Republicans - according to this Reuters/Ipsos poll - will not vote for President Trump if he is convicted.
Here is a WAPO breakdown of the 78 indictments thus far and WSJ article on possible Georgia indictments on their RICO statute. Basically, the GOP nomination is far from over. Trump has to go 78 for 78 BEFORE Georgia goes RICO on him. (Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations)
Here is the burn rate for 2024 candidates :
We’ll see who can get on Joe Rogan’s podcast - he’s only averaging 11 million listeners per podcast or book a sit down with Tucker Carlson whose four August interviews on Twitter have 105 MILLION views so far.
Zoom with two members of Congress from Virginia - Rob Wittman and Abigail Spanberger join Virginia FREE Fridays August 25th.
Register at this link - it’s not a Rogan or Carlson sized audience (yet) but we always have a very informative and entertaining conversation.
Wittman on at 3pm followed by Spanberger at 3:30pm. Both are rumored to be looking at Governor in 2025.
Not sure what to make of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign for president, but he is the most often discussed candidate in our family. Recent Harvard/Harris polling with Fave/Unfave ratings. Harvard/Harris is an online poll so enter at your own risk.
Top 3 - Kennedy, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Tim Scott
Possible late in cycle political issue here in Virginia General Assembly races - RENT. Remember Jimmy McMillan who ran for NYC mayor on the Rent Is Too DAMN High Party? Yes it was an actual political party.
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Throw in some rising gas prices…
Watch your social media feeds for early warning signs.
Speaking of social media…here’s a Bloomberg story on China restricting smart phone usage by children. If I’m running for office this seems like a good topic to ask voters - should we limit use of smart phones for children and young adults? Would LOVE to see those cross tabs.
Strong book recommendation here for any candidate running for office or anyone leading any group - Sally Jenkins of WAPO sports The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us About Leadership, Excellence, and Decision-Making
Finally, a MUST READ by David Zweig over at The Free Press - Anthony Fauci’s Deceptions A trove of emails, Slack messages, and other documents reveal Fauci’s behind-the-scenes involvement. ‘Tony doesn't want his fingerprints on origin stories.’
U.S. Senator Daniel Moynihan famously said:
You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.
I’m not so sure anymore.
Join the Zoom today at 3pm to discuss any and all of the above.
Here’s the link - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87140767140
On hold videos:
Michele and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary last night. Apparently, I broke the news to her that I liked Billy Joel. It didn’t go over well.
“How did I not know this after 32 years of marriage?”
“Everyone likes Billy Joel.”
“But you’ve never told me that!”
“That everyone likes Billy Joel?”
“No, that you do!”
Well, we made to 32 years +1.
Updates to follow…
This was over drinks with wonderful neighbors as we were joined by neighborhood alumni who have since moved to Highland Falls, NY (next to West Point). Joel wrote this song there. It’s one of my faves.
Have a great weekend. Start here: