The Ledes

Thursday, July 3, 2025

CNBC: “Job growth proved better than expected in June, as the labor market showed surprising resilience and likely taking a July interest rate cut off the table. Nonfarm payrolls increased a seasonally adjusted 147,000 for the month, higher than the estimate for 110,000 and just above the upwardly revised 144,000 in May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday. April’s tally also saw a small upward revision, now at 158,000 following an 11,000 increase.... Though the jobless rates fell [to 4.1%], it was due largely to a decrease in those working or looking for jobs.”

Washington Post: “A warehouse storing fireworks in Northern California exploded on Tuesday, leaving seven people missing and two injured as explosions continued into Wednesday evening, officials said. Dramatic video footage captured by KCRA 3 News, a Sacramento broadcaster, showed smoke pouring from the building’s roof before a massive explosion created a fireball that seemed to engulf much of the warehouse, accompanied by an echoing boom. Hundreds of fireworks appeared to be going off and were sparkling within the smoke. Photos of the aftermath showed multiple destroyed buildings and a large area covered in gray ash.” ~~~

The Wires
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The Ledes

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

New York Times: “The Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, who emerged from the backwoods of Louisiana to become a television evangelist with global reach, preaching about an eternal struggle between good and evil and warning of the temptations of the flesh, a theme that played out in his own life in a sex scandal, died on July 1. He was 90.” ~~~

     ~~~ For another sort of obituary, see Akhilleus' commentary near the end of yesterday's thread.

Help!

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Thank you to everyone who has been contributing links to articles & other content in the Comments section of each day's "Conversation." If you're missing the comments, you're missing some vital links.

INAUGURATION 2029

Commencement ceremonies are joyous occasions, and Steve Carell made sure that was true this past weekend (mid-June) at Northwestern's commencement:

~~~ Carell's entire commencement speech was hilarious. The audio and video here isn't great, but I laughed till I cried.

CNN did a live telecast Saturday night (June 7) of the Broadway play "Good Night, and Good Luck," written by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, about legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow's effort to hold to account Sen. Joe McCarthy, "the junior senator from Wisconsin." Clooney plays Murrow. Here's Murrow himself with his famous take on McCarthy & McCarthyism, brief remarks that especially resonate today: ~~~

     ~~~ This article lists ways you still can watch the play. 

New York Times: “The New York Times Company has agreed to license its editorial content to Amazon for use in the tech giant’s artificial intelligence platforms, the company said on Thursday. The multiyear agreement 'will bring Times editorial content to a variety of Amazon customer experiences,' the news organization said in a statement. Besides news articles, the agreement encompasses material from NYT Cooking, The Times’s food and recipe site, and The Athletic, which focuses on sports. This is The Times’s first licensing arrangement with a focus on generative A.I. technology. In 2023, The Times sued OpenAI and its partner, Microsoft, for copyright infringement, accusing the tech companies of using millions of articles published by The Times to train automated chatbots without any kind of compensation. OpenAI and Microsoft have rejected those accusations.” ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: I have no idea what this means for "the Amazon customer experience." Does it mean that if I don't have a NYT subscription but do have Amazon Prime I can read NYT content? And where, exactly, would I find that content? I don't know. I don't know.

Washington Post reporters asked three AI image generators what a beautiful woman looks like. "The Post found that they steer users toward a startlingly narrow vision of attractiveness. Prompted to show a 'beautiful woman,' all three tools generated thin women, without exception.... Her body looks like Barbie — slim hips, impossible waist, round breasts.... Just 2 percent of the images showed visible signs of aging. More than a third of the images had medium skin tones. But only nine percent had dark skin tones. Asked to show 'normal women,' the tools produced images that remained overwhelmingly thin.... However bias originates, The Post’s analysis found that popular image tools struggle to render realistic images of women outside the Western ideal." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: The reporters seem to think they are calling out the AI programs for being unrealistic. But there's a lot about the "beautiful women" images they miss. I find these omissions remarkably sexist. For one thing, the reporters seem to think AI is a magical "thing" that self-generates. It isn't. It's programmed. It's programmed by boys, many of them incels who have little or no experience or insights beyond comic books and Internet porn of how to gauge female "beauty." As a result, the AI-generated women look like cartoons; that is, a lot like an air-brushed photo of Kristi Noem: globs of every kind of dark eye makeup, Scandinavian nose, Botox lips, slathered-on skin concealer/toner/etc. makeup, long dark hair and the aforementioned impossible Barbie body shape, including huge, round plastic breasts. 

New York Times: “George Clooney’s Broadway debut, 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' has been one of the sensations of the 2024-25 theater season, breaking box office records and drawing packed houses of audiences eager to see the popular movie star in a timely drama about the importance of an independent press. Now the play will become much more widely available: CNN is planning a live broadcast of the penultimate performance, on June 7 at 7 p.m. Eastern. The performance will be preceded and followed by coverage of, and discussion about, the show and the state of journalism.”

No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land. -- Magna Carta ~~~

~~~ New York Times: “Bought for $27.50 after World War II, the faint, water stained manuscript in the library of Harvard Law School had attracted relatively little attention since it arrived there in 1946. That is about to change. Two British academics, one of whom happened on the manuscript by chance, have discovered that it is an original 1300 version — not a copy, as long thought — of Magna Carta, the medieval document that helped establish some of the world’s most cherished liberties. It is one of just seven such documents from that date still in existence.... A 710-year-old version of Magna Carta was sold in 2007 for $21.3 million.... First issued in 1215, it put into writing a set of concessions won by rebellious barons from a recalcitrant King John of England — or Bad King John, as he became known in folklore. He later revoked the charter, but his son, Henry III, issued amended versions, the last one in 1225, and Henry’s son, Edward I, in turn confirmed the 1225 version in 1297 and again in 1300.”

NPR lists all of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize winners. Poynter lists the prizes awarded in journalism as well as the finalists in these categories.

 

Contact Marie

Email Marie at constantweader@gmail.com

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Monday
Nov022020

Presidential Race -- Called by AP/Networks

JOE BIDEN NOW HAS A CLEAR PATH TO EXACTLY 270 VOTES, even if he doesn't prevail in Pennsylvania. He need only win Nevada's 6 Electoral votes, where he is slightly ahead & hang onto Arizona, which most networks have not called.

~~~~~~~~~~

At 1:30 am ET Tuesday, Trump was way ahead in Wisconsin, Michigan & Pennsylvania. This is horrifying. ~~~

     ~~~ ** Update of states not projected @ 5 am ET Wednesday: As of 7:20 am ET, Biden has pulled ahead in Wisconsin by about 20,000 votes. As of 10 am, Biden has pulled ahead of Trump by about 10,000 votes. NBC News still hasn't called Arizona for Biden, tho Fox & the AP have. Trump is still significantly ahead in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia & Alaska. Biden is leading in Nevada. In Pennsylvania, there are "hundreds of thousands of votes still uncounted," according to officials. Anyway, the polls were waaaay off. ~~~

     ~~~ Update. NYT @ 12:40 pm ET: "There are only about 300 votes left to count in Wisconsin, officials say. They're in the town of Willow in Richland County. Biden leads by more than 20,000 votes." (See sidebar.) Mrs. McC: So that should be a wrap, but the AP & networks haven't called the state. Update: The AP has called Wisconsin for Biden; Trump's campaign will ask for a recount. ~~~

     ~~~ Update. NBC News has projected Biden will win Michigan.

     ~~~ Nate Cohn of the New York Times: "Joe Biden has won absentee ballots counted in Pennsylvania by an overwhelming margin so far, according to data from the Secretary of State early Wednesday. If he carried the remaining absentee ballots by a similar margin, he would win the state."

~~~ Among the votes that haven't been counted are many throughout the country cast by the "suckers & losers" serving out-of-country in our military.

 

~~~ States depicted in blue are states the AP or networks have called for Joe Biden. Red states are those the AP or networks have called for Trump. Tan states have not been called

Alabama: AP call
Arizona: Via NYT
Arkansas: Via NYT
Colorado: NBC call
California: NBC cal
Connecticut: AP call
Delaware: NBC call
*Florida: NBC call
Hawaii: Via NYT
Kentucky: Via NYT
Illinois: AP call
Iowa: NBC call
Indiana: NBC call
Kansas: Via NYT
Louisiana: AP call
Maine 1st + 2: AP calls. 4th via NYT
Maryland: NBC call
Massachusetts: NBC call
Michigan: NBC call
Minnesota: Via Politico
Mississippi: AP call
Missouri: NBC call
Montana: NBC call
Nebraska: AP, NBC calls
New Hampshire: NBC call
New Jersey: NBC call
New Mexico: AP call
New York: NBC call
North Dakota: AP call
*Ohio. NBC call
Oklahoma: NBC call
Oregon: NBC call
Rhode Island: AP call
South Carolina: Via NYT
South Dakota: AP call
Tennessee: AP call
Texas: NBC call
Utah: NBC call
Vermont: Via NYT
Virginia: Via NYT
Washington State: NBC call
Washington, D.C.: NBC call
West Virginia: AP call
Wisconsin: AP call
Wyoming: NBC call

 

Senate Races -- Called by AP/Networks

~~~ The states colored gray have no Senate races this year. States colored tan have Senate races that have not been called.

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters (D), as of Wednesday afternoon, is ahead by about 15,000 votes. He was trailing by a significant number until the most recent count. The race has not been called.

Republicans almost certainly will maintain control of the Senate.

Alabama: Via NYT. Tommy Tuberville (R) defeats Sen. Doug Jones (D).
Arizona: Via NYT. Mark Kelly (D) defeats Sen. Martha McSally (R).
Arkansas: Via NYT. Tom Cotton (R) wins re-election.
Colorado: NBC News. John Hickenlooper (D) defeats incumbent Cory Gardner (R).
Delaware: Via NYT. Chris Coons (D) wins re-election.
Georgia (2nd seat): Via NYT. Runoff between Raphael Warnock (D) & Kelly Loeffler (R).
Idaho. Via NYT. Jim Risch (R) wins re-election.
Illinois: Via NYT. Dick Durbin (D) wins re-election.
Iowa: NBC call. Joni Ernst (R) wins re-election.
Kansas: Via NYT. Roger Marshall (R) wins.
Kentucky: NBC call. Mitch McConnell (R) wins re-election.
Louisiana: Via NYT. Bill Cassidy (R) wins re-election.
Maine: Via NYT. Concerned Susan Collins wins re-election.
Massachusetts: Via NYT. Ed Markey (D) wins re-election.
Michigan: NBC call. Gary Peters (D) wins re-election.
Minnesota: NBC call. Tina Smith retains her seat.
Mississippi: Via NYT. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) retains her seat.
Montana: Via NYT. Steve Daines (R) wins re-election.
Nebraska: Via NYT. Ben Sasse (R) wins re-election.
New Hampshire: Via NYT. Jeanne Shaheen (D) wins re-election.
New Jersey: Via NYT. Cory Booker (D) wins re-election.
New Mexico: NBC call. Ray Luján (D) wins.
Oklahoma: Via NYT. Jim Inhofe (R) wins re-election.
Oregon: Via NYT. Jeff Merkley (D) wins re-election.
Rhode Island: Via NYT. Jack Reed (D) wins re-election.
South Carolina: NBC call. Lindsey Graham (R) wins re-election. Sad.
South Dakota: Via NYT. Mike Rounds (R) wins re-election.
Tennessee: Via NYT. Bill Hagerty (R) wins.
Texas: NBC call. John Cornyn (R) wins re-election.
Virginia: AP call. Mark Warner (D) wins re-election.
West Virginia: AP call. Shelley Moore Capito (R) wins re-election.
Wyoming: Via NYT. Cynthia Lummis (R) wins.


House Races. Mrs. McCrabbie: I won't be able to keep up with House races, but I'll try to keep a running tally & post any interesting or unusual results about the House contests in the right column as time allows.

Gubernatorial Races. I'll post called races in the right column.

Comments Off

Reader Comments (13)

At 10:46 central, it’s not looking like there will be a result tonight. However, at this point, the electoral vote differential is enough, in Biden’s favor, that the fascist will be (should be) unable to peremptorily declare himself king. At least tonight. Nonetheless, a CBS reporter at the White House has stated that the Fatty acolytes are privately claiming victory and readying themselves to bow down before the little king whenever he can clean the Big Mac mustard stains off his 7 ft. tie and grace them with his portly presence.

Of course, this is to be expected. In any event, I’m not setting off any fireworks. This election can still be stolen.

It’ll be a long night.

November 3, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterAkhilleus

And here they go...

Just heard Reince Priebus whining about vote discrepancies. The whine should shortly become a scream.

November 3, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterAkhilleus

OMG, Pennsylvania and Ohio!

November 4, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterAkhilleus

Nail-biter time. This should have been a blowout. Thanks for your work reporting on this.

November 4, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterJohn

What in the fucking hell is wrong with the people in this country? Do they have a death wish? One thing is certain. All the chaos and suppression and efforts to make voting as difficult as possible have paid off. People want to live in Nazi Germany?

November 4, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterAkhilleus

Along with everyone else here, I hold my breath about the POTUS position. Senate results are already very discouraging.

Kinda wish I believed in the efficacy of prayer, but all I can do is cross my arthritic fingers and wish, sans much hope.

Would track the popular vote totals so far but can't find a handy summary. Want to know exactly how many of my fellow citizens to despise and fear.

Will it be more than the four out of five I've become accustomed to in the last four years? Joe Scarborough and Akhilleus ask the relevant questions to which too many apprarently provided the wrong answers.

Local results in our formerly red county are more pleasant, but that's not nearly enough on this gray and blustery morning here in the Northwest.

November 4, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterKen Winkes

AK: "What in the fucking hell is wrong with the people in this country?" See my comment in the other comment section below. Although I try and parse this outcome with a modicum of understanding I am screaming those exact words!!!!!!

@Ken: "Kinda wish I believed in the efficacy of prayer, but all I can do is cross my arthritic fingers and wish, sans much hope." Me, too!

November 4, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterPD Pepe

Pennsylvania Packet,26 November 1776.
"All took for granted that a society could not long remain republican if a tiny minority controlled most of the wealth."
1776 !!
from : Empire of Liberty by Gordon S. Wood. pg 8
Perhaps Trump would have little appeal if America did not rank forty seventh in Equality among Democracies.

November 4, 2020 | Unregistered Commentercarlyle

Un-fricken-believable. One swing state voter said she didn't believe the Trump messes because, fake news.

Let's see if they feel the same when SS and medicare go away.

November 4, 2020 | Unregistered Commentergonzo_was_here

Ho Hum. 4 more years of McConnell saving America from the socialist horde. Freeedommmm!!!
For Biden it will be a replay of the Obama administration. Hamstrung at every move by a hostile Senate.
My heart goes out to every American who is to the left of Attila the Hun.

November 4, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterCowichan's opinion

@Cowichan, my neighbor to the north.

Thanks for the good wishes. We all need them, especially since the Biden victory you assume isn't by any means a done deal.

Still, a Biden victory, no matter how slim, would be better than having a liar, grifter and racist as the face of the country we present to the rest of the world.

I grasp at anything positive, I know.

November 4, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterKen Winkes

Peripheral concern:

Have been wondering for days how a court can "punish" the USPS for DeMisery's behavior.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/04/judge-postal-service-mail-in-ballots-434051

Who would/could pay a price?

Seems to me there's already practical immunity for corporate malfeasance. No one goes to jail. A fine, maybe, but it's never blood, just money.

But what about government misbehavior? We've learned accountability (vide: the Bush II gang of.criminals that were never prosecuted) is hard to come by. DeMisery has already blamed down-postal-hierarchy for some of his decision. Who will he hang out to dry next?

And we know the USPS can't pay a fine. They have no money. Congress broke them years ago.

November 4, 2020 | Unregistered CommenterKen Winkes

@Ken Winkes: My thoughts, too. A judge could order the states to accept & count certain ballots even outside the bounds of their state laws, I suppose, but that would not pass even an appeals court, much less the Thomas/Barrett Court Jesters cabal. Postal workers are not federal employees; I'm not sure about the postmaster general. If he is, he can't be sued under law, & it would be hard to prove criminal liability. The supervisors or whoever they were could be held in contempt of court for not obeying the judge's order to get those ballots to their destinations, but big whup.

And that's not the point. The disqualification of those ballots could have immeasurable consequences for our crappy system of government. The presidential & down-ballot elections could turn on them.

November 4, 2020 | Registered CommenterMarie Burns
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