DML Morning Briefing Mon. July 5: The divided states of America
By Team DML
Today is July 5 and I am Dennis Michael Lynch. Below are my opinions on the stories grabbing headlines this morning. I hope you share this briefing as doing so will make you the smartest person in the room, in my opinion.
1 – PBS, Vanessa Williams spark backlash over ‘black national anthem’
The NY Post reports: PBS has sparked tense backlash with its decision to have Vanessa Williams perform the “black national anthem” during its July 4 coverage — with critics blasting the move as divisive and un-American.
Williams’ performance on the station’s annual Capitol Fourth program Sunday evening is intended to celebrate the recognition of Juneteenth’s establishment as a federal holiday.
“It’s in celebration of the wonderful opportunity that we now have to celebrate Juneteenth. So we are reflective of the times,” the actress and singer, who was the first black woman to win the Miss America Pageant, told the Associated Press.
“We are reflective of the times and I’m happy to be part of a tremendous show that the producers are aware and willing to make the changes that have happened within the past year and a half.”
Her rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” will not replace the US national anthem, which will be sung by Grammy-award winner Renée Fleming — but it has still bitterly divided people on social media.
DML: ENOUGH of this nonsense!
2 – Nationals cancel ‘Freedom Fireworks’ on Fourth of July due to city’s noise curfew
Fox News reports: The Washington Nationals squared off against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday afternoon. After the game, the Nationals were expected to host “Freedom Fireworks” presented by Budweiser, but the team put out a statement saying that it was canceled due to the city’s noise curfew.
“We apologize for the inconvenience,” the statement concluded.
Reportedly, the rain delay pushed the game past midnight, so the “noise curfew” won out over the fireworks show.
DML: Say WHAT?
3 – Democrat Cori Bush slams the Fourth of July, claims ‘Black people still aren’t free’
Fox News reports: One Democratic lawmaker and several left-wing figures used the Fourth of July to share controversial statements or disparage the founding of the United States.
Democrat Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo, tweeted out, “When they say that the 4th of July is about American freedom, remember this: the freedom they’re referring to is for White people. This land is stolen land and Black people still aren’t free.”
In another tweet, Bush added, “We know what our own freedom looks like. End the slavery permitted under the 13th amendment. End the War on Drugs. End police violence. End health care, housing, and education apartheid. WE are the experts on our own liberation. And we won’t stop until it’s won.”
DML: And this person is in U.S. Congress!
4 – Oregon governor: Heat wave death toll ‘absolutely unacceptable’
The Hill reports: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) on Sunday denounced as “absolutely unacceptable” the scores of deaths in her state as a result of the recent record-setting heat wave in the Pacific Northwest.
During an appearance on CBS’s “Face The Nation,” Brown told host Ed O’Keefe that her administration’s biggest concern “is that this is a harbinger of things to come.”
“We have been working to prepare for climate change in this state for a number of years,” she said. “What was unprecedented, of course, was the three days of record-breaking heat, and it was horrific to see over 90 Oregonians lose their lives.”
She added, “We literally have had four emergency declarations in this state at the federal level since April of 2020. Over Labor Day last year, we had horrific wildfires. They were historic. We lost over a million acres, over 4,000 homes and nine lives.”
DML: She calls it climate change. Some people call it weather.
5 – Biden is getting mocked for his reaction to Russia question
Fox News reports: President Biden appeared to check his notes after being confronted by the press on whether Russia was behind a recent ransomware attack while he was shopping inside a store in Traverse City, Michigan, on Saturday.
“With the most recent hack by the Russians, would you say that this means – ” a reporter is heard asking about the attack that targeted Miami-based IT software management company Kaseya, before Biden interrupts her to say that they “don’t know” yet if it was the Russians.
“I’ll be in better shape to talk about it – hold on for one second,” Biden said, before taking a piece of paper out of his jacket and putting on a pair of glasses. He said he had just been “briefed” on the hack, but still appeared confused by the inquiry.
DML: Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. Putin has to be laughing his head off.