Holiday face-off

I’ve seen some horrible AZ Cardinals losses in the 35 years I’ve lived here, but that might be the worst. Literally giving away a TD, then whatever the weird interception-that-turned-into-a-Titans TD thing was, the inability to stop a winless team when it counted. Just brutal.

What a day

The column I wrote about Trump and Hegseth’s “event” ran in some papers around the country today. So I was treated to some extra, um, feedback. In truth, a lot of it was positive. The link to it is in comments. Have a look!

Curious to see whether #SNL plays it this safe the entire show. It’s certainly not paying Trump $16 million to try to keep the bully from stealing your lunch money (hello CBS and ABC), but it feels weirdly cautious. I guess we’ll see what happens with Weekend Update.

Just watched a Morgan and Morgan law firm commercial where an old wrestler looking guy beat the crap out of a kid. I think I might go with another firm…

Not much of a #SNL cold open. Gee, maybe there just wasn’t much to work with since the last time the show was on the air…

Colin Jost as Pete Hegseth is kind of perfect. #SNL

Why didn’t she cover this open.spotify.com/track/5FMXrp...

I don't know why I subject myself to the passive-aggressive critique of the Wordle Bot - dude, I solved it - but I do.

Now Danica Patrick is slamming the selection of Bad Bunny as Super Bowl halftime performer. Honestly at this point I wish the NFL would announce that not only is he performing at halftime, he will start at quarterback for the designated home team. Do these people have nothing better to do?

Watching the Speaker of the House misrepresent, you might charitably say, various Democratic positions, along with basic facts, on Fox News. And John Roberts just merrily goes right along with it. What happened to Roberts? He used to be a real journalist.

I wrote about the sort-of late-night meeting of the minds last night, and caught up a bit on where it all stands these days. Have a look: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

This appeared in print today, inspiring the usual reactions. I'll spare you details. There's a link to the column in comments. Give it a read!

ICYMI: I wrote about a genuinely insane morning. Describing it as anything less isn't just inaccurate, it's irresponsible: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

I wrote about Trump and Hegseth's speeches to top military brass. It was nuts. And anyone who reports on it as normal is just not doing their job. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

Trump, in front of generals and admirals required to be in his presence, is now complimenting Barack Obama for … the way Obama walked down the stairs of Air Force One.

Starting to think that not every single word Trump is saying to the nation’s military leaders if 100% true…

Trump is now railing against the media. This is basically a campaign speech in which he occasionally mentions the military leaders who are required to be there.

Trump just mentioned “fake-news CNN” and said, “Oh they just turned their camera off” and that they do so every time he mentions them. I literally watched him tell this lie on CNN. He’s replaying his big hits.

What my TV looks like. Which is a reminder that MLB Playoffs start today.

Trump: "I used to watch 'Victory at Sea.' I LOVE 'Victory at Sea.'" Perhaps he will ask the nation's generals and admirals what their favorite war movie is. I think, judging from the backdrop, Hegseth's is "Patton."

Trump, the military top brass: "Tariff is my favorite word." "My favorite word in the English dictionary is tariff." And about 27 variations on that theme. You have to wonder what they are thinking.

Trump, rambling in front of the nation's highest-ranking military leaders: "Actually, I love my signature. I really do."

I'm sure the generals and admirals who have been called away from their actual jobs to D.C. for this are enjoying Trump bragging about insisting that the AP call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.

New episode of Vallye 101: We went to the fair! We tried a bunch of food! Several of us at @azcentral.com sampled the new and sometimes notable offerings at the Arizona State Fair. Give it a listen! www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

This photo is amazing

Some critical context about Trump's troops to "war-ravaged Portland" that most folks don't know: Any conflicts there between protesters and ICE agents are happening because ICE agents ARE PROVOKING THEM (From that "radical left-wing group," the Portland Police Department) bsky.app/profile/mock...

I keep seeing stories fretting about whether this movie will lose money, what that means for the future, etc. etc. etc. I vote that instead of worrying about all that, just GO SEE THE DAMN MOVIE, because it's really great. Here's my review: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

So glad fall has arrived

ICYMI: I wrote about Kimmel's first show back, and Trump's tantrum, and more: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

Question for people who know more about BlueSky than I do, which is everyone here: I post links to the columns I write (imagine). It used to automatically include the photo with the link and headline. Now, the photo doesn’t show up. Any idea why? It still does on Facebook, Threads, etc.

Hey, what do you know, I gave a movie 5 stars. 'One Battle After Another' is great. Go see it. AFTER reading this, of course... www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

Committed to the bit

Jimmy Kimmel returned to ABC. It was remarkable. Trump threatened to sue ABC. Sadly, that’s no longer remarkable. I wrote about it all: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

So @jimmykimmel.com's first words back tonight--"As I was saying..."-- were an homage to Tonight Show host Jack Paar, who used those words when he returned after walking out on his show in a censorship dispute with NBC. From 65 years ago: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrhQ...

I wrote about Kimmel's return, Trump's threats and wondered where we go from here: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

I HIGHLY recommend 'The Lowdown,' which you can watch on FX or stream (tomorrow) on Hulu. Really good. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

There's a wrong way and a right way to report this

I've been writing about a lot of contentious issues lately, so it was nice to slow down and talk about dogs. Including my own, Buster, looking like a handsome fellow in the picture. It's our latest episode of Valley 101. Give it a listen! www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

And just like that - wait, that's another show - Kimmel is back (tomorrow): www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

'The View' got around to talking about Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, and explained the silence. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

ICYMI: I wrote about Charlie Kirk’s memorial, which featured forgiveness, Trump rants and whatever dark thing Stephen Miller was doing: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

I wrote about Charlie Kirk's memorial service, which ranged from his widow powerfully forgiving his killer to whatever it was Trump and Stephen Miller were doing, which was ugly. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

"The story in New York right now is Cam Skattebo!" - Cris Collinsworth

Trump: “Some of the very people who call you a hater for using the wrong pronoun were filled with glee at the killing of a father with two beautiful young children.”

Trump is not touting taking over Washington, D.C. At Charlie Kirk’s memorial. “The lawns are good. It’s like a different place.”

Trump has now just gone into full campaign rally mode, with occasional nods to Kirk. He repeated the stolen-election lie, again. “They cheated like dogs but we got ’em back didn’t we?”

Trump at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service: “He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I HATE my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry.” Again, this is a memorial service.

Trump, at Charlie Kirk’s memorial: “I call it the radical left. Sometimes i call it the radical left lunatics. But Charlie didn’t say that. He called it the left. He was probably right, but I can’t help it.”