ICYMI: It was 100 degrees in Phoenix yesterday. On March 18. And it’ll get hotter today. Lunacy, man. I wrote about what it’s like living in a pizza oven. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

Well, that's it. If it's all the same to whoever is in charge of these things, I'd like my spring back. Because someone sold it. I wrote about a depressing heat record: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

Sure why not

"So this is the place where Democrats and anti-Trumpers join in a throaty chorus of praise for Kent, right? Not so fast." Trump's revolving-door support of anyone it's expedient for him to support (until it's not) makes it complex. I wrote about a weird situation: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

I'm nobody's editor but every story about the SAVE act should include the fact that it's a solution in search of a problem.

I wrote about how Trump’s ever-changing loyalties and penchant for people with checkered pasts have warped coverage of things like Joe Kent’s resignation. It’s crazy out there. Have a look: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

In a new episode of Valley 101, we talk about Arizona's population. Which is ... well, listen and find out. We also discuss, with Corina Vanek, if the population wave is breaking. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

This was traditionally the point of the Oscars broadcast where I would complain on Twitter that some of us have deadlines, thank you very much, can we speed it up? But I’m not writing about the Oscars on deadline and I don’t use Twitter anymore, so please, go on.

“Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening, or didn’t want to” — hahaha Kieran Culkin. Anyway here’s my review of “One Battle After Another.” I ain’t proud. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

OK, that absolutely bonkers Burger King commercial during the Oscars is as good a reason as any to re-up my taste test of the new Whopper. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

My review of “KPop Demon Hunters,” which just won best animated feature. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

I’m doing the annoying thing where I link to my reviews of movies that win awards. Here’s “Weapons!” www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

“This is great!” Good for Amy Madigan.

Laughed out loud at Conan’s caps lock joke. #oscars

#Oscars starting in a bit. These are my picks, which I am not at all confident in, lol. But the uncertainty should make it fun. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

This ran in the paper today. One MAGA enthusiast called it "Today's Chuckle." But there's nothing funny about what's going on. There's a link to the column in the comments.

This week’s Watchlist newsletter. Satisfaction guaranteed! Or implied, anyway. There’s a link to subscribe in the comments. Do it!

Honestly, it's impossible to keep up. Since I wrote this, Hegseth has tried rewriting headlines the Hegseth way, attacked CNN and Trump said the war will end "when I feel it, OK, when I feel it in my bones." I wrote about the media's role in all this. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

I wrote about the role of media in covering a war, and how the Trump administration, with its, ahem, flexible relationship to the truth, makes it more difficult. Not that it's ever easy. But this is different. Have a look: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

I liked "Undertone" quite a bit. Here's my review: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

This is a tough year for Oscars predictions. But I like making them and I think people like reading them and arguing about them. So read it! Prove me right! With the perpetual caveat that winning or not winning does not change a movie's quality one bit. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

NEW: A recently developed Defense Department program was meant to reduce civilian harm during military operations. But months before the Iran war, the mission was dissolved as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made “lethality” a top priority. By @hannahallam.bsky.social

Weather in Arizona is like Opposite Day. A cloudy day makes you happy here, not sad. And rain — real rain, not just random sprinkles that smudge your windshield while sending the local weather forecasters into a frenzy — is like a snowstorm that cancels school in the third grade. Rare, and fabulous.

What my TV looks like right now

New episode of Valley 101. What time zone is Arizona? It depends. We look at Daylight Saving Time, and how most of Arizona thankfully gives it a pass. Have a listen! www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

My seemingly never-ending hobby of rating R.E.M. records continues with “Automatic for the People.” Spoiler alert: You probably like it more than I do. open.substack.com/pub/billgood...

This is an absurd and short-sighted decision by NY/Vulture. @mattzollerseitz.bsky.social is a great (and influential) writer and a great guy. Check out the bookstore. Just insane. Good luck, Matt.

ICYMI: Back on the burger train. I tried the new and improved Whopper. It falls in the if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it category. Luckily, they didn't, not really. My review, as such: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

ICYMI: I had such high hopes for "The Bride!" Alas. ... My review: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

CNN: Live coverage of Jesse Jackson funeral. MS NOW: Live coverage of Jesse Jackson funeral. Fox News: “Trump meets with defense firms as U.S. pounds Iran”

My favorite thing about Arizona spring is the smell of orange blossoms, which I love right up to the onset of my violent sneezing fit.

Today’s newsletter, in which I talk about Hegseth’s disgraceful media claims, among other things. There’s a link to subscribe in the comments. So easy!

Can’t stop won’t stop. I tried yet another giant fast-food burger, a classic that’s undergone some changes. What’s Burger King thinking? Have a look: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

Savannah Guthrie was back on the set of “Today,” but not on camera. And NBC News addressed her future with the show. I wrote about it: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

I really thought I would love "The Bride!" To my surprise, I did not. Here's my review: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

One more time: I hadn't planned on making gluttony a fruitful minibeat, but I am at least qualified for the job. I wrote about McDonald's Big Arch, which is, indeed, big. Have a look! www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

ICYMI: As you can see by the super flattering picture, I tried the new McDonald's Big Arch. It was big indeed. Here's my review: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

McDonald’s CEO is a coward. I tried the new Big Arch for real. Have a look: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

We've renamed the DOD the Department of War. Our troops are Warfighters. No of course we're not "at war" you dumb lib

ICYMI yesterday: I wrote about coverage of the U.S. and Israel’s strikes against Iran, and how there were more questions than answers. Have a look! www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

ICYMI: I wrote about how media covered the U.S. and Israel's strikes against Iran. One reader responded by emailing me and calling Iranians "animals," making a racist comment about Obama and making fun of Biden. Wish it surprised me. www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

I wrote about waking up to the U.S. and Israel's attacks on Iran, and how the media covered it. More questions than answers, and the answers all depended on who was talking. Have a look: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

I’m no expert but this seems a little warm for February.

This is today’s edition of The Watchlist, my weekly newsletter. You can subscribe at the link in the comments. And you should! It’s so easy!

Get ready for a lot of stuff to happen for “purely financial reasons”

Putting this out there one more time. I thought maybe it would seem less crazy over the course of the day. It does not. Your State of the Union update, from me: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

Buster setting the mood

ICYMI: Brag, lie, blame. Wash, rinse repeat. I wrote about Trump's #SOTU speech, which was the familiar stuff turned into a weird reality show. Have a look: www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

"Come on down!" He actually said that. I wrote about a strange night of TV. Was this the State of the Union or "The Price is Right?" www.azcentral.com/story/entert...

For nearly an hour Trump mostly stuck to the script and was, for him, fairly subdued. No more. "These people are crazy, I’m telling you," he said, pointing to the Dem side of the aisle. And: "Democrats are destroying our country but we stopped it just in the nick of time."