How's it going America,
Check out our latest episode of The Pod Millennial! I'm joined by New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz, who discusses leaving New York City, the decline of urban leadership, and the long-term damage COVID school closures inflicted on education. Then I interview Natalya Murakhver, director of the documentary 15 Days, about the political decisions behind prolonged school shutdowns and the lasting consequences for an entire generation of children. Our new episode is out tomorrow with Graham Linehan. Listen, rate (5 stars, of course!), and subscribe!
Let's get into it:
I was all prepared to talk to you guys about the Oscars, but it was so boring as to be even more irrelevant than ever before. Conan O'Brien took a swipe at the TPUSA alt half-time show. Jimmy Kimmel lashed out briefly at Trump, Melania, and CBS, indicating that there's no free speech in the US—while speaking thoroughly freely—but otherwise it was your basic love-fest of industry insiders congratulating each other.
I did take some time yesterday to watch Sinners, which is the Ryan Coogler movie where white people are evil vampires. Sinners won best screenplay and best actor. Of the other Oscar movies, I also watched the Antifa-friendly One Battle After Another, which won best picture. I did not watch Hamnet, mostly because I'm not a big fan of tear-jerkers. I don't typically need extra reasons to cry. Of the two standout winners, Sinners was more fun, but both were pretty propagandist.
On Friday, there was another pre-trial hearing in the murder trial of Tyler Robinson, charged with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. As they discussed media access, the open letter Human Events wrote in support of cameras being permitted in the courtroom was referenced. We at Human Events, where Charlie was a senior contributor, a colleague, and a friend, believe steadfastly that the trial of his accused killer should be public. There has been so much sturm und drang surrounding this case, surrounding his death, and the aftermath that the only way to ensure justice either for Robinson or for Kirk is for the public to be able to see what's going on.
Judge Tony Graf has entertained every crazy motion from the defense, whether it be their attempt to disqualify the entire Utah County Prosecutor's office from the case or their request to make classified documents that are already public. This has been necessary so that there are no questions left behind once the case draws to a close. That same ethos must be at play in deciding to keep cameras in court—which, based on Graf's allowance so far, I believe he will do. There will be, and have been, strict rules on what can be filmed. Robinson can't be seen shackled; he can't be filmed while at the defense desk, but the arguments can be heard by everyone watching, and they must be.
The next pre-trial hearing is on April 17, and there will be witnesses called to the stand in that one. May 19 will be Robinson's arraignment, where he will enter a plea. After that, the capital murder case will commence in earnest. One man is dead, and another man's life will be taken if he is convicted. And all of this was political violence, violence spurred by intolerance of others' ideas or beliefs. In a peaceful society, there is no cause for this. There is enough room in this nation for all of us to speak freely.
Libby