A Rhapsodic Video September 15, 2025 But several things first . . . > Mamdani and Laguardia (90 really good seconds). New York Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed Mamdani yesterday. In small part: [I]n our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support. I also shared with him my priorities, making it very clear that our police officers should have every resource to keep our streets and subways safe. I urged him to ensure that there is strong leadership at the helm of the N.Y.P.D. — and he agreed. We discussed the need to combat the rise of antisemitism urgently and unequivocally. I’ve been glad to see him meet with Jewish leaders across the city, listening and addressing their concerns directly. I didn’t leave my conversations with Mr. Mamdani aligned with him on every issue. But I am confident that he has the courage, urgency and optimism New York City needs to lead it through the challenges of this moment. I’m with the Governor on this (though, as previously noted, I sure hope Mr. Mamdani heeds Joel Klein’s advice on NYC schools). > Which Jesus are we talking about? (90 more really good seconds). > The Separation of Church and Hate, by John Fugelsang. If you enjoy his interview with Andy Borowitz, you might want to read or listen to the book, subtitled: : A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds. > If we deported MAGA men . . . (10 seconds). > When Tragedy Becomes Theatre – Don’t Let Them “Horst Wessel” Charlie Kirk — No one is saying Trump will become a centi-billionaire President for life like Putin and annex Canada and Greenland as Putin hopes to annex Ukraine . . . although he seems to enjoy hinting at it. And no one is saying he is Hitler. “Our warning,” writes this Substacker, “isn’t about equivalence; it’s about a tactic: How the Nazis built a martyr (the Horst Wessel template). This is a caution, not a direct comparison of regimes. But the propaganda logic is portable” — and worth reading. > Jim Stewartson on Violence: Violence is a symptom of societal illness. It is the last refuge of the desperate—and the end goal of evil. It is never the answer. However, when violence is being enacted in broad daylight by masked federal agents and your opposition is openly promising violence against you, it is irresponsible not to understand the danger and prepare. Yesterday, Elon Musk spoke by video to a throng of white nationalists in England led by criminal British fascist Tommy Robinson. << “The violence is going to come to you. You will have no choice. You’re in a fundamental situation here where you, where, whether you choose violence or not, the violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die. You either the fight back or you die. And that’s the truth.” >> To clarify, Elon Musk is not talking about criminals who murder people. He’s talking about “the left”—an ephemeral scapegoat that can include anyone. << “You see how much violence there’s on the left with our friend Charlie Kirk getting murdered in cold blood this week and people on the left celebrating it openly. The left is the party of murder and celebrating murder. I mean let that sink in for a minute. That’s who we’re dealing with here. That is who we’re dealing with.” >> Really? All us snowflake, anti-gun, anti-war, folksong-singing, “I have a dream” types celebrate murder? But, yes, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones confirms it: “The left is now celebrating Charlie Kirk’s brutal murder.” It is an instant, official Trump-team talking point. (David Hogg responded to Jones: “After the shooting at my high school you literally accused my friends and myself of being paid government crisis actors that resulted in us getting thousands of death threats.”) (The parents of murdered Sandy Hook Elementary School students responded to Alex Jones’ claims that the massacre was all a hoax with lawsuits that resulted in $1.4 billion in judgments.) And now, at last (did you think I would forget? have any of you even read this far?) . . . The rhapsodic video! Enjoy! And have a great week.