How Israel Turned The Middle East Around December 16, 2024December 15, 2024 But first: MOVIES I had forgotten why I was on this list — like you, I’m on a lot of lists — and, truthfully, the trailer for Regarding Us left me worried it could be well-meaning but preachy. I decided to go anyway because the invite promised a post-film discussion with Martine Rothblatt, who founded United Therapeutics (market cap $16 billion) and SiriusXM radio and designed — and pilots — her own electric helicopter, and, well, I don’t think you will ever read a more astonishing Wikipedia bio than hers. Plus, it was only 17 bucks. I hopped on the subway, took an aisle seat by the door in case it was excruciating, and settled in with a bag of popcorn. Just as the film was about to start, Martine and her stylish wife Bina plopped into seats behind me. (Martine was “Martin” when they married and had kids. She transitioned 30 years ago.) Up came the credits, Martine’s name as Executive Producer, and — yikes! — my name a few frames in. So that’s why I was on the list. It had been so long in the making, I’d forgotten that I chipped in. So now I was even more worried — what if it really was excruciating? But it was great. And will be streaming soon on Apple+ and I need you to do me a favor. Spend $12.99 to “pre-order” it now. Healthy pre-order demand will earn the film a bigger promotional push, and thus your $12.99 will be a small contribution to a kinder, gentler world. (A movie in theaters now with a 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating — related to Regarding Us by the Catholic church — is Conclave. Even my wonderful brother-in-law the priest loved it.) And now: GEOPOLITICS It’s tragic what Hamas did to the Gazan people by slaughtering and kidnapping so many Israelis — just as it was tragic what Japan’s leaders did to their people by bombing Pearl Harbor. But for all the tragedy in Gaza, which is unspeakably awful, there may now be glimmers of hope. How Israel Turned the Mideast Around. Your comments welcome, as always.