Good afternoon and happy Friday my fellow space people. This week had me thinking a lot about the country. I found myself asking, how did this all start? And when will this all end? I know, pretty meta, right?
So, for this week’s lineup, I did some digging into the America of the past to better understand the now and the future. Some might say it gives me ‘total authority’ over the following topics at hand…
Oh, and before we get started, I hope you like the new design—it’s my “in space” look.
🗞 THE NEWSSTAND
(Hint: go Incognito to fight dem paywalls)
So, in very Trumpian Fashion (yes it’s a phrase now), Trump asserted to the American people this week he has ‘total authority’ over the states’ governers. Despite being a false statement, it was enough to warrant quite a response from governors across the country.
In fact, we even saw a Game of Thrones season 7 house alliances of sort begin to form. In the East, we had the House Cuomo x House Baker Alliance made up of New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Delaware. In the West, the House Newsom x House Inslee Alliance made up of California, Oregon, and Washington. Then late to the game we witnessed the formation of the House DeWine x House Whitmer Alliance made up of seven Midwestern states.
Yes, it was quite a week indeed for We The People of the United States of America. It led me on a search to refresh my elementary school teaching on states’ rights and the 10th Amendment (brief video explainer) as well as how we eventually began to refer to ourselves as simply ‘America’ rather than the United States.
There are many tremendous and not so tremendous things about this country’s past and current. And despite our failures such as not committing to international organizations like WHO in the fight against a world pandemic, I remain optimistic about our future seeing our state leaders ban together to exercise their Constitutional duties and look to science to guide them.
This all just in time for our friends over at McKinsey to join up with the president to unveil an ‘Opening Up America Again’ plan that cedes most of the powers to state governors for the country to reopen. And in New York, we celebrated from our windows singing Frank Sinatra classic, “New York, New York.”
Plus, I think we can all agree that these photos of ’90s newsstands in New York City reminder of how far we have come.
🎧 WEEKLY MIXTAPE
In true American fashion, Thomas Wesley, otherwise known as Diplo has released his newest country-western EP, Do Si Do. Meanwhile, Canadian DJ Ryan Hemsworth dropped two new singles on his New Life / Sun Up.
Also, our favorite Americana band The Lumineers stopped by NPR studios for a Tiny Desk Concert. If this doesn’t get your feet stompin’ and hands clappin’ then you give this playlist a try: The Pulse of Americana.
If you’re looking for something that has all of the feels this April, pop-in the newest track from Frank Ocean on your headphones. Or, give a listen to “Currents” from Emancipator’s newest album Mountain of Memory. And tune in to some live music this weekend with One World: Together At Home concert series brought to you by the folks over at Global Citizen featuring artists streaming live from all over the world. I will be tuning in to watch South African DJ Black Coffee perform at 3 pm ET on 4/18.
📺 THE STREAM
If you are thinking of hosting a Netflix Party then dive right into this rags to riches story Rising High, enjoy a New York mob classic with Goodfellas, or watch Harrison Ford take down Nazis in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
If you haven’t yet taken advantage of the 500 hours of free HBO streaming then I implore you to check out The Plot Against America featuring Winona Ryder in a revisionist take on the 1940s, as populist Charles Lindenberg runs for president and beats FDR to transform America into a fascist nation. But, if you’re looking for something slightly more uplifting, throw on Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thorton as they team up in the American classic, Armaggedon.
And in celebration of Tom Hanks’ recent recovery from COVID-19 and remembrance of the 50th anniversary of NASA’s failed mission to the moon watch Apollo 13.
🍽 The Kitchen
During America’s most difficult times from the Great Depression to WWII, we were challenged with how to adequately put delicious and nutritious meals on the dinner table. But, leave it to mom and grandma to get innovative and cook up some love with iconic dishes such as the culinary classic meatloaf that connected American people during times of struggle and gave us vitality. Here’s a traditional meatloaf recipe as well as a healthier take to bring some comfort to your kitchen this weekend.
🥃 THE CABINET
I wanted to take a moment to dig into our country’s long and unique history with booze. From shaping our early colonies to Prohibition, the Golden Age of Cocktails and the race to the moon (yes, the moon).
Cozy up this weekend with an All-American classic cocktail, in fact, many call it the OG’ cocktail… that’s right folks, the Sazerac.
Ingredients
2 1/2 oz. rye whiskey
1 sugar cube
2 dashes Peychaud's bitters
1 dash Angostura bitters
absinthe
lemon peel
Directions
In an Old-Fashioned glass, muddle a sugar cube with a few drops of water.
Add several small ice cubes, then rye whiskey, Peychaud's bitters, and Angostura bitters. Stir well.
Roll a few drops of absinthe around a second, chilled Old-Fashioned glass until thoroughly coated. Pour off the excess.
Strain the contents of the first glass into the second. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
🎙FIRESIDE CHAT
Well, it is Thursday evening as I write this letter to you all, and in closing, I am ironically reminded of a great leader of our nation’s past. During the Great Depression and WWII, this president would regularly address the American people over public radio. It brought a sense of calm and comfort to the country as we faced some of the most trying times in our history. Yep, you guessed that great leader was none other than Franklin D. Roosevelt himself. These broadcasts reached approximately 90 percent of American people and soon came to be known as the “fireside chats.” FDR spoke directly and personally, referring to himself as “I” and his listeners as “you.” Many great changes and legislation resulted from those years FDR was in Office, such as the New Deal, Social Security and Reform for Wall Street. He was a man of wise words and pragmatic leadership. So, I say to you all during this time of uncertainty and fear as FDR once said to the American people…
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." — First Inaugural Address (March 4, 1933).
As always thoughts and feedback are welcomed. Do invite your friends and family to this weekly digest! Or, if you would like to remove yourself that’s cool too… I guess.
We're in this together
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