We Need #Unity
A few reminders before we jump in: 1) Hit reply with your own personal favs from your Space and 2) forward the email to friends to join in!
🗞 THE NEWSSTAND
(Hint: go Incognito to fight dem paywalls)
Where do I start…? This week Trump ignited a war with the Twitter hand that feeds him after people reacted to his tweets that accuse former Republican Congressman and MSNBC host Joe Scarborough of murdering his staff member in 2001 without any evidence. This conspiracy theory sparked outrage and opposition from members of his own party including Republican Senator Mitt Romney who called these accusations ‘vile’ and ‘baseless.’
It also led to a backlash of millions calling for Twitter executives to delete Trump’s tweets. Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey announced the company would not be deleting the tweets. However, a few days later after multiple warnings, the company did take action to begin fact-checking Trump’s tweets including a “False Information” label and link to bipartisan fact-checking website Politifact. This action ignited a “war.”
Trump responded by retaliating and signing an Executive Order targeting Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act that in layman's terms protects Twitter and other internet companies from being sued for banning or not banning a particular account.
Mark Zuckerberg took to the media to express his disapproval for Mr. Dorsey’s fact-checking of Trump as he sees it as a potential attempt at limiting freedom of the political voice when we fact-check our politicians… Meanwhile, a few weeks ago Facebook added a fact-checking label on Republican-based super PAC Lincoln Project ad against Trump for its commentary that “Trump bailed out Wall Street but not Main Street”.
There was one man’s tragic death that sparked an even greater upheaval in cities across the country. Georgy Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota after attempting to use a fake $20 bill at a grocery. Video footage shows officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on George’s neck as he cried out that he could not breathe. George laid there and gasped for his last breath of air as medical teams stood by and filmed the tragic event.
Then this morning Americans witnessed the president of the United States call for armed guards and police officers to begin shooting on American people. To be specific he said “when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thanks!” This quote is directly borrowed from Miami's police chief, Walter Headley, in 1967, when his comments ignited race riots across the city. Twitter has responded by labeling the White House official Twitter account with a “Glorifying Violence” label.
While these incredible stories are taking over much of the headlines, 100,00 friends, families, and neighbors have now died from COVID-19. In recent days states like Wisconsin report their highest number of cases and deaths.
It has not been a walk in the park sort of week, to say the least.
As always, I encourage you to learn both sides of every story and form your own opinion. Sign up for The Flip Side offering a bipartisan look at the world of politics.
🎧 WEEKLY MIXTAPE
My favorite new album of the week comes from Brooklyn rapper Medhane on his mellow-poetic Cold Water.
J.S. Ondara is a Grammy-nominated alt-rock guitarist and singer who grew up in Kenya. After discovering Bob Dylan he moved to Minneapolis in 2013 to pursue his American Dream of becoming a musician. His latest album Folk n Roll Vol. 1: Tales of Isolation is just the sort of calming sound we need on a week like this.
For a country-light album from electronic legend, Diplo tune into Diplo presents Thomas Wesley Chapter 1: Snake Oil.
Experimental and hip-hop producer and musician Flying Lotus released his new album Flamagra which does not disappoint.
Despite not being my flavor this pop icon deserves a shout out. Lady Gaga releases her newest LP Chromatica.
📺 THE STREAM
This week Steve Carrell suits up in space gear in the newest Netflix original comedy, Space Force.
I finally caved and decided to give Christina Applegate’s new series Dead To Me a chance and I am thankful for it. In this dark comedy, Applegate plays a widow searching for the hit-and-run driver who killed her husband and ends up becoming friends with an eccentric optimist at a grieving retreat.
I will also be taking a look at season 2 of mystery, psycho-thriller Homecoming telling the story of a woman who wakes up on a boat in the middle of a lake with no idea of how she got there or who she is.
🍽 THE KITCHEN
Breakfast Tacos
Nothing beats breakfast tacos on a Saturday morning with some good coffee and a breakfast cocktail. This week enjoy this Texas classic, the Breakfast Taco.
Ingredients
corn or flour tortillas
eggs
refried beans
sliced avocado
red or green salsa (or fresh pico de gallo)
optional toppings: chopped fresh cilantro, cheese, sour cream, diced jalapeños
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Warm up the refried beans in a pot.
Prep and chop optional toppings.
Wrap tortillas in a packet of aluminum foil and place in the oven to warm.
Assemble the breakfast tacos. Then load up the tortillas with beans, eggs and your desired toppings and enjoy while warm!
🥃 THE CABINET
Michelada
This week we will be taking advantage of some of the leftover beers and tomato juice sitting in my refrigerator and mixing up a Michelada.
Ingredients
2 oz chilled tomato juice
1 oz fresh lime juice
4 dashes of Worcheshire sauce
2 dashes of hot sauce (try Cholula)
2 pinches of salt
ice
12 oz chilled Mexican lager (try Negro Modelo)
Directions
In chilled pint glass combine tomato juice, lime juice, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and 1 pinch of salt.
Fill glass ¾ full with ice and stir well.
Stir in lager to fill the glass and garnish with another pinch of salt.
As you enjoy your tasty beverage continue refilling to the top with your lager.
🎙FIRESIDE CHAT
Look, it was a long week and like me, I imagine you are exhausted. There is so much that needs to be said and done. At times it might even feel like we are hopeless and that the anger, divide, and infringements on human rights in this country is an unstoppable force.
I start to think about how much I wish I could ignore it all and begin to daydream of an alternate universe—sitting, drinking a cold beverage with friends at a bar, watching LeBron and the Lakers go up against the Clippers in the NBA playoffs. Then reality sets in, and I think about all of the people who have lost their lives during this time. Or, the countless black men and children who have lost their lives due to a system that too easily leads to police brutality; and the economy that favors the few and not the many, even during a pandemic.
This wasn’t necessarily the most uplifting or inspiring week of habituation. But it did spark something. It sparked social media followers and executives to stand up to their country’s elected leaders when spreading falsities. It motivated people in Minneapolis to take to the streets, united, and speak up against the unjust killing of fellow neighbors. It motivated lifelong Republicans around the country to stand up and voice their dissent from leaders in their own party. #RVAT
But videos and words can only go so far.
#Vote.
We're in this together
#StayAtHome #HabituateInSpace