THE DAILY NEWSLETTER - THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021 

Media Winners & Losers

MEDIA WINNER:
Noah Shachtman

The media world is about to see a leadership shake-up: Daily Beast editor in chief Noah Shachtman is moving to Rolling Stone.

The New York Times broke the announcement from the famed magazine that Shachtman will take over as editor in chief. Shachtman was reportedly chosen for the job by Rolling Stone president and COO Gus Wenner, the son of magazine founder Jann Wenner. Shachtman will take over from Jason Fine, who left the role months ago in order to supervise the magazine’s affiliated media projects.

Shachtman told the Times that he intends to adapt Rolling Stone to the fast-paced, scoop-driven approach he pushed as top editor of the Beast. He described a skeptical approach that Rolling Stone will take under his management in their continued coverage of the entertainment business.

“We’ve got to be out getting scoops, taking people backstage, showing them parts of the world they don’t get to see every day.” Shachtman said. “Rolling Stone’s at its best when it’s both celebrating great art and taking down bad actors.”

Wenner endorsed the hire in a statement.

It's a big move. Time will tell how much of a winning one it is.

MEDIA LOSER:
Mike Lindell

MyPillow CEO and inexplicable political media figure Mike Lindell was on with Steve Bannon this week and at least twice walked back earlier claims that ex-president Donald Trump would be “back in office” in August.

In the clip from Real America’s Voice, Lindell begins by claiming it was all the media's fault. "They’re trying to twist what I’ve said, first of all,” he said, of course.

“What I said was, when you all see what I’ve seen and what I have, you’re g– the morning of the thirteenth you’re going to wake up and go, wow, now what are we gonna do?" he said. "Everyone’s gonna know it and that’s when we’re going to bring it to the Supreme Court. I didn’t say that everything’s gonna change the morning of the thirteenth."

Later in the show, Bannon asked again about the date of return. Lindell backed it up even further. 

“August, September, I’m not…,” he dithered. “You know we’re bringing this right to the Supreme Court after the symposium.”

In previous comments, Lindell said, “the morning of August 13th, it’ll be the talk of the world,” and prior to that, that “Donald Trump will be back in office in August.”

No twisting. Just losing.

‘Pompeo Was Concerned Trump Would Start a War’: Michael Bender on His Book Detailing the ‘Unhinged’ and ‘Violent’ Final Moments of the Trump Presidency

The A-Block

‘Mentally Unstable’

Here we go again?

Leaked documents from the Kremlin obtained by The Guardian reportedly reveal a plot to put Donald Trump in the White House approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin in January of 2016. The Kremlin has dismissed this report as “great fiction.”

Former President Trump was the focus of a Department of Justice investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which did not lead to any charges against the 45th president, but did uncover Russian intel operations designed to destabilize the American electorate and help elect Trump to the highest office.

The Guardian opens with a stunning lede: “Vladimir Putin personally authorised a secret spy agency operation to support a ‘mentally unstable’ Donald Trump in the 2016 US presidential election during a closed session of Russia’s national security council, according to what are assessed to be leaked Kremlin documents.”The report features screenshots of the documents in question, which they reportedly have shown to independent experts who claim “they appear to be genuine. Incidental details come across as accurate."

"The overall tone and thrust is said to be consistent with Kremlin security thinking, ” it reads.

Kompromat: The Guardian also reports that the leaked papers make reference to compromising material, or kompromat, in possession, but that the specifics are buried in an “appendix” not made available

There is some understandably cautious skepticism on that.



In Other News...

‘There Was a Lot of Crying’: Texas Democrat Says Colleagues Did Not Want to Flee to DC

Texas Democrats Sing We Shall Overcome (Twice) After Absconding to D.C. With Beer

Jerry O’Connell Joins CBS' The Talk as Co-Host Following Sharon Osbourne's Departure

Reporter Who Tweeted ‘Hitler Was Right’ Slams the BBC for Trialy by Social Media

RUMPF: Tucker Carlson’s 1999 Comments About Donald Trump Say A Lot About How We Got Here

Must See Clip

P  O  R  T  M  A  N  T  E  A  U

Not only can Zaila Avant-garde spell and dribble, but she can spell while dribbling, as she stands on a foam roller and keeps her cool in front of Bill Murray.

The 14-year-old 2021 Scripps Spelling Bee champ — the first Black person to hold the title — joined guest host Phoebe Robinson on Wednesday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! to show off her skills.

She nailed a few challenges before the BIG surprise, and then it got really great and crazy!

Links We Like

Black Lives Matter: Actually, That Kind of Police Brutality and Abuse Is Fine
- Jim Geraghty, NRO
Biden Is Right On Voting Rights: The Biggest Danger Is Nullification
- Errol Louis, NYDN
Critical Race Theory Seeks To Recast America’s Foundational Beliefs
- NC Senate Leader Phil Berger, Carolina Journal
Moral Panic Over Critical Race Theory Is Coming for NC Teacher of the Year
- Isabela Dias, Mother Jones
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