Inspiration sometimes comes from unexpected places. In this case, it was from James Corden, on his final episode of “The Late Late Show,” the CBS talk show he has hosted since 2015. Reflecting on the past eight years, the native Briton said, “I’ve watched America change a lot. I’ve watched divisions grow, and I’ve felt a sense of negativity boil over.” He implored his audience to “remember what America signifies to the rest of the world. My entire life it has always been a place of optimism. ... Yes, it has flaws, but show me a place that doesn’t. Show me a person that doesn’t.” He concluded by saying, “Just because somebody disagrees with you, it doesn’t make them bad or evil. We are all more the same than we are different. There are so many people who are trying to stoke those differences, and we have to try as best we can to look for the light, look for the joy. If you do, it’s out there.” Well said. —Melissa Amour, Managing Editor
‘We had a close working relationship. It did not end well’In closed testimony in Washington, D.C., yesterday, former Vice President Mike Pence appeared before a federal grand jury investigating efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. It was a coup for the Justice Department, giving federal prosecutors a key first-person account about certain conversations and events in the weeks preceding the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Pence’s testimony was subpoenaed and came hours after a federal appeals court rejected a bid by Trump’s lawyers to block his appearance. —Associated Press
MORE: Peter Wehner: MAGA is eating its own —The Atlantic Sargent: SCOTUS crisis merits bipartisan response“Chief Justice John Roberts continues to insist the court can police itself entirely, even in the wake of these revelations. Congress, then, should act, because it would constitute the people’s representatives taking steps to shore up the court’s legitimacy in a way it will not do for itself. Not acting sends a message to the people that their representatives do not have this power to act on their behalf—that the Supreme Court is beyond accountability.” —Greg Sargent in The New York Times Greg Sargent is a Washington Post columnist covering national politics. MORE: In bipartisan bill, senators urge Supreme Court to adopt ethics code —The New York Times The mouse strikes backOn Wednesday, Disney filed a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleging the governor’s takeover of the company’s theme park district is a “targeted campaign of government retaliation” after it opposed a Florida law known as “Don’t Say Gay.” Disney has a legitimate 1st Amendment case, according to many Constitutional scholars, and some Republicans agree. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has joined a growing list urging DeSantis to reel in his crusade against the company. “This is a big employer inside Florida,” McCarthy said. “I think the governor should sit down with them. I don’t think the idea of building a prison next to a place that you bring your family is the best idea. I think it’d be much better if you sat down and solved the problems.” Indeed. —Newsweek MORE: DeSantis hates the media—but not this one outlet —Politico ‘The people sent me here to do the work’Montana’s Republican-majority House voted on Wednesday to ban Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr from the House chamber for the remainder of this year’s legislative session. She had said GOP lawmakers would have “blood” on their hands for passing bills restricting transgender rights and rallied protesters on Monday after Speaker Matt Regier blocked her from being recognized to speak. Her colleagues argued that Zephyr was inciting “violence” and showing “flagrant disregard for the safety and well-being” of those at the House, according to a statement from the Montana Freedom Caucus. Zephyr, the first openly trans lawmaker in the state, has said that transitioning has played a pivotal role in her life, and that denying gender-affirming care to trans children is tantamount to “torture.” —ABC News RELATED NEWS:
Clark: Ohio proposal would be a stain on democracy“For generations, Americans of faith and conscience have used the tools of citizen-led democracy when elected officials could not or would not pay attention to issues of deep importance. I, along with many other Ohio faith leaders, am a part of the millions of faithful Ohioans and everyday people who will continue to fight back against unjust propositions like these.” —Rev. Dan Clark in The Columbus Dispatch Rev. Dan Clark is Faith in Public Life Action’s Ohio director. MORE: Ohio Senate passes measure to require 60% vote requirement to approve constitutional amendments —Ballotpedia News Marshall: Want inspiration? Look to Australia“Political parties down under compete fiercely but don’t regard each other as mortal enemies from whom their country must be ‘saved.’ Aussie voters have little patience with polarizing ideologues who want to draft them into culture wars or cancel them for speaking their minds. In fact, theirs is one of the few democracies that has not been convulsed by the tremors of cultural resentment and illiberal nationalism that have rolled across the United States and Europe over the past decade.” —Will Marshall in The Hill Will Marshall is president and founder of the Progressive Policy Institute. MORE: Nonpartisan ‘therapy cat’ makes rounds in the North Dakota Senate chamber —The Bismarck Tribune Uncle Joe vs. The Donald? Heckle vs. Jeckle would be better. How about Amy vs. Chris? —Jim S., Texas A lot going on between Disney and Governor DeSantis in Florida. DeSantis may be shooting himself in the foot, for lack of a better description. I realize no one at Disney will take my advice, but just for fun and what the heck, I suggest Disney should shut down for a month, or even a week. See how things go for DeSantis. Or even more fun, they should announce they will be searching for a new home. Sure, it wouldn’t happen overnight, and yes, it would cost big bucks. But why not play some offense? DeSantis is on the path of killing the goose that lays some of the state’s golden eggs. Those 58 million or so visitors each year to Disney World spend a lot of money in the state; a lot of jobs depend on them, and a lot of tax revenue, too. So, in my humble opinion, Disney should roll out “It’s A Wonderful Life” and show DeSantis and the state what things would be like if he stays on his “path of petulance.” —Bill T., Arizona The views expressed in "What's Your Take?" are submitted by readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff or the Renew America Foundation. Did you like this post from The Topline? Why not share it? Got feedback about The Topline? Send it to Melissa Amour, Managing Editor, at [email protected]. |