Memes of the Times

Related Off-site Links:
“Deaths Will Continue to Mount,” Scientist Warns After August and Summer 2026 Set U.S. Heat Records – Jessica Corbett (Common Dreams, September 9, 2026).
U.S. Imperialism Is Burning the Planet: An Interview with Matt Huber – Jacobin (September 17, 2026).
“A Wake-Up Call”: Scientists Behind Study on Climate Feedback Loops Demand Global Action – Jessica Corbett (Common Dreams, September 10, 2026).
The U.S. Had a Choice After 9/11. It Chose Wrong – Elie Mystal (The Nation, September 11, 2026).
Empire as a Way of Life: 25 Years Since 9/11 – Tariq Ali (Tariq Ali, September 11. 2026).
Three Major Revelations About the Gaza Holocaust in the Israeli Press – Caitlin Johnstone (Caitlin’s Newsletter, September 9, 2026).
“Israel Has Turned Into a Nazi Society”: Son of Holocaust Survivors Deplores the Rot in Israeli Society – Salwa Amor (The New Arab, May 9, 2024).
Comparing Israel to Nazi Regime Is Not a Criminal Offense, German Court Rules – Middle East Monitor (August 2, 2026).
How Israel and Its Allies Weaponize Antisemitism – AJ+ (February 15, 2024).
Why So Many American Jews Are Turning Away from Israel – Matthew Cassel (The Guardian, July 28, 2026).
“Imagine Being Threatened by Peace”: Singer Pink Lambasted for Criticising Macklemore’s Pro-Palestine Stance – The New Arab (September 12, 2026).
Macklemore’s Tour Cancellation Shows Why Celebrities Don’t Criticize Israel – Caitlin Johnstone (Caitlin’s Newsletter, September 14, 2026).
Debunking the Claim That Macklemore Has a “History Of Antisemitism” – Caitlin Johnstone (Caitlin’s Newsletter, September 16, 2026).
Hey, Ed Sheeran, Palestine Is Dying in White Silence Like Yours – John Pavlovitz (The Beautiful Mess, September 15, 2026).
Ed Sheeran Wants to Stay Out of Politics. By Quitting His Tour, His Support Acts Have Exposed the Hollowness of Neutrality – Laura Snapes (The Guardian, September 16, 2026).
Ms. Rachel Calls Out Ed Sheeran for Being Politically Spineless . . . In the Nicest Way Possible – Elyse Wanshel (The Huffington Post, September 15, 2026).
How Andor Mirrored Israel’s Genocide – Jessie Gender After Dark (June 17, 2025).
The End Times Fascists Are Plotting Their Escape from Our World. Our Mission Is Clear – Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor (The Guardian, September 13, 2026).
Jill Stein Demands Jury Trial in St. Louis Assault Case – Rejecting Deal from Prosecutors – Ryan Krull (St. Louis Magazine, September 14, 2026).
Both Parties Are Failing Working People: An Interview with Dan Osborn – Alex Skopic (Current Affairs, August 25, 2026).
Republicans Try to Shame Hasan Piker with a Near-Naked Pic During Messy Midterm Convention – Kelby Vera (The Huffington Post, September 9, 2026).
Gay Hookup App Grindr Experiences Dallas Outages During Republicans’ Trump-a-Palooza – Sanford Nowlin (San Antonio Current, September 10, 2026).
Colin Kaepernick Continues the “Perilous Fight” 10 Years After Taking a Knee – The Daily Show (September 16, 2026).
“They Will Come For You”: Colin Kaepernick Says NFL Owner Robert Kraft’s Concert Ban of Macklemore Is Evidence NFL Colluded to End His Career After Kneeling Protests – Jordan James (The Shadow League, September 16, 2026).


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• “The Moral Issue of Our Generation”
• 25 Years of the “Exact Wrong Response to 9/11”
• Caitlin Johnstone on the Need to Cultivate Integrity – As Both an Individual and a Society
• What Integrity Looks Like
• Ed Sheeran Chooses the Side of the Oppressor
• Exposing the Apocalyptic Thinking of Today’s U.S. Far Right
• Andor’s Depiction of the Rise of Fascism: Not Predictive But Reflective
• Andor: “A Magnum Opus of Anti-Imperialist Art”
• Why the Democratic Party Is Not Going to Save Us From Fascism
• “Our Country Right Now Is At a Crossroads”
• Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t
• Welcome to the Rebellion
• Third Parties and the Historical Record
• Hey, Liberals! We Need to Talk
• Jill Stein on What the Green Party Is All About
• “Rest in Peace, Dear Prophet Dolly”
• Remembering the Dolly Parton and Dionne Warwick Duet . . . and Celebrating Dolly as a “Kind of American Folk Saint”
• Progressive Perspectives on Colin Kaepernick and the “Take a Knee” Movement
• Marianne Williamson: “We’re Living at a Time of Spiritual Evolution”

See also:
• Memes of the Times – August 29, 2026
• Memes of the Times – June 25, 2026
• Memes of the Times – May 15, 2026
• Memes of the Times – February 11, 2026
• Memes of the Times – November 23, 2025
• Memes of the Times – September 21, 2025
• Memes of the Times – July 27, 2024
• Memes of the Times – May 21, 2020
• Signs of the Times – April 25, 2017
• At the Minnesota Capitol, Signs of the Times (May 16, 2011)

Four Political Commentaries Worth Viewing

I share this evening four recent video commentaries that caught my attention. All four come from independent media sources.

In the first of these, Mike Figueredo of The Humanist Report discusses a New York Times story that’s been getting a lot of attention. This is because it highlights a private meeting between House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in which “common ground” on various issues was reportedly sought. (The image above is itself a commentary on this meeting.) Figuerdo also explains why this meeting should disqualify Jeffries from being the next Speaker of the House.






In introducing this evening’s second video, I’ll just say that I really appreciate Keith Edwards’ 13-minute response (below) to Abdul El-Sayed’s viral appearance on fascist blowhard Jesse Watters’ FOX News show.






Video commentary number three tonight is the Why I Hate Politics podcast’s response to Rashad Richey’s “epic takedown” of Hakeem Jeffries. This 23-minute video also spotlights recent comments by Ta-Nehisi Coates (comments which were highlighted in this previous Wild Reed post).






I conclude by coming full circle with another commentary by Mike Figueredo. Posted earlier today, this 18-minute video is introduced by Figuerdo as follows.

AIPAC-backed Democrats are attacking Hasan Piker again in another coordinated campaign, but this latest manufactured controversy may take the cake for being the most laughably performative act of political theater of all time. The Democrats in question (who support genocide) are accusing Hasan (who opposes genocide) of inciting hate during a stream where he was talking about how inciting hatred is bad. Yes, you read that correctly. They’re cynically twisting his words to pretend like he’s saying the exact opposite of what he’s actually saying. They could be criticizing Trump, but instead, they’re obsessing about a Twitch streamer to signal to their base that opposition to Israel’s genocide won’t be tolerated. In this video we’ll talk about this outrageous defamation campaign and how gross it is that these genocide-supporting clowns are co-opting social justice language to defend atrocities.

Related Off-site Links:
“Pathetic Stuff”: Jeffries Rebuked Over Secret Meeting With Kushner – Jon Queally (Common Dreams, August 23, 2026).
What’s the Rationale for Jeffries to Talk Secretly With Kushner? – Martin Burns (Common Dreams, August 24, 2026).
“Most Americans Are Getting Poorer”: Robert Reich on Inequality and the Failures of Corporate Democrats – Democracy Now! (August 26, 2026).
“I Hate Democrats, But I Love Abdul”: Voters Who Left Over Gaza Return for Progressive Push – Minnah Arshad (The Guardian, August 23, 2026).
Fox Host Ends Show After Getting Cooked – The Adam Mockler Show (August 25, 2026).
Hunter Biden Tells Dems To Stop Smearing Hasan Piker – The Majority Report (August 26, 2026).
Hakeem Jeffries Proves Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Major Point About Dems – Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey (August 18, 2026).

UPDATES: Progressives Warn Democrats Endlessly Invoking Hasan Piker to “Get Their Shit Together” – Jon Queally (Common Dreams, August 28, 2026).
Elected Democrats Are Busy Condemning Hasan Piker While Giving Right-Wing Extremists and Islamophobes a Pass. We Have the Receipts – Zeteo (August 29, 2026).
Centrist Democrats Are at War With Their Own Voters on Israel – Branko Marcetic (Jacobin, August 29, 2026).
Why Are Democrats Attacking Hasan Piker? – Yumna Patel and Michael Arria (Mondoweiss, September 4, 2026).
The Centrists Are Too Busy Fighting Hasan Piker to Save Democracy – The Joy Reid Show (September 4, 2026).
Hasan Piker Is Driving Liberal Media Insane – Novara Media (September 4, 2026).


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Ashley Stevens: Quote of the Day – August 18, 2026
• “Our Country Right Now Is At a Crossroads”
• Abdul El-Sayed: The Disruptor Michigan (and the Country) Needs
• Mapping Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Defection from the “Obama Hypnosis”
• Jeff Waldorf: Quote of the Day – July 3, 2026
• Mike Figueredo on the “Political Malpractice” of the Democratic Party
• The Time for Illusions Is Over: Henry Giroux on the Democratic Party
• David Norton: “The Democratic Party Serves Capital, Not You”
• Mike Figueredo: “Elected Democrats Have No Real Interest in Doing What the Base Wants”
• Ted Rall: Democrats Are Not “the Left”
• Why the Democratic Party Is Not Going to Save Us From Fascism
• Jeff Cohen on How Obama’s “Corporate Liberalism” Led to the Rise of Trump
• Progressive Perspectives on Bernie Sanders’ “Fighting Oligarchy” Tour
• Eric Fernández: Quote of the Day – May 14, 2025
• Marianne Williamson: Quote of the Day – July 26, 2025
• Democrat Talk on the Eve of Trump’s Return
• When Democrats Undermine Democracy
• A Deeper Perspective on What’s Really Attacking American Democracy
• “We Must Challenge the Entire System”
• Marianne Williamson: “‘Vote Blue No Matter Who’ Is Not Enough to Win”
• Nick Cruse: “‘Vote Blue No Matter Who’ Is the Privileged Position”
• Oliver Kornetzke’s Epic Takedown of the Liberal Tactic of Blaming and Shaming Leftists
• Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t

Staying Strong in Trump’s Fascist America

If you have eight minutes to spare, the following video is both insightful and inspiring. It’s The Rational National’s David Doel highlighting Hasan Piker (aka HasanAbi) and his recent message in the wake of Trump’s attacks on speech.





See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Brent Molnar on the the Silencing of Jimmy Kimmel: “This Is What Fascism Looks Like in Practice”
• Garrett Graff: “America Tips Into Fascism”
• Venice Williams on How We Get Through the Next Four Years
• Active Hope
• Marianne Williamson on the Need for “Radical Love” in Responding to Trump’s Dismantling of Democracy
• Hope and Courage – Christmas 2024
• Something We Dare Call Hope

Hasan Piker in Conversation with Marianne Williamson

Yesterday, Hasanabi (AKA Hasan Piker), an American Twitch streamer and political commentator, hosted 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson on his podcast.

Noted one YouTube viewer: “Huge huge kudos to Marianne for being open to debate with a 'controversial’ figure like Hasan, I think it shows a lot of good faith on her part and also shows that she’s not afraid of answering the tough questions that dishonest newspersons never ask. Also appearing on Twitch, of all places, is a huge deal when it comes to reaching younger people.”





Related Off-site Links:
Why Marianne Williamson Is Running for President Again in 2024 – Lee DeVito (Detroit Metro Times, July 10, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Answers Voter Questions in “Conversation with the Candidate” – WMUR-TV (June 30, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Is Wowing Gen Z on TikTok. But Could She Beat Biden in the Polls? – Brendan Rascius (McClatchy DC, June 13, 2023).
Marianne Williamson: United States Needs a Fundamental “Economic U-turn” – Sky News (June 17, 2023).
Debate Us, Mr. President – Marianne Williamson (Newsweek, May 31, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Blasts DNC for Doing Everything to “Make It Easier” for Biden – Ryan King (Washington Examiner, May 29, 2023).
For Marianne Williamson, the Bernie Sanders Lane Looks Wide Open – Mini Racker (TIME, May 25, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Wants to Introduce a New Politics to DC – Maximillian Alvarez (The Real News Network, May 18, 2023).
How Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Compare to Biden on 6 Key Issues – Andrew Stanton (Newsweek, May 15, 2023).
Marianne Williamson: From Third Way to Third Eye – Chris Lehmann (The Nation, May 15, 2023).
Marianne Williamson: Democrats Need a “Genuine Economic Alternative” to Beat the GOP in 2024 – David Sirota (Jacobin, May 5, 2023).
Marianne Williamson on Her 2024 Presidential Bid – C-SPAN (May 4, 2023).
Why Biden May Have to Forfeit the First Contest in His Re-election Bid to Marianne Williamson or RFK Jr. – Alex Seitz-Wald (NBC News, April 27, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Is Serious About Running a Progressive Campaign for President – Liza Featherstone (Jacobin, April 27, 2023).
DNC Shields Biden, Refuses to Hold Primary Debates, Silences RFK Jr and Marianne Williamson – Rising (April 24, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Made a Campaign Stop in Detroit Where She Railed Against the 1%. The Media Didn’t Cover It – Michael Betzold (Metro Times, April 25, 2023).
The Case for Marianne Williamson – Zach Courtney (The Minnesota Daily, April 20, 2023).
Democratic Presidential Longshot Marianne Williamson on Challenging Biden: “We Should Have as Many People Running in an Election as Feel Moved” – Victor Reklaitis (Market Watch, April 15, 2023).
Marianne Williamson, Fusing Bernie Sanders and (Early) Jordan Peterson, Is Taking Over TikTok – Ryan Grim (The Intercept, April 14, 2023).
Meet Eris, the Goddess Behind the Force That Is Marianne Williamson – Rayner Jae Liu (Medium, April 8, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Making Gains Against Joe Biden, New Poll Suggests – Jason Lemon (Newsweek, April 1, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Says Democrats Need to Fix “Unjust” Economy to Win – Andrew Stanton (Newsweek, March 12, 2023).

UPDATE: How Marianne Williamson’s Daring Plan Offers Hope to Defeat the Unrelenting Heat – Savannah Creel (Tuscon.com, July 28, 2023).


See also: Marianne 2024 Official Site | About | Issues | News | Events | Blog | Donate

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Marianne 2024
• Marianne Williamson Launches 2024 Presidential Campaign
• Progressive Perspectives on Marianne Williamson’s Presidential Run
• More Progressive Perspectives on Marianne Williamson’s Presidential Run
• Ben Burgis: Quote of the Day – March 10, 2023
• Despite the Undemocratic Antics of the DNC, Marianne Williamson Plans on “Winning the Nomination”
• Marianne Williamson in New Hampshire
• Voters, Not the DNC, Should Choose the Nominee
• The Biblical Roots of “From Each According to Ability; To Each According to Need”
• Marianne Williamson on The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton – 05/30/23
• Marianne Williamson’s Economic Bill of Rights
• Three Progressive Voices on the War in Ukraine
• Marianne Williamson: Quote of the Day – June 27, 2023
• Marianne Williamson: “We Must Challenge the Entire System”
• Progressive Perspectives on the U.S. Midterm Election Results
• Marianne Williamson on the Current Condition of the U.S.
• An Essential Read Ahead of the Midterms
• Marianne Williamson’s Politics of Love: The Rich Roll Interview
• Celebrating Tuesday’s Progressive Wins in the Midst of the Ongoing “War for the Future of the Democratic Party”
• Now Here’s a Voice I’d Like to Hear Regularly on the Sunday Morning Talk Shows
• A Deeper Perspective on What’s Really Attacking American Democracy