Summer has long been embraced as a time away from school, from work, and from the usual routine.
I will do some of this as I give Progressives Chat some rest.
Rather than a weekly schedule, Progressives Chat will have July and August 2025 topics scheduled for the 1st and 15th of each month. Four topics.
In July, these dates will fall on a Tuesday. In August, they will be on a Friday. This is to give me, frankly, some break. I am honestly needing it. (I have some personal matters but will still post in Comments.)
Progressive Chat will return to Mondays beginning on September 1, 2025.
I have expanded Comments to allow up to 30 days from a blog topic’s publishing date.
For this first entry in July 2025…
Fifty years ago, in 1975, saw the releases of two acclaimed motion pictures.
Wednesday, June 11, 1975 was the date director Robert Altman’s groundbreaking film, Nashville, was released.
Friday, June 20, 1975 was the date director Steven Spielberg’s Jaws was released in movie theatres.
Jaws is better known, to most people, and it is the ultimate thriller. The enemy being a shark who goes on the hunt at a New England beach. Roy Scheider plays the police chief. Richard Dreyfuss as the marine biologist. Robert Shaw is the shark hunter.
Jaws was adapted to the screen by Carl Gottlieb and Peter Benchley. It is based on the latter’s 1974 novel. It was of the early-enough blockbuster films which changed the course of Hollywood standards in movie-making. It is genius work by Spielberg.
Nashville was my favorite film of 1975, the 1970s, and of what I have seen in motion pictures during the second half of the 20th century. It is an all-American look at 24 different and complicated individuals who are gathering for a presidential candidate. The music is, mostly, Country.
Jaws and Nashville are masterpieces for directors Spielberg and Altman. But, I must apply that old adage, “Behind every great man [there] is a great woman.” They are Verna Fields and Joan Tewkesbury. Fields won the 1975 Oscar for Film Editing and is key to why Jaws grips and scares the hell out of people. Tewkesbury wielded magic in her written-directly-for-the-screen Nashville with convincingly integrating and circulating those 24 characters in the same orbit.
Jaws was Oscar nominated for Best Picture of 1975 but, amazingly, Steven Spielberg was not nominated for Best Director nor were Carl Gottlieb and Peter Benchley for Adapted Screenplay nor Robert Shaw for Supporting Actor.
Nashville won the 1975 Original Song Oscar, for “I’m Easy,” for its songwriter and performer and actor Keith Carradine. It was nominated for Best Picture, Director for Robert Altman, and Supporting Actress for each of Ronee Blakley and Lily Tomlin. Strangely, Joan Tewkesbury was not nominated for Original Screenplay nor was Henry Gibson for Supporting Actor.
Much more could be written of both films. But, I will post more in the Comments.
The following two clips include something having to do with a boat and an astonishing opener…
As reported by USA Today, on Saturday, June 21, 2025, “President Donald Trump on Saturday night announced American warplanes dropped bombs on three nuclear sites in Iran, with the U.S. officially entering the war more than a week after Israel’s initial attack.”
• Israel struck Iran and Iran struck Israel. Naturally, there are tweets on X weighing in. And there are defenders of Israel who want U.S. involvement and its soldiers to fight. It is, and this is putting it kindly, supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump—MAGA World—who are there for wherever is Trump. Those not in support get to clash with those in support of Israel. The nation’s leaders, and their administrations, have talked for years about going to war against Iran. Of course, that is what this country does—wars—and we will find out what more may come.
• Minnesota politicians targeted for assassination. Two state legislature figures were targeted for assassination. Melissa Hortman, age 55 and DFL leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives, along with her husband Mark, was assassinated in her home. Also targeted for assassination, but having survived, was John Hoffman, DFL, a state senator and age 60, along with his wife Yvette. Their adult daughter, shielded by her mother, was not shot. The suspect, following a weekend manhunt, has been apprehended. He is Vance Luther Boelter, 57.
There likely will be more up-to-date details during the week.
Fallout from last week between U.S. president Donald Trump and Tesla and X owner Elon Musk sparked the above tweet (which has since been deleted but, thankfully, I took a screenshot).
Numerous of the regularly recommended content creators have already commented. I will include videos linked in Comments. But, there should be a response from me with this topic.
I would not surprised if this is true.
I suspect that there is an easier question to ask: “Who isn’t in the Epstein files?”
In 2022, I wrote and posted “Remembering the Children” which was about the “Oakland County Child Killer” case in Oakland County, Michigan.
On the historic timeline, this occurred between February 1976 to March 1977. Some of it coincided with the “Son of Sam” [David Berkowitz] case in New York, New York.
The “Oakland Child Killer” is a serial murder case which has never been solved. Well, not officially. But what also occurred in Michigan, on the west side of these state, at North Fox Island, was the sexual violations of children. Boys. (For “OCCK.” it was two boys and two girls.”)
The person who headed this was Francis Shelden (1928–1996) . He bought North Fox Island.
Shelden was a pedophile. He had a network of other adult men who exploited—and even raped—many of these boys. Joining in this crime, although not named, were other men with wealth and influence.
I do not want to go into much with that case. Shelden was descended from the 20th governor of Michigan Russell Alger (1836–1907). He fled Michigan, apparently, and the United States—and he avoided arrest—for the remainder of this life. He died in Amsterdam.
The Jeffrey Epstein case reminds me of this. Many in his circle also have wealth, power, and influence. And whether or not that list ever becomes revealed—and it is intended that that will never happen—I cannot be genuinely surprised.
Last week, Glenn Greenwald revealed that he received video which shows him being intimate with another person. Without my knowing anything more specific, and not really wanting to know, I have a couple notes to make which will serve as my response to the very nature of this would-be scandal:
• I do not want to know about anyone’s private life. Meaning: Anything anyone wants to share…that is a willingness of that person to share, say, one thing about himself/herself. But, in general, I do not want to ask anyone private information about himself/herself.
• If someone is being confronted with pictures and/or videos of himself/herself having an intimate connection to someone else, there is one reason why that should be acceptable: That person is cheating on his/her significant other with another person. (That, say, a private investigator has the proof.) Other than that…this says more about the person (or persons) invading the privacy of the one who is/was targeted.
Greenwald’s husband, David Miranda, who was a Brazilian politician and activist, died at age 37 in 2023. Greenwald, 58, is raising their children. That general information, to that extent, is appropriate and satisfying enough. Greenwald’s journalism, and his criticism, is his work.
I respect Glenn Greenwald and wish well for him and his family.
This Saturday, May 31, 2025 marks the 25-year anniversary of the premiere of CBS’s Survivor.
This series changed the United States broadcast networks—and other forms of television—with what has been identified by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which administers the primetime Emmys, as Reality–Competition Programming.
Created by Mark Burnett, the series is hosted by Jeff Probst, and casts at least 16 “Castaways” who live on an island, in a real location (filmed on location), in efforts to “Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.”
The first edition of Survivor, which premiered on May 31, 2000, was titled Borneo. (Below picture is of its participating castaways.)
I was late to the series. I started with the second edition, which was broadcast in Spring 2001, titled The Austrian Outback.
Survivor won a top Emmy in 2001. Probst won four Emmys for Outstanding Reality-Competition Host.
I stopped watching Survivor after the Fall 2019 edition included a participant who inappropriately touched at least one woman, and wasn’t timely pulled from the game, but was finally taken out late in the game. That did it for me.
During the time I regularly followed, it was an intriguing concept to have people from different areas of the U.S. live together on an island, struggle, participate in competitions, and strategize to stay in the game to go all the way to the end. And win. That is Survivor.
I will be taking several weeks off from writing and publishing specific political topics in order to cover some entertainment and milestone anniversaries. This will apply to the last two weeks in May and throughout most or all of June.
This week addresses two of my latest television picks which I find entertaining and enjoyable. The first is a new series. The second is a nearly 125-year-old professional sports team returning to greatness.
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Open Gates
On February 24, 2025, CBS debuted Beyond the Gates, the first daytime soap launched in over twenty-five years by any of the traditional broadcast networks in the United States.
Beyond the Gates comes from the imagination of Sheila Ducksworth, who co-executive produces the series. The production boasts a cast of characters who are dominantly Black. It is the first such daytime soap on a U.S. broadcast network.
As one who took in plenty of the daytime dramas in decades past, it is not a genre which turns me off. Involvement in following such productions is more than what I usually want to give of my time. So, for the time being, I am giving Gates a chance.
I applaud Ducksworth, series creator and co-executive producer and head writer Michele Val Jean, and the production as whole for a very good reason. Most of the new daytime soaps I checked out, throughout many years, and just as they premiered, were not good. They were not in shape. They were not interesting. It would take at least a year to come to fruition. Sometimes more. Beyond the Gates is already strong.
Nicole is married to surgeon Ted (first played by Maurice Johnson; now played by Keith D. Robinson). Their adult children are Martin (Brandon Claybon) and Kat (Colby Muhammad). They also have adopted adult son Andrè (Sean Freeman). Revealed early in the series is that Ted years ago had an affair with a dangerous woman named Leslie (Trisha Mann–Grant), who has used aliases, and they produced daughter Eva (Ambyr Michelle).
Dani is divorced, after 30 years, from unethical attorney Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett). They have adult daughters Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) and Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla). Established from the first episode is Bill, divorced from Dani, engaged and newly wed to the young woman with whom he had an affair. She is Hayley (Marquita Goings), seemingly naive, who used to have a friendship with Naomi.
Martin, who is gay and a congressman, is married to journalist Bradley “Smitty” (Mike Manning). They have adopted children. Kat, who isn’t given a profession (but is analytical), has an antagonistic connection to Eva. They both seem interested in the same man, Tomas (Alex Alegria), who works for Bill at his law firm. Andrè, a photographer, is interested in unavailable nurse Ashley (Jen Jacob), who is in a relationship with fireman Derek (Ben Gavin).
Naomi, an attorney who helps her community, is married to police detective Jacob (JibreHordges). Chelsea, a former model who is launching a clothing design business, is bisexual and exploring. (One scene had Chelsea asking Martin about threesomes. That isn’t often on Network TV.)
The community, named Fairmont Crest, is also connected to realtor Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli). She is married to a surgeon with a gambling addiction. Vanessa has friendships with Nicole and Dani. She has the respect of Anita and Vernon.
The series, as I mentioned, has started out well. Ball is rolling. It does need to more effectively integrate Ashley and Derek, who are also friends with Naomi and Jacob, as their relationship is spiraling. I would recommend the same with the background of “Smitty.” I noticed actors Jacob and Manning look physically like they can play family members—cousins is more likely—while sending Derek to lonely and unfulfilled real-estate wife Vanessa can create surprising story.
The action with Beyond the Gates, with what especially works, is with the Duprees. Dani is a fiery. Nicole is regal. They have experienced cheating husbands. But the bedrocks are Anita and Vernon, wise and relatable parents and grandparents, who lead and protect their family whenever necessary.
This is a fine cast. Three performances already stand out as meriting Emmy nominations in 2026: Tunie, whose role was specially created for her, is divine. Also recognized for her work as a medical examiner on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Tunie is an actress who does not come across acting. … Mosley, at times bitter and other times alluring, has stood out right from Episode One. … Mann–Grant is terrific and fearless, and not over the top, as her character is clearly deranged.
Three of the Gates cast members have had major awards recognition. Though she was never Emmy-nominated for her work on the former CBS soap As the World Turns, Tunie won a 2007 Tony Award as one of the producers for Best Musical Spring Awakening. Davis was recognized, in 1972, with nominations for both a Grammy (1971 R&B Song for “Never Can Say Goodbye” recorded by Jackson 5) and a Tony (Best Actor in a Musical for Best Musical winner Two Gentleman of Verona).… Manning, who has been with other daytime soaps, won two Emmys—his first as a producer; his second as a performer—for the Internet-based serial The Bay.
Last week, and in time for this publishing date, CBS renewed Beyond the Gates for a second season.
Following is an interview with Ducksworth, Duplaix, and Tunie from The Paley Center for Media.
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Roaring Tigers
Last year was not just luck.
After clawing their way into the 2024 Major League Baseball postseason, the 2025 Detroit Tigers are leading not only their American League Central division. With the games of Sunday, May 18, 2025, Detroit Tigers leads the entire AL with a record of 31–16 and .660. If that isn’t enough…Detroit Tigers also have the best record in all of MLB. Currently in battle for the best record in the National League, and tied 29–18 and .617, are the NL East New York Mets and the NL West Los Angeles Dodgers.
So I am now into following Detroit Tigers. I am watching via the FanDuel Sports streaming app.
I was amazed by last week’s three-game sweep, at Detroit’s Comerica Park, of Boston Red Sox. It was due to one player from Game #02, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. In extra innings, bottom of the 11th, centerfielder Javier Báez hit a three-run, walk-off homer that won Tigers the game with 10 to 9 runs. It was not just that moment. The 32-year-old Baez (who won the 2016 World Series with Chicago Cubs and was co-winner of the 2016 National League Championship Series MVP) had another three-run homer earlier in the game. He alone drove in 6 of his team’s 10 runs.
The pitching is excellent. Last November, 28-year-old ace Tarik Skubal, above, won the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s 2024 AL Cy Young award with unanimous No. 1 votes by all 30 of the AL sportswriters. He also won the pitching triple crown: Wins-vs.-Losses (18-4), Earned Run Average (2.39) and Strikeouts (228). The left-hander is a pleasure to watch. Tigers are lucky to have him.
Following is “Game Highlights: Javier Báez Three-Run Walk-Off Home Run | 5/13/25” published to YouTube by the channel of Detroit Tigers.
