Welcome back to an old TKR favorite, the Sunday Six!
On this day in 1917, the United States declared war on Germany, officially marking our entry into World War 1.
That historical nugget provides the perfect lead-in to our lede story of this week …
LIBERATION DAY
Donald Trump dominates our culture like no politician in recent times. Now that he has returned to the commander-in-chief's office, his decisions have a direct impact on the markets. No decision by a sitting president in the past few decades has had as much impact on the markets as this past week’s tariffs. Nate Silver at the Silver Bulletin with a reasoned analysis (hard to find any “reasoned” opinion on Trump) on the tariffs, short and long term.
Nate Silver, The Silver Bulletin
AOC NEW BERNIE BRO?
The Dems are flagging to come up with any candidate to be the face of the party in the post-Trump era. After getting soundly defeated this past election cycle, a logical conclusion would be the party would be on the lookout for more moderate candidates. Nope. Party leaders are doubling down on progressivism. How else do you explain the recent rally tour of AOC, the social justice warrior from New York? Matt Taibbi explains just how a potential AOC presidential candidacy would go, predictably poorly.
BATTERY FACTORY, BAD IDEA
A reporter for Rest of the World, spent months tracking Chinese EV battery maker Gotion and its efforts to open a Michigan factory. The result is a modern political parable with few simple solutions. A terrific, well-reported piece of journalism.
MURDER IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
"It's comforting to pretend that only psychopaths kill—that, for the sane and rational, murder is an act too heinous and unforgivable to warrant serious consideration,” writes Toronto Life, “but history and science prove otherwise.” This psychopath-next-door story about a Canadian couple named James and Ashley Schwalm begins with “what seemed like a fairy tale life—two wonderful children, fulfilling careers, and a gorgeous home close to the private ski club where they had fallen in love.” It ends with Ashley’s body burned beyond recognition in a car. The trail of clues and cover-ups—tracks in the snow, texts sent from her phone, a monogrammed lighter—implicates her firefighter husband.
STREAM OF THE WEEK: “ADOLESCENCE”
I can optimize my streaming time to squeeze in one multi-episode doc or show per week. This one took me a few weeks (Gulf Shores vacation throw-in) and was well worth the persistence. An intense, psychological thriller that takes us through the story of a 13-year-old boy charged with murder. The show profiles all sides of the horrendous case—law enforcement, psychologists, educators, and of course, the defendant himself, the freckled-faced adolescent Jamie, accused of stabbing a female classmate from a private school in the U.K. A riveting four hours of television.
VAL KILMER RIP
Finally… brutal to hear the news this week on Val Kilmer’s death. He’ll always be “Iceman” but we forget how in his heyday, what a charismatic actor Kilmer was. One of my fav roles of Kilmer is his first starring role, as Nick Rivers in the hilarious spoof comedy, “Top Secret!” Kilmer channels his best Elvis impression in this clip; a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on.
ICYMI… THIS WEEK IN TKR
*Two members of Illinois’ ruling class are at odds over a proposed piece of legislation that would allow prep athletes to play for their club and high school teams.
*We are witnessing the end of the innocence in college sports. Professionalism is in; amateurism is out.
Have a suggestion for The Kerr Report? Send email to jonjkerr@gmail.com.
So glad you're back. I can pull up my little Sunday Six and read something every morning. Gracias!