When Steve Harvey Becomes the Emergency Broadcast System

Pardon the Interruption

I first caught wind of the news earlier in the evening but waited until 10:30 to see it for myself. Instead of Jimmy Kimmel Live, I was greeted by Family Feud with Steve Harvey. Why is it always Steve Harvey when something gets canceled? Does ABC/Disney keep Steve in a vault marked In Case of Cancellation, Break Glass? Don’t get me wrong, we love Steve. But the real story is what wasn’t there: Jimmy Kimmel.

Late-night isn’t just filler for many of us—it’s part of the nightly routine. A laugh before bed, a monologue that teases the day’s political circus, followed by an interview, a skit, and some music. It’s a simple formula, but it works. And at the center of it all is the monologue—a space where comedy and free speech meet. That’s why pulling the show feels so unsettling.

According to The New York Times, the decision followed remarks Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk’s death—comments that didn’t sit well with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee tied to Project 2025. Soon after, ABC/Disney pulled the plug. And, of course, President Trump couldn’t resist celebrating on social media, even dragging Fallon and Meyers into the mix, "... That leaves Jimmy [Fallon] and Seth [Meyers], two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT."

It’s tempting to laugh at the pettiness—Trump’s odd first-name basis with late-night hosts, the over-reliance on Steve Harvey reruns—but the bigger picture isn’t funny. This brushes right up against the edges of free speech, one of the foundations we hold most dear. 

I can always change the channel, boycott a sponsor, or just turn off the TV. What I shouldn’t have to worry about is political pressure silencing voices in comedy, journalism, or anywhere else.

Nine years ago, I wrote about Trump’s threats toward journalists. Last year, I revisited those warnings. Now, here we are, watching the guardrails vanish in real time. The truth is, late night may be designed to make us laugh before bed, but right now it feels more like a wake-up call.

AI generated

 

Anton Mauve

Art Appreciation

Anton Mauve, born on September 18, 1838, in Zaandam, Netherlands, was raised in a deeply religious and modest household. The son of a Mennonite minister, Mauve grew up in a setting that valued introspection and simplicity -- traits that would later shape the tone of his artwork.

He studied under landscape painters Pieter Frederik van Os and Wouter Verschuur, both known for their animal paintings, especially horses. Mauve's early experiences in the Dutch countryside and his apprenticeships instilled in him a strong affinity for rural life, which became a hallmark of his later work.

Throughout his career, Mauve became a leading figure in the Hague School, a movement known for its muted palette and focus on everyday rural scenes. His technique often combined oil and watercolor with a loose, atmospheric brushstroke that gave his works a soft, almost melancholic feel. 

Mauve had a significant influence on his younger cousin-in-law, Vincent van Gogh. It was Mauve who introduced van Gogh to oil painting and watercolor, encouraging his artistic development during their brief but formative relationship. However, personal tensions eventually led to their estrangement. Still, van Gogh credited Mauve with helping him understand color and composition in his early works.

Mauve is best known for paintings like Morning Ride on the Beach and Returning Home from the Fields, which exemplify his mastery in capturing serene, pastoral life. Morning Ride, in particular, features riders on horseback along a misty shoreline -- a composition praised for its light and movement. 

Morning Ride on the Beach, 1876

Returning Home from the Fields

The Harvest

Sources: 

Wikipedia

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/art-and-stories/artists/anton-mauve

https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/search?p=1&ps=12&involvedMaker=Anton%20Mauve

https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/person/103XSB

https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.2295.html

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Mini Trees - Cracks In The Pavement

Music Appreciation

I first discovered Mini Trees when Lexi Vega performed at SXSW in Austin in 2022, and I was instantly captivated. Seeing her live felt like stepping into someone’s journal — raw, intimate, and profoundly vulnerable. One song that stood out immediately was "Cracks in the Pavement," a track from her debut studio album, Always in Motion, released on September 17, 2021. The song beautifully explores the tension between desire and doubt, unraveling the emotional intricacies of relationships.

The music video for "Cracks in the Pavement," directed by Erik Shute and photographed by Nina Raj, translates Vega’s introspective lyrics into a stunning visual narrative. Featuring Kati Garceau and Mary Ives, their performances deepen the storytelling, intertwining subtle expressions of human connection with Vega’s themes of self-reflection. Throughout the video, Vega herself appears walking in a darkened room illuminated by a single light source, mirroring the song's exploration of finding clarity amid chaos.

With poignant lyrics like “I count the cracks in the pavement to throw a wrench in it, distracting my brain wave,” Vega conveys the universal yearning to make sense of life’s uncertainties. Shute’s direction amplifies these emotions with a restrained yet powerful visual style, while Raj’s photography bathes each frame in a soft, melancholic glow. The result is a music video that feels as intimate as a handwritten letter and as refined as an art exhibit, cementing Mini Trees as a project of not only sound but deep emotional resonance.

via Run For Cover Records

Source:

Wikipedia

https://runforcoverrecords.com/collections/mini-trees

Jóhann Jóhannsson - Flight From The City

Music Appreciation

Jóhann Jóhannsson’s "Flight From The City" opens his 2016 album Orphée, a work deeply influenced by the myth of Orpheus and themes of transformation. The album reflects Jóhannsson's personal transitions, including his move from Copenhagen to Berlin, and explores concepts of change, love, and the artistic process. Drawing inspiration from Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Jean Cocteau’s 1950 film Orphée, the album traces a journey from darkness into light, mirroring the Orpheus myth's exploration of loss and rebirth.​

"Flight From The City" is characterized by its minimalist composition, featuring a simple piano melody accompanied by gradually building strings and subtle electronic elements. The piece exemplifies Jóhannsson's ability to blend classical instrumentation with ambient textures, creating a meditative soundscape that invites introspection .​

The music video for "Flight From The City," directed by Clare Langan, complements the composition's themes through visual storytelling. Filmed in the hot springs at Flúðir, Iceland, the video portrays a mother and daughter immersed in 'black' water, symbolizing the profound bond between them. This imagery reflects universal themes of connection, love, and transition, resonating with the album's exploration of change and the human experience .

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://songoftheday.ca/2020/10/25/flight-from-the-city/

https://www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/artists-film-international/clare-langan-flight-from-the-city/

https://crawfordartgallery.ie/wp-content/uploads/AFI-2021-Press-Release-final.pdf

https://www.clarelangan.com/portfolio/flight-from-the-city

https://classicalexburns.com/2020/09/13/johann-johannsson-flight-from-the-city-a-loving-tribute/

https://floodmagazine.com/41930/dark-night-johannsson

https://pitchfork.com/news/67330-johann-johannsson-to-score-new-blade-runner-sequel

Yoga: Anna Engelschall - 25 Min New to HIIT Workout, for Beginners

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Dance: Nagada Sang Dhol Baje Dance Performance

Choreography: Mannat Dance Academy

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