Harvey G. Cohen
@cultrhack.bsky.social
Author/historian (Duke Ellington's America, Who's In The Money?) musician/songwriter, Yankee in London, Senior Lecturer.
In so many ways, a Culture Hack...and democracy champion.
In so many ways, a Culture Hack...and democracy champion.
At first I thought, another cover of country classic “Ring Of Fire”?! But below, in 1970, Ray Charles basically rewrote the song into a daring sexy R&B classic. They didn’t call him The Genius for nothing, kids. And Johnny Cash looks rather happy about it:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X30-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X30-...
Ray Charles performing “Walk the Line” & “Ring of Fire” on the Johnny Cash Show
YouTube video by Aliche Okafor
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:19 PM
At first I thought, another cover of country classic “Ring Of Fire”?! But below, in 1970, Ray Charles basically rewrote the song into a daring sexy R&B classic. They didn’t call him The Genius for nothing, kids. And Johnny Cash looks rather happy about it:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X30-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X30-...
New article by Joe Nocera on “Trump’s Crypto Cash Machine” reveals how Trump has made $3 billion in 2025, & his family has made more billions. Meanwhile, many business and foreign interests are contributing this money and expecting corresponding favors from Trump.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Nz...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Nz...
People who helped enrich Trump through cryptocurrencies wanted something in return: Report
YouTube video by MSNBC
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:13 PM
New article by Joe Nocera on “Trump’s Crypto Cash Machine” reveals how Trump has made $3 billion in 2025, & his family has made more billions. Meanwhile, many business and foreign interests are contributing this money and expecting corresponding favors from Trump.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Nz...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Nz...
Nick Miroff of @theatlantic.com on the FBI issuing a memo asking ICE officers to stop wearing masks after several incidents of agents being impersonated by criminals. Trump administration is causing a “deterioration of trust” of law enforcement officers nationwide.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=toN6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=toN6...
FBI issues memo asking ICE officers to stop wearing masks after impersonations
YouTube video by MSNBC
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Nick Miroff of @theatlantic.com on the FBI issuing a memo asking ICE officers to stop wearing masks after several incidents of agents being impersonated by criminals. Trump administration is causing a “deterioration of trust” of law enforcement officers nationwide.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=toN6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=toN6...
.@AriMelber assembles the facts:
Trump’s many efforts against the rule of law are “a story that won’t go away because Trump keeps siding with convicts and seditionists and would-be coup leaders, and people who attack police--over your U.S. government.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UArE...
Trump’s many efforts against the rule of law are “a story that won’t go away because Trump keeps siding with convicts and seditionists and would-be coup leaders, and people who attack police--over your U.S. government.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UArE...
WARNING! After 2025 loss, Trump planning future coup, says his WH lawyer from 1st term
YouTube video by MSNBC
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:15 PM
.@AriMelber assembles the facts:
Trump’s many efforts against the rule of law are “a story that won’t go away because Trump keeps siding with convicts and seditionists and would-be coup leaders, and people who attack police--over your U.S. government.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UArE...
Trump’s many efforts against the rule of law are “a story that won’t go away because Trump keeps siding with convicts and seditionists and would-be coup leaders, and people who attack police--over your U.S. government.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UArE...
Gov @gavinnewsom.bsky.social is spotlighting yet another area where Trump is significantly damaging his own country because of his pig-headed ignorance.
(@nytimes.com)
(@nytimes.com)
November 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Gov @gavinnewsom.bsky.social is spotlighting yet another area where Trump is significantly damaging his own country because of his pig-headed ignorance.
(@nytimes.com)
(@nytimes.com)
Ty Cobb, White House Attorney during Trump 1.0, says Trump’s 77 federal pardons of those who helped him try to steal 2020 election have little legal import, but are meant to tell those who may help him cheat in 2026 midterms that he’ll have their back & pardon them
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UArE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UArE...
WARNING! After 2025 loss, Trump planning future coup, says his WH lawyer from 1st term
YouTube video by MSNBC
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Ty Cobb, White House Attorney during Trump 1.0, says Trump’s 77 federal pardons of those who helped him try to steal 2020 election have little legal import, but are meant to tell those who may help him cheat in 2026 midterms that he’ll have their back & pardon them
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UArE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UArE...
Ray Charles’ super-enjoyable 1963 best-selling LP “Ingredients In A Recipe For Soul” has been re-released, The Genius’ trawl through R&B and jazz with the best L.A. players & two glorious hits in the bargain: “Busted,” “That Lucky Old Sun.” I genuflected:
raycharles.bandcamp.com/album/ingred...
raycharles.bandcamp.com/album/ingred...
Ingredients In A Recipe For Soul, by Ray Charles
14 track album
raycharles.bandcamp.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Ray Charles’ super-enjoyable 1963 best-selling LP “Ingredients In A Recipe For Soul” has been re-released, The Genius’ trawl through R&B and jazz with the best L.A. players & two glorious hits in the bargain: “Busted,” “That Lucky Old Sun.” I genuflected:
raycharles.bandcamp.com/album/ingred...
raycharles.bandcamp.com/album/ingred...
An incredible and harrowing journey, in stories and pictures, with the Pulitzer-winning war photographer @lynseyaddario.bsky.social, through some of the worst war zones of the 21st century: Iraq, Darfur, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Libya.
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Love & War: From frontlines to family life. Pulitzer-winning conflict photographer Lynsey Addario on the five stories that defined her career
Pulitzer-winning conflict photographer Lynsey Addario on the five stories that defined her career
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:33 PM
An incredible and harrowing journey, in stories and pictures, with the Pulitzer-winning war photographer @lynseyaddario.bsky.social, through some of the worst war zones of the 21st century: Iraq, Darfur, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Libya.
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
A new profile of author John Irving, still actively writing and exploring ideas at the age of 83. One of the best days I ever had at my college was when he came by and the person minding him got sick and he and I hung out for hours. This article captures him well.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/s...
The World According to John Irving
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:28 PM
A new profile of author John Irving, still actively writing and exploring ideas at the age of 83. One of the best days I ever had at my college was when he came by and the person minding him got sick and he and I hung out for hours. This article captures him well.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/s...
@markjacob.bsky.social shows us how MSM reports the latest outrageous thing Trump does,then moves on to the next one a day or two later—but do not assess what such stories mean together. Where are stories like “Trump Is Building A Dictatorship”? Because he IS.
www.stopthepresses.news/p/how-news-c...
www.stopthepresses.news/p/how-news-c...
How news coverage eases us into tyranny
When the media act like things are normal, they don’t reassure us – they gaslight us
www.stopthepresses.news
November 11, 2025 at 10:21 PM
@markjacob.bsky.social shows us how MSM reports the latest outrageous thing Trump does,then moves on to the next one a day or two later—but do not assess what such stories mean together. Where are stories like “Trump Is Building A Dictatorship”? Because he IS.
www.stopthepresses.news/p/how-news-c...
www.stopthepresses.news/p/how-news-c...
Hey Washington Post and others, any chance you can report on the NEWS, of which there’s plenty of these days, and avoid asinine meaningless clickbait that won’t be relevant or useful til at least 2027?
November 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Hey Washington Post and others, any chance you can report on the NEWS, of which there’s plenty of these days, and avoid asinine meaningless clickbait that won’t be relevant or useful til at least 2027?
After the 1929 stock crash, FDR introduced legislation to bring security back to the markets. But now Trump’s “administration has been firing regulators and vigorously tearing down the guardrails that have kept our markets thriving for nine decades.” Ruh-roh.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
Opinion | Trump Is Pushing Us Toward a Crash. It Could Be 1929 All Over Again.
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
After the 1929 stock crash, FDR introduced legislation to bring security back to the markets. But now Trump’s “administration has been firing regulators and vigorously tearing down the guardrails that have kept our markets thriving for nine decades.” Ruh-roh.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
Until reading this new article, I didn’t realize how much America’s financial & investing picture of the 2020s resembles the 1920s—esp. how companies are allowing investors to buy on margin without putting up the money, a major cause of 1929 stock market crash. Crazy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
November 11, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Until reading this new article, I didn’t realize how much America’s financial & investing picture of the 2020s resembles the 1920s—esp. how companies are allowing investors to buy on margin without putting up the money, a major cause of 1929 stock market crash. Crazy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
“Speculative money is once more [as in 1929] pouring into risky schemes, staggering sums thrown at AI & crypto. But rather than heed a century of hard-won lessons, Trump’s financial regulators are embracing dissolute policies to keep the punch flowing.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
Opinion | Trump Is Pushing Us Toward a Crash. It Could Be 1929 All Over Again.
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:13 PM
“Speculative money is once more [as in 1929] pouring into risky schemes, staggering sums thrown at AI & crypto. But rather than heed a century of hard-won lessons, Trump’s financial regulators are embracing dissolute policies to keep the punch flowing.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
Trump is currently spreading on his social media the lie (debunked since 2017) that Obama has made $40M in royalties on “Obamacare.” Trump has no interest in helping Americans who need it, but is fixated on attacking his personal enemies with silly B.S.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump shares false claim Obama earned $40m in ‘royalties’ from Obamacare
US president promoted fictional claim from satirical website that has been debunked repeatedly since 2017
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Trump is currently spreading on his social media the lie (debunked since 2017) that Obama has made $40M in royalties on “Obamacare.” Trump has no interest in helping Americans who need it, but is fixated on attacking his personal enemies with silly B.S.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
.@Maddow on the dozens of Jan 6 perps Trump pardoned in January who have reoffended since w/serious often violent crimes. And he just pardoned 77 who helped him try to steal 2020 election & cause a coup—abusing his pardon power to reward those committing crimes 4 him.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=neCn...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=neCn...
Abuse of pardon power becomes a key feature of Trump corruption of the Justice Department
YouTube video by MSNBC
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:03 PM
.@Maddow on the dozens of Jan 6 perps Trump pardoned in January who have reoffended since w/serious often violent crimes. And he just pardoned 77 who helped him try to steal 2020 election & cause a coup—abusing his pardon power to reward those committing crimes 4 him.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=neCn...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=neCn...
“I don’t know if you’ve seen the newspapers today, looks like the government shutdown is coming to an end. Our long national nightmare is now…different.”
--Stephen Colbert, @colbertlateshow.bsky.social, last night
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn3t...
--Stephen Colbert, @colbertlateshow.bsky.social, last night
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn3t...
Dem Defectors Vote To End Shutdown, Get Nothing From GOP | Trump Stadium | Asleep In The Oval Office
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:51 PM
“I don’t know if you’ve seen the newspapers today, looks like the government shutdown is coming to an end. Our long national nightmare is now…different.”
--Stephen Colbert, @colbertlateshow.bsky.social, last night
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn3t...
--Stephen Colbert, @colbertlateshow.bsky.social, last night
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn3t...
Last night, Jon Stewart was correctly brutal on the 8 Democrats who threw away the increasing leverage they'd won against Trump in recent weeks, and any chance to save tens of millions of Americans’ health care in the shutdown…a "world-class collapse” by the Dems.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFI6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFI6...
Jon Stewart "Can't F**king Believe" Democrats Caved on the Shutdown | The Daily Show
YouTube video by The Daily Show
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Last night, Jon Stewart was correctly brutal on the 8 Democrats who threw away the increasing leverage they'd won against Trump in recent weeks, and any chance to save tens of millions of Americans’ health care in the shutdown…a "world-class collapse” by the Dems.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFI6...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFI6...
Rep Jamie Raskin reveals shocking new details on current highly preferential prison treatment given convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell, and how she is actively seeking an UNJUST commutation from Trump—in exchange for political cooperation with him and @GOP?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOwl...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOwl...
Rep. Raskin: Ghislaine Maxwell is seeking Trump commutation, calls scandal a justice "emergency”
YouTube video by MSNBC
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Rep Jamie Raskin reveals shocking new details on current highly preferential prison treatment given convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell, and how she is actively seeking an UNJUST commutation from Trump—in exchange for political cooperation with him and @GOP?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOwl...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOwl...
Legislative expert @jakesherman.bsky.social & Dem strategist @julieroginsky.bsky.social are correct: Democrats got “nothing” out of their shutdown vote. After 7M protested Trump on the streets & Dems delivered huge anti-Trump wins last Tues, why did they capitulate?!?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK5I...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK5I...
'Unconscionable': Dem strategist slams Senators who advanced bill without health care win
YouTube video by MSNBC
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Legislative expert @jakesherman.bsky.social & Dem strategist @julieroginsky.bsky.social are correct: Democrats got “nothing” out of their shutdown vote. After 7M protested Trump on the streets & Dems delivered huge anti-Trump wins last Tues, why did they capitulate?!?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK5I...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK5I...
Ms Patti Smith and a piano, last week, singing “Peaceable Kingdom.” Just what the country needed, then. Don’t miss the final minute.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUlN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUlN...
“Peaceable Kingdom” - Patti Smith (LIVE on The Late Show)
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Ms Patti Smith and a piano, last week, singing “Peaceable Kingdom.” Just what the country needed, then. Don’t miss the final minute.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUlN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUlN...
Last week on U.S. TV, the American prophet Patti Smith gave advice to young people, talked about her new memoir which she first envisioned in a dream, and more:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgam...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgam...
“I Wanted To See The World So Much” - Patti Smith On Life Before Her 1975 Breakout Album, “Horses”
YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Last week on U.S. TV, the American prophet Patti Smith gave advice to young people, talked about her new memoir which she first envisioned in a dream, and more:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgam...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgam...
Patti Smith's pioneering debut album "Horses" is 50 years old today. Here she is on U.S. TV last week with the album cover. Beautiful.
November 10, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Patti Smith's pioneering debut album "Horses" is 50 years old today. Here she is on U.S. TV last week with the album cover. Beautiful.
Interesting lyric changes in the demo of “Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow” from Joni Mitchell’s "Hissing of Summer Lawns" LP (1975)—unlike the more direct personal lyrics of preceding “Court and Spark," she seems to step away from that quality on the album.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JL0...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JL0...
Don't Interrupt the Sorrow (Demo)
YouTube video by Joni Mitchell - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Interesting lyric changes in the demo of “Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow” from Joni Mitchell’s "Hissing of Summer Lawns" LP (1975)—unlike the more direct personal lyrics of preceding “Court and Spark," she seems to step away from that quality on the album.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JL0...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JL0...
“Net worth of 10 richest US billionaires grew by $698B in the past year…10X the annual amount required to end extreme poverty worldwide. How have they managed to channel so much money into their pockets? Why can’t we get it back thru effective taxation?”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I wish we could ignore Bill Gates on the climate crisis. But he’s a billionaire, so we can’t | George Monbiot
Money talks – and his essay denouncing ‘near-term emissions goals’ at Cop30 mostly argues the case for letting the ultra-rich off the hook
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:09 PM
“Net worth of 10 richest US billionaires grew by $698B in the past year…10X the annual amount required to end extreme poverty worldwide. How have they managed to channel so much money into their pockets? Why can’t we get it back thru effective taxation?”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...