Politics

The Hobbledehoy collects articles and podcasts from reliable sources of factual reporting, but with a clear, self-acknowledged left-leaning or progressive editorial bias.
Find the most recent articles from historians Timothy Snyder and Heather Cox Richardson, journalist Sarah Kendzior, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, former U.S. Senator Al Franken, and the global news program Democracy Now!

Hollywood condemns Terry Gilliam for #MeToo comments

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Actors and directors criticise film-maker for likening movement to ‘mob rule’ and remarks about Weinstein scandal

The film director Terry Gilliam has come under fire from Hollywood actors and directors for comparing the #MeToo movement to “mob rule”.

The former Monty Python member suggested the anti-sexual harassment campaign had led to a “world of victims” in an interview with Agence France-Presse.

While describing Harvey Weinstein as a “monster”, he added that the disgraced producer was only exposed because he was such an “asshole”.

Gilliam said: “Harvey opened the door for a few people, a night with Harvey – that’s the price you pay.

“I think some people did very well out of meeting with Harvey and others didn’t. The ones who did, knew what they were doing. These are adults; we are talking about adults with a lot of ambition.” [ . . . ]

More at THE GUARDIAN: Hollywood condemns Terry Gilliam for #MeToo comments

John Oliver: ‘I’m used to audiences not liking me’

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THE GUARDIAN 2/24/18

How did a foul-mouthed Brit with ‘a fifth-grade understanding of American politics’ become a hit US TV comedian? John Oliver talks about the secret to satire – and that clash with Dustin Hoffman

here is a huge billboard of John Oliver in the middle of Times Square, announcing the fifth season of his show Last Week Tonight and causing the comedian to take an alternative route to work. Since he arrived in the US nearly 11 years ago, part of Oliver’s schtick has been the British person not just at sea in another country, but somewhat at sea in his own skin, a comic trope that aligns with the 40-year-old’s fundamental discomfort with the trappings of fame.
“It’s all happened so quickly,” says Oliver [ . . . ] More: John Oliver: ‘I’m used to audiences not liking me’

“I think one of the problems in America is that it has this gigantic military that a large amount of the population has no connection to. You can functionally be at war, as they’ve been in Afghanistan, for over a decade, and not really have any emotional sense that that is happening, because the disconnect is so big.”

Shirley Manson: ‘Men need to start policing their own’

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The Hobbledehoy misses Shirley Manson. Read this excellent interview from The Independent and take a nostalgic look at the 1999 clip from Jools Holland.

…The problems that women face go far beyond the music industry. This is just the tiny tip of the iceberg. Misogyny and sexism is baffling and I have no answers as to where it comes from or why it continues.

Violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence – is a major public health problem and a violation of women’s human rights. Global estimates published by WHO indicate that about 1 in 3 (35%) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. That speaks of a systemic, institutionalised problem that has flourished since time began. How can we possibly start to eradicate it? I don’t know. If I had the answers to this question I would run for office.

I am so desperate for this situation to be “ fixed”. I suspect however it begins with the way we educate our children about gender, identity, expression and sexuality from a very early age. The patriarchy has created a binary system in which males often thrive and women shrink. It’s all so crazy and outdated. Gender is dead. Let’s start by freeing the people!

Read Full interview: Shirley Manson: ‘Men need to start policing their own’

 

The full list of women who have accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment

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A year after women came forward to accuse then-presidential candidate Donald Trump of sexual assault or harassment, the issue is once again at the forefront of political discourse.

For a number of months, women have been coming forward to accuse powerful men in entertainment and media of sexual assault or harassment. In recent days there have been reports that the president has sought to backtrack from his apology over the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape, in which he made vulgar comments about women. He has told aides that it wasn’t him in the video. He has also previously denied assaulting anyone or kissing anyone without consent [ . . . ] Read More: The full list of women who have accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment