United State Politics: March 2023

Friday, March 31, 2023

Trump's WWE Theory of Politics - The Atlantic

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This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.

Let’s begin by assuming you’re not planning to watch WrestleMania this weekend. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), with its ridiculous bombast and barbaric violence, has turned people off for decades. Yet its popularity—not to mention its profound influence on American culture and politics—persists. Below, I explain why.

But first, here are three new stories from The Atlantic.

And you can find all our coverage of Donald Trump’s indictment here.

The Man in the Arena

WWE can be eerily prophetic. Had you watched WrestleMania 23, back in 2007, for instance, you would have seen a future president of the United States, Donald Trump, standing in the ring with a devilish smile, preparing to humiliate the WWE head honcho, Vince McMahon.

Although scores of articles have been written about the connections between wrestling and Trumpism, comparatively little is understood about McMahon—who, in reality, is one of Trump’s close friends. (During the 2016 campaign, McMahon was reportedly on the extremely small list of individuals whose phone calls Trump would take in private; his wife, Linda, went on to serve in Trump’s Cabinet.) A new biography of McMahon, Ringmaster, came out earlier this week, and I spent some time with its author, Abraham Josephine Riesman, trying to unpack the book’s principal argument: that McMahon and WWE led to “the unmaking of America.” McMahon reigned over the thorny world of professional wrestling until last summer, when he stepped down from his position as CEO and chairman following an alleged sex scandal and related hush-money payments. (Sound familiar?) He returned as chairman at the beginning of this year, after the WWE’s investigation into the allegations concluded.

What McMahon understood better than anyone was that the physical act of wrestling was just one element of what the audience wanted. Millions of people flock to WWE for the monthslong story lines, the operatic entrances, the cheeky backstage drama. Wrestlers seize the mic and deliver fired-up speeches filled with taunts, zingers, and thrilling call-and-response sections. Trump grew up a wrestling fan and mastered these arena-style linguistics. His rallies, his debates, his interviews, his social-media posts—no matter the venue, Trump relied on WWE tactics. When he launched his first presidential campaign back in 2015, this approach was shocking to some. And even more shocking when it worked.

The 45th president is not scheduled to make a cameo at this weekend’s WrestleMania. At the moment, he’s preparing to turn himself in to the authorities in New York City on Tuesday following yesterday’s grand-jury indictment. One of Trump’s congressional acolytes, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, announced that she, too, will be in New York on Tuesday: “We MUST protest the unconstitutional WITCH HUNT!” she tweeted today. Greene has also used WWE tools to propel herself to elected office. Earlier this year, during President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, Greene heckled him, not unlike a WWE fan screaming from the sidelines.

I’ve watched a lot of old wrestling clips in recent weeks. Specifically, I went down a rabbit hole of interviews with the wrestler Ric Flair. Flair routinely boasted of his alligator shoes, his Rolex watch, his libido. His absurd brag—“I’ve got a limousine sittin’ out there a mile long!”—may or may not make you think of Trump and/or his first press secretary, Sean Spicer, whose use of hyperbole was, shall we say, unrestrained.

I texted some of these outlandish Ric Flair videos to friends. In response, a buddy pointed me to an October 29, 1985, speech from Flair’s former wrestling nemesis, Dusty Rhodes, a.k.a. “The American Dream.” The grainy YouTube clip of Rhodes’s monologue has more than 2.6 million views. It’s three and a half minutes long, and worth watching in its entirety.

Whereas Flair’s oratory is all “me,” Rhodes takes the approach of “we.” Rhodes ticks off examples of challenges that everyday Americans face, something that the stylin’, profilin’ Flair could never understand. His speech has a decidedly Grapes of Wrath feel to it. “Hard times are when the autoworkers are out of work and they tell ’em, ‘Go home!’” Rhodes shouts. “And hard times are when a man is workin’ a job 30 years—30 years!—they give him a watch, kick him in the butt, and say, ‘Hey, a computer took your place, daddy!’ That’s hard times!” Trump, for all of his abhorrent narcissism, shrewdly uses the “we”—specifically, the us-versus-them—approach in nearly all of his campaign speeches to similar effect. When headlining this month’s CPAC conference, he sounded not only like a vengeful pro wrestler, but like someone seething with menace: “I am your retribution.”

This year’s WrestleMania title match will be between the current champion, the hulking Roman Reigns, and Rhodes’s 37-year-old son, Cody. The younger Rhodes is a cocky blonde who leans heavily into American-flag iconography, wears a business suit and power tie, and goes by “The American Nightmare.” (Again: Sound familiar?)

WrestleMania used to be available on pay-per-view, but now it’s a two-night event streaming on Peacock on April 1 and 2. I am not the die-hard wrestling fan I was back in middle school, but I’ll likely dip in and out of the broadcast to catch a few of the monologues, if not the matches. I don’t want to go so far as to predict that a future president will enter the ring, as was the case in 2007. But I wouldn’t rule that possibility out.

Related:

Today’s News

After a grand jury voted to indict Donald Trump yesterday, he will likely be arraigned on Tuesday. One of his lawyers said that the former president is prepared to go to trial.
The Minneapolis City Council approved an agreement with the state of Minnesota to revamp its policing system, nearly three years after George Floyd’s murder.
A “high risk” storm alert—a rare weather designation reserved for severe events—was issued for parts of the American Midwest and mid-South.

Dispatches

The Books Briefing: Maya Chung explores what California means to writers.
Work in Progress: Derek Thompson unravels why Americans care about work so much.

Explore all of our newsletters here.

Evening Read

Illustration of a raised fist holding an iPhone in a selfie stick. — Illustration by Joanne Imperio / The Atlantic

The Influencer Industry Is Having an Existential Crisis

By Kaitlyn Tiffany

Close to 5 million people follow Influencers in the Wild. The popular Instagram account makes fun of the work that goes into having a certain other kind of popular Instagram account: A typical post catches a woman (and usually, her butt) posing for photos in public, often surrounded by people but usually operating in total ignorance or disregard of them. In the comments, viewers—aghast at the goofiness and self-obsession on display—like to say that it’s time for a proverbial asteroid to come and deliver the Earth to its proverbial fiery end.

Influencers in the Wild has been turned into a board game with the tagline “Go places. Gain followers. Get famous. (no talent required)” And you get it because social-media influencers have always been, to some degree, a cultural joke. They get paid to post photos of themselves and to share their lives, which is something most of us do for free. It’s not real work.

But it is, actually. Influencers and other content creators are vital assets for social-media companies such as Instagram, which has courted them with juicy cuts of ad revenue in a bid to stay relevant, and TikTok, which flew some of its most famous creators out to D.C. last week to lobby for its very existence.

Read the full article.

After Trump indictment, Manhattan DA accuses House GOP of 'unlawful political interference' - Fox News

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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office has fired back at House Republicans who are demanding documents and testimony about their case against former President Donald Trump, calling the GOP lawmakers' demands "unlawful political interference" in an ongoing criminal case.

In a letter sent Friday to three top House Republican chairmen, Leslie B. Dubeck, the general counsel for Bragg’s office, slammed their "baseless and inflammatory allegations that our investigation is politically motivated." Trump is the first American president to be indicted on criminal charges.

"The Committees' attempted interference with an ongoing state criminal investigation — and now prosecution — is an unprecedented and illegal incursion on New York's sovereign interests," Dubeck wrote.

Bragg has been investigating Trump's alleged involvement in hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 to keep her quiet about claims she had an illicit affair with Trump years before while he was running for president. Trump has denied having sexual encounters with Daniels and denies falsifying business records to keep the payment concealed.

TOP HOUSE, SENATE REPUBLICANS OUTRAGED ABOUT TRUMP INDICTMENT: ‘A DARK DAY IN AMERICAN HISTORY’

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, left, leaves his office in New York on Thursday. Bragg became the first prosecutor in U.S. history to charge a former or sitting president when he filed his indictment against former President Donald Trump. (ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)

In a historic move, a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Trump on charges related to the case. The indictment is currently sealed and the exact nature of the charges is unknown. Trump has called the investigation a "witch hunt," and numerous Republican officials have expressed outrage at the charges and accused the Democratic prosecutor of being politically motivated.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and the other top Republicans on the Administration and Oversight committees sent a letter to Bragg last week demanding that he turn over documents related to his Trump investigation and testify before Congress after reports said that Trump could face an indictment.

Responding, Bragg's office said, "We will not be intimidated by attempts to undermine the justice process, nor will we let baseless accusations deter us from fairly applying the law."

Dubeck's letter reiterates that position. It also argues that Congress does not have a legitimate purpose in seeking information on the Trump case, and that such a review by lawmakers "is an improper and dangerous usurpation of the executive and judicial functions."

JORDAN INVESTIGATING MANHATTAN DA ALVIN BRAGG'S ‘UNPRECEDENTED ABUSE’ AND ‘POLITICALLY MOTIVATED’ TRUMP PROBE

Former President Donald Trump speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 4, 2023. Trump is the first current or former American president to be indicted on criminal charges. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"Even worse, based on your reportedly close collaboration with Mr. Trump in attacking this Office and the grand jury process, it appears that you are acting more like criminal defense counsel trying to gather evidence for a client than a legislative body seeking to achieve a legitimate legislative objective," the letter charged.

Answering GOP accusations that Bragg's office is using federal funds to prosecute Trump, Dubeck writes that the DA's office has contributed more than $1 billion to the federal government through asset forfeiture funds in the past 15 years, and that only a "small fraction" of those funds are received by the district attorney.

DA records indicate that approximately $5,000 was spent on expenses incurred relating to the Trump or Trump Organization investigations, and that none of those expenses were paid for with funds received through federal grant programs, according to the letter.

The letter concludes with a harsh rebuke of Republican efforts to exercise oversight over the district attorney's investigation.

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DEMANDS MANHATTAN DA ALVIN BRAGG TESTIFY ABOUT POSSIBLE TRUMP INDICTMENT

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and other top Republicans sent a letter to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office demanding documents and testimony on their criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump. Bragg's office has staunchly refused, accusing the GOP lawmakers of unlawful political interference. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"Finally, as you are no doubt aware, former President Trump has directed harsh invective against District Attorney Bragg and threatened on social media that his arrest or indictment in New York may unleash ‘death & destruction.' As Committee Chairmen, you could use the stature of your office to denounce these attacks and urge respect for the fairness of our justice system and for the work of the impartial grand jury," Dubeck wrote.

"Instead, you and many of your colleagues have chosen to collaborate with Mr. Trump’s efforts to vilify and denigrate the integrity of elected state prosecutors and trial judges and made unfounded allegations that the Office’s investigation, conducted via an independent grand jury of average citizens serving New York State, is politically motivated," she continued.

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"We urge you to refrain from these inflammatory accusations, withdraw your demand for information, and let the criminal justice process proceed without unlawful political interference."

READ THE BRAGG LETTER - APP USERS, CLICK HERE:

Chris Pandolfo is a writer for Fox News Digital. Send tips to chris.pandolfo@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @ChrisCPandolfo.

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Sanna Marin, Finland's Political Rock Star, Could Be Slipping - The New York Times

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Parliamentary elections on Sunday are extremely tight among the three biggest parties, with the prime minister’s Social Democrats in a tough fight to lead the next government.

At a recent campaign rally in her hometown, Tampere, Finland, Prime Minister Sanna Marin defended her time in office and tore into the rising right-wing populist Finns Party, which opposes immigration and is fiercely critical of the European Union.

Ms. Marin remains remarkably popular after governing for three and a half years, through the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and Finland’s rapid decision to join NATO — despite her assurance only a month before Russia invaded that Finland would never join the alliance on her watch.

But with most Finns now focused on other matters, particularly inflation and rising public debt, she is at risk of losing her job in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Finland’s three biggest parties are essentially tied in the polls, and the mood of the country seems to be swinging rightward, which has been a trend in Europe in partial reaction to the economic costs of the pandemic and the Ukraine war.

“The main criticism of Sanna Marin is her economic policy,” said Johanna Vuorelma, a political scientist at the University of Helsinki. “The image is one of spending too much.”

Ms. Marin, who is more popular than her party, which is lagging, favors economic growth, high employment — Finland is currently at around 75 percent in employment — and taxation polices that include closing loopholes that favor the wealthy.

But she has refused to specify budget cuts despite the public concerns over growing government debt at a time when the cost of living is rising and inflation is high.

She has tried to deflect attention from economic policy by emphasizing broader issues. “These elections are about value choices, about what kind of future you’ll vote for,” Ms. Marin said to a friendly crowd in her own constituency. And she emphasized her center-left government’s support for Ukraine and NATO, saying: “Russia must be stopped in Ukraine!” Ukraine, she said, “is fighting for all of us.”

Ms. Marin speaking at a campaign rally for her Social Democratic Party in her hometown, Tampere, Finland, this month. She is seen by some as out of step with Finnish sentiment, refusing to talk about budget cuts and debt.Mika Kylmaniemi/Lehtikuva, via Reuters

Ms. Marin, 37, is the closest thing Finland has ever had to a political rock star. She is known globally for her strong words about defending Ukraine and for her off-duty pleasures, too, having been caught on private videos partying with her friends, creating a controversy in socially conservative Finland.

The current center-left government, led by Ms. Marin’s Social Democrats, is a coalition of five parties, including the Center Party, the Greens, Left Alliance and Swedish People’s Party.

But the three traditional parties — the Social Democrats, the National Coalition Party and the Center — have been losing ground to smaller, more ideologically focused parties, particularly the Finns, who even four years ago came second, winning only one seat fewer than the Social Democrats.

Taru Veikkola, who works at the University of Helsinki, is thinking of voting for the Finns Party. “This government has used money carelessly,” she said. “Sanna Marin talks in a roundabout way, about everything and about nothing in particular. You can listen to her for 20 minutes and wonder, ‘What did she say?’”

At this point, seemingly any coalition to emerge from the vote will almost surely include the center-right National Coalition Party. It is one of only two parties in Parliament headed by a man, Petteri Orpo, 53, and holds a very slight lead, with 19.8 percent of the vote in a poll released Thursday by the state broadcaster Yle. The Finns Party, led by Riikka Purra, 45, is close behind, with some 19.5 percent, while Ms. Marin’s Social Democrats have slipped to 18.7 percent.

But the margin of error is 2 percent, so the race is essentially even.

Ms. Marin, with Riikka Purra, chairperson of the Finns Party, left, and Petteri Orpo, chairperson of the National Coalition Party, at an election debate in Helsinki on Wednesday.Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

While Mr. Orpo has refused to say which party he would prefer to align with in government, Ms. Marin and some of the smaller leftist parties in her coalition have ruled out any deal with the Finns, said Jenni Karimaki, a political scientist at the University of Helsinki.

The Finns are fiercely anti-immigration, and they favor Finland leaving the European Union eventually.

At the rally in Tampere, Ms. Marin said: “The Finns Party’s alternative is to turn inward, to shut themselves out of international cooperation, to leave the European Union at some time in the future. The Finns Party doesn’t offer anything good to Finnish people.”

Still, the party has proved surprisingly popular among younger voters. Analysts say that they are also gaining votes by promising to slow down Finland’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2035.

“I can’t remember an election this exciting,” said Veera Luoma-aho, political editor of the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper. Any of the three leading parties could win, she said, noting that around 40 percent of Finns have already cast a ballot — designated polling places allow early voting — in an election that is expected to have a high turnout.

“This election has been about the economy, people’s own wallets, but also about government debt and energy politics, quite traditional left-right issues,” she said. But with the Social Democrats having refused to identify any significant spending cuts, she added, “maybe their economic program is not credible for some voters, and some voters may think she’s even too aggressive.”

In televised debates, Ms. Marin has concentrated her fire on Ms. Purra and the Finns, while emphasizing issues of social welfare and education. “She’s not trying to attract voters from the middle, which is quite surprising,” Ms. Luoma-aho said. “She’s trying to inspire the left.”

She is also criticized for speaking so openly about foreign and security policy, which is traditionally discussed privately with Finland’s powerful and immensely popular president, Sauli Niinisto. “This is a very delicate, sensitive issue with a neighbor like Russia,” Ms. Vuorelma said. “So she is seen as breaking from this particular tradition, and she says we have to change the way we talk about these issues and talk about them in public.”

Ms. Marin with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, during her visit to Kyiv this month. She is known for her fierce backing of Ukraine.Alina Yarysh/Reuters

A recent example was Ms. Marin’s apparent promise this month in Kyiv that Finland would consider sending some of its older fighter jets, American-made F/A-18 Hornets, to Ukraine. She had not discussed the matter with Mr. Niinisto or her foreign and defense ministers, and any such move would require American permission. She later walked that back, saying that “no one promised Ukraine Finnish Hornet jets.”

Among the participants at her election rally, most expressed support. But there was some criticism, too.

Pekka Heinanen, 59, said that the government had a lot of crises to deal with, but that “an awful lot of money got spent that could have been spent on other things.” Ms. Marin is charismatic and a celebrity, he said, “But she’s still a bit like a foal in the field, there’s too much excitement.”

He mentioned the Hornets, saying that she spoke “without having studied the background of the question.” Still, he said, “everybody makes similar mistakes.”

Campaign posters for the Social Democrats, center and right, and the Finns in Espoo, Finland, on Wednesday.Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva, via Reuters

Noora Kivinen, 24, and Jasmin Harju, 25, both voted early, but neither of them for Ms. Marin. Ms. Kivinen voted for the Greens and Ms. Harju voted for a different Social Democratic candidate in the Finnish system of proportional representation in multiparty constituencies, where numerous candidates from the same party can run.

Still, Ms. Harju said she hoped the Social Democrats would be re-elected. “Looking at the prime ministers of recent years, she has done the best, when one thinks that there was a pandemic, a war and other crises.”

Ms. Kivinen said that “she could have handled social welfare and health care questions better than she did,” especially early in the pandemic. “But you can’t say that she did something wrong when it was a new situation for everyone.”

But neither woman had much patience for the controversies over Ms. Marin’s partying in her free time. “Male prime ministers have also fooled around,” Ms. Harju said. “That whole thing was overblown. To see that she makes similar mistakes as everyone makes her human.”

Given the tight race and the gradual fragmentation of the large parties, forming a new governing coalition may take some time and could well require more than three parties to build a majority in Parliament, said Markku Jokisipila, a political scientist at the University of Turku.

If the Social Democrats do not form the next government and Ms. Marin is no longer prime minister, there is a lot of speculation about her future. Would she run for president or take a job in Brussels? Neither alternative interests her, she told Mr. Jokisipila this month. But there are also rumors she might succeed Jens Stoltenberg as NATO secretary general.

“There is wild speculation around her in Finland right now,” Mr. Jokisipila said. Given her prominence, that is bound to continue.

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Thursday, March 30, 2023

Trump indicted; NY grand jury move shakes American politics - Hindustan Times

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ByPrashant Jha

Mar 31, 2023 08:30 AM IST

He was indicted in connection with paying off adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter

Donald Trump has become the first former American president to be indicted and is expected to turn himself in on Tuesday for arraignment. The inditement came in connection with paying off adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter. The payment was made in the run-up to the 2016 presidential elections.

Former US President Donald Trump. (REUTERS)

On Thursday, a grand jury in New York indicted Trump on criminal charges, the district attorney’s office and Trump’s lawyers confirmed.

While the specific charges will only be made publicly available when he turn himself in, Trump has likely been charged with falsifying business records and violating campaign finance laws.

CNN reported he faces more than 30 counts related to fraud. The indictment comes after a five-year-long investigation and will both test the legal system and shape American political dynamics within the Republican fold and between Republicans and Democrats in the run-up to presidential elections next year.

The political battle

The indictment introduces additional uncertainty in the Republican field for the presidential nomination in 2024. Trump has announced his candidature. The indictment does not pose any legal bar on him from continuing his fight for the nomination. But political observers are divided about whether it will benefit him by consolidating his base further — or push Republican donors and voters towards other potential candidates, particularly Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

Trump called the indictment “political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history”, and said that ever since he announced his candidacy in 2016, “Radical Left Democrats” had been engaged in a “witch-hunt” against the “Make America Great Again Movement”.

“The Democrats have cheated countless times over the decades, including spying on my campaign, but weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent, who just so happens to be a President of the United States and by far the leading Republican candidate for President, has never happened before. Ever,” said Trump.

He alleged that Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, who has led the case, was “handpicked and funded by [billionaire] George Soros” and said the move will backfire on Democrats.

In a sign of how the indictment may have forced all Republicans to unite in opposition to the decision, DeSantis, who has been facing Trump’s attacks, too called the indictment “un-American”. He alleged that the “Soros-backed Manhattan attorney” was stretching the law to target a political opponent. DeSantis did not specifically name Trump in his tweet.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who fell out with Trump over the legitimacy of the 2020 elections, also called the indictment an “outrage”.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy threatened to hold Bragg and “his unprecedented abuse of power” to account.

Democrats emphasised the importance of letting the law take its course. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, who is from New York, said that Trump is subject to the same laws as every American . Schumer added Trump will be able to avail of the legal system and a jury according to facts and the law. “There should be no outside political influence, intimidation or interference in the case.”

The legal context

The charges will only be unsealed on Tuesday after Trump turns himself in. But here is what’s known. The case does not hinge on Trump paying off Daniels — neither does the former president deny that the payment was made (though he denies having any sexual encounter with Daniels), nor is hush money in itself illegal.

Instead, the case, in all likelihood, hinges on Trump reimbursing his long-time confidant and lawyer, Michael Cohen, who paid off Daniels and then provided phony invoices to show this as legal expenses, thus hiding the intent of the payment. It is thus possibly built around this falsifying of business records.

Trump’s lawyers deny that he knew about the misleading records, even though Cohen has claimed the former president was completely aware of it.

In 2018, Cohen admitted in court that he had made payments to two women “in coordination with and at the direction of a candidate for federal office…for the principal purpose of influencing the election”. Daniels was among them.

But this would constitute a misdemeanour, not a crime. For it to be a crime, it is possible that the case hinges on showing that the payment was a violation of election law since the payout, in effect, served as a donation to the Trump campaign by silencing Daniels and averting a scandal to influence the poll.

The payment of $130,000 violated the maximum donation limit for a campaign, capped at $2700. Cohen made the payment on October 27, 2016, just 12 days before the elections.

If this is the charge, the Manhattan prosecutor may have used a state election law that defines a campaign contribution as “anything of value, made in connection” with an election.

Besides the case in Manhattan, Trump confronts other legal challenges. These revolve around his possession of classified files, efforts to overturn the election results in Georgia, role in instigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection, and business practices of the Trump organisation.

Get Latest World Newsalong with Latest Newsfrom Indiaat Hindustan Times.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Prashant Jha

Prashant Jha is the Washington DC-based US correspondent of Hindustan Times. He is also the editor of HT Premium. Jha has earlier served as editor-views and national political editor/bureau chief of the paper. He is the author of How the BJP Wins: Inside India's Greatest Election Machine and Battles of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal.

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Director Hemanth G Nair on Suraj Venjaramoodu’s Higuita: ‘The film covers more than just contemporary Kerala politics - The Indian Express

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In 2018 when he began drafting the script for a story that might end up becoming his directorial debut, Hemanth G Nair was as excited as any newcomer. When he finally managed to get the film rolling in 2020, Hemanth’s excitement doubled because the day he had been waiting for, when he would finally get to see on screen the card that reads “Directed by Hemanth G Nair,” was just around the corner. But much like it did to many others, the outbreak of the Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns threw a spanner in its works and crushed his dreams.

Even though the crew overcame all obstacles and resumed filming in 2022, the movie soon became embroiled in a debate over its title, thus delaying its release further. But the protracted period of uncertainty has now ended, and Hemanth’s first film, Higuita, has hit the screens today.

“Even though this is my first movie, I’m not sure if the enthusiasm is still present in me. I have been behind Higuita for the past five years. I began writing the script in 2018, and the filming began in 2020. But, the Covid pandemic forced us to put the process on hold. We couldn’t start shooting again until 2022. It was then that the controversy over the film’s title erupted. Hence, we encountered many difficulties. Even while I’m thrilled that the film is now getting released and viewers will finally get to see the work I envisioned, the story I wrote, and the characters in it, I am also more than a little relieved,” Hemanth tells indianexpress.com.

Dhyan Sreenivasan and Hemanth G Nair on the sets of Higuita.

Suraj Venjaramoodu, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Manoj K Jayan, Indrans and Binu Pappu are just a few of Higuita’s ensemble cast members. Produced by Bobby Tharian and Sajith Amma, the film’s technical crew comprises Fazil Nazer (DOP), Praseedh Narayanan (editing), Rahul Raj (music), Dawn Vincent (background score), Sunil Kumaran (art), Nisar Rahmath (costumes), Amal Chandran (make-up) and Mafia Sasi (thrills) among many others.

Offering us an exclusive look into the world of Higuita, director Hemanth G Nair says: “Higuita is a political thriller film set in the backdrop of the northern district of Kannur in Kerala. In addition, it also tells the tale of a police gunman named Ayyappadas who has relocated to Kannur from Alappuzha. The film also focuses on the characters he meets, particularly a politician, his exploration of the land, and the relationship the said politician has with the area.”

A controversy broke out in Kerala while the film’s production was moving into its final stages, when noted writer NS Madhavan came forward stating that the name Higuita got a space in Kerala’s consciousness through his short story of the same name, and claimed rights over the title.

The 1990 short story Higuita depicts the story of a Christian priest, an avid fan of Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita, who draws courage from his hero to prevent the trafficking of a tribal girl.

Though Hemanth retorted by saying that the film’s title was inspired by the Colombian footballer alone and that it had nothing to do with Madhavan’s short story, the writer stated that he won’t back off. Speaking to Malayalam news portal Onmanorama, Madhavan had said: “Higuita was not a well-known goalkeeper. The player came into Kerala’s consciousness through me. Had I not written that story, there is no logic in naming the movie Higuita. They (the film’s crew) are trying to piggyback on my story’s popularity.”

Higuita is helmed by Hemanth G Nair.

Meanwhile, the controversy caused a rift in Kerala’s cultural sphere. While several well-known figures, such as Kerala Sahitya Akademi president K Satchidanandan and Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, supported Madhavan, others came out in favour of the film’s production team, wondering how one could stake claim over a living figure’s name.

The Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) also intervened in the matter. While rejecting the movie’s title, the KFCC urged the director to hold a discussion with Madhavan to resolve the issue.

“We, meanwhile, sought legal opinion on the matter. We were prepared to challenge it in court. At about that time, a different opinion emerged, urging us to approach the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) instead. We made the choice to submit the film to the board before contesting the KFCC’s decision in court because the CBFC is the highest body that has the authority to make decisions in situations like this. The film’s title and content were approved by the CBFC after its members watched it. The release of the movie was made possible by the CBFC’s approval, which removed all barriers. The KFCC could have challenged us, but it chose not to because the CBFC had already given the film a go-ahead. The KFCC members are also aware of how challenging it is to produce a movie. We all belong to the same family, right? Maybe that’s why they too let the issue go. Madhavan sir also issued a statement later saying that he was just voicing his worry. Neither of the two sides pursued it any further,” Hemanth recalls how the dust settled

Since the entire row began over the title, it was probable that many “advised” him to put an end to the matter by changing it. When asked if he ever had to come across such “guidance”, Hemanth says: “Though a few did offer such advice, most people who contacted me directly were of the opinion that we shouldn’t let go of the title. A lot of people expressed solidarity. But this wasn’t a battle against anyone. I only wanted that title, that’s all. The importance the title holds in the film, and that too a political thriller, is its suspense element. People will understand it when they watch the movie. I want to stress once more that the short story did not serve as the inspiration for the movie’s title. Since the dispute started at a point when nearly 95 per cent of the film’s production work was finished, I felt it was only right to fight for the title. Retitling the movie at that time was not an option. To give my movie a living person’s name is my artistic choice as well, right? In all honesty, I’m still perplexed as to how such a dispute arose.”

Though it doesn’t reveal much about the film, Higuita’s 97-second trailer contains enough components to pique viewers’ curiosity. The promo video begins with a voiceover by Panniyannur Mukundan (Suraj Venjaramoodu) who states, in a Kannur accent, that fear is the worst word in the world. “So, don’t be a coward!” Mukundan adds. The trailer further reveals a bit more about Mukundan, who was once “the Party’s supreme decisionmaker in Kannur.” The video immediately cuts to Mukundan, standing next to a monument bearing the iconic Hammer-Sickle-Star (electoral) symbol of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which now has the most representatives in the Kerala Assembly and is a member of the ruling coalition in that state.

At the very end of the trailer, we also get to witness Mukundan, along with others, watching the screening of Akira Kurosawa’s all-time world classic Rashomon. “I won’t say that Rashomon is directly related to Higuita. Yet, the movie is somewhat pertinent to the place that the story is set in. I was born and brought up in Mattannur in Kannur district. I grew up watching the political activities of both left and right-wing outfits. Since Kannur has a very politically active atmosphere, I clearly recall movies like Rashomon being shown to us. In order to pay honour to our memories of watching such films as children, that moment of everyone watching a classic like Rashomon was included in Higuita. While there is no clear connection between Rashomon and Higuita, the latter also has certain suspense elements.”

Despite Higuita being his debut film, Hemanth’s decision to go for a political film, instead of choosing a lighter or safer subject also evokes curiosity among many. “To be honest, I did not start off Higuita with the idea of making it a political film. I wrote it by keeping in mind the stories of people I know and have seen over the years. As I indicated before, though the film is set against the backdrop of politics, it is presented through the eyes of a policeman. Higuita thus covers more than just contemporary politics. Simultaneously, the film is also an attempt to explore and document the land further.”

He, however, asserts that because the plot involves politics, it was difficult to get the movie started. “I pitched this idea to a lot of people, especially producers. Nonetheless, many of them were hesitant, or scared, to take on such a project. Initially, a superstar in Malayalam (whom Hemanth did not want to name) had agreed to produce the film. He backed out later thinking why get involved in such a political film. We are, however, not blaming anyone in Higuita… We are not attempting to promote or condemn anyone in this movie. We basically approached the story in the most honest way possible. It might contain both positive and negative elements; it might also have issues. But as artistes, we must also deal with those, right?”

Suraj Venjaramoodu starrer Higuita has released across Kerala.

Since the release of his movie Driving Licence (2019, Dir. Jean Paul Lal), Suraj Venjaramoodu’s name has come to represent quality in Malayalam cinema. Though the actor did not have even a single release in 2020 when the pandemic was at its peak, Suraj has delivered only exceptional performances in the past two years, in films like The Great Indian Kitchen, Kaanekkaane, Bheemante Vazhi, Jana Gana Mana and Mukundan Unni Associates, making him one of the very few promising actors in contemporary Malayalam cinema.

“One of the first choices I made for Higuita was to cast Suraj Venjaramoodu. It was almost immediately after he did Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri (2018) that I narrated the story of Higuita to Suraj for the first time. When you consider it chronologically, Suraj had done only a handful of great roles till then. He was, hence, very excited. He has put a lot of effort into the role. Though he had already done emotionally intense and humorous characters, Higuita was arguably the first story that offered him a strong, tenacious character. That was his main challenge – to play a very serious character who doesn’t speak much. Even the character’s body language demanded something very different from what he had done till that point. Panniyannur Mukundan is a person who perfectly encapsulates all the traits of the land to which he belongs. Suraj was quite encouraging as well. His experience also came in handy during the making of the film,” Hemanth shares his experience working with the ingenious actor.

“While Suraj would constantly offer suggestions to make our work better, Dhyan Sreenivasan was a director’s actor. He would deliver exactly what the director deems. Even the supporting cast members were a pleasure to work with. I think Higuita’s characters will stick in the viewers’ minds,” Hemanth continues.

When asked if he has already begun working on his upcoming project, the director said that while he does have a few ideas in mind, he is now anticipating Higuita’s release alone. “For the past fifteen years or so, I have been anticipating this day. Every time Higuita got delayed, I went and started writing something else, but circled back to this project itself since Higuita is, sort of, my first child. I do want to write more and make more films, but right now I am waiting for Higuita to reach the cinema halls and listen to the responses of the viewers.”

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Director Hemanth G Nair on Suraj Venjaramoodu’s Higuita: ‘The film covers more than just contemporary Kerala politics - The Indian Express
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Tucker Carlson: Trump’s Indictment Will Start a ‘Political Purge’ - Rolling Stone

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To Fox News host and G.O.P. kingmaker Tucker Carlson, former President Trump’s indictment by a Manhattan grand jury on Thursday isn’t just an attack on the politician he once called “demonic.” Carlson told his viewers that the charges against Trump were not just directed at one man, but are a targeted “political purge” against Republicans as a whole.

“The rule of law appears to be suspended tonight, not just for Trump but for anyone who would consider voting for him,” Carlson said. “This is what it seems to be. It is a political purge.”

Carlson himself suggested there may be “retaliation from red states,” but his guests were much more specific.

In a conversation with comedian Adam Carolla, Carlson indicated his belief that Republican voters were being “pushed into a corner.”

“I feel like it’s to get them to react so that the government can now swoop in,” Carolla replied. Earlier in the discussion, Carolla asserted that “people are going to go out and protest. Somebody is going to do something stupid and then they’re going to fire up the DOJ, just like January 6th.”

Sports columnist Jason Whitlock, accused Democrats of “agitating for unrest” by targeting Trump. “I’m ready for whatever’s next, and I hope every other man out there watching this show, I hope you’re ready for whatever’s next,” Whitlock told Carlson. “If that’s what they want, let’s get to it.”

Jason Whitlock accuses Democrats of "agitating for unrest" with Trump's indictment. "I hope every other man out there watching this show, I hope you're ready for whatever's next. If that's what they want let's get to it." pic.twitter.com/FbgoQtC3WU
— nikki mccann ramírez (@NikkiMcR) March 31, 2023

“There is a godless element in this country that does not care about fairness. They don’t care about the will of the people. They care about power and control. As you have spelled out this week, they think they’re God,” Whitlock added, referencing Carlson’s recent attacks against transgender individuals.

Shortly after, radio host Glenn Beck made similar comments. Beck argued that the charges against Trump were intended to foment violence from Republicans. “They wanted violence from the right from the beginning. They can’t wait [for] it. They need it,” Glenn said. “They want you to strike out. Why? Because then they can close the cage.”

The former president responded to the indictment with characteristic outrage railing against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (who he already has a revenge plan for) and deeming the country a “third-world nation.”

While Tucker and his guests warn of potential backlash from Trump supporters, the main voice calling for protests on the former president’s behalf is Trump himself. In the weeks leading up to the indictment, Trump called for his followers to protest — not necessarily peacefully — and threatened “death and destruction,” should he be indicted.

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Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Why Lie about ‘Violence against Women in Politics’? - National Review

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Monday, March 27, 2023

Addiction doesn’t care about your politics. Neither should our policies - The Hill

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Addiction doesn’t care about your politics. Neither should our policies | The Hill

Opinion>Congress Blog

The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the view of The Hill

The Associated Press
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times more potent, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Doctors prescribe it to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery, or to treat chronic pain if a patient is physically tolerant to other opioids.

In 2021, more than 106,000 Americans died from an overdose. And in 2022, those numbers only escalated due to the increase in powerful synthetic drugs, including fentanyl. Today, fentanyl is a leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-to-45. That’s unacceptable — and it’s time Congress builds on its progress and acts with urgency to meet the demands of this crisis.

The Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, co-chaired by two Democrats and two Republicans, is focused on bringing members of Congress together from across the aisle to move forward with commonsense legislation to address this epidemic and help save lives.

There is no single solution to the overdose crisis. Addiction is complex, nuanced, and often co-occurring with mental health, including anxiety, depression and trauma. We must rely upon expertise from health care professionals and garner support from members on both sides of the aisle to make progress.

That is exactly the approach our nearly 140-Member strong Task Force has taken. In the 117th Congress, we successfully passed 17 bills from our Legislative Agenda, all of which were led or co-led by both a Republican and a Democrat. These pieces of legislation delivered much-needed resources to the hardest-hit communities, expanded access to life-saving treatment and recovery programs, and supported law enforcement officers in holding illicit drug distributors accountable.

Included in these wins was the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act. This bipartisan bill was passed as part of the FY 2023 funding package and removed what’s known as the X-Waiver requirement, an antiquated and unnecessary barrier for doctors to treat their patients for substance use disorder. We are seeing the positive impact of this change on communities in our districts and all across the country.

While this progress was important, more must be done to help save lives. As we begin the 118th Congress, we stand more determined than ever to continue this important work.

First, we must address the flow of these dangerous drugs into our country. We should deploy increased technology and enhance training at our points of entry to ensure we are catching criminals bringing synthetic drugs like fentanyl across the border.

Next, we must hold illicit drug distributors accountable. This means equipping law enforcement officers with the tools, training, and support they need to do their jobs, disrupt the distribution networks, and enforce our existing drug laws.

Most importantly, we must address the underlying demand for these dangerous drugs. The mental health crisis our country faces is largely due to barriers to entry for resources. We need to expand access to treatment and ensure all communities have the resources to be healthy and thrive.
There is a clear, bipartisan path forward to accomplish these goals in the 118th Congress – and we are determined to see them all the way through. Members of our Task Force hold positions on prominent committees with jurisdiction over these issues. As we saw from our accomplishments in the 117th Congress, bipartisan cooperation at all levels of government makes a real difference in moving the ball forward and successfully combating this epidemic.

As the new Congress gets underway, we are holding conversations with mental health and substance use leaders and legislators to grow the treatment provider workforce, guarantee access to treatment through telehealth to increase access to care, and continue to reduce the shame and stigma associated with addiction and mental health challenges.

Substance use disorder does not care whether you voted for a Republican or a Democrat — and neither should our approach to addressing this crisis. We will keep working together, across the aisle, to make progress for the American people. Join us.

Annie Kuster represents the 2nd District of New Hampshire, Brian Fitzpatrick represents the 1st District of Pennsylvania, David Trone represents the 6th District of Maryland, and Lisa McClain represents the 9th District of Michigan. They are co-chairs of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force.

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Friday, March 31, 2023

Trump's WWE Theory of Politics - The Atlantic

After Trump indictment, Manhattan DA accuses House GOP of 'unlawful political interference' - Fox News

READ THE BRAGG LETTER - APP USERS, CLICK HERE:

Sanna Marin, Finland's Political Rock Star, Could Be Slipping - The New York Times

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Trump indicted; NY grand jury move shakes American politics - Hindustan Times

He was indicted in connection with paying off adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter

Director Hemanth G Nair on Suraj Venjaramoodu’s Higuita: ‘The film covers more than just contemporary Kerala politics - The Indian Express

Tucker Carlson: Trump’s Indictment Will Start a ‘Political Purge’ - Rolling Stone

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Why Lie about ‘Violence against Women in Politics’? - National Review

Monday, March 27, 2023

Addiction doesn’t care about your politics. Neither should our policies - The Hill

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