Covering the connection of DC politics and Hollywood entertainment as they contribute to our culture.

This week Sarah and Brad class the joint up by having on a guest who is doing strong work. Matt Hurtt of AFP Foundation’s Grassroots Leadership Academy (follow him @Matthewhurtt) is tasked with the tough job of working with students conditioned to think socialism is a wondrous system, and are rather oblivious to the foibles of that routinely failed economic policy. Two things were obvious to us: He has a remarkable challenge, and Sarah and Brad could never do this kind of work.

Beyond that we face a slew of stories involving people faced with decisions and needing to execute a level of wisdom. Thankfully some failed to do so, giving us plenty to tear into. The press acted their usual unhinged selves, Hollywood was hyper-sensitive as always, and Brad has a wild theory about Trump, and sharks, that Sarah thought made sense.

THIS WEEK’S THEME: “Think” — ARETHA FRANKLIN

• Somehow John Brennan losing his security clearance stifles his 1st Amendment rights — as he appears on endless news programs…?
• CNN, which despises being called fake news, ran how many stories about a racist Trump tape, that does not exist???
• We address the primary concern with casting Idris Elba as James Bond: What took so long?!?!
• Brad makes the broad connection between Donald Trump, tariffs, and a giant shark — and he almost manages to have it sound sensible!
• Michelle Wolf is cancelled for not being funny, and press does not find it amusing at all.
• Steve Martin & Martin Short won’t do Trump jokes, and they manage to BE funny.
• The film “Crazy Rich Asians” performed impressively this weekend. Yet the landmark Asian production was not celebrated by all; it was charged with not being diverse enough within Asian cultures. (sigh)

TWITTER MOMENT OF THE WEEK

On the opening weekend of “Crazy Rich Asians” director Jon Chu was at a theater with star Ken Jeong. They encountered some Asian-American teens who had tickets to see “The Meg”, and Ken persuaded them to choose differently.

We found these three Asian dudes who had tickets tonight to The Meg!! Hahaha so @Kenjeong decided to rectify the situation… #CrazyRichActor https://t.co/r0HOw5uZgF

— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) August 19, 2018

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for more insightful ridiculousness, follow us:

Podcast: @Lee_Slager

Sarah: @Sarailola

Brad: @MartiniShark