44 Comments
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Anne Byrn's avatar

Your writing is like a sauce simmering on the stove. All the lurid facts are boiled down to what we need to know with necessary sound effects of bubbling, spitting, spewing so we realize this is happening right now in real life. Thank you. And your cat and dog story is adorable.

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Tina Brown's avatar

I love that analogy! Will keep trying to stir the witches' brew. Many thanks! T

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Carol Goodman's avatar

I'm just forever gobsmacked by the myopia and egomania of these politicians like Biden and Cuomo without a clue that: (1) they are well beyond their sell-by-date; and that (2) No one, and I mean no one, is clamoring for them to remain in the ring except their hangers-on. It's sad and pathetic for them, but more importantly, for all of us.

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Tina Brown's avatar

I know , it's stunning the lack of self -awareness. I think they don't knw how to do anything but run and can't bear to be out of the limelight, alas. Thanks for reading Fresh Hell! T

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Tina Brown's avatar

today Pocus chewed through the TV cable. So my affection is perhaps less than yours. T

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Sherrie Westin's avatar

Love the story of Gimli, Hocus&Pocus!

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Tina Brown's avatar

HI sherri see answer above in wrong place. ! Glad you are reading T

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Shelley Wanger's avatar

Excellent -- witty, face-paced and insightful as always.

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Tina Brown's avatar

Much appreciate this and thanks for writing dear Shelley! T

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Katharine Hill's avatar

Thank you, Tina, for this peek into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. I like your description of Mamdani as being everywhere in the five boroughs, and I hope he does well. A new broom for City Hall?

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Tina Brown's avatar

Well, he has certainly woken up the race which is what we desperately needed . Thats what makes politics exciting T

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Frau Katze's avatar

The bulldog and kittens are adorable!

🐈🐶🐾

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Tina Brown's avatar

They certainly make me laugh ( and cry with the mayhem at times ) Thanks so much for writing T

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Tess's avatar

The Fur Files made my evening!

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Tina Brown's avatar

Its a crazy scene in my house thanks to their arrival. Glad you enjoyed T

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Jane MacArthur's avatar

Why is it always other peoples assorted pets who get along. Mine are always in a furry war zone. As I inherited my daughters "must have" rescue dog (who is cute but neurotic) I recall a very wise friend saying getting kids pets doesn't make them responsible it make us responsible and we already are!!!

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Tina Brown's avatar

I Know. I think its a total myth they get along. Its one long fight for attention - like with kids Thanks for reading T

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Barbara Ehrlich's avatar

I feel for Gimli. The devious black brats will forever plot against him. I hope they can be rehabilitated but knowing felines, it is doubtful. Keep us updated. Much more interesting than the trashy drama of MAGA world.

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Tina Brown's avatar

LOL. Its tough being a dignified British bulldog in our trashy times for sure. So glad you are reading Fresh Hell T

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Paul Watkins's avatar

A superb bit of writing about Trump’s team - tattooed snowflake, bloviating, MAGA upset realising Trump thinks they will believe anything he says - all great analysis. But I don’t agree on Putin. There was a fascinating interview between Trump and the BBC Washington correspondent Gary O’Donoghue (who is blind) at the start of the week.

This interview made you suspect that Trump has realised that Putin thinks He is Stupid, and will accept every lie that Putin tells him in these rambling phone calls where Putin expresses awe at Trump’s cleverness. Trump seems genuinely bothered at having been treated by Putin as a “Useful Idiot” (the phrase used in the 1930s by the Soviets for naive westerners taken in by Stalin’s propaganda). It is Trump that is now annoyed to find out that Putin thinks he is a Stupid Clown who believes anything, just as the MAGA base is realising that Trump thinks that they are stupid…

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Tina Brown's avatar

Great analogy and frankly ,what took him so long? It could be the pivot we have been waiting for, the realization that Putin has always played him for a fool and he doesn't like it. Thanks for the insight T

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Paul Watkins's avatar

Always enjoy your posts, thanks for the great writing

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Barbara Ehrlich's avatar

Wouldn’t miss it! I always read your work!

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Robert Risko's avatar

🤣🤣🤣 I had 3 dogs in a row from 1987 to 2010 then after I called it quits because I moved to Amagansett and didn’t need to be on a rigid schedule like I did when I was as busy as hell ( dogs like a schedule ) a neighborhood cat made its way to my backyard sitting in front of vole holes in the garden. I figured since I feed the squirrels and the birds that I could also leave a can of tuna out for this new found friend. Before I knew it she was on my lap and I brought it to ARF to scan her for a microchip, and she indeed belonged to my neighbor down the street. We shared the cat that summer until it was stolen so I went directly to ARF and got two tuxedo cats. Mr and Missy. I discovered that I was a closet cat person and I never knew it. My sister had a house full of cats and I could never understand the appeal but the fact that you don’t have to train them is absolutely genius. I’m resisting getting more but I could see slowly becoming one of those crazy cat people. Oh and there is a long-haired black cat who has been coming by for five years for food and she finally let me pet her six months ago. I would like to bring her in and have her scanned to see if she belongs to anybody because she is in really bad physical shape, but I’m hesitating for the moment.

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Tina Brown's avatar

I love this story, Robert. I had the other awakening. was never a dog person until my daughter brought home her delectable bulldog. But the new cats are now an endless source of joy and mirth. I do hope you rescue the one on bad shape. It's amazing how fast they recover with love T

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Nan's avatar

Wonderful!

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Tina Brown's avatar

Gracias! T

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Holland's avatar

What a wonderful mind you have, Tina! So glad to be able to turn eagerly to your posts! Always your fan, Xox

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Tina Brown's avatar

So appreciate this and thrilled you are a reader, Holland. Keeps me going T

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Holland's avatar

Oh Tina, you are one of my guiding lights. Never forget seeing you walk up the aisle after the ANN screening. What loyalty- the life of that play owes so much to you-- and you were on the scent long before anyone. Speaking of which, ANN is still streamed on PBS's Great Performances, which is so moving to me--Partly because I think Ann herself would be happy there's a piece about who she truly was that's available on free public television. I wonder what the horrific and lamentable state of America would make her think? I myself can't imagine the actual mechanics of the collapse of the Trump regime, which I do think will happen. But how? And his ridiculous appointees. I'm so glad your voice is out there. Carry on, Nurse.

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Paul Watkins's avatar

Tattooed snowflake, a little harsh… I mean, even tattooed snowflakes have feelings too. Staring at 4 walls all day in an office in Washington sounds like a demanding job

It’s reassuring to read about the team that Trump appointed, the best and the brightest every one of them.

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Tina Brown's avatar

Lol. Yes. this is the A team alright and it's fun, in a dark way , to see them in operation T

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James Rock's avatar

I feel safe here in my South of France refuge. Your regular instalments about the reality show (or is it a saga?) “Making Murrika GREAT Again..” remind me how fortunate I am to be a self-deported exile. It feels safe to watch at a distance, something that an increasing number of local self-deported american citizens express too. Their number is growing by the week. We wait in anticipation of every episode you publish. Your fan, James.

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Tina Brown's avatar

Thanks so much, James. I think the South of France is exactly the place to be and I hanker to self-deport myself. Thank God I and my kids also have British passports for which I thank God every day the crazier it gets here. Glad you are reading Fresh Hell ! T

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Ada Frumerman's avatar

My enemies enemy etc etc

Very funny

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Tina Brown's avatar

Exactly. The shock therapy we needed. T

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