April 23, 2026
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Michael's Daily Notes
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Bruce Springsteen is on tour and returned to his North Jersey roots Monday night, performing in Newark. He opened the show by saying: "The America I love, the America that I've written about for 50 years that has been a beacon of hope and liberty around the world is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration. Tonight we ask all of you to join with us in choosing hope over fear, democracy over authoritarianism, the rule of law over lawlessness, ethics over unbridled corruption, resistance over complacency, truth over lies, unity over division, and peace over war."
He comes to Philadelphia in two weeks. A friend with great seats has invited me along.
It's a familiar dilemma: an artist whose music you love making it all about politics. At least this time there's truth in advertising — the tour's purpose is openly political.
In January, Springsteen released "Streets of Minneapolis," a protest song written in response to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. He debuted it at an anti-Trump "No Kings" rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, then deliberately launched his "Land of Hope and Dreams" tour in Minneapolis on March 31. Each night he's been joined by Tom Morello — guitarist for Rage Against the Machine and a longtime emblem of rock's rebellious fury — underscoring the tour's confrontational tone. I still can’t forgive Morello for his 1990’s support of convicted cop killer Mumia Abu Jamal.
A hometown outlet pushed back. Bobby Olivier, writing for NJ.com, cried hypocrisy. Notably, Olivier didn't defend Donald Trump. He took aim at something arguably more uncomfortable: the gap between Springsteen's self-image and his business practices. The self-described champion of the working man is charging up to $2,900 for top seats, selling "No Kings" branded flags for $90 in the concourse, and — perhaps most pointedly — his merchandise distributor obtained an injunction against the bootleg T-shirt sellers working outside the arena. Those sellers, Olivier noted, are precisely the kind of working-class people Springsteen has romanticized for fifty years. There are also no reports of tour proceeds benefiting the immigration groups on whose behalf Bruce claims to be marching.
The music, everyone agrees, is still transcendent. "Jungleland." "The River." Timeless.
The framing, however, is what Olivier called the hollow monetization of a fraught moment.
I've sat through plenty of concerts by artists I admire musically but whose politics I could do without. When I told that to Roger Waters a few years ago, he said I must not have been listening too closely to the lyrics — his message, he insisted, has never changed. Bruce would probably say the same thing. As it happens, his Philly show is a Friday night, and I have an early Saturday morning hit on CNN. I'll miss hearing Rosalita.
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DAILY POLL
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Britain just banned tobacco sales to anyone born in 2009 or later - forever. Should the US do the same?
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TOP STORY
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Confusion and renewed attacks in the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted global oil flows as Iran seizes ships amid conflicting signals over access, while a U.S. blockade and ongoing tensions create uncertainty, keeping shipping restricted and prolonging the global energy crisis.
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TODAY'S YOUTUBE
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SPONSORED BY PARX CASINO
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IN OTHER NEWS
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Virginia’s new congressional map may slightly favor Democrats, but nationwide mid-decade redistricting efforts by both parties have largely balanced out, leaving only a marginal net gain and setting up a highly competitive, uncertain battle for control of the House in 2026.
Navy Secretary John Phelan was abruptly fired amid the Iran conflict and internal Pentagon disputes over shipbuilding and strategy, surprising officials and raising concerns about instability within the Defense Department as the U.S. enforces a high-stakes naval blockade.
Trump is expected to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a lower category, easing federal research restrictions and supporting medical study efforts, though the move would not legalize the drug or change existing criminal sentences.
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A MESSAGE FROM COMCAST
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A new poll finds most Americans believe the Supreme Court is trying to avoid rulings that could anger Donald Trump, even as recent decisions and pending cases suggest the court may rule against him on key issues like tariffs and birthright citizenship.
Congressional approval has plunged to 10% while disapproval has reached a record-tying 86%, driven by prolonged government shutdown tensions, legislative gridlock, and broader political and economic frustrations, marking one of the lowest public confidence levels in decades.
A bipartisan group of senators has introduced the “Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act” to allow SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken, aiming to improve convenience and access to ready-to-eat meals without expanding overall program funding or eligibility.
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CARTOONS
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by Steve Breen
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MORE NEWS
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A federal appeals court ruled Texas can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments, finding the law does not establish a state religion, though opponents argue it violates First Amendment protections and plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Utah Valley University canceled its 2026 commencement keynote speaker, Sharon McMahon, citing safety concerns after backlash over past social media posts, leaving the ceremony without a featured speaker and sparking mixed reactions among students.
A report details how scammers are using AI-generated “MAGA influencer” personas to attract followers and monetize engagement, exploiting political content and weak platform enforcement to deceive users and generate significant income.
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For the Left
The Pentagon denied reports that Iranian ships are evading the U.S. naval blockade, stating that American forces have successfully turned back dozens of vessels and maintained control over shipping routes despite ongoing tensions.
For the Right
California lawmakers are proposing new protections for patients in ICE custody, aiming to prevent isolation practices, improve transparency with families, and ensure detained individuals maintain access to legal assistance while receiving medical care.
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