Mueller revisionism, and the culpability of the press

Under a presidency that, perhaps more than any in recent memory, tends to be rendered in starkly moralistic terms, there is perhaps no better case study of the rise-and-fall character arc than Robert Mueller. Where the right always hated Mueller’s probe into Trump, Russia, and the 2016 campaign, liberals once lionized him—sticking his rumpled face on everything from protest placards to prayer candles—and many members of the mainstream press cast him as a redoubt of institutional rectitude in a world gone mad. All of this, of course, was projection. Amid the frenzied interest in his character and his investigation, Mueller worked in complete silence. These days, he’s seen differently. His report, which failed to dent Trump politically, is now viewed, in many quarters, as a tragically missed opportunity; with the passage of time, Mueller’s by-the-book stoicism has come to look less heroic, and more like witlessness. Over the summer, Jeffrey Toobin outlined the bones of such a case in a book and New Yorker article. Toobin argues that Mueller failed in two defining respects: he did not issue a subpoena for Trump’s testimony, and he refused to state, one way or another, whether he’d found prosecutable evidence that Trump obstructed justice. (Mueller’s office agreed to abide by a Justice Department rule that a sitting president can’t be indicted; Mueller felt that accusing Trump of crimes would be unfair since Trump wouldn’t have the chance to defend himself in court.) The... Continue reading at 'Columbia Journalism Review'

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2020-09-23 12:32:09 UTC ]

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Playwright Roger Hall passionate about raising profile of arts in Auckland

Playwright Roger Hall, 79, has updated the script - and books - of his 1999 off-beat romantic comedy The Book Club for a 2018 audience and a season at Takapuna's PumpHouse Theatre Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2018-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Feminist fiction tops the bill at Olympia

Historical and dystopian fiction tapping into conversations around feminism and the #MeToo movement were the hot manuscripts going for big money at this year’s London Book Fair. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two children's authors dropped by agents amid claims of sexual harassment

In the wake of online accusations, The Maze Runner author James Dashner has lost representation, as has Thirteen Reasons Why author Jay AsherThe Maze Runner author James Dashner has been dropped by his literary agent after a series of anonymous accusations of sexual harassment were made against... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Prize for thriller novels without female victims draws mixed reactions

One female writer is setting up a book prize to reward the best crime novel in which no woman is the victim. Some – inspired by the #MeToo movement – are happy with the initiative, others fear it fails to address tough, real life issues.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2018-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Steve Bannon says #MeToo movement will be bigger than the Tea Party

Steve Bannon, the former White House insider and deposed head of Breitbart News, has high hopes for the #MeToo movement. In an interview published Friday in Bloomberg News, Bannon noted his belief that the movement against sexual misconduct–spearheaded by the #MeToo and Time’s Up organizers–will... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2018-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Atwood sparks backlash over #MeToo concerns

Author Margaret Atwood has drawn criticism for suggesting the #MeToo movement is bypassing the legal system. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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David Bowie's son launches book club in his honour

David Bowie's son, director and screenwriter Duncan Jones, has launched a book club in tribute to his late father. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Puffin and Bear Nibbles launch Big Book Club

Penguin Random House Children’s imprint Puffin Books is partnering with healthy snack brand Bear Nibbles on a new book club. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Ken Follett 'book club' to launch

Pan Macmillan has launched an exclusive global book club for Ken Follett fans with digital reading platform The Pigeonhole. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Airline easyJet launches children's book club

Budget airline easyJet has launched a “flybrary” in its entire UK fleet with 7,000 classic books selected by Jacqueline Wilson. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Zoella relaunches WH Smith book club with author 'friends'

Zoella has re-launched her book club with W H Smith, this time enlisting the help of fellow authors to select the titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Forecasting The Future And Explaining Silicon Valley's New Religions

Fast Company talks with author Yuval Noah Harari, whose new book looks ahead and hazards a few guesses on what's next for humanity. Fast Company talks with author Yuval Noah Harari, whose new book looks ahead and hazards a few guesses on what's next for humanity.Yuval Noah... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2017-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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My Job in 5: Jasmine Denholm, Bookseller, Wenlock Books

Describe your role I’m a bookseller at Wenlock Books, an independent bookshop in Shropshire. My job includes running the shop, social media accounts  and Children’s Book Club, organising events and meeting with reps.  I also keep the website going by writing blog posts and book reviews,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ditch Your Book Club: This AI-Powered Memoir Wants To Chat With You

Amy Krouse Rosenthal's interactive Textbook uses smart bots to engage with readers in real time. A new tech lit is born. Amy Krouse Rosenthal's interactive Textbook uses smart bots to engage with readers in real time. A new tech lit is born.Do you ever feel like your book... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2016-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Zoella reveals first WHS book club titles

Zoella has officially launched her book club with WH Smith, revealing eight titles from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell to All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Here's what Bill Gates says you should read this summer

Oprah has her book club. Mark Zuckerberg had his Year of Books. And Bill Gates has his annual reading lists — book recommendations shared each year by the Microsoft founder and philanthropist. Gates' 2016 list of summertime reads, complete with an animated video describing his picks, was released... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Wired' Culture Launches a Book Club

The editors of the publication’s culture section have selected N.K. Jemisin’s 'The Fifth Season' as the first title to be read in the new group, which will focus on works of science fiction and fantasy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oneworld partners with Give a Book for prison reading scheme

Oneworld has partnered with the charity Give a Book to encourage UK publishers to donate books to prison reading groups. Inspired by The Prison Book Club by Oneworld author Ann Walmsley, which recounts the author's experience of running a book club in a men's prison, the initiative aims to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Man Booker Prize announces vloggers 'book club'

The Man Booker Prize has announced a vloggers book club featuring five popular “BookTubers” living in the UK who will be following the prize. The prize has invited five popular literary YouTubers to be part of the inaugural book club: Jen Campbell, Leena Normington, Jean Menzies, Lauren... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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