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senseandsensibility

(25,378 posts)
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 01:00 PM Tuesday

Lawrence's show last night was epic!

First, he did not start with the WHCD shooting. He rarely follows the narrative of the rest of the corporate media No, he started with the chyron "It's too much work", and proceeded to rip trump for complaining that the war he started is too difficult. He then contrasted his whining with FDR, who despite being in a wheelchair, traveled extensively during WWII, in the days when traveling was much more grueling than it is now. As Lawrence reminded us, FDR never complained, although he was actually doing the traveling and negotiating, that it was too much work.

His second block was about the shooting at the correspondents' dinner. He contrasted trump with Ronald Reagan, who was actually shot at in the driveway of the same hotel where this week-end's attack took place. He mentioned that Reagan never suggested that he needed more security after that, let alone a tax payer funded ballroom. He also pointed out that Reagan attended the WHCD seven more times at that very hotel after a shooter attempted to kill him there.

Quite a withering contrast between trump and FDR, of course. But I was surprised at how
statesmanlike even Reagan was compared to this buffoon. The above facts are available to any journalist or news organization who wants to use them, but I find that Lawrence is unique in his willingness to do so. And that, of course, is just one of the problems with the corporate media's coverage of trump.

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Lawrence's show last night was epic! (Original Post) senseandsensibility Tuesday OP
Laurence is supberb at "contrasting"! young_at_heart Tuesday #1
Totally agree! In last night's show he also had on Garrett Graff who wrote "Raven Rock". They discussed how there is no KitFox Tuesday #2
Yes that was good too senseandsensibility Tuesday #7
Reagan was a real actor in the role of his life... Wounded Bear Tuesday #3
I watched that first part and was surprised and happy he didn't start with the WHCD kimbutgar Tuesday #4
Well, Reagan was a trained professional actor PatSeg Tuesday #5
Hey, he has a star..... SergeStorms Tuesday #10
Ha, ha, ha! PatSeg Tuesday #16
I won't do it, but I can't stop somebody else........ AZ8theist Tuesday #17
Got video? TIA. poli-junkie Tuesday #6
So, uh, what does TIA mean? NBachers Tuesday #11
"Thanks In Advance" n/t lastlib Tuesday #13
Here malaise Tuesday #20
Hi Malaise stage left Wednesday #26
YW malaise Wednesday #27
Bookmarking Bayard Wednesday #28
As.tough and manly.... SergeStorms Tuesday #8
Sarcasm senseandsensibility Tuesday #9
Was great malaise Tuesday #12
Yes, if I could watch only one thing on cable news senseandsensibility Tuesday #14
Thanks, I'll check him out on Youtube! Joinfortmill Tuesday #15
I didn't get to see the whole thing... 2naSalit Tuesday #18
Yes, he is excellent at the opening senseandsensibility Tuesday #19
"this week-end's attack" Ruby the Liberal Wednesday #21
I just finished Lelyveld's His Final Battle: The Last Months of FDR. NNadir Wednesday #22
Thank you for sharing this senseandsensibility Wednesday #29
senseandsensibility......... Upthevibe Wednesday #23
Great! senseandsensibility Wednesday #30
Also, FDR didn't START WWII! judy Wednesday #24
Thanks for sharing. Great stuff. Martin68 Wednesday #25

young_at_heart

(4,056 posts)
1. Laurence is supberb at "contrasting"!
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 01:23 PM
Tuesday

I've noticed how when there are events of importance he slowly draws out past presidents, past Secretary's of State, etc. and then compares Trump's chosen lackey with people of distinction from the past. Roosevelt never once complained about that long and difficult journey to Iran in 1943. He is one of the best commentators!

KitFox

(592 posts)
2. Totally agree! In last night's show he also had on Garrett Graff who wrote "Raven Rock". They discussed how there is no
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 01:31 PM
Tuesday

need for Trump’s elaborate new bunker because there is a whole secret network of other bunkers and plans. The last thing the secret service wants in an attack and emergency is for the president to remain at the White House as a sitting duck. Besides other bunkers in secret locations, Air Force one is an option which they used for George Bush on 9/11. Thanks for posting. I make it a point to watch Lawrence.

senseandsensibility

(25,378 posts)
7. Yes that was good too
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 02:06 PM
Tuesday

It's amazing how much ground he can cover in one show. I credit the writers. They keep things concise so that more topics can be presented. Journalistically, it always best to get to the point with as few words as possible.

Wounded Bear

(64,508 posts)
3. Reagan was a real actor in the role of his life...
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 01:43 PM
Tuesday

trump is a wannabe, always whining and complaining and scratching for ever more attention. Obviously, his daddy didn't love him, and being dead he never will. We all suffer for trump's total lack of self confidence.

kimbutgar

(27,453 posts)
4. I watched that first part and was surprised and happy he didn't start with the WHCD
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 01:48 PM
Tuesday

he’s the only one we watch now on MSnow as we watch the late night shows we recorded and then get burned out until him and the Daily show. But he did an excellent show last night !

PatSeg

(53,360 posts)
5. Well, Reagan was a trained professional actor
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 01:50 PM
Tuesday

Whereas Trump is just a two-bit carnival barker with no training or discipline.

SergeStorms

(20,751 posts)
10. Hey, he has a star.....
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 02:33 PM
Tuesday

at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. And please, please, if any DUers are in that area, do not deface or harm his well-earned star in any way!

I beg you....don't do it. If you can't help yourself, please wear a disguise, because it's under 24 hr. video surveillance. But again, don't do it. Okay?

SergeStorms

(20,751 posts)
8. As.tough and manly....
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 02:22 PM
Tuesday

as Drumph portrays himself, and believes himself to.be, he's the biggest 👶 baby that's ever occupied the White House.

It could be the shame and pain from his debilitating bone spurs, though. 🤔

2naSalit

(103,786 posts)
18. I didn't get to see the whole thing...
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 03:53 PM
Tuesday

But I did see the first half hour and he was doing what he does so well.

senseandsensibility

(25,378 posts)
19. Yes, he is excellent at the opening
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 06:16 PM
Tuesday

but the whole show was great last night. He really covers a lot of topics in one show!

Ruby the Liberal

(26,691 posts)
21. "this week-end's attack"
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 08:18 AM
Wednesday

We need to reframe this. How about a "security breach while armed"?

Given that he wasn't even on the same floor (and it appears never even got off a shot), how is this any different than someone jumping the WH fence?

NNadir

(38,383 posts)
22. I just finished Lelyveld's His Final Battle: The Last Months of FDR.
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 11:07 AM
Wednesday

It details how difficult his travel to Yalta was and how it accelerated his heart failure.

He is criticized on the right for his performance there but the book makes clear he really had no power to save Poland since it was already occupied by Soviet troops. He did what he could but his real goal was to establish the UN.

He really didn't want to run for a 4th term, but did so because he really didn't see how anyone could work to assure peace when the war ended. (If he didn't run, the Democrsts really had no one who could win.)

There was a wonderful exhibit at the FDR museum/historical site at Springwood on the 4th term decision that my wife and I went to see. They had on display a few of his surviving medical records. He was a dying man, but he gave all he could for his country. He was definitely a war casualty.

It is a disgrace that an orange thug has succeeded him.

senseandsensibility

(25,378 posts)
29. Thank you for sharing this
Wed Apr 29, 2026, 02:08 PM
Wednesday

FDR was a flawed human being in some ways, but to me he saved the free world. He was a hero. The fact that he accomplished all of this with the odds against him is a miracle. He did not let anything daunt him, not even his own physical handicap. And yet he never complained, as trump does constantly. In addition to that, he created the social safety net that literally lifted my own grandparents out of abject poverty. You're right; how far we have fallen and how profoundly sad that is.

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