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Lisa Birnbach and Congressman Harley Rouda

I’ve been thinking about the debate over a free press. On the one hand, democracy and our Constitution demand it. On the other, those who don’t like what the press writes denounce journalism as fake news. And then, there are the tabloids, which are absolutely unethical, and really aren’t considered journals of record. They are trashy entertainment, for readers who love to take swipes at their idols and watch them crumble. Tabloids – even if they are written or edited by graduates of accredited journalism schools – should not be confused with journalism. They are sensationalist purveyors of schadenfreude and thrills. Real journalists like Julie K. Brown at the Miami Herald, Twohey and Kantor at the NYT, Bob Woodward, Philip Rucker at The Washington Post … there is just no comparison. What the tabloids do in the UK is so much worse, if possible than mere catch and kill, as Ronan Farrow has explained in his book of that name. They hound celebrities and physically crowd them so that they cannot pass a street, a door, a car without being almost trampled. That is no way to live. Sensibly, the British have admitted they must rethink laws surrounding paparazzi.

My guest this week is freshman Congressman Harley Rouda, Democrat of California’s 48th District in Orange County. He defeated the longtime incumbent Dana Rohrabacher in a very close race in 2018. He is a good man.

The 5 Things that made my life better this week:

1. “My Name is Lucy Barton”, the play, based on the book by the same title. A tour de force of Laura Linney, a respected actress who I think is still undervalued. She’s remarkable as Elizabeth’s Strout’s heroine. The adaptation is wonderfully faithful to the book and the show is on Broadway. Just before the lights dimmed, I heard someone in the audience say, “I hear they brought the whole cast here from London.” Well that is true, but the whole cast is Laura Linney.

2. Democracy. It feels so good when it works. When you gather with people who know right from wrong. Who know how the system works, and feel a collective ache when it’s misused or abused. The 100 people who gathered with me in Los Angeles were just like any 100 people who could have gathered in a New York living room too. They were also wearing black.

3. Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman. I have learned through the digital grapevine that his synagogue is now accepting mail for him, if you feel like writing. The address is here: execdirector@adatreyim.org

4. Harvey Weinstein’s guilt. He didn’t get the most severe sentence, but thank goodness he will be in jail for the foreseeable future. He will probably also be tried in the courts of Los Angeles and in London. This is a message to all predators out there. You may feel you can do what you want to whom you want. You may hire the most expensive goons to harass and intimidate your victims. But in the end, if you treat people miserably, you may face karma. Also, no one fell for your prop walker.

5. My friend Heidi. One of the most positive and joyful friends I have, who’s gotten hit with a bevy of crises all at once. She’s strong, she’s smart, and she will pull through. I know it and I want her to feel proud of herself as I am of her.