“More Bismarck, Less Hitler”

“Portraying the AfD as far-right is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Come on!” — Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, contributed commentary for Welt am Sonntag

Germany’s culture of Nazi atonement has introduced a national “identity disorder,” requiring the prescription of “More Bismarck, Less Hitler.” — Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) chief ideologue

“Laws are like sausages, it is best not to see them being made.” — Widely misattributed quote to first German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898)

Almost DailyBrett’s first physical encounter with the horror of the Holocaust was a 1981 visit to the Salaspils Nazi concentration camp in Latvia. One somber tour of a death camp should be on everyone’s Bucket List.

During his course of his tours of Germany, your author has walked through the deliberately confusing maze of Berlin’s Memorial of the Murdered Jews in Europe, repeatedly visited Nazi Documentation Centers in the Bunker Museum, the rally grounds in Nürnberg and the Eagle’s Nest right outside of Berchtesgaden. Even wrote about the tricky PR question of building a five-star resort right on the spot of Hitler’s Alpine Berghof in Obersalzburg.

Scattered widely throughout Germany are bronze Stolpersteinen (commemorating the people who lived in an exact spot, only to be transported east for … ). There are markers that remind the viewers about the earlier presence of a (e.g., Heidelberg) synagogue before it was burned to the ground during the insanity of the Kristallnacht in 1938.

Earlier this year Jeanne and yours truly toured the tragic Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. The exhibition triggers immediate disgust and revulsion against Hitler, the Nazis and the 12 years of the Third Reich. The intensity against these monumental crimes against humanity has only grown with time, and has not subsided even for a nanosecond.

There is a Teutonic compound noun that applies in Germany: Vergangenheitsbewältigung. The translation: “Dealing with the past.”

Das Land in die Mitte to its credit for decades acknowledged its responsibility and paid huge reparations for two World Wars, the Holocaust with the senseless deaths of 6 million innocent Jews alone, Occupation and Cold War division.

There is no forgetting. The question being raised now — 81 years after “Zero Hour” — is it time to focus on other events in German history, more than 12 horrific years from 1933-1945? The interrogative does not suggest in any way, shape or form forgetting about the Holocaust.

Still Despised? Still Hated?

“The greater part of our people have fallen into an inferno of immorality. In the immensity of our guilt and the depth of our disgrace, our defeat has no parallel in world history. Let us face the bitter fact that we are despised and hated in the whole world.” – German poet Johannes R. Becher, ‘Zero Hour,’ 1945

“I spent the first 35-years of my life in a part of Germany where National Socialism was considered a West German problem. It took more than 40 years before Germany as a whole acknowledged and embraced its historic responsibility to the State of Israel. Here, of all places, I want to explicitly stress this historic responsibility is part of my country’s raison d’etre.” — Angela Merkel as the first German chancellor speaking to the Israeli Knesset

Considering the source, there are many who suggest figuratively shooting the new messengers, the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (Alternative for Germany). They still are even calling for the party to be banned by the nation’s constitutional court.

The horse may already be out of the barn.

The AfD just captured more than 44 percent of the vote in Eastern state, Saxony-Anhalt, and they are way out in front in the upcoming September 20 parliamentary election in neighboring Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The success of the party is a direct response to former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mistaken decision to allow 1 million asylum seekers from mainly Syria to enter Germany — all at once — in 2016. Immigration is a major contentious issue, not just in Germany, but around the world.

Was Frau Merkel’s imprudent call: Too much? Too Fast?

Almost DailyBrett knows the AfD is wrong with its expressed coziness with Putin’s Russia. From a communications standpoint, the right-wing party could stand to tone down its rhetoric.

Does that mean the party is also mistaken with its “More Bismarck, Less Hitler?”

Amazingly, today’s Germany is one of the most admired countries in the world. Deutschland’s population of 85 million boasts the third largest economy on the planet at $5.17 trillion. German engineering is legendary. It is also known for the likes of Beethoven, Dürer, Goethe, Kant … and of course, Bismarck, who united Germany for the first time in 1871.

Your author believes the German public with its deep historical knowledge of the Third Reich — even though the perpetrators are all dead and gone — will not tolerate forgetting the past.

There’s still a natural desire to be proud of their country.

https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/08/31/how-the-alternative-for-germany-would-govern

https://www.economist.com/europe/2026/09/06/the-alternative-for-germany-has-won-its-best-ever-election-result

The Terrible Secret Beneath 5-Star Luxury

Checking The Adlon Off The Bucket List

Confessions Of A Germanophile

“Going to Germany, Again?”

Germany’s Delicate Israel Balancing Act

Let’s Take Hitler Out Of American Politics

Did a Perfect Storm Lead to the Gathering Storm?

Germany: From Holocaust to Normalcy

Should Civilizations Ban Conservative Thinking?

Another Industrialized Nation’s Right Turn

“Morning in Germany”?

Were Yesteryear’s Journalists, Better People?

Is Germany’s Public Relations Miracle Kaputt?

Did Personal PR Save Albert Speer From The Hangman’s Noose?

Virtue Signaling Took The “Air” Out of Nike

“Republicans buy sneakers, too.” — Nike Brand Ambassador and NBA GOAT Michael Jordan on the efficacy of not taking unpopular political stands

“Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” – Nike multi-million dollar NFL marketing campaign starring NFL Has-Been Colin Kaepernick.

Republican green is the same hue as Democratic green. Got it?

Almost DailyBrett finds absolutely no joy in reporting the common stock of woke Nike is down 76 percent in the last five years or $119.07 per share.

Nike’s market capitalization (# of shares x stock price) has decreased from an all-time high of $281 billion in 2021 to $55 billion now, a stunning 80 percent decline.

The toxic company is being kicked out of the S&P 100 in 11 days after being included for 18 years. Can it get worse? Can it get better?

Your author is a huge fan of Nike founder Phil Knight, The Greatest Oregonian of All Time (GOAT).

Yours truly has always worn Nikes (including this morning) and for many years invested in the best-of-breed stock in athletic apparel. Can’t remember when it was finally time to ring the register, when it came to NYSE: NKE.

There comes a point, when Enough Is Enough.

Nike came down with a severe case of CNN Disease. There was a time when Ted Turner’s edgy network was the go-to-outlet globally for breaking news and information. Democrats and Republicans, both relied on CNN.

Almost DailyBrett asked rhetorically in 2019: ‘What happened to the CNN of Bernard Shaw?’ The answer was the network chose sides in America’s tribal civil war. Publicly traded CNN (Warner Brothers Discovery) decided it was not going to serve one half of the nation any longer.

Screw them.

Nike did the same, building a woke marketing campaign around Colin Kaepernick, solely for his decision to not salute Old Glory. Why did a successful publicly traded business (read Uncle Phil’s “Shoe Dog”) side with someone, who dishonored the American flag?

Did Nike sacrifice everything? For what? What happened to Kaepernick’s career? He’s finished at 38-years-old. What happened to Nike’s good name and reputation? Again, for what?

Forgetting The Corporate Mission?

“Executives are hired to maximize profits; that is their responsibility to their company’s shareholders. Even if executives wanted to forgo some profit to benefit society, they could expect to lose their jobs if they tried—and be replaced by managers who would restore profit as the top priority,” — Arneel Karnani, University of Michigan associate professor of strategy, Wall Street Journal, August 23, 2010

“Republicans buy shoes. Democrats buy shoes. Most companies benefit when both groups want to buy theirs.” — Dan Zaksheske, Outkick, September 9, 2026

Almost DailyBrett ran corporate communications for a decade for publicly traded Silicon Valley custom semiconductor innovator LSI Logic. Yours truly was very aware of the pressure to respond to Corporate Public Responsibility (CSR), but even more to adhere to the tenets for Fiduciary Responsibility.

Your job was to act in the interests of the company’s stakeholders … employees, shareholders, suppliers, customers … etc. The given political philosophy of a finite group of employees — no matter how close to the C-Suite — should be irrelevant.

Nike pats itself on the back for being on the side of the athlete, but does that mean everybody who laces up the shoes or the skates? What if the athlete is just plain wrong about America?

The American flag may be a red, white and blue piece of cloth to an anointed few. Their stance is sad … and wrong.

Nike has been paying — a steep price for coming down hard against honoring the Stars and Stripes.

Where was the voice in the wilderness, in the board room, who simply asked if siding with Colin Kaepernick (or even coming out with a blood and bullet hole Boston Massacre t-shirt) is consistent with the company’s legally required commitment to fiduciary responsibility?

When it comes to America’s tribal Civil War, maybe it would be best for Nike and other publicly traded companies to simply take a knee. Just Don’t Do It.

Republicans buy sneakers, too.

https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/nike-forgot-republicans-buy-sneakers-too-getting-booted-sp-100

Nike Takes A Knee

“Republicans Buy Sneakers, Too”

Nike Declares Independence From America

What Happened to Bernie Shaw’s CNN?

Fiduciary Responsibility vs. Corporate Social Responsibility

The Perils Of Corporate Virtue Signaling

Winning Over Michael Jordan’s Mom

Two QBs, One Star-Spangled Banner

Is An Adult Back In Charge At Disney?

When Harry Became Sally

Men Have No Place In The Boudoir

Cozying Up To The “Lulu Lenins?”

Did Academic Freedom Usurp U-Dub Virtue Signalling?

“I acknowledge that by the labor theory of property the Coast Salish people can claim historical ownership of almost none of the land currently occupied by the University of Washington.” — Alternative land-acknowledgement statement included in the computer science class syllabus of U-Dub Professor Stuart Regis, (MS Computer Science, Stanford)

“Understand this, the DNC does not exist to right wrongs. It doesn’t exist to acknowledge the more unpleasant parts of history. It doesn’t exist to make people feel good. It exists — just get it through your head —to win elections.” — Longtime presidential election strategist James Carville on the growing employment of woke land-acknowledgement statements, including the Democratic National Committee

“History is made by intense, compact minorities.” — Washington Post columnist George Will

Would “intense, compact minorities” include faculty lounges, the very same venues that supposedly champion sacred First Amendment protected, “Academic Freedom?”

Almost DailyBrett is wondering how a particular faculty lounge in Seattle is reacting to a $600,000 University of Washington legal settlement with a fellow professor, who dared stand up for cherished academic freedom. You would think they would be cheering.

Your editor as a former tenure-track assistant professor of public relations, corporate communications and investor relations knows a thing or two about preparing course of instruction syllabi for a given quarter. There was de rigueur university boilerplate language warning students about Plagiarism.

Don’t go there.

But what about land-acknowledgement statements about particular tribes of Native Americans, who may or may not have populated the lands that now house a major university? If the boilerplate is recommended, that implies the professor in question can exercise her or his own discretion.

One would think so, but we all know the truth.

“Inappropriate,” “Offensive,” “Toxic”

“The speech was protected speech, not government speech, because Reges spoke in his own capacity as a professor, and not on behalf of his employer, and he unquestionably spoke on a matter of public concern.” — Majority opinion of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal

“UW was not amused. University officials censored Reges’ parody statement from his syllabus and created a competing class, so students could choose not to take a computer science class from Reges. The university also initiated a nearly year-long investigation of Reges under an ‘anti-harassment policy,'”  — Commentary by The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)

“I am deeply grateful to FIRE for this legal victory, which will remind public universities that they are obligated to respect the First Amendment rights of their students, faculty, and staff.” — Professor Stuart Regis upon receiving the news of the University of Washington’s $600,000 settlement

What happens to a (Toxic Masculinity) University of Washington Professor, teaching at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, who concluded that a recommended land-acknowledgement statement is inconsistent with the academic mission of teaching computer science? He then had the audacity to offer an alternative.

Guess free thinking is not in vogue in certain Apple Cup quarters.

Almost DailyBrett must ask: What are the consequences of not following the suggested woke statement of (maybe) historical fact?

How about years of scorn and litigation? The first round in federal district court was won by U-Dub in 2024. Yet before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last year, the majority upheld Professor Regis’ blessed First Amendment rights of free speech.

U-Dub was eventually forced into a public relations corner. The choice was to attempt to petition this case to the U.S. Supreme Court with six Republican-appointed justices (no guarantee the court would even take the case) or the University of Washington could take its lumps by reaching a settlement.

Maybe bullying your own professors, while expressing faux support for academic freedom, is inconsistent at best and costly at worst.

Do you think the faculty lounge types in Seattle and elsewhere learned a lesson? Or will institutional arrogance continue to prevail?

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/09/04/uw-pays-professor-600k-allows-parody-land-acknowledgment

 https://www.nationalreview.com/news/university-of-washington-pays-600000-to-professor-after-losing-land-acknowledgement-fight

https://www.foxnews.com/media/university-pays-professor-600k-punished-parodying-land-acknowledgments

What Would The Late Paul Allen Think?

Time To End Presentism And The Cancel Culture

Education or Indoctrination?

Profs Should Not Force Political Opinions On Students

Illiberal Activists With Microphones and Notepads?

When Boy Meets Girl

“Culture of Toxic Masculinity”?

Mob Rules; Misogyny Reigns

UC Berkeley Announces Nation’s First Cannabis Turf Football Field

Are Ducks Worth More Than Huskies?

Oregon’s Best 21st Century Autzen Win

“(Damon) Huard is back to throw the ball. Sets up. Looks. Throws toward the corner of the end zone. It’s intercepted. Intercepted. The Ducks have the ball. Now it’s to the 35. The 40. Kenny Wheaton is going to score. Kenny Wheaton is going to score. Twenty. The 10. Touchdown. Kenny Wheaton on the interception. The most improbable finish to the football game.” – Voice of the Ducks Jerry Allen calling “The Pick” against the Washington Huskies, October 22, 1994

Oct. 22, 1994 Oregon Ducks vs. Washington Huskies: Oregon CB Kenny Wheaton (#20) intercepts a Damon Huard (not pictured) pass and runs it back for a touchdown. This play is known by Oregon fans as “The Pick”. Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Oregonian

For Almost DailyBrett and literally millions of other Oregon fans, “The Kenny Wheaton Game” will always be their favorite contest played within the Friendly Confines of Bucket List Autzen Stadium. Since that game, Oregon has dominated the Huskies 22-10, at one time winning 12 straight.

Your author has been an Oregon season ticket holder for 37 years and an equal number of years as a contributor to the Duck Athletic Fund. Even time seemed to stand still that autumn afternoon, we have moved away from 20th Century and are now 26 years and counting into a new millennium.

The question for the day — with all due respect to Kenny Wheaton’s heroics 32-years-ago — what is the greatest 21st Century Oregon win at warm-and-cosy Autzen Stadium?

One game immediately comes to mind — also against the Washington Hundehaufen — an October 13, 2018 victory on a simple draw play in overtime. It was yet another opportunity to rush the Field Turf at Autzen Stadium to celebrate a win against the Dawgs.

Contrary to mistaken public opinion, Oregon’s No. 1 rival (and vice versa) is the Washington Huskies. The Ducks don’t even play the Beavers for two more years. The Dawgs are cemented as the season capper right after Thanksgiving, alternating between Eugene and Seattle.

And as pleasing as that win is for Duck fans, it was not the most satisfying Autzen victory of the 21st Century, not even close. Is there a team that curdles the blood of Oregon fans almost as much as the Huskies?

How about Ohio State?

With all due respect to celebrated Ohio State alum Vice President J.D. Vance, there is an unearned dancing-and-prancing arrogance associated with “THE Ohio State University.” What’s with the “Thee?”

Does Oxford need to add a “Thee” before its name? How about Cambridge or Harvard? Aren’t they simply known as Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard?

And what’s with their fans. They and their ESPN homer, Kirk Herbstreit, have earned the scorn of not only Michigan, but literally the entire Big Ten, if not beyond the corn fields.

The Fighting Chestnuts with the cannibis leaves on their helmets from their desultory state hold a 10-2 overall record against Oregon, including one Natty win and three victories in the Rose Bowl.

The gutty Ducks filled up Autzen and turned up the amps on October 12, 2024. It is not hyperbole to personally report that Autzen has never been so energized and downright loud. The game was a classic in every sense of the word. Oregon’s “Us vs. Them” YouTube video recap beautifully tells the story.

And when it ended with the Ducks on top 32-31, the look on fiesty Coach Dan Lanning’s mug spoke volumes. Was it David beating Goliath? Or was it David becoming Goliath? We went eyeball-to-eyeball, and the other guy just blinked.

“What Was He Thinking?”

NBC analyst and former Penn State quarterback Todd Blackledge posed the rhetorical question: Why did Ohio State signal caller Will Howard decide to slide before he reached the first-down marker with no time-outs in his pocket? Game, set and match to Oregon.

For whatever reason, the Oregon fan rush to the field was the largest and the most passionate in the stadium’s history. Maybe it was because Oregon has consistently proven it can beat the Huskies, can frequently defeat the Trojans and there’s no reason to discuss the lower conference Beavers.

There was something about #2-at-the-time Ohio State consistently standing in the way. Almost DailyBrett to this day is still not a fan of Oregon competing in the Big Ten. It’s a conference for scorching/snowy Midwestern schools scattered around the frigid Great Lakes.

Oregon should be playing Ohio State in Pasadena on New Year’s Day or a Natty, not in a conference game.

Three months later, Oregon mysteriously did not compete against the Buckeyes in Pasadena. It wasn’t pretty. The 41-21 score was cosmetic at best as the Ducks were down 34-0 in the second quarter.

In your author’s eyes, that bitter result does not diminish even for a nanosecond the historic autumnal victory under the Autzen lights before a national NBC audience. Almost DailyBrett contends the 32-31 win over the vaunted Buckeyes was easily the best win in Autzen Stadium in the 21st Century.

Gotta love “Kenny Wheaton’s going to score. Kenny Wheaton’s going to score.” Keep in mind that game was so 20th Century.

Roasting Buckeyes On An Open Fire

The Biggest Stage Of Them All

Has Eugene Become The New Green Bay?

Washington Is Oregon’s Most Bitter Rival

Are Ducks Worth More Than Huskies?

Has Oregon Joined The Ranks Of The Most Hated?

Should NBC Jettison Notre Dame For Oregon?

Ode To Autzen

Lane Kiffin’s Always Flexible Morals

“Whoever the first player committed to was going to be the poster child. I told my team that. … There’s all kinds of schools that recruited him (Dae’Quan Wright). Ask Drew Rosenhaus, his agent. There were schools that offered him a lot to come there, including in this conference, and including his previous school. But he chose us. I said, ‘Get ready guys. This is going to be Lane Kiffin and LSU are doing something nobody else is doing.'” — First-person singular LSU Head Coach Lane Kiffin attempting to justify recruiting a tight-end prospect, cut by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns

“One, once you go to the NFL, to me, you’re in the NFL. You don’t get the opportunity to come back. Two, most of us have built our rosters and you have a limited roster limit now. So if you invited somebody back to your team, that means you’re kicking somebody else off your team to match your roster limits.” — Oregon Coach Dan Lanning declaring his opposition to NFL players entering the transfer portal

When it comes to dirty deeds done dirt cheap, no one is dirtier than LSU head coach (for now) Lane Kiffin.

Almost DailyBrett will go out on a limb here-and-now and predict with near certainty, Lame Kiffin’s tenure at LSU will not end well. It never does. Count on it. Geaux Tigers.

No one in recorded history has pissed off so many below the Mason-Dixon Line in so little time — Knoxville, Tennessee, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Oxford, Mississippi — since the days of General William Tecumseh Sherman.

Lame Kiffin has already burned through the south to the banks of the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge. And let’s not forget the Oakland Raiders and the USC Trojans.

Taking a gander at LSU’s schedule, two particular away dates jump to the forefront — September 19 in Oxford, Mississippi and November 21 in Knoxville, Tennessee — and its not about football. It’s all about unmitigated-and-unadulterated hatred of Lane Kiffin.

Sorry to have to make the following observation: Better beef up campus security for the highly volatile frosted fans heading into Vaught Hemingway and Neyland Stadiums respectively. Vladimir Putin has comparable PR and morals as Lane Kiffin.

Leaving Tennessee and Ole Miss High and Dry

“Just understand one thing: it’s not about the program, it’s about Lane Kiffin. Because he doesn’t care about the players that he just went through a season with, a special season. Players he’s had for four years with an opportunity to go to the playoffs.” — Super Bowl winning Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher on Kiffin abandoning the Ole Miss Rebels right before ESPN’s 2025 College Football Playoff

“When will we learn? When will we learn?” — If Winston Churchill was asked about appeasing and hiring Lane Kiffin

Even with Lane Kiffin’s advocacy for allowing NFL players to enter the transfer portal and join LSU, Almost DailyBrett finds it refreshing that all of the Big Four Conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Kiffin’s SEC) have all quickly passed rules prohibiting professional players from returning for Names, Images and Likenesses (NIL) money in college.

After years of multi-million dollar NIL payouts to players and unlimited entrants to the transfer portal, your author is gratified that college sports is finally saying, ‘no,’ for a change. And it didn’t take long in this particular case with Kiffin advocating the exact wrong course.

As Kiffin begins (yet again) a new tenure in Baton Rouge, we should keep in mind his all-time record is 121 wins and 68 losses, a 64 percent winning percentage. Decent, but is he really worth the $13 million LSU is paying him? Is he once again, failing forward?

Almost DailyBrett has made this point before, is making a similar assertion now, and will inevitably write these words again: Lane Kiffin is a public relations disaster that keeps on giving. His only concern is Lane Kiffin in the first-person singular. There is no ‘we,’ ‘us,’ or ‘our.’ with Lane Kiffin.

Will Lane Kiffin cheat on LSU, and pursue his next mistress? Based upon his well-documented, no-morals track record, it’s only a matter of time.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49746151/acc-joins-other-power-4-conferences-bans-pros-returning

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49734037/lane-kiffin-v-everyone-college-football-lsu-nfl

https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq/news/college-football-coaches-ryan-day-dan-lanning-agree-nfl-returning-players

“The Grass Is Damn Green In Eugene”

Lane Kiffin: A PR Train Wreck That Never Stops Giving

USC’s Vietnam

Be True To Your School?

Time To Fire Coach-Holes

Oregon Ducks Or New York Jets

Taming The NIL-Transfer-Portal, Military-Industrial Complex

USC Should Give Reggie Bush The “Heisman”

A Ball-Inflation Needle in Kiffin’s Coffin?

The Mickey Mouse Empire Strikes Back

“Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts. That campaign began in this Administration’s earliest days and has only intensified since.” — ABC and Disney suit against the Federal Communications Commission, August 18, 2026

“My own feeling is that you don’t sacrifice your citizenship as a journalist. Your job is not to be objective.” — Terminated ABC News reporter Terry Moran

“We’re going to stand up to what we believe is journalistic and integrity, and we’re not going to be told how to run that side of our business.” — Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro to CNBC, August 18

Journalistic Integrity?

It’s been a tough two years for America’s once-untouchable-arrogant-elite-legacy-media-industrial-complex.

ABC News settled for $15 million for anchor George Stephanopoulos’ sorry attempt to shame a rape victim, former South Carolina house member Nancy Mace, for her support for frequently accused/sued/charged/convicted Donald Trump.

CBS is also wrote a $16 million check to the Trump Library for its charitable editing of a Kamala Harris word salad for a crucial just-before-the-2024-election segment of “60 Minutes.”

Almost DailyBrett is awe-struck by the legacy-media murderer’s row of activist “journalists” shown the door: Jim Acosta, CNN, Stephen Colbert, CBS, Chris Cuomo, CNN, Matthew Dowd, MS Now, Lester Holt, NBC, Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, Don Lemon, CNN, Chris Matthews, MS Now, Terry Moran, ABC News, Norah O’Donnell, CBS, Scott Pelley, CBS, Dan Rather, CBS, Joy Reid, MS Now, Chuck Todd, NBC, Brian Williams, NBC.

Your author comprehends a universal truth, when it comes to America’s legacy-linear-Big-Three networks (i.e., ABC, CBS. NBC). They are regulated by the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) for their privileged use of the public airwaves. If a network repeatedly behaves in an irresponsible manner (e.g., ABC, Stephanopoulos, Jimmy Kimmel, The View), the FCC can order early renewals of network licenses … or worse.

That is the subject of the Disney/ABC lawsuit in US District Court. The real question: Why is ABC deliberately hiring so many partisan-activist hosts and reporters (i.e., George, Jimmy, Terry Moran)? Are the FCC actions really a chilling existential threat to the First Amendment that we all hold near and dear?

Disney/ABC believes that FCC is reflecting White House disapproval of how it has been covered. Almost DailyBrett must stop and ask: Has the nation’s partisan media shed all pretenses of being fair, objective and professional in providing vital news and information to the American public?

The End of “Journalistic Independence?”

“The people there (e.g., Washington Post) are terrible. They don’t listen. My other companies (i.e., Amazon, Blue Origin …), they listen.” — Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos in a Mar-a-Lago conversation with Trump, “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump,” Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan

Almost DailyBrett has repeatedly contended the inmates at America’s elite media outlets have taken over the asylums, ignoring their new bosses (AI: Scott Pelley, CBS’ 60 Minutes) all in the name of journalistic “independence.”

What happened to the glory days of ABC News? Americans by the millions turned to Peter Jennings in the evening with the likes of Sam Donaldson reporting from the White House. On Sundays, there was “This Week with David Brinkley” and guests included George Will, Cokie Roberts and Donaldson.

The lineage of great journalism goes back to Howard K. Smith and Harry Reasoner, encompasses the days of Jennings and then … ABC, CBS, NBC all went off the proverbial cliffs led respectively by Stephanopoulos, Dan Rather and Lester Holt/Brian Williams.

The more these so-called Big Three steered to the port side, the more they left half of the country behind.

Is it too much for the FCC — if not just basic courtesy — for these networks to return to days of Walter Cronkite-era fairness, objectivity and professionalism? Instead of suing the Brendan Carr led FCC, when clearly there is no “harm”to substantiate, maybe the answer is much more simple.

Go back to being fair. There is a legacy of even-handedness, which ABC practiced each day for decades-and-decades. It’s time to turn back the clock to a better time in Journalism, a much better time.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/abc-disney-sues-fcc-trump-administration-first-amendment-rcna593088

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/18/disney-abc-first-amendment-lawsuit-fcc.html

Is Legacy Media Financing The Trump Library?

Shaming A Rape Victim?

There Are Free Speech Limits On Public Airwaves

Do The Inmates No Longer Run Newsroom Asylums?

Johnny Carson Is Dead And Buried

“Activism Masquerading As Journalism?”

Trump 1, Media 0

Taking Heroic Stands Against Objectivity?

Love And Joy During JD’s Appearance On “The View?”

Were Yesteryear’s Journalists, Better People?

MSNBC’s Mar-a-Lago Temper Tantrum

It’s Always Easier To Run A “No” Campaign

“Money is the mother’s milk of politics.” — Former California Speaker of the Assembly Jess Unruh (1922-1987)

“If you can’t drink a lobbyist’s whiskey, take his money, sleep with his women and still vote against him in the morning, you don’t belong in politics.” — Former California State Treasurer “Big Daddy” Jesse Marvin Unruh

Almost DailyBrett appreciates political axioms. Your author’s favorite hails from the good ole days of former Governor George Deukmejian: “Good government is good politics.”

Another time-tested truism, which always crops up during ballot initiative campaigns is: “It’s always easier to run a ‘No’ campaign than to mount a ‘Yes’ campaign.”

The acronym FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) doesn’t just apply to Wall Street, but to electoral politics as well. When voters viscerally experience trepidation they have a proven track record of opting for the status quo by voting, ‘no’ … or even ‘eff no.’

One of Almost DailyBrett’s California heroes was former California Governor Hiram Johnson, a Republican progressive when those two terms were not an oxymoron.

During his six years as governor (1911-1917), Johnson pioneered the initiative, recall and referendum, giving California citizens additional tools to break-up the dominance of the railroads in Sacramento.

The initiative and the recall led to two separate political earthquakes respectively in the Golden State: The passage of the Proposition 13 property tax revolt in 1978, and the recall of failed Governor Gray Davis in 2003.

Today’s unions — particularly public employee unions — exercise dominance over the Corner Office and both houses of state Legislature in Sacramento. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and United Healthcare Workers West (UHW) are sponsoring The 2026 California Billionaire Tax Act (Proposition 40) to impose a one-time 5 percent wealth tax on Golden State billionaires, retroactive to January 1.

Among the plethora of issues with Proposition 40 is its exact language contained in its 32 pages. According to the tag line of the good folks at Californians Against Wasteful Spending and Higher Taxes campaign: “It’s not a billionaire tax. It’s an everyone tax.”

Starting Below 50 Percent + 1

“It’s got an early lead, but it’s not a very large lead, and it’s not a majority. Usually, for ballot propositions, you want the yes side to be above 50 percent and that’s not where it is right now.” — Mark DiCamillo, Institute of Government Studies at the University of California at Berkeley

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” — Former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

“It has the added advantage of being true.” — Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger

Almost DailyBrett cut his teeth as a cub reporter covering the Proposition 13 tax revolt in June, 1978. The adage that it’s easier to run a ‘no’ campaign was still true back then and now. In that year, Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann hooked their initiative to a political shooting star, starting a landslide movement against property taxes growing at a 30 percent inflation clip every two years.

Proposition 40 starts with a 48-41 percent lead (4,400 registered voters, 2.5 percent margin of error), below the threshold needed to pass muster with the electorate. Reportedly, Google co-founder Sergey Brin is donating $100 million to beat the billionaire (and more) wealth confiscation measure.

The digital air war is already being waged. The basis for the ads (www.readitforyourself.org)?

The added advantage of being true is easily found in the draconian text buried in Proposition 40’s more than 30 pages of legalese, including requiring Californians to report their accumulated assets to an offspring of the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or face a 40 percent penalty. The income threshold for the 5 percent wealth tax can be lowered at any time through a one-party state Legislature fiat.

Among its provisions is the creation of a new constitutional authority for non-uniform taxation of property and wealth. Could that mean that Sacramento could target the hard-earned equity of those Californians fortunate enough to own real estate?

Wait. What about the right to privacy? It’s all in the fine print.

Where’s The Free Stuff?

Remember how the nation’s highest California 13.3 percent income tax rate was temporary. Proposition 3 on November 3 ballot will make it permanent … at least until the rate is raised yet again.

There is never enough of other people’s money. The rich can move, and take their assets, companies, employees and innovation with them (see Texas and Florida in particular).

Some billionaires have already left California — Brin, Larry Ellison, Elon Musk, Larry Page, Charles Schwab, Mark Zuckerberg — and are certain to challenge the January 1 retroactivity clause, if Proposition 40 prevails. The initiative will be full employment for tax accountants and constitutional attorneys.

Is Proposition 40 a contemporary Trojan Horse disguised as a Piggy Bank? Socking it to billionaires, while receiving gobs and gobs of free stuff, sounds swell on the surface. The reality is right there in the fine print.

When something is too good to be true …

Californians divided on billionaire tax, new poll shows

https://news.berkeley.edu/2026/08/17/california-prop-40-the-billionaire-tax-holds-lead-in-new-uc-berkeley-igs-poll

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article316881754.html

Read It For Yourself

Texas Is Kicking California’s Butt

Can CA Billionaires Exit Stage Right In Time?

Ending California’s Silicon Valley Love Affair?

The Duke, Big Daddy and One Podium

The “Madness” of California’s People?

1978 All Over Again?

Confiscating Oprah’s Hard-Earned Wealth?

When Elite States Lose Corporations, And Simply Don’t Give A Rat’s Behind

When Harry Became Sally

“We recognize that this is a complex and nuanced topic, and we will continue to have important conversations with all of you and the Players Association in the weeks and months ahead. We also plan to convene additional discussions and offer listening sessions for any team leaders who would like to participate. Your perspectives and feedback are invaluable, and I appreciate those who have already reached out to share their thoughts.” — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a vapid memo to league owners and players

“Complex and nuanced?”

It’s not rocket science for Almost DailyBrett to diagnose the symptoms of the WNBA’s roiling-and-rolling public relations disaster.

League commissioner Cathy Engelbert, 61, is applying “science” in determining what constitutes … a woman.

How about the science of whether the stem was on-or-off the apple at birth? If not, you’re eligible to play in the WNBA. It even says so in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and its players.

Does being born female really need a “definition?” Does one of two genders require an explanation? Just as you can’t choose your parents, you also cannot select your gender at birth. Sorry.

Why gender has to be subject to collective bargaining is beyond Almost DailyBrett. It was really simple for your author’s USC fraternity brothers to determine eligibility for sororities. We weren’t rocket scientists, we were … guys.

The WNBA is getting plenty of the wrong attention, not enough for what happens on the court. The exceptions are yet another straight pale female star (e.g., Sophie Cunningham) getting beaten up by (Petit) Dejeuner Carrington with her blonde wig. She then attributed her ejection to “White Privilege.”

Sure.

Your author believes the majority of the blame lies with Mizz Engelbert. She’s not behaving as the commissioner of a sports league (i.e., NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS). Instead she attempting to balance Feminism, Transgenderism, Racism and Wokeism with her second priority, women’s basketball.

The “isms” take precedence.

The mission is simple: How can the “Big Tent” WNBA amend its CBA to permit trans-gender men to play (and dominate) the league and defoul women’s locker rooms.

What about the young girls, who dreamed of one day playing in a women’s sports league? Are they collateral damage?

Transgenderism Is The Mother of All Wedge Issues

“Once somebody has gone through male puberty, there is no way to erase that physical advantage. You cannot simply turn back the clock, for instance by trying to lower testosterone levels.” — 18-time Tennis Grand Slam winner Martina Navratilova

“In addition to being forced to give up our awards and our titles and our opportunities, the NCAA forced me and my female swimmers to share a locker room with (Lia) Thomas, a 6-foot-4, 22-year-old male equipped with and exposed male genitalia. Let me be clear about this – we were not forewarned we would be sharing a locker room. No one asked for our consent and we did not give our consent.” — Former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines testifying at a US Senate hearing, ‘Protecting Pride: Defending the Civil Rights of LGBTQ+ Americans.’

“Kamala is for ‘they/them,’ President Trump is for you.” — President Trump attack ad tag line, which ran for an estimated 50,000 flights — particularly targeting Bros watching football, World Series and NASCAR

Even though America’s dominant tribes agree on next to nothing, the two parties overwhelmingly reject men playing in sports leagues, which do not match their gender at birth: 73-27 percent (Pew Research, August 11, 2026).

Republicans expressed discomfort for stronger, bigger, faster biological males competing against women, 91-9 percent. The majority of Democrats agree, albeit by a smaller margin, 55-44 percent.

The same survey demonstrated support (66-34) for legislation that would bar biological men from playing in women’s sports leagues.

It seems that Mizz Engelbert and her civil-rights acolytes have a death wish. She is trying to serve a litany of woke masters, when the common-sense answer is staring her right in the face?

If Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) decides to become Sally Albright (Meg Ryan), and later opts to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft, should he be allowed — CBA or no CBA? First, he is too small. More importantly, he’s a frickin’ dude.

The WNBA is for dudettes. Isn’t that a basic inalienable definition? If the stem is off the apple, she can play. If the stem is there, he can’t.

What’s so effing difficult?

https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/49561324/engelbert-wnba-continue-transgender-discussion

When Boy Meets Girl

Paris Games: A Freakin’ PR Disaster

Did Trans Hijack Pride?

Men Have No Place In The Boudoir

Guys Sporting Sabrina’s Jersey

Cover Girl?

Would “The Dude” Actually Vote For Kamala?

America’s Most Devastating Political Attack Ad?

The Perils Of Corporate Virtue Signaling

Cozying Up To The “Lulu Lenins?”

“No disrespect, but Vice President Harris is no longer relevant. She had her shot and she missed. She can cozy up to the Lulu Lenins all she wants to.” — Senator John Neely Kennedy, R-Louisiana, interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, August 10, 2026

“I really, truly believe this: We each have have light inside of us. And we need to know that, that is what inspires our hope as much as anything external to ourselves. When we feel that and, and, and not allow an election or an individual to dampen that light, and instead let that light kind of carry us in particular through moments of darkness, we not only act on that hope, but we inspire that hope in each other. And in particular, at this moment, it is so important that we not only have hope, but that we understand that that should be a verb.” — Kamala Harris on Don Lemon’s podcast, June 19, 2026

“Chess is a gymnasium of the mind.” — Famous quote widely attributed to Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924)

Deciphering Kamala Harris’ word salads can be a gymnasium of the mind.

Almost DailyBrett is not discussing “I am the Walrus” John Lennon and Canadian yoga pants. Senator Kennedy is cleverly mixing Lulu and Lenin to reference those who appease and woo the growing wave of Woke 2.0 “Socialists” in the Democrat Party.

Instead of joining the few taking a stand (i.e., James Carville, Senator John Fetterman, Bill Maher, Morning Joe), the act of pandering to those who gravitate to command-and-control economies is dismissed as welcoming contemporary Bolsheviks into the party’s “Big Tent.” These four and presumably others understand and know the electoral consequences of authentic Dictatorship-of-the-Proletariat Communism, when they see it.

Your author winces at the Tribalization of America. In the words of “Dark Side of the Moon” Pink Floyd, it’s “Us and Them.” The question is who is “us?” Would Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy recognize the new “Us” in the Party of Jefferson and Jackson?

Who is the new ring leader of the “Big Tent” newbies? Bernie Sanders and his acolytes (i.e., Zohran, AOC, Elizabeth, Abdul …) appear to be the new king and queen makers.

When Harry Became Sally?

“‘Defund the police’ are the three dumbest words ever uttered in politics.” – Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Brooklyn’s Bedford Central Presbyterian Church, September 22, 2024

“Every transgender inmate in the prison system would have access.” — Vice President Kamala Harris responding to questions at the TransForm, 2019

Madam Vice President Kamala Harris ran woke in her 107-days as the standard bearer just two years ago. She did not prevail in 31 states.

Could jettisoning the “Defund the Police” mantra (at least for now), while embracing re-opening the borders make a difference in two years time? How about LeBron playing in the WNBA?

Almost DailyBrett is not a mathematician, but he has enough moxie to comprehend, if these red states remain crimson, the Republican nominee (i.e., JD Vance, Marco Rubio) will prevail. How does a Lulu Lenin break this vice-grip?

If zero red states flip to the blue column, including the “red wall” states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, it’s game, set and match.

The likes of former presidential campaign manager James Carville knows a thing or two about (twice) winning the White House. He viscerally comprehends that socialism/communism is a losing hand in America’s political poker game.

Big-City Woke 2.0 doesn’t add up to 270, not even close.

https://nypost.com/2026/08/11/us-news/sen-john-kennedy-torches-dsa-members-with-snappy-new-nickname-lulu-lenins

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/kamala-harris-brutally-mocked-saying

America’s Most Devastating Political Attack Ad?

No Protection For A Latina Woman At NBC

What Happened To Kamala’s Politics of Joy?

The Lunacy Of The “Both Sides” Argument

Wearing A Suit, Shaking The President’s Hand

America’s Angry Effing Politics

When Veep Vetting Became Antisemitic?

Ignoring America’s Elite Media With Impunity

When Boy Meets Girl

Trading Burgers For Buns

Missing Oregon vs. Stanford, Big Time

“We have an Oregon problem.” — Former Stanford quarterback and NFL star Andrew Luck

Never thought that Almost DailyBrett would ever write these words, but your author misses Stanford as a year-in, year-out conference opponent.

More than Washington (12 straight wins). More than USC (eight of the last 10). More than Wazzu’s Air Raid. Certainly more than the Beavs … The rivalry between Oregon and Stanford more times than naught in the early years of the 21st Century decided who was going to the Rose Bowl.

Before writing another word, your author clearly recognizes for Oregon fans that Washington is Public Enemy #1. The hatred is mutual.

Ever since Kenny Wheaton stepped in front of Damon Huard’s pass in 1994, the Ducks are 22-10 against the Dawgs. Most importantly, Oregon plays Washington every year as it should be. The Ducks also take on USC as a conference opponent every year.

Don’t even get Almost DailyBrett started about Oregon playing rugged Rutgers, merry Maryland or boiling Purdue in mid-season — why oh why oh why — get Stanford back on the schedule.

Even more silly than Oregon playing in the Great Lakes-centered Big 10 (e.g., 18 teams), it is downright asinine for Stanford to be competing in the exclusive Eastern-Time Zone Tobacco Road Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Some are still dealing with reality that Oregon and Oregon State are not playing this year. Let’s face facts, the two programs are not even in the same galaxy. They will play again in two years

USC is not playing Notre Dame this fall, one is playing in a conference, one is not. They will play again in four years.

It appears that Oregon will not play same-time-zone Stanford again, unless they renew the rivalry on a non-conference basis. Let’s face it, Almost DailyBrett still has not recovered from the Larry Scott induced destruction of the Pac-12 Conference and everything else we hold dear.

Frickin’ Stanford

“I don’t even know what to make of anything that’s happening in college athletics. I’m just not a fan of what’s happened.” — Former UCLA quarterback and Fox Sports NFL lead analyst Troy Aikman

The Oregon vs. Stanford rivalry climaxed with the overlap of the coaching tenures of Chip Kelly for the Ducks and David Shaw for the Cardinal. There was the always dangerous Andrew Luck under center for Stanford and LaMichael James breaking into the clear for Oregon.

Sometimes it was Oregon, which had a Stanford problem. Joey Harrington never made it to the Rose Bowl, namely because of Stanford. There was the night at Autzen when Oregon with Heisman winner Marcus Mariota and the Black Mamba DeAnthony Thomas just couldn’t get it done.

As an Oregon season ticket holder heading into his 37th-consecutive season, sitting/standing 15 rows behind the opponent’s bench, it’s been one hell of a ride. There were a few especially painful losses to Stanford that stand out. You could have dropped a pin on the way out of Autzen into the dusk or the evening.

Sometimes you remember the losses more than the wins. Oregon is 15-8 against Stanford in the 21st Century. The eight losses always came at the wrong time (when is a good time for a loss?). Stanford was seemingly bigger. Their tight ends were always open in the back of the end zone.

And when the Ducks won … both at Autzen and on The Farm … it was a big deal.

Duck fans gnashed their teeth when it was Stanford week, not as much as when it was time for the Huskies … but the vitriol was there.

In late September, Oregon will play USC in the LA Coliseum. In late November, the Huskies will make an Autzen Stadium house call. The Ducks will travel to Corvallis in 2028 for a non-league Civil War.

When will Oregon ever play Stanford again? Never? Rutgers will visit Autzen before the Ducks clash again with the Cardinal.

Almost DailyBrett is already getting psyched for Oregon to renew its historic rivalry with the Scarlet Knights in the friendly confines of Autzen Stadium.

https://www.espn.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/79408/the-ingredients-behind-oregons-stanford-problem

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49512497/college-football-archenemies-every-power-conference-team

November Rain: Oregon vs Maryland

Washington Is Oregon’s Most Bitter Rival

Is Oregon That Irritating School Out West?

Chip Kelly Never Cared About Opinions

Has Oregon Joined The Ranks Of The Most Hated?

Larry Scott’s Last Chapter

Burying The 109-Year-Still-Young Pac-10

Is It Necessary For Oregon to Play Oregon State?

Oregon Is Not Obligated To Play Oregon State