This is a fresh offering at That’s Another Fine Mess, and it’s a welcome addition to my morning routine. As soon as I’ve attended to the needs of my feline companions, I clutch my steaming cup of Trader Joe’s Dark French Roast and settle into my office, ready to dive into the ever-changing news landscape. My goal? To pinpoint the One Big Thing that provokes that unmistakable “Jeezus Fucking Christ!” reaction. Yet, more often than not, that singular event eludes me, leaving behind a landscape filled with various “Holy shit!” moments, which I aim to explore in this new segment called “Poking Around.” Here, I will gather the morning’s minor yet intriguing stories, adding my own insights as we sift through the day’s curiosities.
JOE AND MIKA ARE CIRCLING THE BOWL: In a disheartening turn of events, viewership for Joe and Mika has taken a steep nosedive following their recent jaunt to Mar-A-Lago to pay homage. Their Monday announcement, described as the Big Explanation, led to a dramatic decline in audience numbers; by the time the hour ended, ratings plummeted by 17%, sliding from 839,000 to a mere 694,000 viewers. Among the precious 25-54 demographic, the drop was even more striking, a staggering 38 percent. The decline continued on Tuesday, resulting in the show’s third-lowest viewership of the year with only 683,000 viewers, significantly below their average of 1.044 million. In the same demographic, they garnered only 78,000 viewers, down 40% from the usual 129,000. This decline comes hot on the heels of Comcast-Universal’s announcement about plans to spin off its cable networks, including MSNBC, which is indicative of the ongoing shakeup within legacy media. We’re heading toward a new era of streaming, and as I search for The World’s Smallest Violin—an elusive artifact that seems to have vanished into the cats’ realm—I reflect on how these changes could echo beyond just Joe and Mika.
In Good Media News, Brett Meiselas, the dynamic CEO of Meidas Touch, proudly announced this morning that their platform has distinguished itself as a Substack bestseller as of November 9, achieving impressive growth in subscriber numbers in less than two months since launching. As of November 20, the number of subscribers has doubled, placing MeidasTouch among the top 25 political Substacks. Additionally, it has established itself as one of the Top 10 most-followed accounts on Bluesky globally.
PETE HEGSETH IS EVEN WORSE THAN YOU THOUGHT: Disturbing new details have emerged from police records concerning Pete Hegseth’s alleged sexual encounter with a woman back in 2017, challenging earlier claims made by Hegseth’s lawyer. The records reveal that the unnamed woman confronted Hegseth, expressing her discontent with his treatment of women. She reported consuming just a modest amount of Champagne at an after-party and suspected that a more potent substance might have been slipped into her drink. After the confrontation, Hegseth followed her to an unknown room, where she recalls moments of confusion and reluctance. Her next vivid memory is of Hegseth bear-chested and above her, culminating in an encounter she later described with a chilling sense of violation.
Hegseth maintains that their interaction was consensual, asserting he was attentive to her comfort throughout, and yet the woman’s distress calls into question the narrative he attempts to portray. It’s troubling to consider how instances like this reflect broader societal issues about consent and accountability.
RUDY CAN’T HELP HIMSELF: In a maddening twist, Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, the election workers who won a staggering $146 million defamation case against Rudy Giuliani, now accuse him of repeating those same unfounded claims on his recent podcasts. During episodes of “America’s Mayor Live,” Giuliani alleged that the pair engaged in corrupt practices during the 2020 election. Their lawyers have formally filed complaints, highlighting that these statements defy a court injunction meant to prevent Giuliani from further defamation. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell has ordered Giuliani to submit a written response by December 2, culminating in a live court appearance in Washington on December 12, which he is mandated to attend.
Giuliani’s spokesman reacted by asserting his client’s entitlement to defend himself under the First Amendment, framing the ongoing legal battles against him as a form of injustice. However, such rhetoric rings hollow against the backdrop of his repeated infractions.
This will soon become The Day’s Big News. Expect more.
GOOD VS BAD AT THE DNC: The first “leadership contest” for Democrats is shaping up over who will take the helm at the Democratic National Committee. We’re witnessing a critical juncture where candidates like Minnesota party chairman Ken Martin, with a proven track record of transforming his party into a fundraising powerhouse, are emerging as strong contenders. Meanwhile, Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, who led a successful movement to challenge Far Right dominance in his state, is also in the running. Both candidates demonstrate the kind of leadership required for the Democrats to regain footing in a challenging political landscape.
Conversely, we have figures like Rahm Emanuel, associated with past missteps that significantly weakened the Democratic strategy during crucial election cycles. His legacy includes dismissing the 50-state strategy that once secured a strong Senate majority for President Obama. As we navigate these potential leadership shifts, the stakes for the Democratic National Committee have never been higher.
