Me & Mehdi
Spider-Man and Batman finally meet to discuss the news.
I have admired Mehdi Hasan for a long time.
Mehdi is a perfect journalist for our time of “alternative facts.” I think the first time I really started paying attention to him was when the interviews on his Al Jazeera show UpFront would go viral. And I continued to pay attention to him once he ended up with a show on Peacock and later MSNBC. Mehdi has a way of dismantling politicians and bad faith actors that leaves them both boneless but also, somehow, keeps them from shutting down the interviews. I sometimes end up feeling sort of bad for them, even if they deserve everything he is giving them. He is generally smarter than his interview subjects. He has clearly done more reading about whatever he is talking about than his interview subjects. And he keeps a wry smile and quick wit that often infuriates his interviewees. I don’t know if it is his British accent or his way of seeming cordial even when he is eviscerating you, but he regularly verbally filets people, and then for some reason they and their friends come back on his shows for more.
Now that I think of it, maybe this is a weird kink for some people.
As you may have heard, MSNBC canceled his show late last year and had plans to put him on their bench. Many people outside of MSNBC felt like he was being pulled for his criticism of the government of Israel’s war on Gaza. But with 2024 quickly approaching, Mehdi wasn’t going to sit on anybody’s bench, so he left the network to strike out on his own. That has brought him here to Substack, the home of his new media company, Zeteo.
I’ll let Zeteo tell you what Zeteo is:
Zeteo is not just a media company; it's a movement for media accountability. So join us as we challenge the powerful, change the narrative, and champion good ol’ fashioned adversarial journalism.
I followed the rollout for Zeteo because I am happy anytime talented people bet on themselves. And I was excited to hear more about his plans. I watched him on Chris Cuomo’s podcast turn what was supposed to be a debate with Cuomo into something akin to office hours with a professor (Mehdi) and a student (Cuomo). I sent Mehdi a note letting him know how much I enjoyed the interview. Over the course of our back and forth Mehdi asked – as many people still do – how my CNN show was going. When I let him know that it was no more, he said, “Oh wow! What’s your number?”
One short call later, I was a contributor to Zeteo!
I will be one of the rotating co-hosts for Mehdi’s podcast, We’re Not Kidding. It is a podcast about the news, featuring Mehdi and a comedian in conversation. My first episode is out now. It was a lot of fun and a good amount of righteous indignation. We talked about the college protests for Palestine, the rapper Macklemore making an unlikely return to the pop charts, police brutality, and of course how Mehdi is like Batman and I’m like Spider-Man. (Spoiler alert: Mehdi didn’t like being Batman.) Check it out below.
You’re With Me
Some fresh updates for you:
June Office Hours: Zoom Edition
Thanks to everyone who joined our May office hours! Doing it over Zoom where we can all see each other and have a true back-and-forth conversation is really fun. Like a true VIP room. I even ran into one the people in real life the next day at a fundraiser for the Oakland Museum of California! June office hours are happening on Thursday June 27th from 4pm - 5pm PDT/7pm - 8pm EDT. All paid subscribers will get an email with the Zoom link a few minutes before we start, and then we’ll all log on and hang out. If you’ve been thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, this might be the time.
Filmmakers and Family-Friendly Fare in Oakland
I recently spoke with one of my favorite local journalists, Azucena Rasilla, of Oaklandside about some of my favorite family-friendly restaurants before diving into deeper topics like the East Bay Film Collective’s mission to get film incentives in Oakland and what life’s been like since I wrapped up seven seasons of United Shades of America on CNN. Also the photographer, Ximena Natera, took some great pictures of me!
Let’s Keep One of Oakland’s Best Bookstores Afloat
A Great Good Place for Books is one of my all-time favorite local bookstores. I’ve had book events there. I’ve taken my kids there innumerable times, and the staff always has great good recommendations for each kid. The owner has even genuinely offered to give my daughters jobs there (once they are old enough to work). They’re one of the many small businesses in Oakland that make this place feel like home, and they need our help. I’ll let the writer Gayle Forman explain why:
Kathleen Caldwell, owner and doyenne of A Great Good Place for Books, has been a champion to authors and their books for years. And now she, and the bookstore, need our help.
Two years ago, Kathleen fell ill with a serious case of sepsis, and while being treated, doctors discovered she had cancer. She had four surgeries in one year, followed by a year of treatment and recovery. The good news is: she's been cancer free for a year and is slowly regaining her strength. The bad news is: the treatment, coming on the heels of the pandemic, and a very slow spring, has left Kathleen depleted and the store on shaky ground.
And so now Kathleen is turning to the authors she has championed for help, very reluctantly, I might add, not wanting to be a "burden" to us. But if you are anything like me, you are happy to champion her right back again and make sure her wonderful little store continues to be a beacon for readers and writers.
Gayle and her team are *so* close to meeting their goal. They’re 93% of the way there. I know how much y’all like to help close out a fundraiser. Can we get them across the finish line in the next week?
Back to the Start at San Quentin
Want to hear about something truly transformative happening at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, a state prison for men in the North Bay? It’s called Back to the Start, and it’s a creative writing program for incarcerated men.
They write and produce stories about their childhoods to raise public awareness and galvanize support for systemic change. Last time I visited San Quentin, I got to meet with some of the writers in the program. I was so moved by the work that I had to say yes when they asked me to be on their advisory board.
You can be part of the good work, too. I know a lot of you reading this are doing big things in media, organizing, advocacy, and philanthropy. The folks at Back to the Start want to meet you and figure out ways to partner. Click the link below to learn more about all of the different ways to get involved.
Wow! Sounds fabulous as always - I look forward to listening to this podcast. Also, I want to wish you and your family a wonderful Juneteenth Week ^_^ Cheers!
Thanks, as always! Great stuff here!