A new documentary on the chefs who cooked for some of the world's worst people premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival (I'm in it as an on-camera expert).
Thank you, I look forward to seeing this film. Witold Szablowski's book "What's Cooking in the Kremlin" covers chefs going back to the tsars and Stalin. It's an interesting but often difficult read.
Very strong, Ruth! Bravissima. Gripping testimonies. Surreal narratives. Entering the heart of darkness through the banquet hall. All inside the four intimate walls of the dining room. And yes, the nauseating complicity, each weaving their own narratives to justify collaboration. Choosing not to see. After all, wasn't Putin's father rumored to be Stalin's taster? Thank you again, Ruth, for exposing yet another face of the horror. The venality of it ALL!!
I was just watching Ari Berman’s coverage of testimony by Epstein’s executive assistant of 18 years, who scheduled his massages. She claims she never witnessed any abuse, a very lawyered up response. Who in her position would not have at least wondered why so many teenaged girls were being hired for massages?
It's About Time To Challenge Second Amendment Gun Rights
Thanks to the Virginia legislative action and with the refusal by counties to not enforce the law, this finally is going to set up the longstanding question as to whether American gun rights have gone too far. This case has the possibility of going to Virginia's partisan supreme court and even to the federal supreme court. Hopefully by the time it reaches the federal supreme court, the Democrats will have expanded SCOTUS.
Former Chief Justice Warren Burger is the most prominent Supreme Court figure who questioned the expansion of gun rights in the 1990s. In a widely cited 1990 PBS interview, Burger famously referred to the idea that the Second Amendment grants an individual, unfettered right to own a firearm as "[a] fraud on the American public". Burger, a conservative appointee of President Richard Nixon, maintained that the Second Amendment's mention of a "well regulated Militia" was intended solely to protect state armies, not to prevent reasonable, state-level firearm regulations like waiting periods or weapon registration.
Since then Breyer, Stevens, Sotomayor, and Kagan have coalesced around Burger's interpretation.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat on the chefs who cooked for Amin, Pinochet, Saddam, and Kim — and her line that dictators entice us to betray ourselves, down to cooking their food.
A reply, in fiction. One cook, one American kitchen, one plate that comes back from the table.
I will watch it. I'm struck by the words in your last paragraph--There are also lessons for us today.......
Chilling to think about what you said about what dictators require of people. We have certainly seen that in Trump and company, and what they have done/are doing to our country and us.
I admire your capacity Ruth, to endure as a clear and articulate witness of so much darkness and cruelty and terror. I'd love to hear about how you resource yourself, how you remain strong.
Thanks for the references. I look forward to viewing the film.
Thank you. I will look for this very informative documentary.
Whew powerful. Thanks Ruth
Ruth Ben ghiat standing up with the facts for democracy, thanks
Thank you, I look forward to seeing this film. Witold Szablowski's book "What's Cooking in the Kremlin" covers chefs going back to the tsars and Stalin. It's an interesting but often difficult read.
Very strong, Ruth! Bravissima. Gripping testimonies. Surreal narratives. Entering the heart of darkness through the banquet hall. All inside the four intimate walls of the dining room. And yes, the nauseating complicity, each weaving their own narratives to justify collaboration. Choosing not to see. After all, wasn't Putin's father rumored to be Stalin's taster? Thank you again, Ruth, for exposing yet another face of the horror. The venality of it ALL!!
Fascinating! I wonder where we can watch of we are not in NY?
Thank you. That’s my question also. Hoping it will stream.
I was just watching Ari Berman’s coverage of testimony by Epstein’s executive assistant of 18 years, who scheduled his massages. She claims she never witnessed any abuse, a very lawyered up response. Who in her position would not have at least wondered why so many teenaged girls were being hired for massages?
It's About Time To Challenge Second Amendment Gun Rights
Thanks to the Virginia legislative action and with the refusal by counties to not enforce the law, this finally is going to set up the longstanding question as to whether American gun rights have gone too far. This case has the possibility of going to Virginia's partisan supreme court and even to the federal supreme court. Hopefully by the time it reaches the federal supreme court, the Democrats will have expanded SCOTUS.
Former Chief Justice Warren Burger is the most prominent Supreme Court figure who questioned the expansion of gun rights in the 1990s. In a widely cited 1990 PBS interview, Burger famously referred to the idea that the Second Amendment grants an individual, unfettered right to own a firearm as "[a] fraud on the American public". Burger, a conservative appointee of President Richard Nixon, maintained that the Second Amendment's mention of a "well regulated Militia" was intended solely to protect state armies, not to prevent reasonable, state-level firearm regulations like waiting periods or weapon registration.
Since then Breyer, Stevens, Sotomayor, and Kagan have coalesced around Burger's interpretation.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat on the chefs who cooked for Amin, Pinochet, Saddam, and Kim — and her line that dictators entice us to betray ourselves, down to cooking their food.
A reply, in fiction. One cook, one American kitchen, one plate that comes back from the table.
https://rossboulton1.substack.com/p/the-tasting-spoon?r=2leuaj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Inescapable violence was a feature of the food these chefs created and the act of mealtime. It’s grotesque.
"There are also lessons for us today about the toll of having an unstable narcissistic and fearful leader in charge of the state and the military. "
Indeed, there is just no way to separate authoritarian leadership from mental illness. The two are mutually inclusive.
I will watch it. I'm struck by the words in your last paragraph--There are also lessons for us today.......
Chilling to think about what you said about what dictators require of people. We have certainly seen that in Trump and company, and what they have done/are doing to our country and us.
I admire your capacity Ruth, to endure as a clear and articulate witness of so much darkness and cruelty and terror. I'd love to hear about how you resource yourself, how you remain strong.
Thanks so much Ruth - sadly have missed several live Q&As due to conflict withe the time.
Appreciate being able to view the presentation portion in replay.
🥳🌟Defiant Action Alert-Concert for the First Amendment. Defy DT's Birthday Party Brawl! And Have Fun w/ Your Fellow Americans Instead😹🤩🎆
Jane Fonda tells you all about it here.
youtu.be/F9JHwdf8tlI
https://riseupsingout.com/
Sun June 14th 7:30pm EDT