Tag Archives: Steve Brodner

Reactions To Election 2020

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For the last four years on his nightly MSNBC show, Brian Williams has counted down the days of the Trump presidency. As November 3, 2020, drew closer, the polls and the pundits were giddy with excitement as they predicted a blue wave. Of course, true to form as in any soap opera or reality TV show, things never go as you expected. The producers make sure there is a dastardly twist at the last minute to keep you attached to the screen for yet another episode. In this scenario, the wicked villain had already telegraphed that he would make sure that there wasn’t going to be a ball unless he could be crowned princess and accompanied by his ugly sisters. (Ok, that’s a reference to traditional British pantomimes, but the concept is the same – the bad guy messes things up and has a tantrum). By around 2.20 am Eastern Time on November 4, when Trump slouched forward to the podium in the White House he assured the world he follow through on crying foul when not a single chicken had crossed the road. So it was with many votes still to be counted across numerous counties in a number of states, we asked a panel of guests to share their immediate reactions to Election 2020.

Our panel of guests, each with an abundance of acclaim in their chosen fields are:

Jared Yates Sexton Author and political commentator. He is an associate professor in the Department of Writing and Linguistics at Georgia Southern University. Latest book: American Rule – How A Nation Conquered The World But Failed Its People

Dr. Jennifer Mercieca Historian of American political rhetoric. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Texas A&M. Latest book: Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump.

Dave Hill Comedian, actor, musician, radio host, and author. Latest book: Parking the Moose: One American’s Epic Quest to Uncover His Incredible Canadian Roots

Steve Brodner Caricaturist, illustrator, educator & political commentator

Dr. Binoy Kampmark Senior Lecturer in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne. Author & commentator

Mark Haskell Smith Author, fiction & non-fiction, including, Blown, Naked At Lunch, Raw, Moist, Delicious, Salty & Heart Of Dankness. Educator and cultural observer

Show 397

Four Traumatic Years Later

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In the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election, we asked a panel of distinguished guests to share their opinions on the outcome. Dr. Jennifer, Mercieca, professor of communications at Texas A & M University questioned the media’s involvement, “They put the camera in front of Donald Trump for a year and a half and they gave him over five billion dollars in free advertising, and they helped to normalize him as a credible candidate when he was a reality TV star.” Dr. Binoy Kampmark, senior lecturer & researcher in Global Studies at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia opined, “The very individuals who did matter in this vital and different election, call them the forgotten people, or the invisible ones, did actually turn up to vote. The blue-collar, white voter, a strange species who have been neglected by policymakers over the years. They were in the states that mattered.” Best-selling author, Mark Haskell Smith chastised the DNC, “We have to take the super delegates to task, they chose Clinton before there was even a vote in the primaries. She has turned out to be a complete disaster.” Famed caricaturist, Steve Brodner was angry, “Trump will damage the constitution! His backers are the alt-right!” Entertainment entrepreneur, Terry Morgan was saddened, “The number of people who did not vote, that was shocking. It’s the old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’.” “I shocked and depressed.” Said talented author Stephen O’Connor adding, “One of the best things to come out of this is that we on the left have a common enemy, we know what we have to fight for.” Comedian, actor, musician, author, and radio host, the irrepressible Dave Hill did not hold back, “Less than 25% of the country has helped to put the greatest piece of s*+t in office! This is without question the saddest week of my life! This is a triumph of ignorance and hate!”

All of those quotes are from four years ago. Yes, four undeniably traumatic years have passed by. And here we are facing another election. The “most important election of a lifetime” is heard ad nauseam. We are less than three days away from Election Day, but it may be days, weeks possibly before the official result is announced. Yet by Wednesday, November 4th we should all be certain of the outcome. This is why we will once again ask our panel of esteemed guests to share their opinions on the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. 

Show 396

The Life Elsewhere Predictions Show

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A Caricature For President was the title of our 16th of August, 2015 edition of Life Elsewhere. We were being smart-alecks, ironic perhaps. Our intent was to focus in on how crazy things had become in the world of politics and in turn, how talented caricaturists and political commentators like Steve Brodner were having a field day. Looking back now, we had no idea then just how loony-tunes our world as we knew it would become. Two and half years on and we face a new year. Perhaps we should add, with trepidation? Does the past determine the future? If that premise is correct, we are certainly in for a strange and unprecedented year ahead. How strange? How unprecedented? Even the most reliable crystal-ball wizard may have a hard time getting this one right. So, we have assembled a panel of our favorite contributors to Life Elsewhere from the past twelve months to offer their crack predictions. Environmental journalist, Robert Hunziker eagerly jumped at the task, with the caveat that he has one prediction he cannot reveal immediately, but will in good time. We pressured him on your behalf, but he only teased that we will soon learn what he means. Meanwhile, author and book critic, David Ulin has an alternate view on predictions which he articulates with gusto. Lucia Graves, the astute journalist with The Guardian, has intriguing ideas, including which movie will win an Oscar. While film and media critic Bob Ross has a disparaging view on award shows but offers up his predictions with a generous nod and a wink to his area of expertise. Washington Post, art and architecture critic, Philip Kennicott cannily takes us to alternate prediction domain. Articulate and engaging Rant News Deputy Managing Editor, Remy Carreiro wastes no time getting her ideas across. And, we had to call upon Steve Brodner to hear what the man who famously said about Trump, “He has a tiny mouth and it’s kind of vertical, I’m sorry Norman, it’s kind of vaginal.” As expected, Brodner does not hold back. Make sure you do not miss the Life Elsewhere Predictions Show.

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Show #254

The Caricaturist & The Tastemaker

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Illustration by Steve Brodner for The Nation

Illustration by Steve Brodner for The Nation

“Caricature is a subcategory of illustration, it’s about finding the narrative elements within a portrait and making them clear as tools in making literal and figurative points. When done for publication, it is not merely about making big things bigger and small things smaller. It is storytelling. This involves knowledge about what is under the surface of a face and teasing it to the top. Caricature is not the destination. It is the journey. It’s the bike you ride.” The words of famed caricaturist, Steve Brodner, a popular guest on Life Elsewhere. This past week, we asked Steve to put his words to work by watching the most recent GOP debate in Las Vegas and report back with a caricaturist’s take on the characters at the podiums. Brodner took to the task gleefully and next day, ready for the interview, he was bubbling over with brilliant observations of the potential Presidential candidates. His unyielding descriptions of Trump and Cruz and Carson and the rest of the parade, confirm he has a seriously keen eye and biting sense of humor. Don’t miss caricaturist Steve Brodner’s beautifully nuanced and unforgettable depictions in the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

With the big seasonal Holiday less that a week away, Norman B wanted to discover new ideas for a Christmas dinner. So, we called upon David Sax, author of The Tastemakers. This is the man who set about learning “Why we’re crazy for cupcakes and fed up with fondue.” David offers advice with an amiable wit and he has a few surprising truths about what we eat, how we eat it, and why. Join us for the next edition of Life Elsewhere, as we make a meal out of Holiday dinners.

Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

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A Human Instinct For War is the title of Norman B’s latest contribution to Trebuchet Magazine.

 

It’s Hugely Impossible!

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Before you tune in this evening, for the spectacle that will be the GOP debate, in of all places, Las Vegas, we invite you to revisit our post and listen to Norman B’s interview with Steve Brodner, from August of this year.

A Caricature For President.

There’s an old saying, “Be careful what you wish for.” With that venerable adage in mind, let’s reflect for a moment on the unequivocal fact that the moment Barack Obama was elected President, the loyal opposition wasted no time in feverishly going to work to denounce his every utterance, move or even the teeny tiniest bat-of-his-eye-lids. With their non-stop scramble to deride, ridicule and berate the President, they also comfortably succumbed to tolerating and enabling childish name-calling and crude, unseemly rhetoric. This uncouth behavior not only gained momentum, it became de rigueur.  So much so, that when the crown prince of bloviating, taunted the world with yet another crazy notion of running for President, the other clown car characters felt empowered to up the anti with wacko pronouncements. Unfortunately for them, The Donald continued on with his jest.  All of the wacko-doodle pronouncements from Cruz, Huckabee, Paul, Rubio, Christie, Santorum, Walker etc, paled as Mr. Trump blurted out one over-the-top looney quote after another. It has been like the class clown on the school bus deliberately and proudly letting out a fart. Everyone knows he did it, including the teachers, yet no one knows how to handle it.

While the GOP contenders flap their arms, squawk meaningless drivel, the Democrats gloat and cable news goes giddy. One talented group see the whole spectacle as a dream come true – Illustrators! Mr. Trump is the ultimate caricature, says esteemed satirical illustrator and caricaturist, Steve Brodner. To help us understand why political illustration has become so popular recently, and the fascination  with caricatures of Trump, Brodner will join the next edition of Life Elsewhere. Steve has been putting pen to paper for a long time to craft memorable political caricatures, he is a master of the editorial idiom his work has appeared in most major magazines and newspapers in the United States, such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Esquire, Time, Playboy, Mother Jones, Harper’s, Mother Jones, The Atlantic. Make sure you do not miss Steve Brodner and his thought-provoking opinions, including why racism refashioned political illustration, during Obama’s term.

The graphics above are just a few of the images of Donald Trump we have collated from the internet. We do not own any of these images and will remove any immediately if requested.

Click here to hear Steve Brodner talk about A Caricature For President.

Steve Brodner assures us he will be tuning in for the GOP debate and paying careful attention, not only for inspiration for his next brilliant Mr. Trump caricature but also for his commentary on the next edition of Life Elsewhere.

Sundays 12 noon ET at The Source WMNF HD3  
Mondays 7.00pm ET at WROM Radio
Mondays 5.00pm PT at NWCZ Radio

Screen Shot 2015-11-24 at 1.04.29 PM

A Human Instinct For War is the title of Norman B’s latest contribution to Trebuchet Magazine.

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