THOUGHTS About The News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

Shooting in Asheville. ABC 13: “3 dead, 7 injured in early morning Asheville shooting, police say.” The report: Asheville Police are investigating an early morning shooting that left two (now 3) people dead and seven others injured. According to the Asheville Police Department, patrol officers responded to the 250 block of Biltmore Avenue around 2:20 a.m. Sunday, after receiving reports of shots fired and multiple people struck by gunfire. When officers arrived, they found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

      A morbid reflection of a national scourge. Asheville isn’t a peaceful tiny mountain city anymore, for many years now. A major reason why I don’t really go out these days, compared with my relentless community activities from around 2000 to maybe 2017? A sad fact, as well, is how the other side of the divide views law enforcement. It isn’t crime per se, but political trajectory. That entirely reconfigures how we coexist in a public space. ☮️🗽☮️

ABC: “Man sets off device at federal building in New York, triggering terrorism probe.” Whenever the discussion slides to terrorism per se, the immediate subject is “foreign terror,” such as Arab/Muslim militants. True, much post-9/11 extremist violence in the U.S. were carried out by home-grown radicals, domestic citizens, or permanent legal residents. Yet many mass shootings or random killings are also carried out by “lone wolves” whose anger or hate are more driven by mental health issues rather than political/ideological angst.

       More and more, the real threat is within. And how America's eerie divide views such threats: Not as crime per se but as Left vs. Right dartboard. This: Between 2010 and 2021, the federal government tracked 231 domestic terrorism incidents with known offenders, identifying a general upward trend. The frequency of domestic terror incidents in 2026 is driven primarily by lone actors and small cells across the ideological spectrum rather than discrete, coordinated campaigns. These require a longer, non-partisan discussion though. ☮️🗽☮️

CNN: “Influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate expected to reject U.K. extradition after U.S. arrest.” Easily, these neo-machos are “favorite” Social Media meme fodders. Uh huh. 21st century “hyper-masculinity” gurus who are also facing ongoing international sex trafficking and rape investigations. But, for the meantime, they are internet flash bros. Their fashion sense is more bantered about or heavily ridiculed more than grown-ups discourse about the seriousness of their alleged crimes. 🤨😞🤨

ABC News: “As Nolan Wells' death investigation continues, family and friends gather at funeral.” Death in the family is tragic. Violent death is a lot more tragic. But do we really dig deep into deadly occurrences such as Nolan’s case as a possible crime, rather than it could be a feed to the loud “race-fueled” debate? Meanwhile, do we give the same passionate concern if another ethnicity (beyond the obvious political feed) figured in a "mysterious" death? “White killed black” or “white murdered Latino” is the usual angle of reportage. What about “cold facts” details of the incident, crime or confrontation? Today’s journalism already had it figured out on the first story headline/banner and first two lines? ⚖️🗽⚖️

Yahoo: “WNBA coach Sandy Brondello apologizes for Angel Reese remark and is suspended 1 game.” The story: The Toronto Tempo head coach was suspended for one game by the WNBA for referring to Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese as a "protected species" during a game. The Incident: During the Dream’s 111-92 victory over the Tempo two nights ago, Tempo forward Nyara Sabally left the game with an injury following contact with Ms Reese, but was also whistled for a foul. Broadcast microphones picked up Sandy arguing with officials, saying the words.

       My take: That microphone shouldn't be there at all. Realism? WTH! In the heat of the (game’s) moment, coaches say things. People say things. I say things that I later regret. It's primal. Should we trumpet all the rage or frustration that comes out of our mouth–for the world to hear? What for? So we can easily cancel them out? Are we this pure and unblemished? Are we this perfect? Yes, the league has to instill rules but rules must be more realistic, than idealistic. This is all ideological overreach. 

       Meanwhile, Sandy Brondello, who earns a reported annual salary of $1 million, lost $25,000 (a day’s pay). Doesn’t really matter that much. But would the “penalty” make WNBA perfect next time? Just lose that hot mic, please! Just let the coaches coach and the players play. And the referees officiate the game. 🏀⛹️‍♀️🏀