Not aliens. Aspects of primal human nature. Equus. But perhaps Disclosure Day is more of the same.
- Several links about Spielberg’s new movie Disclosure Day, which I’ll wait to see for another week or two. Will revisit and comment about these items then;
- Good: Despite the regressive opposition, the US now generates more energy from solar than from coal;
- Bad: The “white-trash” UFC White House spectacle; Christian certitude and Hell; notions of primitive masculinity; and how denial of science seems to align with conspiracy theories, and so discredits them.
Slate has been posting items in its Spielberg Week for the past seven days in anticipation of the release of Disclosure Day, on Friday, yesterday. Haven’t seen it yet; I’ll wait another week or two, as I did with Project Hail Mary. But I’ll compile all the links I’ve compiled, from here and other sites, to come back to. Haven’t read these yet.
- Slate, Matthew Bowman, 10 Jun 2026: To Understand Disclosure Day, You Have to Understand “High Strangeness”, subtitled “Steven Spielberg’s many movies about aliens have always, really, been about something deeper. His latest is no exception.”
- The homepage link’s subtitle implied that UFO fans are somehow upset.
- Vox, Dylan Scott, 11 Jun: Disclosure Day pits aliens against religion. But faith leaders are ready to believe., subtitled “What Steven Spielberg’s new alien movie reveals about our UFO obsessions.”
- Many have suggested that belief in UFOs — without any convincing evidence — is like religion.
- National Review, Armond White, 12 Jun: Disclosure Day: An Unequal Sequel
- Given the above, it’s understandable that this high-end conservative magazine/site would diss the movie, apparently for its challenge to “the Judeo-Christian ethic that formerly ruled Hollywood — making it a global, cultural superpower.”
- (The writer is apparently innocent of other world religions, and of science fiction, which casually entertains alternatives to parochial human religions at the drop of a hat.)
- Gizmodo, Germain Lussier, 12 Jun: Let’s Talk About the Ending of ‘Disclosure Day’
- With spoilers. Saving this for later.
And I’ve already compiled a Spielberg items last Sunday and last Monday.
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— This is good —
- ABC News (via JMG): Solar generates more energy than coal in US for 1st time: Report
- “The amount of solar power generated in the U.S. is continuing to grow despite efforts from the Trump administration to slow down the renewable energy sector, according to two reports released this week.”
- Conservative, selfish, short-term thinking might well bring civilization down; if progressives can get things done anyway, as with yesterday’s example, perhaps we might survive.
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— This is bad —
NY Times, Jamelle Bouie, today: Only One President Could Come Up With This Spectacle
Tomorrow, on Flag Day, President Trump and the White House will host U.F.C. — the Ultimate Fighting Championship — for a set of fights in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, as well as to mark the president’s 80th birthday. To hold this event, the president has transformed the White House grounds into a pay-per-view spectacle — a carnival designed and built for the biggest display you can imagine.
It suffices to say that this is out of the ordinary for a celebration of the nation’s founding and independence.
What’s the word for this sensibility?
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Here it is: white-trash.
JMG, today (from The Independent): Critics Roast “White Trash” Scene As UFC Weigh-In At Lincoln Memorial Descends Into Taunts And Shoving
For several days now there have been predictions of violent thunderstorms during this event tomorrow. Rain isn’t a problem; lightning is. If this happens, I’ll be curious to see how the MAGA faithful rationalize it.
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Conservatives Christians, especially MAGA, are obsessed with primal masculine “virtues,” suitable for ancient tribal living, perhaps.
AlterNet, Alejandro Serrano, The Texas Tribune, today: Republican Dan Patrick says James Talarico will ‘go to hell’ for his view of the Bible
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday said Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Rep. James Talarico will “go to hell” for his interpretations of the Bible, as Talarico has made his Christian faith a cornerstone of his campaign.
Go to Hell? Who does he think he is? How does he know? Get a grip, people.
This is a core problem of religion: baseless certitude.
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Another. These people are pitiful.
JMG, today: GOP Rep: “Talarico Is A More Effeminate Version Of Beto O’Rouke, A Barely Straight Version Of Buttigieg”
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One more.
JMG, today (from Florida Politics): Anti-Vax J6 Rioter Makes Ballot To Replace Donalds
I’ll set aside the details of this particular election. The broad point is that, as I’ve noted over and over again, the people who are anti-vax, the people who are flat-earthers, and the people who think Democrats steal all the elections, and that big government is some kind of scam, all seem to align. And their defiance of objective reality — driven of course by religious convictions instilled in childhood before the age of reason — undermines their claims in all of these other areas. They are unable to think straight.
