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By Pussy Galore Every December, like clockwork, well-meaning friends and family members issue the same dire warning: "Watch out for that poinsettia—it's deadly to cats!" I appreciate the concern. I really do. But after years of writing about pets and consulting with veterinary experts, I'm here to tell you something that might surprise you: that gorgeous red poinsettia on your coffee table is probably the least of your worries. Don't get me wrong—I'm not suggesting you let your cat use it as a salad bar. The milky sap in poinsettia leaves can irritate a cat's mouth and stomach, potentially causing some drooling or an upset tummy. But deadly? The data tells a very different story. The ASPCA specifically notes that poinsettias are "generally overrated in toxicity," and veterinary poison control centers report that serious cases are extremely rare. Most cats who nibble on a leaf or two experience nothing more than mild, self-limiting symptoms. (So where did this myth come from? The story traces back to 1919 Hawaii, where it was reportedly claimed that a military officer's child died after eating poinsettia leaves. Researchers debunked this account back in the 1970s, but by then the legend had taken root deeper than any holiday plant.) Here's what keeps me up at night instead: while we're all side-eyeing the poinsettia, genuinely dangerous items are sitting in plain sight, and some of them might surprise you. The Snow Globe on Your Mantel That charming little winter scene with the swirling snowflakes? Many snow globes contain ethylene glycol—the same toxic chemical found in antifreeze. It has a sweet taste that appeals to curious pets, dogs in particular, and even a small amount can cause kidney failure. If a snow globe breaks and your cat walks through the liquid, then grooms their paws... well, you can see where this is going. Keep snow globes well out of reach, and if one breaks, clean it up immediately and keep pets away from the area. The Lilies in Your Holiday Bouquet This is the one that genuinely terrifies me, because lilies are everywhere during the holidays—in centerpieces, in gift arrangements, in those beautiful mixed bouquets from well-meaning visitors. For cats, lilies aren't just toxic; they're potentially lethal. Ingesting even a small amount—a couple of petals, some pollen licked off their fur—can cause kidney failure. If you have cats, I'd strongly suggest requesting lily-free arrangements or switching to high-quality silk flowers for the season. It's simply not worth the risk. That Festive Tinsel Cats find tinsel absolutely irresistible, which is precisely the problem. Those shiny, dangly strands trigger every hunting instinct they have. But when swallowed, tinsel can cause what veterinarians call a "linear foreign body"—essentially, one end gets stuck while the intestines keep trying to move the rest along. The result can be a bunching of the intestines that cuts off blood supply, requiring emergency surgery. The simplest solution? Skip the tinsel entirely. Your tree will be just as beautiful without it, and your cat will be much safer. The Water Under the Tree If you have a real Christmas tree, that water in the stand can become a tempting—and problematic—drink for curious pets. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria, and pesticides or fertilizers used on the tree can leach into the water as well. If you've added preservatives to keep your tree fresh longer, that's another potential toxin in the mix. Drinking this cocktail can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach upset. A tree skirt that covers the base or a covered tree stand can help keep whiskers out of the water! Sugar-Free Treats and Xylitol Holiday baking season means xylitol is everywhere—in sugar-free candies, gum, some peanut butters, and baked goods. This artificial sweetener is extremely dangerous for dogs. Even small amounts can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar and, in larger doses, liver failure. Be especially vigilant about sugar-free items left within pet reach and remind guests not to share their treats. The Dangers of "Multiple Meals Syndrome" One veterinarian I consulted mentioned something that resonated with me: the phenomenon of well-meaning guests slipping treats to pets throughout holiday gatherings. A little turkey here, some gravy there, a bit of stuffing from someone else. Individually, each "treat" seems harmless. Collectively, all that rich food can trigger pancreatitis—a painful and potentially serious condition. Consider designating one family member as the official pet-treat monitor, or simply let guests know in advance that your furry family members are on a strict diet for the holidays. As we close out another year together, my wish for all of you is a safe, healthy, and joy-filled holiday season—for every member of your family, whether they walk on two legs or four. Keep the truly dangerous items out of reach, stop worrying quite so much about the poinsettia, and enjoy this special time of year. And if Great Aunt Mildred insists on warning you about that red plant on your table? Smile, thank her for caring, and maybe gently point her toward the snow globe instead. Wishing you and your furry companions a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!

By Charlie Haycook / Boston, Mass. According to Dad, it’s “frah-jeel," so the Haycooks pronounce some words differently thanks to him I have three voicemails from my mother that I will never listen to. They came between 4:33 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30th. I only know what they say due to the voicemail-to-text feature. One sentence told me everything I needed to know when I finally woke up at 7 a.m. to feed the cats. “You can come up today, but he will most likely be gone by the time you get here.” The year 2025 started on so many hopeful notes. My then-fiancée, Emmy (frequent Insider contributor extraordinaire), and I were jumping feet first into planning our October 25th wedding. As stressful as wedding planning is, we made sure to remember to have fun with the process and to plan the perfect wedding for ourselves. We already had a cake and desserts, our venue, our officiant, and several wonderful comedic bits planned. Since we’re both comedians and actors, there was no way we were going to have a completely serious wedding. My favorite of these bits was planned as the very start of the ceremony. We were going to have our Flower Gentleman do the standard scattering of flower petals around then, at the end of the aisle, pull out a bag of baking flour, present it to the crowd, and hand it to my dad. He had the goofy, punny, dad-jokey sense of humor that guaranteed he would be the perfect recipient for this. However, we agreed to keep it secret from everyone except our Flower Gentleman, so that it would be a true surprise. He never knew about it. I didn’t tell him. I’d hoped he would make it long enough to be at the wedding. Clearly a very serious, no-nonsense guy On top of wedding planning, I was starting a new adventure by regularly performing improv comedy with the newly revived ComedySportz Minor League team in Roslindale, Mass. ComedySportz is competitive improv comedy played in over 30 cities across the U.S. and in Manchester, UK. I started exploring improv as just a hobby back in 2022 because it seemed fun. I certainly did not intend to get an entirely new social life out of it. Or find the itch to perform and make people laugh semi-professionally. Or find my wife in one of those classes. Emmy took on the role of reviving the Minor League team as a way to develop new players before they joined the main cast, and I was excited to be part of the inaugural team after trying out. ComedySportz has become one of my favorite things to watch and do and holds a truly special place in my heart, so naturally I wanted to share this with my parents. Being New Hampshire-based, it’s hard for them to make the weekly shows at 6 p.m. on Saturdays, but Minor League shows were scheduled to run on Sundays at 1 p.m. Perfect way to spend an afternoon! Our debut show was on June 15th. Father’s Day. I went to support my team and my fiancée, but I couldn’t perform. That day, my world was not funny and upbeat. The best CSz debut took place in June, but it was missing an important Loyal Fan Dad had been sick for most of the start of 2025 with what seemed like a very persistent flu. It took a fateful trip to urgent care for a completely unrelated issue to find that his heart was arrhythmic. So off he went to the cardiologist, who put him on some medication and told him to report back how he was feeling in a few weeks so that they would know how to proceed. I talked to him a couple of times during this period, and he was low energy, not moving quickly or far without running out of breath. But he was still himself. Everything went downhill after he fell. He ended up in the hospital, and that’s where he stayed for almost a month. We watched the Red Sox home opener on April 4th from his hospital room while he sipped a Frozen Coke from Burger King. When I went to visit him in the hospital during the rest of April, it was my job to bring him a Frozen Coke. When we eventually started talking about hospice, one of the first questions he asked was whether he could have root beer floats there, since they didn’t serve them in the hospital. They told him he could have one whenever he wanted. He didn’t like the idea of hospice, but I could tell that knowing this changed his mind just a little bit. He passed at some point in between those three voicemails. I only remember small snippets of the end of April through…maybe June, at the earliest. Even then, time exists for me in a few tearful fragments of first times without him up until September. I do remember that it truly hit me that this was our new reality when I looked at our wedding guest spreadsheet. He was still an “RSVP: Yes.” I didn’t want to change it but wanted accurate numbers for our vendors. I asked Emmy to change him to “RSVP: No.” She did. That was when one of our signature drinks, The Haycook, was conceptualized. “A Root Beer Float Martini. In honor of Richard.” Our wedding was a dream come true. Any other words just aren’t good enough to describe how wonderfully everything came together. A pretty snazzy flock of Haycooks and the most beautiful bride! Even though he wasn’t there with us physically, we made sure he was there in spirit. And in spirits. I don’t drink, but our guests said The Haycook was a surprise hit. He kept a Beanie Baby gorilla on his car dashboard. It held the electric candle on our memorial table. My Aunt Dot, his sister, received the plush bag of flour that we had ordered for our Flower Gentleman. Seeing that happen was why my voice got shaky and choked up for the entire ceremony, besides the obvious nerves. (Photo by So Behold This) In a snap, our wedding was over. There were 1,738 pictures to go through and find the best ones. It’s devastating not seeing him in any of them, but his presence was felt by all. My dad was a warrior. He was compassionate. He was a storyteller and a bottomless well of useless knowledge. He could make you laugh with even the worst jokes that you’d heard a million times. Experiencing such an incredible loss within months of my wedding has taught me a lot about myself and about life. I choose to enter 2026 focusing on what matters most. I put in notice at the job I’ve outgrown after returning from my wedding time off. I’m going to build the best marriage with my wife, who deserves the world for sticking by my side this year. I’m going to spend meaningful time with friends, telling stories of hope and healing during D&D or just laughing at anything. I’m going to lean harder into the things that challenge and empower me, especially acting, comedy, and writing. All that to say that, in 2026, I choose to be more like my dad. Charlie Haycook is a Boston-based writer, actor, and improv comedian who’s looking for that next fulfilling professional opportunity. His favorite thing to do is to sit with his wife Emmy and watch their five cats do shenanigans, followed closely by playing D&D and performing at The Rozzie Square Theater with ComedySportz Minor League and many other productions. Charlie is a lover of history and delights in sharing his personal ghost encounter stories with whomever wants to hear them.

By Dr. Nancy Fishman / Morgan Hill, Calif. I have accumulated too much stuff over the decades. In spite of the many times I have purged, I still have enough for three households. I have no business at all adding to my collections of cake stands and glass water pitchers. I do think about what will happen to my belongings when I die. I suspect younger generation relatives will pass over the things I have valued. Maybe someone will want an extra pie plate. Perhaps my daughter will want my white dishes. When my husband Ronnie and I went to Europe for the first time in 1985, we set out to buy some household basics we felt we needed. We had both been divorced; together we didn’t have a matched set of anything other than jelly glasses. In Germany, we ordered white everyday dishes that could be dressed up for special occasions, service for 16. At the same store, we ordered a much-needed good set of pots and pans. When we got home, the dishes arrived, but the pots and pans did not. After many frustrating conversations with the store, we finally received a huge package. To our dismay, it was another set of white dishes, service for 16. The pots and pans never did come. When I die, who will want my white dishes, service for 32? Who will want my collection of scarves from around the world, cashmere sweaters or Stuart Weitzman high heels? The house where Ronnie and I raised our children did not have a basement, thank goodness. It was bad enough we had an oversized garage, room enough to accumulate stuff. Whenever we cleaned the garage, we would hold up each item and determine if we intended to move it to the condo we thought we would be living in during old age. We made three piles: Keep, Donate, Decide Later. But now, I look around my house feeling quite comfortable with my collections, evidence that I have lived a life, that I have memories and souvenirs to show for it. Do I feel sorry for my daughter who will have to hold up each item and determine to Keep, Donate or Decide Later? Yeah, a little. Once in a while, I attempt to purge simply to make it easier on her in the end. In Sweden, people purposely engage in an activity they call “death cleaning.” With deliberation, they give away most of their belongings while they are still alive to spare their loved ones the chores associated with someone’s final details. I watched my first mother-in-law do death cleaning. Little by little, she systematically reduced the quantity of her earthly possessions down to two medium-sized cartons that were easy to move to assisted living. I admired her detachment and consideration for her daughter. I keep wondering if I will ever feel motivated to follow her modeling. So, there I was today in Home Goods. I told myself as I entered the store, “You are not going to buy one more thing!” I made my way through the aisles, admiring the merchandise, and nearly hyperventilating with excitement from all the temptations. Finally, at the cash register, I had only three items: a dog toy for my niece’s new puppy, a box of Hanukkah candles, and yet one more glass water pitcher! This column is devoted to psychological topics that speak to the human condition, such as relationships, family, love, loss, and happiness. The ideas, thoughts, philosophies, and observations expressed here are personal and not meant as professional advice. Names and identifying information have been changed to protect the privacy of real people. Dr. Nancy Fishman moved to Santa Clara County in 2016 from Michigan, where she was a practicing psychologist. Currently, she is a strategy consultant to individuals, families, businesses, family law attorneys and their clients--working on coping, managing, reorganizing, pivoting and innovating. She is the founder of Forgotten Harvest, one of the nation’s largest food recovery operation, and is also the creator of Silicon Valley’s A La Carte food recovery and distribution initiative. Nancy lives on a family compound with her husband, sisters, brother-in-law, and a pack of dogs. NancyFishmanPhD.com ForgottenHarvest.org

A Poem by Sienna Sachs Beck / New York City in my dream tiny snowflakes each with a unique delicate pattern drift down in sheets gentle and soft cold and tasty in my dream it piles up lining the streets with layer upon layer of snow elevating the city in my dream back at the park there’s enough snow to sled and skid and build structures and ambush friends with snowballs in my dream i watch it fall from the windowsill in my warm home wrapped in a blanket drinking cocoa staring at the fresh white falling snow but when i wake up and see it rain i know that it was just a dream   Sienna Sachs Beck, 13, is an eighth grader in Manhattan. Although she enjoys all kinds of writing (except for research papers), her favorite form of all time is poetry. An active environmentalist, Sienna especially loves writing poetry that raises awareness about global changes. And best–or worst–of all, Sienna enjoys doing Eka Pada Sirsasana (her favorite yoga pose) to excess, even while writing her next piece.

By Bonnie Fishman / San Francisco Bay Area Bonnie (center) chatting with some party guests in her kitchen The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving through the New Year are a time to reflect upon what we are thankful for. The kindnesses extended to you (and the kindnesses you try to extend to others). The gratitude for a life well lived, even if you have everyday struggles. Hang on to what’s most important: love, wellness, joy, safety, peace. I have been clinging to these vital experiences for two years now. So, in November, I decided to mark that with a very special event. A little personal background before I tell you about it: After a routine blood test during a physical in early 2021 I had a “wonky” result. In summer of 2021 after a dreadful bone marrow biopsy, I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. This is a relatively docile form of cancer that they say you’ll die with, not from. It’s a lifetime commitment to being a cancer patient. Me being a cancer patient. Walking into Stanford’s Cancer Center really shook me. But as they say, you can get used to anything. If this weren’t enough, in June 2023 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After two surgeries and four weeks of radiation, I was on my way to recovery. But, alas, shortly after radiation was finished, I began noticing a pressure in my chest. After another go at radiation, (which failed), a couple of PET/MRI scans, and several biopsies later, an aggressive form of lymphoma was discovered. From May to September of 2025, I experienced multiple surgeries, lengthy stays in the hospital as well as monthly visits for exploratory surgeries, the inability to talk for two months, the inability to eat for three months, and on and on. (I wrote about my experience in the Insider in September. ) But now, I want to talk about wellness. I’m so grateful to be alive! In late September, I began on the road to recovery. I was weak, very thin, and had no energy. The doctor suggested physical therapy might be in order to get my strength back. The thought of having more appointments for my health was unappealing. I would rehab myself! Before I got sick? I cooked and baked most days. (I also swam almost a mile five times a week.) I thought to myself that returning to that would be easy. But no. Standing at the kitchen counter takes strength. I could only last 20 minutes at a time. I would need to rest between stints of preparing food. Day after day, I would try to work in the kitchen longer and longer. After one month, I could sustain a two-hour period of cooking and baking. Not only did it rehab me physically, it changed me emotionally. I became my old self again. I love to create with my hands–and eat what I make, of course! This brought me back to life. I am so thankful that I finally felt restored. I couldn’t have gotten to a joyful place without the support of others. I’m particularly thankful to all the people across the country–family, friends, and acquaintances–who showered me with words of encouragement. So, I decided to throw myself a wellness party and thank everyone for their concern. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, on November 9, I hosted 50 people for a garden party. The only regrettable thing was that it was over in the blink of an eye! Party menus I went all out in the catering department. These California folks hadn’t seen a suburban Detroit bash before. It seems many people here rely on Trader Joe’s and Costco for the food. Me, on the other hand, said not so fast! My sisters helped me with the layout of the food displays and the dining tables. We three thrive on party planning so both Nancy and Marcia were as invested in the event as I was. We set my dining room table for eight, my porch picnic table for ten and three square tables in the shade for four each. Plus, I also had plenty of couches and chairs for seating. All the tablecloths were a fall theme that blended beautifully with the surroundings. Guests enjoying the appetizer buffet The appetizers were not particularly fancy but very tasty and approachable (in other words, you knew what you were eating). We displayed the large variety of dishes on my kitchen island. My sisters each heated up some items in their respective ovens so there was plenty of room for all of the food to get cooked. I laid out the six different selections of petite pastries on my buffet. We served sparkling water and wine on my porch hutch cabinet. Success! Guests were thrilled with the presentation, variety, and of course taste of the food. People commented that it looked like it had been catered. Oh, it was! I was a caterer for decades before I retired in 2009. Those skills never go away. A bountiful assortment of pastries A couple of noteworthy examples of extreme kindness were extended to me during this experience. Carol, a new friend who lives about three hours away, offered to stay overnight so she could help with the preparation, set up, and tend bar. She is an amazing hostess in her own right, so I gladly accepted her offer. Two days before the party, Brandon, a manager at Trader Joe’s also helped me with my selections. He said, “It looks like you’re celebrating.” I said, “I am. I’m celebrating my wellness and thanking my friends and family for supporting me for over two years of dealing with cancer." A little while later, when I was in the produce department, I heard someone calling my name. It was Brandon with a big, beautiful bouquet of flowers for my party. I was so moved by his thoughtfulness that he made me cry. We stood next to the eggplants crying and hugging. It’s amazing how a small kindness from a stranger can make you thankful. I just love random human connections like that. (from left to right): Diners spread out to porch couches, the picnic table, and small tables in the shade Last spring, it was my turn to share in a support group that I attend. Most of the people have trials and tribulations with wellness where every day can seem bleak. I told them that at my lowest point, when I felt that I would never get better or live a normal life, I managed to find joy and gratitude even in a fleeting moment. Find your joy even in darkness. Be thankful to be alive. Bonnie Fishman attended the Cordon Bleu Cookery School in London. Later, she owned and operated Bonnie’s Patisserie in Southfield, Mich. and Bonnie’s Kitchen and Catering in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. She has taught cooking for over 35 years and created hundreds of recipes. She is now living in Northern California.

By Prof. Jeffrey Sachs | Common Dreams A t-shirt depicting US President Donald Trump and the slogan “Yankee go home” worn by a supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a rally against US military activity in the Caribbean, in Caracas on October 30, 2025. (Photo by Federico Parra / AFP via Getty Images) The president’s latest National Security Strategy memorandum treats the freedom to coerce others as the essence of US sovereignty. It is an ominous document that will—if allowed to stand—come back to haunt the United States. The 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) recently released by President Donald Trump presents itself as a blueprint for renewed American strength. It is dangerously misconceived in four ways. First, the NSS is anchored in grandiosity: the belief that the United States enjoys unmatched supremacy in every key dimension of power. Second, it is based on a starkly Machiavellian view of the world, treating other nations as instruments to be manipulated for American advantage. Third, it rests on a naïve nationalism that dismisses international law and institutions as encumbrances on US sovereignty rather than as frameworks that enhance US and global security together. Fourth, it signals a thuggery in Trump’s use of the CIA and military. Within days of the NSS’s publication, the US brazenly seized a tanker carrying Venezuelan oil on the high seas—on the flimsy grounds that the vessel had previously violated US sanctions against Iran. The seizure was not a defensive measure to avert an imminent threat. Nor is it remotely legal to seize vessels on the high seas because of unilateral US sanctions. Only the UN Security Council has such authority. Instead, the seizure is an illegal act designed to force regime change in Venezuela . It follows Trump’s declaration that he has directed the CIA to carry out covert operations inside Venezuela to destabilize the regime. American security will not be strengthened by acting like a bully. It will be weakened—structurally, morally, and strategically. A great power that frightens its allies, coerces its neighbors, and disregards international rules ultimately isolates itself. The NSS, in other words, is not just an exercise in hubris on paper. It is rapidly being translated into brazen practice. A Glimmer of Realism, Then a Lurch into Hubris To be fair, the NSS contains moments of long-overdue realism. It implicitly concedes that the United States cannot and should not attempt to dominate the entire world, and it correctly recognizes that some allies have dragged Washington into costly wars of choice that were not in America’s true interests. It also steps back—at least rhetorically—from an all-consuming great-power crusade. The strategy rejects the fantasy that the United States can or should impose a universal political order. But the modesty is short-lived. The NSS quickly reasserts that America possesses the “world’s single largest and most innovative economy,” “the world’s leading financial system,” and “the world’s most advanced and most profitable technology sector,” all backed by “the world’s most powerful and capable military.” These claims serve not simply as patriotic affirmations, but as a justification for using American dominance to impose terms on others. Smaller countries, it seems, will bear the brunt of this hubris, since the US cannot defeat the other great powers, not least because they are nuclear-armed. Naked Machiavellianism in Doctrine The NSS’s grandiosity is welded to a naked Machiavellianism. The question it asks is not how the United States and other countries can cooperate for mutual benefit, but how American leverage—over markets, finance, technology, and security—can be applied to extract maximal concessions from other countries. This is most pronounced in the NSS discussion of the Western Hemisphere section, which declares a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine. The United States, the NSS declares, will ensure that Latin America “remains free of hostile foreign incursion or ownership of key assets,” and alliances and aid will be conditioned on “winding down adversarial outside influence.” That “influence” clearly refers to Chinese investment, infrastructure , and lending. The NSS is explicit: US agreements with countries “that depend on us most and therefore over which we have the most leverage” must result in sole-source contracts for American firms . US policy should “make every effort to push out foreign companies” that build infrastructure in the region, and the US should reshape multilateral development institutions, such as the World Bank , so that they “serve American interests.” Latin American governments, many of whom trade extensively with both the United States and China, are effectively being told: you must deal with us, not China—or face the consequences. Such a strategy is strategically naive. China is the main trading partner for most of the world, including many countries in the Western hemisphere. The US will be unable to compel Latin American nations to expel Chinese firms, but will gravely damage US diplomacy in the attempt. Thuggery So Brazen Even Close Allies Are Alarmed The NSS proclaims a doctrine of “sovereignty and respect,” yet its behavior has already reduced that principle to sovereignty for the US, vulnerability for the rest. What makes the emerging doctrine even more extraordinary is that it is now frightening not only small states in Latin America, but even the United States’ closest allies in Europe. In a remarkable development, Denmark—one of America’s most loyal NATO partners—has openly declared the United States a potential threat to Danish national security. Danish defense planners have stated publicly that Washington under Trump cannot be assumed to respect the Kingdom of Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland , and that a coercive US attempt to seize the island is a contingency for which Denmark must now plan. This is astonishing on several levels. Greenland is already host to the US Thule Air Base and firmly within the Western security system. Denmark is not anti-American, nor is it seeking to provoke Washington. It is simply responding rationally to a world in which the United States has begun to behave unpredictably—even toward its supposed friends. That Copenhagen feels compelled to contemplate defensive measures against Washington speaks volumes. It suggests that the legitimacy of the US-led security architecture is eroding from within. If even Denmark believes it must hedge against the United States, the problem is no longer one of Latin America’s vulnerability. It is a systemic crisis of confidence among nations that once saw the US as the guarantor of stability but now view it as a possible or likely aggressor. In short, the NSS seems to channel the energy previously devoted to great-power confrontation into bullying of smaller states. If America seems to be a bit less inclined to launch trillion-dollar wars abroad, it is more inclined to weaponize sanctions, financial coercion, asset seizures, and theft on the high seas. The Missing Pillar: Law, Reciprocity, and Decency Perhaps the deepest flaw of the NSS is what it omits: a commitment to international law, reciprocity, and basic decency as foundations of American security. The NSS regards global governance structures as obstacles to US action. It dismisses climate cooperation as “ideology,” and indeed a “hoax” according to Trump’s recent speech at the UN. It downplays the UN Charter and envisions international institutions primarily as instruments to be bent toward American preferences. Yet it is precisely legal frameworks, treaties, and predictable rules that have historically protected American interests. The founders of the United States understood this clearly. Following the American War of Independence, thirteen newly sovereign states soon adopted a constitution to pool key powers—over taxation , defense, and diplomacy—not to weaken the states’ sovereignty, but to secure it by creating the US Federal Government. The post-WWII foreign policy of the United States government did the same through the UN, the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization, and arms-control agreements. The Trump NSS now reverses that logic. It treats the freedom to coerce others as the essence of sovereignty. From that perspective, the Venezuelan tanker seizure and Denmark’s anxieties are manifestations of the new policy. Athens, Melos, and Washington Such hubris will come back to haunt the United States. The ancient Greek historian Thucydides records that when imperial Athens confronted the small island of Melos in 416 BC, the Athenians declared that “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.” Yet Athens’ hubris was also its undoing. Twelve years later, in 404 BC, Athens fell to Sparta. Athenian arrogance, overreach, and contempt for smaller states helped galvanize the alliance that ultimately brought it down. The 2025 NSS speaks in a similar arrogant register. It is a doctrine of power over law, coercion over consent, and dominance over diplomacy. American security will not be strengthened by acting like a bully. It will be weakened—structurally, morally, and strategically. A great power that frightens its allies, coerces its neighbors, and disregards international rules ultimately isolates itself. America’s national security strategy should be based on wholly different premises: acceptance of a plural world; recognition that sovereignty is strengthened, not diminished, through international law; acknowledgment that global cooperation on climate, health, and technology is indispensable; and understanding that America’s global influence depends more on persuasion than coercion. https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/trump-national-security-strategy-memo

By Judi Markowitz / Huntington Woods, Mich. Josh Levinson enjoying the view in Algonac, Mich. of Lake St. Clair York Road will never be the same without Josh Levinson. Josh was an integral part of the fabric that made our street so popular. As our children were growing up in the 1980s and ‘90s, we had the block extraordinaire in Huntington Woods. Kids who lived in close proximity would find their way to our street — there was a gravitational pull. Sadly, on Friday evening, November 7th, we lost our esteemed citizen. Josh was 45. Josh was an ambassador of joy. His friendly, good nature would draw you in and capture your heart. He had an endearing smile, and his laughter was infectious. Combined with his inquisitive nature, Josh was a force — kind and loving. York Road was a hub of activity from morning until evening. Big wheels zooming down the street, children playing outside, and tree houses filled with curious kids. And Josh was an eager participant when he could manage a situation; otherwise, he was an eager observer. As parents, we reveled in our children’s happiness as we watched them grow. We were a close-knit group and even had adult time together. Dinner parties were organized and babysitters employed. And when many of us found that more space in our homes was a necessity, we opted to renovate instead of moving away from our beloved York Road. As an infant, Josh was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects one in 10,000 people. He battled numerous health issues, endured cardiovascular problems, and lived with developmental challenges. But a stroke at age 30 was the most difficult to navigate. My daughter, Lindsay, was also born with a rare condition — Marshall-Smith Syndrome, which has affected her physically and cognitively. Lindsay has battled many health scares as well. There are approximately 50 people with this condition and Lindsay, at 46, is presumed to be the oldest living person worldwide with Marshall-Smith Syndrome. Living across the street from the Levinsons, our families bonded due to our unique situations. York Road had a double dose of disability with Josh and Lindsay, and anyone who met them found themselves on a true journey. Josh and Lindsay riding the school bus together for a Halloween party at six years old Initially, Elise Levinson and I took Josh and Lindsay to an early intervention program —physical and occupational therapy were the focus. Then at the age of three, the duo was ready to ride the bus to Avery Elementary School, in Oak Park, Mich. They attended the POHI program (Physically and Otherwise Health Impaired). Josh and Lindsay graduated but went in separate directions to schools that could nourish their individual abilities. Josh continued with the Berkley School District and Lindsay went to satellite programs through Wing Lake Developmental Center, in Bloomfield Hills. Josh graduated from Berkley High when he was 18 and was eager to walk across the stage at the Meadowbrook amphitheater, in Rochester Hills. And when the anticipated moment arrived, the crowd erupted, and Josh received a rousing standing ovation. There were over 2,000 people in attendance. It was a memorable evening. Dedicated special education teachers and para-pros guided Josh and Lindsay through their years in the public school system. Thanks to the Michigan state law for special education students, Lindsay was able to remain in her program until she graduated at 26 years old. Josh continued his education while attending Jardon Vocational School in Ferndale, Mich. Josh and his job coach making the rounds at Beaumont Hospital A surprise 40th birthday billboard on Greenfield Road in Oak Park, Mich. Josh’s job training led him to create his own micro-business — Josh’s Noshes at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. His snack cart provided goodies for patients and staff alike. It was a defining situation for Josh, and he was beloved by thousands of people who were part of the vast hospital system, as well as visitors. For twelve years Josh enjoyed his work experience, until Covid shut it down. Josh’s brothers Simon, Noah, and Gideon, along with our sons Todd, Chad and Eli, developed a natural bond with their special siblings. It wasn’t always easy. At times they had to endure the stares and rude comments made by others. Even though they occasionally felt like punching people, they never acted on those impulses. Educating people through their actions was key. (from the left) Todd, Lindsay and Josh on a special outing in the dugout at Detroit's Tiger Stadium (1988) All six brothers were accidental teachers , even though they were unaware of this role until they were much older. Nurturing acceptance of Josh and Lindsay defined their roles in the neighborhood and beyond. The brothers embodied compassion, empathy, patience, and love — their friends and anyone they met were soon their avid students.. Behind the scenes, parents of special needs children are constantly at work to improve the lives of their kids. They are advocates and work hard to guarantee that their children receive the services they need and are entitled to. Our families constantly pushed forward so that Josh and Lindsay didn’t miss a beat. Josh in his glory at the annual Fourth of July parade, riding in a 1957 Chevy Bel Aiir Josh was a passionate car enthusiast — he knew every make and model. The Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise was an especially important time for Josh. Every August, the intense rumble of engines and beautiful vintage cars can be seen from the corner of York Road and Woodward. Josh, accompanied by Marty and Elise, would have a front row seat. Living in close proximity to Woodward, it was a short walk for Josh, and he enjoyed the action. And when it came to the brother’s weddings, Josh and Lindsay were active participants. Josh was thrilled to finally have a sister when Simon married Katy. He was Simon’s best man. And in late August there was a repeat performance. Josh became his brother Gideon’s best man and Jacob, Gideon’s new husband, was added to the band of brothers. Josh enjoying his brother Gideon's wedding last August Josh proudly walking with his father Marty at the wedding In our family, Lindsay’s world expanded when Todd married Chana Tova and again when her brother Eli married Alexandra — sisters enriched her life as well. Lindsay even walked down the aisle with Eli – of course, with his guidance. For Josh and Lindsay, the true bonus came when nieces and nephews were added to the mix. The excitement and regular visits filled them with delight — except when the noise level could have ruptured an eardrum. In October, Josh suddenly contracted Covid, and his rapid breathing became problematic. He was rushed to the hospital but expected to come home after IV infusion and oxygen. Like a yo-yo, Josh’s health issues went up and down. Josh was hospitalized for nearly a month. He came through heart valve replacement surgery but then another blood infection set in. It was a downward spiral and Josh’s body couldn’t tolerate the continued onslaught. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side. I will miss Josh’s quick wit and charming personality. I will also miss reading his father Marty’s emails highlighting Josh’s amusing comments of the day. But most of all, I will truly miss seeing Josh wave at Lindsay and me as we drive past his house on York Road. Josh left his mark on the city of Huntington Woods and beyond, and now we are left with a huge void. Our dear friend is gone, but his memory will last and be a blessing. Good night, sweet prince. The Levinson family having fun while vacationing in Cannon Beach, Ore. (2019) Judi Markowitz is a retired high school English teacher of 34 years. She primarily taught twelfth grade and had the pleasure of having her three sons grace her classes. In addition, she taught debate, forensics, and Detroit film. Judi has four adult children and nine wonderful and energetic grandchildren. She is married to Jeffrey Markowitz, whom she met in high school. They now spend much of their time running around with their grandkids.  The View from Four Foot Two  is Judi’s first book.

By Jessie Seigel / Washington, D.C. Journalists come in many varieties: beat reporters, investigative journalists, anchors, pundits, commentators, op-ed columnists, and the like.  Many are more than competent in the category where their career trajectory has landed them. But these times that try our souls call for advocate journalists. They deal in facts, but based on those facts, they take a side. Such newspeople are the needed antidotes to the propaganda machines represented by Fox News, Breitbart, Newsmax, and sadly now, the Jeff Bezos version of the Washington Post . (The WashPost ’s former owner, Katherine Graham, must be rolling over in her grave, if not pounding in frustration on the inner lid of her coffin.) The Myth of Objectivity Many in the media regard themselves as objective in covering national and world events. Of course, the press has never been completely objective.  Choice of content and presentation has always had to bend, to one degree or another, to the agenda of owners, whether a William Randolph Hearst, a Joseph Pulitzer, or a Rupert Murdoch. In recent years, deliberately or not, many journalists have come to view objectivity as neutrality. But they are not the same thing. Those purportedly practicing neutrality have tended to report simply on what each side of a dispute says, giving lies and truthful facts equal weight. They may claim that they’re just being objective. But these days, such neutrality often amounts to taking a side—the side of the liars. Even when lies have been repeatedly flagged, the timidity of much of the media has been appalling. For most of President Trump’s first term, the word “lie” was studiously avoided. Instead, the majority of journalists used euphemisms like “false” or “incorrect”—suggesting error rather than a deliberate act. Likewise, much of the media used the word “misinformation” when “disinformation” was more accurately the case. Even now, in the face of illegal ICE raids, military takeovers of cities, and vindictive political indictments, many commentators persist in softening their assessment of the country’s situation. At most, they suggest we are on the verge of a fascist takeover. But, as Marc Elias, the crusading lawyer for election fairness, has said: we’re not “on the verge” of a fascist takeover; we’re “ in the middle ” of it. Advocate journalists do not deal in euphemisms or engage in both-side-ism neutrality. They deal in facts. But they take a side based on those facts. Currently, they adamantly, forthrightly and honestly expose the nation’s burgeoning autocracy. In doing so, these brave folks likely receive threats. They must assume that their names are somewhere on Trump’s mile-long enemies list. And that in a disappointingly large number of cases, the corporations they work for will ultimately fail to stand by them. Yet they steadfastly stand up for democratic values every day. There are undoubtedly additional journalists who deserve an award, but the following are the Jessie Award recipients this year. If a number of those recipients have connections to MSNOW (formerly MSNBC), it is because, over time, that network has fosterd a team of journalistic advocates whose work has countered Fox News’ yellow journalism. All of these Jessie Award winners—liberal or conservative—agree on one thing: they believe in democracy. By exposing the underhand tactics of the Trump administration and its minions, they teach those who favor democracy what must be fought and how to do so. Their most important lesson: No compromise. No surrender. Sketch of the cartoon that was killed / Ann Telnaes The Herblock Integrity Award goes to political cartoonist Ann Telnaes: Often, the sharpest political and social analysis has been delivered in political cartoons that concisely and sharply make their point. Editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes worked at the Washington Post for 17 years. But last January, an editor there tried to censor her work. Telnaes’ cartoon was rejected because it criticized billionaire tech and media chief executives who were bending the knee to get in good with then-incoming President-elect Donald Trump. One of those executives in her cartoon was Washington Post and Amazon owner Jeff Bezos. Rather than bow to this censorship, Telnaes quit. She now continues her work on Substack in her courageous cartoonist column “Open Windows.” Explaining her resignation in a January 3 post on “Open Windows,”Telnaes wrote: “I have watched my overseas colleagues risk their livelihoods and sometimes even their lives to expose injustices and hold their countries’ leaders accountable…I believe that editorial cartoonists are vital for civic debate and have an essential role in journalism.” Telnaes acknowledges the argument of some that when you work for a company, it has a right to expect your work to be good for the company. She maintains, however, that news organizations have an obligation to the public to safeguard a free press, “and trying to get in the good graces of an autocrat-in-waiting will only result in undermining that free press.” Joyce Vance The Legal Eagle Award goes to attorney and legal analyst Joyce Vance: As the former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, Joyce Vance is well versed in the pursuit of public corruption prosecutions, civil rights enforcement, and the Constitution. As an MSNOW contributor, she provides on-air analyses of legal developments involving the Trump administration. She also co-hosts the #SistersInLaw podcast with fellow lawyers Jill Wine-Banks, Barbara McQuade, and political analyst Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Most important in the battle to save democracy, Vance’s erudite Substack column, “Civil Discourse,” explains to the public in layperson’s language the political stakes and effects of legal actions brought against the Trump government as well as the various court decisions. Rachel Maddow The Great Educator Award goes to MSNOW anchor Rachel Maddow. Rolling Stone has called Maddow, the star of  MSNOW’s Rachel Maddow Show, “America's wonkiest anchor" who "cut through the chaos of the Trump administration  and became the most trusted name in the news."  Maddow has said her rule for covering the Trump administration is: “Don’t pay attention to what they say, focus on what they do”–a motto I have personally lived by for decades. Maddow, a former Rhodes Scholar, is known for her insightful questions to guests and her brilliant analyses. But her most important recent contribution has been her effort, through podcasts and books, to educate the public on our nation’s history—what nefarious manipulations have occurred in the past and how they are being reenacted now. Maddow’s hard-hitting podcast Ultra and her 2023 book, Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism, detail the far right’s attempt to turn the country toward fascism in alliance with the Nazis during the late 1930s and 1940s. The New York Times wrote of this work: “The parallels to the present day are strong, even startling.” Maddow writes that, even before U.S. troops began fighting in World War II, there was a well-funded effort to undermine democratic institutions, promote antisemitism and destroy confidence in elected leaders. The goal? To overthrow the U.S. government and install a fascist regime. There was even an ultra-right paramilitary movement training for violent insurrection. The conspiracy involved many of the country’s most influential elected officials and the resulting failure of the legal system to hold those involved accountable. Maddow also writes of the dogged journalists, prosecutors and citizens who worked to expose that cabal. Her connection of the past to the present provides invaluable information for fighting the current putsch. Nicole Wallace The Beauteous Metamorphasis Award goes to MSNOW anchor Nicole Wallace. Nicole Wallace, the anchor of MSNOW ‘s Deadline: White House, has been a staunch, consistent advocate in the nation’s battle to save democracy. I cannot think of even one program in the last two or three years that was not devoted, with humanity and intelligence, to championing democracy and justice on her daily two-hour show. In her former political career, however, Wallace served as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s press secretary. She worked on the 2000 Florida election recount—the one in which the Republicans interfered, actively harassing those performing the recount in order to delay completion until the Rehnquist Supreme Court could shut the recount down and hand the election to George W. Bush. Wallace later served as the White House Communications Director during the second term of the George W. Bush presidency. Wallace also worked for John McCain’s 2008 campaign. Perhaps dealing with pre-MAGA vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin played a role in Wallace’s transformation. In any event, by 2021, she described herself to Stephen Colbert as a “self-loathing former Republican.” I do not think Nicole Wallace has any reason to be self-loathing concerning her past politics or what the Republican party has become. Her steady, caring work speaks for itself. Bill Kristol The Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows Award goes to Bulwark editor and writer Bill Kristol Bill Kristol has a long history as a steadfast neoconservative. As far back as 1993, he wrote a strategy memo proposing that Republican policymakers kill then President Clinton’s Health Care Plan. And he was pushing for a war with Iraq while Clinton was still president—long before the 9/11 attack gave the Bush administration the pretense of an excuse. In 1994, Kristol and John Podhoretz founded the conservative news magazine, The Weekly Standard . Rupert Murdoch, lord of the Fox empire, financed its creation. And for 10 years, Kristol was also a regular talking head on Fox News Sunday. Nevertheless, Kristol strongly opposed Donald Trump’s presidential nomination in 2016 and has continued to vigorously oppose him since. His articles at the Bulwark on Substack speak very plainly against Trump’s autocratic reign. Although Kristol now plays for the good guys, so to speak, it is not clear what motivates him beyond his antipathy for Trump.  It’s not clear what he would promote if we survive Trump, but for now, he fights an admirable pro-democracy fight. Tim Miller The Paul on the Road to Damascus Award goes to Tim Miller. Tim Miller, writer-at-large, host of “The Bulwark Podcast,” and MSNOW contributor, spent much of his life in Republican politics. By his own admission, during most of that period, Miller specialized in opposition research, freely trafficking with such unsavory characters as Andrew Breitbart and Steve Bannon to further the careers of less extreme personalities like Jeb Bush, John Huntsman, and John McCain, among others. In his book, Why We Did it: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell , Miller writes that the work ethic in his profession amounted to: “Slaying the enemy. Winning the race.” Whatever that took.  There was no discussion about whether what was done should be filled with lies or slander. Rather, “all ethical quandaries [were] completely excised from consideration.” Miller’s book reads as an exposé of the playbook the GOP applied for decades, as well as an attempt to understand what motivates his former Republican colleagues to stick with Trump no matter what. Most impressive is the fact that Miller does not spare himself in his book. Rather than trying to explain away his own part in that nefarious, unethical world, he takes himself to task for his rationalizations and excuses. So, when Tim Miller now speaks against Trump, one feels his thoughts are both intellectually honest and heartfelt. It appears that, over time, Miller slowly came to see the disconnect between his personal values and the direction of the Republican party. Donald Trump was Miller’s last straw. Miller seems to have faced and finally embraced the idea that one should do work in accordance with his values rather than be a PR gun for hire. That, along with Miller’s understanding of Republican PR tactics, makes him an effective advocate journalist in the battle against the Trump regime’s fascist autocracy.   Jessie Seigel’s journalistic career began with the political Washington Whispers column, written for The Insider . Since The Insider ended its run in 2023, Seigel has continued the column as My Washington Whispers, www.mywashingtonwhispers.com . In addition, Seigel has had a long career as a government attorney, has received two Artist’s Fellowships from the Washington, D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities for her fiction, has been a finalist for several literary awards, and has had two professional staged readings of her play Tinker's Damn , with another play, The Three Jessies . More on Seigel can be found at  https://www.jessieseigel.com .

By Dr. Nancy Fishman / Morgan Hill, Calif. Some say that every seven years, there is a remarkable change in our bodies. I don’t know if that is true or not, but certainly with every decade comes a new awareness of physical changes. Just look at your passport pictures, which need renewing every 10 years. Don’t you see a change in your face from one picture to the next? I ran into an old friend at my 25-year high school reunion. We were only 43 that year, yet I couldn’t find my friend in her face. Two-and-a-half decades had changed her look completely. Visual appearance aside, let’s talk about bodily functions. I heard a couple of older people talking the other day: One said to the other, “Every time I laugh too hard or cough, I wet my pants.” The other responded, “I know what you mean. I hope to have a bowel movement every day, and hopefully in the toilet!” When is it time to depend on Depends or to process the other changes brought on by aging? Many older people, especially men, say they don’t want to live if they are going to need help wiping themselves. And then there was my father. When he was in his late 80s, he moved into a lovely assisted living property that somewhat resembled the country clubs he had been used to enjoying, with concierge service, dining hostesses, white table linens, and a grand piano in the main gathering room. He was the least likely person I knew who would consider Depends as a smart addition to his wardrobe. I never fathomed that he could adjust to attendants changing his diapers and cleaning him up while preserving his dignity. So, when is it time to depend on others to take over some of the chores that were once so easy to do, but have become major ordeals? Do you remember when your to-do list could be accomplished in two hours? Ha! I’m lucky to get through my list in two weeks. When my mother-in-law was in her 80s, and had hung up her car keys for good, I shuttled her around town so she could get her errands done. She wanted to do one errand in the morning, stop for lunch, and do another errand in the afternoon. After several weeks of this routine, I realized I was living her life and not my own. I asked her to group the errands into two days. Her response? “What am I supposed to do with the rest of the week?” As we assign those chores that once held a prominent place in our schedules to others, what do we do to fill in the blanks and find purpose? I saw a TV program some time ago that discussed the results of research on aging. I was fascinated to learn that centenarians have three things in common: 1) They exercise 2) They are good at sustaining loss 3) They have purpose One centenarian who was interviewed on the program was a docent at local museum. Another was a Walmart greeter, who sat on a stool smiling at everyone who walked through the door, priding himself on remembering people’s names. Whether it is some kind of community engagement or simply tending to one’s garden, people who reach 100 years old commonly boast of a purpose in life. It seems that is not the only thing they boast about. Recently, a writer friend told me the story of sitting in a doctor’s waiting room (where else?) next to an old woman who asked my friend, “How old are you?” Without having time to process that odd question coming from a stranger, my friend replied, “80.” The old woman began to laugh. “Oh, you’re just a baby! I’m over 100!” It was as if she couldn’t wait to tell everyone and anyone who would listen that she had victoriously made it to 100. I wonder if she set out to reach 100. Was that her intention all along, or did she keep moving the goal post further into her graying years? When I hear people say they do not want to live if they have no quality of life, I think it is nearly impossible to project how we will feel when physical changes become more challenging. When transformations associated with aging happen gradually, accepting them as a new normal is more likely. People who were adaptable in their younger years have more practice for adjusting to difficulties of all kinds later in life. Whether change happens gradually or as a consequence of a sudden event, the decades will march on. We either fold ‘em or pull up our Depends and march forward. This column is devoted to psychological topics that speak to the human condition, such as relationships, family, love, loss, and happiness. The ideas, thoughts, philosophies, and observations expressed here are personal and not meant as professional advice. Names and identifying information have been changed to protect the privacy of real people. Dr. Nancy Fishman moved to Santa Clara County in 2016 from Michigan, where she was a practicing psychologist. Currently, she is a strategy consultant to individuals, families, businesses, family law attorneys and their clients--working on coping, managing, reorganizing, pivoting and innovating. She is the founder of Forgotten Harvest, one of the nation’s largest food recovery operation, and is also the creator of Silicon Valley’s A La Carte food recovery and distribution initiative. Nancy lives on a family compound with her husband, sisters, brother-in-law, and a pack of dogs. NancyFishmanPhD.com ForgottenHarvest.org

By Laurence Lerman / New York City Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal play Agnes and William Shakespeare in Hamnet SCREEN TIME For a filmmaker as soft-spoken as Chloé Zhao, silence can be its own kind of announcement. After the multiplex gigantism of Zhao’s 2021 The Eternals —a film that felt at times like it was trying to bend a Marvel colossus back into the shape of her Oscar-winning 2020 Nomadland —Zhao retreated from the spotlight for a full four years. No festivals, no features, no op-eds about the state of cinema. Just a long, quiet absence, the kind that’s inviting if you’re Shakespeare, suspicious if you’re a Hollywood director, and kind of tantalizing if you’re both. Now, with Hamnet , which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in August to standing ovations and tearful critics, Zhao has returned not with a roar but with a an artfully haunted tremor. Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed 2020 novel, Hamnet is neither a biopic, nor a rehashing of Elizabethan lore, nor even a story primarily about William Shakespeare. Rather, it’s a fictionalized examination of the emotional journey of the women and children  who lived on the borderline  of genius and suffered in its shadow. Paul Mescal, as Shakespeare, tends to his young son Hamnet The film follows Agnes (Jessie Buckley), the birth name of Shakespeare’s wife Anne Hathaway, as she navigates a marriage to a brilliant but often absent husband (Paul Mescal, playing Shakespeare as both luminous and frustrating), and the brief, bright life of their son, Hamnet (newcomer Kit Rowe). From the start, Hamnet announces itself as a film less interested in Elizabethan England than in universal grief—what it means to lose a child and then to attempt to shape art around that loss. Zhao’s signature filmmaking language—lyrical wide shots, unvarnished faces, sunlight as emotional punctuation—sits beautifully atop O’Farrell’s story. The two co-wrote the script, and the result feels like a collaboration of mutual artistic DNA. The film’s structure moves in more linear fashion than O’Farrell’s chronologically splintered, memory-driven novel, a narrative approach that clearly works well. Jessie Buckley takes it to the stage Buckley gives her finest performance yet—fierce, sensual, superstitious, and magnetic. Agnes, in her rendering, is not a muse but a force, someone deeply rooted in the textures of the natural world: herbs, honey, animal bones, the porous boundary between the living and the dead. Zhao shoots her with a mixture of reverence and documentary realism. It’s the kind of performance that doesn’t strain for awards attention but inevitably attracts it. Mescal’s Shakespeare is deliberately secondary, often shown from the edges of the frame. Zhao has no interest in enshrining him as the center of the universe; she treats him instead as a prodigiously gifted man who cannot always live in the world he writes about. Mescal plays the part with a soulful guardedness—he’s a husband who loves Agnes, a father who adores his son, and an artist who is both terrified and dependent on the intensity of his own mind. His scenes with Buckley have the electric chemistry of two people who know each other’s strengths and weaknesses too well. Emily Watson, as Agnes’s stoic mother, and Joe Alwyn, as Shakespeare’s brittle, judgmental brother, lead the supporting cast with performances that deepen the film without ever distracting from its central tragedy. Visually, Hamnet is a striking achievement. Working with cinematographer Joshua James Richards once again, Zhao fills the screen with a pastoral England that looks simultaneously ancient and brand new. The landscapes—forests, meadows, the half-timbered claustrophobia of Stratford—are more than just backdrops; they are emotional states. When Hamnet grows sick, the world darkens perceptibly; when Agnes wanders the fields after his death, she seems swallowed by a landscape too wide to hold her grief. Zhao’s camera doesn’t intrude; it observes, allowing performances to bloom and break in their own time. (from left) Jacobi Jupe (Hamnet), Bodhi Rae Breathnach (Susanna,) and Olivia Lynes (Judith) portray Shakespeare’s three young children But the film’s final act is where Zhao’s ambitions crystallize. Rather than showing us the writing of Hamlet , she shows us the impossibility of it—the way Shakespeare circles his son’s death like an open wound he simply cannot confront–or ignore. In one remarkable scene, Agnes watches a rehearsal of the play’s early drafts, realizing in real time the haunting gift and betrayal of being turned into art. It’s a fascinating consideration of authorship: who gets to transform pain into beauty, and who must simply survive it. In the end, Hamnet feels less like a tribute to Shakespeare's greatest tragedy than a quiet, devastating companion to it—a film that reminds us that behind every masterpiece is the life that bled for it. With this return to her independent sensibility following her trip through the Marvel Comics universe, Zhao has crafted one of the year’s richest arthouse releases: intimate in scope, epic in feeling, and unshakeable in resonance. Laurence Lerman is a film journalist, a former editor of Video Business -- Variety's digital media trade publication—and husband to The Insider's own Gwen Cooper. Over the course of his four-decade career, he has conducted one-on-one interviews with just about every major filmmaker working today, from Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and Clint Eastwood to Kathryn Bigelow, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Werner Herzog. Most recently, he is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the online review site  DiscDish.com , the founder and curator of  FilmShul.com , a multi-part presentation on the history of Hollywood and Jewish America, and a commentator on various 4K UHD and Blu-ray home entertainment releases.

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By Andy Borowitz  December 1, 2025 Andrew Harnik/Getty WASHINGTON ( The Borowitz Report )— Boasting about his cognitive health, on Monday Donald J. Trump asserted than an MRI performed on his brain found nothing. “I had a perfect MRI,” he told reporters. “The greatest doctors in the country looked at my brain and came up empty.” Trump said there was no point in releasing his MRI because “there’s nothing to see,” adding, “It’s like the East Wing.”