good morning to everyone except my sister who just said about local journalism, "it's hard to justify shelling out money for what's widely free." I would like to clear up this misconception

Did we think The Washington Post slogan "Democracy Dies in Darkness" was merely an apocalyptic warning? It is not: In Virginia, Democracy has Died in Darkness. If Virginians supported a robust press, reporters would have found the Northam yearbook before he was elected governor.

But voters everywhere grasp for truth in darkness. Too many good reporters who held the powerful accountable, who helped voters make the right choices, have lost their jobs because the public will not support journalism that matters. And in Virginia, it's never mattered more.

Virginia, sad to say, is the canary in our mineshaft. The ignorance of its voters in the absence of journalists who seek the truth is being replicated in virtually every state. The First Amendment offers us no protections when there is no one to exercise the rights it guarantees.

There is still, thank God, great journalism. What there is a lot less of is great journalism about great journalism. David Chrisinger, magestically, has scaled new heights with his D-Day remembrance of Ernie Pyle.

My favorite headline of all time. Updated.

Thankful for the constancy of Garry Trudeau. Read today's Doonesbury - then buy a newspaper. Every day. gocomics.com/doonesbury/201…

Jeff Flake just said here at Texas Trib Festival that if impeachment gets to Senate, and ballot could be secret, 35 Republican senators would vote to remove Trump.

More than ever, you cherish the First Amendment? Who doesn't? (Okay, one person doesn't.) And you love a good deal? Please make a donation today to New England First Amendment Coalition. Because it's the right thing to do. And it will be matched! Donate here: tinyurl.com/supportnefac #GivingTuesday

Will The Chicago Tribune Be the Next Newspaper Picked to the Bone? nyti.ms/2TD5bJJ A blunt warning from two great investigative reporters, in a city that needs more of their work, on how potential new rapacious owners would snuff out the lights in a great city.

TMI - On what the government should do. How the health care system should prepare. The steps we all must take. Dr. Amish Shah, an ER doc who is also a state legislator in AZ, covers it all in one succinct, thoughtful and caring piece: facebook.com/631281456/post…

When you pair two of the country's best investigative reporters, what do you get? Journalism, like this, that breaks down walls built to enshroud the truth. Reporting that exposes deadly incompetence by elected officials.

Please, consider this tweet a plea for help. A friend sent along a photo of this political lawn sign. Doubtlessly, it is related to the 2020 campaign. But to which political contest? Too subtle for me!

It's Smart to Stay-At-Home, I know. But now I look forward to robocalls. I want to befriend the recorded voices. Send help.

Normalcy?? Xander, our 7-year-old grandson, in First Grade PE class in Colorado Springs, exercising remotely FROM Plymouth MA.

And in other news today at the Tennessee legislature, Jack Daniels has set up an airstream outside and is passing out free fifths of whiskey to lawmakers.

The New Bedford Light aims to fill a growing hole in local coverage as many traditional newspapers continue to lose revenue and shed staff. #NewBedford #journalism capeandislands.org/local-news/202…

Among our most hopeful media stories: the blossoming of hard-hitting nonprofit digital news sites to fill the vacuum as print dailies wither. Here's Katharine Q. Seelye on the newest, New Bedford Light, taking its place beside @Vtdigger NH Bulletin || bsky @nhbulletinnews.bsky.social. nytimes.com/2021/06/20/bus…

Here in Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker will not run again. Now, many others are deciding whether to get in the race. But Atty. Gen. Maura Healey has yet to declare her intentions - most likely because she is waiting for my decision. I will not run! Go for it, Maura!

Good luck trying to contact Rail Europe if you have a problem! Stuck in Avignon - I know, there are worse places - because we both tested positive for COVID. Need to rebook train, but there seems to be no one to help! The trains run very efficiently. Customer service does not.