A Reason To Smile

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Neil Diamond’s name has become synonymous with feel-good easy rock. It all began one hot August night. Well, ten, actually.

In August 1972, Diamond headlined ten sold-out shows at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. One of those performances, 54 years ago on Monday, was recorded and released as the double album, “Hot August Night.”

“‘Hot August Night’ captures a very special show for me. …

The president’s fiscal irresponsibility and what it is costing us

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

A big reason people say they voted for Donald Trump is because of his alleged business expertise. He claimed to be a successful businessman, after all. He flew around the world on private jets and had buildings named after him. A majority of the electorate believed the U.S. economy could use someone like him to give it a needed …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Leavitt is leaving as the lies start falling on deaf ears

The news that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is stepping down from her post got us thinking about her tenure and, more importantly, the tenor of her tenure. The word duplicitous comes to mind.

Does this president even need a press secretary? It seems to be a position corporate America would call redundant. The president’s mobile phone …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Democratic socialist Melat Kiros, the newly elected Democratic nominee for Colorado’s first congressional district. Credit: Getty Images

Despite what you may hear from the president, the rise of democratic socialism is a far cry from the “godless communists” he claims are taking over the Democratic Party.

Donald Trump would have you believe Karl Marx is on the ballot. But today’s socialists are not the old school communists who demanded …

Survey Sponsor: American Research Group, Inc.

The American Research Group has been conducting national surveys of consumers since 1985.

Sample Size: 1,100 completed interviews among a random sample of all adults age 18 and older living in households in the continental United States (see methodology for details). There were 315 Republicans, 330 Democrats, 361 independents, and 94 non-voters in the sample.

Sample Dates: June 16-20, 2026

Margin of Error: ± 3 percentage points, 95% of …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

An Iranian woman attends a memorial in Tehran. Credit: Getty Images

One of the most solemn responsibilities of this president, or any president, is to explain to the American people why he is sending our military into harm’s way. And just as important is to explain why and how our service members were killed in the line of duty.

Donald Trump has failed in both of those duties since …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

During a German bombing raid of London 82 years ago today, Irene Daltrey gave birth to a baby boy. Her son became rock legend Roger Daltrey, whose powerful voice and charismatic stage presence made The Who one of the most influential bands of the 20th century. Daltrey is this week’s reason to smile.

Almost every major music award and accolade has been bestowed on Daltrey and his bandmates — …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Credit: Getty Images

The president knows if Democrats retake one or both houses of Congress in the midterms, it’s game over for Trump 2.0. An opposition Congress would use its innumerable powers to check the Trump agenda, and, perhaps more frightening to him, spend the second half of his term investigating the deep corruption of the first half.

Donald Trump doesn’t want you to vote, especially if you’re a …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Credit: Getty Images

Before Donald Trump tries to convince you otherwise on Tuesday night, the state of our union is appalling. That’s not just me saying so; a majority of the American people say so too.

If you believe the polls — and they are remarkably consistent on this — this president is in a lot of trouble. He’s underwater on every issue, especially the economy, and his disapproval …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

The song “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King was a huge hit when it was released in 1961. It found a second life in the late 1980s when it appeared on the soundtrack of “Stand by Me,” a film directed by Rob Reiner. Twenty-six years after the song was released, it topped the charts for a second time. And 39 years later, it is our reason to smile.

…

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

The flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford. Credit: U.S. Navy

It’s safe to say Iran has not been on anyone’s radar recently, except, apparently, the president’s. Many, if not most, Americans have no idea the U.S. military is about to launch an attack on Iran, much less the reason why.

Donald Trump, who rarely keeps even his most inane ideas to himself, said little publicly about a …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

We’re here today to help out an old colleague call out blatant censorship and support the First Amendment. Late-night host Stephen Colbert found himself hard up against CBS lawyers on Monday. In an attempt to cozy up to the Trump administration, the network tried to stop Colbert from doing an interview Monday night.

When you read why, you’ll understand the reason everyone needs to see it.

CBS brass insisted …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Credit: Getty Images

November 3 is 260 days away. Between now and then, no story is more consequential to the survival of our republic than Donald Trump’s efforts to subvert the midterm elections. These biennial contests have long been viewed as an interesting political exercise about the popularity of the president and his administration’s policies.

If only things were still so innocent and uncomplicated. The current president is applying …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

“Everyday People” is a protest song wrapped in joy. The sunny pop song admonishes without anger, suggesting we celebrate our differences. It is a message many people need to hear right now.

The song was released 57 years ago this weekend and became Sly and the Family Stone’s first No. 1 hit. It is this week’s reason to smile.

The rock-pop-funk band emerged from the Bay Area in 1968, …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Credit: Getty Images

Our nation’s capital city is dotted with monuments to honor the most revered historical figures — think Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson. Suddenly, the landscape is littered with a self-aggrandizing celebration of the current occupant of the White House, brought to you by the man himself.

Federal buildings are now festooned with three-story-high banners of Donald Trump’s shadowy face. These taxpayer-funded pieces of propaganda are just one …

NYA Thanks @scottmcgrewnbc!

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

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There once was a time in this country when accountability mattered. The very thought of associating with, much less maintaining a close friendship with a known sex offender would be career ending — or something close to that. Politicians would have been embarrassed, even ashamed, of their actions.

Today? Not so much. Allegations are swept under an ever-growing rug. Names are redacted not for the victims, …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Joni Mitchell, the Canadian-American singer-songwriter, is considered one of the all-time greats, and I agree. She effortlessly mixes folk, pop, jazz, and rock, blending them with her ethereal voice. She has been praised for her intimate lyrics and distinctive compositions. Mitchell is our reason to smile.

Twenty-six years ago today, she released the album “Both Sides Now.” It included beautifully orchestrated covers of jazz standards and reimagined versions of …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Credit: Getty Images

Donald Trump knows his party will probably lose one, if not both, houses of Congress in November. He could do something politically rational to help his cause, such as removing the remaining 2,300 ICE agents from the streets of Minneapolis, or lifting tariffs, or restoring Obamacare subsidies to lower health insurance costs.

Since his is very much a “me” not a “we” presidency, none of that …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Taylor Rehmet celebrating his upset win in a race for a Texas state Senate seat. Credit: Texas AFL-CIO

You may have missed the political earthquake that shook Texas on Saturday night.

A special runoff election for a state Senate seat saw Democrat Taylor Rehmet trounce his Republican challenger, Leigh Wambsganss. Not only did Rehmet flip the seat blue, winning by 14 points, he did so in a district Trump …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

When it comes to rock stars, it’s usually the lead singer who steals the show. But when you are one of the best guitarists in rock ‘n’ roll history, it’s easy to see and hear why the smooth sounds of Carlos Santana made him an international superstar.

His effortless blend of Latin, blues, and jazz was honored on Saturday at the Grammy Awards where Santana received a long-overdue Lifetime …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Journalist Don Lemon outside the federal courthouse in Los Angeles after his arrest. Credit: Getty Images

If you dispatch two dozen federal law enforcement officers to arrest a single journalist, you’re doing more than apprehending a suspect, you’re sending a message. The message is this: no journalist is safe in America, no journalist can freely report without fear of retribution.

We have crossed yet another red line with Donald …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

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When United States law enforcement officers cover their faces, they send a clear message: We’re not accountable to anyone.

This tyrannical Donald Trump-Stephen Miller immigration tactic is working as planned. Terrifying Americans is the goal.

It wasn’t until March of last year that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began covering their faces, claiming they were being “doxed,” a practice of revealing personal information online. They …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Credit: Getty Images

It was a weekend filled with heartbreaking images. Americans trapped inside by winter weather found themselves transfixed by the traumatic footage of a fellow citizen surrounded, pepper-sprayed, shoved to the ground, and then shot ten times by ICE agents.

The killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents and the many cellphone videos that captured it laid bare a presidential agenda built on intentional cruelty, hate, and …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

credit: Getty Images

Happy birthday to my dear friend, Dolly Parton. She turned 80 years young this week. To celebrate that milestone, she re-recorded one of my favorite songs of hers, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” It is our reason to smile.

The new recording features some of music’s biggest stars, many of whom also happen to be Parton’s close friends: Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah, Reba McEntire, and …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Credit: Getty Images

Enough is enough. Congress can and should stop this madness. The House and Senate are equally responsible for allowing it to continue.

The president is making a mockery of our democratic norms daily. His contempt for the law is matched only by his contempt for lawmakers. Elected Republican representatives have relinquished their responsibilities and …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

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Somewhere deep inside the Kremlin, Russian leaders must be beside themselves. They can’t believe their luck. Vladimir Putin’s usual scowl has no doubt been replaced by a grin.

Donald Trump may accomplish what Russia has been trying to do for decades — destroy NATO.

If the United States invades Greenland, NATO as we know it will be finished, Europe will be on edge, and Americans will …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

credit: Getty Images

While researching this week’s reason to smile, we came across an item about Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. Fifty-seven years ago, the duo recorded Dylan’s “Girl From the North Country.”

The duet appeared on Dylan’s Nashville Skyline album. The two sang the song on the premiere episode of “The Johnny Cash Show,” helping the album become a bestseller.

It turns out that by the time they …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

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At this point, one can hardly imagine this president doing anything that would shock our senses. But just when you thought he’d done it all, couldn’t possibly disgrace himself any further, he one-ups himself… with one finger.

It happened during an unscripted moment when Donald Trump came face-to-face with a heckler. Politicians, good ones, know how to handle situations like this. And it’s not as if …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

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Donald Trump is in panic mode. You’d think he knows what’s coming in November. No administration in my lifetime has moved this quickly and recklessly on fronts unimaginable just a year prior.

What happens when a bully is threatened? He lashes out. When this president is threatened, he accelerates his power grabs. If you thought 2026 would be less chaotic and exhausting, apparently, we haven’t seen …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Credit: Getty Images

It may be the biggest irony in the history of American politics – if not the history of our country — that if Donald Trump wasn’t elected to a second term, he probably would be serving time in prison right now.

Instead, the president flat out got away with it. And now he will never face federal criminal charges for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

credit: Getty Images

It has been a harrowing week to close out an incomprehensible first year under the current president. This week, it is especially hard to find any reason to smile. So we have decided to pay homage to a song of healing and redemption: “Amazing Grace.”

The iconic hymn, meant to inspire hope in the wake of tragedy, has become a “spiritual national anthem,” though its roots …

BY DAN RATHER AND TEAM STEADY

Credit: Getty Images

This is not right. Not justifiable. Not who we are as Americans. Full stop.

The act of violence by a federal officer that killed an unarmed American is an unimaginable horror and a national atrocity.

Renee Good was murdered by an ICE agent on her way home from dropping off her first grader at school. Video from three different angles shows Good driving onto a street …