Robert Elisberg
@relisberg.bsky.social
Political commentator. Contributor to "Clued in to Politics" anthology. WGA Screenwriter. Novelist. Tech writer. And something else I keep forgetting.
It's still the holiday season, so the Holiday Fest continues with one of my favorite holiday recordings: the great Steve Goodman taking an audience request of "Winter Wonderland," not exactly knowing how it goes, and diving in anyway. It's a pure joy.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
December 27, 2025 at 1:16 AM
It's still the holiday season, so the Holiday Fest continues with one of my favorite holiday recordings: the great Steve Goodman taking an audience request of "Winter Wonderland," not exactly knowing how it goes, and diving in anyway. It's a pure joy.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
It turns out that God may have a special affinity for 10-year-olds. At halftime of the Rate Bowl currently on ESPN, the score between New Mexico and Minnesota is -- 6-7.
December 26, 2025 at 11:30 PM
It turns out that God may have a special affinity for 10-year-olds. At halftime of the Rate Bowl currently on ESPN, the score between New Mexico and Minnesota is -- 6-7.
Here's how Trump and Jimmy Kimmel spent their respective Christmases -- including Trump's tweet insulting people (among them, unwittingly, himself) & the video of Kimmel's Alternative Christmas Message he was invited to give in the UK by their Channel 4.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/twas-th...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/twas-th...
'Twas the Day After Christmas
How did you spend your Christmas? Trump spent it posting nearly 200 times on social media. That averages 12 times an hour during waking hours. Or once every five minutes. Not that he...
www.elisbergindustries.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Here's how Trump and Jimmy Kimmel spent their respective Christmases -- including Trump's tweet insulting people (among them, unwittingly, himself) & the video of Kimmel's Alternative Christmas Message he was invited to give in the UK by their Channel 4.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/twas-th...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/twas-th...
For tonight's Holiday Fest, we have a treat most-especially for fans of the legendary comic strip, POGO. And a fun, little-known song for others. It's Walt Kelly's annual song for the strip, "Deck Us All with Boston Charlie."
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
December 26, 2025 at 1:35 AM
For tonight's Holiday Fest, we have a treat most-especially for fans of the legendary comic strip, POGO. And a fun, little-known song for others. It's Walt Kelly's annual song for the strip, "Deck Us All with Boston Charlie."
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
For today's Holiday Fest, we have 2ifferent songs titled "All I Want for Christmas is You." The first, a fun 'Carpool Karaoke' montage from James Corden of the Mariah Carey song, the other by Vince Vance and the Valiants, from their lead singer Lisa Layne.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
December 25, 2025 at 11:01 PM
For today's Holiday Fest, we have 2ifferent songs titled "All I Want for Christmas is You." The first, a fun 'Carpool Karaoke' montage from James Corden of the Mariah Carey song, the other by Vince Vance and the Valiants, from their lead singer Lisa Layne.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
Johnny Marks wrote 2 Christmas classics ("Rudolph..." & "Holly Jolly Christmas"), but for today's Holiday Fest we have a *3rd* classic he wrote the music for -- "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." In fact, it's played in the background of the TV special.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
December 25, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Johnny Marks wrote 2 Christmas classics ("Rudolph..." & "Holly Jolly Christmas"), but for today's Holiday Fest we have a *3rd* classic he wrote the music for -- "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." In fact, it's played in the background of the TV special.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
This is my annual posting of my favorite adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. It was done for BBC Radio in 1960 and stars Sir Ralph Richardson as Scrooge, and Paul Scofield as The Narrator. It's rich, evocative, great acting and overloaded with Dickens' text.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-bes...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-bes...
The Best "A Christmas Carol" of Them All: Another Encore 2025
Every year around this time, there are articles about which recorded version of A Christmas Carol is "the best." Usually it comes down to the films that starred either Alistair Sim or Reginald...
www.elisbergindustries.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:16 AM
This is my annual posting of my favorite adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. It was done for BBC Radio in 1960 and stars Sir Ralph Richardson as Scrooge, and Paul Scofield as The Narrator. It's rich, evocative, great acting and overloaded with Dickens' text.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-bes...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-bes...
My annual article on a music historian's research of Handel's MESSIAH. The music is glorious & justly beloved. But it turns out the *text* is deeply anti-Semitic -- celebrating the destruction of Jerusalem not accepting Jesus as the Messiah in A.D. 70.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/you-can...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/you-can...
December 24, 2025 at 11:51 PM
My annual article on a music historian's research of Handel's MESSIAH. The music is glorious & justly beloved. But it turns out the *text* is deeply anti-Semitic -- celebrating the destruction of Jerusalem not accepting Jesus as the Messiah in A.D. 70.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/you-can...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/you-can...
With so many improper DOJ redactions in the Epstein files thus far, there's no way to know the name of who is blocked -- so I'm just going to assume each one is "Trump".
I know that's an unfair assumption, but since the released files already show him lying, I have nothing else to go on.
I know that's an unfair assumption, but since the released files already show him lying, I have nothing else to go on.
December 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
With so many improper DOJ redactions in the Epstein files thus far, there's no way to know the name of who is blocked -- so I'm just going to assume each one is "Trump".
I know that's an unfair assumption, but since the released files already show him lying, I have nothing else to go on.
I know that's an unfair assumption, but since the released files already show him lying, I have nothing else to go on.
P.S. And in 8 days, thanks to Trump & the MAGOP-led Congress, those healthcare costs will skyrocket.
Further, the Royal Bank of Canada reported it was the wealthiest 10% in the U.S. who drove spending, with $20.3 trillion this year, matching the spending of the other 90% combined, $22.5 trillion.
Further, the Royal Bank of Canada reported it was the wealthiest 10% in the U.S. who drove spending, with $20.3 trillion this year, matching the spending of the other 90% combined, $22.5 trillion.
Yesterday, Trump & his merry band of con men tried to pass off the notable 4.3% GDP growth as proof the economy was spectacular. Among the many things they left out was how the massive bulk of consumer spending was on higher healthcare, not manufacturing!
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/fun-wit...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/fun-wit...
Fun with Numbers
We interrupt our regularly scheduled Christmas Eve Holiday Fest for this special "Breaking News!" report. Trump and much of his merry band of cabinet acolytes -- but especially press secretary...
www.elisbergindustries.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
P.S. And in 8 days, thanks to Trump & the MAGOP-led Congress, those healthcare costs will skyrocket.
Further, the Royal Bank of Canada reported it was the wealthiest 10% in the U.S. who drove spending, with $20.3 trillion this year, matching the spending of the other 90% combined, $22.5 trillion.
Further, the Royal Bank of Canada reported it was the wealthiest 10% in the U.S. who drove spending, with $20.3 trillion this year, matching the spending of the other 90% combined, $22.5 trillion.
For today's Holiday Fest, we have a 2fer: videos of some of the great songs from the classic MR. MAGOO'S CHRISTMAS CAROL...and also a montage from a live, staged version done on Broadway as a fundraiser. Written by the team who did the musical FUNNY GIRL
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
December 24, 2025 at 4:40 PM
For today's Holiday Fest, we have a 2fer: videos of some of the great songs from the classic MR. MAGOO'S CHRISTMAS CAROL...and also a montage from a live, staged version done on Broadway as a fundraiser. Written by the team who did the musical FUNNY GIRL
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
Yesterday, Trump & his merry band of con men tried to pass off the notable 4.3% GDP growth as proof the economy was spectacular. Among the many things they left out was how the massive bulk of consumer spending was on higher healthcare, not manufacturing!
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/fun-wit...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/fun-wit...
Fun with Numbers
We interrupt our regularly scheduled Christmas Eve Holiday Fest for this special "Breaking News!" report. Trump and much of his merry band of cabinet acolytes -- but especially press secretary...
www.elisbergindustries.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Yesterday, Trump & his merry band of con men tried to pass off the notable 4.3% GDP growth as proof the economy was spectacular. Among the many things they left out was how the massive bulk of consumer spending was on higher healthcare, not manufacturing!
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/fun-wit...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/fun-wit...
Wonderful to see that the Supreme Court actually ruled that Trump’s use of the National Guard in Chicago was illegal. The decision is just for Chicago, but the argument behind it suggests it will apply to any city where Trump tries to employ the Guard. The vote was 6-3.
Terrific.
Terrific.
December 24, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Wonderful to see that the Supreme Court actually ruled that Trump’s use of the National Guard in Chicago was illegal. The decision is just for Chicago, but the argument behind it suggests it will apply to any city where Trump tries to employ the Guard. The vote was 6-3.
Terrific.
Terrific.
For tonight's Holiday Fest, this is an odd treat. A 47-minute TV adaptation of MIRACLE ON 34th STREET from 1955. It's close to the original -- and very well done. And an excellent cast, with Thomas Mitchell ('Uncle Billy' in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE) as Kris.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
December 24, 2025 at 1:23 AM
For tonight's Holiday Fest, this is an odd treat. A 47-minute TV adaptation of MIRACLE ON 34th STREET from 1955. It's close to the original -- and very well done. And an excellent cast, with Thomas Mitchell ('Uncle Billy' in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE) as Kris.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
Trump administration will start seizing pay of defaulted student loan borrowers in January. This will affect 5 million people, which could increase to 10 million.
This should go over with youth vote.
No word on if the Trump administration will go after unpaid taxes...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/23/s...
This should go over with youth vote.
No word on if the Trump administration will go after unpaid taxes...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/23/s...
Trump administration to start seizing pay of defaulted student loan borrowers in January
The Trump administration will start garnishing the wages of student loan borrowers in default in early January.
www.cnbc.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Trump administration will start seizing pay of defaulted student loan borrowers in January. This will affect 5 million people, which could increase to 10 million.
This should go over with youth vote.
No word on if the Trump administration will go after unpaid taxes...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/23/s...
This should go over with youth vote.
No word on if the Trump administration will go after unpaid taxes...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/23/s...
For all the horrible news yesterday for Trump & his team, the one that was most symbolic yet got little reported is a deeply racist tweet from the Labor Dept, openly posting uncredited jobs numbers ONLY for "American born citizens." Not ALL citizens.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/going-i...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/going-i...
Going into Labor
There was a barrage of so many sickening tweets yesterday afternoon, as the Trump team went into hyper-overdrive as they see his approval at 33%, scandal after scandal pummeling them, and Trump's...
www.elisbergindustries.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:42 PM
For all the horrible news yesterday for Trump & his team, the one that was most symbolic yet got little reported is a deeply racist tweet from the Labor Dept, openly posting uncredited jobs numbers ONLY for "American born citizens." Not ALL citizens.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/going-i...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/going-i...
For tonight's Holiday Fest, this is my favorite SNL Christmas sketch, but one which has slipped through the cracks, as it never gets repeated. It features Jennifer Aniston and Rachel Dratch as modern-day Dickensian urchins who can be rented as ornaments.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
December 23, 2025 at 2:40 AM
For tonight's Holiday Fest, this is my favorite SNL Christmas sketch, but one which has slipped through the cracks, as it never gets repeated. It features Jennifer Aniston and Rachel Dratch as modern-day Dickensian urchins who can be rented as ornaments.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
I believe there have been typos for the name of CBS's new editor-in-chief in the stories of her refusing to air a story critical of the Trump administration.
I think the correct spelling is Bury Weiss.
I think the correct spelling is Bury Weiss.
December 22, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I believe there have been typos for the name of CBS's new editor-in-chief in the stories of her refusing to air a story critical of the Trump administration.
I think the correct spelling is Bury Weiss.
I think the correct spelling is Bury Weiss.
For tonight's Holiday Fest, we end the last night of Hanukkah with Peter, Paul and Mary's wonderful song, "Light One Candle".
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
December 22, 2025 at 1:14 AM
For tonight's Holiday Fest, we end the last night of Hanukkah with Peter, Paul and Mary's wonderful song, "Light One Candle".
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
Reposted by Robert Elisberg
This tells you that Vance thinks the MAGA base isn’t just full of diehard racists; he thinks it’s full of diehard racists who are also too cowardly to be openly racist if they think people might disapprove
JD Vance: "In the United States of America you don't have to apologize for being white anymore"
December 21, 2025 at 8:58 PM
This tells you that Vance thinks the MAGA base isn’t just full of diehard racists; he thinks it’s full of diehard racists who are also too cowardly to be openly racist if they think people might disapprove
Reposted by Robert Elisberg
I don’t think the mainstream news can possibly report on just how vile & dangerous this JD Vance diatribe is. Some will gloss over the extremism, others will both sides it. So people need to watch the actual video to see/hear for themselves the white nationalist venom spewing from this monster.
JD Vance: "In the United States of America you don't have to apologize for being white anymore"
December 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I don’t think the mainstream news can possibly report on just how vile & dangerous this JD Vance diatribe is. Some will gloss over the extremism, others will both sides it. So people need to watch the actual video to see/hear for themselves the white nationalist venom spewing from this monster.
Indeed, what you says is documented in Treaty of Tripoli, signed by President John Adams in 1797.
"As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion..."
And "weasel" is the polite term.
firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/1797...
"As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion..."
And "weasel" is the polite term.
firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/1797...
December 21, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Indeed, what you says is documented in Treaty of Tripoli, signed by President John Adams in 1797.
"As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion..."
And "weasel" is the polite term.
firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/1797...
"As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion..."
And "weasel" is the polite term.
firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/1797...
For today's Holiday Fest, this is legendary TV classic. In 1963, the Berlin Wall briefly opened for families to reunite for Christmas. Burr Tillstrom (creator of "Kukla, Fran & Ollie") won an Emmy for this moving "hand ballet" interpretation of the event.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-bur...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-bur...
The Burr-lin Wall Holiday Fest 2025
I wrote about this piece of remarkable TV history back in 2014, and it remains one of my favorites. And it's a joy to be able to include it annually as part of the Holiday Fest. Back in my...
www.elisbergindustries.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
For today's Holiday Fest, this is legendary TV classic. In 1963, the Berlin Wall briefly opened for families to reunite for Christmas. Burr Tillstrom (creator of "Kukla, Fran & Ollie") won an Emmy for this moving "hand ballet" interpretation of the event.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-bur...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-bur...
For this Holiday Fest, we have a fun 1961 Christmas episode of the classic TV series, SING ALONG WITH MITCH. Among other things, the cast includes Leslie Uggams (who went on to win a Tony Award) & a young Bob McGrath who had a long career on SESAME STREET.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
December 21, 2025 at 6:01 PM
For this Holiday Fest, we have a fun 1961 Christmas episode of the classic TV series, SING ALONG WITH MITCH. Among other things, the cast includes Leslie Uggams (who went on to win a Tony Award) & a young Bob McGrath who had a long career on SESAME STREET.
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
www.elisbergindustries.com/blog/the-hol...
For tonight's Holiday Fest, this is a special treat. It's from the people who did THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG and PETER PAN GOES WRONG on Broadway. This is their masterful and hilarious A CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG -- where everything...well, goes very wrong.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLOi...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLOi...
A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong
YouTube video by YouTube Movies
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:54 AM
For tonight's Holiday Fest, this is a special treat. It's from the people who did THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG and PETER PAN GOES WRONG on Broadway. This is their masterful and hilarious A CHRISTMAS CAROL GOES WRONG -- where everything...well, goes very wrong.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLOi...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLOi...