On My Mind
Happy birthday to my beautiful, whip-smart, hilarious, fiercely independent, fun daughter! She turns three today. What a magical creature she is. I’m so lucky to be her dad.
What’s Up With Me?
I came in 2nd place in the Hard News (one day’s coverage of a hard news story) category and 3rd place in the Obituary/In Appreciation (politics/business/arts personalities) category at the Los Angeles Press Club’s 63rd annual Southern California Journalism Awards last Saturday. More than 2,000 entries were submitted this year. Both nominations/wins were for my Alta Journal article about Mad Mike Hughes, the flat earther daredevil rocketeer. Read more in this coverage in Pasadena Now and Alta Journal.
Watch the latest episode of my show, “NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman,” featuring an interview with Congresswoman Judy Chu. Read some coverage of the show on Pasadena Now. And watch the new episode here. STAY TUNED: Congressman Adam Schiff will join “NewsRap Local” as my guest next month!
I was a guest on “The Crown City Podcast,” which features community leaders in Pasadena. It was a deep dive into my background, my influences, my time on the Altadena Town Council, my journalism, my current work, and my thoughts on Pasadena and local news. Listen to the full conversation here.
I was a guest on “POP Talk” with Ellen Snortland and Hannah Petrie. We talked about why men aren’t as engaged on the issue of abortion as they should be, as Roe v. Wade is at more risk than ever. Watch the full conversation here.
Watch the latest two episodes of “Well Read with Justin Chapman,” one featuring an interview with author Anne Sebba about her new book, Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy, and the other featuring an interview with author Giles Milton about his new book, Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown that Shaped the Modern World.
Read my latest article in Pasadena Now, about Congressman Adam Schiff’s new book, Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could. He spoke at a Vroman’s Bookstore event about the book on October 16 at Pasadena Presbyterian. Stay tuned to next month’s Newsletter for my story about what he said.
Read my article in Culture Honey Magazine, about a pre-COVID trip to Iceland. Featuring gorgeous photos by Mercedes Blackehart.
I’d like to give a shout out and a huge thank you to Sheryl Turner and the Pasadena Media Foundation, which has provided some critical support of my journalism, as well as a number of other local reporters and media outlets. We need people and organizations like them who care about local news. Visit savelocalnews.us to learn more.
Great Reads
Here are some recommendations for great books I’ve read recently:
Peril—Bob Woodward and Robert Costa
These guys don’t need any help from me to promote this book, but it is a must read for everyone who wants to understand what happened in the final year of Trump’s presidency and the beginning of Biden’s presidency. That said, I found the book to be a little simplistic at times. It glosses over some really important stories (such as when Trump got COVID) with a few quick sentences, and while there were some anecdotes and scenes we haven’t heard elsewhere, I expected them to go a little more in-depth with some as yet unreported information, but they didn’t in some cases. Still remarkable reading about the danger that Americans avoided experiencing just a few short months ago.
The Berlin Wall: A World Divided, 1961-1989—Frederick Taylor
I know I’ve reached middle age because I can’t get enough of this time period, of World War II and the Cold War. I especially love the story of Berlin in the second half of the 20th century. This book is a deep dive into the history of Berlin before the Second World War, the aftermath of the war which is what Giles Milton’s book covered, and then the construction of the Berlin Wall and the ramifications of that for West and East Berliners.
Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could—Adam Schiff
Congressman Schiff takes readers behind the scenes of Trump’s first impeachment investigation and trial and what it was like to be in the Capitol Building during the January 6 insurrection. But more than that, he chronicles how his Republican colleagues devolved from respectable members who he could work with to complete Trump lackeys in a remarkably short period of time. Above all, it serves as a warning that democracy does not survive on its own. We must protect it at all times.
Stories to Keep an Eye On
International: Poland is joining Hungary in giving the European Union headaches. While insisting they don’t want to leave the bloc, Poland’s top court ruled that their constitution eclipses EU law in some areas. That position, of course, rejects one of the core principles of the European project. Poland’s and Hungary’s illiberal policies are increasingly at odds with the rest of the EU, another troubling sign of the rise of authoritarianism in the West.
National: The Build Back Better infrastructure bill (the one that used to be $3.5 trillion, which was already a compromise) is getting pared down even more, to the $1.5 to $1.7 trillion range, as President Biden and congressional Democrats try to appease two senators on their own team. On the cutting room floor? Two years of free community college, tax hikes on the über-wealthy and corporations, the permanent child tax credit, and a key climate action provision. You know, nothing working families won’t miss [insert sarcastic eye-roll here].
California: The Federal Communications Commission established 988 as the new nationwide number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, so people living in nine area codes across California will have to dial the full 10-digit phone numbers when placing calls starting Sunday to help facilitate the change.
Local: The biggest story in Pasadena this month was the unexpected announcement by City Manager Steve Mermell that he is retiring effective December 2. Pasadena Now reported that the city will lose 100 years of institutional knowledge in the coming months (Assistant City Manager Julie Gutierrez and Police Chief John Perez are also retiring). I’ve heard mixed responses about Steve’s tenure, with some saying he guided the city during a tumultuous period and others saying there was a “my way or the highway” style of running City Hall. But as former mayor who has served as city manager for several cities Rick Cole (who said he will not apply for the position) put it, Pasadenans should “spend less time thinking about what you liked or didn’t like about the last city manager and more time thinking about what Pasadena will need during the next five years.” This city deserves a city manager who wants to raise all boats in the harbor, a People’s City Manager. Perhaps it’s time to consider amending the city charter to make Pasadena a strong mayor system of government to make the top job in this city accountable to the electorate. For now, former City Manager Cynthia Kurtz will step in during the transition to a permanent replacement.
Spotlight on One of My Past Stories
Reading so much lately about the Berlin Wall and East Berlin (fascinating stuff), I thought I’d highlight my analysis of my trip to Germany in December 2016 when I was invited by the German government to travel to Berlin, Frankfurt, and Hamburg to discuss transatlantic relations with government, media, economic, and think tank officials. Read my story here.
Read all of my journalism here.
Support Sustainatoy
Mercedes Blackehart makes handmade, sustainable, all-natural toys. Check out her products here for the little ones in your life. The Christmas season is going to be cray cray this year. Supply chains are crippled and delayed due to the pandemic, and inflation in some sectors will likely mean higher prices. So order some gifts such as Mercedes’ toys now and save yourself the hassle and a few shillings.