Indy Digest: March 2, 2023
The news that’s come out regarding Fox News—thanks to the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit—in the last week or so has made me feel one primary emotion: Anger.
In case you’ve missed this news, here’s a quick primer, via NPR:
In the heat of the moment, right after Election Day 2020, media magnate Rupert Murdoch knew that the hosts on his prized Fox News Channel were endorsing lies from then-President Donald Trump about election fraud.
And he did nothing to intervene to stop it.
Instead, Murdoch, the network’s controlling owner, followed the lead of the network’s senior executives in sidestepping the truth for a pro-Trump audience angered when confronted by the facts.
Asked whether he could have told Fox News’ chief executive and its stars to stop giving airtime to Rudy Giuliani—a key Trump campaign attorney peddling election lies—Murdoch assented. “I could have,” Murdoch said. “But I didn’t.”
I am angry because so many Americans already have a startlingly low opinion of the news media—and this certainly isn’t going to help. The vast, vast majority of newspaper journalists out there work hard to be honest, tell the truth and serve their communities, yet people who aren’t paying attention will lump us together with these Fox News liars.
I am angry because I have loved ones who watch Fox News. I’ve counseled these loved ones many times that they shouldn’t watch it, yet they do. When I read the text messages that these Fox News liars were sending to each other, trying to come up the best ways possible to craft their lies to my loved ones—in order to save their ratings—my blood boils.
I really hope that these revelations wake some people up. I hope Fox News viewers take this seriously, realize they were being lied to, and dump the network. I hope Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, Lou Dobbs and their ilk face consequences for this.
But I am pretty sure none of that will happen. And that’s what makes me angriest of all.
—Jimmy Boegle
From the Independent
For the Kids: Make-A-Wish’s ‘Desert Underground’ Event Turns Imago Galleries Into a Prohibition-Style Speakeasy
By Charles Drabkin
March 2nd, 2023
On Saturday, March 11, Imago Galleries in Palm Desert will be transformed into a Prohibition-style speakeasy—complete with secret entrances and rooftop hideaway—to raise funds for Make-a-Wish.
The Venue Report, March 2023: Reba McEntire, Iliza Shlesinger, The War and Treaty—and More!
By Matt King
March 1st, 2023
A look at the Coachella Valley’s varied entertainment offerings in March 2023.
March Astronomy: The Month Brings Spring, Ramadan, Daylight Saving Time—and a Fantastic Venus-Jupiter Pairing
By Robert Victor
February 28th, 2023
A look at the sky’s offerings in March 2023.
The Indy Endorsement: The Chicken Parmigiana at Johnny Costa’s Ristorante
By Jimmy Boegle
March 2nd, 2023
Everything about Johnny Costa’s chicken parm is great: The chicken is juicy and perfectly cooked; the marinara is lovely; the mozzarella is, well, mozzarella; and the light breading retains some texture.
The Lucky 13: Yoyoyoshie, Guitarist of Otoboke Beaver, Performing at Pappy & Harriet’s on March 11
By Matt King
March 2nd, 2023
Otoboke Beaver is set to perform a high-energy set inside Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace at 9:30 p.m., Saturday, March 11.
The Weekly Independent Comics Page for March 2, 2023!
By Staff
March 2nd, 2023
Topics touched upon this week include Marjorie Taylor Greene, chronic alcoholism, manhole covers, Idaho—and more!
More News
• For the third straight week, Palm Springs wastewater testing shows an increase in SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19: “The average number of copies (per liter) recorded at the city’s wastewater treatment plant increased. The average of 546,636 copies/L from the previous week went up to an average of 674,250, copies/L for February 20 and 21.”
• However, in Indio, the Valley Sanitary District’s testing is showing a decrease. What does this mean? Beats me.
• College of the Desert says it suffered from a “possible data breach.” From the news release: “A malware attack last summer impacted College of the Desert’s online network for about two weeks. When the unauthorized access was discovered, the college immediately began working with local authorities, the FBI and third-party forensic specialists to investigate and limit the extent of the breach. During the investigation, the college discovered that the personal data of approximately 800 individuals may have been subject to unauthorized access. While there is no evidence of attempted or actual misuse of their information, the college is proactively notifying anyone whose information was compromised and providing them with free credit monitoring services.”
• Brad Fuhr, the owner of KGAY 106.5 (Full disclosure: I am a guest every Tuesday on KGAY, and Brad is a friend of mine), has purchased KQPS 101.3 FM, which has been known as Channel Q. From the news release: “On Monday, March 6, KGAY and 103.1 FM will begin simulcasting for a brief period, with new programming on the former ‘Channel Q’ commencing Wednesday, March 8. … Fuhr would not reveal the format in advance, but alluded to his love of memorable music from decades past as a hint. While programming will not be LGBTQ-specific, Fuhr believes that it will strike a chord with all audiences.”
• The best drag show I’ve ever seen took place in Nashville, Tenn. That show will soon be illegal. The Associated Press says: “’If I hadn’t been a girl, I’d have been a drag queen.’ Dolly Parton has uttered those words famously and often. But if she really were a drag queen, one of Tennessee’s most famous daughters would likely be out of a job under legislation signed into law by Republican Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday. Lee signed off on the legislation without issuing a statement or a public ceremony. The bill goes into effect July 1.”
• California’s first LGBTQ+ pride celebration, Cathedral City LGBT Days, is taking place this weekend. From the news release: “Friday night, March 3rd beginning at 6 p.m. features the official pride flag raising and lighting of City Hall; a screening under the stars of the queer film classic The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater at 7 p.m.; followed at 9 p.m. by the first-ever outdoor PRIDE Drone Show and an opening night after-party to be announced.” Events continue all day Saturday, with the famous Bed Race on Sunday. Get a full rundown of events here.
• At long last, insulin prices are coming down. The Washington Post explains: “Eli Lilly, one of the world’s top three insulin producers, is slashing the price of its most widely prescribed insulin by 70 percent. That’s welcome news for the roughly 7 million Americans who use insulin daily to treat diabetes, including some who have had to ration their dosage because of the cost and inadequate insurance coverage. The company’s announcement Wednesday comes as the Biden administration has pressed the industry to rein in prices, which have skyrocketed in recent years and weighed on lower- and middle-income people with diabetes.”
• And finally … there was a really disgusting accident on Interstate 10 this morning. You can read News Channel 3’s story about that here. This led to an early contender for Most Amazing Local News Correction of the Year:
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