There's a real danger, as we go about our lives, that we think that everyone is familiar with our references and exposed to the same things we are and understands where we are coming from. But that couldn't be further from the truth. Just as a small example of that, my kids, who are on Thanksgiving holiday this coming week, were surprised when I told them I wanted to see "Bohemian Rhapsody;" their only reference to Queen being the song "Somebody to Love" in the movie "Ella Enchanted" (not even sung by Freddie Mercury). How is it possible they don't know what a dynamic and charged performer Mercury was? How could someone live in the world and not know that song?
But in truth, it's not like it gets played on the airwaves very often (it never really did when it was released either; radio stations were reluctant to play a seven minute song) and my kids' generation are far more apt to stream music on Spotify any way. Queen was such a unique band that Spotify would be unlikely to recommend them to a teen listening to Panic at the Disco or The Strokes (their favorite bands, respectively). But think of what they've missed by isolating themselves to algorithmic recommendations. You have to seek it out. You have to put yourself outside your comfort zone. You have to have an open mind.
And that's far too rare these days. But look at the joy when someone breaks through it.
ABC's "This Week" — Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; Reps.-elect Deb Haaland, D-N.M., Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., Donna Shalala, D-Fla., Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Lauren Underwood, D-Ill. Panel: former Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J.; Democratic strategist Stephanie Cutter; Mary Jordan of The Washington Post, and Reihan Salam of National Review.
NBC's "Meet the Press" — Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. Panel: Yamiche Alcindor of “PBS NewsHour,” John Harwood of CNBC, Hallie Jackson of NBC and Rich Lowry of National Review.
CBS' "Face the Nation" — Haaland, Houlahan; Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Rand Paul, R-Ky.; Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md.; Reps.-elect Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, and Joe Neguse, D-Colo. Panel: Ed O’Keefe and Paula Reid of CBS and David Nakamura and Seung Min Kim of The Washington Post.
CNN's "State of the Union" — Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.; Haaland, Houlahan, Crenshaw. Panel: Karine Jean-Pierre of MoveOn.org; Richard Ojeda, West Virginia state senator; Michael Caputo, former Trump campaign director; and Amanda Carpenter.
CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" — Ian Bremmer, president & founder of the Eurasia Group; Kurt Campbell, chairman and chief executive officer of the Asia Group and chairman of the Center for a New American Security; Rana Foroohar of The Financial Times and CNN; Peter Beinart of The Atlantic; Steve Phillips, founder of Democracy in Color; Prime Minister Ana Brnabić of Serbia.
CNN's "Reliable Sources" — Ted Boutrous, lawyer for CNN in the Acosta case; Sam Donaldson; Carl Bernstein; Chris Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax; Maria Ressa, CEO and executive editor of Rappler; Renee DiResta, director of research at New Knowledge.
"Fox News Sunday" — Donald Trump. Panel: former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah; former Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md.; Gerald Seib of The Wall Street Journal; and Jonathan Swan of Axios.
So, what's catching your eye this morning?
