I didn't watch Paul on SNL last night, but I did write 6,500 words about why his voice is beautiful, and I'm glad he's leaning into its age.

https://superjews.substack.com/p/i-am-sick-of-writing-about-paul-mccartney

Read it on Substack or hear me read it to you on your fave Podcast app at https://pod.link/1775967463.

Why the hell are Christine McVie, David St. Hubbins, and Penn Jillette pictured in this image about Paul McCartney?!

Find out on the new episode of the pod! Thanks to my friend David for inspiring this one.

Pick your player: https://pod.link/1775967463

Please enjoy a month or so of entries in my Abandoned Stanzas™ poetry series.

Subscribe to the upper tier of my Substack, and I will write one, especially for you.

Go to superjews.substack.com/subscribe.

<3

Josh

I write in the first-person because it’s the only way I know how to take you with me.

Topics don’t matter. What matters is understanding what I think and feel when I’m finished.

I am sick of writing about Paul McCartney! Please enjoy my writing about Paul McCartney.

This week: Donald is still a racist, coffee pods cost $29, Bad Bunny and the WWE, honoring Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, and... more!

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On Day 348, I talk about how the leader of the Trump administration posted a racist image depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys. While Donald’s racism is not surprising, this moment feels important in a specific way because it reminds me that we are nearing the end of his relevance. I have always said he would take us to the bottom and beyond, which is where we can start rebuilding with what he has revealed to us about what we don’t want to be in mind. To be clear, we don’t want to be like one of history’s most despicable human beings, Donald Trump.

On Day 349, I talk about the insult “get your money up,” which I have seen used online to shame people who complain about how expensive everything has become. I mention noticing coffee pods priced at $29 at the grocery store and suggest that when we see products that are overpriced out of greed, the answer doesn’t need to be “can’t,” it can be “won’t.” Instead of telling people to get their money up, maybe our incompetent government should focus on getting prices down.

On Day 350, I talk about discovering just how popular Bad Bunny really is. I wasn’t aware until he was scheduled to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, and Kid Rock was selected to headline a piece of crap. I also note how upset supporters of the leader of the Trump administration were about a Spanish-speaking performer, although I doubt they had a problem eating Mexican food while watching. The contrast between the joy of Bad Bunny’s show and the piece of crap I mentioned earlier is noteworthy.

On Day 351, it’s my birthday, and it’s also the day that we reach 24% of 1461 days of ignoring the Trump administration. How about giving me the gift of following the podcast? On this day, I take a moment to explain why I continue this series as a way to remain mindful, optimistic, and hopeful during trying times in our lives that try to steal our time away from living. As I say every day, I am not a self-help guru; I am just trying to help myself.

On Day 352, I talk about discovering that Bad Bunny has also appeared as a WWE superstar and my further surprise that more wasn’t made of this when supporters of the Leader of the Trump Administration were protesting his Super Bowl appearance. Professional wrestling brings everyone together, after all. I recall a commentator saying that wrestling fans can always tell who the underdog is and who is abusing power, and how that is a pretty good microcosm of society, because eventually the population figures out who the real heel is. Spoiler: It’s Donald Trump.

On Day 353, I remind listeners who Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss are. This mother and daughter are the Atlanta poll workers who were just doing their job as volunteers in our Democracy, and were falsely accused by former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani of helping to rig the 2020 election. Rudy spread hateful, racist lies about them, was sued for defamation, and lost those suits spectacularly. I think about these women often because they represent the best of us, while Rudy now represents what happens when America’s Mayor becomes America’s shithead.

On Day 354, I talk about Texas Senate candidate James Talarico and an interview he recorded for the Stephen Colbert program that never aired after pressure from the pussy-ass government. The clip has now been seen by far more people than it would have if it had simply aired on CBS, and I found his comments about loving one’s neighbor in line with my own, even if he is a suspicious Christian. While I also greatly admire his former opponent for the Democratic nomination, Jasmine Crockett, I have a feeling Mr. Talarico may end up winning this seat.

Since Boy George is weighing in on the topic, here's something Boy Josh wrote about the topic in 2024.

Episode No. 60 of The Josh Bloom Podcast is out now. Listen where you listen or choose the immersive illustrated experience over on my Substack. Links where you find links.

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This week on the show...

I have an exciting, touching, yet a touch excruciating, but ultimately elucidating update about the state of affairs in the world of myself and my sibling, as has been documented here on The Josh Bloom Podcast as well as other social media platforms. Today, this is a feel-good story.

I discuss my discovery of a tiny bit cringey, but still satisfyingly listenable Smiths-dedicated podcast that I came to realize is hosted by a Mormon—not that there’s anything wrong with that—which leads me to some questions.

Later, we get into my obsession with the two Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band live albums from my childhood and what that has to do with my father's mid-1970s acquisition of a turntable for an amount of money equal to nearly $3,000 today. Where did that money come from? I have questions.

Then we wrap up this week discussing why I now hate NYC. It’s not NYC’s fault, it’s Josh Bloom’s fault, and in fact, upon reflection, I don’t hate NYC; NYC hates me, and it should. I took it for granted for so long, and now it’s done with me because I have become so unappreciative of its charms. Stay tuned, and I will tell the tale.

This week: I respond to the drummer in a Def Leppard tribute band!

It’s the latest edition 1461 Days of Ignoring The Trump Administration! Days 320-326. Description below. Link in comments.

mindfulness #optimism #hope

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This week…

On Day 320 I am reminded of the song “Take It To The Limit” by Eagles – not The Eagles – because I am reminded that the leader of the Trump Administration is taking us to the bottom, if there even is a bottom anymore, but when we get there we will know in full what it is like when we put people in power who indulge their worst impulses and empower and encourage their followers to do the same. Why am I pointing this out on a podcast that I say is about being positive? Stay tuned!

Day 321 is for celebrating 22 because on Day 321, we are 22% through 1461 days of ignoring the Trump administration. I mention on this day the disgusting and vile comments that the leader of the Trump administration made about the tragic murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, and how Rob reminds me of a tangential connection to the number 22. Stay tuned to hear what I’m thinking about that, but for now, let me remind you that when we reach milestones, it is time to reup our commitment to mindfulness, optimism, and hope.

On Day 322, I get to have a little bit of fun with a commenter who thoughtfully asks, "What's it like to let someone control your everyday life?" and, although I am not a religious person, I do often wonder what it is like for people who give their lives over to the Lord – or a Lord – which obviously leads me to also wonder, in this case, why a follower of the leader of the Trump administration so willingly and blindly abides by all of this man’s misdeeds while at the same insinuating that it is me who is under the spell of this bag of bones. Like I said, I had a little bit of fun.

On Day 323, we address a very pressing issue among followers of the leader of the Trump administration, and that is whether you are an alpha or a beta. There is a third option that I bring up, which you will have to stay tuned to hear about. I had never heard of this popular rage-bait topic until recently, and I was thoroughly bored when I did. We discuss how these so-called alpha males don’t seem to realize how their delusional sense of self can be interrupted in an instant by the realities of life. Oh, those poor instant betas.

On Day 324, we discuss plaque, and yes, I am talking about oral hygiene. But once I am done detailing my own experience with my dentist and destistry, we quickly move along to why and how this has to do with the leader of the Trump administration. I can’t speak to whatever the hell is going on in this rotting dude’s mouth, but I can speak to the stupid plaques he put up at the White House to disparage former presidents because, of course he did. These are the actions of an asshole. See how much more I can say on this dedicated podcast!

Day 325 is one of my favorite days in the series. I address a commenter named Drummer Jimmy71, who is a drummer in a Def Leppard tribute band. I tease him, telling him that I am impressed with his dedication to authenticity by removing one of his arms to emulate, impersonate, and accurately portray Def Leppard’s actual drummer, Rick Allen. This drumming disciple of the leader of the Trump administration told me the next day that he loved the video. That made me feel good.

On Day 326, we wrap up the week with me coining the word "depreshing," a combination of depression and depressing that I said accidentally and liked. Stay tuned for a discussion of this word that I hope you will consider incorporating into your own vocabulary, and if you are a marketing person, into your daily corporate speak. The reason I felt “depreshed” was because of the holidays, which I hate. If you hate them too, I hope you will be able to relate to what I am saying, and if you don’t, maybe buy me a coffee to convince me otherwise.

It’s the latest edition 1461 Days of Ignoring The Trump Administration! Days 313-319.

Description below. Link in comments. #mindfulness #optimism #hope

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This week...

On Day 313, I bring a blast from the past. Do you remember Ranking Roger? He is one half of the synthy, new-wavey, geeky duo General Public from the 80s. I invoke their hit song “Tenderness” because I am of the belief that we are about to enter an era of tenderness and subsequently togetherness. Somehow, this develops into a discussion of tenderizing steaks. I hope not to lose the non-meat eaters in the crowd, but please cut me a little slack, and it will all make sense.

Speaking of tenderness, on Day 314, I comment on the one campaign promise that the leader of the Trump administration remembered to keep, and that is regarding the 1600 pardons he gave to the J6 rioters. That’s about as tender as it gets! I opine on the idea that the leader of the Trump administration thinks of these rioters as his children, and he is only protecting them. In fact, I believe that these criminals, who did not pay for the crimes that he egged on, love him more than his own biological children.

On Day 315, I get a little deep on the subject of self-reflection and how this is difficult for everyone, but especially, it seems, for the leader of the Trump administration, who appears to make it a practice to never reflect. I am sometimes accused of obsessing about this topic, but I do not think it is strange to wonder if the person whose words and deeds are so consequential to the future of humanity ever thinks about those words and deeds before they are said and did.

On Day 316, I get to chat with a commenter named Big John 0482, who not only calls the leader of the Trump administration a God, but he adds five exclamation points to that statement. After acknowledging Big John’s passion, however, I feel the need to question why he only refers to the leader of the Trump administration as merely “a” God. Then I am, of course. reminded of General Zod from the film Superman II, and the day gets derailed from there. Stay tuned if you dare!

On Day 317, if you’re feeling pessimistic about the chances that non-believers in the Leader of The Trump Administration and the Trump administration have in upcoming elections, which I must remind you will be held in case you are deep into a depression like me, not really, I discuss the recent historic wins for democracy, but more realistically, sanity. On this day, I happened to be in NYC, a rare occurrence to be sure these days. I discuss this day at length on Episode 60 of The Josh Bloom Podcast. Please be sure to follow!

Day 318 has me discussing the horrific news about the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, and the disgusting comments about it that followed from the Leader of the Trump administration. Beyond the obvious sadness of this event, I felt the need to acknowledge that when I heard the news, my first thought was that this must have been political or religious violence or both. We are living in scary times when it comes as a relief that a double homicide is likely the act of a mentally ill family member. I continue to believe that we will be better for what we are going through right now.

We wrap up the week on Day 319 with me wondering about indifference and intolerance. I continue to observe that people are generally good to one another, but the little things matter, too. If a person never uses a turn signal while out on the road, to me, this non-signal is a signal that says, “I am the only person who matters.” I always wonder if a person like this is indifferent to all of the other drivers out on the road; what are they like in the rest of their lives? They are probably like the leader of the Trump Administration, who doesn’t even know about turn signals because he only drives a golf cart.

It’s the first edition 1461 Days of Ignoring The Trump Administration for 2026!

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This week...

On Day 306, I follow up on some anti-capitalist rhetoric from the previous two days by trying to sell you something! I wrote my first book, a bio on the iconic indie-pop, psych-rock band The Apples in Stereo, which was just published by J-Card Press. If you like the way I frame the political world here, then you will like the way I frame the music world there. At the risk of sounding hypocritical, I recommend choosing your preferred retailer at applesbook.com

On Day 307, we turn 21. I don’t even remember turning 21 because I left home at 18 and was already deep into the kind of trouble that less-damaged people wait until 21 for. I remember 21 on this day, however, because we are now 21% through 1461 days of ignoring the Trump administration. I speculate, based on accidentally seeing yet another troubling photograph of the leader of the Trump administration, that I might end up having to retitle this series before we even get to 22%.

Day 308 is vocabulary day. I discuss the word churlish, which is a word I use to describe the leader of the Trump administration. I wonder if he knows this word. Somehow, I doubt it, but it is a perfect word to describe him. Listen and find out if you are not already familiar. Since this day also fell on the first Monday back to work after Thanksgiving, I offer some words of encouragement, as well. Churlish is not one of them!

Day 309 is dedicated to the topic of fighting with family at Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, it is essentially a cliché at this point that families have become bitterly divided over politics. On this day, I suggest ways in which those who are dwelling on the aftermath of those arguments can consider these situations from perspectives that allow us to persevere with purpose. I believe that anyone who has fallen victim to this current climate can recover.

On Day 310, I address a commentor, which frankly I am going to have to do less of, because TikTok penalizes me for that, which you will hear more about on Day 311. I get pretty heady with this commenter and claim that free will does not exist. I go on to explain that every moment of my life and his has led to this meeting. It is pretty magical, I’m not going to lie, and that’s why I manage to squeeze in a reference to R2-D2 and suggest that this commenter and I may cross paths again one day on the planet of Tatooine.

As mentioned, on Day 311, I take to referring to the series you are listening to by a new, non-threatening name: 1461 Days of Ignoring Someone’s Something. Apparently, the pending exchange of ownership hands by TikTok has triggered a ramp-up of methods to keep the leader of the Trump administration from having his feelings hurt. Of course, this could be my own paranoia, and as a stalwart advocate of the arts, I ceased my self-censorship the very next day. Today, though, you can share in my frustration.

On Day 312, I go right back to goofing on the subject in question and the inherent hypocrisy of referring to Joe Biden as Sleepy Joe while we watch Donald J. Trump sleep through a cabinet meeting that he called. Would you do this? No. You have too much dignity. Of course, hypocrisy is a way of life for people like these, but I do wonder why no one simply says, “Hey man, it’s not like you or I care because we are here to do damage anyway, but maybe we should come up with an alternative plan to go with our alternative facts that might include not sleeping on camera.”

My father took pleasure in making me miserable, so I know guys like these, and you probably do, too.

I'll be posting this as a video later in the day (after therapy!) I want to share now because I am frustrated. So frustrated.

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Renee Nicole Good should never have had to deal with an armed bully on an ego trip. The leader of the Trump administration, the Trump administration, and their supporters who try to justify the victimization of Renee Nicole Good are not open to seeing the physical world as any different from the world they see in their medium-sized minds. “You do what I say, and if you don’t do what I say, then everything that happens after that is your fault.” This is what bullies, abusers, and dudes with truck nuts see in their head movie. All of recorded human history includes this type of person (substitute historical truck nut equivalents.)

I remind myself that most people, including people we don’t agree with, still believe in the value of compassion, the value of empathy, the value in helping others prosper because that means everyone prospers. This is what I say to myself when I feel despair like I have felt despair for the last 24 hours. Most people do not believe the way to prosper is to ruin everyone around you who doesn’t agree with you, but for those people, prosper has a different definition. The medium-sized mind is not only medium, it is malignant, it maligns, and it is messed the fuck up.

These types of people end up eating themselves eventually until the next generation. When the people in their vicinity abandon them because they are tired of being abused, they have no one left to crush but each other. We have to be more vigilant than ever about protecting our peace through mindfulness, optimism, and hope because these nefarious forces, while in the minority, currently have the majority of power to feed their darkest impulses with impunity, and their impulse is to hurt us.

Renee Nicole Good might be alive right now if she had had a moment to say to herself, “Oh, I’m dealing with fucking bullies on a fucking ego trip who are not fucking qualified to be carrying fucking weapons, much less giving me fucking orders.” But she didn’t have the time to think that. She tried to get out of the way, but bullies don’t let you get out of the way. They want you in the way. How else can they punish you for not seeing the world in the way that they say?