A semi-regular assessment of Judy's sartorial choices
I guess Judy is getting wear out of all of her older summer clothes. This is fine but nothing to write home, or you, gentle reader, about.
No surprises that I saw on the show. Thanks to my doom-scrolling, I knew already that Basement Joe was going to accept the nomination from… you guessed it: his basement.
Sort of a predictable bit on Kansas and south-central Ohio politics was livened somewhat by the appearance of Sarah Smarsh:
I mean Sarah SmarshMALLOW if you know what I’m sayin’! Still, even her background was blah.
I contrast that with the shameless product placement of William Perry, the second fellow on Judy’s show tonight to flog his book:
Bit of a slow night but always glad to check in with you!
Why, Judy’s got a new shirt and it looks like she’s crowing about it. I like the button down but I don’t think the earrings work with it. She’s not used to casual cotton.
The windowpane design puts this blogger in mind of a Rothko painting:
The most fascinating part of tonight’s show was her faceoff with Nancy Pelosi. At first I thought Judy would feel underdressed when going toe-to-toe with Coral Nancy:
Why, after all these posts, would I underestimate Judy? Nancy thought she was in for — no, that she deserved — a soft interview.
Ha!
This blogger must admit she’s a Nancy fan, but when Nancy came out, guns ablazin’, Judy was more than equal to the task. Nancy went almost as far as to accuse Judy of being a shill for Grandma Mitch, but Judy was being a real reporter and she held her ground. Did you see the set of Judy’s mouth by the end of the interview? Let me see if I can find a shot:
Mr. Judy knows that look. Young Sally and Mikey Judy know that look; the thin, pressed-together lips, the head slightly tipped back so she can belch fire and not singe her Rothko shirt. The Judy Family would have warned Nancy to stop, to turn back, but Nancy pressed on, heedless of the consequences, blind to the warning face Judy was projecting. Woe to Nancy.
Still, Trump told us last night that the coronavirus is “under control as much as you con control it.” I feel so reassured, I’m heading to the OC! Boardwalk!
.. And I’m taking last night’s Tam Keith with me! I love her, but this is more suited for a trip to the beach than the sober NewsHour:
I am willing to stipulate to her adorable-ness. But you, gentle reader, must admit this does not fly.
I hope you gentle readers believe in “better late than never,” as I am just getting around to blogging on last Friday’s show, and that was in July! I spent large swaths of last weekend watching live sports: baseball and golf are back!
Come to think of it, I am not certain those qualify as “live.”
Nothing much to say about this look as we’ve seen it before. I am in no rush for fall but one thing to look forward to, for the non-pumpkin-spice-latte crowd, is a change in Judy’s wardrobe.
14 million American households with children are food-deprived, but that didn’t keep Congress for leaving for the Delaware shore en masse without a deal to extend benefits on Friday. Shameful is what that is.
Interesting takes from Shields and Brooks on the VP selection. They didn’t ask what’s taking Basement Joe so long to come out with it. I mean what the heck else is he doing? Brooks felt the pick wouldn’t matter much, but we are starved for non-COVID news so I side with Shields, who said Joe needs to pick someone who can “throw a punch and take a punch,” because, he added, “it’s going to be a lousy, mean-spirited election.” These tough words from the kindest possible face:
If you watch Judy’s face and head-tilt during the Shields and Brooks segments on Fridays, I think you will agree with this blogger that the segment is the best part of her week. Sadly, I could not capture that on film this week, but I will continue to try.
More to come!
We’ve seen this look before, but that’s ok because….
Obama’s back!
The former Prez used John Lewis’ eulogy to appropriately call out this administration for working so hard in so many ways to suppress the vote.
Let’s be honest though. This blogger was even happy to see Dubya eulogizing (kind of) John Lewis. Seriously, how could I miss this punk-a$% face? You just want to slap him:
Trump, that’s how!
Really nice coverage of the funeral remarks. Nancy P. choked up — and so did Judy. Of course this faux-hardened blogger shed actual tears.
In other news, nice story about sports and COVID, featuring a syndicated columnist new to this blogger, and whose name I admit I did not note. This is no good. How dare I write about someone whose name I did not record and whose outfit is mediocre at best? Press on I shall. It was a thoughtful piece comparing the professional sports leagues’ reactions to COVID. He agreed with Amna that the MIAMI Marlins did not get it right, allowing their players to go COVID clubbing, but he noted that although the NBA seems to be doing a laudable job of keeping its players safe inside the Disney bubble, just outside it, 253 Floridians died of COVID yesterday alone. They also covered the fact that the WNBA has dedicated its season to Breonna Taylor and its players walked off the court when the National Anthem was played. Anyway, its a good bit and I hope you see it or saw it.
Even everyone’s favorite grandmother, Mitch McConnell, pooh-poohed Trump’s tweet about postponing the election. You go, Grandma!
New look alert! New look alert!
And it’s a good one! Judy seems to have realized that her hair is slightly to the orange these days – all good because she is likely trying to stay out of hair salons – so she found a top with vertical stripes to match! Love it. Love the diagonal stripes. The earrings are delicate: a pearl on top with lacy gold drops. She upped her game for us today. Thanks, Judy!
Also looking dandy was Fed-head Jerome Powell:
Love the silver hair, love the purple tie (did he borrow that from John Yang?) and the glasses. The low-low interest rates don’t hurt his appeal, either. Plus which he said that COVID safety, like mask-wearing, goes hand-in-hand with a stronger economy.
And for the trifecta, I present Claudia Rankine, author of “Citizen” (Mr. Blogger has this book, but I confess I have not read it):
It all works: the scarf, the hair the clean lines of the cases in the background, a little red on the lips… Nice going!
And now – get it while it lasts – the home opener of the Baltimore Orioles!
Judy never claimed to be a sports fan, ok? Both the Florida NFL team and the Florida MLB team have aquatic animals as mascots. As reader John noted, while Judy did refer to the baseball team as the (hapless) Miami Dolphins, she later corrected herself. For all we know, the Dolphins would be better at baseball than at football. Perhaps George Will, politico and noted baseball maniac, called mid-show to correct her?
I like her in the cornflower blue v-neck top and sparkly clip earrings. The color suits even her strawberry hair. I think she got her hair cut last week, by the way.
John Lewis, RIP, was lying in state in the Rotunda. I learned something today — that lying in state is different than lying in repose. Lying in repose is what they did with Antonin Scalia when they put him in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court after he passed to that great hall of snark in the sky.
Google has more than 200,000 employees and contractors, all of whom can work from home until at least July, 2020. This blogger’s employer (I have to earn my keep somehow; I have fended off the likes of Ford and Budweiser from advertising here so far) sez I can WFH until at least December, so that’s something.
Less than 100 days until Election Day. Holy Crap. Let’s keep Joe B. muzzled and mostly out of sight. That’s working so far. He looked presidential laying a hand on Rep. Lewis’s flag-draped coffin today. That’s enough daylight for now. Let’s put Joey B. back in the basement with some Lincoln Logs to play with. He polls well from there.
Did anyone else notice John Yang choking as he introduced Tam? I hope it wasn’t at the bizarre arrangement of tchotchkes hanging on the wall behind her, or worse, her hair or earrings, but I wouldn’t put it past that guy.
We’re baaaaccckkk! Judy and I are back! Actually, Judy returned a week ago, so this is the super-duper wrap-up of all of her outfits for last week, July 20-24! I hope it is worth the wait!
July 20: blue dress with gold piping
Judy’s mouth rarely gapes, but it is in this picture. Sorry, Judy! We’ve seen this outfit before, but it was more than a month ago, sez my annoying preschool intern archivist (I only have her for a few more weeks before kindergarten starts up, virtually of course), on June 19. Judy’s wearing different earrings, so I’m glad she can flex her style rotation.
July 21: blue-on-blue stripes
Her mouth is closed for this but it’s not a flattering shot. Sorry, Judy! I’m beginning to think Judy thought she could get away with summer reruns when I was out of town. She wore this on June 1. Still, I like it. It looks like a dress, paired with drop earrings. Loyal readers know I like Judy in blues nearing the “royal” shade of the spectrum!
July 22: um, what season is this?
This is no way to avoid reruns. Not sure how Judy thought she could slip this by, but Kate, one of my alert readers, sent me an email while I was away decrying Judy’s choice of wool in the swampy heat of a DC July. Why, Judy, why?
July 23: Black Tank
We’ve seen her in black tanks before, and some readers don’t like this look, but I do. I’m not sure we’ve seen this tank before, either. Wait, the baby archivist says she wore it on June 17, but that’s a month ago, so lay off. It looks like it could be thick silk. What if it were leather? That would be amazing.
July 24: sorry no individual picture today
I like this dress. I had seen it back in the old days, but not since I’ve been blogging for you. I really like it. Judy rarely wears anything but solids. I could not tell what flower this was or if it’s a flower at all. I hope readers will weigh in on this look.
After careful observation of David’s backdrop and Mark’s, I have decided that I’d rather be invited to Mark’s home – HINT, HINT — than David’s.
Other than noting that a napping host is not a good host, David’s home is too carefully curated. I wonder if he or the newish bride is behind the books organized by color? I hope I do not offend my gentle readers when I say I am not a fan of this trend. A confession: this blogger’s books are not organized at all. The whole place looks too fussy for me, though it is beautiful.
Now that Mark is out of the closet, so to speak, let’s look at his room:
Darn it, he’s asleep too. He’s 83, so he deserves a nap.
Look at the comfy slipcovered couch, the rocker with a blanket for those chill evenings (do chill evenings exist anymore outside of Maine?), the hoop-backed Windsor chairs around the casual dining table. Even the art over the mantle is calming. I believe I could hang out with Mark for a while there. I’d even housesit. Love the exposed beams, too. Judging from Mark’s closet/office, I don’t think he had a lot to do with this decor, but it works and I like it!
Good to be back in the saddle again, so to speak!
“Judy is away.” Three words that break this blogger’s heart.
Each year, I wait by the phone and the mailbox, thinking THIS time Judy will invite me to her oceanside retreat. Sadly, another year gone by and no invitation. How can I not be in her bubble?
Well, I’m going after her. I will find that vixen. Just kidding, but I am going on vacation until next Friday.
I hope all will be right with the world by then, with Judy in front of her bookshelf, David Brooks in his Willy-Wonka-striped room, and Mark Shields still relegated to his closet.
If they are there, I will be here!
No picture today because “Judy Woodruff is away.” Thanks, Amna. I could see that.
I take two days off and Judy leaves town. Gotta keep an eye on her every minute. Wait, did Amna say Judy was on vacation or “away”? And should we infer causality: the blog stopped ergo Judy walked off the set (which is really her house)?
I saved Friday’s episode and Mark Shields wasn’t back, either.
Either things are falling apart or it’s July in Washington. Maybe both.
Let’s try again tomorrow!
I don’t recall Judy wearing this, and my pre-school intern archivist is in time out, so we will never know whether Judy has worn it before. Nothing flashy here, but solid blue is always a good look for her. I even accept the blue drop earrings, I guess.
In other sartorial news, RIP Brooks Brothers. Yes, its demise was due in part to the shift to casual wear at the office, but after 200 years, the firm also filed for bankruptcy because it couldn’t get out from under – you guessed it – its private equity creditors. The company has a $75 million loan from WHP Global, which gives the lender a senior lien on Brooks Brothers’ assets, according to the Wall Street Journal. Who’s behind WHP Global? Why non other than Oaktree Capital and Blackrock, two of our fave private equity shops.
Trump is pressuring states to open schools and he has threatened to cut federal funding to those that refuse to reopen. The Trump administration also told Tony Fauci not to attend today’s briefing. The head of the National Education Association (pictured below), Lily Eskelsen Garcia, made a fair point about the risks of opening schools when she said, “if there’s an ‘oops’ here, it probably means somebody died.” Something to think about.
I think Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal does a great job every time she’s on the NewsHour. Today, she put the recent SCOTUS decisions on religious freedom into context as the court ruled that employers can refuse to fund birth control for employees on religious or moral grounds. Personally, I find these decisions scary.
Here’s an old photo of Marcia. I chose to use this one because she was having some mascara trouble on live tv today, and who among us hasn’t been there?
Meanwhile, and if you blinked, you missed it, Judy mentioned in the wrap-up that Harper’s magazine published a letter from more than 150 authors, journalists and authors about the chilling effect blind adherence to principles of resistance can have.
It’s worth a link and a long quote:
“But this needed reckoning has also intensified a new set of moral attitudes and political commitments that tend to weaken our norms of open debate and toleration of differences in favor of ideological conformity. As we applaud the first development, we also raise our voices against the second… But resistance must not be allowed to harden into its own brand of dogma or coercion—which right-wing demagogues are already exploiting. The democratic inclusion we want can be achieved only if we speak out against the intolerant climate that has set in on all sides.”
I think it’s a brave letter and encourages us all to think beyond sloganeering (of any kind) and into deeper consideration of the issues.
On a lighter note, was this blogger the only one who noticed that the teleprompter couldn’t keep up with Judy during the news wrap up? It was cracking her up, which I thought was a classier response than hurling her vase white flowers at the camera.
I’m taking two days off, so I hope you will watch Judy and critique Judy’s look for me!
What's Judy Woodruff Wearing? 