Kevin Durant soured many a backyard barbecue and fireworks display with his Fourth-of-July morning announcement in The Players’ Tribune. Thunder fans everywhere wrestled with feelings of shock, grief and betrayal as Durant took his talents to the Bay and, with them, OKC’s best title chances.
In a matter of days, though, the petty problems of the sports world were put in perspective for Thunder fans and every American. Injustice in Louisiana and Minnesota was answered with brutality in the streets of Dallas.
This week’s filter covers yet another tumultuous week in the country whose birthday was sadder than usual — for Oklahomans and everyone else.
Things we saw (and heard)
The George W. Bush email scandal the media has conveniently forgotten — Salon
How U.S. politicians are responding to the shooting in Dallas — The Atlantic
Op-ed: Death in black and white — New York Times
Donald Trump praises Saddam Hussein’s approach to terrorism — again — NBC News
‘Extremely careless,’ but FBI advises no charges for Clinton’s emails — USA Today
U.S. economy adds 287,000 jobs in June, exceeding expectations — NPR
Why Kevin Durant signed with the Warriors — Slate
Kevin Durant’s exit hurts an Oklahoma mourning much more than basketball — The Guardian
Quotes to note
“I try not to get political but if I am, I might as well just run myself ’cause I’ve got the hair for it, it’s huge, and they could always use more boobs in the race.”
— Country-music legend Dolly Parton in a Facebook post explaining she has not endorsed any presidential candidates, 7/5/16
“Dewey Bartlett Jr. managed to alienate every city councilor that ever worked with him.”
— Conservative blogger Michael Bates on why incumbent Tulsa mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr. lost his reelection bid to G.T. Bynum, 7/3/16
“i will be with you, whatever.”
— Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a July 2002 memo to President George W. Bush, released with the sweeping Chilcot report on the Iraq War, 7/6/16
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