If I hit you in the face, and then said that I wasn't going to hit you in the face anymore (but I might), would you then praise me and rejoice at how we had reached a peaceful resolution, and then sit back and admiringly watch the stock market rise?

"What does it mean to have independent documentaries and films alongside far-right conspiracy videos, A.I.-generated Iranian Lego propaganda, and more ASMR slime videos than you could have ever imagined existed?"
open.substack.com/pub/anthonyk...

More at documentary.org/online-featu...

Can YouTube Save Independent Documentaries? As federal defunding dismantles public media, PBS’s independent partners are betting on YouTube’s reach—though some filmmakers aren’t convinced the platform serves them

As federal defunding dismantles public media, PBS’s independent partners are betting on YouTube’s reach—though some filmmakers aren’t convinced the platform serves them. Read more at #DocumentaryMag. By @antkaufman.bsky.social.

"As federal defunding dismantles public media, PBS’s independent partners are betting on YouTube’s reach—though some filmmakers aren’t convinced the platform serves them."
documentary.org/online-featu...

Orbán concedes election to Tisza’s Magyar
That’s it.

Orbán concedes election to Tisza’s Magyar
That’s it.

Trump's "cease fire" proposals for Iran sound a lot like Russia's offers to Ukraine.

A US government official has told Al Jazeera that the second crew member from the downed F-15E has been recovered after a “heavy firefight”.

My Desirable Friends: At CPH:DOX 2026, Industry Hopes for a “European Netflix” and More Coproductions At CPH:DOX 2026, the creative doc industry bands together for a “European Netflix” and more coproductions

At CPH:DOX 2026, the creative doc industry bands together for a “European Netflix” and more coproductions. Read more at #DocumentaryMag. By @antkaufman.bsky.social.

documentary.org/online-featu...

File under "Not going as initially planned"

Dogs say #NoKings

Google Has a Secret Reference Desk. Here's How to Use It. 40 Google features to find exactly what you need, the alternative search engines that do things Google won't, and the reference desk framework underneath all of it.

I know this has circulated with alacrity recently, so you may have already seen it, but if you haven't... WOW BOY HOWDY it's the most useful thing.

Thank you cardcatalogforlife.substack.com -- this is a very very very helpful public service:

cardcatalogforlife.substack.com/p/google-has...

Maybe we should all move to Europe to make documentaries?
open.substack.com/pub/anthonyk...

This is amazing, if it wasn't so upsetting that these people are currently running our government.

Anthony asks some very tough questions about the notion of cinema as an empathy machine which I think are worth pondering given the times we live in.

Another War, Another Movie But where will the films come from, and even if they do, is the "empathy machine" broken?

For many, the U.S.’s attack on Iran is in long shot.... But when the close-ups arrive of suffering and pain, will it make any difference?
open.substack.com/pub/anthonyk...

Another War, Another Movie But where will the films come from, and even if they do, is the "empathy machine" broken?

I am starting to wonder whether the “empathy machine” of movies is broken.
open.substack.com/pub/anthonyk...

anthonykaufman.substack.com/p/another-wa...

Thank you @antkaufman.bsky.social.

Share this article and you have enough time to share your stories if you were impacted by an industry crushing merger.

What Isn't Being Said about the Paramount-WBD Merger "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people." - V for Vendetta (Warner Bros, 2005)

The deal isn't done yet! You can make a difference...
open.substack.com/pub/anthonyk...

There’s one thing the media isn’t telling you about the proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery: What you can do to stop it.
open.substack.com/pub/anthonyk...

Don't be naive: Approval of the war will skyrocket among the MAGA faithful.

Blockthemerger.com

In Dissent, 3 Justices Warn Tariff Decision May Unleash Chaos, at Least in Short-Term

So basically they're saying what the Trump Administration did was unlawful, but because it would be "messy" and they could impose tariffs in other ways, we are just going to side with authoritarianism.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/u...

This is why we need the videos.
www.newsweek.com/ice-agent-fa...

More at anthonykaufman.substack.com

Over 5.3 million views in one day is more than double the standard viewing on the network.

ICE officials knew use of force was rising well before Minneapolis shootings Internal agency emails show a surge in reports of ICE officers using more force going back nearly a year, but DHS leadership did not see it as a concern to be addressed.

No, duh.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

Great article—one of those articles where you make one point and I’m like, yep, then next graf you make another point and I’m like, agree, and on and on and I’m like, yep 💯

I share the meh about IRON LUNG but also the awe. Likewise SECRET MALL APT. which I saw in April 2025.