What readers think of Trump coverage

A side-by-side comparison

Regarding “Trump Show Moves to New Stage” [Jan. 13]. The Times does it yet again: clearly exposing its political bias in this article. Comparing Obama’s last speech with Trump’s first one is likening a person at their retirement with someone on their first day on the job. Give him a chance.

Diane Jensen Bettge

Alta Loma

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Thank you very much for coalescing all that information and telling it truthfully. I feel that this type of article should have been published much, much earlier.

Ronald Steen

Pasadena

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The reality show should include the premise that most reporters despise Trump as much as he despises them. I believe you do too.

Terry Williams

Valencia

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This was a beautifully executed analysis. This is all so difficult for people like me who lived in D.C., supported JFK and trudged miles through very heavy snow to volunteer at the Mayflower Hotel inaugural ball. We had hope, joy and a president who was surrounded by intelligent, respected advisors. The dynamic and the dreams of all of us who were young were never destroyed like today.

Arthur Auerbach

Newport Beach

Now that’s entertainment

Regarding “All You Need Is Dance” [Jan. 17]. I would like to point out that “La La Land,” which so many people liked (including me, very very much), did not have any blood, gore, violence, cruelty or all the other horrible elements that so many Hollywood movies have. Shouldn’t this be a message to movie makers about what people like?

Margot Rosenberg

Laguna Beach

Just for the audio nerds out there

Regarding “Cranked to 11” [Jan. 15]. Wow, a Fairchild compressor as the cover to Sunday’s Arts & Books! There are a few of us nerds who are very impressed. (Want to know what one does? In simplest terms, in the right hands it can make a good performance sound like a great one. Balance and texture — check out Buffalo Springfield’s “Bluebird” as an early, vivid example.) Nice article too about Village (Recorders) Studios, including the Christine McVie/Lindsey Buckingham LP. Can’t wait! Maybe next time, you can do a cover shot of a Leslie speaker.

Paul Gase

Huntington Beach

Trump and the movies

Kenneth Turan’s comparison of the James Stewart role in “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” to Donald Trump [“Hollywood Values: The Movies Go to Washington,” Jan. 8] is not even close. In fact, Sen. Smith and Mr. Trump are pretty much on the opposite end of the political scale in style, substance and ethics on virtually every count.

For example, Sen. Jefferson Smith has a wholesome image, one step out of poverty, emerging on the political stage from the nonprofit Boy Rangers while Trump emerges onto the political scene from the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

The political opponents of Sen. Smith try to derail and suppress him with a form of 1930s-style “fake news” that distorts facts regarding his record. Doesn’t this sound like the fake news employed by Breitbart and spoon-fed to Trump during the campaign?

If Mr. Turan wants to reference a film that correctly depicts Mr. Trump, he only needs to draw upon another Jimmy Stewart/Frank Capra classic: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” where the character most like Trump is Mr. Potter.

James E. Abbott

Lake Elsinore

Oscars, learn from the Globes

Regarding “An Oscars Ballot, My Way” [Jan. 13]. I understand that many movie critics like Justin Chang believe that the Oscars should be devoted to serious subjects, but his list of nominations goes a long way to showing why the Golden Globes is a better way to honor film than the Academy Awards. The Golden Globes allows film in dramatic and non-dramatic categories to compete within their respective groupings and, more important, be honored for what they were intended.

Ron Garber

Duarte

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Kudos to The Times for publishing the fine work of Justin Chang. In a time when most movie critics are little more than consumer reporters, Mr. Chang’s writing reflects a deep savvy of what makes cinema an art form. More, please!

Michael Jenning

Van Nuys

Building on some good ideas

Regarding “The Link Between Power and Place” [Jan. 15]. I am delighted and excited about architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne’s new weekly column. His user-friendly writing style is inviting, thought-provoking and engaging. For years, I’ve made it a point to read every one of his columns. I look forward to having my eyes opened, my mind stimulated and my perspective broadened.

Marta Vago

Santa Monica

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Giving Christopher Hawthorne a weekly platform rightfully acknowledges the wealth of design talent in Los Angeles. My hope is that The Times — by committing to an ongoing discussion on architects’ influence in our city — carries this recognition to other parts of its coverage of building openings and home sales. This is an excellent beginning.

Julie D. Taylor

West Hollywood

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Only six days until Mr. Trump becomes president and the liberal media is getting desperate. Even an architecture review of a hotel becomes an anti-Trump article. What a laugh!

Donna Doyle

Palm Springs

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