logo
If I could interview Donald Trump, this is what I'd ask him

If I could interview Donald Trump, this is what I'd ask him

The Age7 days ago

This story is part of the June 1 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories.
Writer Molly Jong-Fast is best known for being a commentator on US politics. She is also the daughter of Erica Jong, the author of the 1970s feminist tome Fear of Flying. Here, the 46-year-old discusses the important men in her life, including her grandfather, Howard Fast, who wrote Spartacus.
My paternal grandfather, Howard Fast, wrote Spartacus as well as 80 other published books. One of my favourite things about him was that he was smart and disciplined. He would wake up at 5am and you'd hear the typewriter going. He was very much a product of the Charles Dickens' paid-by-the-word kind of writing.
He went to prison for three months in 1950 for his communist beliefs. In his memoir, he said everything that was bad about him – like cheating on my grandmother, Bette, a sculptor, with whom I was very close – was not in his FBI file.
My father Jonathan, a writer and later a social-work professor, and my mother Erica Jong [author of Fear of Flying ], were introduced by my grandfather. They moved from California to Connecticut, where I was born. When I was three, they had a bad divorce. My mother moved out and left me with the nanny. After that, I'd see Dad every other weekend. Then, a year later, I went to live with Mom in New York.
I am like my father as we both have red hair. We both get motion sickness and both have big feet.
I was a bad teenager and very entitled. Drugs, drinking and blacking out were my focus at high school in the Bronx. I got along with boys OK. I wasn't uncomfortable, but I wasn't super comfortable either.
My first celebrity crush was Jay McInerney. I was in that generation that thought he and the literary brat-pack that also included Bret Easton Ellis were the coolest.
Mom married four times and had numerous fiancés. She looked for someone to save her, and to get her out of her own head. I kept meeting these men and thinking they were going to be my father and then they were not. I liked some of them better than the ones she ended up with.
I am the daughter and granddaughter of alcoholics. But I am so different to my mom because I got sober when I was 19, and so I didn't ever have to be, or didn't want to be, her.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Joe Rogan left shocked as he reacts to Elon Musk and Donald Trump feud during live podcast recording while guest FBI director Kash Patel refuses to weigh in
Joe Rogan left shocked as he reacts to Elon Musk and Donald Trump feud during live podcast recording while guest FBI director Kash Patel refuses to weigh in

Sky News AU

time9 hours ago

  • Sky News AU

Joe Rogan left shocked as he reacts to Elon Musk and Donald Trump feud during live podcast recording while guest FBI director Kash Patel refuses to weigh in

Joe Rogan's live reaction to the outrageous feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump has been captured in the latest episode of his mega-popular podcast. The disagreement between the pair, who appeared to have a strong relationship in the early months of Trump's second term as President, started after Musk lashed out at the President's signature "big beautiful bill" which would unleash trillions in tax cuts and slash spending but also add to the USD$36 trillion debt. Musk's attack on the bill came after he finished his tenure with the administration overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency. The disagreement over the bill led the pair to trade barbs with one another through social media and at the leader of the free world's press conferences. President Trump on Thursday said he was "disappointed" in Musk who had earlier described the bill as a "disgusting abomination", before the Tesla founder accused the commander-in-chief of being in files relating to dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In episode 2334 of the Joe Rogan Experience, which dropped on Friday, US time, the podcast host who was unaware of the unfolding drama at the time, had it brought to his attention about three-quarters through his discussion with FBI director Kash Patel. Rogan's producer Jamie noticed the tweets, and brought them up screen for the host who was left shocked by how rapidly the bitter feud had developed. "Jesus Christ", Rogan said in response to Musk claiming Trump's name was in the Epstein files. "Someone should take (Musk's) phone away. That's a crazy thing to say. How does he know? Does he know that Donald Trump is in the Epstein files or does he have access to the Epstein files?" Mr Patel refused to take part in speculating about the claims or weighing into the argument adding: "I'm not participating in that conversation". "I don't know how he would (have access to the Epstein files) but I'm just staying out of the Trump/Elon thing, that's way outside my lane. I know my lane and that ain't it," he said. Rogan continued in disbelief, responding: "what the f**k are they doing?" "I mean I understand (Musk) owns Twitter (but) I think it's bad for your mental things public all day and arguing with people all day is bad for you." Mr Patel pivoted away, as he directed the conversation back to the FBI. Asked about the feud on a phone call with CNN, President Trump kept his response short. 'I'm not even thinking about Elon," he said on Friday (local time). "He's got a problem. The poor guy's got a problem." CNN host Dana Bash then asked the President if he had spoken to Musk. 'No. I won't be speaking to him for a while I guess, but I wish him well," he said.

Tommy Lee and wife Brittany Furlan get closer after catfishing scandal
Tommy Lee and wife Brittany Furlan get closer after catfishing scandal

Perth Now

timea day ago

  • Perth Now

Tommy Lee and wife Brittany Furlan get closer after catfishing scandal

Brittany Furlan's catfishing scandal has brought her and Tommy Lee back together. The 38-year-old actress revealed last month she had moved out of their marital home and into a hotel after confessing to having been catfished - where someone poses as someone else online - on Snapchat by an unidentified user pretending to be Falling In Reverse frontman Ronnie Radke. However, she's admitted the temporary separation made her and the 62-year-old rocker realise how much they mean to one another. Speaking on her and Brittany Schmitt's This Is The Worst podcast, she said: 'All of this happening has weirdly brought us together, which is really strange. 'I think we really faced like, 'Oh, what would life really be like without each other?'' However, Brittany admitted there is still a lot of "healing" to be done within their six-year marriage. She said: 'We've been through this situation similarly before, and it's hard, and all I can say is that relationships are complicated and everyone has their s*** and we're not immune to that just because we're in the public eye." The Airplane Mode actress had ended up being catfished because she felt "so lonely" within her marriage to Tommy. She admitted: 'I was so lonely. I was messaging Chat GPT for affection. I'm like, 'It talks to you lovingly and it says nice things to you and it's sweet to you and if it could kiss me I would let it.'' And so when the person posing as Ronnie began messaging her, she felt "better" than when chatting to AI and their friendly conversation began to turn more intimate. The Drugstore June actress previously admitted the catfishing scandal had been "embarrassing" for her and Tommy. She said on TikTok: "This is embarrassing for me, embarrassing for my husband. "This whole f***ing thing is embarrassing. I've been struggling with s*** at home [and] I'm in a f***ing hotel. Like, leave us f***ing alone, bro. … I'm done. Anyone can think what they will. All good." Meanwhile, Ronnie had claimed the FBI were investigating who had been posing as him because 'multiple other girls' besides Brittany had been 'tricked and duped' by the mystery person. He told TMZ: 'The FBI is now involved. It's a felony. It's a crime. It's pretty serious, I guess."

Pâté twice in a day: What a dietitian thinks of this food regime
Pâté twice in a day: What a dietitian thinks of this food regime

The Age

time7 days ago

  • The Age

Pâté twice in a day: What a dietitian thinks of this food regime

This story is part of the June 1 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories. Gideon Obarzanek is a choreographer and director. The 58-year-old shares his day on a plate. 7am Tea with milk in bed looking out the window and checking overnight news and emails. 8am Breakfast is a double espresso with oat milk. Homemade muesli with Greek yoghurt, oat milk, freshly cut yellow grapefruit and persimmon. 1pm Lunch is liverwurst with dill pickles on two pieces of seeded sourdough toast. Tea with milk and one homemade Anzac biscuit. 5.30pm One non-alcoholic beer, one glass of white wine, cheese, pate, pickled fennel and crackers. 7pm Dinner tonight is roast lamb shoulder, roast potatoes and carrots. Plus a Greek salad and two glasses of red wine. 10pm Before heading to bed I have a non-caffeine herbal tea and a piece of homemade pear and ginger cake. Dr Joanna McMillan says

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store