Queen Elizabeth II's impact, and how King Charles III might reign

Plus, a beloved actor's comeback brings cheers, but his movie draws criticism [View this email online]( [Best of NPR]( Sept. 11, 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------- Scott’s Weekly Weigh-in [A photograph of the queen amid bouquets of flowers]( Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Monarchies are silly, regressive, antiquated, and expensive. Still, I confess to having a soft spot for Queen Elizabeth. As we see this weekend, she was a reassuring figure in the lives of millions. My Irish-Catholic mother grew up cutting out pictures of Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret, from LIFE Magazine during WWII. And I remember interviewing a nutmeg farmer named Boise Richardson during the invasion of Grenada, whose eyes watered as he told of how a military coup sent tanks into his town. “Who will our dear Queen send to help us?” I recall the speech Elizabeth gave when she came to America to mark the Bicentennial in 1976 (which, after all, marked independence from her family’s rule). “Independence Day should be celebrated as much in Britain as in America,” she told a crowd outside Independence Hall. “We learnt to respect the right of others to govern themselves in their own ways. Without that great act in the cause of liberty, performed in Independence Hall two hundred years ago, we could never have transformed an Empire into a Commonwealth” — which is a voluntary association in a way the empire never was. British historian Simon Schama said this week on Twitter, “The loss of empire often breeds demons — witness the end of Imperial Germany and Putin’s obsession with imperial resurrection: there were terrible things as British empire crumbled but that it didn’t breed fascism was in some degree due to the Queen’s belief in the Commonwealth.” It was moving to see how the BBC’s [Huw Edwards announced her death](. And cheering to see again the queen “jump in” to the [2012 Olympic Games with James Bond](. But my last thoughts this weekend are for the loss of longtime colleague and friend LINK TO ESSAY Annie Garrels. She was royalty in our profession. [Scott Simon]( Scott Simon is one of NPR's most renowned news anchors. He is the host of [Weekend Edition Saturday]( and one of the hosts of the morning news podcast Up First. Be sure to listen to him every Saturday on your local NPR station, and follow him [on Twitter](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Stories you might have missed [May 17, 1962: Queen Elizabeth II inspects the Grenadier Guards during a military inspection in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in London]( Evening Standard/Getty Images [Queen Elizabeth II's reign spanned a remarkable arc in British history]( and was defined by duty to country and considerable family pain. Her death, which comes as considerable challenges face the United Kingdom, brings about a new era for her country — one led by King Charles III, [who'll have his own leadership style and priorities](. [See her life in photos]( from her childhood through this week, when she met with incoming Prime minister Liz Truss. In the '90s and '00s, Brendan Fraser was a beloved Hollywood leading man. [Many fans are pleased to see him making a comeback]( in an acclaimed new film, but others call The Whale a dehumanizing exercise in fat-phobia. Dominion Voting Systems alleges it has been "irreparably harmed" by the lies, conspiracy theories and wild claims of election fraud that repeatedly aired on Fox. Now its lawsuit has surfaced proof that [some within the conservative news network also were deeply concerned]( about hosts' baseless accusations. Finance thinkfluencers vs economists: Who's right when it comes to what you should do with your money? One Yale researcher finds that the academics probably have the best sense of the ideal moves to make, but that [adjusting for how real people behave often makes sense](. Former president Donald Trump has made a lot of endorsements in this year's primary elections, and mostly has found success, with 90% of his picks in open races winning. But [he's struggled when trying to get incumbents booted from office]( losing especially badly in Georgia. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go [Tariq and his family traveled from New York to South Dakota's corn palace for a ceremony honoring his new position as the state's official corn-bassador.]( Travel South Dakota Everything changed for 7-year-old Tariq when he slapped some butter on an ear of corn. His effusive appreciation for the golden veggie went viral, and landed him a new gig: [official corn-bassador for South Dakota](. There's a whole range of expert opinions on who needs the latest omicron-targeting coronavirus boosters, and when. So, if you are navigating this decision, [here are some things to consider](. The next time someone tells you to turn your frown upside down, put on some sad music, get out some old photos and get in touch with your inner melancholy — and maybe you'll be happier in the long run. Oh, and [take this quiz to find out]( if you tend toward the sanguine or bittersweet. Plenty of the usual booming blockbusters and Oscar-bait dramas are slated for later this year at the movies, but there are some good, lower-profile flicks landing before Thanksgiving too. [NPR critic Bob Mondello highlights five here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]