Hi all, and happy Wednesday! Every once in a while we get a really good day, and yesterday was one of them. I need hardly repeat the litany, but I will, because it’s fun! Trump was found liable for both the sexual abuse and defamation of E. Jean Carroll. He was fined 5 million dollars. 🙌🏼🙌🏼
As a former victim advocate, I’m so grateful to E.Jean Carroll for her amazing courage, speaking for so many who “didn’t scream”. I was pleased about the outcome but also incredibly saddened by how much the former President’s behavior was/is normalized.
"Also, the coming campaign is not a horse race, with both sides having legitimacy. President Biden represents democracy and "We, the People"; the former president, autocracy/white nationalism/Christian theocracy and more of the evils he has already perpetrated. Your coverage of the campaign should reflect the immense differences between the two men and the two parties. Do not engage in both-sides-isms."
I am writing to protest your giving free air time to the lying, serial sexual abusing insurrectionist politician currently seeking another four year term as president. There are other, more worthy, candidates who have been to New Hampshire and who have held Town Halls here. You have chosen to ignore them in favor of a click bait showman.
You are part of the media circus that has shamed honest, responsible journalism and helped to lower the political dialogue in our country to a level of debasement that is an embarrassment to us all
Once again, Jess, I am so thankful for your grounded guidance. Today's "The future never plays out in quite the way we think it will." made me go find my favorite three paragraphs by the imitable Rebecca Solnit. Here are two that reinforce your coaching today:
"The future is bigger than our imaginations. It’s unimaginable, and then it comes anyway. To meet it we need to keep going, to walk past what we can imagine. We need to be unstoppable. And here’s what it takes: you don’t stop walking to congratulate yourself; you don’t stop walking to wallow in despair; you don’t stop because your own life got too comfortable or too rough; you don’t stop because you won; you don’t stop because you lost. There’s more to win, more to lose, others who need you.
"You don’t stop walking because there is no way forward. Of course there is no way. You walk the path into being, you make the way, and if you do it well, others can follow the route. You look backward to grasp the long history you’re moving forward from, the paths others have made, the road you came in on. You look forward to possibility. That’s what we mean by hope, and you look past it into the impossible and that doesn’t stop you either. But mostly you just walk, right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot. That’s what makes you unstoppable."
How sad that as Sam Schwartz will engage in a sit-in to demand lawmakers pass legislation outlawing AR-15 style weapons, the “Supreme” Court is considering making the same weapons legal in every state, including those states that have outlawed them. So much for “state’s rights.”
I am writing to protest your providing a free platform to a twice impeached, convicted sexual offender, insurrectionist, and enemy of democracy whose strongest legacy will always be violence as an extension of our democratic processes (National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem)
Per Siva Vaidhyanathan of The Guardian, "Putting a microphone and three cameras on Trump as if he were just another candidate and not an instigator of the violent disruption of American democracy and leader of a conspiracy to overthrow the results of a national election is the height of journalistic irresponsibility."
If you really want to serve the people, provide your platform to serious candidates who will legitimately pitch their ideas to the American people.
An excellent (and usable) list up. I particularly like the idea of (a) bashing the dickheads at CNN endlessly and (b) not leaving Dick Durbin alone--now that Di Fi is back, HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW, sir.
Thank you so much for posting the Mike Lux article. I have been having 2022 flashbacks regarding the democrats internalizing the media narrative that there would be a red wave and abortion and democracy no longer mattered. I remember giving to Patty Murray because she was suddenly in danger of losing. The panic on our end prevented us from winning more.
Exactly. It's disheartening to see people immediately falling into the same old habits! We MUST stop paying attention to the doom-sayers. When will we learn?
Thank you so much for the work you do. This newsletter (which I found via TikTok) is literally the only thing politics-related I consume, and while it's sometimes depressing, it's also hopeful and encouraging.
Oh, that makes me so glad! If you're willing to add one more thing I'd encourage you to subscribe to Robert Hubbell's "Today's Edition" newsletter. Honestly, you'll be kept very well informed and very hopeful. It's a wonderful read every day. https://roberthubbell.substack.com/
Well I wrote to CNN but didn’t copy. Basically I asked them why they were giving free air time to a sexual predator. Also told them their “town hall” was no such thing, that it was a fundraiser!
Also listened to the video and participated in Resistbot.
As a former victim advocate, I’m so grateful to E.Jean Carroll for her amazing courage, speaking for so many who “didn’t scream”. I was pleased about the outcome but also incredibly saddened by how much the former President’s behavior was/is normalized.
And GO Donna Deegan !!!💙
Yeah, I agree. Until every single GOP member turns on him the message is "we're OK with a rapist." Horrifying.
I also added this to my feedback comment to CNN:
"Also, the coming campaign is not a horse race, with both sides having legitimacy. President Biden represents democracy and "We, the People"; the former president, autocracy/white nationalism/Christian theocracy and more of the evils he has already perpetrated. Your coverage of the campaign should reflect the immense differences between the two men and the two parties. Do not engage in both-sides-isms."
So good. Thanks for sharing.
My message to CNN
I am writing to protest your giving free air time to the lying, serial sexual abusing insurrectionist politician currently seeking another four year term as president. There are other, more worthy, candidates who have been to New Hampshire and who have held Town Halls here. You have chosen to ignore them in favor of a click bait showman.
You are part of the media circus that has shamed honest, responsible journalism and helped to lower the political dialogue in our country to a level of debasement that is an embarrassment to us all
Ooooh that's good!
Thank you for suggesting we do this!
Once again, Jess, I am so thankful for your grounded guidance. Today's "The future never plays out in quite the way we think it will." made me go find my favorite three paragraphs by the imitable Rebecca Solnit. Here are two that reinforce your coaching today:
"The future is bigger than our imaginations. It’s unimaginable, and then it comes anyway. To meet it we need to keep going, to walk past what we can imagine. We need to be unstoppable. And here’s what it takes: you don’t stop walking to congratulate yourself; you don’t stop walking to wallow in despair; you don’t stop because your own life got too comfortable or too rough; you don’t stop because you won; you don’t stop because you lost. There’s more to win, more to lose, others who need you.
"You don’t stop walking because there is no way forward. Of course there is no way. You walk the path into being, you make the way, and if you do it well, others can follow the route. You look backward to grasp the long history you’re moving forward from, the paths others have made, the road you came in on. You look forward to possibility. That’s what we mean by hope, and you look past it into the impossible and that doesn’t stop you either. But mostly you just walk, right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot. That’s what makes you unstoppable."
(Source: https://tomdispatch.com/rebecca-solnit-what-comes-after-hope/ )
God she's so good. Thanks for posting that.
I'm going to put that in the newsletter tomorrow. That whole piece is stunning.
Wonderful quote from Eric.
"After the victory, we will need to defend the victory." Lordy, I jotted this down but forgot who it was who said it. Very good quote, though!
How sad that as Sam Schwartz will engage in a sit-in to demand lawmakers pass legislation outlawing AR-15 style weapons, the “Supreme” Court is considering making the same weapons legal in every state, including those states that have outlawed them. So much for “state’s rights.”
I know. If that happens I am going to be enraged.
That’s when we MARCH!
Here's my two cents!
I am writing to protest your providing a free platform to a twice impeached, convicted sexual offender, insurrectionist, and enemy of democracy whose strongest legacy will always be violence as an extension of our democratic processes (National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem)
Per Siva Vaidhyanathan of The Guardian, "Putting a microphone and three cameras on Trump as if he were just another candidate and not an instigator of the violent disruption of American democracy and leader of a conspiracy to overthrow the results of a national election is the height of journalistic irresponsibility."
If you really want to serve the people, provide your platform to serious candidates who will legitimately pitch their ideas to the American people.
Very well said! Thank you!
An excellent (and usable) list up. I particularly like the idea of (a) bashing the dickheads at CNN endlessly and (b) not leaving Dick Durbin alone--now that Di Fi is back, HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW, sir.
Thank you so much for posting the Mike Lux article. I have been having 2022 flashbacks regarding the democrats internalizing the media narrative that there would be a red wave and abortion and democracy no longer mattered. I remember giving to Patty Murray because she was suddenly in danger of losing. The panic on our end prevented us from winning more.
Exactly. It's disheartening to see people immediately falling into the same old habits! We MUST stop paying attention to the doom-sayers. When will we learn?
Thank you so much for the work you do. This newsletter (which I found via TikTok) is literally the only thing politics-related I consume, and while it's sometimes depressing, it's also hopeful and encouraging.
Oh, that makes me so glad! If you're willing to add one more thing I'd encourage you to subscribe to Robert Hubbell's "Today's Edition" newsletter. Honestly, you'll be kept very well informed and very hopeful. It's a wonderful read every day. https://roberthubbell.substack.com/
Totally agree. I think both your newsletter and Robert Hubbell’s should be “must reads” for everyone.
I second that ⬆️
Hi, Rick. I subscribe to Today's Edition, and can attest to what an informative newsletter it is.
I'm texting tomorrow with Duval Dems 🤗
Thank you!
Well I wrote to CNN but didn’t copy. Basically I asked them why they were giving free air time to a sexual predator. Also told them their “town hall” was no such thing, that it was a fundraiser!
Also listened to the video and participated in Resistbot.
You're awesome! Thank you!
Oh and plus I called Durbin and left a message. Busy day!
You are my sanity in an insane world. Thank you.