Thanks Jess. Roundup is even worse. A physician friend of mine told me that the cancer caused by Roundup exposure is very characteristic and easy to associate with that exposure. Sadly, City of Hope could not save him from that very cancer. Bayer has a lot of nerve and no shame.
Thank you for the daily pep talks, Jessica. I appreciate that you acknowledge that many, if not all of us, are feeling more anxious as a result of the rollback of important rights for women, LGBTQ+, and countless other groups. Knowing there are forces, foreign and domestic, who are trying to tear apart our democracy can be overwhelming. Beyond overwhelming is knowing that countless people are dying as wars rage in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan,… . The list goes on.
However! I feel less alone and uplifted when I read your affirming words, and I feel empowered by your calls to action. "Anxiety into action," indeed! Keep doing what you're doing. ENORMOUS THANK YOU!
These same actions are tearing apart our republic, rule of law, that maintains our messy democracy. Let's not fear protecting our republic just because it sounds like Republican.
I don't know how much I'll watch, but I like the idea of real time fact checking any time a politician is on broadcast media. I sent this:
It is inconceivable that you would not have real time fact-checking for the debate Thursday. In this time of various levels of fakery in news generation and reporting, a source like CNN owes to its viewers the certainty that what they are hearing has been verified by someone other than the speaker. Especially in light of the former president's proclivity for offering as facts statements that have only a loose connection to the truth, having a reliable commentary during the broadcast will be invaluable.
Immediate responses from the hosts to clear misstatements will be a major contributor to keeping both speakers on topic and on truth and, for those responses that neither Mr. Tapper nor Ms. Bash are confident of checking, a closed caption commentary streamed as the debate proceeds will be excellent.
It is not hyperbolic to suggest that the credibility of broadcast journalism has been nearly fatally challenged in the last 10 years nor is it out of the question that CNN's performance on Thursday can go a long way toward restoring public confidence in the profession.
I'm anticipating a Felonious meltdown about the time the failed insurrectionist realizes that the microphone really is turned off when the President is speaking.
In the early days of the AIDS epidemic we judged if a male homosexual disease, no cure, a fatal diagnosis with an awful death of lost immune defense. Then came the HIV cause and testing. A very well done population study showed that 2/3 of people, if they KNEW they had AIDS/HIV would do any thing to keep from giving it to anybody else. 1/3 said "somebody gave it to me. I am going to give it to as many people as I can". About as accurate a measure of the kind of people we are as I know. Love, Doc
Why do you always assume your readers are sitting around moping with a sense of hopelessness? We've been getting a steady stream of good news for a few weeks now, but you wouldn't know it from your newsletter. We don't need you to soothe our anxieties. We need you to give insights -- not a bunch of woe-is-me stuff.
I've gotten so I skip all the boo-hooing you do in your first few paragraphs and look to find something helpful to my understanding of the elections.
FFS. If you don’t like Jessica’s approach, why don’t you stop reading her posts? She works tirelessly every damned day to give us all tools to get involved in helping to save our democracy (which also means saving global democracy). What a tone-deaf, shitty comment. What are you doing, every day? I’ll wait.
I could not disagree more. Jess does provide insight. What makes her rare and so valuable is that she also provides *hope supported by facts.*
Trump and the crazies have robbed many of us of our equanimity. The threats are so great and my brain so like a popcorn popper, that realistic hope is medicine. I need what she provides.
100% agree with this, thanks for speaking up. Jess is realistic yet consistently provides us with action items daily as well as links to other groups also doing similar good things on behalf of democracy. If nothing else, the links to others also fighting for our democracy are an ongoing resource that expands her reach and helps us expand ours.
Very sorry, Jessica. Your opening calls to action always make me feel not just energized but also at ease knowing that the pro-democracy forces are outnumbering and fighting back against the authoritarians.
I don't know if you get notifications for every comment and comments in the threads of comments made in your Substack, but in case you don't, this is how I feel about you:
"Jess is realistic yet consistently provides us with action items daily as well as links to other groups also doing similar good things on behalf of democracy. If nothing else, the links to others also fighting for our democracy are an ongoing resource that expands her reach and helps us expand ours."
I hope you know how appreciated you are by probably 99.9% of us, your subscribers.
Jessica isn't alone, Robert Hubbell and Heather Richardson have fallen into the same pattern. Simon Rosenberg has gone almost overboard in the other direction and even the comments are becoming increasingly morose. Maybe this is the result of a 4 year long media driven campaign cycle and we'd be better off with something like the English system where campaigning is restricted to 6 months or so before the election.
None of us will KNOW until AFTER the election. Until then we can best follow Jessica's lead and work and hope. That is the way to make that KNOWING day a happy day. Love, Doc
thanks Jessica. With the SCOTUS decision probably coming down this week, your readers will be looking for ideas on how to respond. For reproduction rights in Iowa, ACLU is getting prepared also for a state ruling on Friday..
I assume women’s health care groups are ready nationwide, but I am unsure. I remember how the LGBT groups were organizing when Iowa legalized gay marriage in 2008 and also for the SCOTUS ruling.
I people are looking to become more active on issues, at a level that is encouraging.
I'm actually flying to DC a day early so I can be at the rally at SCOTUS Friday morning. We are going to be protesting their relentless power grab! 9:30AM!
Thanks Jess. Roundup is even worse. A physician friend of mine told me that the cancer caused by Roundup exposure is very characteristic and easy to associate with that exposure. Sadly, City of Hope could not save him from that very cancer. Bayer has a lot of nerve and no shame.
Even worse are the lawmakers trying to help them. Shameful.
Thank you for the daily pep talks, Jessica. I appreciate that you acknowledge that many, if not all of us, are feeling more anxious as a result of the rollback of important rights for women, LGBTQ+, and countless other groups. Knowing there are forces, foreign and domestic, who are trying to tear apart our democracy can be overwhelming. Beyond overwhelming is knowing that countless people are dying as wars rage in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan,… . The list goes on.
However! I feel less alone and uplifted when I read your affirming words, and I feel empowered by your calls to action. "Anxiety into action," indeed! Keep doing what you're doing. ENORMOUS THANK YOU!
🥰🥰🥰 thank you.
These same actions are tearing apart our republic, rule of law, that maintains our messy democracy. Let's not fear protecting our republic just because it sounds like Republican.
I don't know how much I'll watch, but I like the idea of real time fact checking any time a politician is on broadcast media. I sent this:
It is inconceivable that you would not have real time fact-checking for the debate Thursday. In this time of various levels of fakery in news generation and reporting, a source like CNN owes to its viewers the certainty that what they are hearing has been verified by someone other than the speaker. Especially in light of the former president's proclivity for offering as facts statements that have only a loose connection to the truth, having a reliable commentary during the broadcast will be invaluable.
Immediate responses from the hosts to clear misstatements will be a major contributor to keeping both speakers on topic and on truth and, for those responses that neither Mr. Tapper nor Ms. Bash are confident of checking, a closed caption commentary streamed as the debate proceeds will be excellent.
It is not hyperbolic to suggest that the credibility of broadcast journalism has been nearly fatally challenged in the last 10 years nor is it out of the question that CNN's performance on Thursday can go a long way toward restoring public confidence in the profession.
I'm anticipating a Felonious meltdown about the time the failed insurrectionist realizes that the microphone really is turned off when the President is speaking.
Great one, Dave. Thank you!
I just sent an email, but yours is much better.
Thanks Paula.
In the early days of the AIDS epidemic we judged if a male homosexual disease, no cure, a fatal diagnosis with an awful death of lost immune defense. Then came the HIV cause and testing. A very well done population study showed that 2/3 of people, if they KNEW they had AIDS/HIV would do any thing to keep from giving it to anybody else. 1/3 said "somebody gave it to me. I am going to give it to as many people as I can". About as accurate a measure of the kind of people we are as I know. Love, Doc
Jeez, Jess!
Why do you always assume your readers are sitting around moping with a sense of hopelessness? We've been getting a steady stream of good news for a few weeks now, but you wouldn't know it from your newsletter. We don't need you to soothe our anxieties. We need you to give insights -- not a bunch of woe-is-me stuff.
I've gotten so I skip all the boo-hooing you do in your first few paragraphs and look to find something helpful to my understanding of the elections.
FFS. If you don’t like Jessica’s approach, why don’t you stop reading her posts? She works tirelessly every damned day to give us all tools to get involved in helping to save our democracy (which also means saving global democracy). What a tone-deaf, shitty comment. What are you doing, every day? I’ll wait.
I love you for this, Paula. ❤️
I could not disagree more. Jess does provide insight. What makes her rare and so valuable is that she also provides *hope supported by facts.*
Trump and the crazies have robbed many of us of our equanimity. The threats are so great and my brain so like a popcorn popper, that realistic hope is medicine. I need what she provides.
Thank you, Chris. Very appreciated z
100% agree with this, thanks for speaking up. Jess is realistic yet consistently provides us with action items daily as well as links to other groups also doing similar good things on behalf of democracy. If nothing else, the links to others also fighting for our democracy are an ongoing resource that expands her reach and helps us expand ours.
Honestly this is one of the more unpleasant comments I’ve ever received. Congrats on that.
Very sorry, Jessica. Your opening calls to action always make me feel not just energized but also at ease knowing that the pro-democracy forces are outnumbering and fighting back against the authoritarians.
Thanks, Chris. ❤️
Ted just doesn't read carefully. You are realistically hopeful and cautiously optimistic, IMHO. Love, Doc and I am technically critical some times
I don't know if you get notifications for every comment and comments in the threads of comments made in your Substack, but in case you don't, this is how I feel about you:
"Jess is realistic yet consistently provides us with action items daily as well as links to other groups also doing similar good things on behalf of democracy. If nothing else, the links to others also fighting for our democracy are an ongoing resource that expands her reach and helps us expand ours."
I hope you know how appreciated you are by probably 99.9% of us, your subscribers.
Jessica isn't alone, Robert Hubbell and Heather Richardson have fallen into the same pattern. Simon Rosenberg has gone almost overboard in the other direction and even the comments are becoming increasingly morose. Maybe this is the result of a 4 year long media driven campaign cycle and we'd be better off with something like the English system where campaigning is restricted to 6 months or so before the election.
None of us will KNOW until AFTER the election. Until then we can best follow Jessica's lead and work and hope. That is the way to make that KNOWING day a happy day. Love, Doc
thanks Jessica. With the SCOTUS decision probably coming down this week, your readers will be looking for ideas on how to respond. For reproduction rights in Iowa, ACLU is getting prepared also for a state ruling on Friday..
I assume women’s health care groups are ready nationwide, but I am unsure. I remember how the LGBT groups were organizing when Iowa legalized gay marriage in 2008 and also for the SCOTUS ruling.
I people are looking to become more active on issues, at a level that is encouraging.
I'm actually flying to DC a day early so I can be at the rally at SCOTUS Friday morning. We are going to be protesting their relentless power grab! 9:30AM!