I hope that today’s SCOTUS ruling granting Trump immunity is such a BFD that it will take the wind out of the “Biden. Old. Needs to quit.” sails. Charlotte Clymer wrote a great piece today recommending that Biden comes out strong for expanding the court. I can’t wait for NYT’s take on this, and then—I’m cancelling our subscription. So long, Wordle stats! 🥺
Giving up Wordle - that shows how strongly you feel about this! I admire you - I'm not ready to let go of them yet - though part of me thinks I should be.
I cancelled in fury and managed to write a curse-free explanation of why. I will miss the NYT Magazine, Arts, & recipes, and more. I did pay for a games subscription to keep my playing addictions alive. I will not pay a dime for their "journalism," ever again.
Not sure if you're a meditator but I use the app 10 percent happier and it turned me on to Sharon Salzberg. Anyway, even if you don't meditate, she wrote a book about political activism and despair that is quite good: Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World by Sharon Salzberg.
Thank you , Jessica. All advice I will follow. and...after I read the decision, I sent out a query for writers to write GOTV postcards to my neighborhood list serve. Within an hour, I had requests for 575 cards. Please care for yourself. Gratitude to you.
Thank you Jessica as always for you powerful post.
We cannot hope for an outcome. It’s up to each of us to make it happen. No white knights coming to save us. No political pundit with some miracle answer…No Supreme Court to act supremely.
Joe Biden had a terrible, terrible night. But Donald Trump is a terrible, terrible man. He must be stopped. And it's up to us - all of us - to stop him.
What's more, has anyone considered that if Joe steps aside he will be in essence a lame duck and we will be without a leader for 6 months. Can you imagine the mischief our adversaries can unleash in that time. All hell will break loose.
I’ve been in the branding / messaging game for a bazillion years. I’ve learned that it’s far easier to retain a customer than to get a new one. It’s far better to fix your brand than to start from scratch. And a rebrand takes lots of time, good strategy and $$$$$$.
We have enough time to help Joe win – there is simply not enough time to start over. Especially when not one person has a fucking idea of what or how to do. Let alone WHO. A brokered convention will be a nightmare with waring factions. Dems must start being strategic. DON’T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER…
As you may have deduced, I’m furious at all this nonsense. Dems need to strap on a pair. As ― Stanley McChrystal, My Share of the Task: A Memoir “You can’t roll up your sleeves while you’re wringing your hands.”
No one person can go at it every day, the way you do, Jess. Please take care of yourself and get better. We need you. And each other. As Scott Dworkin says, “onward.”
My thoughts are similar to yours. What we need to do is what we've already been doing, and we're good at that. I am also wondering if this will actually hurt trump electorally, because it makes him a worse candidate than he was before. Nobody can look at his threats and say "he can't actually do that". Not to say that it's a good thing, of course.
Thank you for all your work, Jess. It makes a huge difference, both directly and indirectly. I hope you get a lot of needed and well-deserved rest and feel much better soon.
Thank you Jess; this was exactly the message I needed to hear. I had my Monday meditation meeting right after I read the decision. It's a Unity group that focuses on believing in the energy of the Divine in all of us - I couldn't get to that quite yet...I had to go through the stages of grief first! But I'm I'm back to my belief in Dr. King's version, "Hatred cannot drive out hatred; only love can do that." Not the mushy romantic kind of love, but the "solid, faith-based, now take action" kind. I'm so grateful to know you as one of our leaders. Much love (PS, I was really annoyed with myself that I forgot to ask for a selfie on Friday!!)
She's doing very well in that every day she seems a little more at home. She even started rubbing against my legs much more frequently, and today she let me scratch her head!
Summer tends to be the worst time in politics. It's hot, SCOTUS is doing their thing, the pundits are doing their thing, the election is around the corner. Many days it feels like too much. I remember this viscerally in 2022. Pundits were saying Biden's agenda was dead and we were going to be wiped out in November. But then we got the Inflation Reduction Act passed and the red wave turned into a whimper. Each election is unique, and 2022 isn't a predictor of 2024, but remembering that summer tends to be the nadir gives me resolve to keep working.
Josh Marshall's Talking Points Memo is also good. And...if you're not ready to cancel it, you can always suspend your actual paper subscription for as long as you like. Just send them a message saying you are considering cancelling and suspending for now, so they know why. And if you cancel, tell them why letters@nytimes.com
Same. ProPublica is also excellent. Their motto is "Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest" and they live up to it. https://www.propublica.org/
Thank you Jessica, for putting this newsletter out there and doing the work you do. You give me faith because action beats inaction, every time, and you help show us the way.
It's heartening, encouraging, to read all your comments here and see the resolve, determination, and positivity of Jessica and this group. Realistically and pragmatically, there's only one way to go: forward. Thank goodness for you, Jessica, and for this group. Everyone please take care of yourselves.
I hope that today’s SCOTUS ruling granting Trump immunity is such a BFD that it will take the wind out of the “Biden. Old. Needs to quit.” sails. Charlotte Clymer wrote a great piece today recommending that Biden comes out strong for expanding the court. I can’t wait for NYT’s take on this, and then—I’m cancelling our subscription. So long, Wordle stats! 🥺
Ann,agree SCOTUS ruling(s) are BFD’s and will redirect They are also fuel for my/our fire .🔥
Here’s a great Biden/J6 30 second ad to share.📣
“Donald Trump Is Ready To Burn It All Down.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTEYJFs8cm0
I finally pulled the plug Friday on NYT after decades-long subscription. Are you aware of Quordle: https://www.merriam-webster.com/games/quordle/
I love Quordle! Mj and I do it every morning!
Giving up Wordle - that shows how strongly you feel about this! I admire you - I'm not ready to let go of them yet - though part of me thinks I should be.
I cancelled in fury and managed to write a curse-free explanation of why. I will miss the NYT Magazine, Arts, & recipes, and more. I did pay for a games subscription to keep my playing addictions alive. I will not pay a dime for their "journalism," ever again.
I did the same. Cancelled the news, kept the games. Wish I could go cold turkey but Mj really loves those games.
I'm glad you found a way to stay connected to the games!
There’s a Wordle app that’s not affiliated with the NYT… it’s great! Changes every midnight!
Really?
I cancelled mine about five months ago and I don't miss it.
A friend told me that the Inquirer is having a sale now and she told me their national columnist, Will Bunch, is just about the best in the business.
Jess, what things fill you with so much hope? I need a way to get some perspective and not fall into despair. Any ideas?
Not sure if you're a meditator but I use the app 10 percent happier and it turned me on to Sharon Salzberg. Anyway, even if you don't meditate, she wrote a book about political activism and despair that is quite good: Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World by Sharon Salzberg.
Thanks for the helpful suggestion.
Thank you , Jessica. All advice I will follow. and...after I read the decision, I sent out a query for writers to write GOTV postcards to my neighborhood list serve. Within an hour, I had requests for 575 cards. Please care for yourself. Gratitude to you.
Yeah my postcard box got totally cleaned out today, too. Wild.
Thank you Jessica as always for you powerful post.
We cannot hope for an outcome. It’s up to each of us to make it happen. No white knights coming to save us. No political pundit with some miracle answer…No Supreme Court to act supremely.
Joe Biden had a terrible, terrible night. But Donald Trump is a terrible, terrible man. He must be stopped. And it's up to us - all of us - to stop him.
What's more, has anyone considered that if Joe steps aside he will be in essence a lame duck and we will be without a leader for 6 months. Can you imagine the mischief our adversaries can unleash in that time. All hell will break loose.
I’ve been in the branding / messaging game for a bazillion years. I’ve learned that it’s far easier to retain a customer than to get a new one. It’s far better to fix your brand than to start from scratch. And a rebrand takes lots of time, good strategy and $$$$$$.
We have enough time to help Joe win – there is simply not enough time to start over. Especially when not one person has a fucking idea of what or how to do. Let alone WHO. A brokered convention will be a nightmare with waring factions. Dems must start being strategic. DON’T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER…
As you may have deduced, I’m furious at all this nonsense. Dems need to strap on a pair. As ― Stanley McChrystal, My Share of the Task: A Memoir “You can’t roll up your sleeves while you’re wringing your hands.”
Exactly this. I sold advertising. It is indeed easier to retain an existing customer than get a new one.
👆💙💙💙💙
YES!
Hang in there, Jess. You're so very much appreciated by all of us.
Thanks, Nancy.
No one person can go at it every day, the way you do, Jess. Please take care of yourself and get better. We need you. And each other. As Scott Dworkin says, “onward.”
Onward, indeed!
My thoughts are similar to yours. What we need to do is what we've already been doing, and we're good at that. I am also wondering if this will actually hurt trump electorally, because it makes him a worse candidate than he was before. Nobody can look at his threats and say "he can't actually do that". Not to say that it's a good thing, of course.
Get some rest, and I hope you feel better soon.
I think it does hurt him. It's woken people up.
I like that perspective...I'm going to steal it for my comments!
Thank you Jessica. I really appreciate your calm and continued dedication to the work!
Always, Remy. And thank you for being here with us!
covid negative ✅ It's still out there and we need to be diligent. Glad you're ok.
Absolutely.
Thank you for all your work, Jess. It makes a huge difference, both directly and indirectly. I hope you get a lot of needed and well-deserved rest and feel much better soon.
Thank you, Trina. I may actually have to take a day off tomorrow. We'll see how I fare in the morning.
please do take a day off...parable of the choir and all that...we will hold the note for you while you breathe.
Take a day off! Rest and recharge.
Thank you Jess; this was exactly the message I needed to hear. I had my Monday meditation meeting right after I read the decision. It's a Unity group that focuses on believing in the energy of the Divine in all of us - I couldn't get to that quite yet...I had to go through the stages of grief first! But I'm I'm back to my belief in Dr. King's version, "Hatred cannot drive out hatred; only love can do that." Not the mushy romantic kind of love, but the "solid, faith-based, now take action" kind. I'm so grateful to know you as one of our leaders. Much love (PS, I was really annoyed with myself that I forgot to ask for a selfie on Friday!!)
Ack we should have done that! How's that Miss Kitty?
She's doing very well in that every day she seems a little more at home. She even started rubbing against my legs much more frequently, and today she let me scratch her head!
Here's a page I started because people wanted updates and I wanted to keep them organized! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561322020208
Ah this is awesome!
thank you!!!
Summer tends to be the worst time in politics. It's hot, SCOTUS is doing their thing, the pundits are doing their thing, the election is around the corner. Many days it feels like too much. I remember this viscerally in 2022. Pundits were saying Biden's agenda was dead and we were going to be wiped out in November. But then we got the Inflation Reduction Act passed and the red wave turned into a whimper. Each election is unique, and 2022 isn't a predictor of 2024, but remembering that summer tends to be the nadir gives me resolve to keep working.
I remember that so well. August turned amazing all of a sudden.
Wow you guys. Thanks for inspiring me. I’m so fed up w the Times. I’m going to do it! Cancel. I like the Guardian and Politico better anyway.
Josh Marshall's Talking Points Memo is also good. And...if you're not ready to cancel it, you can always suspend your actual paper subscription for as long as you like. Just send them a message saying you are considering cancelling and suspending for now, so they know why. And if you cancel, tell them why letters@nytimes.com
Same. ProPublica is also excellent. Their motto is "Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest" and they live up to it. https://www.propublica.org/
Thank you Jessica, for putting this newsletter out there and doing the work you do. You give me faith because action beats inaction, every time, and you help show us the way.
Thank you, friend.
And I've been sharing that list of Biden's accomlishments FAR and wide!!!
Rest, relax, follow your own advice. We'll get it done for a couple of days and the world won't end before Nov. 5 no matter who wants it to.
I cannot adequately express how grateful I am for Jessica and for this community.
Aw, Kate. And I for you.
Hoping that this link to Anne Lamott's Facebook post about the current state of things works, and that it may be helpful:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/2mpwdeDNX67h3hvK/
It's heartening, encouraging, to read all your comments here and see the resolve, determination, and positivity of Jessica and this group. Realistically and pragmatically, there's only one way to go: forward. Thank goodness for you, Jessica, and for this group. Everyone please take care of yourselves.
Thank you Risa. I love Anne Lamott and will read it now.