30 Comments

I, too, was hit hard by the death of Nex Benedict as so many young people I know are LGBTQ. Thanks to your link https://oklahoma.gov/governor/contact/leave-a-comment-or-opinion.html , I wrote this letter to the Governor - I doubt he'll have the courage to respond, but I felt I had to do something. Thanks for sharing the link to make it easy to do.

Dear Gov. Stitt,

I am heartbroken at the loss of a beautiful soul. Nex Benedict was just a 16 year old kid, but the atmosphere at the school and in your state tolerated and even encouraged intolerance. Bullying led to beating, led to the tragic death of this child.

What kind of "Christian Kindness" does this represent...and what are the "grown-ups" in your state modelling for the next generation with the hate speech against LGBTQ people?!?

What would Jesus (who advocated for the leper, the prostitute, those society cast out) say about this "Christian morality." I believe in the worth of every human and am absolutely appalled at this hypocrisy - the same "Christian" people who quote the Bible against homosexually violate the Bible's prohibitions on pork or seafood, tattoos, and adultery!

I look to those in power, like you Governor Stitt, to take a stand for goodness, not meanness; inclusiveness, not exclusion. I'm eager to hear you step up and speak out.

Will you extend your "pro-life" rhetoric to cover this child? Or are your words merely political posturing -- Your "Christianity" unrecognizable to the first Christian - Jesus, himself?

Sincerely, Carol Simon Levin

Expand full comment

This is a perfect letter. Thank you so much for sharing it Carol.

Expand full comment

Beautiful, Carol. Thanks for sharing this.

Expand full comment

Wow!❤️

Expand full comment

Kudos to the list of 'what's happening out there'. I don't know of anyone else who is doing this. Very relevant and reinforcing. Thanks. (Loved that ending song by Seeger. Grew up with him and EleanorR.)

Expand full comment

There used to be so many people who did it when Trump was in office, but almost all of them fell off when he was gone. I do know the big picture does it and the lever and Political Charge. There are a few.

Expand full comment

Thanks again Jess! And thanks also for Pete Seeger. Hey all. If you get discouraged or frightened, subscribe to Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium Chronicles. He takes a deep dive into the statistics and what’s happening on the ground in all the important places. His analyses are user friendly to read, the info is heartening, and he has great input on where we can focus and help especially down ballot. I read him so I can feel good! Enjoy.

Expand full comment

Absolutely I linked to his post from today in one of those bullet points. I think the one about the South Carolina primaries. Simon is a must read.

Expand full comment

Simon is wonderful and so optimistic. Just love that man.....

Expand full comment

Awesome recommendation, thank you 😁

Expand full comment

Definitely a lot of information here. Thank you for such a comprehensive wrap up.

Expand full comment

Anytime!

Expand full comment

Thank you Jess. The good news posts really keep me going

Expand full comment

AGREE!!!

Expand full comment

Happy to help.

Expand full comment

Dear Jessica, you cannot imagine how giddily happy this edition of CWCW makes me and so many others!

Thank you for GOOD NEWS to celebrate!

Expand full comment

I’m so glad!

Expand full comment

Just to amplify how bad the S. Carolina Primary was for Trump, let's remember Biden won in 2020 by 7 million votes, the historically largest vote total for any presidential candidate. Starting with 7 million fewer votes in 2020, Trump cannot afford to lose any votes in 2024.

The major story S. Carolinians are telling America is that Donald Trump will lose many, many votes in 2024.........................................

In 2020, Biden was elected President based on two promises..he would end Trump's chaos and he would demonstrate that a responsible government would deliver beneficial results to the American people.

Do any of us believe Biden has failed to prove his points; the Biden team has performed without daily drama and YES! responsible government is delivering many, many beneficial results to the American people.

Don't be disheartened by the poison rhetoric or bad faith decisions that spill out of the Trump/MAGA officials. America is very tired of MAGA. Their reign of terror is ending The IVF fiasco and who exactly is a direct agent of God is the latest example. This coming week, if Mike Johnson cannot fund the government because of a private conversation with God, I think the public will be utterly finished with MAGA..........................................................

In 9 months we will take back the government we love and the great majority of Americans will be happy to see MAGA head off into the sunset.

Expand full comment

Yes, Dan Rather details many of these points in his post today: https://steady.substack.com/p/trouble-in-trumpland

Expand full comment

Thanks for the link to Dan Rather. I just added him to my ever expanding Substack list. I read all my substack letters each morning before the newspaper, so I am heartened enough to read what information the MSM is offering.

Expand full comment

Judy Small sings (be) One Voice in the Crowd: https://youtu.be/k_q10Mhaypw?si=vMSqPvRR92qQXbK0

Expand full comment

Lots of good news to share Jess.👍

Expand full comment

Thanks so much Jess. 🩵

Expand full comment

Always.

Expand full comment

Ciao from Italy - Jessica if you only knew how important the Extra Extra posts are to me. Honestly they give me hope that we'll prevail. Step by Step.

Expand full comment

To continue with the Hopium comments, this is a commentary by Lawrence O'Donnell that Simon included in his newsletter last week about what a great president Joe Biden is. He placed into historical context about how we got here. Very positive and uplifting. It's 27 mins long but well worth it. I've listened twice just because it's so intelligent and I love his voice :) The closing line is priceless! https://youtu.be/_9vsivYrC4U

Expand full comment

Lawrence was on fire!

Expand full comment

Such a fabulously written newsletter, Jessica! Hard not to smile while wading through all of the mud. Loved the Pete Seeger song but did you notice a woman sitting near Seeger in the photo?I think it is Eleanor Roosevelt!

Expand full comment

I think so too!!

Expand full comment

Wait, really? WOW!

Expand full comment