Jess Piper is an important voice - the view from rural MO. I have learned so much from her well-written and informative posts. https://jesspiper.substack.com
I agree. I live in MO on the other side of the state, and what she says about MO is spot on. I really appreciate her take on what is happening in the country.
Over the last few weeks, I too have thought about the final dialogue and scene in the Movie Don’t Look Up. “We had everything.” Here in America, with our imperfect system of democracy, we did have just about everything. We knew a lot of things could be better—our education system, our less than perfect record on civil liberties, our foreign policy priorities that often sided with oppressors—but overall we had much to enjoy and hope for improvements where sorely needed. Now it seems very much like the end of that movie, ie, the end of us, of everything.
That is the big difference: we knew things could be better and worked toward it. We tried to live up to our ideals. Now U.S. leadership just wants to destroy, and sneers at ideals held precious for 250 years.
Thanks, Kristin, for this post in particular and for all the work you have done generally. Jesus and John Wayne was a pivotal book, early on, in my own attempt to understand what is going on and I do follow your writings here, listen to the Convocation etc.
That said, I guess I have a larger concern about how much information we all can (or even need to) take in. I have my own doctorate in (art) history, so I'm not anti-academic or anti-analysis. However, I find that at a certain point a lot of this can be summarized as: they weren't kidding with Project 2025, Christian Nationalism is real (and scary), and they are trying to break our government to privatize and control services. There's more to it, but ... And, at a certain point, does it help to read another think-piece that maybe fleshes out the details, but says a lot of the same scary things? I'm not "looking away" but I really want to find out what I can *do* about this and I've come to the conclusion that I have to limit how much of the infinite information seems to be available.
I totally get this. I'm at the point where I have no desire to write any more "think pieces." That's part of my motivation here, to hand things off to others doing this. And yet, I do know most people still don't fully comprehend what we're looking at. Your summary is true on the surface. There's much more beneath the surface. Do we all need to know this? Will it prevent anything from happening? I honestly don't know. But if there is even the slimmest chance, we should still try. But as a historian, I do feel a need to document accurately, if not to bring change (which is probably impossible), then at the very least to be picked up at some future point, when perhpas people are ready to understand what and why and how. And I do think having a clearer understanding of things can help orient us in a world that will increasingly feel upside-down.
However, when I consider "following" all of these people to get more, more, more insight ... as much as I want to support the work here, there is going to be a limit to what I can take in, especially given that this is not my full time job. I made a decision a few days ago to check in on social media once a day rather than doom-scrolling. It's not only for my mental health (though there's that) but also because if I am going to do my small part in this big work of trying to resist it all, I can't reduce myself to a puddle of inaction. So, I check in, read, post (serious and silly things), note whatever marches, actions, calls to make to my senators, etc. I can be a part of... do those things... maybe read a few things that are insightful (hey, I read yours!) and then... get out. For instance, when I am done here, I'm going to go plant, potatoes, finish my on-line Byzantine art lesson, and check on on my sick kid. Etc. I will be done with social media for the day.
I think that's fine. I provided social media links for those who want them, but I think staying away from social media entirely is fine. Following a small number of Substacks and one or two papers or magazines is a good way to curate the information overload. One of the main things I do here is curate sources on behalf of readers, since I'm tracking things anyway. But not knowing how much longer I'll be able to keep that up, I wanted to make sources available for those who want them. Not everybody will want them.
These substack authors have NO reason to kowtow and water down what they know as truth and facts. Writers who remain in corporate media often DO soften the blow to the trumps and musks of America.
I had these same thoughts as I followed a few more from these suggestions…but did so because I’m working on building my lists on these platforms that are newer to me. I have a lot on FB but I’m doing my best to untangle from all things meta esp politically.
What I have found helpful is to read the best analysts (for me that’s the Bulwark, Charlie Sykes at To the Contrary🙁 you, Kristin, Jennifer Rubin at The Contrarian, and Heather Cox Richardson, rather than news stories. I get the information, but contextualized. I do quick skims of the Guardian for news headlines. This is all I can manage without obsessing and sinking into gloom I can’t handle. I also make lap time for my cat, which is soothing.
Please don't discount the good work you have done. I turned to you and your allies when I was sorting through my own spiritual abuse and time in a Christian cult. I am so grateful for you. We are now the elders who are poised to support the generations after us, who have the real fight at hand. We are with you. 🕊️🌱
I do think there's value here. But I also realized that part of what I am doing in trying to understand is trying to control all of this. And that's where the anxiety is coming in for me. I think that the work has value even if it doesn't immediately "fix" everything.
Heather Cox Richardson says that part of why she does what she does (documenting everything with an eye to what will be significant in a hundred years or so) is because knowing what’s going on and having some understanding of it helps her to feel less overwhelmed and anxious. That resonates with me. But it is okay to say “that’s enough information for right now.” We have to pace ourselves, we don’t know how long of a haul this will be.
Often, our anxiety can issue forth from an expectation that we have certain power or authority to control, or at least influence, things and situations over which we have no control. I have found tremendous value in writings Ryan Holiday has put in books about Stoic philosophy.
I now subscribe to The New Republic and faithfully read your articles. I'm almost obsessed with keeping up with what is happening. Unfortunately I am also struggling with depression. How can a person study these times and stay sane?
Good question. It can be hard at times. Doing whatever positive little things I can helps me. For me, it's writing and encouraging others. Also, I take intentional days 'off' and ignore the news and social media, and just cook and do my blacksmithing hobby. I don't want to sound preachy, but I've also found being a Christian and what that ultimately means has really helped me.
What’s working for me: I decided to be and feel defiant. Feel defiance in your body. Even depressed, you can still feel defiant. It will give you some energy.
Lately I've been working on the thought of holding more than one emotion at once. The past month hasn't been easy as the parent of an adult transgender daughter who has been shouldering attacks on her community at both federal and state level. So I've worked on cultivating balancing emotions. I've been listening to The Happiness Lab podcast and trying to put suggestions from it into practice. The goal isn't to achieve some fake, shiny 'happy at all costs' mentality, but to live in the complexity of a moment where all that is good and all that is horrible coexist. This gives me what I need to keep on showing up where I can do the most good. (I recommend starting with the September 2024 episodes with Jamil Zaki ranging from finding hope in a cynical world to making a difference. His book Hope for Cynics...also very good right now.) I feel like my suggestion is not as profound and deep as the reading others are suggesting, but when my nervous system is overwhelmed I don't always have the bandwidth available for that, so this is my starting point.
I was diagnosed with major depression in 2003. In 2019, in addition to my Christian faith, I started reading Stoic philosophy as related by Ryan Holiday in his highly accessible trilogy, The Obstacle is the Way; Stillness is the Key; and Ego is the Enemy.
Now, I am no longer freaked out by the felon in the White House.
Thank you for the resources. I can imagine writing think pieces takes a toll. I have too many half written in my head and it is exhausting. I have been so grateful for the historians like yourself showing up in this space and time to give the bigger picture. And it seems you have also been the primary voices sounding the alarm. That does not come without a cost.
I absolutely do feel we are living in the Upside-down. (Stranger Things nerd:) And Vecna seems the perfect archetype - a wounded angry soul who feeds off people’s fears.
Anyway, I share the alarm and feel the need to stay informed.
I will also share a bit of hope - a friend and neighbor started a neighborhood group for like minded folks. We meet weekly at her home, Sunday at 11 for 1 hour to share words of hope and information on ways to take action. It started with 3 or 4 of us and then she reached out on FB to a local Dems group and shared the invite. The group keeps growing weekly to where people are splitting off and starting their own groups. And others have done the same in their neighborhoods. It is good to see hope and connection are as contagious as disinformation:)
Kristin, I was glad to see Baptist News Global on your list of recommended news sources. I'd appreciate your consideration of our small website, United Methodist Insight, https://um-insight.net. We aggregate a lot, but we also feature many United Methodist voices that don't get heard elsewhere. We specialize in being a media channel to amplify news and views for and about marginalized and under-served United Methodists -- a growing group under today's circumstances. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.
She’s the journalist who broke the Cambridge Analytica story. She’s a former investigative journalist from The Guardian. I’m sorry to say that The Guardian is no longer a reliable source. They sold The Observer, their weekend publication, to Tortoise Media, who are backed by anonymous billionaires. Then they laid off 100 staff (including Carol) and signed a deal with Open AI.
Naomi Klein’s book “Doppleganger” is, sadly, prescient. She really digs deep into the right wing ecosystem of grievance and of "flooding the zone", a la Steve Bannon et al.
Reading “Money Lies and God” by Katherine Stewart. Scary stuff. Is Christian Nationalism a smokescreen for what’s really going on? The uber rich power grabbing , clawing for even more money?
Smokescreen isn't exactly right. But also, yes, it can function that way. It's not just $--it's money and power and domination and coercion, and various groups who envision various iterations of this are aligned.
So helpful! Take good care of yourself, Kristen. I know you are carrying a heavy load. I appreciate you modeling for us a way to share that load by following people you know to be reliable.
What is Trump doing to consolidate law enforcement and the military under his control? Robert Reich wrote an interesting article <robert@inequalitymedia.org>
I might also mention Olivia Troye a national security expert in the first Trump administration who resigned in protest.
And Alexander Vindman an Army infantry officer on Trumps National Council, who was fired and forced to retire after testifying at January 6 hearings. He wrote a book “Here Truth Matters”, a memoir.
I believe you could also add Joyce Vance, Robert Reich, and Jess Piper to your list. They are all available on Substack and worth reading.
yes, thank you!
Jess Piper is an important voice - the view from rural MO. I have learned so much from her well-written and informative posts. https://jesspiper.substack.com
I agree. I live in MO on the other side of the state, and what she says about MO is spot on. I really appreciate her take on what is happening in the country.
Thank you for this. I just read her post about her dad and it was heartbreaking hearing about so many elderly parents being so dug ho about DT.
Fox news as a gateway drug was named in the comment. I see saw that happen to my family.
I am so sorry! I have heard of so many families split apart by the menace of Fox.
Thank you ... it is good to feel less alone screaming in the wilderness out here in southern AZ.
Molly - and all this time I thought that was coyotes answering MY screaming 😉
I'm in AZ too-- Tucson area
I'm in Tucson too!
Me too Terry! Baja Arizona for the win!
Over the last few weeks, I too have thought about the final dialogue and scene in the Movie Don’t Look Up. “We had everything.” Here in America, with our imperfect system of democracy, we did have just about everything. We knew a lot of things could be better—our education system, our less than perfect record on civil liberties, our foreign policy priorities that often sided with oppressors—but overall we had much to enjoy and hope for improvements where sorely needed. Now it seems very much like the end of that movie, ie, the end of us, of everything.
Yes! What we are throwing away is beautiful.
That is the big difference: we knew things could be better and worked toward it. We tried to live up to our ideals. Now U.S. leadership just wants to destroy, and sneers at ideals held precious for 250 years.
Thanks, Kristin, for this post in particular and for all the work you have done generally. Jesus and John Wayne was a pivotal book, early on, in my own attempt to understand what is going on and I do follow your writings here, listen to the Convocation etc.
That said, I guess I have a larger concern about how much information we all can (or even need to) take in. I have my own doctorate in (art) history, so I'm not anti-academic or anti-analysis. However, I find that at a certain point a lot of this can be summarized as: they weren't kidding with Project 2025, Christian Nationalism is real (and scary), and they are trying to break our government to privatize and control services. There's more to it, but ... And, at a certain point, does it help to read another think-piece that maybe fleshes out the details, but says a lot of the same scary things? I'm not "looking away" but I really want to find out what I can *do* about this and I've come to the conclusion that I have to limit how much of the infinite information seems to be available.
I totally get this. I'm at the point where I have no desire to write any more "think pieces." That's part of my motivation here, to hand things off to others doing this. And yet, I do know most people still don't fully comprehend what we're looking at. Your summary is true on the surface. There's much more beneath the surface. Do we all need to know this? Will it prevent anything from happening? I honestly don't know. But if there is even the slimmest chance, we should still try. But as a historian, I do feel a need to document accurately, if not to bring change (which is probably impossible), then at the very least to be picked up at some future point, when perhpas people are ready to understand what and why and how. And I do think having a clearer understanding of things can help orient us in a world that will increasingly feel upside-down.
However, when I consider "following" all of these people to get more, more, more insight ... as much as I want to support the work here, there is going to be a limit to what I can take in, especially given that this is not my full time job. I made a decision a few days ago to check in on social media once a day rather than doom-scrolling. It's not only for my mental health (though there's that) but also because if I am going to do my small part in this big work of trying to resist it all, I can't reduce myself to a puddle of inaction. So, I check in, read, post (serious and silly things), note whatever marches, actions, calls to make to my senators, etc. I can be a part of... do those things... maybe read a few things that are insightful (hey, I read yours!) and then... get out. For instance, when I am done here, I'm going to go plant, potatoes, finish my on-line Byzantine art lesson, and check on on my sick kid. Etc. I will be done with social media for the day.
I think that's fine. I provided social media links for those who want them, but I think staying away from social media entirely is fine. Following a small number of Substacks and one or two papers or magazines is a good way to curate the information overload. One of the main things I do here is curate sources on behalf of readers, since I'm tracking things anyway. But not knowing how much longer I'll be able to keep that up, I wanted to make sources available for those who want them. Not everybody will want them.
It's a really valuable resource. I think my first response to it was "no, I can't do more info!" But as a compendium of sources, yes, thank you!
These substack authors have NO reason to kowtow and water down what they know as truth and facts. Writers who remain in corporate media often DO soften the blow to the trumps and musks of America.
I had these same thoughts as I followed a few more from these suggestions…but did so because I’m working on building my lists on these platforms that are newer to me. I have a lot on FB but I’m doing my best to untangle from all things meta esp politically.
What I have found helpful is to read the best analysts (for me that’s the Bulwark, Charlie Sykes at To the Contrary🙁 you, Kristin, Jennifer Rubin at The Contrarian, and Heather Cox Richardson, rather than news stories. I get the information, but contextualized. I do quick skims of the Guardian for news headlines. This is all I can manage without obsessing and sinking into gloom I can’t handle. I also make lap time for my cat, which is soothing.
My cat is my best therapy, too!
Please don't discount the good work you have done. I turned to you and your allies when I was sorting through my own spiritual abuse and time in a Christian cult. I am so grateful for you. We are now the elders who are poised to support the generations after us, who have the real fight at hand. We are with you. 🕊️🌱
I certainly think that there is value in understanding and documenting what is going on, so I don't mean to belittle the efforts!
No, I ask myself this everyday.
I do think there's value here. But I also realized that part of what I am doing in trying to understand is trying to control all of this. And that's where the anxiety is coming in for me. I think that the work has value even if it doesn't immediately "fix" everything.
Heather Cox Richardson says that part of why she does what she does (documenting everything with an eye to what will be significant in a hundred years or so) is because knowing what’s going on and having some understanding of it helps her to feel less overwhelmed and anxious. That resonates with me. But it is okay to say “that’s enough information for right now.” We have to pace ourselves, we don’t know how long of a haul this will be.
Often, our anxiety can issue forth from an expectation that we have certain power or authority to control, or at least influence, things and situations over which we have no control. I have found tremendous value in writings Ryan Holiday has put in books about Stoic philosophy.
I now subscribe to The New Republic and faithfully read your articles. I'm almost obsessed with keeping up with what is happening. Unfortunately I am also struggling with depression. How can a person study these times and stay sane?
I don’t know.
Good question. It can be hard at times. Doing whatever positive little things I can helps me. For me, it's writing and encouraging others. Also, I take intentional days 'off' and ignore the news and social media, and just cook and do my blacksmithing hobby. I don't want to sound preachy, but I've also found being a Christian and what that ultimately means has really helped me.
All good things.
Reading Thich Naht Hanh - who lived through the Vietnam war fully awake - helps.
What’s working for me: I decided to be and feel defiant. Feel defiance in your body. Even depressed, you can still feel defiant. It will give you some energy.
Lately I've been working on the thought of holding more than one emotion at once. The past month hasn't been easy as the parent of an adult transgender daughter who has been shouldering attacks on her community at both federal and state level. So I've worked on cultivating balancing emotions. I've been listening to The Happiness Lab podcast and trying to put suggestions from it into practice. The goal isn't to achieve some fake, shiny 'happy at all costs' mentality, but to live in the complexity of a moment where all that is good and all that is horrible coexist. This gives me what I need to keep on showing up where I can do the most good. (I recommend starting with the September 2024 episodes with Jamil Zaki ranging from finding hope in a cynical world to making a difference. His book Hope for Cynics...also very good right now.) I feel like my suggestion is not as profound and deep as the reading others are suggesting, but when my nervous system is overwhelmed I don't always have the bandwidth available for that, so this is my starting point.
Reading the Old Testament prophets and the Psalms helps.
I was diagnosed with major depression in 2003. In 2019, in addition to my Christian faith, I started reading Stoic philosophy as related by Ryan Holiday in his highly accessible trilogy, The Obstacle is the Way; Stillness is the Key; and Ego is the Enemy.
Now, I am no longer freaked out by the felon in the White House.
Community. Find a local good work, and join them. I'm struggling too. You are not alone. 🌱
This is great, Kristin. Thank you for all you do.
Chiming in to suggest adding Charlie Sykes, one of the founders of The Bulwark, who has his own To The Contrary Substack & pod/ YT these days.
I love Charlie, I’ll add him to this!
Thank you for the resources. I can imagine writing think pieces takes a toll. I have too many half written in my head and it is exhausting. I have been so grateful for the historians like yourself showing up in this space and time to give the bigger picture. And it seems you have also been the primary voices sounding the alarm. That does not come without a cost.
I absolutely do feel we are living in the Upside-down. (Stranger Things nerd:) And Vecna seems the perfect archetype - a wounded angry soul who feeds off people’s fears.
Anyway, I share the alarm and feel the need to stay informed.
I will also share a bit of hope - a friend and neighbor started a neighborhood group for like minded folks. We meet weekly at her home, Sunday at 11 for 1 hour to share words of hope and information on ways to take action. It started with 3 or 4 of us and then she reached out on FB to a local Dems group and shared the invite. The group keeps growing weekly to where people are splitting off and starting their own groups. And others have done the same in their neighborhoods. It is good to see hope and connection are as contagious as disinformation:)
Wonderful!
Kristin, I was glad to see Baptist News Global on your list of recommended news sources. I'd appreciate your consideration of our small website, United Methodist Insight, https://um-insight.net. We aggregate a lot, but we also feature many United Methodist voices that don't get heard elsewhere. We specialize in being a media channel to amplify news and views for and about marginalized and under-served United Methodists -- a growing group under today's circumstances. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.
I’ll check it out!
Carol Cadwalladr’s How to Survive the Broligarchy here on Substack is essential. https://broligarchy.substack.com/
She’s the journalist who broke the Cambridge Analytica story. She’s a former investigative journalist from The Guardian. I’m sorry to say that The Guardian is no longer a reliable source. They sold The Observer, their weekend publication, to Tortoise Media, who are backed by anonymous billionaires. Then they laid off 100 staff (including Carol) and signed a deal with Open AI.
Naomi Klein’s book “Doppleganger” is, sadly, prescient. She really digs deep into the right wing ecosystem of grievance and of "flooding the zone", a la Steve Bannon et al.
Yes!
Reading “Money Lies and God” by Katherine Stewart. Scary stuff. Is Christian Nationalism a smokescreen for what’s really going on? The uber rich power grabbing , clawing for even more money?
Smokescreen isn't exactly right. But also, yes, it can function that way. It's not just $--it's money and power and domination and coercion, and various groups who envision various iterations of this are aligned.
God help us. I gave John Wayne to my uncle, who then bought copies for all his relatives for Christmas as a must read.
i’m sure someone has already said this, but Adam Kinzinger, former congressman, is a must-follow.
Yes, how could I forget!!
So helpful! Take good care of yourself, Kristen. I know you are carrying a heavy load. I appreciate you modeling for us a way to share that load by following people you know to be reliable.
Sharon McMahon! She’s a gem as America’s government teacher!
What is Trump doing to consolidate law enforcement and the military under his control? Robert Reich wrote an interesting article <robert@inequalitymedia.org>
I might also mention Olivia Troye a national security expert in the first Trump administration who resigned in protest.
And Alexander Vindman an Army infantry officer on Trumps National Council, who was fired and forced to retire after testifying at January 6 hearings. He wrote a book “Here Truth Matters”, a memoir.
Thank you. I love the Vindmans.
Another political leader among the few who seem to know what's really going on is Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Yes, I forgot to add him!