Thoughts

It’s Time To Pay Attention

october 28, 2008: 5/14
October 28, 2008. I went to canvas for President Obama shortly after taking this photo. I did two canvassing events for him while I lived in Florida and I’m so very glad I did it.

Some of you, dear readers, are like me today—raw and sober with the reality that what we imagined Inauguration Day being during those morning and afternoon hours of November 8th, that reality will not come to fruition. Instead we’ve watched the last two months as a cascade of warnings from experts, historians and journalists, become realities. Every time I’ve stopped and thought some people were over reacting or I’ve tried to see any kind of nuance I’ve been shaken back into reality with a new story, another behavior, and become very worried about what the next several years holds. I won’t write more but here are some people I follow on Twitter and podcasts to keep you tuned in if you are having a hard time stomaching network stations and sometimes even NPR. I don’t even watch network news unless someone else has it on but NPR sometimes disappoints me and I have to switch to Democracy Now for a few minutes. I think it was quite clear after his press conference last week that the press has a different beast to cover and has got to hold him accountable for the things he says—and more importantly, isn’t saying.

And if you are either not worried or more apathetic and believe that things will be ok, well, I hope you are right. I hope we’re freaking out for no reason, because I’d like to see that we’re still a country in four years and I’d like to hope that we are still upholding the rights and freedoms granted under our constitution.

News Stories/Blog Reading

I’m bad about remembering to bookmark every good article I come across but this is just a few I’ve recently read that stuck with me.

Scientists Are Frantically Copying US Climate Data via the Washington Post

Six Astonishing Things Betsy Devos Said and Refused To Say During Her Confirmation Hearing

David Fahrenthold Tells The Behind The Scenes Story Of His Year Covering Trump—-read this one in its entirety.

A Social Justice Reading List via Book Riot

Podcasts
Pod Save America: This is an group of former Obama staffers who used to podcast under Keeping It 1600 (I never listened) but switched over to this podcast in the new year. Definitely listen to all of their episodes but especially the one with President Obama.

Slate’s Trumpcast: I may have mentioned this one back in December and I’ll mention it again; it is easily digestible. Listen to the one about Narcissistic Personality Disorder in particular.

The 451 Podcast: Yes, that’s a play on Farenheit 451.

Start Making Sense from The Nation: I listen to this one sporadically but a recent episode reminded me to listen more often.

Pantsuit Politics: I also think I’ve mentioned this one but it is two women, a Democrat and a Republican, sitting down to talk politics. Very friendly and they try to be as nuanced and hopeful as they can be—which can be infuriating when the week’s news is anything but—and the podcast will be a nice balance if you indulge in too much news or just want to stay in tune with what’s going on but can’t handle a ton of news.

Call Your Girlfriend a show between two friends, lots of feminist and POC discussions.

Finally, I mentioned it back in 2015, but the episode of the WTF Podcast with Marc Maron that President Obama was a guest on is worth a re-listen.

Twitter
For the Twitter folks, even if you aren’t on Twitter most of these people either write for a publication or have their own blog/website so you can also follow them there.

The Doom and Gloom Twitter people:
Sarah Kendzior: I have to mute her because she’s usually right in what she says. She says it, he does it. An expert on authoritarian regimes.
Summer Brennan: She’s not muted but she always knows a lot of interesting things. Also, started the 451 Podcast.

Journalists/Writers:
Kai Ryssdal
Julia Ioffe
David Fahrenthold
Judd Legum
Jacob Weisberg
Josh Harkinson
Nikole Hannah-Jones
Shaun King
Matthew Yglesias
Dan Rather
Tim Dickinson
Roxane Gay
Leonard Pitts, Jr.
James Fallows
Ana Navarro—a Republican commentator but vocal against you-know-who.
David Frum—former GWB speech writer, also vocal against you-know-who.
John Weaver—former Kasich strategist, and also vocal against you-know-who.

Politicians:

Democrats
Kamala Harris
Bernie Sanders—yes, he’s an Independent but he is a liberal so he goes here.
Elizabeth Warren

Republicans
Evan McMullin late entry into the campaign for president. I may disagree with him on policies but this man is a patriot.
Mindy Finn VP running mate to Evan McMullin

Other People In The Know:
Celeste Pewter
Emily Ellsworth
Sara Langhinrichs
David Steen, PhD—professor and ecologist, promoting snake advocacy and overall science education through Twitter.
Katie Boué outdoor advocate
Rachel Held Evans
Sarah Bessey
Jacquelyn Gill Ecologist and science advocate

That’s all I’ve got.

May the Force be with you.

4 Comments

  • chel

    I’m not one for trying to find any “silver lining” in this present situation (a turd is a turd is a turd) but at the very least, a lot more people have shifted their priorities and are making a stand on things they care about. For me, it was the final push I needed to embrace Buddhism seriously and follow that path. It was bound to happen eventually, but I’m grateful that I had a “final straw” that pushed me in that direction. These last few weeks have been life changing. I wish I could have done it in a time of optimism, but maybe all the people on the fence will finally get off and follow their path.

  • Keely McGrew

    It’s funny that we didn’t talk about this at all Saturday, but I feel the same way. I am very concerned. One aspect that worries me about this transition is that the damage to the environment by denying climate change might last longer than the four years of this administration. I am worried about losing rights, but also about foreign relations. I heard something on the Tim Hartman show about how this change means we need to double our efforts towards the causes we really care about, to help prevent them from being destroyed or taken away. I have been thinking about that, about what I can do to be more involved.

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