I agree that the voters who turned out for Trump hoping for relief from cost of living expenses are going to end up disappointed, but I also think that his administration and the social/news platforms in their pockets will simply point the blame anywhere else. Maybe those who are more moderate that were swayed by him this election will see past it, but I just don't think that the members of the MAGA movement will let the scales fall from their eyes and see the truth of his actions and motivations. It honestly makes me sad for them.
The MAGA crowd is a lost cause. I hate to say that about anyone but they have proven time and time again, they can be redirected about anything and everything. I don't know the ins and outs of the legit symptoms to be formally called a cult, but they are very close if not there. You read about people that have come out of it, and they recount their memory and time very similar to cult members. Almost, like, being a different person in a different world. That their thoughts and emotions really, now in hindsight, don't feel like their own because they are "told" what to think and feel, they are "told" what the news is, and they are told anything that tells you otherwise is a lie and trying to hurt you. It's really easy to ignore someone like me, if your "leader" tells you, people like me will try to tell you this (i.e. the truth) and that's when you know for sure, to ignore it. It's sad really, and I have what sound like some conspiracy theories on how we got here, over 100 years of not properly funding public education for starters, I think is one reason. But again, if you find out the person you are talking to is legit MAGA - that's not a mind/heart you can change. But there are people out there who vote Trump who aren't MAGA (I think these people confuse/hurt me the most) and then there are people who aren't political at all that voted for Trump (I wish these people wore a sticker b/c I think they'd be the easiest to talk to). That last group is going to be the ones who are not going to care that bird flu is why eggs are still too expensive, mainly because that was the problem prior to the election too, they want relief. And if DJT doesn't give it, they'll vote the other way in 2 years. What I wish is Democrats would be HONEST with people. There are just some comforts that are likely not coming back. Explain why and let people grieve it and move on. Don't "blame" it on anyone, just own the pandemic got us "these good things" and we lost "these goods things" in the process.
Not sure who lands the guests on the show but I AM LOVING IT - well done, and such thoughtful, helpful conversations about how we white board our way to something better as a party. And Booker’s call to discernment and hope in the face of despair were very needed. Thanks for this!
Sigh. I just don't think I'm ever going to agree with you about Tiktok. And i happen to think that maybe some of what you interpret from Griffin as cynicism is actually him being a realist when it comes to America. I think we need to let American Exceptionalism go because it doesn't exist. Do i believe we are uniquely terrible? No. But we are not uniquely good, either.
I don't want any Democratic Senators cutting deals to make Trump's policies less unpopular. The only way out of this mess is to make Trump and the Republican party as unpopular as possible. So I want the children of Trump voters to come home crying because their friends at school were deported. I want Trump voters to be angry that their favorite restaurant closed because the kitchen staff got deported. I want Trump voters to be gripped by anxiety while they wait for critical home repairs, because so many people in the industry were deported. And then I want Democrats to run to microphones and cameras and say that Trump and his party did this to you, because they did.
And I don't think there are going to be protests this time, certainly nothing like we saw last time. The lesson of these years has been that protest doesn't work. Nothing works, and the proof is that he is back. The people who would protest are too busy protecting themselves and being aghast at who they are sharing a country with: simple, simpering idiots who vote selfishly and stupidly. So you have to trick them, and the way to do that is to drive up Trump's unpopularity.
(Also thank you for having a rare sane take on TikTok)
Musk replatformed anti-semites, he retweets anti-semites, he openly supports the closest descendent to the Nazi party in Germany, and then he did a Nazi salute. I don’t think we need to wait for him to publicly announce he is a Nazi.
I feel like this doesn’t tell me anything I don’t already know about him. It also doesn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know about the people who watched and applauded. Fwiw, I’m Jewish, but this is one Jewish person’s opinion.
(Not here to tell anyone else how to feel. Feel as much as you like. But let’s all have grace and compassion for each other over what emotions hit. Some of us feel extra calm in a state of emergency.)
I hope this isn't too rambly, but also I'm gonna hit post, so I guess I'm okay with it if it is...I listened to this episode this morning on the way to work, before an early meeting with staff of the American Battle Monuments Commission working in France. The AMBC was created by Congress in the 1920s and they are responsible for the stewardship of cemeteries and monuments abroad where members of U.S. armed forces are buried. I was meeting with them about establishing an internship for history students studying abroad on our campus in Paris. (My job is really so interesting sometimes.) As I listened to the superintendent of the Suresnes American Cemetery talk about the kind of work an intern would do, and about a desire to impart not just the work and history of these places and what they commemorate, but to engender a sense of reverence for the sacrifice of those interred there, and a connection to the shared history that these wars created, I felt my perspective regained somewhat. I thought about the world wars, and the unimaginable fear and destruction, and the resilience of humankind. As they talked about how the culmination of their year is Memorial Day, and the opportunity for our students to plant flags on the graves of 24 unknown World War II casualties as an act of service, I couldn't help but feel a little patriotic, which surprised me given...everything. This conversation, and Senator Booker's observations about the promise of America and the American people were a much-needed reframing for me, a little moment to feel a little better about where we are and where we can go. I'm not in denial, but I don't have to be in despair, either.
I was just thinking the other day about how I used to enjoy your comments on Patreon but hadn't "seen" you here for a while (I haven't been able to keep up with Substack as well). I love this powerful reminder! Thank you, Christina!
(Because I need to express a non-political/news observation)
Out of left field, and maybe mentioned or observed in any of the number of places we can comment: I noticed “A different Approach to the News” dropped as the tagline. I am usually curious about branding changes like this. Any insight I missed?
I very much appreciated the conversation with Senator Booker. I could hear the influence of MLK throughout. It was so fitting for this week and brought some peace to my soul. Definitely the message I needed to hear given so eloquently.
As to the TT conversation, I'm torn. I understand the dangers. I am not convinced those dangers are significantly increased on TT vs other large social media companies. The ban is a failure of both Biden and Congress to message this properly. And what they did do felt largely like "Sit back and trust the grown ups to know what is best for you" which does not build confidence or win people over especially when the data collection claim felt so disingenuous. People want to feel respected and valued and will gravitate towards spaces that create that feeling even if they know it's not entirely a safe space.
Circling back to note that Sarah was right on the money in terms of the J6 pardons and that these people throwing explosives and assaulting cops weren't at their first rodeo, and likely not their last. Glad this person was arrested again, not glad it was for illegal possession of a firearm!
"[Daniel] Ball is charged with hurling an “explosive device” into the packed Lower West Terrace tunnel of the Capitol, the scene of some of the most egregious violence against police that day... But Ball’s charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm remained pending and unconnected to his Jan. 6 case. According to that indictment, Ball has previously been convicted of domestic violence battery by strangulation in June 2017, resisting law enforcement with violence and battery of a law enforcement officer in October 2021."
From Heather Cox’s newsletter: “Jackson Reffitt, who reported his father Guy’s participation in the January 6 riot and was a key witness against him, told reporters he fears for his life now that his father is free. Jackson recorded his father’s threat against talking to the authorities. “If you turn me in, you’re a traitor,” his father said, “and traitors get shot.” “I’m honestly flabbergasted that we've gotten to this point," Jackson told CNN. “I’m terrified. I don’t know what I’m going to do.””
I’m sure this can’t be the only case where such individuals are also engaged in domestic abuse. Anecdotally, a great number of Jan 6 insurrectionists were identified/ reported by women they dated & ex-girfriends. And given our, at best, spotty ability to part domestic users with their firearms, I’m very concerned.
I hope someone out there is going to keep a database of the people pardoned and track their behavior going forward. I’m curious how long it will take for some of them the be arrested again. I will be honest if one of the pardoned people hurts one of my loved ones I would raise holy hell.
I do not feel calm. I am very concerned about my fellow Americans and the fury that will be exacted. I’m worried about how much money will be spent on creating more maps and not on even conscientious bills/laws
As a GenX I support aging parents and have kids at home. The EO on prescription drugs costs me money.
What I have gathered says that Musk's grandfather grew up in Canada, a part of multiple other fascist movements, and had anti semestic writings. Not an official Nazi, but seems likely he was a Nazi sympathizer. Someone can correct me if I have that wrong.
Thanks for saying this Maggie. My husband has both autism and ADHD and it’s frustrating to see people blame Elon’s behavior on his potential neurodivergence.
Thank you for chatting more about Tik Tok, I really understood today and you answered some of the questions that have been coming from my friends that I couldn't really answer. What I have heard mostly is that if it is about data privacy then we should do the same to all Social Media, but your explanation of it being propaganda tool and that it's the push not the pull really clicked.
I think about how the EU has GDPR and I remember working at a UK university in Information Services and we would not let any of our student data be houses in the USA. If it was a USA company and a tool or service we wanted to use, then they had to have a server where the data would be housed in the EU. If not we didn’t go with the product no matter how good.
Also that was before Brexit so don't know if the UK is following EU rules now?
I love Cory Booker and have followed him pretty much since he was first elected. When he comes on next, will you please ask him if he still shovels snow for his constituents???
I was hanging out with my dad (who's MAGA) this past weekend. Probably the longest time we have spent together since 2016. And in our conversations, we came to a conclusion that I think goes with Sarah's point. There's a difference between leaders and winners. Trump/MAGA have shown the past 10 years that they are winners. They find easy wins, set themselves up, and take those wins. And if they don't win, they blame the opposition. And when they are the opposition party, they block everything and stick to their narrative. For my sports people, it's a "the best defense is a good offense" strategy. That's why his first set of EOs are all easy wins for him and his base. Gender, Immigration, Energy. Culture War stuff because he's won the culture war. But there are not many leaders in the MAGA world. On the opposite side, the Democratic Party has leaders, but not winners. They struggle to find and take easy wins. Even their wins become losses because their opposition pushes the narrative in their favor. The best presidents, I think, are the ones that are both leaders and winners. Obama was both I believe. So to Sarah's point, I know she mentioned that "it's the same playbook, nothing new" sentiment. But that playbook wins, and Americans want to be winners. Just some of my thoughts.
I feel like I need to scream into the void. Here in Texas these new allowances for ICE are going to actually cause catastrophic issues. My niece and nephew attend a school with a lot of immigrants, my sister in law is on the PTO and coaches numerous sports. They have several kids on their current basketball team who are scared to even send their kids to school now because of the new allowances. These are families who are here on visas, DACA and undocumented. All across the spectrum. It’s a tiny district too. They are trying to work with the mayor to beg to do something to state raids cannot happen at school, so they don’t lose their education, so they don’t lose attendance and funding.
It all feels like a sick ploy to tank these title 1 schools...to tank public education. It’s just gut wrenching.
I agree that the voters who turned out for Trump hoping for relief from cost of living expenses are going to end up disappointed, but I also think that his administration and the social/news platforms in their pockets will simply point the blame anywhere else. Maybe those who are more moderate that were swayed by him this election will see past it, but I just don't think that the members of the MAGA movement will let the scales fall from their eyes and see the truth of his actions and motivations. It honestly makes me sad for them.
The MAGA crowd is a lost cause. I hate to say that about anyone but they have proven time and time again, they can be redirected about anything and everything. I don't know the ins and outs of the legit symptoms to be formally called a cult, but they are very close if not there. You read about people that have come out of it, and they recount their memory and time very similar to cult members. Almost, like, being a different person in a different world. That their thoughts and emotions really, now in hindsight, don't feel like their own because they are "told" what to think and feel, they are "told" what the news is, and they are told anything that tells you otherwise is a lie and trying to hurt you. It's really easy to ignore someone like me, if your "leader" tells you, people like me will try to tell you this (i.e. the truth) and that's when you know for sure, to ignore it. It's sad really, and I have what sound like some conspiracy theories on how we got here, over 100 years of not properly funding public education for starters, I think is one reason. But again, if you find out the person you are talking to is legit MAGA - that's not a mind/heart you can change. But there are people out there who vote Trump who aren't MAGA (I think these people confuse/hurt me the most) and then there are people who aren't political at all that voted for Trump (I wish these people wore a sticker b/c I think they'd be the easiest to talk to). That last group is going to be the ones who are not going to care that bird flu is why eggs are still too expensive, mainly because that was the problem prior to the election too, they want relief. And if DJT doesn't give it, they'll vote the other way in 2 years. What I wish is Democrats would be HONEST with people. There are just some comforts that are likely not coming back. Explain why and let people grieve it and move on. Don't "blame" it on anyone, just own the pandemic got us "these good things" and we lost "these goods things" in the process.
Not sure who lands the guests on the show but I AM LOVING IT - well done, and such thoughtful, helpful conversations about how we white board our way to something better as a party. And Booker’s call to discernment and hope in the face of despair were very needed. Thanks for this!
Sigh. I just don't think I'm ever going to agree with you about Tiktok. And i happen to think that maybe some of what you interpret from Griffin as cynicism is actually him being a realist when it comes to America. I think we need to let American Exceptionalism go because it doesn't exist. Do i believe we are uniquely terrible? No. But we are not uniquely good, either.
I think my biggest issue with the Elon thing is that he knows how people saw it and he has not apologized or even tried to explain.
I don't want any Democratic Senators cutting deals to make Trump's policies less unpopular. The only way out of this mess is to make Trump and the Republican party as unpopular as possible. So I want the children of Trump voters to come home crying because their friends at school were deported. I want Trump voters to be angry that their favorite restaurant closed because the kitchen staff got deported. I want Trump voters to be gripped by anxiety while they wait for critical home repairs, because so many people in the industry were deported. And then I want Democrats to run to microphones and cameras and say that Trump and his party did this to you, because they did.
And I don't think there are going to be protests this time, certainly nothing like we saw last time. The lesson of these years has been that protest doesn't work. Nothing works, and the proof is that he is back. The people who would protest are too busy protecting themselves and being aghast at who they are sharing a country with: simple, simpering idiots who vote selfishly and stupidly. So you have to trick them, and the way to do that is to drive up Trump's unpopularity.
(Also thank you for having a rare sane take on TikTok)
Musk replatformed anti-semites, he retweets anti-semites, he openly supports the closest descendent to the Nazi party in Germany, and then he did a Nazi salute. I don’t think we need to wait for him to publicly announce he is a Nazi.
I feel like this doesn’t tell me anything I don’t already know about him. It also doesn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know about the people who watched and applauded. Fwiw, I’m Jewish, but this is one Jewish person’s opinion.
(Not here to tell anyone else how to feel. Feel as much as you like. But let’s all have grace and compassion for each other over what emotions hit. Some of us feel extra calm in a state of emergency.)
I hope this isn't too rambly, but also I'm gonna hit post, so I guess I'm okay with it if it is...I listened to this episode this morning on the way to work, before an early meeting with staff of the American Battle Monuments Commission working in France. The AMBC was created by Congress in the 1920s and they are responsible for the stewardship of cemeteries and monuments abroad where members of U.S. armed forces are buried. I was meeting with them about establishing an internship for history students studying abroad on our campus in Paris. (My job is really so interesting sometimes.) As I listened to the superintendent of the Suresnes American Cemetery talk about the kind of work an intern would do, and about a desire to impart not just the work and history of these places and what they commemorate, but to engender a sense of reverence for the sacrifice of those interred there, and a connection to the shared history that these wars created, I felt my perspective regained somewhat. I thought about the world wars, and the unimaginable fear and destruction, and the resilience of humankind. As they talked about how the culmination of their year is Memorial Day, and the opportunity for our students to plant flags on the graves of 24 unknown World War II casualties as an act of service, I couldn't help but feel a little patriotic, which surprised me given...everything. This conversation, and Senator Booker's observations about the promise of America and the American people were a much-needed reframing for me, a little moment to feel a little better about where we are and where we can go. I'm not in denial, but I don't have to be in despair, either.
I was just thinking the other day about how I used to enjoy your comments on Patreon but hadn't "seen" you here for a while (I haven't been able to keep up with Substack as well). I love this powerful reminder! Thank you, Christina!
Hi Lindsay 👋🏻 You’re right I haven’t been here much. It’s nice that you noticed!
(Because I need to express a non-political/news observation)
Out of left field, and maybe mentioned or observed in any of the number of places we can comment: I noticed “A different Approach to the News” dropped as the tagline. I am usually curious about branding changes like this. Any insight I missed?
I very much appreciated the conversation with Senator Booker. I could hear the influence of MLK throughout. It was so fitting for this week and brought some peace to my soul. Definitely the message I needed to hear given so eloquently.
As to the TT conversation, I'm torn. I understand the dangers. I am not convinced those dangers are significantly increased on TT vs other large social media companies. The ban is a failure of both Biden and Congress to message this properly. And what they did do felt largely like "Sit back and trust the grown ups to know what is best for you" which does not build confidence or win people over especially when the data collection claim felt so disingenuous. People want to feel respected and valued and will gravitate towards spaces that create that feeling even if they know it's not entirely a safe space.
Circling back to note that Sarah was right on the money in terms of the J6 pardons and that these people throwing explosives and assaulting cops weren't at their first rodeo, and likely not their last. Glad this person was arrested again, not glad it was for illegal possession of a firearm!
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/22/trump-jan-6-defendant-gun-charge-005863
"[Daniel] Ball is charged with hurling an “explosive device” into the packed Lower West Terrace tunnel of the Capitol, the scene of some of the most egregious violence against police that day... But Ball’s charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm remained pending and unconnected to his Jan. 6 case. According to that indictment, Ball has previously been convicted of domestic violence battery by strangulation in June 2017, resisting law enforcement with violence and battery of a law enforcement officer in October 2021."
From Heather Cox’s newsletter: “Jackson Reffitt, who reported his father Guy’s participation in the January 6 riot and was a key witness against him, told reporters he fears for his life now that his father is free. Jackson recorded his father’s threat against talking to the authorities. “If you turn me in, you’re a traitor,” his father said, “and traitors get shot.” “I’m honestly flabbergasted that we've gotten to this point," Jackson told CNN. “I’m terrified. I don’t know what I’m going to do.””
I’m sure this can’t be the only case where such individuals are also engaged in domestic abuse. Anecdotally, a great number of Jan 6 insurrectionists were identified/ reported by women they dated & ex-girfriends. And given our, at best, spotty ability to part domestic users with their firearms, I’m very concerned.
I hope someone out there is going to keep a database of the people pardoned and track their behavior going forward. I’m curious how long it will take for some of them the be arrested again. I will be honest if one of the pardoned people hurts one of my loved ones I would raise holy hell.
yeeeshhhh.
I do not feel calm. I am very concerned about my fellow Americans and the fury that will be exacted. I’m worried about how much money will be spent on creating more maps and not on even conscientious bills/laws
As a GenX I support aging parents and have kids at home. The EO on prescription drugs costs me money.
Finally able to find y’all again on Substack even though I subscribe. This platform is difficult for me to navigate.
Question: Elon’s grandparents were nazis who fled to South Africa, right?
What I have gathered says that Musk's grandfather grew up in Canada, a part of multiple other fascist movements, and had anti semestic writings. Not an official Nazi, but seems likely he was a Nazi sympathizer. Someone can correct me if I have that wrong.
Either way it’s not an AuDHD confused “salute”
I know lots of people with both autism and ADHD and not one of them has ever made that gesture by accident. -Maggie
Thanks for saying this Maggie. My husband has both autism and ADHD and it’s frustrating to see people blame Elon’s behavior on his potential neurodivergence.
Thank you for chatting more about Tik Tok, I really understood today and you answered some of the questions that have been coming from my friends that I couldn't really answer. What I have heard mostly is that if it is about data privacy then we should do the same to all Social Media, but your explanation of it being propaganda tool and that it's the push not the pull really clicked.
I think about how the EU has GDPR and I remember working at a UK university in Information Services and we would not let any of our student data be houses in the USA. If it was a USA company and a tool or service we wanted to use, then they had to have a server where the data would be housed in the EU. If not we didn’t go with the product no matter how good.
Also that was before Brexit so don't know if the UK is following EU rules now?
They have their own set of rules, probably similar.
I love Cory Booker and have followed him pretty much since he was first elected. When he comes on next, will you please ask him if he still shovels snow for his constituents???
re: Sarah's Point at 6:28 "Winning"
I was hanging out with my dad (who's MAGA) this past weekend. Probably the longest time we have spent together since 2016. And in our conversations, we came to a conclusion that I think goes with Sarah's point. There's a difference between leaders and winners. Trump/MAGA have shown the past 10 years that they are winners. They find easy wins, set themselves up, and take those wins. And if they don't win, they blame the opposition. And when they are the opposition party, they block everything and stick to their narrative. For my sports people, it's a "the best defense is a good offense" strategy. That's why his first set of EOs are all easy wins for him and his base. Gender, Immigration, Energy. Culture War stuff because he's won the culture war. But there are not many leaders in the MAGA world. On the opposite side, the Democratic Party has leaders, but not winners. They struggle to find and take easy wins. Even their wins become losses because their opposition pushes the narrative in their favor. The best presidents, I think, are the ones that are both leaders and winners. Obama was both I believe. So to Sarah's point, I know she mentioned that "it's the same playbook, nothing new" sentiment. But that playbook wins, and Americans want to be winners. Just some of my thoughts.
This is a VERY good point. -Maggie
I hate American sports culture.
I feel like I need to scream into the void. Here in Texas these new allowances for ICE are going to actually cause catastrophic issues. My niece and nephew attend a school with a lot of immigrants, my sister in law is on the PTO and coaches numerous sports. They have several kids on their current basketball team who are scared to even send their kids to school now because of the new allowances. These are families who are here on visas, DACA and undocumented. All across the spectrum. It’s a tiny district too. They are trying to work with the mayor to beg to do something to state raids cannot happen at school, so they don’t lose their education, so they don’t lose attendance and funding.
It all feels like a sick ploy to tank these title 1 schools...to tank public education. It’s just gut wrenching.