I think the MTG discussion is important because it helps us consider how we want to talk to out conservative voting friends and family members. Nobody wants to hear that they are a horrible person for how they voted. We need to start saying, “This isn’t what you wanted to happen.” And “I know this isn’t what you wanted.” (Those are Dr Becky lines for how to talk to our kids when they make a mistake, but I think it’s a more valuable approach in politics too.)
To the MTG of it all, a lil something from the French language: "ignorant" is an adjective that is formed from the verb "ignorer," which means "to not know (yet)." Ignorance is not a character flaw, it is a point on a timeline.
I’m one of MTG’s constituents, and it has been extremely strange to watch this recent round of interviews. I have never spoken to her personally, nor do I ever want to. But a friend of mine who recently attended a fundraiser for our Republican AG said she was also there and basically told the folks there (who are not MAGA, more Brian Kemp/establishment GOP) that she knows what she’s saying and doing is wrong, but at least it gets her attention and the ear of Trump. This was before the shutdown. So while I’m glad she is making good points recently, I’m still very skeptical of her, and I don’t want her as my Rep. She very rarely spends time in the district, doesn’t have a physical office here, and seems to be only out for herself and the attention.
One thing with regard to the shutdown - I think we ought to be saying, is that "we cant help that republicans need a permission slip to negotiate". I love the word "permission slip" to describe this thing. How are you supposed to negotiate with this nonsense? We need to call that out. Part of preserving democracy IS that - preserving the dealmaking in congress.
I would LOVE to hear what MTG thinks we need to do with healthcare. Because I've not heard one Republican leader make any suggestions and I don't know how to calibrate my own ideas and expectations based on what they are thinking. At least a conversation with her would put cards on the table where everyone can see them.
Tbh, I’m still hot about Nancy Pelosi and the catastrophe of the 2024 election. Lulu Garcia-Navarro of the NYT interviewed Pelosi last year just weeks after Trump won, and Pelosi flatly denied that Dems had made a single incorrect decision. Her interview was a masterclass in deflecting and denying. At every turn, she downplayed the consequences of the Democratic leadership’s decisions. It was infuriating.
Ultimately, I’m angry because people 50 years older than me (Biden, Pelosi) have clung onto power for the sake of their egos, and their decision to do so is costing my generation far more than it will cost theirs. I don’t think it’s praiseworthy that an octogenarian retired at 85. I think it’s insane. I know I’m running hot on this, but it’s truly maddening to me!
I think Beth mentioned Oliver Burkeman posting something about this being the first post-social media election, is there a link to that? I searched but couldn't find it. (My apologies if I misheard/misunderstood, I listen while I work.)
Still processing the MTG of it all. But I will say I appreciated hearing her say she had consumed media that was negatively affecting her and the rest of us have too. So many people in my life need to hear that message from a person they recognize as being far right.
I’ll make this my Thought Thread. I want to say that the Florida Gators mean more to me than the Democrats do. (I did not attend UF.) I vote Democrat, but I could take or leave that label and the party as a whole.
This was the debrief I needed. I love that in this conversation there was such a clear laying out of the racist nods and winks and a let’s have MTG on the show. We need both the clarity of reality and the willingness to work with others, let others have their redemption arc in ways that are different from my own.
I wanted to give a book recommendation to all the people out there who are like Beth who get frustrated by the implication that there is only one way to do politics when she said, “The more you invite people to do politics in different ways, the better.” The book is called Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul by Dorcas Cheng-Tozun and while it is more about how there is more than one way to be an activist, that certainly has easy transfer to politics. https://amzn.to/4oRm12Q
I have tried listening to this twice and it keeps cutting out and looping back to Beth saying that they're sharing this without a pay well, but it doesn't look like anyone else in the comments is having trouble maybe I'll restart my phone
I am not having that problem, BUT you may need to update your substack app. I updated it earlier this week and it fixed some of the commenting and video problems I’d been having.
love the digestive system analogy
Thank you all so much for your hard work and for giving us this bonus episode! I subscribed as a member and am honored to become a SPICE member 💁♀️ ✨
I think the MTG discussion is important because it helps us consider how we want to talk to out conservative voting friends and family members. Nobody wants to hear that they are a horrible person for how they voted. We need to start saying, “This isn’t what you wanted to happen.” And “I know this isn’t what you wanted.” (Those are Dr Becky lines for how to talk to our kids when they make a mistake, but I think it’s a more valuable approach in politics too.)
To the MTG of it all, a lil something from the French language: "ignorant" is an adjective that is formed from the verb "ignorer," which means "to not know (yet)." Ignorance is not a character flaw, it is a point on a timeline.
I’m one of MTG’s constituents, and it has been extremely strange to watch this recent round of interviews. I have never spoken to her personally, nor do I ever want to. But a friend of mine who recently attended a fundraiser for our Republican AG said she was also there and basically told the folks there (who are not MAGA, more Brian Kemp/establishment GOP) that she knows what she’s saying and doing is wrong, but at least it gets her attention and the ear of Trump. This was before the shutdown. So while I’m glad she is making good points recently, I’m still very skeptical of her, and I don’t want her as my Rep. She very rarely spends time in the district, doesn’t have a physical office here, and seems to be only out for herself and the attention.
One thing with regard to the shutdown - I think we ought to be saying, is that "we cant help that republicans need a permission slip to negotiate". I love the word "permission slip" to describe this thing. How are you supposed to negotiate with this nonsense? We need to call that out. Part of preserving democracy IS that - preserving the dealmaking in congress.
I loved this article from politico which is where I heard it: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/why-mark-warner-is-sitting-out-the-shutdown/ar-AA1PyrKF?ocid=BingNewsSerp
I would LOVE to hear what MTG thinks we need to do with healthcare. Because I've not heard one Republican leader make any suggestions and I don't know how to calibrate my own ideas and expectations based on what they are thinking. At least a conversation with her would put cards on the table where everyone can see them.
Ohhhh the distinction between the use of moralizing vs. a hunger for virtue was so helpful for me (an enneagram one). Thank you!
Tbh, I’m still hot about Nancy Pelosi and the catastrophe of the 2024 election. Lulu Garcia-Navarro of the NYT interviewed Pelosi last year just weeks after Trump won, and Pelosi flatly denied that Dems had made a single incorrect decision. Her interview was a masterclass in deflecting and denying. At every turn, she downplayed the consequences of the Democratic leadership’s decisions. It was infuriating.
Ultimately, I’m angry because people 50 years older than me (Biden, Pelosi) have clung onto power for the sake of their egos, and their decision to do so is costing my generation far more than it will cost theirs. I don’t think it’s praiseworthy that an octogenarian retired at 85. I think it’s insane. I know I’m running hot on this, but it’s truly maddening to me!
I think Beth mentioned Oliver Burkeman posting something about this being the first post-social media election, is there a link to that? I searched but couldn't find it. (My apologies if I misheard/misunderstood, I listen while I work.)
https://substack.com/@oliverburkeman/note/c-174231074?r=18thgd&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Thank you!
Still processing the MTG of it all. But I will say I appreciated hearing her say she had consumed media that was negatively affecting her and the rest of us have too. So many people in my life need to hear that message from a person they recognize as being far right.
She went up several notches in my estimation with that statement.
I’m so sick of how my type of people are talking about Ezra Klein and making him out to be the evil we need to discard.
I’ll make this my Thought Thread. I want to say that the Florida Gators mean more to me than the Democrats do. (I did not attend UF.) I vote Democrat, but I could take or leave that label and the party as a whole.
Totally agree! And I really don't think it's me being a nonconformist. The whole party affiliation thing in general just doesn't resonate with me.
This was the debrief I needed. I love that in this conversation there was such a clear laying out of the racist nods and winks and a let’s have MTG on the show. We need both the clarity of reality and the willingness to work with others, let others have their redemption arc in ways that are different from my own.
I wanted to give a book recommendation to all the people out there who are like Beth who get frustrated by the implication that there is only one way to do politics when she said, “The more you invite people to do politics in different ways, the better.” The book is called Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul by Dorcas Cheng-Tozun and while it is more about how there is more than one way to be an activist, that certainly has easy transfer to politics. https://amzn.to/4oRm12Q
I give props to MTG for going on The View. I wouldn't go on The View. I wouldn't send anyone I cared about to The View. (unless Joy Behar was out)
I'd be down for you to have MTG on the show. I have lots of questions and I'm not riled up about her at all.
Norma, you crack me up.
I have tried listening to this twice and it keeps cutting out and looping back to Beth saying that they're sharing this without a pay well, but it doesn't look like anyone else in the comments is having trouble maybe I'll restart my phone
I am not having that problem, BUT you may need to update your substack app. I updated it earlier this week and it fixed some of the commenting and video problems I’d been having.
Update fixed it, thanks Maggie. Still miss my rainbow icon 😉
I should’ve mentioned that when I was talking to them this week!!!!