Well done tackling such a tough issue so delicately. A note to add perhaps, to anyone with news-fatigue, or really any sort of exhaustion, is learn to rest not quit. If you need to pause, then pause. Build up, and return with a higher level of resilience. Then pause again when you’ve hit your new limit. Repeat. Someone, somewhere is picking up the baton and you are allowed to rest. When you pick up again, you’re allowing someone else a breather. But don’t permanently turn away from uncomfortable truths.
You did quite an eloquent job highlighting the actionable steps that can be taken. It creates tangible wins, and reinforces a sense of agency— rather than a victim mindset. Because at the end of the day, what is ignored today returns doubled tomorrow.
Appreciate both the acknowledgment that this kind of newsletter can get doom-y at times (because it's just the nature of these things!) as well as the graceful effort to get people activated. Really grateful for your writing and work.
Thank you Brian for your tireless efforts. I don't want to say I have been enjoying your posts because of the dire circumstances under which they were written, but they have indeed been well composed, powerful and informative. Keep up the good fight and I appreciate the actionable items, I think I will drive my union made Ford down to my local Tesla dealership and represent. Not a big fan of fascists or transhumanists so this should be fun. The hammer just so happens to be my favorite tool.
"Anytime: Sign up to join the federal workers unions as an ally, as they organize to confront DOGE and Trump’s latest executive order to eradicate their right to bargain. Read"
Tip about the doom and gloom, banal as it is: I mostly listen to these newsletters on the app while walking in nature.
I'm in the northern hemisphere so spring is coming. Looking at nature unfold each day as I listen to reports of even more evil authoritarian activities prevents me from collapsing into a sobbing mess. I also focus on the damn fine writing (thanks, Brian Merchant and other good writers) and train myself on good talking points so I don't go "deer in the headlights" if I get into a situation where I need to discuss these issues in any way, shape, or form. Listening also surfaces old history like thinking about Abu Ghraib when reading about Kristi Noem's pathetic photo op, so walking and listening also helps me get my ducks in a row. This is not Pollyanna thinking. It does have to do with resilience. I have done good for myself with the long walk. I can feel overwhelmed by the horror and rage when I think of something like Rumeysa Ozturk's experience, but then I draw on the resilience I am working on building up to help spread her news and other facts I learn about to counter the lies spewing forth from the top of the U.S. government.
J.M. Jakus' point here about resting is so, so important to do, too. We have to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of this mess! I shared what I do, and that might not work for others, but resting works for us all.
As a longtime software dude (and longtime EFF and ACLU member), thanks for speaking up for Signal. This was what some of us would call a bad-user-on-device issue (bad user == Waltz). Not a software or hardware issue, a wetware issue. Signal may have some imperfections, but this was not one of them. From what I've read in the nerd press, Signal is one of the better-secured communications apps out there.
Act locally, as well, build and rebuild what you can near you on a smaller level, based on your community's needs. We still have agency, and it feels like an antidote to the doom.
Well done tackling such a tough issue so delicately. A note to add perhaps, to anyone with news-fatigue, or really any sort of exhaustion, is learn to rest not quit. If you need to pause, then pause. Build up, and return with a higher level of resilience. Then pause again when you’ve hit your new limit. Repeat. Someone, somewhere is picking up the baton and you are allowed to rest. When you pick up again, you’re allowing someone else a breather. But don’t permanently turn away from uncomfortable truths.
You did quite an eloquent job highlighting the actionable steps that can be taken. It creates tangible wins, and reinforces a sense of agency— rather than a victim mindset. Because at the end of the day, what is ignored today returns doubled tomorrow.
Keep it up ;)
Appreciate both the acknowledgment that this kind of newsletter can get doom-y at times (because it's just the nature of these things!) as well as the graceful effort to get people activated. Really grateful for your writing and work.
Thanks so much for saying so, and for reading
Thank you Brian for your tireless efforts. I don't want to say I have been enjoying your posts because of the dire circumstances under which they were written, but they have indeed been well composed, powerful and informative. Keep up the good fight and I appreciate the actionable items, I think I will drive my union made Ford down to my local Tesla dealership and represent. Not a big fan of fascists or transhumanists so this should be fun. The hammer just so happens to be my favorite tool.
🔨🔨🔨
cheers Todd, get it out there
"Anytime: Sign up to join the federal workers unions as an ally, as they organize to confront DOGE and Trump’s latest executive order to eradicate their right to bargain. Read"
Is there a missing link in that paragraph?
No, just a stray word that got moved below! Deleted, thx
No problem!
Tip about the doom and gloom, banal as it is: I mostly listen to these newsletters on the app while walking in nature.
I'm in the northern hemisphere so spring is coming. Looking at nature unfold each day as I listen to reports of even more evil authoritarian activities prevents me from collapsing into a sobbing mess. I also focus on the damn fine writing (thanks, Brian Merchant and other good writers) and train myself on good talking points so I don't go "deer in the headlights" if I get into a situation where I need to discuss these issues in any way, shape, or form. Listening also surfaces old history like thinking about Abu Ghraib when reading about Kristi Noem's pathetic photo op, so walking and listening also helps me get my ducks in a row. This is not Pollyanna thinking. It does have to do with resilience. I have done good for myself with the long walk. I can feel overwhelmed by the horror and rage when I think of something like Rumeysa Ozturk's experience, but then I draw on the resilience I am working on building up to help spread her news and other facts I learn about to counter the lies spewing forth from the top of the U.S. government.
J.M. Jakus' point here about resting is so, so important to do, too. We have to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of this mess! I shared what I do, and that might not work for others, but resting works for us all.
Hammers up!
Hammers up Comrade. Solidarity from Europe. Venceremos.
As a longtime software dude (and longtime EFF and ACLU member), thanks for speaking up for Signal. This was what some of us would call a bad-user-on-device issue (bad user == Waltz). Not a software or hardware issue, a wetware issue. Signal may have some imperfections, but this was not one of them. From what I've read in the nerd press, Signal is one of the better-secured communications apps out there.
Act locally, as well, build and rebuild what you can near you on a smaller level, based on your community's needs. We still have agency, and it feels like an antidote to the doom.