Thanks Margaret. Add to the list daily must read: Heather Cox Richardson, who puts this moment and the #DirtyOldMan in historical perspective, and Joyce White Vance who takes on the legal angle. Welcome back--let's get to work.
Judge Juan Merchan should have sentenced Trump to one day of public service. Just one day to symbolize Trump is (about to be) a public servant (versus a billionaire sycophant.)
The problem with this idea is that, while appropriate, even a whiff of consequences would have reduced the six-members of the conservative cabal on SCOTUS to desperate tears. As many have pointed out, Roberts and Barrett likely voted to let sentencing proceed only because Judge Merchan assured them that hi sentence would be unconditional discharge, i.e. nothing.
Growing up (late 50's, early 60's), when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. I'd say Astronaut. When I was old enough to know more about how things got done, I'd say Chief Justice of The United States Court. I'm back to Astronaut.
I wanted to be the next Walter Cronkhite ... sadly there would be no place for Walter in today's world. So my fallback is Domestic Policy Chief at the White House ... although NOT with the incoming Administration.
I'd have gone a little further and had Judge Merchan sentence Trump to four years in prison, term to begin on Jan. 20, 2029, or on the day he leaves office, whichever is earlier.
I like your intention, but I fear an incarceration sentence would (a) Put Judge Merchan & Family at even more risk and (b) Trump and his cabal, including The (used-to-be) Supreme Court, would find some obscure totem from the 1700s or 1800s to nullify a prison sentence. I will practice Malcolm Nance's recommendation and ignore The Inauguration for the entire week. If "W" has a memorable 1-liner again, I will make an exception for that one sentence.
I think Josh Marshall and his whole team at Talking Points Memo (where Greg Sargent is an alum I believe) deserve a lot more attention for the work they do in both reporting and analysis.
In addition to Robert Reich, Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance and Timothy Snyder, whom you and readers have mentioned, also on my indispensable reading list are Paul Krugman, for his clear-eyed, fact-based commentary; Steve Schmidt, for his no-hold-barred, acid-laced commentary; Popular Information, for its superb investigative reporting; Andy Borowitz, for his ability to skewer hypocrisy in just a few words; Robert Hubbell, for his fact-based, humane and inspiring analyses of the day’s news; Jeff Tiedrich for his profane takes on the news; and Ruth Ben-Ghiat, for her expertise on fascism and authoritarianism. All of them can be found on Substack.
I inadvertently left off my list another indispensable voice: Jess Piper, who writes the “The View From Rural Missouri,” an insightful take on trump country.
Jess is outstanding! Can't recommend her enough. Add Lucas Kunce too! He's just started on Substack but the insights are amazing. He's an excellent writer too.
Thanks for the suggestions. All are voices of truth and sanity. The Editorial Board of WaPo today displayed their feelings on the upcoming cabinet picks. For a paper that led with Watergate those many years ago, they have no redeeming service to the public now.
Jen Rubin left the Post yesterday to start her own organization. It’s called The Contrarian, I believe. I left in November, but I sure miss Jen Rubin and Alexandra Petri. At least now I can read Rubin again.
Thank you! Substack is my go-to source for truthful reporting, and I appreciate you opening your column to all, because there are so many who long for truthful reporting who cannot afford to subscribe to each and every worthy columnist on Substack! I have been a long-time subscriber to Robert Hubbell's " Today's Edition Newsletter", so encourage folks to check that out, as well as Heather Cox Richardson and Joyce White Vance. I was so sad when you left The Post, but applaud you for doing so. Keep up the awesome work.
One additional guideline that I personally follow, especially right now:
If someone is consumed with "blaming", they're usually full of shit. They don't really know, so they grab at the first likely thing. Sometimes people just need to shut up to wake up.
Journalism is becoming a dirty word funded by dark money. Newspapers and magazines are dying entities. We are returning to the age of yellow journalism once again. What will rise from the ashes remains to be seen. Likewise to this reformation must come a New Democratic Party. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/reform-the-democratic-party?r=3m1bs
Thank you, Margaret, for compiling such a great list of hopeful links. We will continue to keep the truth front and center regardless of any personal cost. That is what true patriots do.
Agree with you re everyone on your list. Greg Sargent a personal favorite. Poor Matt Gertz. Very good, but must everyday be mistaken for one of the worst ppl.
ThankYou for travel updates. Envious, but interested
Thanks Margaret. Add to the list daily must read: Heather Cox Richardson, who puts this moment and the #DirtyOldMan in historical perspective, and Joyce White Vance who takes on the legal angle. Welcome back--let's get to work.
I'm also an ardent reader of both, Ginny . . . as well as of this essential, of course.
Judge Juan Merchan should have sentenced Trump to one day of public service. Just one day to symbolize Trump is (about to be) a public servant (versus a billionaire sycophant.)
I like that idea.
I do too.
The problem with this idea is that, while appropriate, even a whiff of consequences would have reduced the six-members of the conservative cabal on SCOTUS to desperate tears. As many have pointed out, Roberts and Barrett likely voted to let sentencing proceed only because Judge Merchan assured them that hi sentence would be unconditional discharge, i.e. nothing.
Growing up (late 50's, early 60's), when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. I'd say Astronaut. When I was old enough to know more about how things got done, I'd say Chief Justice of The United States Court. I'm back to Astronaut.
I grew up in the ‘50s and ‘60s, too. Then, I admired the chief justice and SCOTUS. Now, they just make me ill.
Because they were serious people in the mid 20th Century. Unlike these clowns.
I wanted to be the next Walter Cronkhite ... sadly there would be no place for Walter in today's world. So my fallback is Domestic Policy Chief at the White House ... although NOT with the incoming Administration.
I'd have gone a little further and had Judge Merchan sentence Trump to four years in prison, term to begin on Jan. 20, 2029, or on the day he leaves office, whichever is earlier.
I like your intention, but I fear an incarceration sentence would (a) Put Judge Merchan & Family at even more risk and (b) Trump and his cabal, including The (used-to-be) Supreme Court, would find some obscure totem from the 1700s or 1800s to nullify a prison sentence. I will practice Malcolm Nance's recommendation and ignore The Inauguration for the entire week. If "W" has a memorable 1-liner again, I will make an exception for that one sentence.
Trump is too much of a danger for a public service sentence. Maybe he could have done some honey-dipping (pun intended.)
Timothy Snyder is an essential truth teller on authoritarianism and Peter Kalmus on the climate crisis too many are ignoring.
I think Josh Marshall and his whole team at Talking Points Memo (where Greg Sargent is an alum I believe) deserve a lot more attention for the work they do in both reporting and analysis.
Yes.
In addition to Robert Reich, Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance and Timothy Snyder, whom you and readers have mentioned, also on my indispensable reading list are Paul Krugman, for his clear-eyed, fact-based commentary; Steve Schmidt, for his no-hold-barred, acid-laced commentary; Popular Information, for its superb investigative reporting; Andy Borowitz, for his ability to skewer hypocrisy in just a few words; Robert Hubbell, for his fact-based, humane and inspiring analyses of the day’s news; Jeff Tiedrich for his profane takes on the news; and Ruth Ben-Ghiat, for her expertise on fascism and authoritarianism. All of them can be found on Substack.
I inadvertently left off my list another indispensable voice: Jess Piper, who writes the “The View From Rural Missouri,” an insightful take on trump country.
Jess is outstanding! Can't recommend her enough. Add Lucas Kunce too! He's just started on Substack but the insights are amazing. He's an excellent writer too.
Thanks for the suggestions. All are voices of truth and sanity. The Editorial Board of WaPo today displayed their feelings on the upcoming cabinet picks. For a paper that led with Watergate those many years ago, they have no redeeming service to the public now.
Jen Rubin left the Post yesterday to start her own organization. It’s called The Contrarian, I believe. I left in November, but I sure miss Jen Rubin and Alexandra Petri. At least now I can read Rubin again.
Greg Sargent also has a great podcast called The daily blast. It's available on the deep State Network but also any podcast provider.
Yes, I was honored to be featured on one of his episodes a few weeks ago.
Thank you! Substack is my go-to source for truthful reporting, and I appreciate you opening your column to all, because there are so many who long for truthful reporting who cannot afford to subscribe to each and every worthy columnist on Substack! I have been a long-time subscriber to Robert Hubbell's " Today's Edition Newsletter", so encourage folks to check that out, as well as Heather Cox Richardson and Joyce White Vance. I was so sad when you left The Post, but applaud you for doing so. Keep up the awesome work.
One additional guideline that I personally follow, especially right now:
If someone is consumed with "blaming", they're usually full of shit. They don't really know, so they grab at the first likely thing. Sometimes people just need to shut up to wake up.
Dr. Marcy Wheeler at Emptywheel is fascinating reading.
Journalism is becoming a dirty word funded by dark money. Newspapers and magazines are dying entities. We are returning to the age of yellow journalism once again. What will rise from the ashes remains to be seen. Likewise to this reformation must come a New Democratic Party. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/reform-the-democratic-party?r=3m1bs
Add to that Democrats and the rural voter. https://rleonard.substack.com/p/a-democratic-rural-leaders-view-from
I agree! I'm swamped with reading all the state/local news sources that I'm following ... this is one of the Substacks I take time to read.
Thank you for raising your voice and letting know who else is shining a light in this dark age.
Bon voyage on your quest! I am right now at 68°17’25” S off the Antarctic Peninsula about to set foot on my 7th continent!
Wow, very exciting!
Thank you, Margaret, for compiling such a great list of hopeful links. We will continue to keep the truth front and center regardless of any personal cost. That is what true patriots do.
Agree with you re everyone on your list. Greg Sargent a personal favorite. Poor Matt Gertz. Very good, but must everyday be mistaken for one of the worst ppl.
ThankYou for travel updates. Envious, but interested
Thank you so much for your work. Always courageous, clear, and intelligent.