Thank you for a forward-looking 15 things this week and as always great links with some bonus Sunny content to remind us who we are fighting for in the coming years.
On Wednesday at work me and a coworker stared at this squirrel for five minutes who was running around and rolling in mulch and doing that thing that happens in cartoons where they climb to the end of a tree branch and its weight is too much so they land on the ground. And this squirrel was doing this over and over, and we were like, that squirrel has no idea what happened last night and I am so happy for it
Just read the Nathan Robinson piece—it’s fantastic. While you couldn’t have paid me to vote for DT, I’m hoping, hoping, hoping Dem leadership has a serious reckoning with itself over the next 4 years.
Grateful for the reminder and direction to dig into some actually good journalism and analysis around the election. The combination of losing faith in so much MSM this year & the temptation to doom-scroll the past few days was not amounting to anything good ! Grateful for your recos as always. Happy 1st Birthday Sunny and congrats to you on surviving and thriving your first year of motherhood.
Shoutout to your sister… we need more Richard Scarry stuff in the world in general! I made one of his works my phone wallpaper and it has gone a long way to help seasonal sads. Also happy birthday Sunny! Substack’s nepo baby! 😂
The Taylor Swift endorsement article is excellent but it goes against one of my core beliefs about Trump’s popularity. I think in general we severely underestimate how much his celebrity propels him forward. I’d love to know how many MAGA supporters have ever worn a president’s name or face on a T-shirt before Trump. I’d guess the percentage is in zero digits. He’s been the catalyst for a lot of people accessing politics for the first time because they actually know someone who is running. To that logic, I think that’s why so many people had so much faith in the Taylor Swift Harris endorsement. It felt like evening that playing field but it was clearly an illusion.
Totally see what you're saying, but also can't help but think of obama! He was absolutely on t-shirts, and the endurance of his appeal despite his many failures as a politician is really interesting. I think JFK and Reagan also felt like celeb presidents. Obviously trump is in a league of his own, but the puzzle of cult appeal in the political arena feels distinct from the promise of hollywood endorse....you're right it's so gray though, def worth exploring
In 2016 I wasn’t in the best place to become more engaged in my community, then the pandemic happened and the isolation intensified. This time I want to be more proactive about helping to support and protect people and their rights in my local community. Does anyone have good suggestions? I have kids so time is an issue and it would be nice to have outlets that are kid (specifically infant and toddler) friendly.
Sub-question: I’m a man. How do I let the women, LGBT, and POC in my community know that I respect and support them without being over the top, performative, or corny (I.e., I wouldn’t wear a shirt that says “Feminist” on it even though I consider myself one)?
I'm not an expert on this but you might find some interesting paths for getting involved by searching to see if your local DSA chapter holds meetings, or if there are mutual aid groups in your area that meet and need help (I once had a weekly route of dropping leftover produce from a farmers market at a kitchen that then prepared the food for community members in need—was like two hours out of my day once a week), or even searching for local volunteer orgs on google. Kind of a blunt answer but I do think googling can be pretty fruitful for this stuff. Organizing your workplace if you have one, helping care for local public spaces like parks and gardens, participating in strikes/boycotts/protests, attending local political meetings. I think getting involved is a broad spectrum from softer social things to more intense direct action stuff...like I think just being a good neighbor matters for the cause! But honestly I would like to do more too, so even thinking through this answer was helpful for me. It's easy to list a bunch of stuff out and harder to pick something and follow the thread
As for your second question, I don't know that you need to do anything beyond be a decent human being and never be shy about their cause out of some deferential sense of "it's not my place." But I don't speak for everyone in those groups so I think asking other people this question is fine and good!
Thank you for a forward-looking 15 things this week and as always great links with some bonus Sunny content to remind us who we are fighting for in the coming years.
❤️❤️❤️
On Wednesday at work me and a coworker stared at this squirrel for five minutes who was running around and rolling in mulch and doing that thing that happens in cartoons where they climb to the end of a tree branch and its weight is too much so they land on the ground. And this squirrel was doing this over and over, and we were like, that squirrel has no idea what happened last night and I am so happy for it
Exactly 😭
Haley, in case you didn't know - a woman finished the Barkley this year for the first time ever: Jasmin Paris, a Scottish veterinarian and mother of two, it's a fantastic story and the photo of her reaching the yellow gate is one of my favourite sports photos. https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a60661517/jasmin-paris-barkley-marathons-training/
Immediate chills. AHH!! Must know everything about her
And I enjoyed this essay about the finishing photo! https://sarahrunning.substack.com/p/the-history-making-shot
Wow, great essay, thanks for sharing!
I work with an organization in Pittsburgh that helps resettle refugees and we are expecting a huge increase in clients in anticipation of Trump dismantling the resettlement program. People can donate money or purchase supplies from their Amazon wishlist, here’s more info: https://www.helloneighbor.io/updates/post-election-message-from-sloane-davidson-founder-and-ceo-of-hello-neighbor
Thank you for sharing this
Love this. I’m also in Pittsburgh.
Just read the Nathan Robinson piece—it’s fantastic. While you couldn’t have paid me to vote for DT, I’m hoping, hoping, hoping Dem leadership has a serious reckoning with itself over the next 4 years.
Big big same
Happy first year of motherhood, Haley! I am sorry if celebrating was in any way overshadowed by this past week.
congrats on almost one year of motherhood - and happy bday to Sunny!!! it is a huge achievement.
Thank you 🥲
Grateful for the reminder and direction to dig into some actually good journalism and analysis around the election. The combination of losing faith in so much MSM this year & the temptation to doom-scroll the past few days was not amounting to anything good ! Grateful for your recos as always. Happy 1st Birthday Sunny and congrats to you on surviving and thriving your first year of motherhood.
Please watching the Gay and Wonderous Life of Caleb Gallo if you haven't-- <3 BJA-- it will send you right back to 2016 in a charming way
Freckle 🫶
The number of times I have made people watch the "sometimes... things that are expensive... are worse" scene... I almost feel sorry for my loved ones
Shoutout to your sister… we need more Richard Scarry stuff in the world in general! I made one of his works my phone wallpaper and it has gone a long way to help seasonal sads. Also happy birthday Sunny! Substack’s nepo baby! 😂
The Taylor Swift endorsement article is excellent but it goes against one of my core beliefs about Trump’s popularity. I think in general we severely underestimate how much his celebrity propels him forward. I’d love to know how many MAGA supporters have ever worn a president’s name or face on a T-shirt before Trump. I’d guess the percentage is in zero digits. He’s been the catalyst for a lot of people accessing politics for the first time because they actually know someone who is running. To that logic, I think that’s why so many people had so much faith in the Taylor Swift Harris endorsement. It felt like evening that playing field but it was clearly an illusion.
Totally see what you're saying, but also can't help but think of obama! He was absolutely on t-shirts, and the endurance of his appeal despite his many failures as a politician is really interesting. I think JFK and Reagan also felt like celeb presidents. Obviously trump is in a league of his own, but the puzzle of cult appeal in the political arena feels distinct from the promise of hollywood endorse....you're right it's so gray though, def worth exploring
Thank you for the times tech guild strike note!
I would love to buy those crowns as gifts for my friends’ kids 🥹 if your sister decides to take custom requests
Need to convince her to start an etsy shop!
will report back
Having a baby really was grounding this week. They are why we keep moving forward. Our daughters deserve a better world. Happy birthday Sunny!
Love you and your writing, Hayley. Your words always give me comfort and strength.
In 2016 I wasn’t in the best place to become more engaged in my community, then the pandemic happened and the isolation intensified. This time I want to be more proactive about helping to support and protect people and their rights in my local community. Does anyone have good suggestions? I have kids so time is an issue and it would be nice to have outlets that are kid (specifically infant and toddler) friendly.
Sub-question: I’m a man. How do I let the women, LGBT, and POC in my community know that I respect and support them without being over the top, performative, or corny (I.e., I wouldn’t wear a shirt that says “Feminist” on it even though I consider myself one)?
I'm not an expert on this but you might find some interesting paths for getting involved by searching to see if your local DSA chapter holds meetings, or if there are mutual aid groups in your area that meet and need help (I once had a weekly route of dropping leftover produce from a farmers market at a kitchen that then prepared the food for community members in need—was like two hours out of my day once a week), or even searching for local volunteer orgs on google. Kind of a blunt answer but I do think googling can be pretty fruitful for this stuff. Organizing your workplace if you have one, helping care for local public spaces like parks and gardens, participating in strikes/boycotts/protests, attending local political meetings. I think getting involved is a broad spectrum from softer social things to more intense direct action stuff...like I think just being a good neighbor matters for the cause! But honestly I would like to do more too, so even thinking through this answer was helpful for me. It's easy to list a bunch of stuff out and harder to pick something and follow the thread
As for your second question, I don't know that you need to do anything beyond be a decent human being and never be shy about their cause out of some deferential sense of "it's not my place." But I don't speak for everyone in those groups so I think asking other people this question is fine and good!
Thanks so much for the long and thoughtful answer. I really like the idea of doing community work as a political act.