Craig Unger who wrote several Trump-Russia books has been writing about Witkoff's connection to at least one Russian mobster, probably along with Trump, who has many such connections:
With the discontent among Republicans in Congress, if Aftyn Behn wins in TN-07, a +22 Republican seat, I would imagine we would see a lot of Republicans decide to leave Congress -- and maybe soon. It would only take a handful leaving for Democrats to have a majority. It's time to push hard!
Thanks, Coleman! I'm going to use this in my call to Sen. Tillis today. He hates Putin, so I think there's a good chance he'll be receptive to this message. Budd, on the other hand, is a lost cause. But I persist.
Let’s not deify Marg Taylor Greene for the o e correct vote she made. She remains the toxic QAnon, extreme MAGA, antisemitic idiot she has always been. She got her feelings hurt by the one she does deify for finally voting on the right side and expressing her reason for doing so. Show her the door gratefully. If you want, thank her for her lack of service.
Totally disagree with this. We need to grow our pro-democracy coalition, encourage Republicans to break from him and MAGA, and welcome them when they do. There is no getting to the otherside of this without the help and support of people who once supported him.
100% agree, Simon, at least on the broader point. Anyone who is sincerely now disillusioned with Trump needs an off-ramp. Otherwise, they will feel stuck with him, like the people in Jim Jones cults or things like that. And that helps no one.
Anyone who has sincerely changed--no matter who they are--should be totally welcome.
Yep! Sometimes two things can be true at the same time!
“Let me make a general observation — the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise … and, more than these, the contradiction between the dead hand of the past and the high intentions for the future.” F. Scott Fitzgerald,“The Crack Up”, 1936
I totally agree we should welcome her criticism of MAGA and Trump. However, we must make sure to remind everyone, all the time, that we are welcoming her to the fight we've been taking on for the past ten years. We've been fighting for accountability, we've been fighting for health care, we've been fighting for the powerless and voiceless, we've been fighting against the abuses, lies, and incompetence of MAGA. So, gladly welcome anyone to the battle, but make sure that everyone knows we're OG!! She's cunning and manipulative enough to co-opt all of these things and memory-hole all of the damage she's done. Welcome her in, but don't let that happen.
Who's not taking the W?? The opening line of the comment says exactly that. Seems like you didn't read any of the comment, or chose to focus on one sentence out of context. Point is, we can't let her co-opt the moment. Use her apparent turn to bolster our case. That is the point. This is part of the reason why R's before this year have polled consistently better on the economy, and many people think we're not fighting for them. It's simply about using her coverage to make our case.
Also agree with Simon. What was key to me was her acknowledgment of her role and her apology. While I will always view her with suspicion I think demanding purity of motive is a luxury our fragile democracy cannot currently afford.
100% agree, Simon. Told Jill Filipovic on Slate that she was dead wrong about this, and Jamie Raskin completely right. "We are at war, the most serious war for democracy against autocracy since WWII. If we could back *Stalin* in that conflict against Hitler, we can certainly make room for MTG."
I fully agree with this sentiment. I’ll long remain anything but an MTG fan but the bigger our tent, the better for us in the future as Jane Fonda wisely recommended. That doesn’t mean we ‘forget’ past rhetoric or past deeds (as Kamala stated in response to MTG’ resignation). But also like what Kamala stated, we hope we find a way to reconcile those past statements and deeds for the health of the broader electorate and pro democracy movement. Not to mention, in all honesty, we don’t have to aid in any sort of ‘takedown’ of MTG. Should her past deeds follow and catch up to her separate from our necessary growing movement, we will simply let those chips fall as they may. Right now as Simon has rightly stressed, the macro messaging of healing, forming opposition, inclusivity, all while piggybacking on the effective ‘immediate needs messaging’ by Spanberger, Sherrill, Newsom, Shapiro, Harris, Moore, Pete, Mamdani, and more…matters most in the grand scheme of things! To cross over the hump of Trump, we need as many as possible, period!
Simon, thank you for the great summary! I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen first thing this morning about this Russian mess. I wrote 50 postcards for Aftyn Behn. Even if she doesn't win, having her come in closer than expected would still be a blow to Republicans.
I'm encouraged by the suggestion that Dems could be in the majority as early as sometime next year. I hope that someone has a plan for the 10 big things they'll pass through Congress the day after that happens.
More and more examples keep coming out of DOJ just flat out lying to judges. It's difficult to believe. Judges do not, in my experience, tend to appreciate that.
I called the DC offices of my members of Congress this morning and left messages. The office of Rep. Larsen is closed this week. I'm not sure about the offices of my senators.
Simon, thank you for today’s newsletter. Actually, there now seems to be apparent progress on peace talks between the U.S. and Ukraine in a ‘more refined’ version of a deal. Who knows? Guess we’ll see how it all unfolds.
Meanwhile, check this article out attached. Trump is seemingly highly aware of the GOP’ vulnerability ahead of the midterms. If he’s trying to pull out all the stops, clearly we cannot let our guard down nor underestimate their zeal in spite of their own self damaging prowess at the same time.
I don't really believe there has been progress on the talks. Ukraine and Europe never would have agreed to anything we spelled out. The crisis remains. If Trump pulls the plug on Ukraine on Thursday they will be throwing Ukraine to the wolves and that has not yet been ruled out.
I almost wish Ukraine and Europe would simply walk away. I know Ukraine has some difficulty doing so, but Europe needs to stand up. Any half-hearted "compromise" with this deal is dangerous as it normalizes Trump and these types of tactics.
I mean, geez, it is looking like Peskov dictated this thing. Any compromise with it seems like a bad mistake to me.
I don’t disagree. I’m not ‘optimistic’ with this unlike my typical cautious optimism with most other topics. Meanwhile, I also don’t see how this ends without Putin getting ‘something;’ even under a new Democratic President. I’ve long felt now, Ukraine will ultimately win this war and will retain the majority of its territory and subsequently all of its sovereignty. However, I still have this aching feeling they will end up ceding around 8-10 percent of their territory (possibly meaning parts of what was overtaken already). 8-10 percent is far too much for most of us but it’s still a larger win for Ukraine than for Russia. Sadly, not enough people understand that one of the driving reasons Putin wasn’t able to make his way through even half of Ukraine and to this day…was due to Biden and his unprecedented leadership on the front of aligning the West and NATO in such a way unseen since the likes of WWII. Furthermore, I do believe once a deal is struck, and one that Zelenskyy feels confident enough in concerning their future sovereignty, only under the next Democratic administration, will the U.S. then aid in rebuilding Ukraine. I also give it no longer than a decade for Ukraine to join NATO. I’d be shocked if Zelenskyy signed anything preventing Ukraine from ever joining in the future. With that, he will likely receive the medal of freedom down the road, by not by Trump, that’s for sure. Regardless…I am optimistic Zelenskyy will outlive/outlast Putin!
I’m not a savant 😂. It’s just instinctive. Like I said before, we’ll see how this all unfolds but regardless of how the this intimately shapes up, I still stand by my prediction we will aid Ukraine in rebuilding (only under a new administration) and that eventually, they’ll join NATO. I’m not giving up on that instinct.
Anyway, don’t think I disagree with you. I wholeheartedly agree that Russia should get absolutely nothing! However, there’s a reality to this ongoing situation as well, even if under a new Democratic administration. I believe in the ‘positively impossible’ so to speak. It’s not that I’m prematurely accepting the scenario I posed. But I am prepared for something similar to occur nonetheless.
Zelenskyy (while technically with the upper hand in various ways), is also between a rock and a hard place. Fortunately, even in spite of the extreme strife, his people remain rightly stubborn in that they would overwhelmingly applaud him should he reject the 28 point plan posed by Trump and Russia (which he will reject cuz it’s ridiculous and unethical being it didn’t involve him at all when they are the ones who were invaded).
With that said, Putin is prepared to drag this out as long as his ego lets him regardless of the self inflicting damage and damage it’s causing Russia itself. He’s a malignant narcissist just like the rest of em (Trump, Netanyahu, Orban, Chi all included). Zelenskyy is not but he is equally stubborn just for the right reasons. What separates him of course, is that he has a conscience!
Do any of us truly expect Putin will simply give up altogether? Ever? Of course not! As long as he’s alive, he will ensure he gets ‘something,’ no matter the bloodshed, the economic turmoil, you name it.
He knows he’s lost the war. Let us not be fooled thinking he still believes he can overtake all of Ukraine or even half of it. He’s insane but still savvy enough to understand that reality. If he doesn’t have it now, he knows he’s never going to. Therefore, he’s trying to find himself the appropriate exit ramp from this entire debacle he created. For him, the question is how he can end it while saving face just enough?
Far too late if you ask me but again, he’s a narcissist so he’ll write whatever narrative he sees fit even if what he ends up with at the end, is little (which I believe it will be). Fortunately for us and the rest of the western world, the only one who may see that narrative he manufactures with ‘light,’ is him!
Either way, as I see it, the only way Putin gets literally nothing, is if he dies first. Otherwise, we can’t be naive enough to think he won’t get something. The goal at this point is for him to get as little as possible or to drag this out as long as possible with ample time for his inner circle (in coordination with others behind the scenes, unbeknownst to us) to plot around him. Would not put it past his own people to eventually take him out which would arguably be the healthiest of outcomes.
It SHOULD be an Ukraine takes all and Russia stays put. But we’re not dealing with Trump as the Russian President who always chickens out. We’re dealing with Putin who will die trying one way or another to end up with even just a sliver. Two scenarios can be true at once. A deal that provides Putin an exit ramp while allowing for Ukraine to still ultimately win when all said and done.
Davidson County is seeing great early voting numbers, esp on Saturday. All the postcards from Postcards to Voters, and Postcards to Swing States have been arriving!
I know it's shaping up to be a hectic week for us, but if you have the time, I highly recommend this podcast with the lovely Anthony Davis and Tia Levings.
They discuss Christian Fundamentalism and the women who are strong enough to begin reconsidering their lives and the teachings that formed, informed, and deformed them. And it is through this lens that she extends not naive but a practical, lived-experience grace to MTG (which had a real impact on my thinking/feeling).
I know some "ex-vangelists" personally, and it is hard for those of us outside the fundamentalist/white evangelical world to appreciate what a world-altering experience it is to leave. It's not just a church, but a whole society and culture and identity.
Hadn't thought about this re: MTG, but that could be it.
While I know about these things academically, it's a world very removed from my own, so there's always something to learn about it and then to feel it in your bones.
Tia is a very wise and thoughtful woman. I have difficulty extending grace to MTG for more than half a dozen reasons. Still, I understand the value in leaving room for what you have never experienced or been vulnerable to, and to find an opportunity with people who are navigating this - maybe (maybe?) to the other side.
Let's be honest, MTG has other ambitions, and I believe she's not being entirely truthful about the reasons for her resignation. Still, politics sometimes makes for strange alliances if only fleetingly and for a couple of issues.
Just emailed & called Sens. Kim & Booker in a fury over what happened over the weekend. Demanded statements condemning this craziness & strong action by them and all Senate Dems. I am appalled & speechless, but sadly not surprised. After what came out a few days back regarding Twitter/X disinfo coming from Russia & elsewhere, can there be any doubt that this is a continuation of the propaganda & manipulation that got Orange into the WH in 2016? We simply cannot allow this hostile takeover of our democracy.
Just made a small donation to Ms. Beyn. As Jen Rubin said this morning on The Contrarian, even losing by a small margin would be a huge shakeup. Tennessee deserves better!
Finally was able to finish watching the wonderful Ken Burns American Revolution, which was revelatory. I hope everyone has a chance to view this valuable contribution to our understanding of who we are and where we have been - and where we need to go next.
Looking forward to the discussion w Dr. Ben-Ghiat today.
Craig Unger who wrote several Trump-Russia books has been writing about Witkoff's connection to at least one Russian mobster, probably along with Trump, who has many such connections:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-179722726
Today I am sending 20 postcards for a Florida State Senate race (Ash Marwah) and a Georgia State House race, Eric Gisler. I'll make calls for Ukraine.
I'm all for shaking up TN and just dropped a little change into our newly endorsed candidate's campaign.
With the discontent among Republicans in Congress, if Aftyn Behn wins in TN-07, a +22 Republican seat, I would imagine we would see a lot of Republicans decide to leave Congress -- and maybe soon. It would only take a handful leaving for Democrats to have a majority. It's time to push hard!
I donated to Aftyn and the Audacious Expansion this morning. Calling my peeps about Ukraine and Who's Bubba?
My ResistBot petition for today sends letters to your federal reps asking them to support Ukraine, to pull the plug on the farce of a ‘peace plan.’
https://resist.bot/petitions/PTHQVH
Thanks, Coleman! I'm going to use this in my call to Sen. Tillis today. He hates Putin, so I think there's a good chance he'll be receptive to this message. Budd, on the other hand, is a lost cause. But I persist.
Thanks for adding Aftyn, I started donating a little while back!
Please refer everyone to Timothy Snyder's unbelievable essay on his substack. https://open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p/russian-unreality-and-american-weakness?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email It is the most comprehensive discussion of ALL points in the "proposal" and will enable you to take apart counter arguments.
What a great essay.
Called both Colorado Senators and Representative this morning demanding Russian plan be stopped.
Let’s not deify Marg Taylor Greene for the o e correct vote she made. She remains the toxic QAnon, extreme MAGA, antisemitic idiot she has always been. She got her feelings hurt by the one she does deify for finally voting on the right side and expressing her reason for doing so. Show her the door gratefully. If you want, thank her for her lack of service.
Totally disagree with this. We need to grow our pro-democracy coalition, encourage Republicans to break from him and MAGA, and welcome them when they do. There is no getting to the otherside of this without the help and support of people who once supported him.
100% agree, Simon, at least on the broader point. Anyone who is sincerely now disillusioned with Trump needs an off-ramp. Otherwise, they will feel stuck with him, like the people in Jim Jones cults or things like that. And that helps no one.
Anyone who has sincerely changed--no matter who they are--should be totally welcome.
We're going to have to hold a lot of truths in our head at once.
Yep! Sometimes two things can be true at the same time!
“Let me make a general observation — the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise … and, more than these, the contradiction between the dead hand of the past and the high intentions for the future.” F. Scott Fitzgerald,“The Crack Up”, 1936
True, Anne--that's always been the American way ;) It drives ideologues around the world crazy--so be it.
I totally agree we should welcome her criticism of MAGA and Trump. However, we must make sure to remind everyone, all the time, that we are welcoming her to the fight we've been taking on for the past ten years. We've been fighting for accountability, we've been fighting for health care, we've been fighting for the powerless and voiceless, we've been fighting against the abuses, lies, and incompetence of MAGA. So, gladly welcome anyone to the battle, but make sure that everyone knows we're OG!! She's cunning and manipulative enough to co-opt all of these things and memory-hole all of the damage she's done. Welcome her in, but don't let that happen.
She is joining the anti-MAGA coalition.
We’re not taking her bowling. We’re not renting her shoes. We’re not buying her a beer.
Honestly, this reminds me of the “don’t get complacent” nonsense. When you get a W, take the W!
Who's not taking the W?? The opening line of the comment says exactly that. Seems like you didn't read any of the comment, or chose to focus on one sentence out of context. Point is, we can't let her co-opt the moment. Use her apparent turn to bolster our case. That is the point. This is part of the reason why R's before this year have polled consistently better on the economy, and many people think we're not fighting for them. It's simply about using her coverage to make our case.
Also agree with Simon. What was key to me was her acknowledgment of her role and her apology. While I will always view her with suspicion I think demanding purity of motive is a luxury our fragile democracy cannot currently afford.
100% agree, Simon. Told Jill Filipovic on Slate that she was dead wrong about this, and Jamie Raskin completely right. "We are at war, the most serious war for democracy against autocracy since WWII. If we could back *Stalin* in that conflict against Hitler, we can certainly make room for MTG."
I fully agree with this sentiment. I’ll long remain anything but an MTG fan but the bigger our tent, the better for us in the future as Jane Fonda wisely recommended. That doesn’t mean we ‘forget’ past rhetoric or past deeds (as Kamala stated in response to MTG’ resignation). But also like what Kamala stated, we hope we find a way to reconcile those past statements and deeds for the health of the broader electorate and pro democracy movement. Not to mention, in all honesty, we don’t have to aid in any sort of ‘takedown’ of MTG. Should her past deeds follow and catch up to her separate from our necessary growing movement, we will simply let those chips fall as they may. Right now as Simon has rightly stressed, the macro messaging of healing, forming opposition, inclusivity, all while piggybacking on the effective ‘immediate needs messaging’ by Spanberger, Sherrill, Newsom, Shapiro, Harris, Moore, Pete, Mamdani, and more…matters most in the grand scheme of things! To cross over the hump of Trump, we need as many as possible, period!
Yes, sometimes you just have to pinch your nose and take the medicine. It's always the right time "to pile on" and send the circus packing.
Just donated to Aftyn - let's go!
Just kicked in again too.... from the link.
Hello everyone,
Check out my latest post on Trump's "peace plan": https://davidsalzillo.substack.com/p/with-peaces-like-these-who-needs.
It is offered in the same spirit of Simon's thoughts on the matter. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. And if you like it, please share!!!
Simon, thank you for the great summary! I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen first thing this morning about this Russian mess. I wrote 50 postcards for Aftyn Behn. Even if she doesn't win, having her come in closer than expected would still be a blow to Republicans.
I'm encouraged by the suggestion that Dems could be in the majority as early as sometime next year. I hope that someone has a plan for the 10 big things they'll pass through Congress the day after that happens.
More and more examples keep coming out of DOJ just flat out lying to judges. It's difficult to believe. Judges do not, in my experience, tend to appreciate that.
Thank you Simon x
A quick self-report.
I called the DC offices of my members of Congress this morning and left messages. The office of Rep. Larsen is closed this week. I'm not sure about the offices of my senators.
I donated to Aftyn Behn.
Simon, thank you for today’s newsletter. Actually, there now seems to be apparent progress on peace talks between the U.S. and Ukraine in a ‘more refined’ version of a deal. Who knows? Guess we’ll see how it all unfolds.
Meanwhile, check this article out attached. Trump is seemingly highly aware of the GOP’ vulnerability ahead of the midterms. If he’s trying to pull out all the stops, clearly we cannot let our guard down nor underestimate their zeal in spite of their own self damaging prowess at the same time.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-seizes-control-republicans-2026-110149733.html
I don't really believe there has been progress on the talks. Ukraine and Europe never would have agreed to anything we spelled out. The crisis remains. If Trump pulls the plug on Ukraine on Thursday they will be throwing Ukraine to the wolves and that has not yet been ruled out.
Ukraine, Europe and Rubio are selling it as progress. But it is really more like staving off catastrophe. We still have a long way to go here.
I almost wish Ukraine and Europe would simply walk away. I know Ukraine has some difficulty doing so, but Europe needs to stand up. Any half-hearted "compromise" with this deal is dangerous as it normalizes Trump and these types of tactics.
I mean, geez, it is looking like Peskov dictated this thing. Any compromise with it seems like a bad mistake to me.
I don’t disagree. I’m not ‘optimistic’ with this unlike my typical cautious optimism with most other topics. Meanwhile, I also don’t see how this ends without Putin getting ‘something;’ even under a new Democratic President. I’ve long felt now, Ukraine will ultimately win this war and will retain the majority of its territory and subsequently all of its sovereignty. However, I still have this aching feeling they will end up ceding around 8-10 percent of their territory (possibly meaning parts of what was overtaken already). 8-10 percent is far too much for most of us but it’s still a larger win for Ukraine than for Russia. Sadly, not enough people understand that one of the driving reasons Putin wasn’t able to make his way through even half of Ukraine and to this day…was due to Biden and his unprecedented leadership on the front of aligning the West and NATO in such a way unseen since the likes of WWII. Furthermore, I do believe once a deal is struck, and one that Zelenskyy feels confident enough in concerning their future sovereignty, only under the next Democratic administration, will the U.S. then aid in rebuilding Ukraine. I also give it no longer than a decade for Ukraine to join NATO. I’d be shocked if Zelenskyy signed anything preventing Ukraine from ever joining in the future. With that, he will likely receive the medal of freedom down the road, by not by Trump, that’s for sure. Regardless…I am optimistic Zelenskyy will outlive/outlast Putin!
Oddly specific visions of the future you have there.
Russia should get nothing for its invasion but a world of pain.
Don’t be a Mearsheimer.
I’m not a savant 😂. It’s just instinctive. Like I said before, we’ll see how this all unfolds but regardless of how the this intimately shapes up, I still stand by my prediction we will aid Ukraine in rebuilding (only under a new administration) and that eventually, they’ll join NATO. I’m not giving up on that instinct.
Anyway, don’t think I disagree with you. I wholeheartedly agree that Russia should get absolutely nothing! However, there’s a reality to this ongoing situation as well, even if under a new Democratic administration. I believe in the ‘positively impossible’ so to speak. It’s not that I’m prematurely accepting the scenario I posed. But I am prepared for something similar to occur nonetheless.
Zelenskyy (while technically with the upper hand in various ways), is also between a rock and a hard place. Fortunately, even in spite of the extreme strife, his people remain rightly stubborn in that they would overwhelmingly applaud him should he reject the 28 point plan posed by Trump and Russia (which he will reject cuz it’s ridiculous and unethical being it didn’t involve him at all when they are the ones who were invaded).
With that said, Putin is prepared to drag this out as long as his ego lets him regardless of the self inflicting damage and damage it’s causing Russia itself. He’s a malignant narcissist just like the rest of em (Trump, Netanyahu, Orban, Chi all included). Zelenskyy is not but he is equally stubborn just for the right reasons. What separates him of course, is that he has a conscience!
Do any of us truly expect Putin will simply give up altogether? Ever? Of course not! As long as he’s alive, he will ensure he gets ‘something,’ no matter the bloodshed, the economic turmoil, you name it.
He knows he’s lost the war. Let us not be fooled thinking he still believes he can overtake all of Ukraine or even half of it. He’s insane but still savvy enough to understand that reality. If he doesn’t have it now, he knows he’s never going to. Therefore, he’s trying to find himself the appropriate exit ramp from this entire debacle he created. For him, the question is how he can end it while saving face just enough?
Far too late if you ask me but again, he’s a narcissist so he’ll write whatever narrative he sees fit even if what he ends up with at the end, is little (which I believe it will be). Fortunately for us and the rest of the western world, the only one who may see that narrative he manufactures with ‘light,’ is him!
Either way, as I see it, the only way Putin gets literally nothing, is if he dies first. Otherwise, we can’t be naive enough to think he won’t get something. The goal at this point is for him to get as little as possible or to drag this out as long as possible with ample time for his inner circle (in coordination with others behind the scenes, unbeknownst to us) to plot around him. Would not put it past his own people to eventually take him out which would arguably be the healthiest of outcomes.
It SHOULD be an Ukraine takes all and Russia stays put. But we’re not dealing with Trump as the Russian President who always chickens out. We’re dealing with Putin who will die trying one way or another to end up with even just a sliver. Two scenarios can be true at once. A deal that provides Putin an exit ramp while allowing for Ukraine to still ultimately win when all said and done.
Go TN 07!!! Thank you Simon and Hopium for jumping in!
Here are the Indivisible phone banks: Tuesday (tomorrow) and next Monday: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/868936/
Here is a Planned Parenthood one Saturday 11/29:
https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/871883/
Here is the Swing Left one Friday 11/28:
https://www.mobilize.us/local-majority/event/867136/
Davidson County is seeing great early voting numbers, esp on Saturday. All the postcards from Postcards to Voters, and Postcards to Swing States have been arriving!
Let's DO THIS.
I know it's shaping up to be a hectic week for us, but if you have the time, I highly recommend this podcast with the lovely Anthony Davis and Tia Levings.
They discuss Christian Fundamentalism and the women who are strong enough to begin reconsidering their lives and the teachings that formed, informed, and deformed them. And it is through this lens that she extends not naive but a practical, lived-experience grace to MTG (which had a real impact on my thinking/feeling).
https://youtu.be/9SDgUdWw5zQ?si=udqHO_NR4MmDwZpz
I know some "ex-vangelists" personally, and it is hard for those of us outside the fundamentalist/white evangelical world to appreciate what a world-altering experience it is to leave. It's not just a church, but a whole society and culture and identity.
Hadn't thought about this re: MTG, but that could be it.
While I know about these things academically, it's a world very removed from my own, so there's always something to learn about it and then to feel it in your bones.
Tia is a very wise and thoughtful woman. I have difficulty extending grace to MTG for more than half a dozen reasons. Still, I understand the value in leaving room for what you have never experienced or been vulnerable to, and to find an opportunity with people who are navigating this - maybe (maybe?) to the other side.
Let's be honest, MTG has other ambitions, and I believe she's not being entirely truthful about the reasons for her resignation. Still, politics sometimes makes for strange alliances if only fleetingly and for a couple of issues.
Good morning -
Just emailed & called Sens. Kim & Booker in a fury over what happened over the weekend. Demanded statements condemning this craziness & strong action by them and all Senate Dems. I am appalled & speechless, but sadly not surprised. After what came out a few days back regarding Twitter/X disinfo coming from Russia & elsewhere, can there be any doubt that this is a continuation of the propaganda & manipulation that got Orange into the WH in 2016? We simply cannot allow this hostile takeover of our democracy.
Just made a small donation to Ms. Beyn. As Jen Rubin said this morning on The Contrarian, even losing by a small margin would be a huge shakeup. Tennessee deserves better!
Finally was able to finish watching the wonderful Ken Burns American Revolution, which was revelatory. I hope everyone has a chance to view this valuable contribution to our understanding of who we are and where we have been - and where we need to go next.
Looking forward to the discussion w Dr. Ben-Ghiat today.
Keep going!