Cartas a la editora 02.12

Fellow Readers:

 

Do you, like me, want to focus on the “what can be done” portion of our national emergency?  It seems this can be broken down into several parts… in order to figure out what to do, we need to know What Is Happening.  We need to know What Others Are Doing. From there we figure out What We Can Do.

 

As mainstream media becomes increasingly irrelevant, I have spent way too much time on the internet down way too many rabbit holes. In doing so, I’ve found a few resources that may be helpful to others. Disclaimers:  this is by no means an exhaustive list- there are so so many good thinkers, writers and activists who enlighten and inspire; seek out additional resources in areas of particular interest to you (Science? Climate?); and find ways to take care of yourself amidst this dystopia.

 

I’m finding it difficult to close the door on this list-  perhaps we can  consider this the beginning of a sharing of resources in this space?

 

What is happening:

-Heather Cox Richardson whose work you’ll already know about, for current events,, set in historical context. Letters From An American.

–The Status Kuo:  Incredibly clear info from Jay Kuo on what’s happening and what others are doing. Is Somebody Doing Something was my favorite read this week.

–WTF Just Happened Today for the briefest synopsis.

-Timothy Snyder, a historian whose book On Tyranny you may have heard of, writes in  Thinking About .

Robert Hubbell writes an avuncular compilation of what’s happening/what’s being done in Today’s Edition Newsletter

 

What’s Being Done

-Just Security has a litigation tracker– they’re posting all the state and federal litigation that’s been filed vs the 47 admin.

Steve Ahlquist is on all the platforms.  He’s the man to follow for reports on RI actions.

 

What Can be Done

-Join indivisible.org. The National Indivisible has a super helpful guide to actions; Indivisible RI has recently reactivated and is on Bluesky or you can sign up for their emails here.

-Download the app “5 calls.” Input your location, and you’ll be offered a choice of calls on urgent topics, along with phone numbers of relevant public officials.

–Choose Democracy:  a lot of resources including a google doc with categories of actions divided into easier/medium/more challenging.

-Resistbot:  Send the word RESIST by text to 50409 and answer the questions. In minutes, you’ll contact your elected officials.

Americans of Conscience has a weekly newsletter with lists of actions and of good news.

Chop Wood, Carry Water written by Jessica Craven, another new favorite, calls itself a political action email.

 

Inspiration and Miscellany

–Rebecca Solnit, Anand Giridharadhas, and Gabriel Valdez- hard to find (but easy to follow if you are on Facebook).

-Graphic version of Project 2025 can be found here.

-If you have access to the New York Times, they have a page updated daily with the administration’s major moves.

–Waging Nonviolence is another source of inspiration.

–Open Secrets tracks political donations of corporations, PACs, etc. for those interested in the political impact of their spending, among other things.

 

Dana Holmgren