The purpose of dismantling the federal government is to privatize every aspect of our relationships and interactions with one another.—Patrick Nathan
He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot.—Groucho Marx
There is no historical example of beating authoritarianism by standing back and waiting patiently for the authoritarians to take themselves down.—Indivisible
And still I rise a proud, liberated Democrat, unbought, unbossed and unafraid.—Rep. Al Green
Books, Music, Art, Culture
Pierre Joris, Translator of the ‘Impossible’ Paul Celan, Dies at 78: A notable poet in his own right, he was best known for rendering into English the words of a poet who reacted to the Holocaust by inventing a new version of German, Adam Nossiter, NY Times, 3/5/25: “There are some words that I’m still looking for, that I haven’t found yet.”
(On the vertical
breathrope, in those days,
higher than above,
between two painknots, while
the glossy
Tatarmoon climbed up to us,
I dug myself into you and into you.)
—from “Ashglory,” Paul Celan, trans. by Pierre Joris
US arts funding agency sued over Trump order targeting LGBTQ+ projects: Groups sue National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) after president bars funds for promotion of ‘gender ideology,’ Marina Dunbar, The Guardian, 3/6/25
The World Was Flat. Now It's Flattened: The state of the culture, 2025, Ted Gioia, Honest Broker, 3/5/25: “That whole rich tapestry of my friends and family and colleagues has been replaced by the most shallow and flattened digital fluff. And this feeling of flattening is intensified by the lack of context or community. The only ruling principle is the total absence of purpose or seriousness.”
Trenton Doyle Hancock and Philip Guston Seek Out the Enemy Within: With generous, sharp humor, Hancock and Guston show us through their art how venial and self-deceiving we have become, John Yau, Hyperallergic, 3/3/25: “With generous, sharp humor, they show us how venial and self-deceiving we have become. This is what makes their work so urgent and crucial today.”
The Communist Folk Singers Who Shaped Bob Dylan, Taylor Dorrell, Jacobin, 3/5/25: “Perhaps it’s time for a new “Guthrie phase” — to pick up our machines against fascism, like the communist folk singers once did, and dare to imagine a new world.” (Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, the Weavers, Almanac Singers)
On an Unsung Nazi Resistance: The Gestapo was usually not suspicious of middle-aged people, mostly women, who gathered to do calisthenics, Adam Hochschild, Book Post, 3/5/25 Book: Lives Reclaimed: A Story of Rescue and Resistance in Nazi Germany by Mark Roseman
Grammar Fans Flock to a Film About Participles and Gerunds: “Rebel With a Clause” celebrates the improbable cross-country journey of a woman who gently imparts grammar rules to strangers, Katherine Rosman, NY Times, 3/8/25
Poetry as Interstitial Space: Where Culture, Language, and Experience Meet, Ruben Quesada, Newsletter, 3/7/25: “In today's fragmented world, poetry offers something special: a place where boundaries blur and connections form.”
Rock forgot one of its wildest front men. He’s got a story to tell: Peter Wolf befriended music legends, married a movie star and led the J. Geils Band. His new memoir reminds us: He was there, Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 3/8/25 Book: Waiting on the Moon
I know that life has got its ups and downs
I could take whatever comes around
But if you ever take your love from me
Now that would be the tragedy
—from “Tragedy,” Peter Wolf
What Russia’s Violent History of Occupation Reveals About Its Ongoing War on Ukraine: on the Importance of Preserving Personal and Collective Memory in the Face of Imperialist Aggression, Sofi Oksanen, LitHub, 3/4/25: “No memory is too insignificant for the occupier, because sometimes just one photo, just one story, can keep the history of an entire family alive.”
What Should We Do with Our Suffering? Learning how to suffer better, Rob Brezsny, Astrology Newsletter, 3/4/25: “Buddha says there are two kinds of suffering: the kind that leads to more suffering and the kind that brings an end to suffering.” (Terry Tempest Williams) “If you know how to suffer, you suffer less.” (Thich Nhat Hanh)
On the Life and Literary Legacy of Essex Hemphill an Early Poetic Chronicler of Black Queer Life: In Praise of an Early Poetic Chronicler of Black Queer Life, John Keene, LitHub, 3/7/25: “He was a lyric poet to his core, and a political poet who knew that the most devastating critique could hinge on many of poetry’s numerous resources, any of which he wielded when needed.” Book: Love Is a Dangerous Word: Selected Poems (John Keene, Robert F. Reid-Pharr editors)
I am only sure of this:
I continue to awaken
in a rumpled black suit.
Pockets bulging with tools
and ancestral fossils.
—from “Heavy Breathing,” Essex Hemphill
Politics, Economics, Technology
Love and courage will defeat Trump, Steve Schmidt, The Warning, 3/9/25: “…in the end, the United States will triumph against both its domestic enemies, selfish interests and apathetic citizens who have lost faith in politicians and confused them with the character of their country and her people.”
This thing will fail: Trump will not restore the "strong gods" of community, family, and faith, Noah Smith, Noahpinion, 3/8/25: “The MAGA movement, you see, is an internet thing. It’s another vertical online community — a bunch of deracinated, atomized individuals, thinly connected across vast distances by the notional bonds of ideology and identity. There is nothing in it of family, community, or rootedness to a place….It is a fandom.”
The Job Hasn't Changed: Now is when our commitment to community, mutual aid, and each other matters more than ever, Doug Rushkoff, Rushkoff, 3/3/25: “But we still have the chance to make what want of this. To find each other, and through those connections, through our co-metabolizing the collective trauma, finally tend to each others real needs — reducing our dependence on the corporations we can’t trust and the institutions that have crumbled under their own weight. The more we depend on each other, the more we also reduce our impact on the climate and the legions of enslaved humans who are digging out the planet’s remaining resources.”
People Get Ready, Rebecca Solnit, Meditations in an Emergency, 3/8/25: “…the only power that Trump, Musk, etc. have is the power to give orders--they don't do much of anything else themselves. The other three hundred million of us have the power to not obey them and to support and encourage others who don't.”
Toward a Theory of Civic Sede Vacantism, Josh Marshall, Talking Points Memo, 3/4/25: “We’re in a constitutional interregnum and we are trying to restore constitutional government. The courts are a tool. Federalism is a big, big tool, the significance and importance of which is getting too little discussion. But it’s really about public opinion. And that means it’s about politics. The American people will decide this. That’s what this is all about. Waiting on the courts is just a basic misunderstanding of the whole situation.”
Must-Reads and Thoughts on the Repression of Student Protest: These conditions are a preview of the standards Trump hopes to impose on society as a whole, Kelly Hayes, Organizing My Thoughts, 3/8/25: “…he will attempt to use federal funding as a weapon to control us all…. The ability of students to protest and organize is deeply important, but that’s not all that’s at stake here.”
Humphrey’s Executor, Joyce Vance, Civil Discourse, 3/8/25: “The question is whether precedent will trump politics, or whether a conservative majority on the Supreme Court will continue to turn over the keys to the kingdom to the president.”
Sins of the Father: The United States is joining the ranks of patrimonial states. It’s nothing short of a revolution, Stephen E. Hanson, Jeffrey S. Kopstein, Persuasion, 3/5/25: “There are certain rules of the game in patrimonial politics. Hanging on every word of the leader is one of them. Unfortunately, then, we need to follow Trump’s communications in their entirety in order to understand where he is taking the country.”
Is Trump A Russian Mole, Actually? Sam Kahn, Castalia, 3/8/25: “Putin has won, big time, and the United States, if not exactly part of Russia’s empire (it’s not quite as bad as that), is fast on its way to being Putinist.”
Trump and the Conservative U.S. Counter-Revolution, Jérôme Gygax, CounterPunch, 3/4/25: “…this radical transformation of American governance, far from being an impromptu imitative, represents the culmination of nearly a century of meticulously laid groundwork by conservative elites.”
How DOGE’s Cuts to the IRS Threaten to Cost More Than DOGE Will Ever Save, Andy Kroll, ProPublica, 3/5/25: “If you’re interested in the deficit and curbing it, why would you cut back on the revenue side?”
Email shows Trump officials are lying to federal court, directing CFPB staff to ignore law, Judd Legum, Popular Information, 3/4/25: “The email directly contradicts representations CFPB officials made in federal court.”
Musk calls social security a ‘Ponzi scheme’. The real con is what Trump’s peddling: Social security is a highly efficient safety net. But the president’s crypto plans and job cuts leave Americans holding the bag, Robert Reich, The Guardian, 3/6/25
The Clean Little Secret of Social Security: It’s a pretty good program, and we can afford it, Paul Krugman, Newsletter, 3/9/25: “…it has worked very well…poverty among the elderly, which used to be pervasive, has been almost completely eliminated.”
Independent Agencies Oversee Elections and Media. Trump’s Seizing Their Reins: A little-noticed executive order may in the long run have the largest impact on US democracy, Sasha Abramsky , Truthout, 3/8/25 (Federal Elections Commission – FEC – and Federal Communications Commission – FCC. Watch carefully what happens to them.)
Anger at Elon Musk turns violent with molotov cocktails and gunfire at Tesla lots: The string of violence against Tesla storefronts, charging stations and vehicles exacerbates the company’s woes, analysts said, Pranshu Verma, Trisha Thadani, Washington Post, 3/9/25
Why Musk's victims could form the Democratic Party's vanguard in 2026: One angry laid-off veteran is mooting a run for Congress. More will follow, David Nir, Jeff Singer, Downballot, 3/6/25
An Era of Silence and Fear: While Donald Trump promised to “bring back free speech,” his government has initiated a crackdown on dissent—reshaping the flow of information in America, Jon Passantino, Status, 3/8/25 “When you see important societal actors—be it university presidents, media outlets, CEOs, mayors, governors—changing their behavior in order to avoid the wrath of the government, that’s a sign that we’ve crossed the line into some form of authoritarianism.” (Stephen Levitsky)
This Debate Isn’t About DEI -- it's About Power. Here's Why: A historian unpacks the deeper forces at play, Jemar Tisby, PhD, The Preamble, 3/5/25: “The truth about DEI is that its opponents – the people who now whine the loudest about merit and equality – are the most afraid of a fair fight and real competition.”
While our eyes are on the welfare state’s destruction, Trump is building a police state: Republicans aren’t simply shrinking the government. They’re investing billions in defense, border control and prisons, Judith Levine, The Guardian, 3/5/25
Trump’s "Crypto Reserve" is a world historical grift: Corruption doesn’t get much more blatant than this, Noah Berlatszky, Public Notice, 3/7/25
For Indian Country, federal cuts decimate core tribal programs: Tribal services aren’t national altruism. They’re written into centuries-old treaties, Alex Brown, Stateline, 3/4/25: “… the Trump administration’s efforts to gut federal agencies and cut off funds to Native communities likely violate the government’s obligations.”
Antisemitism in the Oval Office: A confrontation seen with a historian's eye, Timothy Snyder, Thinking About, 3/7/25: “A courageous man seen as Jewish had to be brought down. When he said things that were simply true he was shouted down and called a propagandist. There was no acknowledgement of Zelens'kyi's bravery in remaining in Kyiv. The Americans portrayed themselves as the real heroes because they provided some of the weapons.”
The Great Crisis: Europe’s Military and Diplomatic Challenge, Lawrence Freedman, Comment is Freed, 3/4/25: “This is a time of emergency. The challenges can be spelt out in stark terms. If Ukraine is allowed to fall, then the impact on Europe will be huge.”
Amidst the ruins, flowers bloom: the resilience of Gaza’s women: Despite facing destruction, humiliation, and the loss of loved ones, Palestinian mothers and daughters demonstrate extraordinary courage as they struggle to create normalcy from the ruins of their former lives, Nisreen Morqus, Morningstar, 3/8/25
You Cannot Go to Your Country: Victoria Amelina on the Start of War in Ukraine: From Her Unfinished Book, “Looking at Women Looking at War,” Victoria Amelina, LitHub, 3/6/25: “I guess when the world ends, some people cry, some scream, some go silent, some swear, and others recite poems. To be honest, I swear a lot too. Over time, I will also learn to laugh a lot again. The end of the world isn’t as quick as everyone imagines; there’s time to learn. Yet there are no instructions.” Book: Looking at Women Looking at War
when you are the only
passenger if there is a
place further from me
I beg you do not go
—“Morning,” Frank O’Hara
Science, Environment, Wilderness
Beavers know better. They saved the Czech government $1 million! Cristina Ortiz, EarthSky, 3/3/25: “The Czech government planned the construction of a dam southwest of Prague. But due to bureaucracy, the next phase never started. After 7 years of waiting, a colony of beavers got to work and built a natural dam in the right placement.”
Inside the Fight to Save the World’s Most Endangered Wolf, Lindsay Liles, Garden & Gun, 3/5/25: “Once, the red wolf roamed every Southern state. Today, only seventeen remain in the wild on a swampy peninsula in Eastern North Carolina, a number on the rise thanks to the passionate team of biologists determined to help them thrive once more.”
Butterflies in the U.S. are disappearing at a ‘catastrophic’ rate: The number of butterflies in the contiguous United States declined by 22 percent this century, a collapse with potentially dire implications, Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, 3/6/25
‘Like a virus’: Corruption has infected the fight against climate change: Study shows bribery, theft, and conflicts of interest hinder climate progress and incite violence against Indigenous land defenders, Taylor Dawn Stagner, Grist, 3/3/25
A Craze for Tiny Plants Is Driving a Poaching Crisis in South Africa: South Africa’s Succulent Karoo is the most biodiverse arid region on the planet, with thousands of plants found nowhere else. But to meet a demand fueled by social media, criminal networks have been poaching these colorful succulents by the millions and smuggling them overseas, Adam Welz, Yale Environment 360, 3/6/25
Great Barrier Reef Corals Hit Hard by Marine Heat Wave: Extreme heat pushed even resilient corals in the Great Barrier Reef to the brink, limiting recovery, Anupama Chandrasekaran, Eos, 3/4/25
For Arctic scientists, climate change is impossible to ignore: Researchers at a remote station in Canada’s Northwest Territories have contended with wildfire and melting permafrost, YCC Team, Yale Climate Connections, 3/7/35
A New, Chemical View of Ecosystems: Rare and powerful compounds, known as keystone molecules, can build a web of invisible interactions among species, Molly Herring, Quanta, 3/5/25: “If chemicals diffusing out from one organism into the environment create many interactions that we are currently missing, it adds a layer of complexity.”
Why electric cars might save you money in the future: EV drivers often save big on certain costs in the long run, YCC Team, Yale Climate Connections, 3/5/25: “EV drivers also tend to save on maintenance costs because there are fewer moving parts that need to be repaired or replaced as the car ages.”
Indigenous Food Reciprocity as a Model for Mutual Aid: For centuries, Native communities have focused on the collective rather than the individual. Here’s what we can learn from them, Kate Nelson, Civil Eats, 3/3/25
Say my mind
where stowaways sleep
repeatedly without permission
is the captain's cabin
The hull is built by the patterned ways
I am trying to spy from the starboard
side of my brain by leaving the port
—from “A Man At Sea On Earth Undone By Disturbance When He Appears Most Anchored,” Alan Felsenthal
Health, Wellness
How to eat and drink fewer microplastics: Scientists are finding microplastics throughout the human body. Here are some simple strategies to limit your exposure, Amudulat Ajasa, Washington Post, 3/4/25: “Drink tap water. Avoid plastic food containers. Avoid highly processed foods.”
Are microplastics causing a new public health crisis? Lauren Fuge, Cosmos, 3/4/25: “Microplastics have been found in the majority of human organs, but their effects are still unknown.”
Scientists discover how aspirin could prevent some cancers from spreading, UKR&I, ScienceDaily, 3/5/25
Birds, Birding
Celebrity bald eagles welcome third chick as thousands rejoice online: A final egg belonging to Jackie and Shadow hatched on camera at California’s San Bernardino National Forest, in an exciting moment for loyal viewers, Kelly Kasulis Cho, Washington Post, 3/8/25
Age and migration influence bird groups’ song repertoires, study finds: Researchers used 20,000 hours of recordings of great tits in Oxford to see how culture changes among populations, Nicola Davis, The Guardian, 3/7/25
Miscellaneous
In the latest Writerscast podcast episode, I interviewed Iris Jamahl Dunkle about her excellent biography of “lost writer” Sanora Babb, Riding Like the Wind
Do Not Lose Heart, We Were Made for These Times, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, DailyGood, 3/13/2020: “I would like to take your hands for a moment and assure you that you are built well for these times. Despite your stints of doubt, your frustrations in arighting all that needs change right now, or even feeling you have lost the map entirely, you are not without resource, you are not alone.”
Despite the constant barrage of terrible, earth-threatening, psyche-damaging news and events we are witnessing, we must—we will resist fear, and the despair that fear creates.
We must resist, oppose, and speak up for what we believe in. This is the true challenge of our times. Please send comments, ideas; keep in touch, build community. We are not alone in this. Do not lose heart!
Stay strong. Love the ones you’re with.
Love—David
Long as I know how to love
I know I'll stay alive
I've got my life to live
And all my love to give and
I will survive
The world is dark but it is not hopeless.—Clarence Darrow
You must retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties. AND at the same time…You must confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.—Jim Collins
Stop waiting for leaders. You’re a leader.—Anand Girardharadas