The new steady state.

Today’s Edition (Vol. 2, No. 66) The new steady state.

          Over the weekend, I heard from hundreds of readers. Although they were writing about the migration of Today’s Edition to the Substack platform, many took the opportunity to tell me how they were feeling. It is always humbling and sobering to hear what readers are thinking about the state of our nation. I occasionally share those collective thoughts with Today’s Edition readers because I believe it is essential to the mission of this newsletter to draw strength from community. As many of you know, this newsletter began in the dark days following the election of 2016. It is no understatement to say that the unexpected results of that election plunged my family into crisis. As a husband and father, I instinctively wrote to my wife and daughters each evening, interpreting the daily news, assuring them that everything would be okay if we persevered and did not lose hope. Over time, others were invited to listen to that conversation (including you), which resulted in this newsletter. The good news is that we not only persevered, but we prevailed—and emerged stronger for our efforts. And, best of all, we now have an honest and decent man as our president, a blessing for which we should be grateful every day.

          But, based on the feedback I received over the weekend, readers are unsettled as never before. Those feelings are understandable, given what is happening in our nation. Today, I want to share and summarize the worry I heard from readers this weekend, but I will end with a message of hope—and a challenge. Simply put, times are tough, but we can and will prevail again if we accept that we are being called to increase our engagement and activism beyond the unprecedented efforts of the last four years. That is a tall order, but we are up to the task. We should not bemoan our fate; we should accept that the new steady state demands a heightened sense of engagement, vigilance, and commitment. Prior generations have been called upon in the same way. They endured and prevailed, delivering to us a more just, open, and tolerant America—with all of its persistent faults, biases, and unfairness. We inherited a “more perfect Union,” and we must deliver an even “more perfect Union” to future generations.

          Where to begin in describing what I heard from readers? There is a sense of disbelief that, having survived the prior administration, we may be experiencing a period that is as at least as daunting and dispiriting as the last four years—and perhaps more so. The defeated president attempted to poison our democracy by spreading cynical lies to explain his loss. Those lies have taken root and are bearing bitter fruit in GOP-controlled state legislatures across the country. We watch in dismay and disbelief as the GOP has dropped all pretense of decency or shame in its efforts to cling to power. They have turned the world upside down. When Black citizens proudly exercise the most fundamental right in the Constitution, Republican legislators respond by making it more difficult to vote than to buy a gun. When the pace of mass killings accelerates, Republicans respond by eliminating license requirements to carry concealed weapons. When protesters take to the streets to express grief and anger over the seemingly endless police killings of Black men, Republicans in Congress discuss forming a caucus to protect “Anglo-Saxon political traditions”—an unambiguous appeal to white nationalism.

          These developments are unsettling because they suggest that the GOP’s amoral pursuit of power has no bottom. There is no line that can’t be crossed, no outrage that provokes regret, apology, or pangs of conscience. It is one thing to fight a political opponent who recognizes that disputes must be resolved within the framework of a functioning democracy. It is altogether different to face an opponent who seeks to win by dismantling the very framework of democracy.  Add to this a sense of foreboding and helplessness as we wait in hope and dread for the verdict in the Derek Chauvin murder trial amid an outbreak of sickeningly similar incidents.

          That’s a lot—and it is understandable that some readers feel helpless. There are no simple answers, no single course of action we can take, no amount of money we can donate, no words that will magically stop the madness and heal our nation. But there is a path forward—and it involves each one of us. We must continue to expand the surface area of our political consciousness and engagement. To those who are exhausted or experiencing burnout from too many competing demands, I have a modest suggestion: Resolve to take one step outside of your comfort zone in the next month. It does not have to be a big step. It can be as simple as subscribing to a newsletter from organizations that are working day-in and day-out to protect Americans and their democracy: Brady Center, Everytown for Gun Safety, American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, NAACP, League of Women Voters, and Brennan Center for Justice. Educate yourself about the mission and activities of one organization in the next month that is outside your comfort zone.

          Knowledge is power. The next time a crisis strikes and one of these organizations steps to the fore, you will be ready to promote their cause. If you can do more, you should. If you are tech-savvy, join texting campaigns; if you have legible handwriting, join Postcards To Voters or Vote Forward. If you have resources to share, give generously and intentionally. Here’s my point: If everyone does a little more than they did in the last four years, the accumulated heft of those actions will make a difference over time. Moreover, leaning into the solution will make the problems seem less daunting. Do not lose hope or give in to despair.

          Though things are bad, I don’t believe they are as bad as they seem. The concentrating and repetitive power of the media amplifies bad news and ignores the good in America. Every day, hundreds of millions of Americans strive for the same goal that motivates readers of this newsletter—achieving a more just, liberal, and tolerant society. The countless actions of Americans being kind, decent, and responsible are not broadcast into your homes on an endless loop, but those are the actions that define us as a nation. Stay strong, and do not lose faith. We will prevail, it is just a matter of time.

Reflecting on mass shootings.

In the 72 hours since the last edition of this newsletter, there have been at least three mass shootings in America: Indianapolis (IN), Austin (TX), and Kenosha (WI). The incident in Indianapolis was the 45th mass shooting in the U.S. in the last month.  The Indianapolis shooting took place at a FedEx facility, where a former employee used two assault rifles to kill eight people and wound several more. The killer purchased the assault rifles legally, though police had earlier put him on a psychiatric hold and confiscated a shotgun (that was never returned). Republicans in Congress have a stock set of talking points whenever a mass shooting occurs. One of those talking points is that “stricter gun regulations would not have prevented this tragedy.”  Demanding proof that proposed legislation would have prevented a specific mass killing should not be the test for gun safety legislation. But, in this case, better background checks may have prevented the tragedy.

          Passing meaningful legislation to regulate guns is an uphill battle, but not impossible. Indeed, most Americans support gun safety reforms. See Pew Research, “Stricter gun laws have gained support in U.S. since 2017 | Pew Research Center.” (“[M]ore Americans favor banning high-capacity ammunition magazines today (71%) than did so two years ago (65%).”) The Brady Center and Everytown for Gun Safety are on the front lines of this battle every day. Perhaps your “step outside your comfort zone” in the next month can be to learn about one of these organizations.

          The changes will not occur overnight, so as we wait, I want to pass along a suggestion from a reader. The reader recommended the Soul Box Project as way of using art to focus attention on the reality of gun deaths. The project is reminiscent of the AIDS Memorial Quilt that helped America understand the enormous losses inflicted by AIDS/HIV. The Soul Box Project asks participants to make a small, simple origami box from craft paper. Participants dedicate the boxes to individuals—“Souls”—who died from gun violence. Participants put notes in the boxes or adorn the boxes with messages in memory of a person killed by gun violence. The boxes are sent to a central location, where they become part of a collective art installation. The Soul Boxes are also available and searchable online by the name of the victim in whose honor the Soul Box was created.

          One challenge in understanding the tragedy of mass shootings is that they are often reduced to body counts or statistics (as I did, above). But if we take a moment to learn the name of one victim and spend a few minutes reflecting on that victim’s life, the tragedy of gun violence will become less abstract. I understand that some may believe that using art to prevent gun violence is not a an optimal strategy. Making a Soul Box may not bring about a change in legislation, but it may change you. Give it a try.

The unsuccessful attempt to create a GOP caucus dedicated to Anglo-Saxon values.

          Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene—previously stripped of House committee assignments for questioning whether mass shootings at schools were real—has been floating the idea of an “America First Caucus” in the House. The caucus would be devoted to promoting the agenda of the former president. A draft plan for the group was leaked by Punchbowl News (behind a paywall). The draft, which Greene says she had not seen, proposes to promote “a culture . . .  strengthened by a common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions.” See Mother Jones, “Republicans, Saying the Quiet Part Loud, Discuss Plans for “Anglo-Saxon” Traditions Caucus.”

          Predictably, the plan also proposed that the America First Caucus would promote the Big Lie that the 2016 election was stolen from the former president. Per Mother Jones, the caucus “will work towards an end to mail-in voting, implementation of national voter ID and substantive investigations into mass voter fraud perpetrated during the 2020 election.” That sounds a lot like Georgia’s recent voter suppression legislation, doesn’t it? But I digress.

          Rep. Greene claims that she never saw the draft plan. Her tweet denying knowledge of the plan is further evidence of why she is unfit to serve in Congress. In her tweet denying knowledge of the draft, she asked, “Do you know who is running this country?” She answered her question as follows:

          The liars & psychotic left-wing communists in the media who only care about self-awarded Pulitzers, clicks for cash, and pushing weak politicians around. . . . The scum and liars in the media are calling me a racist by taking something out of context.

          There is more, but you get her drift. “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” The draft statement is consistent with Greene’s “America First” rhetoric. Guess what was missing from Greene’s tweet? A condemnation of the statements contained in the draft plan. Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen.

Concluding Thoughts.

I responded to a few hundred reader emails over the weekend, and I have several hundred more to go. I plan to respond to everyone by week’s end. I know that many of you have questions about the switch to Substack. I appreciate your patience.

          In responding to reader emails over the weekend, I realized I have been remiss in failing to remind readers to reach out to elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors. The pandemic lockdown has been hard on everyone, but especially on senior Americans. Many are suffering in silence, dealing with loss or health concerns, or experiencing frustration in interacting remotely with a world that puts a premium on computer skills.  A small act of kindness on your part can make a world of difference to someone who is struggling on his or her own to make sense of these tumultuous times.

          Thanks for making the switch to the Substack. You can bookmark this link—Today's Edition Newsletter (substack.com)—so that you can navigate to the newsletter on Substack if it doesn’t show up in your inbox.

          Talk to you tomorrow!