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.
Thank-you so very much for this offering. I've been reading your insightful newsletters daily since early December and have found them to be an excellent complement to HCR's amazing "Letters from and American." As and African American, 62 year old woman, I am weary and discouraged. However, you are a truly ally in the fight for justice and, as a white man, can speak truths that are less threatening coming from you. Keep up the good work. We need more people like you and your "managing editor" on the side of justice and truth.
Respectfully: the headline that populates the email notice uses "Today's Edition." I delete quickly in the morning. Perhaps "Hubbell Newsletter: Today's Edition" will use this visual real estate more compellingly...?
I don’t understand why various surveys indicate that large majorities of the population favor such things as the Covid Stimulus Check, the Infrastructure Bill and an assault weapon ban. Yet all Republicans appear willing to vote against this legislation. Why aren’t the Democrats taking advantage of this opportunity to show what the Republicans actually stand for? As usual, there seems to be no dedicated communications effort to make it clear that the Republicans just don’t care about their constituents.
People need to understand that a vote for a Republican is a total wasted effort. Republicans don’t really care about eliminating Covid-19, they don’t care about building better roads, providing better internet service to all areas of the country, clearing up the water we drink and, in general, making our lives better. They also don’t really care about saving the lives of our children and the rest of our population by banning weapons of war in schools and on our streets. They just want to suppress votes of people of color.
That’s the story that the Democrats must spread countrywide. We must be ready and willing to help them do this.
I live in southeastern Massachusetts between two wonderful former mill towns which economically struggle and are places I love. In the pandemic, a huge group of "helpful people" have volunteered to help the small and underfunded public health departments. Seeing the large number of folks who step up to vaccinate, do data entry, answer local calls for local vaccine appointments and so much more brings balance to the sad and destructive hate we see daily. We are the counterbalance to that hate. And we are here in numbers. Large numbers.
Dear Robert Hubbell: I read Today's Edition and Heather Cox Richardson first thing every morning. I dutifully signed up for your new Substack site. BUT this morning there was no Today's Edition email waiting in my emailbox! And I have spent about 20 minutes trying to find you. What's up?!!!! Thanks for any clarification. I want you to appear just one click away when I wake up!! Thank you so much for the newsletter! Susan Buckley
Hi Robert! I want to give you a heads up about two more horrible Republican bills that you will want to highlight in your newsletter. The Florida House has already passed HB 1475, the most invasive and disgusting attack on trans kids in the country; the lowlight of the Bill is a provision requiring kids whose gender is questioned BY ANYONE to undergo an examination to determine their gender. As do all the other state bills, than ban trans kids from sports teams, despite the fact that they have been allowed to since 2013 with ZERO COMPLAINTS.
The other bill is New Hampshire HB544, not yet passed, which bans the discussion of “divisive concepts” (i.e., Critical Race Theory) in all State-funded organizations, schools, and contracted service providers.
Thrilled with this move to substack! Thanks as always for your smart and clear perspective. And yes, we must remember how the media is amplifies the frightful, emotion-producing bad. The good doesn't get headlines. That said I think we are in for quite a ride in the next two years. The craziness of the R's, the guns in the hands of mentally ill young men, white supremacy openly shouted....
Have you all noticed how many more black faces in ads, stock photos, magazines etc.? I never noticed that they were missing. So glad to see them and realizing how much more work to do.
Thank-you so very much for this offering. I've been reading your insightful newsletters daily since early December and have found them to be an excellent complement to HCR's amazing "Letters from and American." As and African American, 62 year old woman, I am weary and discouraged. However, you are a truly ally in the fight for justice and, as a white man, can speak truths that are less threatening coming from you. Keep up the good work. We need more people like you and your "managing editor" on the side of justice and truth.
Warm regards,
Crystal Watkins, MS, LPC (Decatur, GA)
Respectfully: the headline that populates the email notice uses "Today's Edition." I delete quickly in the morning. Perhaps "Hubbell Newsletter: Today's Edition" will use this visual real estate more compellingly...?
I don’t understand why various surveys indicate that large majorities of the population favor such things as the Covid Stimulus Check, the Infrastructure Bill and an assault weapon ban. Yet all Republicans appear willing to vote against this legislation. Why aren’t the Democrats taking advantage of this opportunity to show what the Republicans actually stand for? As usual, there seems to be no dedicated communications effort to make it clear that the Republicans just don’t care about their constituents.
People need to understand that a vote for a Republican is a total wasted effort. Republicans don’t really care about eliminating Covid-19, they don’t care about building better roads, providing better internet service to all areas of the country, clearing up the water we drink and, in general, making our lives better. They also don’t really care about saving the lives of our children and the rest of our population by banning weapons of war in schools and on our streets. They just want to suppress votes of people of color.
That’s the story that the Democrats must spread countrywide. We must be ready and willing to help them do this.
I live in southeastern Massachusetts between two wonderful former mill towns which economically struggle and are places I love. In the pandemic, a huge group of "helpful people" have volunteered to help the small and underfunded public health departments. Seeing the large number of folks who step up to vaccinate, do data entry, answer local calls for local vaccine appointments and so much more brings balance to the sad and destructive hate we see daily. We are the counterbalance to that hate. And we are here in numbers. Large numbers.
Thanks for the great newsletter, I’ve been enjoying it for well over a year now.
I think the move to substack was a wise one.
Dear Robert Hubbell: I read Today's Edition and Heather Cox Richardson first thing every morning. I dutifully signed up for your new Substack site. BUT this morning there was no Today's Edition email waiting in my emailbox! And I have spent about 20 minutes trying to find you. What's up?!!!! Thanks for any clarification. I want you to appear just one click away when I wake up!! Thank you so much for the newsletter! Susan Buckley
Hi Robert! I want to give you a heads up about two more horrible Republican bills that you will want to highlight in your newsletter. The Florida House has already passed HB 1475, the most invasive and disgusting attack on trans kids in the country; the lowlight of the Bill is a provision requiring kids whose gender is questioned BY ANYONE to undergo an examination to determine their gender. As do all the other state bills, than ban trans kids from sports teams, despite the fact that they have been allowed to since 2013 with ZERO COMPLAINTS.
The other bill is New Hampshire HB544, not yet passed, which bans the discussion of “divisive concepts” (i.e., Critical Race Theory) in all State-funded organizations, schools, and contracted service providers.
Thrilled with this move to substack! Thanks as always for your smart and clear perspective. And yes, we must remember how the media is amplifies the frightful, emotion-producing bad. The good doesn't get headlines. That said I think we are in for quite a ride in the next two years. The craziness of the R's, the guns in the hands of mentally ill young men, white supremacy openly shouted....
Have you all noticed how many more black faces in ads, stock photos, magazines etc.? I never noticed that they were missing. So glad to see them and realizing how much more work to do.