I think many are excited. And encouraged. And grateful for your willingness to devote so much energy to divining the news.
I started reading Letters last fall (my memory was late Sept/early Oct but the archives indicate you started in Nov) first as a way to make sense of the news. I got hooked and continued to make up for my poor high school history education. Now it takes me a couple hours each day to read, think, and interact. I have learned much from your Letters and the video sessions. Not an A student yet, but I'm working on it.
It will be interesting to see whether the comment dialog on FB will change. Will the deep conversations happen here, there, or in both locations? I enjoy the interaction with others, but the FB interface is absolutely horrible in terms of promoting meaningful exchange between readers.
Started the letters September 15. Still have the scar from the yellow jacket, too! I don't know what will happen to the comments on Facebook, which I will still keep up with. As the page has gotten more prominent, though, it has gotten completely swarmed with bots and trolls. What finally drove me over here was when they hit my personal page, too, and I was just done. I would like for this community to become forward thinking as well as backward looking, and we can't do that while we're doing combat with dementors.
I can't engage with all the hate. I'm so frustrated with any "friends" on FB who cite speculative garbage from questionable sources. I'm a centrist-liberal Navy Brat but grew up in a bipartisan household, so I can see both sides on some issues.
You could turn off comments on your FB page if you get too fed up....
I'm on FB because that's where the disinformation is most effective. So I'm trying to combat it. But it's really hard to brainstorm in that format, because every time someone says something interesting, some troll comes in with something vicious. We'll see if we can do better over here. Plus, if you guys can tolerate it, I'd like some space for more content that is more wide-ranging. I'd love to do a piece on the changing roles of women in politics since 1981, but there really isn't room in the Letters for what is essentially a separate essay. Don't want to clutter up people's inboxes, though, so trying to figure out how to do that. Thinking about a separate column here that people can check as they wish, rather than sending emails out for the material in that column. Thoughts?
I'd be content with a separate, not-emailed, column here. It'd be sort of like knowing where the pie cupboard is so you can check it to see what goodies might have shown up.
And I'd *love* to see more wide-ranging essays & discussions. Here's a request for one/some: Food in American Politics.
In one of your taped talks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZDCBe3TcbU ...I think) you had an aside about writing on "sugar as the gateway drug to everything." I'd read the living heck out of that...as also your reflections on the Colombian Encounter consumables, especially corn and tobacco. Or, whatever! You tell a good yarn, your storytelling role-models would be proud.
I'm glad to hear this. This is exactly how I'm thinking about it. I have a number of websites I run off and check when I'm taking a break from work, and that's what I'd like to do here, in addition to the rest. If those writers dumped another email on me I'd be annoyed, but if I could just hop in and go "oh, cool" and then click off again it would be a nice break. We'll see how this develops.
I know you are super busy, and I just wanted to say I'm grateful for the time you put into this. I know it can be so very consuming. I don't see how you have time to read all of these comments, prepare your lectures when you're teaching, and have a life. I do hope you get in some self-care. Also, I'm glad you are getting paid something from us. To echo what someone else said, this is like the history I either don't remember or didn't learn in high school and college. It is helping me so very much to understand why we're where we are today. Thank you!
Also would love to see your writing on women in politics. You have such encyclopedic knowledge that I always learn something when I read your Letters. Extra essays would just be icing!
Would LOVE discussion on women’s roles in politics, in fact ANYTHING you choose to discuss😁, tho I agree this space is a little cumbersome. Wish there was more immediacy possible to make more like conversation.
I'll do threads soon where we're all on at the same time. What that loses in F2F it will gain in thoughtfulness from me. I actually find personal appearances absolutely exhausting, while I can write for hours.... :)
Is there a “chat room” option available? An opportunity for real time back and forth dialogue would be so refreshing, without the draining component of having to speak actual words out loud 😊
I would love to see that. I am learning so much. I moved around a lot as a child, even living in South America. Therefore, my history education was very spotty. Your letters and videos have inspired me to learn more and I love it. Now that I am retired (and locked in during the pandemic) I have loads of time to learn new things. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us.
I'm excited also about the inaugural comment section and am commenting just so I can say I was part of the inaugural comment section! I am so grateful for you and love your enthusiasm for history, which is infectious - in a good way. Thank you!
Scrolled thru until I saw the little comment icon show up, then dove right in! I so love this space, and the community that has come together - not in some sheeple-following way, but as humans who just CARE and crave civilized and honest discourse about WTF is happening in our country. Thank you for this space 💗
I look forward to your words each evening and sometimes catch them the following morning, but you give me comfort by sharing your knowledge and experience. I've told several people about you and am so grateful for your commitment to share what you know. And you know plenty. Thank you thank you thank you.
Thank you for the opportunity to get an insight into the history and current affairs of the USA. Though not a citizen of this country I care, because I live here and my children will live with the consequences of the history in making. I make it my mission to be informed, thank you for helping us to make sense of it all.
I’m often amused about the emphasis on the history of USA and Texas taught to my girls. It’s such a short story in comparison to mine (Iceland), and my other adoptive countries England and Scotland. I wish there was more global history in schools and then maybe the younger generation would not feel so isolated Americans.
I don’t know that I have the words to properly express my appreciation and gratitude. You’ve inspired in me the desire to learn about history by clearly showing how significant it is to better understanding today. Thank you for all of your work, I am truly grateful.
Thank you, Alyson. Obviously, I think history is fascinating, and I am so very pleased to share that with other people. I grew up around storytellers, and it was not just that their stories helped me to understand the people around me, it was also that their stories made the world so much more beautiful, deeper, and more meaningful. You folks tell me I'm good at this, but I will never hold a candle to the old storytellers, and I'm not being modest. All but one is gone, now, and it is a terrible loss.
"All but one is gone, now, and it is a terrible loss" I can't stop thinking about the pandemic taking so many elders/storytellers in such a short time. Those who lived through the Great Depression and WWII have been called the "Greatest Generation" When reading the June 6th letter about General Eisenhower, I wondered if his sense of honor is alive in enough hearts in our country.
I am watching the turmoil in the U.S. unfold from Mexico and am heart-sick and frustrated by what is happening. It's unbelievable how out of control the administration has become. Thank you for the time and energy you spend writing each letter. Thank you, too, for your inclusion of the sources you've used in the Notes section. Your clear analysis cuts through the noise.
Thank you, Daria. This mess has been a long time coming, but maybe this crisis will enable us to face it head on. The great advantage of Trump is that he has brought so much into focus that previously could be ignored by people who really didn't want to see. Now there is no choice but to see.
Saludos from Spain! Heather your words fill this expat's day with hope each morning between 7-9am. Thank you for your historical prespective on the madness in Washington. It is a relief to know that there are still sane voices observing these never-before-seen daily events with clarity.
I agree with Professor Richardson re: the fallacy of reporting "both" sides of a story. I'm happy this is being recognized as a standard in journalism (with some exceptions, of course).
However, I'm having trouble in this particular instance.
1. An opposition opinion from a US Senator must be published -- we need to stay informed.
2. Since this piece does not meet the standards of "all the news that's fit to print," it should have stated that and the reasons it needed to go into print.
3. The skewed article should have been fact-checked, perhaps with handwritten annotations, and/or a linked piece from the Editor.
I'm not saying that Bennet shouldn't have resigned because he did fail to do his job, but IMHO, he didn't need to reject the piece.
Yeah, it seems like there was a better standard that would've worked here: fact-checking. I wonder what Cotton would've done in that situation. If he had been told he couldn't blame the "left," and he couldn't say that police were the victims, and he couldn't say that the Constitution demanded police involvement... what was he left with? Would he have pulled the piece? My guess is probably yes? I mean otherwise, what has he got? The violence is bad and we need to stop it? Not exactly a barn-burning op-ed.
I agree that things like this need to be seen, dangerous ideas don’t go away because we don’t hear them. I also think that they need to be very, very clearly annotated as to prevent people from believing “facts” that are clearly not true. A simple statement in the beginning or links at the end are easily ignored.
My thought was that Cotton's piece could have been excerpted into an op-ed piece which explicitly stated that we need to see what dangerous ideas are out there and here's an example. Then fact-check Cotton's assertions as an integral part of the story, making the point that his ideas are out there other places for all to see but here's the "other side," i.e. the truth.
I've found that there is still a large percentage of people who fail to see (or perhaps, to understand) that an op-ed piece is not necessarily based on fact, but on opinion. And yeah, opinions are subjective. I see a place for it, but wondering in this multi-layered media-world whether newspaper journalists in particular should even entertain the idea of biased opinions, & instead take the road of fact-gathering, context and connecting the dots.
Except that opinions can and should be based on facts, and when information supporting the opinion is presented as "fact", it should be accurate. The "facts" presented in Cotton's op-ed piece, that he presented to bolster his opinion and used to persuade others to the same view, were false. Bennet could and should have added something to the piece to correct the falsifications.
Very true - but as we know, there are many out there who think that by stating their opinions, they can actually change the facts. And unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of unwary folks who can't discern the difference.
There was a great piece on NPR 1A today, June 9, about journalism and "bias", with lots of illumination about this NYTimes op-ed. The takeaway for me was that ACCURACY is most important; you may not like an opinion, but if it's accurate, then that inherently means less bias. For example, a journalist may not say that Trump is an incoherent idiot; but they could read the transcript from a recent on-air interview and describe Trump's verbiage as an incoherent rambling, because that's what it was.
Thank you so much for all your hard work educating us with the true facts and through history. You are our light through this crazy administration helping us make sense of what is enfolding.
I have told many people about you. I listen to all your on line sessions as well as YouTube. I love learning all the history! Thank you So much Professor!
Thanks for this. I never intended to do all this, but it is a privilege and a joy to know that other people care as much about this stuff as I do. (Plus, I like writing letters! :) )
Good morning, and joining the chorus of appreciation! With the spread of the concept Defund the Police, I am hoping people have in their wheelhouse the history of policing and why police reforms alone have not and will not work, as described by Alex Vitale in his book, The End of Policing (and in many interviews during the past week). But the phrase tells only half the story, and we have to keep explaining what it really means with a different system of public safety, first responders, and diverting funds to build communities to solve problems at the root. My friends and I have not yet come up with a better slogan that messages all this affirmatively. Ideas?https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/06/03/457251670/how-much-do-we-need-the-police
Someone on FB is using "reallocate funding," which doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. My inclination is always to put this stuff in positive terms, like "Strong schools, strong towns, strong cops," and to mean by that... reallocating funding to schools, housing, etc. But I've always been terrible at slogans and titles.
I struggle with the “Defund” term, too, especially when I’m trying to converse with my very conservative brother about the need for radical police reform.
How about:
Reimagine Policing
It’s not as edgy as the activists would like, but it potentially invites a wider group of people to consider the issue.
Hi Dorie I second your recommendation for Mr. Vitale's book. It is impossible to get a hard copy right now, but the publisher has made the ebook free. Just click on the "ebook" tab: https://www.versobooks.com/books/2817-the-end-of-policing
One of my FB friends, a human rights attorney, was a legal observer during the 2014 Ferguson protests and now works full-time as a diversity & inclusion coach. In one of our group discussions, questions about "defund the police" also came up. N shared some background info and introduced another term: Invest-Divest. Invest-Divest is part of the Movement for Black Lives' policy platform: https://m4bl.org/policy-platforms/invest-divest/
I say reform and demilitarize so I don’t alienate people who don’t do their homework. But when we do these things, it shrinks the role and power of police, which shrinks their budget.
I apologize if this comment is not in the right spot. I'm still trying to learn Substack. Anyway, as a native Buffalonian, I am livid that Trump has tweeted about 75-year-old Martin Gugino. Even worse, I have at least one relative who is falling for the conspiracy!
How does a patriot selectively ignore -- or at least not amplify -- the ravings of an unhinged, wannabe autocrat? What does history teach us? Is there a comparable example from another place and time? I know that social media complicates things these days.
My only advice is to approach it as you would a friend who is in an abusive relationship. The more you try to to tell your friend it's not okay, the closer s/he clings to the abuser. All you can do is to refuse to discuss the abuse, to model a healthy relationship, and to try to show your friend a more normal world. And to realize that change has to come from your friend; you can't do it yourself. It's miserable. But trying to force them to change only hardens their resolve.
This story originated with OANN (One America News Network) which has at least one on-air reporter that is on the payroll of Sputnik--the Kremlins official propaganda outlet.
I'm dismayed that the story about Trump and his team incorrectly reporting the job numbers for May hasn't had more traction with national media. I've been reposting and sharing the story on FB but that really isn't enough. I saw that WaPo did cover it but I haven't heard a word about it on PBS Newshour, my only regular televised news source which is usually quite thorough.
Got it. Just so exciting to be involved in stimulating discussion! As an academic, you don’t know the desert 55+ communities can be😜. I’ll be quiet now and go to the gym.
Reading through the raw numbers on the CNN poll, the question/response that raises alarms for me (wrt the election):
Biden voters: 37% voting FOR Biden, 60% voting against Trump
Trump voters: 70% voting FOR Trump, 27% voting against Biden
That to me is not a very good sign for Biden, that is not solid ground.
They don't show us 2016 numbers, but I suspect they would be similar leaning. My concern being that voting FOR someone is much stronger sentiment, less easily swayed.
The 2004 Bush/Kerry and 1984 Reagan/Mondale numbers are similar.
I'm still trying to figure out how to answer a whole thread-- I hope this moves to the bottom and shows up in chronological order.
Don't know what to say about polls. In aggregate, the pollsters tend to be spot on, but I'm personally (I am NOT a pollster myself, so am going with a gut sense) not sure how useful they are five months out. In midsummer 1988 Dukakis was something like 17 points up over Bush, and then the Willie Horton ad hit. I will say, Bruce Bartlett, who wrote the piece I cited, is really, really good at what he does, and is remarkably clear-eyed about all this (he was a Jack Kemp Republican, who has come to loathe the entire crowd of modern GOP). So he's worth listening to. But for my part, I don't think this year, with Covid-19 and a loose cannon in the White House, enabled by sycophants, we can make any predictions this far in advance. Anything can still happen. (As many of you know, I've said for years that I thought he would resign before November. We'll see.)
P.S. Do you know where the expression "loose cannon" comes from? As I understand it, it's from naval history, when a cannon comes loose from its moorings on the deck, and when fired rather than shooting the projectile forward as designed, rockets backward through the ship, killing the gunners and tearing holes through everything. Kind of a fitting expression here, no?
I can check off "learn new trivial knowledge" for the day. Long ago a boss called me as a loose cannon and malcontent. Apparently my penchant for pushing back against "that's the way we've always done it" wasn't appreciated. I still challenge the status quo, but given my age people call me a grumpy old guy or curmudgeon. Not sure I feel about being tossed into the same bin with the Dumpster.
My mother hated that expression “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” She used to tell me that that doesn’t mean it has to continue to be done that way!
Lisa, the article on polls ( https://ritholtz.com/.../are-polls-are-always-skewed.../ ) was very enlightening and added credence to my long-felt belief that polling results are easily manipulated to indicate a desired result. I agree that your summary of the CNN results should give cause for concern for Biden. The MAGA crowd is strongly committed to Trump while the Biden voters are still waffling. :-/ Does 60% against Trump yield a vote FOR Biden or someone who skips the election? If anything is to be learned from 2016 it's that everyone should stop making the decision of *whether* to vote based on polling. Even if the polls reach a 70-30 Biden edge across multiple demographics, that 70% has to vote in order for the poll prediction to become reality.
Glad to see the conversation migrate to this platform. I will do my very best to make my contributions useful by aiming for the high standards of HCR. :-)
This, alas, confirms my apprehensions about Biden and the underlying structure of both the campaign and the Democratic Party leadership. We need the best messaging people - maybe Bloomberg will fund it - to hammer on the many excellent points that can be made about trump. We need good strategy, paying attention to those crucial states that gave trump the WH four years ago. And Biden needs intensive coaching on responding to questions.
Couldn't agree more strongly! Biden was definitely NOT my choice for the nomination but I will support him for all I'm worth now. But I can't help wishing that he would come on stronger. There are so many purist progressives who are threatening not to vote for him which could mean disaster. He needs to be listening to people who get where the country is right now and taking advantage of the current enthusiasm we have for justice reform.
On the flip side, I'm encouraged by hearing from my mid-70s parents in Central Florida that a lot of their lifelong Republican friends who either voted for Trump or stayed home in 2016 genuinely like Biden and are happy to vote for who they see as a "normal" moderate choice of politician. I'm really hoping the most stubborn progressives come around in November and realize what's at stake (a progressive VP pick should help), but I think the ability to get potential votes from older Americans in swing states is a great plus for Biden. Didn't even think about that factor until my parents mentioned it.
We were talking tonight about how amazing it would be to go A WHOLE DAY without worrying about what's happening in Washington. That's another thing Biden will bring... calm. Dunno about you, but I could sure use that for a few years.
I fear that he thinks "coming on stronger" as getting angry. In many of his interviews, he gets an angry or annoyed face instead of a strong, deliberate, wise and thoughtful one. I tell all my friends that Biden should be in lots of still photos, looking flinty and determined. :) Or compassionate and kind, depending on the circumstances. But we need NO MORE gaffes. Then, of course, get an amazing woman of color (there are many choices) as his VP.
I agree that this is a troubling sign, but to be fair Biden has not done any campaigning and seems instead to wisely let Trump be his own worst enemy. We'll see.
Thank you for your daily letters, Heather. I also just finished your book, How the South Won the Civil War. So much of what’s happening now makes sense because of the broader historical context.
I know you’re more of a reader, but have you watched the new docuseries on Phyllis Schlafly? It’s called “Mrs. America,” and features portrayals of second-wave feminists.
Excited by the inaugural comment section. Cannot wait to see what happens over here. Off to bed now, but will check this out in the morning....
I think many are excited. And encouraged. And grateful for your willingness to devote so much energy to divining the news.
I started reading Letters last fall (my memory was late Sept/early Oct but the archives indicate you started in Nov) first as a way to make sense of the news. I got hooked and continued to make up for my poor high school history education. Now it takes me a couple hours each day to read, think, and interact. I have learned much from your Letters and the video sessions. Not an A student yet, but I'm working on it.
It will be interesting to see whether the comment dialog on FB will change. Will the deep conversations happen here, there, or in both locations? I enjoy the interaction with others, but the FB interface is absolutely horrible in terms of promoting meaningful exchange between readers.
Andrew
Started the letters September 15. Still have the scar from the yellow jacket, too! I don't know what will happen to the comments on Facebook, which I will still keep up with. As the page has gotten more prominent, though, it has gotten completely swarmed with bots and trolls. What finally drove me over here was when they hit my personal page, too, and I was just done. I would like for this community to become forward thinking as well as backward looking, and we can't do that while we're doing combat with dementors.
I can't engage with all the hate. I'm so frustrated with any "friends" on FB who cite speculative garbage from questionable sources. I'm a centrist-liberal Navy Brat but grew up in a bipartisan household, so I can see both sides on some issues.
You could turn off comments on your FB page if you get too fed up....
Yes, I was missing the promised back and forth, tho I DO want off fb
I'm on FB because that's where the disinformation is most effective. So I'm trying to combat it. But it's really hard to brainstorm in that format, because every time someone says something interesting, some troll comes in with something vicious. We'll see if we can do better over here. Plus, if you guys can tolerate it, I'd like some space for more content that is more wide-ranging. I'd love to do a piece on the changing roles of women in politics since 1981, but there really isn't room in the Letters for what is essentially a separate essay. Don't want to clutter up people's inboxes, though, so trying to figure out how to do that. Thinking about a separate column here that people can check as they wish, rather than sending emails out for the material in that column. Thoughts?
I'd be content with a separate, not-emailed, column here. It'd be sort of like knowing where the pie cupboard is so you can check it to see what goodies might have shown up.
And I'd *love* to see more wide-ranging essays & discussions. Here's a request for one/some: Food in American Politics.
In one of your taped talks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZDCBe3TcbU ...I think) you had an aside about writing on "sugar as the gateway drug to everything." I'd read the living heck out of that...as also your reflections on the Colombian Encounter consumables, especially corn and tobacco. Or, whatever! You tell a good yarn, your storytelling role-models would be proud.
I'm glad to hear this. This is exactly how I'm thinking about it. I have a number of websites I run off and check when I'm taking a break from work, and that's what I'd like to do here, in addition to the rest. If those writers dumped another email on me I'd be annoyed, but if I could just hop in and go "oh, cool" and then click off again it would be a nice break. We'll see how this develops.
I know you are super busy, and I just wanted to say I'm grateful for the time you put into this. I know it can be so very consuming. I don't see how you have time to read all of these comments, prepare your lectures when you're teaching, and have a life. I do hope you get in some self-care. Also, I'm glad you are getting paid something from us. To echo what someone else said, this is like the history I either don't remember or didn't learn in high school and college. It is helping me so very much to understand why we're where we are today. Thank you!
LOL at “pie cupboard”... exactly that!
Also would love to see your writing on women in politics. You have such encyclopedic knowledge that I always learn something when I read your Letters. Extra essays would just be icing!
It could be interesting to speculate on who Joe Biden will end up selecting as his running mate. Female? Of color? Hmmmm.....
Would LOVE discussion on women’s roles in politics, in fact ANYTHING you choose to discuss😁, tho I agree this space is a little cumbersome. Wish there was more immediacy possible to make more like conversation.
I'll do threads soon where we're all on at the same time. What that loses in F2F it will gain in thoughtfulness from me. I actually find personal appearances absolutely exhausting, while I can write for hours.... :)
Is there a “chat room” option available? An opportunity for real time back and forth dialogue would be so refreshing, without the draining component of having to speak actual words out loud 😊
I would love to see that. I am learning so much. I moved around a lot as a child, even living in South America. Therefore, my history education was very spotty. Your letters and videos have inspired me to learn more and I love it. Now that I am retired (and locked in during the pandemic) I have loads of time to learn new things. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us.
I'm excited also about the inaugural comment section and am commenting just so I can say I was part of the inaugural comment section! I am so grateful for you and love your enthusiasm for history, which is infectious - in a good way. Thank you!
Scrolled thru until I saw the little comment icon show up, then dove right in! I so love this space, and the community that has come together - not in some sheeple-following way, but as humans who just CARE and crave civilized and honest discourse about WTF is happening in our country. Thank you for this space 💗
I look forward to your words each evening and sometimes catch them the following morning, but you give me comfort by sharing your knowledge and experience. I've told several people about you and am so grateful for your commitment to share what you know. And you know plenty. Thank you thank you thank you.
Susie Heffelfinger
Thanks, Susie. It's from getting older. We all store up a lot over the years.
Thank you for the opportunity to get an insight into the history and current affairs of the USA. Though not a citizen of this country I care, because I live here and my children will live with the consequences of the history in making. I make it my mission to be informed, thank you for helping us to make sense of it all.
I’m often amused about the emphasis on the history of USA and Texas taught to my girls. It’s such a short story in comparison to mine (Iceland), and my other adoptive countries England and Scotland. I wish there was more global history in schools and then maybe the younger generation would not feel so isolated Americans.
Thanks. And we could use more languages, too.
I don’t know that I have the words to properly express my appreciation and gratitude. You’ve inspired in me the desire to learn about history by clearly showing how significant it is to better understanding today. Thank you for all of your work, I am truly grateful.
Thank you, Alyson. Obviously, I think history is fascinating, and I am so very pleased to share that with other people. I grew up around storytellers, and it was not just that their stories helped me to understand the people around me, it was also that their stories made the world so much more beautiful, deeper, and more meaningful. You folks tell me I'm good at this, but I will never hold a candle to the old storytellers, and I'm not being modest. All but one is gone, now, and it is a terrible loss.
"All but one is gone, now, and it is a terrible loss" I can't stop thinking about the pandemic taking so many elders/storytellers in such a short time. Those who lived through the Great Depression and WWII have been called the "Greatest Generation" When reading the June 6th letter about General Eisenhower, I wondered if his sense of honor is alive in enough hearts in our country.
I am watching the turmoil in the U.S. unfold from Mexico and am heart-sick and frustrated by what is happening. It's unbelievable how out of control the administration has become. Thank you for the time and energy you spend writing each letter. Thank you, too, for your inclusion of the sources you've used in the Notes section. Your clear analysis cuts through the noise.
Thank you, Daria. This mess has been a long time coming, but maybe this crisis will enable us to face it head on. The great advantage of Trump is that he has brought so much into focus that previously could be ignored by people who really didn't want to see. Now there is no choice but to see.
Saludos from Spain! Heather your words fill this expat's day with hope each morning between 7-9am. Thank you for your historical prespective on the madness in Washington. It is a relief to know that there are still sane voices observing these never-before-seen daily events with clarity.
Thank you, Edward! I hope you're voting this year! :)
I agree with Professor Richardson re: the fallacy of reporting "both" sides of a story. I'm happy this is being recognized as a standard in journalism (with some exceptions, of course).
However, I'm having trouble in this particular instance.
1. An opposition opinion from a US Senator must be published -- we need to stay informed.
2. Since this piece does not meet the standards of "all the news that's fit to print," it should have stated that and the reasons it needed to go into print.
3. The skewed article should have been fact-checked, perhaps with handwritten annotations, and/or a linked piece from the Editor.
I'm not saying that Bennet shouldn't have resigned because he did fail to do his job, but IMHO, he didn't need to reject the piece.
Yeah, it seems like there was a better standard that would've worked here: fact-checking. I wonder what Cotton would've done in that situation. If he had been told he couldn't blame the "left," and he couldn't say that police were the victims, and he couldn't say that the Constitution demanded police involvement... what was he left with? Would he have pulled the piece? My guess is probably yes? I mean otherwise, what has he got? The violence is bad and we need to stop it? Not exactly a barn-burning op-ed.
I agree that things like this need to be seen, dangerous ideas don’t go away because we don’t hear them. I also think that they need to be very, very clearly annotated as to prevent people from believing “facts” that are clearly not true. A simple statement in the beginning or links at the end are easily ignored.
My thought was that Cotton's piece could have been excerpted into an op-ed piece which explicitly stated that we need to see what dangerous ideas are out there and here's an example. Then fact-check Cotton's assertions as an integral part of the story, making the point that his ideas are out there other places for all to see but here's the "other side," i.e. the truth.
Yeah, this would've been a good learning moment. My guess is that they would sixteen different kinds of never have done it.
The op-ed made me ill, but your points are good...it didn’t have to be print as is or not at all.
I've found that there is still a large percentage of people who fail to see (or perhaps, to understand) that an op-ed piece is not necessarily based on fact, but on opinion. And yeah, opinions are subjective. I see a place for it, but wondering in this multi-layered media-world whether newspaper journalists in particular should even entertain the idea of biased opinions, & instead take the road of fact-gathering, context and connecting the dots.
Except that opinions can and should be based on facts, and when information supporting the opinion is presented as "fact", it should be accurate. The "facts" presented in Cotton's op-ed piece, that he presented to bolster his opinion and used to persuade others to the same view, were false. Bennet could and should have added something to the piece to correct the falsifications.
Very true - but as we know, there are many out there who think that by stating their opinions, they can actually change the facts. And unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of unwary folks who can't discern the difference.
FWIW, I have to explain the difference between the roles of fact, argument, and opinion all the time when teaching writing.
Okay, this peaked my interest: I understand the difference between fact and opinion, but what do you mean by argument, in this context?
I wouldn't mind having that be a topic of instruction.
All the more reason to encourage teenagers (who love to argue anyway) to learn the skills of speech and debate in middle school and high school.
Everyone has a right to their own opinion but not their own facts. Is that even true anymore?
There was a great piece on NPR 1A today, June 9, about journalism and "bias", with lots of illumination about this NYTimes op-ed. The takeaway for me was that ACCURACY is most important; you may not like an opinion, but if it's accurate, then that inherently means less bias. For example, a journalist may not say that Trump is an incoherent idiot; but they could read the transcript from a recent on-air interview and describe Trump's verbiage as an incoherent rambling, because that's what it was.
Thank you so much for all your hard work educating us with the true facts and through history. You are our light through this crazy administration helping us make sense of what is enfolding.
I have told many people about you. I listen to all your on line sessions as well as YouTube. I love learning all the history! Thank you So much Professor!
Thanks for this. I never intended to do all this, but it is a privilege and a joy to know that other people care as much about this stuff as I do. (Plus, I like writing letters! :) )
Good morning, and joining the chorus of appreciation! With the spread of the concept Defund the Police, I am hoping people have in their wheelhouse the history of policing and why police reforms alone have not and will not work, as described by Alex Vitale in his book, The End of Policing (and in many interviews during the past week). But the phrase tells only half the story, and we have to keep explaining what it really means with a different system of public safety, first responders, and diverting funds to build communities to solve problems at the root. My friends and I have not yet come up with a better slogan that messages all this affirmatively. Ideas?https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2020/06/03/457251670/how-much-do-we-need-the-police
Someone on FB is using "reallocate funding," which doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. My inclination is always to put this stuff in positive terms, like "Strong schools, strong towns, strong cops," and to mean by that... reallocating funding to schools, housing, etc. But I've always been terrible at slogans and titles.
I struggle with the “Defund” term, too, especially when I’m trying to converse with my very conservative brother about the need for radical police reform.
How about:
Reimagine Policing
It’s not as edgy as the activists would like, but it potentially invites a wider group of people to consider the issue.
Hi Dorie I second your recommendation for Mr. Vitale's book. It is impossible to get a hard copy right now, but the publisher has made the ebook free. Just click on the "ebook" tab: https://www.versobooks.com/books/2817-the-end-of-policing
One of my FB friends, a human rights attorney, was a legal observer during the 2014 Ferguson protests and now works full-time as a diversity & inclusion coach. In one of our group discussions, questions about "defund the police" also came up. N shared some background info and introduced another term: Invest-Divest. Invest-Divest is part of the Movement for Black Lives' policy platform: https://m4bl.org/policy-platforms/invest-divest/
I say reform and demilitarize so I don’t alienate people who don’t do their homework. But when we do these things, it shrinks the role and power of police, which shrinks their budget.
Someone on FB put "Unburden Police," which kind of swaps the whole idea. Elegant.
That is great. And by using an acronym, it could lend itself to a hopeful campaign.
Unburden Police. Because the only way we go is UP.
I apologize if this comment is not in the right spot. I'm still trying to learn Substack. Anyway, as a native Buffalonian, I am livid that Trump has tweeted about 75-year-old Martin Gugino. Even worse, I have at least one relative who is falling for the conspiracy!
How does a patriot selectively ignore -- or at least not amplify -- the ravings of an unhinged, wannabe autocrat? What does history teach us? Is there a comparable example from another place and time? I know that social media complicates things these days.
My only advice is to approach it as you would a friend who is in an abusive relationship. The more you try to to tell your friend it's not okay, the closer s/he clings to the abuser. All you can do is to refuse to discuss the abuse, to model a healthy relationship, and to try to show your friend a more normal world. And to realize that change has to come from your friend; you can't do it yourself. It's miserable. But trying to force them to change only hardens their resolve.
That makes sense. Thank you.
This story originated with OANN (One America News Network) which has at least one on-air reporter that is on the payroll of Sputnik--the Kremlins official propaganda outlet.
This is Trump's only source.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/oan-trumps-new-favorite-channel-employs-kremlin-paid-journalist
OANN has apparently replaced FOX as his go-to "news" source. I've noticed OANN reporters at White House press briefings.
I'm dismayed that the story about Trump and his team incorrectly reporting the job numbers for May hasn't had more traction with national media. I've been reposting and sharing the story on FB but that really isn't enough. I saw that WaPo did cover it but I haven't heard a word about it on PBS Newshour, my only regular televised news source which is usually quite thorough.
Numbers rarely get traction in the news. And yes, it's a shame this one slid under the radar.
Got it. Just so exciting to be involved in stimulating discussion! As an academic, you don’t know the desert 55+ communities can be😜. I’ll be quiet now and go to the gym.
For a careful and helpful journey through issues of media objectivity, this book and podcast is a must: https://www.lewispants.com/the-view-from-somewhere
It’s “The View From Somewhere”. Especially read the chapter and listen to the episode about Black Lives Matter.
Thank you for this. I had not heard about it, and it looks worth knowing.
I always read this letter before anything else in the morning. I am so grateful for it.
Reading through the raw numbers on the CNN poll, the question/response that raises alarms for me (wrt the election):
Biden voters: 37% voting FOR Biden, 60% voting against Trump
Trump voters: 70% voting FOR Trump, 27% voting against Biden
That to me is not a very good sign for Biden, that is not solid ground.
They don't show us 2016 numbers, but I suspect they would be similar leaning. My concern being that voting FOR someone is much stronger sentiment, less easily swayed.
The 2004 Bush/Kerry and 1984 Reagan/Mondale numbers are similar.
I'm still trying to figure out how to answer a whole thread-- I hope this moves to the bottom and shows up in chronological order.
Don't know what to say about polls. In aggregate, the pollsters tend to be spot on, but I'm personally (I am NOT a pollster myself, so am going with a gut sense) not sure how useful they are five months out. In midsummer 1988 Dukakis was something like 17 points up over Bush, and then the Willie Horton ad hit. I will say, Bruce Bartlett, who wrote the piece I cited, is really, really good at what he does, and is remarkably clear-eyed about all this (he was a Jack Kemp Republican, who has come to loathe the entire crowd of modern GOP). So he's worth listening to. But for my part, I don't think this year, with Covid-19 and a loose cannon in the White House, enabled by sycophants, we can make any predictions this far in advance. Anything can still happen. (As many of you know, I've said for years that I thought he would resign before November. We'll see.)
P.S. Do you know where the expression "loose cannon" comes from? As I understand it, it's from naval history, when a cannon comes loose from its moorings on the deck, and when fired rather than shooting the projectile forward as designed, rockets backward through the ship, killing the gunners and tearing holes through everything. Kind of a fitting expression here, no?
I can check off "learn new trivial knowledge" for the day. Long ago a boss called me as a loose cannon and malcontent. Apparently my penchant for pushing back against "that's the way we've always done it" wasn't appreciated. I still challenge the status quo, but given my age people call me a grumpy old guy or curmudgeon. Not sure I feel about being tossed into the same bin with the Dumpster.
My mother hated that expression “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” She used to tell me that that doesn’t mean it has to continue to be done that way!
👍😂
Lisa, the article on polls ( https://ritholtz.com/.../are-polls-are-always-skewed.../ ) was very enlightening and added credence to my long-felt belief that polling results are easily manipulated to indicate a desired result. I agree that your summary of the CNN results should give cause for concern for Biden. The MAGA crowd is strongly committed to Trump while the Biden voters are still waffling. :-/ Does 60% against Trump yield a vote FOR Biden or someone who skips the election? If anything is to be learned from 2016 it's that everyone should stop making the decision of *whether* to vote based on polling. Even if the polls reach a 70-30 Biden edge across multiple demographics, that 70% has to vote in order for the poll prediction to become reality.
Glad to see the conversation migrate to this platform. I will do my very best to make my contributions useful by aiming for the high standards of HCR. :-)
This, alas, confirms my apprehensions about Biden and the underlying structure of both the campaign and the Democratic Party leadership. We need the best messaging people - maybe Bloomberg will fund it - to hammer on the many excellent points that can be made about trump. We need good strategy, paying attention to those crucial states that gave trump the WH four years ago. And Biden needs intensive coaching on responding to questions.
Couldn't agree more strongly! Biden was definitely NOT my choice for the nomination but I will support him for all I'm worth now. But I can't help wishing that he would come on stronger. There are so many purist progressives who are threatening not to vote for him which could mean disaster. He needs to be listening to people who get where the country is right now and taking advantage of the current enthusiasm we have for justice reform.
On the flip side, I'm encouraged by hearing from my mid-70s parents in Central Florida that a lot of their lifelong Republican friends who either voted for Trump or stayed home in 2016 genuinely like Biden and are happy to vote for who they see as a "normal" moderate choice of politician. I'm really hoping the most stubborn progressives come around in November and realize what's at stake (a progressive VP pick should help), but I think the ability to get potential votes from older Americans in swing states is a great plus for Biden. Didn't even think about that factor until my parents mentioned it.
All true about moderate older voters and I agree that his VP pick will be so important in attracting progressives.
We were talking tonight about how amazing it would be to go A WHOLE DAY without worrying about what's happening in Washington. That's another thing Biden will bring... calm. Dunno about you, but I could sure use that for a few years.
I fear that he thinks "coming on stronger" as getting angry. In many of his interviews, he gets an angry or annoyed face instead of a strong, deliberate, wise and thoughtful one. I tell all my friends that Biden should be in lots of still photos, looking flinty and determined. :) Or compassionate and kind, depending on the circumstances. But we need NO MORE gaffes. Then, of course, get an amazing woman of color (there are many choices) as his VP.
You should be one of his advisors! :)
I agree that this is a troubling sign, but to be fair Biden has not done any campaigning and seems instead to wisely let Trump be his own worst enemy. We'll see.
Thank you for your daily letters, Heather. I also just finished your book, How the South Won the Civil War. So much of what’s happening now makes sense because of the broader historical context.
I know you’re more of a reader, but have you watched the new docuseries on Phyllis Schlafly? It’s called “Mrs. America,” and features portrayals of second-wave feminists.
Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly is amazing!
No, I haven't. I've heard it's terrific.
It is. I have a renewed appreciation for Bella Abzug.