Please no :( . I also read the times regularly. Daily. But NYT is also click bait. Provocative headlines and language and 4 paragraphs in to find out the article is not news. It takes time and patience to weed through its money making noise and find out what actually matters. Heather is doing this for us. By us :):):). I do not w…
Please no :( . I also read the times regularly. Daily. But NYT is also click bait. Provocative headlines and language and 4 paragraphs in to find out the article is not news. It takes time and patience to weed through its money making noise and find out what actually matters. Heather is doing this for us. By us :):):). I do not wish NYT oversight and influence on her. I am so thankful for her indepent insight and wisdom!
Given your respect for HCR, do you not think her capable to decide the distribution of her work? As a regular reader of The NY Times, my opinion differs from yours, while noting its strengths and weakness. Withal, I have no opinion about HRC being affiliated with the paper or not. It was good for Michael Sanchez to promote HRC's work and to wish that it was more widely distributed to the people. Letters from an American is an admirable teacher. The American people and the country would benefit greatly from a knowledge of civics.
For what it isn't worth, I'll admit to having spent no few years as a reader of the NYT -- a sign of my deep dissatisfaction with British and French media. In the end I got a surfeit of its smug thought-free ersatz thinking, all too reminiscent of the politics of, by and for smelly old machinery to which the Democratic Party's bureaucracy still seems so attached.
Peter, I would like you to read the British newsletter I receive online, which is entitle The Canary. I certain if you did, your mind would be changed about the news they cover.
One of the obvious differences between us is, as I've already said, your obvious presence on the ground, NOW. It's all very much in the present tense, which is fine.
I'm a long way away, in space, in time. I'm speaking of the cumulative effect of reading a paper over a long period and of a separation that took place a few years ago, following the way I felt about editorial policy.
Too much like commenting on a divorced spouse before one has had time to let the truth settle and find peace.
A general remark that may tell more of my own weakness, my own projections:
America scares me. All too often, Americans scare me -- and not just those we should all fear... I'm reminded of the Duke of Wellington's remark about his own troops:
"I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me."
I agree Fern. The wider the distribution, the better. I don't think the NYT, which I get daily, will influence the Professor's writing, except maybe for formatting. You see click bait in just about every commercial website for media these days. I say just avoid it.
I started reading the NYT at age 7/8 to have something to discuss with dad at dinner.In Egypt in the 50s I received it days late. In the Congo I received the Times/Herald Tribune edition by crocodile. In Chile the mail was delayed. I still read the Times, though with less sense of it being definitive than when I was much younger. I appreciate the Washington Post digital. The Economist daily and weekly provides a fine US section as well as broad global news. The Week provides excellent daily and weekly articles, including disparate newspaper/magazine reporting and some zinger cartoons. The New York Review of Books provides some excellent in-depth articles on key ongoing matters. The Atlantic and the New York have insightful articles, when I find the time.
When I was in the Foreign Service more than occasionally I had to write a classified memo to The Secretary ‘correcting’ a Times or Post article of that morning. Even now I assume that many of the top folks in Washington read the Times and/or Post while limosinng to work. I just read them with my first cup of coffee.
Even before coffee my must read is Heather’s nightly Letter. If limited to a single source, for keen insights on critical domestic issues for me Heather is #1.
Plainly, I am (and I don't doubt that we all are) very much in favor of spreading and sharing this work, but aren't we coming close to hijacking our mentor?
Anyway, the more media offers or expressions of interest, the better. And of course, it will be for HCR to decide how, whether and with whom to link up.
'...but aren't we coming close to hijacking our mentor?' Who are you talking about, Peter? 'We' cannot hijack' HCR and her work Some subscribers may have wishes about how her work is distributed. Those are wishes not a matter of 'control.'
Sounds like we're planning to release swarms of Heather's Hornets on the nation... Goodness knows there are millions of couch potatoes and sleepwalkers in need of saving from an even direr awakening, yet I'm sure HCR (and Substack) will be well aware of all this buzzing in Her Hive and know how to act or not act on it.
The Franklin Project is an offshoot from the Lincoln Project, with a goal to increase public civil knowledge and organize against our current anti democracy threat. LP has no direct or legal connections with FP. FP is directed by Greg Jenkins, an alumnus of the George W. Bush administration.
Diane, Thank you for this link. I was not familiar with the 'franklin project', and the link was not helpful. There was almost nothing about the organization, who its leaders are and background of the the organization were missing. It was a an unusual site given the paucity of information
I didn't notice that one, but I did balk at the word "fight". A fight may prove unavoidable but if there's one constant complaint I have about media jargon in the United States, it is the gross overuse of terms that imply violence. Action has to be "aggressive", anything that needs doing must be handled "aggressively".
Haven't we all seen far too much of fools -- often the most brilliant fools with vast expertise, vaster IQs, limitless hubris -- rushing in where angels fear to tread?
That said, all initiatives in defense of democracy are, at the very least, worthy of our attention.
Or just type in The Franklin Project into your browser search. It should pop up. Their team and details you are looking for are all there on their site.
Thanks, Diane that helped. I was not seeking anything just commenting of various opinions of subscribers about their wishes concerning distribution of LFAA. The Franklin Project seems to be staffed primarily by folks with experience in press, public relations areas. The Project appears to be an offshoot of the Lincoln Project. Thanks, again.
Still surely worth looking into both the program proposed and the individuals behind it. Doesn't it smack of political independence, with its airing of the third party question?
If such an initiative proved worthy of its name, I'd be happy to see it exported to France and Britain for a start -- countries where Benjamin Franklin was active and influential, countries in dire need of a genuine revival of democratic institutions, not the populist simulacra we've been seeing far too much of.
PR people primarily and an offshoot of the Lincoln Project. It does not seem to be a grassroots organization, and my sense is that it is more politically affiliated than not.
Mmmm... You seem to have a sharp sense of smell, Fern, as well as being wise to what's actually going on at ground level. So I attend to what you say. My view's inevitably more distanced, with the disadvantages that implies. Some advantages, of course, too. Mainly those of skepticism.
Mike, Perhaps, you were discouraged by comments from subscribers. A much greater number who replied were very positive about your idea. I withheld judgement except to note favorably about your belief that it would be beneficial for a wider audience to read HCR's Letter. A combination of your idea with my 2 cents calls for a PR project, for which subscribers may not be the right engine. I would like to see monthly essays by HCR widely distributed. Would she be interested? It would be another work load. An outstanding aspect of your idea, from my point of view, was to alert a major newspaper about the extraordinary source HCR would be for their national coverage. I see your effort as one by a consumer of news advocating that more Americans be exposed to the unbiased and masterly analysis of current affairs written by HCR. Communication of this nature need not be restricted to the NY Times. Network news operations, CNN, USA Today, Wall St. Journal, Washington Post, Politico, NPR, Time Magazine and US News & World Report are all good targets. A letter to each with a small sample of her work, would, perhaps, be a prompt to the right people who direct the news coverage for the company. For those interested in spreading LFAA, I think of that the history, journalism, government. political science and teaching departments of Universities/colleges would do well to consider the LFAA as part of the curriculum. These are the hopes of those of us wishing for a more educated and enlightened citizenry. Here's to that, Mike!
I agree, Please, no. The NYT has gone the way of "Breaking News..."
Heather's words are traveling and spreading from the ground up and out beautifully. As we each introduce people, we know, to Heather's letters the word spreads, and it's not "coming from the Times".
"Please no", is what I say. It could change "why" the writing is happening..and learnng from Heather's extraordinary perspective is what I want to hear. I already read headlines in the Times, and would prefer to leave it at that...
What has not changed since 1969? All change is not for the worst. Do you remember the Times's reporting on the USA's invasion on Iraq? It was for the worst. If your interested into reporting on the insurrection, have you been following the Washington Post's series "The Attack'?
I agree with you. Independent, well referenced news from large media outlets is sparse. I feel NYT & WashPost & others (WSJ) are MOSTLY shallow, poorly documented articles on par w college undergrad output. They have done a terrible job of providing context & informing the public on critical current issues/events. In general, the content is shallow or for sensationalism. (Not all, but true informative, relevant journalism is hard to find.) Loss of independence seems to degrade content. (As you know, there are several other well researched independent daily news feeds. I like this trend & wish the audiences were broadened.)
As a reader of both papers I was surprised by your strong critique of the NYT and Washington Post. We greatly differ on that score. Correct me if I'm wrong in assuming that your have diligently read both papers up until recently. Thank you.
Mea culpa. Both outlets have done some outstanding investigative journalism. But I do not find what HCR offers; a daily capsule of critical political news which is well referenced & provides contextual meaning.
Thank you, mfabel. You appear to have made an important correction. To have compared both The New York Times and the Washington Post as 'shallow, poorly documented on a par with college undergrad output' and the rest of what you initially wrote was egregious, incorrect and uncalled for. I hope, in the future, you will be thoughtful and truthful in what you express.
Thank you, mfabel. It wasn't an easy exchange between us, but we were honest with one another. We're always learning. I think each of us came away better than before. Peace.
mfabel, Have been been following the series by the Washington Post called, The Attack, which is revelatory about the coup to prevent the transfer of power? It is not clear to me about whether you have rejected the the most serious journalism being produced in the country.
Agree! NYT can be informative but also annoying every time I read an issue, so I would prefer to avoid the aggravation entirely and keep Dr. Heather independent. 👍
I look at the NYT only every few days after amnesia has kicked in and then remember why I don't read it regularly. 😬
The recipes paywall is the final straw, because why post pics of appealing recipes then you click and a pop-up appears? Especially when they have non-paywall recipes available. Smh.
We subscribe and I did forget the food section. We get all the recipes and the puzzles as part of that. My spouse reads it more thoroughly than I do. I don't appreciate pay walls either when I encounter them from some newspaper where I just want to read a single article that was referenced in something else I read.
Eh,! Old, experienced and a respected member of the free-press -- The New York Times is not perfect but vitally important as a reliable source of the facts.
Please no :( . I also read the times regularly. Daily. But NYT is also click bait. Provocative headlines and language and 4 paragraphs in to find out the article is not news. It takes time and patience to weed through its money making noise and find out what actually matters. Heather is doing this for us. By us :):):). I do not wish NYT oversight and influence on her. I am so thankful for her indepent insight and wisdom!
Given your respect for HCR, do you not think her capable to decide the distribution of her work? As a regular reader of The NY Times, my opinion differs from yours, while noting its strengths and weakness. Withal, I have no opinion about HRC being affiliated with the paper or not. It was good for Michael Sanchez to promote HRC's work and to wish that it was more widely distributed to the people. Letters from an American is an admirable teacher. The American people and the country would benefit greatly from a knowledge of civics.
Yes, and hers is not an opinion piece- it’s facts, history, and the truth! What paper has all 3! Thank you, Ms. Richardson!
Wallis there are essay pieces in the Times, which on occasion, combine elements, which constitute those in LFAA.
For what it isn't worth, I'll admit to having spent no few years as a reader of the NYT -- a sign of my deep dissatisfaction with British and French media. In the end I got a surfeit of its smug thought-free ersatz thinking, all too reminiscent of the politics of, by and for smelly old machinery to which the Democratic Party's bureaucracy still seems so attached.
Peter, I would like you to read the British newsletter I receive online, which is entitle The Canary. I certain if you did, your mind would be changed about the news they cover.
'...smug thought-free ersatz thinking...' I come across on the Opinion page, but not in the other sections, which you seem to insinuate.
One of the obvious differences between us is, as I've already said, your obvious presence on the ground, NOW. It's all very much in the present tense, which is fine.
I'm a long way away, in space, in time. I'm speaking of the cumulative effect of reading a paper over a long period and of a separation that took place a few years ago, following the way I felt about editorial policy.
Too much like commenting on a divorced spouse before one has had time to let the truth settle and find peace.
A general remark that may tell more of my own weakness, my own projections:
America scares me. All too often, Americans scare me -- and not just those we should all fear... I'm reminded of the Duke of Wellington's remark about his own troops:
"I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me."
I agree Fern. The wider the distribution, the better. I don't think the NYT, which I get daily, will influence the Professor's writing, except maybe for formatting. You see click bait in just about every commercial website for media these days. I say just avoid it.
I started reading the NYT at age 7/8 to have something to discuss with dad at dinner.In Egypt in the 50s I received it days late. In the Congo I received the Times/Herald Tribune edition by crocodile. In Chile the mail was delayed. I still read the Times, though with less sense of it being definitive than when I was much younger. I appreciate the Washington Post digital. The Economist daily and weekly provides a fine US section as well as broad global news. The Week provides excellent daily and weekly articles, including disparate newspaper/magazine reporting and some zinger cartoons. The New York Review of Books provides some excellent in-depth articles on key ongoing matters. The Atlantic and the New York have insightful articles, when I find the time.
When I was in the Foreign Service more than occasionally I had to write a classified memo to The Secretary ‘correcting’ a Times or Post article of that morning. Even now I assume that many of the top folks in Washington read the Times and/or Post while limosinng to work. I just read them with my first cup of coffee.
Even before coffee my must read is Heather’s nightly Letter. If limited to a single source, for keen insights on critical domestic issues for me Heather is #1.
Plainly, I am (and I don't doubt that we all are) very much in favor of spreading and sharing this work, but aren't we coming close to hijacking our mentor?
Anyway, the more media offers or expressions of interest, the better. And of course, it will be for HCR to decide how, whether and with whom to link up.
'...but aren't we coming close to hijacking our mentor?' Who are you talking about, Peter? 'We' cannot hijack' HCR and her work Some subscribers may have wishes about how her work is distributed. Those are wishes not a matter of 'control.'
Correct. One only need read one letter to understand nobody can “highjack” Dr. Richardson.
Of course.
How about as an insert in every college/university's newspaper/bulletin?
Sounds like we're planning to release swarms of Heather's Hornets on the nation... Goodness knows there are millions of couch potatoes and sleepwalkers in need of saving from an even direr awakening, yet I'm sure HCR (and Substack) will be well aware of all this buzzing in Her Hive and know how to act or not act on it.
Indeed 👍
Worth a look: franklinproject.us
The Franklin Project is an offshoot from the Lincoln Project, with a goal to increase public civil knowledge and organize against our current anti democracy threat. LP has no direct or legal connections with FP. FP is directed by Greg Jenkins, an alumnus of the George W. Bush administration.
Thank you for clarifying. I knew LP had no direct involvement but did not know about Greg Jenkins. Love learning something new, every day!
Diane, Thank you for this link. I was not familiar with the 'franklin project', and the link was not helpful. There was almost nothing about the organization, who its leaders are and background of the the organization were missing. It was a an unusual site given the paucity of information
I looked as well and the first thing that pops out is "heroes" I cringe anymore when I see the massive and inappropriate use of the word "hero".
I didn't notice that one, but I did balk at the word "fight". A fight may prove unavoidable but if there's one constant complaint I have about media jargon in the United States, it is the gross overuse of terms that imply violence. Action has to be "aggressive", anything that needs doing must be handled "aggressively".
Haven't we all seen far too much of fools -- often the most brilliant fools with vast expertise, vaster IQs, limitless hubris -- rushing in where angels fear to tread?
That said, all initiatives in defense of democracy are, at the very least, worthy of our attention.
That’s odd. I was just scrolling through and reading their newsletter from November 16, “2024 is the new 1984”.
Try this? https://franklinproject.us/
Or just type in The Franklin Project into your browser search. It should pop up. Their team and details you are looking for are all there on their site.
Thanks, Diane that helped. I was not seeking anything just commenting of various opinions of subscribers about their wishes concerning distribution of LFAA. The Franklin Project seems to be staffed primarily by folks with experience in press, public relations areas. The Project appears to be an offshoot of the Lincoln Project. Thanks, again.
Or perhaps I misunderstood what you were seeking? Haven’t finished my coffee yet ;)
Still surely worth looking into both the program proposed and the individuals behind it. Doesn't it smack of political independence, with its airing of the third party question?
If such an initiative proved worthy of its name, I'd be happy to see it exported to France and Britain for a start -- countries where Benjamin Franklin was active and influential, countries in dire need of a genuine revival of democratic institutions, not the populist simulacra we've been seeing far too much of.
PR people primarily and an offshoot of the Lincoln Project. It does not seem to be a grassroots organization, and my sense is that it is more politically affiliated than not.
Mmmm... You seem to have a sharp sense of smell, Fern, as well as being wise to what's actually going on at ground level. So I attend to what you say. My view's inevitably more distanced, with the disadvantages that implies. Some advantages, of course, too. Mainly those of skepticism.
Hi Fern, thanks. HCR is definitely capable of accomplishing growing her audience and the number of folks reading.
However, the NY Times could help, but, likely will not. I think that HCR would be too independent for NY Times.
So, I will just keep forwarding her letters.
Mike, Perhaps, you were discouraged by comments from subscribers. A much greater number who replied were very positive about your idea. I withheld judgement except to note favorably about your belief that it would be beneficial for a wider audience to read HCR's Letter. A combination of your idea with my 2 cents calls for a PR project, for which subscribers may not be the right engine. I would like to see monthly essays by HCR widely distributed. Would she be interested? It would be another work load. An outstanding aspect of your idea, from my point of view, was to alert a major newspaper about the extraordinary source HCR would be for their national coverage. I see your effort as one by a consumer of news advocating that more Americans be exposed to the unbiased and masterly analysis of current affairs written by HCR. Communication of this nature need not be restricted to the NY Times. Network news operations, CNN, USA Today, Wall St. Journal, Washington Post, Politico, NPR, Time Magazine and US News & World Report are all good targets. A letter to each with a small sample of her work, would, perhaps, be a prompt to the right people who direct the news coverage for the company. For those interested in spreading LFAA, I think of that the history, journalism, government. political science and teaching departments of Universities/colleges would do well to consider the LFAA as part of the curriculum. These are the hopes of those of us wishing for a more educated and enlightened citizenry. Here's to that, Mike!
:-)
There is no other writing like "Letters from an American" Fern. It is the only synthesis of today in the context of the detailed history of yesterday.
I will just keep bothering all my friends by forrwarding and encouraging them to subscribe, plus all my family.
However, this is a tiny number of people and I worry that folks are not getting a clear picture of our current reality without "Letters".
In a rush to leave but will connect you much later or tomorrow. Cheers!
I understand the concern but I am not worried.
I am more worried that too few people see this writing and historical perspective.
Agree.
I agree, Please, no. The NYT has gone the way of "Breaking News..."
Heather's words are traveling and spreading from the ground up and out beautifully. As we each introduce people, we know, to Heather's letters the word spreads, and it's not "coming from the Times".
"Please no", is what I say. It could change "why" the writing is happening..and learnng from Heather's extraordinary perspective is what I want to hear. I already read headlines in the Times, and would prefer to leave it at that...
Eric makes a salient point. The “Old Gray Lady” has changed since it was required reading in my poly sci 101 class at Harvard Summer School in 1969.
“The WSJ is edited for those who run the world;
the WaPo is edited for those who think they run the world;
the NYT is edited for those who think they should run the world.”
by jaqua December 10, 2005
What has not changed since 1969? All change is not for the worst. Do you remember the Times's reporting on the USA's invasion on Iraq? It was for the worst. If your interested into reporting on the insurrection, have you been following the Washington Post's series "The Attack'?
I agree with you. Independent, well referenced news from large media outlets is sparse. I feel NYT & WashPost & others (WSJ) are MOSTLY shallow, poorly documented articles on par w college undergrad output. They have done a terrible job of providing context & informing the public on critical current issues/events. In general, the content is shallow or for sensationalism. (Not all, but true informative, relevant journalism is hard to find.) Loss of independence seems to degrade content. (As you know, there are several other well researched independent daily news feeds. I like this trend & wish the audiences were broadened.)
As a reader of both papers I was surprised by your strong critique of the NYT and Washington Post. We greatly differ on that score. Correct me if I'm wrong in assuming that your have diligently read both papers up until recently. Thank you.
Mea culpa. Both outlets have done some outstanding investigative journalism. But I do not find what HCR offers; a daily capsule of critical political news which is well referenced & provides contextual meaning.
Thank you, mfabel. You appear to have made an important correction. To have compared both The New York Times and the Washington Post as 'shallow, poorly documented on a par with college undergrad output' and the rest of what you initially wrote was egregious, incorrect and uncalled for. I hope, in the future, you will be thoughtful and truthful in what you express.
Yes, I try to be “thoughtful & truthful” & appreciate the push back…
Thank you, mfabel. It wasn't an easy exchange between us, but we were honest with one another. We're always learning. I think each of us came away better than before. Peace.
2 other political news feeds that I am analyzing:
1) Tangle- Issac Saul-https://www.readtangle.com/posts/kyle-rittenhouse-verdict/
I appreciate reading opposing arguments.
2) The EditorialBoard - John Stoehr.
Just starting to look at this. https://www.editorialboard.com/search/
interesting-
Neither provides the historical context like HCR. But the former is pretty balanced & the later thought provoking at least.
mfabel, Have been been following the series by the Washington Post called, The Attack, which is revelatory about the coup to prevent the transfer of power? It is not clear to me about whether you have rejected the the most serious journalism being produced in the country.
Not closely enough! You are right; it could be one of the most important/relevant pieces of journalism this century. Appreciate you!
Agree! NYT can be informative but also annoying every time I read an issue, so I would prefer to avoid the aggravation entirely and keep Dr. Heather independent. 👍
I look at the NYT only every few days after amnesia has kicked in and then remember why I don't read it regularly. 😬
I think the NYT and Washington Post are well respected papers and present the news fairly. What annoys you about it?
I limit myself to the puzzle, the science section, the book review, and the COVID letter. I used to read more fully, but not now.
The recipes paywall is the final straw, because why post pics of appealing recipes then you click and a pop-up appears? Especially when they have non-paywall recipes available. Smh.
We subscribe and I did forget the food section. We get all the recipes and the puzzles as part of that. My spouse reads it more thoroughly than I do. I don't appreciate pay walls either when I encounter them from some newspaper where I just want to read a single article that was referenced in something else I read.
A very sage warning: Avoidance of the old "Follow The Money" fat old rich white boys closed-door strategic alliances, Eh!?
Eh,! Old, experienced and a respected member of the free-press -- The New York Times is not perfect but vitally important as a reliable source of the facts.