May I add a suggestion to your list? Go take a sign to a pop-up protest (or take two friends and create your own). Take some upbeat music and turn it up loud. While you're there, talk about the world you want to live in. Talk about the joy you still feel: where, when and why. Talk about what gives you how. And smile and wave to everyone who drives by, just for an hour. I'm guessing you will come home refreshed, happier, more joyful. And you will create, and tap into, the joy and how that will get us through this. Best of all, it will be yours, and you can re-create it any time you want. We have the power. Let's show it.
I use an iPad and it is constantly trying to finish my typed thoughts, if it was competing for a spot on any sports team they would give it a mop and say “this is how you can help”. I have to look at my fingers when I type, now and then I look up to check on it. You are spot on, proofreading and revising multiple times, is the only way it appears as though I have half a brain, I could go on how the other half got fried but that’s another story 60 years in the making. 🤷♂️🙏
For me, it was an hour of 1950s doo-wop, followed by the soundtrack of "The Harder They Come" and Bob Marley's "One Love" (let's get together). BTW: Some of the good residents of Minneapolis may be the children and grandchildren of people who voted Hubert Humphrey as their mayor in 1945 -- where he established one of the first Fair Employment Commissions, was a founding member of the Americans for Democratic Action, and from which position he went to the Democratic National Convention in 1948 and helped force a pro-civil rights platform plank. All to suggest there is a deep well of human wellness in Minneapolis, something the parched souls of the DT47s could not and cannot ever imagine.
What you wrote is one of the reasons why I mail unsolicited out of the blue my jars of preserves to you and others. I ask for nothing in return. I started making them during the COVID pandemic and then just felt that mailing them out to people that I knew was the right thing to do during stressful times.
That's such a lovely idea of Dwight's - just be a bit careful. There are people out there making lots of things to relieve the stress - you are likely to get inundated with cakes, cookies, quilts, whittles, and even wine!
Thank you for this, Lucien. I find reading the comments to your writings another good way to not feel isolated, just knowing so many others feel like me. That helps a lot!
These must not be people who lived through the Sixties and Seventies in the Bay Area. (I can tell by the No Kings Marches and the weeping and wailing over Minnesota.) This country has always been like this, and it's up to us to live a different kind of life. Consumerism is not the way. Money for individuals is not the way. My congressional district is probably the most progressive district in the country, and my congresswoman is following in the footsteps of her great predecessor, Barbara Lee. Taking care of people, not consuming, is the way. The Black Panthers pointed this out. Self Defense. Our children can't learn if they don't have breakfast. The fact that we're going through this shows that we having been doing something wrong. The Scandinavian countries take care of their people without feeling they're giving something away for free. We were the wealthiest and most powerful nation the world has ever seen and we didn't get that way with good social programs. Now the really wealthy and their congresspeople (using the word loosely) don't want to pay taxes at all. They want it all to themselves.
Our country has always had this racial hatred just under the surface ever since slavery was brought to the shores of the continent. The phenomenon will be with us well past my life on this earth. I believe we can eradicate it, but it will take a tremendous effort on everyone's part. I think we're capable as a society but there is so much work to do, let's get to it.
Greed and selfishness and the weight of trauma we brought here with us from the autocratic kingdoms of Europe distorted our leadership from the beginning, to a very great degree. And we have been paying the price of that distortion from the beginning, as well as engaging in a huge coverup of our various outrages, starting with the murder of our Native peoples in order to seize control of their land, proceeding to slavery and its vampire squid of negative consequences for that, too. Even so, from the days when some of us grafted forms and norms from the Native nations onto European enlightenment ideals and tried their best to build something better than old Europe could conceive of there has been a river flowing here, below the surface. One which, like those of Scandinavia insists on justice for all, basic rights, and true equality of opportunity. My burgeoning belief is that we are beginning to actively reject the greed and selfishness, which has become so very apparent and that we will embrace our truest vision via the efforts we are now making to uphold our truest selves and aims. May it be so.
I've always thought that education was the answer - which is probably why the gop has worked so hard to destroy it. And not just the three R's - all the things that encourage you to grow spiritually, and all the things that help you know what is right. When we destroy others, we destroy ourselves.
Lucian, I have appreciated your writing since I came across it in Salon, and eagerly jumped into your Substack. I just got back from a whistle/know your rights kit making event. About 20 people there in Portola Valley California (one of the wealthiest zip codes in the nation, with a very active Indivisible chapter) putting together small plastic bags with a plastic whistle, instructions on signaling, cards with key phone numbers, a sheet describing Judicial warrants versus Administrative warrants, and other information. We made >1300 today, and several thousand have been made over the past few weeks and are being distributed to local immigrant communities and others. A bunch of middle-aged and senior wealthy suburbanites doing our part. I told some jokes, and we shared our perspectives on the latest outrages. We will be ready if ICE invades the Bay Area, and Central Valley.
It’s coming alright, here near Atlanta, my quince is starting to bloom about a month late, the daffodils are also struggling, I’m lucky to cut 2 or 3 a day, last year it would have been 20, day after day, the redwing blackbird flocks are half their usual size, but they still eat 40lbs of birdseed a week, they will be gone soon, following the cooler weather north. Hang in there, the insipid orange turd has no control over the weather.
I always say, take care of ourselves, take care of each other, take care of our communities as we define them. We can have ciivil and informed disagreements. No memes or mindless parroting, and I personally am against echo chambers of discussion from any angle. Call your reps, regardless of party. Target your concerns as best you can in calls, emails, or donations/causes.
You are so right! Connecting with people has been the most heartening and rewarding part of this otherwise terrible mess. Connections, humor, love…we will get through this.
Well said "Act. Live your life. This is our country. Be proud of who you are – who we are. We are not alone. We are patriots. We are Americans, each and every one of us, and we love our country enough to care about people other than ourselves."
I subscribe to a lot of Substacks including Lucian's to stay informed and for inspiration. Here are 120 of the best newsletters. There's also a short 1 min video highlight of the newsletter set to Tracy Chapman's song "We're talking about a revolution..."
Deepak, Zev Shalev (the Narrativ) showed off something of which he was quite proud today on his Fivestack with Dean Blundell, which looked very similar to but not as detailed as your work. It seems that a lot of people have never seen it, but I have a file full of maybe a hundred of your explanations for things. You should send him some of yours. Maybe he'll learn something, like not to charge so much for a subscription.
I subscribe to a few substacks, but I agree there are some who price themselves out of the market... and there are only so many hours in the day I have to devote to reading. Too many hours in front of the screen is not healthy.
I subscribe to probably 20 Substack writers, which is a lot of reading! But your posts I never miss. Somehow you always have the right words to describe what I’m thinking. Congrats on your anniversary!
Linda, I admire your having the time to keep up with that many. I took a look at your list of subscriptions out of curiosity, and I ran across 'The Existentialist Republic' - after reading today's post, I decided to subscribe. The research done for that post was most impressive. Thank you. Along with Lucian, it's one I'll keep on my morning reading list.
You're so on point LTK, Piggy doesn't want to "govern as president," he wants to rule by dictat and disappear anyone who dares to disagree with him on anything. Today he turned on Tim Scott and Katie Britt, calling them RINOS for daring to critisize his racist post. Yes the one he denied knowing about but has since doubled down on. He's a rage driven loser, the best thing we can do is to ignore him to oblivion, celebrate the greatness that is America, and kick him to the curb. That and keep up the Trump/Epstein files pressure, it's still his kryptonite.
You've hit on the one thing that would really gall him: being ignored. He has a voracious need for attention, and if we could convince the majority to shut him out of the news cycle completely for even one day, he might have that myocardial infarction my spouse has been praying for all these years. One day, when no (and I mean NO) news outlet mentions him at all. I don't think he could survive that.
I agree - if the white house press corps just didn't show up for one of his idiotic sessions....then they wouldn't have to put up with his name calling and insults. Also laughing at him and his goons would also be great fun!
Since I grew up with black vinyl, from 78 to 45 to 33 1/3, I get to sound like a "broken record:" "The devil cannot endure to be mocked." -- Thomas More, Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulations, Book 2, Sect. 16 (1553). I'm just a geezuh? Times have changed? Ask Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, whose jokes at T***p's expense continue to plague him; insert blinding smile emoji here.
Thank you, as usual, Lucian! I wish I could put emojis in here. A heart and a smile. It's been depressing, for sure. I get so angry. That's hard to keep up.
I live in Portland, Oregon where we're known for our protest frogs. Unicorns too!
We have a standing neighborhood protest every Saturday from noon until 1:00. It's a two block walk for me.
Last Saturday I stood in cold drizzle, holding my cardboard anti-ICE sign. It disintegrated into a semi wilted piece of mush by the end, but...I got to make to make a new friend named Ray. We talked the whole hour about history, that goddamn Trump, and more history. It was nice. I asked if I'd see him again. We shook hands and he said, "I'll be here next week!"
Reaching feels good. So nice not to feel alone.
The protest is right next to a senior living facility. Folks coming down the sidewalk with walkers and scooters are the first to show up. I got there early last week too. I was the kid. I'm 63.
I nice to be in a group of people having fun (think frogs and unicorns) while protesting against a wannabe king.
Thanks for the great advice on reaching out.
May I add a suggestion to your list? Go take a sign to a pop-up protest (or take two friends and create your own). Take some upbeat music and turn it up loud. While you're there, talk about the world you want to live in. Talk about the joy you still feel: where, when and why. Talk about what gives you how. And smile and wave to everyone who drives by, just for an hour. I'm guessing you will come home refreshed, happier, more joyful. And you will create, and tap into, the joy and how that will get us through this. Best of all, it will be yours, and you can re-create it any time you want. We have the power. Let's show it.
Not *how*, rather **hope**
After we fix Trump and his regime I will get to work on autocorrect.
I hope you're successful. I just had to change "Livestock" to Fivestack in my comment below. The mind boggles.
It builds proofreading self-discipline. Type, proofread, revise. Proofread again. Press ENTER to send.
I use an iPad and it is constantly trying to finish my typed thoughts, if it was competing for a spot on any sports team they would give it a mop and say “this is how you can help”. I have to look at my fingers when I type, now and then I look up to check on it. You are spot on, proofreading and revising multiple times, is the only way it appears as though I have half a brain, I could go on how the other half got fried but that’s another story 60 years in the making. 🤷♂️🙏
Autocorrect is a bitch.
For me, it was an hour of 1950s doo-wop, followed by the soundtrack of "The Harder They Come" and Bob Marley's "One Love" (let's get together). BTW: Some of the good residents of Minneapolis may be the children and grandchildren of people who voted Hubert Humphrey as their mayor in 1945 -- where he established one of the first Fair Employment Commissions, was a founding member of the Americans for Democratic Action, and from which position he went to the Democratic National Convention in 1948 and helped force a pro-civil rights platform plank. All to suggest there is a deep well of human wellness in Minneapolis, something the parched souls of the DT47s could not and cannot ever imagine.
What you wrote is one of the reasons why I mail unsolicited out of the blue my jars of preserves to you and others. I ask for nothing in return. I started making them during the COVID pandemic and then just felt that mailing them out to people that I knew was the right thing to do during stressful times.
Dwight, we love your jars of preserves. We’re delighted and touched that you send them.
That's such a lovely idea of Dwight's - just be a bit careful. There are people out there making lots of things to relieve the stress - you are likely to get inundated with cakes, cookies, quilts, whittles, and even wine!
Thank you for this, Lucien. I find reading the comments to your writings another good way to not feel isolated, just knowing so many others feel like me. That helps a lot!
You took the words right out of my fingers, Janet!
AGREE! What wonderful writers you all are!
These must not be people who lived through the Sixties and Seventies in the Bay Area. (I can tell by the No Kings Marches and the weeping and wailing over Minnesota.) This country has always been like this, and it's up to us to live a different kind of life. Consumerism is not the way. Money for individuals is not the way. My congressional district is probably the most progressive district in the country, and my congresswoman is following in the footsteps of her great predecessor, Barbara Lee. Taking care of people, not consuming, is the way. The Black Panthers pointed this out. Self Defense. Our children can't learn if they don't have breakfast. The fact that we're going through this shows that we having been doing something wrong. The Scandinavian countries take care of their people without feeling they're giving something away for free. We were the wealthiest and most powerful nation the world has ever seen and we didn't get that way with good social programs. Now the really wealthy and their congresspeople (using the word loosely) don't want to pay taxes at all. They want it all to themselves.
Our country has always had this racial hatred just under the surface ever since slavery was brought to the shores of the continent. The phenomenon will be with us well past my life on this earth. I believe we can eradicate it, but it will take a tremendous effort on everyone's part. I think we're capable as a society but there is so much work to do, let's get to it.
Greed and selfishness and the weight of trauma we brought here with us from the autocratic kingdoms of Europe distorted our leadership from the beginning, to a very great degree. And we have been paying the price of that distortion from the beginning, as well as engaging in a huge coverup of our various outrages, starting with the murder of our Native peoples in order to seize control of their land, proceeding to slavery and its vampire squid of negative consequences for that, too. Even so, from the days when some of us grafted forms and norms from the Native nations onto European enlightenment ideals and tried their best to build something better than old Europe could conceive of there has been a river flowing here, below the surface. One which, like those of Scandinavia insists on justice for all, basic rights, and true equality of opportunity. My burgeoning belief is that we are beginning to actively reject the greed and selfishness, which has become so very apparent and that we will embrace our truest vision via the efforts we are now making to uphold our truest selves and aims. May it be so.
I've always thought that education was the answer - which is probably why the gop has worked so hard to destroy it. And not just the three R's - all the things that encourage you to grow spiritually, and all the things that help you know what is right. When we destroy others, we destroy ourselves.
I agree education is the key!😺
I guess we have to hit rock bottom before we can see the light.
I think that's so often the way in this 'world of opposites' we live in.
So very true, Ellen. I did live in the Bay Area in the 70’s and still do!
Happy 5th year anniversary. I believe in nature for it's curative powers. Thanks for the feel good piece.
Currently a number of fools believes they can dominate Nature. They will drown in a Red Sea of tidal torrent by events of an angry Mother Nature.
Coal is the answer??? WTF is the question?
How can we assure that there is more air pollution and many more deaths from black lung disease?
Good luck with that US....even China is lowering their coal use and transitioning to renewables!
Lucian, I have appreciated your writing since I came across it in Salon, and eagerly jumped into your Substack. I just got back from a whistle/know your rights kit making event. About 20 people there in Portola Valley California (one of the wealthiest zip codes in the nation, with a very active Indivisible chapter) putting together small plastic bags with a plastic whistle, instructions on signaling, cards with key phone numbers, a sheet describing Judicial warrants versus Administrative warrants, and other information. We made >1300 today, and several thousand have been made over the past few weeks and are being distributed to local immigrant communities and others. A bunch of middle-aged and senior wealthy suburbanites doing our part. I told some jokes, and we shared our perspectives on the latest outrages. We will be ready if ICE invades the Bay Area, and Central Valley.
Call it...ICE HOLE KIT!
Thank you!
You are probably the only writer who could write a feel good column that actually made me feel better.
Borowitz and Hiaason do a good job!!!
Ok - looking up Hiaason!
Please reassure me that spring is coming. Here in Syracuse it seems to either snow every day or put us in sub-arctic cold. Sometimes both.
My granddaughter is a student in that tundra. I am amazed that “Syracusians” (made that up!) are so strong, and non-plussed by it all! Bravo!
It’s coming alright, here near Atlanta, my quince is starting to bloom about a month late, the daffodils are also struggling, I’m lucky to cut 2 or 3 a day, last year it would have been 20, day after day, the redwing blackbird flocks are half their usual size, but they still eat 40lbs of birdseed a week, they will be gone soon, following the cooler weather north. Hang in there, the insipid orange turd has no control over the weather.
Great column. Happy anniversary.
I always say, take care of ourselves, take care of each other, take care of our communities as we define them. We can have ciivil and informed disagreements. No memes or mindless parroting, and I personally am against echo chambers of discussion from any angle. Call your reps, regardless of party. Target your concerns as best you can in calls, emails, or donations/causes.
You are so right! Connecting with people has been the most heartening and rewarding part of this otherwise terrible mess. Connections, humor, love…we will get through this.
Well said "Act. Live your life. This is our country. Be proud of who you are – who we are. We are not alone. We are patriots. We are Americans, each and every one of us, and we love our country enough to care about people other than ourselves."
I subscribe to a lot of Substacks including Lucian's to stay informed and for inspiration. Here are 120 of the best newsletters. There's also a short 1 min video highlight of the newsletter set to Tracy Chapman's song "We're talking about a revolution..."
https://thedemlabs.org/2026/02/11/top-120-pro-democracy-newsletters-6-focussing-on-the-trump-epstein-files-scandal/
Deepak, Zev Shalev (the Narrativ) showed off something of which he was quite proud today on his Fivestack with Dean Blundell, which looked very similar to but not as detailed as your work. It seems that a lot of people have never seen it, but I have a file full of maybe a hundred of your explanations for things. You should send him some of yours. Maybe he'll learn something, like not to charge so much for a subscription.
I subscribe to a few substacks, but I agree there are some who price themselves out of the market... and there are only so many hours in the day I have to devote to reading. Too many hours in front of the screen is not healthy.
Spot on James 🎯 I have no problem with people wanting to make a living, but charging me to read what they have to say is a bit much.
We here spend our time well...agreed!!!
I subscribe to probably 20 Substack writers, which is a lot of reading! But your posts I never miss. Somehow you always have the right words to describe what I’m thinking. Congrats on your anniversary!
Linda, I admire your having the time to keep up with that many. I took a look at your list of subscriptions out of curiosity, and I ran across 'The Existentialist Republic' - after reading today's post, I decided to subscribe. The research done for that post was most impressive. Thank you. Along with Lucian, it's one I'll keep on my morning reading list.
You're so on point LTK, Piggy doesn't want to "govern as president," he wants to rule by dictat and disappear anyone who dares to disagree with him on anything. Today he turned on Tim Scott and Katie Britt, calling them RINOS for daring to critisize his racist post. Yes the one he denied knowing about but has since doubled down on. He's a rage driven loser, the best thing we can do is to ignore him to oblivion, celebrate the greatness that is America, and kick him to the curb. That and keep up the Trump/Epstein files pressure, it's still his kryptonite.
You've hit on the one thing that would really gall him: being ignored. He has a voracious need for attention, and if we could convince the majority to shut him out of the news cycle completely for even one day, he might have that myocardial infarction my spouse has been praying for all these years. One day, when no (and I mean NO) news outlet mentions him at all. I don't think he could survive that.
I agree - if the white house press corps just didn't show up for one of his idiotic sessions....then they wouldn't have to put up with his name calling and insults. Also laughing at him and his goons would also be great fun!
Why di they show up at all? They can send questions electronically. The responses are all jokes anyways.
Since I grew up with black vinyl, from 78 to 45 to 33 1/3, I get to sound like a "broken record:" "The devil cannot endure to be mocked." -- Thomas More, Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulations, Book 2, Sect. 16 (1553). I'm just a geezuh? Times have changed? Ask Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, whose jokes at T***p's expense continue to plague him; insert blinding smile emoji here.
I’ve thought that after his 1st go round. Just ignore the bastard.
I love being a paid subscriber to your newsletter! I learn so much from your writings!
Thank you, as usual, Lucian! I wish I could put emojis in here. A heart and a smile. It's been depressing, for sure. I get so angry. That's hard to keep up.
I live in Portland, Oregon where we're known for our protest frogs. Unicorns too!
We have a standing neighborhood protest every Saturday from noon until 1:00. It's a two block walk for me.
Last Saturday I stood in cold drizzle, holding my cardboard anti-ICE sign. It disintegrated into a semi wilted piece of mush by the end, but...I got to make to make a new friend named Ray. We talked the whole hour about history, that goddamn Trump, and more history. It was nice. I asked if I'd see him again. We shook hands and he said, "I'll be here next week!"
Reaching feels good. So nice not to feel alone.
The protest is right next to a senior living facility. Folks coming down the sidewalk with walkers and scooters are the first to show up. I got there early last week too. I was the kid. I'm 63.
I nice to be in a group of people having fun (think frogs and unicorns) while protesting against a wannabe king.
Hey, you might make a new friend!