This Space is for You
Join our weekly community and conversation thread now
Hi Friends,
We’re back with another community open thread. The news cycle may be dire, but we’ve got each other. Join the conversation in the comments and share what’s on your mind. Will you be watching the big game this weekend, or do you have other fun plans? And in the midst of everything else going on, who’s got good news to share — political, personal, or otherwise? Drop it all down below.
This community is for paid subscribers, and we’d love to have you join us! The goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, which means speaking to and treating each other with respect in the comments.
Thanks for being part of our community!
— The Preamble Editorial Team
I’d like to make a plug for becoming an election worker. Many years ago I found myself complaining about the advanced age of the election workers in my precinct. In a startling moment of self reflection, I decided to do something instead of complaining. I’ve been an election judge ever since.
I love seeing my neighbors come in to vote and have become friends with the other judges in my precinct.
Check with your county and sign up!! Make working on Election Day your Next Needed Thing!
This is a long one because this situation has been weighing on me. Some good, some bad, some soul searching needed.
I've lived in SC and NC my whole life. A close friend of mine finally came to the realization that MAGA's promises were mostly all lies and that the actions of this administration are cruelly harming Americans. I've been having conversations with him about this for the past 3 years or so and it wasn't until the most recent Epstein Files release (still waiting on the rest, DOJ) that my friend turned around.
I struggled with this for years because it's so hard for me to remain in close contact with someone who votes and advocates for policy that is fed to them through lies and propaganda. I have no problem having friends with different belief systems, political or otherwise, but I feel like I'm not even equipped to have a conversation with anyone still on the MAGA train because our baseline definition of reality isn't even the same.
Part of me is proud to have stuck by my friend and help educate him and provide a different perspective to the news and social media he consumed. But a much larger part of me is tired and increasingly disappointed in some other friends of mine who claim they are "apolitical" but voted for Trump all three times because their social circle did so.
To those who have been in similar situations, any advice? These friends are good people but incredibly misinformed and pretty much refuse to talk about the news and politics. Any attempt to do so gets deflected or shut down.
I would prefer remaining friends with these people. I would prefer they have someone in their ear trying to provide information on our government and to stay politically informed. I just don't know if I can do both anymore.