What I’m Writing and Reading
Your long weekend catch up
Happy Labor Day! I hope you’re having a relaxing last weekend of the summer!
I have to admit I was pretty tickled to see that The Small and the Mighty made the Bookshop.org list of “50 Books We Can’t Wait to Read.”
Catching up on The Preamble
I grew up a block from the library. When I earned enough money from my many babysitting jobs as a teenager, I bought a subscription to Newsweek. I once wrote a paper called “The History of Denmark” for fun when I was 14, sloppily scrawling it in my loopy pseudo-cursive, before giving it to my mom “to look over.”
Are Swing States Inherently Unfair?
We have now reached a point in our political system where a few thousand voters in a handful of states control the presidency. I talk about the one reason that’s true, how we got here, and what we can do about it.
I know you feel it sometimes too. The dread in the pit of your stomach when you get up. That feeling like you just can’t do it that day. Whatever “it” is for you… maybe it’s work, or school, or caring for a relative. When that happens, there’s something I tell myself, and maybe it will help you too.
Propaganda often uses lies or half truths — what we might call mis- or dis- information today. And once you’ve started believing it, it becomes increasingly difficult to trust anything outside of the viewpoint you’ve adopted. Read this if you want to know how to protect yourself and those around you, from falling for it.
Various initiatives will be on the ballot in multiple states in November. It gives voters a chance to make their voices heard in ways that representative democracy often does not. But there are potential downsides too. What are they? And how do I feel about ballot initiatives?
Gerrymandering is Government Corruption
You’ve heard the word, but what is gerrymandering? (And why is it called that?) It’s only really done in the US, and is a pretty good way to give your side an edge in an election. I explain why it’s so dangerous
What I’m reading…
The judicial branch is often the least covered and most powerful.
By Gabe Fleischer
What Does “Conservatism” Even Mean Anymore?
Understanding the battle of the True Conservatives.
By Jonathan Last at The Bulwark
Adnan Syed’s Murder conviction still stands in “Serial” case as court orders new hearing
By Brian Witte and Lea Skene
The Spirit of Justice by Jemar Tisby
The Black History You Never Knew: Uncovering Unsung Heroes in the Struggle for Racial Justice.
The Spirit of Justice reveals the stories of the people who fought against racism and agitated for justice—and what we can learn from their example, their suffering, their methods, and their hope.
Something to listen to…
Here’s Where It Gets Interesting presents Stalin: Man of Steel.
This docuseries walks you through the twisted and often disturbing life of Joseph Stalin. Though he would become one of the most consequential leaders of the Soviet Union, his early life is less well-known, which is exactly the way Stalin wanted it.
We’ll uncover the secrets he tried to hide, the women he loved and lost, and the children he fathered. From the violence and poverty of his youth, to his need for murderous revenge and lust for power, this is the true story of Joseph Stalin. All nine episodes are out today, so get ready to binge!
What I’m looking forward to:
Seeing you at The Small and Mighty tour!
I have an entire exciting show planned for you! Come join the Governerds at a theater near you!
Grab tickets in:
Denver
Phoenix
Los Angeles
Austin (there are only a few tickets left!)
Dallas
Nashville
Hope you’ve had a great weekend! I appreciate you.
I knew Stalin was evil. I was in the IB program in high school and we had a whole class on dictators during WWII but the material stuck to the period just before and during the war. It’s really been fascinating to learn about him in depth and better understand the man behind the atrocities.
I also can’t wait to read The Spirit of Justice! The Color of Compromise was so pivotal in my faith journey as a white evangelical Christian coming to terms with the deep cracks in my faith tradition.
I am really enjoying your series on Stalin. I listen to it on Thursdays on my way to see my brother in assisted living and check on his condo. Am I reading too much into Stalin’s story to see parallels today?