Every word that you wrote spoke to me. You eloquently stated EVERY FEELING in my body from yesterday, from my deepest desire to never hear that voice again to Wisconsin, Nashville, Twitter & more. My only difference is who's "the biggest man-baby of them all"... but that conversation can wait. Today, spring is here!!
It's all about Wisconsin.......I bet the phone lines among non-rabid Republicans (both of them) were burning up today - if they don't get on the right side of history (not really that hard - revise your gender strategies, and separate church from state), they will go the way of the Mugwumps.
I enjoyed reading this piece. It contains many sentences I admire, including the following: "Twitter has also been the source of wholesale lies and mendacity, of charlatans and foreign sock-puppets and toxic man-boys. It has hardened the bubbles we live in as often as it has burst them" .I don't use Twitter, but I would love to see it lose its sway over the daily news cycle." I too would like to see Twitter lose its sway over the daily news cycle and for the headline-monopolizing former president to be sentenced to silence.
Great stuff, Ty, and couldn't agree more with ALL of it. Just today (following NPR being labeled "state-affiliated media"), I reached my breaking point with Twitter; I'm sad to leave behind thousands of wonderful, engaged followers, but I'm hopeful that Substack can keep those fires burning. A reader suggested Spoutible, which seems a lot like Twitter but without all the nonsense.
Agreed all round. I left Twitter after the west coast man-baby took over but I do miss it — the good, fun, funny, insightful Twitter. Black Twitter and History Twitter and Bird Twitter and Biology Twitter and the feed that posted a piece of art by a woman, and the color of the day feed. Sarah Cooper during her Trump heyday. I followed Indigenous people and Asian Americans and Indian news and disabled activists and trans rights people and YA writers and lots and lots of ordinary people. I'd do writing sprints with Jane Espenson. I followed Joyce Carol Oats just to see everyone jumping on her after she posted yet another dumb comment. Matt Gertz always made me laugh when someone mistook him, for the millionth time, for Matt Gaetz. But I agree, it is "a sugar high that craves endless renewing" and while, as I say, I miss it, I'm glad I'm off.
I come here to get away. I very much enjoy your take on movies and TV. Hearing about new and old movies that I'm not aware of or need to be reminded of, or even better when I've seen a movie several times but your take on it opens my eyes to another point of view of the movie. I'd prefer if this column would stick with that. Nothing against your or anyone else's politics. I was hoping for a refuge. just my take.
So well said, Ty. The news item from yesterday that thrilled me the most was Janet Protasiewicz’s victory and what it can mean for democracy and abortion rights in Wisconsin. It was so great to see a video clip of her and her supporters enjoying the moment. As for finding sanity on the web: I’d like to mention the Political Gabfest podcast - a weekly source of probity and highly informed commentary - and they have a lot of fun together. I’m waiting to see what they’ll say about the 34 charges against DT. (Many thanks for your description of one the beauties of walking a dog this time of year - the growing swell of birdsong! - You heard a wood thrush!!!)
Well, this isn't quite true: "as if the wholesale subversion of the country’s highest office into a criminal shell game of sedition and corruption had been in any way precedented. " Yes, Trump is the loudest, most obnoxious and potentially the most destructive, but it's not like there haven't been crooks and liars in the white house. Don't forget Tricky Dick. And Dubya committed (in my humble opinion) war crimes in Iraq on his quest for weapons of mass destruction. And there are plenty of others, of various degrees.
I loved this piece!!! I agree totally! So glad you are feeling better!
Every word that you wrote spoke to me. You eloquently stated EVERY FEELING in my body from yesterday, from my deepest desire to never hear that voice again to Wisconsin, Nashville, Twitter & more. My only difference is who's "the biggest man-baby of them all"... but that conversation can wait. Today, spring is here!!
Bravo, Ty! Great commentary. I would add a few more MSNBC individuals who deserve credit - Lawrence O'Donnell, Stephanie Ruhle, Steve Kornacki, etc.
Thank you once again, Carol Mitchell
"But even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked." B. Dylan.
It's all about Wisconsin.......I bet the phone lines among non-rabid Republicans (both of them) were burning up today - if they don't get on the right side of history (not really that hard - revise your gender strategies, and separate church from state), they will go the way of the Mugwumps.
One of your most beautiful best.
I enjoyed reading this piece. It contains many sentences I admire, including the following: "Twitter has also been the source of wholesale lies and mendacity, of charlatans and foreign sock-puppets and toxic man-boys. It has hardened the bubbles we live in as often as it has burst them" .I don't use Twitter, but I would love to see it lose its sway over the daily news cycle." I too would like to see Twitter lose its sway over the daily news cycle and for the headline-monopolizing former president to be sentenced to silence.
Happy post-pandemic Spring!
So appreciate you. Good to read you're a bird person, too, Ty, and probably your family.
Great stuff, Ty, and couldn't agree more with ALL of it. Just today (following NPR being labeled "state-affiliated media"), I reached my breaking point with Twitter; I'm sad to leave behind thousands of wonderful, engaged followers, but I'm hopeful that Substack can keep those fires burning. A reader suggested Spoutible, which seems a lot like Twitter but without all the nonsense.
This column is on fire and expresses so well my feelings. Glad you are better.
Agreed all round. I left Twitter after the west coast man-baby took over but I do miss it — the good, fun, funny, insightful Twitter. Black Twitter and History Twitter and Bird Twitter and Biology Twitter and the feed that posted a piece of art by a woman, and the color of the day feed. Sarah Cooper during her Trump heyday. I followed Indigenous people and Asian Americans and Indian news and disabled activists and trans rights people and YA writers and lots and lots of ordinary people. I'd do writing sprints with Jane Espenson. I followed Joyce Carol Oats just to see everyone jumping on her after she posted yet another dumb comment. Matt Gertz always made me laugh when someone mistook him, for the millionth time, for Matt Gaetz. But I agree, it is "a sugar high that craves endless renewing" and while, as I say, I miss it, I'm glad I'm off.
I come here to get away. I very much enjoy your take on movies and TV. Hearing about new and old movies that I'm not aware of or need to be reminded of, or even better when I've seen a movie several times but your take on it opens my eyes to another point of view of the movie. I'd prefer if this column would stick with that. Nothing against your or anyone else's politics. I was hoping for a refuge. just my take.
So well said, Ty. The news item from yesterday that thrilled me the most was Janet Protasiewicz’s victory and what it can mean for democracy and abortion rights in Wisconsin. It was so great to see a video clip of her and her supporters enjoying the moment. As for finding sanity on the web: I’d like to mention the Political Gabfest podcast - a weekly source of probity and highly informed commentary - and they have a lot of fun together. I’m waiting to see what they’ll say about the 34 charges against DT. (Many thanks for your description of one the beauties of walking a dog this time of year - the growing swell of birdsong! - You heard a wood thrush!!!)
Well, this isn't quite true: "as if the wholesale subversion of the country’s highest office into a criminal shell game of sedition and corruption had been in any way precedented. " Yes, Trump is the loudest, most obnoxious and potentially the most destructive, but it's not like there haven't been crooks and liars in the white house. Don't forget Tricky Dick. And Dubya committed (in my humble opinion) war crimes in Iraq on his quest for weapons of mass destruction. And there are plenty of others, of various degrees.
A beautiful essay. Thanks - I needed that.
Always love your writing. Thanks for a much-needed optimistic view of the world today...