President* Trump, I’m at the gallery today and because September is my show month I’m getting to sit here with my work on the walls and it’s pretty cool. Mostly people are walking by outside and not stopping, but my sense is there’s a bit more curiosity than usual and a bit more eye contact … Continue reading We have to see each other
Bias
Benefits of doubts
President* Trump, Laura and I just spent the last hour working out how to respond to a neighborhood email chain about something that happened two nights ago at the corner house across the street from us. Actually, we aren’t finished yet. Here’s a sketch of what happened the other night and of the email chain…. … Continue reading Benefits of doubts
Shaking things up
President* Trump, Do I still wish that Elizabeth Warren were the presumptive Democratic nominee poised to run against you? Definitely. Absolutely. Unequivocally. Do I think she got a raw deal and that sexist bullshit played a huge part in that? Definitely. Absolutely. Unequivocally. We still have a Warren campaign sign in our yard and I … Continue reading Shaking things up
The COVID dress rehearsal is an unmitigated disaster
President* Trump, This morning on my walk as I enjoyed some more of my favorite things (cool air, the walking itself, quiet laced with occasional bird cheeps, time alone) I was reflecting on how hard it feels to navigate that thin space between being real and being whiny, especially when one’s circumstances are objectively stable … Continue reading The COVID dress rehearsal is an unmitigated disaster
Diabolical chick-shits need to be locked in their coops until they are ready to cooperate
President* Trump, In the opening line of the loving-kindness blessing two days ago I referred to you, your GOP props, and the GOP scarcity mongers as diabolical chicken-shits: May we all be safe from diabolical chicken-shits. It’s true that I didn’t think long or hard about it or have to dig deep (obviously) to come … Continue reading Diabolical chick-shits need to be locked in their coops until they are ready to cooperate
Tears, unlikely boats, and saintly stars
President* Trump, I don’t know if there’s some cyclical hormone thing going on – I could probably figure it out if I went back through these letters and marked the days when I told you I was feeling emotional and tearful. Being well past having an obvious monthly cycle, it’s hard to tell. Whatever drives … Continue reading Tears, unlikely boats, and saintly stars
Scarcity thinking: the poison pearl of privilege
President* Trump, I know this isn’t a new insight or take on things, but lately I find myself wondering whether mean spiritedness of the scarcity sort isn’t really, truly the poison pearl of privilege at the heart of most all of our collective and individual problems. Maybe as I write I’ll come up with a … Continue reading Scarcity thinking: the poison pearl of privilege
Let’s stop helping maintain the status quo
President* Trump, I don’t think it’s that I’m especially sensitized to it, though I can’t completely rule out the possibility, but I think I’ve been hearing even more of the following lately: “Hey guys, let’s go ahead and get started.” “Thanks guys, this is great.” “What do you guys think?” “Hi guys, how’s it going?” … Continue reading Let’s stop helping maintain the status quo
Words matter, a lot
President* Trump, Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I realized that I closed out yesterday’s letter to you in a highly problematic way, one that betrays my implicit racial biases that, unfortunately, run parallel to the WP editors I called out earlier in the week. Here is the offending text: “This tree … Continue reading Words matter, a lot
Strange low-hanging fruit
President* Trump, You know I’m capable of writing letters to people in power who I think have gotten things wrong (or, like you, who are perpetually wrong and downright evil), but I’ve never been one to speak up in comment sections about an article or editorial – until yesterday. In response to the opening paragraph … Continue reading Strange low-hanging fruit
Daily Trump Letters 