Donald, How’s it going getting everything wrapped up? I’m guessing you haven’t been hindered by a bunch of sappy, heartfelt goodbyes with your staff or with members of the standing White House staff – and not because you don’t go in for such things. This will probably get me a hefty bit of karmic debt, … Continue reading A record setting stretch
Dehumanizing
The unity panacea won’t cut it this time
Donald, I toyed with starting this letter with just “XXXX” and dispensing with your name or any clever, mocking labels but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I actually wrote it out and started to say something about the choice, but I decided it would be too similar to what you’ve done to so … Continue reading The unity panacea won’t cut it this time
Where the hell do we go from here?
President* Trump, Last night we decided that the word of the day was “pissy.” Laura, our friend, and I cycled through various analogous words (e.g., irritable, frustrated, grumpy, cranky, grouchy) but when one or the other of us landed on “pissy” we all exclaimed that this was the best descriptor of them all and oddly, … Continue reading Where the hell do we go from here?
America’s deep, deep shame is upon us yet again (or really, is still upon us)
President* Trump, My heart is so heavy for Breonna Taylor’s family and her loved ones, and really, for all of us. It is beyond disgusting and sad that we are a country that ever visits such things on our people and that when such things do happen, we can’t step up and take responsibility other … Continue reading America’s deep, deep shame is upon us yet again (or really, is still upon us)
Other countries’ histories are instructive too
President* Trump, One of the things I most appreciate about Laura is that she’s an excellent curator – for the entirety of our now quite long relationship, she’s played me music she thinks I’ll like (most of which I do like), pointed me to books, movies, and articles that she knows I’ll find interesting and … Continue reading Other countries’ histories are instructive too
We don’t have to accept leaders who hate us
President* Trump, Yesterday I told you how surreal it feels to have the specter of armed civilians going after other civilians should you win (or lose) be a valid concern and not just overheated, fantastical catastrophizing. It really does seem totally out there most of the time, but then your Caputos say what they say, … Continue reading We don’t have to accept leaders who hate us
Trumpian twisted nihilism and some antidotes
President* Trump, Isn’t it interesting that news about the huge, life-affirming ‘Get Off Our Necks’ Commitment March is now nowhere to be seen but articles about the death of an apparent Trump supporter in Portland whose last act was to spray bear mace at protestors are everywhere? And isn’t it interesting that news of the … Continue reading Trumpian twisted nihilism and some antidotes
Gaslighting (or he keeps looking straight into the camera without blinking)
President* Trump, I learned today that not everyone knows what “gaslighting” means so because it’s such an important weapon of yours I thought it would be a good idea to define it (and don’t worry, I know you know what it is so this isn’t for you): verb gerund or present participle: gaslighting manipulate (someone) … Continue reading Gaslighting (or he keeps looking straight into the camera without blinking)
Getting to know our discomfort zones
President* Trump, I’ve been toggling back and forth between two books on my Kindle – Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be An Antiracist and Glennon Doyle’s Untamed. So far it’s been a pretty invigorating pairing as both authors are strong writers and they are adept at using first-person narrative and family stories to illustrate their … Continue reading Getting to know our discomfort zones
Whiteness and white freedom
President* Trump, This morning I was reading a WP editorial by Colbert King about the covid-19 small business grant debacle when I noticed that the embedded video offering was an interview with Nell Irvin Painter about the importance of capitalizing the word “White” when referencing “White” people. Even though I’ve lately gotten more used to … Continue reading Whiteness and white freedom
Daily Trump Letters 