President* Trump, Fortunately Laura spotted the news that the Grand Jury transcripts in the inquiry into Breonna Taylor’s death are going to be released (see the LA Time article covering the story: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-09-30/grand-jury-transcripts-breonna-taylor-case-released). I’m not sure how she did it since all the news outlets I’ve popped in on this morning might as well have … Continue reading A one-man debacle for the ages
White supremacy
The ends and the means
President* Trump, Yesterday morning when I set out on my walk I didn’t have anything specific in mind to write to you about. I figured something would occur to me in my perusal of the news or in reaction to the day’s poem (which, by the way was incredible and can be read here: https://poets.org/poem/five-horses-doctor-ramon-emeterio-betances?mc_cid=2d4fec3e74&mc_eid=03fcdf422b). … Continue reading The ends and the means
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)
The Double V Campaign and déjà vu all over again
President* Trump, I’m reading Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi’s book Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning. I got through about 45% of Kendi’s How to Be An Antiracist before the library loan expired so I thought it would be a good idea to go … Continue reading The Double V Campaign and déjà vu all over again
There is no miracle that will deliver us from our racist history or the need to face it
President* Trump, Please note, I’m fully aware that we lost the wonderfully notorious RBG today, which no doubt has you and Mitch giddy with shitty possibilities, but I’m going to do some serious grieving before I comment further on her passing and will instead send you the letter I started this morning before her death … Continue reading There is no miracle that will deliver us from our racist history or the need to face it
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
What’s the plan?
President* Trump, You didn’t want us to panic. How thoughtful of you. What a mensch, always looking out for the country – that’s you! No doubt about it. It didn’t take any sort of genius to know that you’d use the notion that you didn’t want to frighten or panic us as the out when … Continue reading What’s the plan?
A Labor Day reimagining of America
President* Trump, Happy Labor Day, you exploitative oligarch. I read an HP article this morning about your pipe dream of withholding federal funding from school districts that reform their US history offerings to more thoroughly address slavery and introduce systemic racism to students. The article included a Twitter exchange involving you and someone who goes … Continue reading A Labor Day reimagining of America
The wheels are coming off the Trump bus
President* Trump, Laura and I drove down to Portland this morning to see my mom and then back again this evening. Despite the masks and social distancing, we had a really nice visit and it was so good to see her – it’d been a long time. There weren’t nearly as many Trump signs along … Continue reading The wheels are coming off the Trump bus
Recency bias
President* Trump, It used to be pretty frequently that I’d chew on something I felt the need to write to you about for several days, trying to figure out how to approach it or how to articulate it effectively. Lately, though, I’m finding I just don’t have the mental capacity or the stomach to think … Continue reading Recency bias
Daily Trump Letters 