It Will Only Get Worse
December 29, 2024
Redaction is a form of psychological warfare against historians and journalists.
— Baseless: My Search for Secrets in the Ruins of the Freedom of Information Act, by Nicholson Baker
Redaction is a form of psychological warfare against historians and journalists.
— Baseless: My Search for Secrets in the Ruins of the Freedom of Information Act, by Nicholson Baker
Consider that, because groceries are too expensive, Build Back Better promised to give working families a $300 check each month. Great! But…such an action would do nothing to challenge the pricing dynamic itself. In fact, if producers maintain their markups by passing costs onto consumers, and if the government subsidizes those consumers’ purchases with tax credits and cash transfers, then corporate giants stand to reap even larger profits since buyers will be able to tolerate even higher prices. Ironically, a cash transfer without complementary price and tax policies could result in an overall upward redistribution of wealth. And in a market society, wealth is power…Because the social and economic order is predicated on maintaining a certain level of consumer confidence, cash transfers are not threatening to the rulers of the age; instead they provide the means to shore up demand in a low-wage economy.
— “Better Get Back to Building,” Jacobin
FBI directors wield awesome powers over the liberties of Americans. The unwritten rule governing their appointment—no dismissal except for compelling cause—bulwarked American law and freedom for half a century. Even first-term Trump dared not openly defy it. But second-term Trump is opening with a bid to junk it altogether. Much of the reporting on Trump’s announcement reveals a society already bending to Trump’s will: Something that was regarded as outrageously unacceptable in 2017—treating an FBI director as just another Trump aide—has been semi-normalized even before President-Elect Trump takes office.
— “A Constitutional Crisis Greater Than Watergate,” The Atlantic
“We believe that information is good,” [Google] executives told employees in the memo. But, they added, government regulators or competitors might seize on words that Google workers casually, thoughtlessly wrote to one another.
To minimize the odds that a lawsuit could flush out comments that might be incriminating, Google said, employees should refrain from speculation and sarcasm and “think twice” before writing one another about “hot topics.” “Don’t comment before you have all the facts,” they were instructed.
The technology was tweaked, too. The setting for the company’s instant messaging tool was changed to “off the record.” An incautious phrase would be wiped the next day.
— How Google Spent 15 Years Creating a Culture of Concealment, The New York Times
Is it possible that we have come to feel responsible for too much, for everything, even things outside of our control, and that this makes us feel like gods who have been unfairly disempowered? Isn’t it depressing, feeling like a demoted god? Doesn’t it fill us with despair, which might make us less effective if a time comes when we actually can do something, and might also mess with the enjoyment we should be feeling re the rest of our lives?
— George Saunders, “Five Thought Experiments Concerning The Underlying Disease,” The New Yorker
A broad 10% tariff on goods imports, with a 60% tariff on Chinese imports, would raise $2.6 trillion over the next decade—0.7% of GDP—if other countries did not retaliate against the US. If targeted countries retaliate, however, as is likely the case, tariff revenue falls by 12-26% depending on the scenario.
The level of consumer prices would rise by 1.4 to 5.1% before substitution, between a tenth and a third of the first four years of pandemic inflation. This cost is the equivalent of $1,900 to $7,600 per household in 2023 dollars.
— “Fiscal, Macroeconomic, and Price Estimates of Tariffs Under Both Non-Retaliation and Retaliation Scenarios,” The Budget Lab at Yale University
My 2024 reading marathon included my favorite genres of fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi, a smattering of religious history, and several audiobooks and graphic novels. This year, I broke the list down into my favorite books of the year, plus the runners up, followed by the whole list with highlights on my recommendations. I hope you find at least a couple that you can add to next year’s list!
This year, I added 214 albums to my library, spanning nearly a century of music. After much listening, I’ve chosen my ten favorite albums released in 2024. From ambient masterpieces to electrifying jazz, these picks showcase the year’s best. Thank you for following along—here’s to another great year of music!
This month’s musical discoveries take us from Leyla McCalla’s Sun Without the Heat, my favorite album of November, to Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical powerhouse GNX, and everything in between. Explore the joy-filled jams of Goose, the haunting melodies of Beth Gibbons, and the Afrobeat grooves of Kokoroko in this eclectic roundup of November’s best music.
Discover the soundscape of October, from nostalgic concept albums to international flavors and emotional post-rock. Explore my top picks and hidden gems in this month’s musical adventure.
I’m disappointed in you, America. You gave Trump a decisive win, prioritizing short-term economic pain over long-term democratic stability. Now, it’s up to the rest of us to fight for our future.
Democrats and Never-Trump Republicans argue that Donald Trump’s potential return to the presidency poses a dire threat to American democracy. Some advocate drastic measures to prevent it, but true democracy demands nonviolent persuasion, even in the face of fear and uncertainty.
“You don’t stop being a fascist because you don’t get everything you want in your first term because you’re surrounded by people who aren’t fascists. They’re right-wing Republicans, they’re craven, but they’re not going along with fascism. You don’t get to do full fascism until you’re surrounded by fascists.”
“There is no comparison between Donald Trump and any previous president…in terms of selling access to him, his family, and of course, his administration, and selling out American policy in the process. If he wins again in November, if he’s back in the White House, everything in terms of American foreign policy will be for sale to the highest bidder.”
This month’s playlist includes both new sounds and old favorites. From the groove-heavy jazz to the bluesy nostalgia, there’s something in September for everyone.
In our two-party system, tough decisions must be made. Vice President Kamala Harris isn’t my ideal candidate, but here’s why I’m casting my vote for her this November, and why I want you to as well.