Only a small subset of Americans, like you and I, likes talking about politics. To us it’s a spectator and participatory sport. We know the stakes (I’m not minimizing them here), and we’re ready to do as much as we can to oppose the regime and build a better tomorrow.
MOST Americans are sick of talking about politics. They get much of their info from social media, and they’d much rather watch Tiktoks or YouTube shorts about video games, or makeup tips, or funny clips of celebrities, or kittens. Rob Flaherty talked a little about it in his NYT Opinion Essay on Sunday.
A large share of the American electorate has opted-out of politics. In other words, the last election pitted a system that doesn’t work for most folks vs staying home and sitting on the couch. The couch won (I’d like to assure you that JD never got close to THIS couch). This is not re-litigating the election, or shutting down all the possibilities about why TFG won. It’s one very big aspect of reaching people where they are.
and I talked last week about imagining a future that doesn’t ask people to compromise their dignity, their equality, and their livelihood in a broken system. In a wide-ranging conversation, we discussed paying attention to the world and also making our lives as joyful as we can. It’s holding two different thoughts together at the same time, but I know we can all do it. In my family, 17 is doing a college search, taking his SAT and AP exams (this week!), but on the other hand, we don’t really know what’s going to happen with higher ed in 2 years. Aviv discussed finding joy with his wife and young daughter, even as the world gets scarier for us grown ups.I invite you to listen, read, or watch our conversation, in which we talk about talking about politics without talking about politics.
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