by Pauline Clarke
“Paying attention is what gives us the will to change.” –Margaret Renkl
The will to change, plus the means and methods, are what many of us are looking for in ourselves given our circumstances in the present moment. Substack (available in web and app form) is a source of in-depth news, information, and action steps that provides a reliable alternative to corporate, billionaire-owned media. Here are four excellent contributors and a preview of their articles from this past week. Click on the titles for a direct link. If you have favorite Substacks, we’d love to hear about them!
The Status Kuo provides accessible political and legal analysis with a dose of humor. In crazy times, a little clarity goes a long way!
Highlights from an article about Musk joining a Pentagon meeting about a top secret military war plan with China.
“Musk was already considered unstable and untrustworthy enough that he was denied the highest level security clearance due to his undisclosed meetings with foreign leaders and his well-known drug use.” Of course, the subject of the briefing was hotly denied by the Administration. “China will not even be mentioned or discussed,” Trump insisted, and Musk himself suggested prosecution of Pentagon officials for leaking false information. But Kuo notes, and we should pay attention to this distinction, “If it’s false, it’s not a leak.”
The Contrarian is a corporate media alternative run by Jennifer Rubin (editor-in-chief). It claims to be unflinching, unapologetic, and unwavering in its commitment to truth-telling. The Contrarian contributors may not agree on all issues (and, in fact, enjoy lively debate), but we share an unequivocal determination to defend our fundamental freedoms and the values essential to a pluralistic democracy.
This is a good source for featured conversations (via podcasts or text) with people clued in to everything going on at breakneck speed in DC. In this post, Eisen and Rubin note that on April 5, events and various forms of protest will be held around the country to tell Trump and Musk to keep their hands off Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, private data libraries, schools, and personal rights. Paid subscribers are invited to design and submit ideas for a protest flag. Details about finding an event near you will be forthcoming, so it’s a good idea to be paying attention to this particular stack.
Letter From an American is from Heather Cox Richardson, a professor of American history. This is a chronicle of today’s political landscape, but because you can’t get a grip on today’s politics without an outline of America’s Constitution, and laws, and the economy, and social customs, this newsletter explores what it means, and what it has meant, to be an American.
For a daily round-up of this administration’s activities, often put into historical context, HCR’s essays Letters From an American are hard to beat. Meant to inform and instruct, HCR’s letters can also cause alarm, but in a “Pay attention, this is important!” way, frequently followed by advice on how to view what’s being done by those who oppose Trump’s policies.
The Smart Politics Way by Karen Tamerius teaches the science of persuasion—how to talk about politics in ways that actually work. Instead of fueling hostility, we focus on strategies that build trust, influence opinions, and create real political change—without burning bridges.
How To Stop Panicking About Trump
In this post, Tamerius suggests five environmental solutions. Just reading them may reduce your blood pressure.
Bold Action 
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