We Moved!

New fonts, new branding, and a whole new outlook on life! (Not really)

Last night, I joined Bill Kristol on Brian Williams to talk about Liz Cheney and the continuing Republican Party attack on American democracy. I did not mince words.

Hi you.

It’s me.

Notice anything different? Graphics, fonts, branding perhaps? Welcome to my new newsletter! It’s the same newsletter!

I’ve decided to simplify/consolidate/upgrade all at once and am now hosting my mailing list and paid subscription community under one roof: newsletter.baratunde.com.

Bye-bye Mailchimp and Patreon. Hellooo Substack. 

I’ll continue sending my free weekly newsletters to you, but I now have a paid subscription option that’s $7 per month or $70 per year—or more if you’re feeling it! Your paid subscription will help me fund creative projects, cover costs like healthcare and software subscriptions, and hire others to build bigger, better versions of the things in my mind.

Paid subscribers can comment on posts and get access to members-only content including ad-free versions of my podcasts, How To Citizen and We’re Having A Moment, and early access to episodes. Read more about my new setup, and if you’re already down. Hit ye olde subscribe button:

This is where I tell you what I’m up to that you might want to check out:

• I was recently a guest on Momentum: A Race Forward podcast and had lots of fun. Listen on Apple or Spotify. 

• I haven’t hosted much on Clubhouse lately, but I’ll be part of a Business Insider discussion next Wednesday, May 19 at 8 am PT. No event link yet, but follow me and look for the notification!

• I’m not part of Unearthing Tulsa, but I endorse the heck out of it and hope you’ll attend this special live virtual event on Monday, May 17. 

Trump Isn’t the Biggest Republican Threat (Bloomberg Opinion)

A concise read that exposes a lot of what’s tearing apart the Republican Party and democracy in America. As I said on Brian Williams last night, “It’s frightening to see how many people embrace lies when they believe those lies offer power.”

Black Mothers Are the Real Experts on the Toll of Gun Violence (The New York Times)

I still recall my mother’s fear for my safety as I was growing up in DC when it was the murder capital of the USA. Whether it’s at the hands of police or fellow citizens, Black mothers know the pain of gun violence most in this country, and they don’t all feel the same about guns as a result.

It’s not a ‘labor shortage.’ It’s a great reassessment of work in America. (Washington Post)

It’s always a safe bet to ignore the whining of Ted Cruz. The government paying people too much isn’t a threat to our economy—companies not paying people enough is. 

African American Museum reopens after year-long closure (ABC News Philadelphia)

Museums are starting to come back, and if you’re nearby, check out the African American Museum in Philadelphia. If you’re not, explore some of the virtual programming they put together over this past year including Rendering Justice, an exhibition of art by formerly incarcerated people.

Why AI is a threat to democracy—and what we can do to stop it (MIT Technology Review) 

We’re giving machines the ability to forecast and affect the future just as we’ve stripped ourselves of that very same power. What could go wrong?? More importantly, what can we do right? 

The young people taking their countries to court over climate inaction (The Guardian)

How do I file one of those “friend of the court” briefs? I want to co-sign all these lawsuits!

Video Time!

“We cannot be dragged backward by the very dangerous lies of a former president.” Republican Rep Liz Cheney minutes after being stripped of her House Republican leadership position.