December 13 Friday roundup

I have no idea why I wrote !!! on my calendar, other than maybe because it’s Friday the 13th. But I’ll use those exclamation points to note that episode 5 of Next Comes What is live!

Happy one-month birthday to the podcast—and happy two-month birthday (and then a little) to the newsletter! You can watch “We’ve Tried Nothing,” which is all about the many things people around the world have done (and some things you might be able to do) when living under an aspiring or actual authoritarian. The episode is up on YouTube, or you can listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. (A reminder: the Friday podcast is a multimedia version of the written post on politics and history that comes out in the newsletter each Tuesday, so don’t be surprised if you notice overlap.)

I focused this week on actions you can take in your community and ways you can draw on your own network of friends to organize. But don’t forget—especially in this holiday season—that time and talent are not the only ways you can make a difference.

Many groups, such as abortion funds and those focused on down-ballot elections, can do a lot with just a little of your money. In the podcast, I mention Mariame Kaba’s recommended groups for financial support or volunteering, as well as Kelly Hayes’ links to ways to support Native peoples.

There’s also Jason Sattler’s Grapevine project for Virginia’s Special elections. It’s critical that on January 7th, 2025, we back the two candidates who will keep Democratic control of the state Senate and block Glenn Youngkin from using Virginia as a sandbox for his presidential aspirations. You can donate at the link—or join, even if you can’t donate.

If you’re not already a subscriber, I encourage you to become one! If you’re a subscriber but not a paid one, I encourage you to upgrade. You’ll guarantee yourself access to all Degenerate Art posts going forward, and you’ll also be supporting my work on this newsletter, the podcast, and my books.