Letters from an American

May 26, 2024

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, the day Americans have honored since 1868, when we mourn those military personnel who have died in the service of the country—that is, for the rest of us. For me, one of those people is Beau Bryant. When we were growing up, we hung out at one particular house where a friend’s mom provided unlimited peanut butter and fluff sandwi…

Reactions: 3314 ▲ 58%

Comments: 295 ▼ 7%

Wordcount: 613

May 23, 2024

It turns out that Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito is not the only one flying an “Appeal to Heaven” flag. Leonard Leo, the man behind the extremist takeover of the American judiciary, also flew that flag at his home on Mount Desert Island in Maine.

Reactions: 3072 ▲ 46%

Comments: 600 ▲ 88%

May 25, 2024

While it’s not officially summer yet, the town is coming to life. The lilacs and apple trees are blooming over the forget-me-nots, and over them all is the bright blue sky of the coming summer. For me, though, the clearest sign of the change of seasons is that Buddy is back on the water, and sunrise photos like this are waiting for me on my phone when I…

Reactions: 4131 ▲ 96%

Comments: 229 ▼ 28%

Wordcount: 93

May 24, 2024

Reactions: 312 ▼ 85%

Comments: 1 ▼ 99%

Podcast duration: 11.4 minutes

May 24, 2024

On Wednesday, May 22, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who had been the candidate for anti-Trump Republicans, said she will vote for Trump. Haley ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination and maintained a steady stream of criticism of him, calling him “unstable,” “unhinged” and “a disaster…for our party.” Since she suspende…

Reactions: 3068 ▲ 46%

Comments: 786 ▲ 146%

Wordcount: 1531

May 23, 2024

Reactions: 291 ▼ 86%

Comments: 9 ▼ 97%

Podcast duration: 11.5 minutes

May 23, 2024

It turns out that Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito is not the only one flying an “Appeal to Heaven” flag. Leonard Leo, the man behind the extremist takeover of the American judiciary, also flew that flag at his home on Mount Desert Island in Maine.

Reactions: 3087 ▲ 47%

Comments: 600 ▲ 88%

Wordcount: 1479

May 22, 2024

Reactions: 277 ▼ 86%

Comments: 15 ▼ 95%

Podcast duration: 10.1 minutes

May 22, 2024

Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) called out his Republican colleagues on the floor of the House today for offering “stunts instead of solutions, extremism over bipartisanship.” It’s a shame, he said, because the Republicans’ narrow majority “could have given us a chance to work together in a bipartisan way.” Instead, Republicans have caved to their mo…

Reactions: 3141 ▲ 49%

Comments: 651 ▲ 104%

Wordcount: 1322

May 21, 2024

Reactions: 284 ▼ 86%

Comments: 6 ▼ 98%

Podcast duration: 10.4 minutes