It's the media, stupid. Plus, how we win, reclaiming beauty and our favorite podcasts for Black History Month. #WELLREAD

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where wellbeing meets politics
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With Iowa and New Hampshire behind us, we're breaking down what's coming up in the primaries, how they work, and what we each can do to elect leaders who'll fight for our collective wellbeing.

Join us tomorrow ([link removed]) (Thursday) 6:30-7:15ET for our monthly online meet-up with Kerri, Lauren, and some of our amazing Patreon members from around the country to dig in!
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This is a public service announcement about the media. Every presidential campaign sees its share of spin and misdirection. But this is different. In addition to the consolidated rhetoric that is literally undermining some of our best candidates (electability is bullshit), new technologies and techniques are already shaping the 2020 election and beyond.

And by beyond, I mean it's shaping us. We see it in idealized images defining for us what it is to be beautiful, successful, worthy. We hear it in half truths and spiritual narratives encouraging us to manifest abundance and attract success. And we buy into it anytime don't contemplate its truth and validity.

Getting free of culture and media's grip on us means questioning everything. It's a constant practice of discernment that asks us to think critically and go deeper. Because our candidates deserve that. And so do we.

This election is going to demand so much more of us. But I believe we, the people, have what it takes to win.

Kerri
she/her

THE LATEST
Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary, besting Pete Buddigieg and Amy Klobuchar who surged after a strong debate last week. Here's the breakdown. ([link removed]) But the sidelining of Elizabeth Warren ([link removed]) is the real story. From the get go, the mainstream media has been determined to undermine her viability with electability rhetoric and the "can a woman win" narrative. Of course, a woman can win. But can a woman get fair representation in the media? I don't know. Can you ignore that while Pete Buttigieg might be a millennial wunderkind, a female 38-year-old mayor of a midsize town would have a hard time being taken as seriously if she up and ran for president? Can you ignore that Bernie Sanders’s shouting is seen as righteous but if Kamala Harris ever raised her voice,
it was seen as anger? How did Joe Biden automatically get to wear the cloak of electability for nearly a full year before Iowa tore it off? ([link removed]) All of this matters because voters listen to the media. But the night is young (there are still 3,938 delegates to go). Let's keep it in perspective folks.

HOW WE WIN
What if everything you knew about politics is wrong. Well, Rachel Bitecofer thinks so. She's introduced an unsettling new theory that is flipping the electoral paradigm upside down. At the heart of her theory is that elections are won by turnout, and by people entering and exiting the electorate rather than by switching sides—as one that simply ignores many basic observations about how politics works ([link removed]) . Translated: stop trying to convince your Trump loving cousin to swing left. Instead, go get new people (there are approximately 100 million of them who didn't vote in the last election). This election is going to come down to turning out voters and fighting voter suppression. Here's how to get started. ([link removed])

THE BEAUTY MYTH
It's a surprise to no one that people objectify women's bodies. obsess about their appearance and qualify their worth according to how they look (please don't get me started). But that doesn't mean it's ok. Ashley Judd wrote a scathing article in response to comments about her looking 'puffy' and is asking us (all of us) to take a good look at ourselves. "Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate ([link removed]) ...It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it. This abnormal obsession with women’s faces and bodies has become so normal that we (I include myself at times—I absolutely fall for it still) have internalized patriarchy almost seamlessly". Me too. And the media doesn't help
([link removed]) , reinforcing the beauty myth for all to behold. (PS: The Beauty Myth ([link removed]) is a classic and must-read by Naomi Wolf).

WELLNESS TRENDS
What's trending in Wellness? Well, it's not age-defying diets or energy treatments as you may have discovered on Goop Lab (no thanks). It's the latest report by Reclamation Ventures ([link removed]) celebrating the work of over 550 passionate underestimated entrepreneurs who are committed to closing the wellness gap in America. This anti-trends report ([link removed]) includes things like the instructor, redefined, thriving inclusive spaces online, reclaiming black women wellness, impact and profit alignment among others. Download the report here ([link removed]) . And donate to the fund ([link removed]) that is shifting energy and resources that support underestimated leadership in wellness so that everyone can thrive.

BHM PODCAST PICKS
Black History Month is an invitation to listen and learn from black leaders, artists, writers and activists. Here's our favorite black-led podcasts that are schooling us:
* 1619 ([link removed])
* America's Racial Karma ([link removed])
* Intersectionality Matters ([link removed])
* Good Ancestors Podcast ([link removed])
* The Big We ([link removed])


Shout-out to our amazing community of Patreon ([link removed]) members who make it possible for us to produce WELLread every week.

Join us for a little as $2/month to get behind-the-scenes access to our work and bonus content that we don't share anywhere else. Plus, we share guided meditations, host online meet-ups, and create monthly toolkits for you to take the work to the next level!

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WELLread is produced by CTZNWELL, a collective that's mobilizing the wellness community to take action for the health and justice of all people. Was this email forwarded to you? Find out more about us and subscribe ([link removed]) .
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