Dear John,

It’s great to be back after a long break. I spent a ton of time with family, watched horrible television (truly, the bottom of the barrel), and got my chess rating over 1,000. With Omicron peaking, I know these are long and isolating days. There are long reads in this week’s Digest. I highly recommend the incredible piece about taxi workers in The Nation and Guante’s new zine on hope.  

Stay warm this weekend, and send me what you’re reading.

Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week:

1. Jan 6

The MAGA insurrection, Trump coup attempt, and attacks on voting rights across the country are interconnected. Biden’s speech yesterday was part of a national push to make it clear that in the U.S., voters decide elections and those who commit treason and incited last year’s attack must be held accountable so it never happens again. Listen to this piece in MPR. Find Biden’s speech and transcript here.

2. Jan 6 II

Teen Vogue interviews members of the Squad one year after the January 6^th insurrection. Read their reflections here. Also worth revisiting, Congresswoman Omar’s piece published last year in The Atlantic, I Never Expected to See it Here.

3. Freedom to Vote Act

If Republicans can pass voter suppression laws at the state level with a majority, the U.S. Senate should be able to pass voting rights laws. Learn more about how Senators are pushing to pass the critical Freedom to Vote Act by MLK Day.

4. Safety and Justice

Highly recommend these political education pieces: read an article in Truthout about big dreams and bold steps toward safety beyond policing and watch this primer video on transformative justice from adrienne maree brown.

5. Taxi Workers

This is an incredible story about the recent win by exploited New York City taxi workers. Read about the taxi driver strike in The Nation.  

6. Climate Disasters

This is a detailed analysis of the 40 percent of Americans who live in counties hit by climate disasters in 2021. Read or listen to the article in the Washington Post.

7. Don't Look Up

This new movie is at the top of my watch list this weekend. Have you seen it? Let me know what you thought. Check out the trailer.

8. Hope

Local artist Guante has a new zine out called Hope Does Not Glimmer; It Burns: Quotes on Hope, Resistance & Possibility. Art is medicine. Read and share.

9. Fashion + Politics

Love this opinion piece that states it’s ok for journalists to write about women in politics and fashion—and how to do it better. Check it out.

10. Astronomy

Interesting fact: The Earth is closest to the sun this week. Enjoy this nerdy article on aphelion and perihelion (and learn what those words mean).

That’s a wrap. Happy holidays & see you next year!

- Kenza Hadj-Moussa