To any Americans reading, happy 4th of July! And to any non-Americans reading, I promise I’ll be back to my regularly scheduled programming on Sunday!
While I am very excited about the long weekend — really need to log the fuck out of corporate life for a hot sec — celebrating ‘the land of the free’ when so many of our freedoms are being threatened feels a little… erm?
Ironic? Dystopian? Satirical?
Take your pick.
On Tuesday I wrote almost 2000 words about my feelings on the previous two elections and the upcoming one. It was a very cathartic exercise that helped to release a lot of pent up emotion. I highly recommend doing something similar if you’re carrying a lot of anxiety about the state of our country, which — let’s be real — who isn’t?
However, after sitting on the finished essay for a day and a half, I have decided not to publish it and here’s why:
As we all know, there is an incredible amount riding on this election and there is also a lot of noise surrounding it. My essay, while all factually accurate, was very emotionally charged and I fear rather than being helpful it would have just added to the noise.
Thanks to the internet it is easier than ever for anyone to build a platform. You no longer need education or credentials or even lived experienced to find an audience. There are no background checks or vetting processes you must pass in order to access a stage. The only thing you need is a smartphone and internet access.
In some ways this is a blessing. Technology has given megaphones to people who have been silenced for generations. It has opened our eyes to the real conditions people live and work in across the globe. It has enabled almost anyone, anywhere to access information on infinite subject matter, allowing people to educate themselves and create opportunities for themselves that would have been otherwise impossible.
However, it is also a curse, for many reasons, but the one I am most concerned about is the rampant spread of misinformation, lies, and dangerous ideology. While my essay contains no misinformation, lies, or dangerous ideologies, it is — as I previously mentioned — very emotionally driven and I do not think it would have added anything productive to the conversation.
Now more than ever we should be focused on consuming political content from trusted sources and experts, neither of which I am. I am just a frustrated and scared American citizen who wants to do anything she can to help preserve the sanctity of our democracy.
Instead of adding more noise to the chaos, I thought I would do something useful with my time. Today, I would like to use my platform to highlight some of the sources I personally trust to provide factual information and help me to interpret it.
maddie’s trusted sources
Mosheh Oinounou of Mo News (IG), Mo News Premium (Premium IG), and Mo News Podcast
Mo News is my number one recommendation. He provides comprehensive, facts based reporting, and does a great job breaking things down and diving into the history behind events, decisions, etc. so the average person can actually understand them. I listen to the Mo News Podcast every single morning and subscribe to Mo News Premium. It’s $7 a month and I feel that the value I get far exceeds that. The free account and podcast are still great resources on their own if you do not want to spend the $7.
Jessica Yellin (IG) of News Not Noise (Substack)
Sharon McMahon of SharonSaysSo (IG) and The Preamble (Substack)
Emily Amick of EmilyInYourPhone (IG) and Emily In Your Phone (Substack)
Betches News (IG) and the Betches Morning Announcements Podcast with Sami Sage
Emily Amick and Sami Sage just wrote a book together! It’s called Democracy in Retrograde and it comes out next week. I cannot wait to read it.
That’s my list :) If you have any sources you love and trust, please share them in the comments. I would love to check them out.
I hope you have a fabulous July 4th! Eat a hot dog, go for a swim, watch fireworks, and remember the best thing you can do to celebrate the holiday is by voting in November!
I am down in Newport, Rhode Island for the holiday and will be doing all of the above! On Sunday I am launching a new weekly series called breakfast in bed, be sure to subscribe to get it sent to your inbox first thing Sunday morning. If you want to see more from me in the meantime, follow along on Instagram for more.
XOXO,
Maddie