A belated Christmas present 🎄🎄🎄
Joy to the world!
I’m in Dallas for a few days — and won’t be posting all that much. Too busy doing, honestly, not much. Which has been lovely.
But, one thing I saw this morning made me want to write — and offer a sale on this newsletter.
It’s this — from the Associated Press:
As a Democrat who immersed himself in political news during the presidential campaign, Ziad Aunallah has much in common with many Americans since the election. He’s tuned out.
“People are mentally exhausted,” said Aunallah, 45, of San Diego. “Everyone knows what is coming and we are just taking some time off.”
Television ratings — and now a new poll — clearly illustrate the phenomenon. About two-thirds of American adults say they have recently felt the need to limit media consumption about politics and government because of overload, according to the survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Smaller percentages of Americans are limiting their intake of news about overseas conflicts, the economy or climate change, the poll says. Politics stand out.
I get this. I really do.
But, this is NOT how we make things better. Walking away because the outcome isn’t what you want is not how to engage effectively with democracy.
I am not saying you have to start watching cable TV again. Or re-subscribe to the Washington Post. Or the New York Times. Or subscribe to this newsletter.
But I want to do what’s under my control to make it as easy as possible for you to jump in — or jump in again. Which is why between now and New Year’s Eve at midnight, I am discounting both monthly and yearly subscriptions.
For the next 5 days, you can get this newsletter for $5 a month or $50 a year. That’s a 20% savings off the regular price.
I truly believe that the path forward for all of us is to lean into trusted news sources, not run from them. I aim to be a guide through the political morass for you. And I need your support. So if you’ve been thinking about becoming a paid subscriber, now is the time to make the leap.
What do you get if you DO become a paid subscriber?
A 15-minute, one-on-one Zoom call with me. One on one. Me and you. No topics off limits!
Exclusive access to my weekly Monday conversation with NBC News’ Chuck Todd.
An exclusive Sunday email with a list of recommendations from yours truly — a podcast, an article, a YouTube video, a Substack, a song, a book, a TV show — that I think you will dig.
Exclusive access — as of January 1 — to “Chris Crucial,” my nightly newsletter on everything you need to know from the day in politics.
And now you can get ALL of that for 20% off for a year!
I'm sure exhaustion is part of it but, at least for me, I've been taking a break to try and cope with (or forget?) that at a core, moral level, have so little in common with so many people in this country. I feel like an outsider in my own country.
Republicans win sometimes, democrats win sometimes...we disagree on something things but ultimately we keep moving "up and to the right" as a country...no reason to get too upset, just keep fighting the good fight.
But this? This feels different. This feels like people actively and openly voting for hate and greed. It's depressing and I'm finding it difficult to continue tuning in.
Honestly, tuning out is the best thing to do. Find a few trusted people/sources, like Chris, and go from there. I think people are tuning out from most news channels because regardless who wins everything is negative. Fear gets clicks and advertisements, so that's what they sell. I'm much happier with CNN, Fox, and MSNBC out of my life.