Trans kids are a blessing
March 31 is International Trans Day of Visibility. Trans people have always been here, and always will be. Read about the ACLU’s “Freedom to Be” massive quilt project. Make a donation (or become a monthly sustainer) to TransLifeline or Transgender Law Center.
Thousands take to the streets in Chicago on March 30, 2025. Photos via Windy City Times.
What can one person do?
You don’t have to do things alone! While it can often feel from our available news sources as if there is no unified opposition, the number of street protests and demonstrations across the country is massive and growing.
Dozens of organizations nationwide have named Saturday, April 5 as a National Day of Action, with a preparatory mass call Tuesday, and a safety and de-escalation training on Wednesday. Find an event near you.
Demonstrations at Tesla showrooms have expanded beyond the United States. You can find information about local events near you aggregated under the banner of #TeslaTakedown.
One @#$%ing thing
My son expressed interest in revisiting episodes of Ken Burns’ Jazz, so I took the opportunity to introduce him to Sacha Jenkins’ thornier documentary Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues. Rather than a series of talking heads, Jenkins primarily leans on voices—in particular Armstrong’s own, recorded on his home reel-to-reel over decades in unfiltered conversations with friends. What emerges is a far more complex depiction of Armstrong’s experience as a popular black entertainer in segregated America. You can read more about the film here. It is available to watch on AppleTV+.
All the @#$%ing things
Night 41: Revisited 20 lessons on tyranny
Night 40: Donated to victims of the LA fires
Night 39: Donated to a non-profit disaster alert service
Night 38: Removed Meta apps from my phone
Night 37: Added a new subscription for politics and culture news
Night 36: Catalogued things we know about Memlon Fuchs
Night 35: Described an early MAGA rift
Night 34: The gap between what voters want and what they’re getting
Night 33: An editorial policy of sorts
Night 32: Requesting records when medical claims are denied
Night 31: Things I’ve learned about money laundering
Night 30: Turned to the words of Frederick Douglass
Night 29: Canceled my OpenAI subscription
Night 28: Donated money to three orgs
Night 27: Addressed a hazardous tile floor
Night 26: Picked up trash with the Trash Falcons
Night 25: Learned more about Pete Hegseth than I wanted to
Night 24: Canceled recurring subscriptions I no longer need
Night 23: Dwelt in gratitude
Night 22: Picked up pie from a favorite local business
Night 21: Downsized my clothes closet
Night 20: Increased my monthly contribution to the ACLU
Night 19: Deleted a blog from two decades ago
Night 18: Researched nonprofit board opportunities
Night 17: Contributed to Trans Lifeline
Night 16: Spent time together with loved ones
Night 15: Bought from a not-for-profit online store
Night 14: Refined an icon and wordmark
Night 13: Contributed to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
Night 12: Contributed to The Guardian
Night 11: Read, reflected, and rested
Night 10: Sent money to support vaccinations in Nigeria
Night 9: Sent money to a friend in need
Night 8: Gave gifts and spoke words of appreciation aloud
Night 7: Contributed to a California-focused nonprofit newsroom
Night 6: Made homemade donuts for my team
Night 5: Opted into a paid Buttondown tier
Night 4: Reviewed my local election results
Night 3: Deactivated my X account
Night 2: Contributed to my local nonprofit newsroom
Night 1: Started by starting
Words, sorts, thinks, and actions by Chris Ereneta, from Oakland, California. Thanks for reading! Consider forwarding this to a friend! Thoughtful feedback and questions are welcomed at that.often@gmail.com