Five for Facts; Four to Relax

Anyone know Morse Code?

Feb 09, 2025

Ah, what a time has been thrust upon us. I wake each morning thrashing against the miasma of hatred with which the Trump administration is trying to cloak us, feeling the weight of the second job they’ve thrust on us: protecting the rights of our family, friends, and neighbors.

“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”— Audre Lorde, writer and social activist

But moments of rest (I find joy too much to count on these days, so I’m settling for relaxation) make it easier to cut through the hate.

I find myself caught between constant hyper-vigilance and the need to breathe.
You too?

So, for balance (a work in progress) I’m committing to:

Staying well-informed—without drowning in a fire hose of doom—and calling, writing, marching if needed, and supporting true front-liners like the ACLU.
Taking time to hydrate—emotionally, physically, and with some semblance of fun—because an empty pitcher waters nothing.

My five most trustworthy sources for news & four ways I refresh

For straightforward facts:

ProPublica

“News and investigations about President Donald Trump and his administration, his business interests and the impact of his policies as the 45th and 47th President of the United States”.

For letting my mind wander:

Rock Painting

I started this habit during the first reign of horror in 2016 (see below for how I spent a vacation in a New Hampshire cabin filled with rocks). Now, my garden, filled with years of painted rocks, looks like Grandma Moses invaded it—but it’s a guaranteed stress reliever that requires no actual talent.

For current events, cut with a brilliant historical perspective:

Letters from An American: Heather Cox Richardson

“Maya Miller of the New York Times reported today that the congressional phone system has been jammed with tens of millions of calls from outraged constituents contacting their representatives to demand that they stand against President Donald Trump and his sidekick Elon Musk as they unilaterally dismantle the United States government and gain access to Americans’ private information. The Senate phone system usually gets about 40 calls a minute; now it is up to 1,600.” 2/7/25

For ‘relaxing’ mindless scrolling with a purpose:

Trolling for Jewelry that Supports Good Causes

I am addicted to jewelry—jewelry soothes me. I can spend hours scrolling, so how do I indulge guilt-free? Looking for ways to adorn and help. Like these morse code bracelets. So you can swear and support all over the place.

For investigative and quick coverage of what’s happening:

The Guardian US

“Elon Musk’s rapid attempt to defund and depopulate the federal government has thrown US politics into chaos while the billionaire’s so-called “department of government efficiency” seizes control of operations at key agencies. Carrying out this hostile takeover are a team of staffers made up of wealthy executives, far-right ideologues and young engineers that have come to make up Doge.” 2/8/25

Mother Jones

“Trump signed his first anti-trans executive order within hours of taking office and has only continued the onslaught. The speed and scope of the orders are “all- encompassing and terrifyingly breathtaking,” as Lambda Legal senior attorney Carl Charles tells me—which is the point. The orders will run up against significant constraints, like established legal precedent and administrative procedures, but by instilling fear in trans people and the institutions that support them, the Trump administration is banking on preemptive obedience.
“They’re hoping that they can scare people into compliance …..
“That order basically suggests that, by virtue of being trans, we are inherently less trustworthy and deceitful by nature,” Branstetter says, “basically echoing the way that the government used to describe homosexuals in the 1940s and ’50s and before purging thousands of them from the federal government.” 2/25

For my guilt-free TV watching:

Crocheting Ten Thousand Items.

It began for me during COVID-19, when I made a rule: watch TV—make something. Now, thousands of anxiety-ridden hours later, my friends and family are draped and warmed.

For a fresh take from young voices:

Teen Vogue on Politics

"Resist, Obstruct, Protect Our People": Maxwell Frost Has a Plan for Taking on Trump
The plan is, obstruct where we can, and we have a lot of vehicles to do that,” Frost tells Teen Vogue. “If you are a House member and you're just saying, ‘Well, we're in the minority. There's nothing we can do,’ we've already lost the battle. And that's what Trump really wants us to do — essentially bow down and not do anything to fight. We want to see Democrats get more involved.” ….
Frost spoke to Teen Vogue at length about the Democrats’ plan for taking on Trump and what he’s willing to risk to obstruct the Trump administration.
Teen Vogue: Let's get into it. Voters saw you doing some stuff that we haven't been seeing so much, so far, from the Democrats. What's the plan? That's what people are asking, right?
Rep. Maxwell Frost: In any opposition “the plan” belongs to many different groups of people. If you are depending on House Dems to do everything at this moment, we’re f*cked. We’re cooked. It has to be outside organizations, because we can't do the litigation. We have to work with the ACLU [American Civil Liberties Union], we have to work with the unions. We all work together. We work with Move On and Indivisible on the mobilization.”

And always, always revitalize by being with loved ones and friends.