Summertime round up: politics is exhausting, next ideas, a break, a sale, and some questions for you!

When your tires go bald, it's time to get some new ones.

I’m thinking of getting the one in the middle. Source: Unsplash. Author: Robert Laursoo.

Politics is exhausting

Politics breaks you. There’s no way to practice politics, write about it, read about it, or think about it day after day and not get broken. When it’s your job, you keep at it because it’s your job. And maybe you like it. Or think it makes a difference. But it’s exhausting and depressing. As a politics writer, you track what’s going on in the world and assess what’s good, bad, and why it’s good or bad while we sort out how to live together. I do that for hours a day, every day. It’s ugly.

If you’re good at your job, you also work to hold power to account and explain how power acts on individuals and communities. If you get to write political opinion, your job is also to draw conclusions about what’s better and how we might get there. But, seriously, politics breaks you. No one walks away from political life unbroken. The ones who look okay are the ones who have had time and resources for repairs, or the ones who shill to keep systems of oppression in place.

Over time, the frustration and anger and disappointment of writing about politics bio-accumulates. Because a lot of stuff is bad. Some of it is really bad. A lot of it is getting worse. And those who are forced to bear the brunt of the bad tend to be the same people, while those who avoid it, or benefit from it, tend also to be the same people. That’s enraging. You can see how the tires wear down. If you’re lucky, you find a way and take some time to rest and then come back at it again with new tires. But you must still pay the bills.

It’s break time and what’s next

I’m taking this week and next week off from Substack to rest up, plan, organize, and repair. When I return, I’m finally going to write Part Two to Politicians Aren’t Like Us. Then I’m going to write about how to write — and read — book reviews, because someone asked me to and it’s a great idea. I’m also considering bringing back paid pieces twice a month, on every second Thursday (which helped grow paid subscriptions). Tuesday posts will remain free forever!

Also, I’m excited to announce that my book on political decision making will soon be out in audiobook format! I’ll share when that happens.

Send me your ideas

I’m also very keen to hear from you what you’d like me to write about: what do you want to know? Which things need more coverage? What am I missing? What sorts of series do you want to read?

You don’t know what you don’t know, but I’d like to know what I don’t know. So, please e-mail me or drop an idea or two in the chat below.

Summer sale!

Whenever I take a break, I like to offer a sale. It means a lot to me that people support my work, and I am deeply grateful for that. Until July 2nd, get 20 percent off for a year. I hope you’ll consider joining. In the meantime, thanks for reading!