Springtime love letter to you, dear readers

Here in the nation’s capital, the weather is reflecting the politics. On the weekend, it was nearly 90; tonight we have a freeze warning.

Similarly, one day the Iran war has been won, the next day we need to bomb Iran “into the stone ages.”

As long-time readers of this blog know, my husband, One-dog-barking John Dineen, and I have spent most of our careers in traditional journalism, which operated at a time of more-or-less clear norms, shared values and long-standing political parameters.

Traditional journalism, as John has explained in his columns, meant scrupulous reporting on both sides of a political debate. In addition, he and I practiced the traditional journalist ethics of not attending protests, not contributing to political campaigns. One person at The Washington Post was known for being so careful about being scrupulous that he didn’t even vote.

But as John, Margaret Sullivan and others have been writing, we do not live in times when scrupulous both-sides reporting provides actual, factual context on what’s going on in our country.

Our government is run by an autocrat, kleptocrat, kakistocrat.

(I confess that in my decades working in Congress and political journalism, I never even heard the term “kakistocracy” until Donald Trump’s first term as president. Apparently, the word, which the American Heritage Dictionary defines as “government by the least qualified or most unprincipled citizens,” has been around since the 1600s.)

The central issue facing the United States right now is whether it will continue to be a democracy or not. When I write this blog, I look for the best journalism I can find that is as objective as possible while acknowledging that reality.

And John and I agreed last year that it was time for us to become more active citizens as far as our personal political activity and donations, remaining non-partisan while focusing on constitutional threats.

Since then, I’ve gone to protests and spent time inside and outside of courtrooms to show support for legal representation for immigrants, the removal of the National Guard from D.C., birthright citizenship. I’ve visited lawmakers about the Guard’s deployment in D.C.

Now, with the president behaving ever more erratically — in threatening other nations and our November midterm elections here at home, for example — John and I are going to increase our effort to let you know what we all can do to protect our 250-year democratic experiment.

Of course, we’ll continue to run items like this one on Monday from Robert Reich: “The 10 most important ways to resist now. (Revised, updated, expanded.)”

We’ll be letting you know about events such as this national day of action to stop ICE warehouse detention this Saturday, April 25 (to see all the locations, click on the map)

And about American Civil Liberties Union action updates, such as this one on April 28.

Please send me other items you come across to enable us citizens to insist on justice for all.

Bottom line: John and I aren’t changing except to increase our focus on preserving democracy. It’s always had its challenges — but they’re existential now. Our nation’s future is up to us citizens. The job of this blog is to let you know what’s happening and what we all can do. In joy and love. With kindness and fairness to all of our human family.

“To protest against injustice is the foundation of all our American democracy.” — Thurgood Marshall

“Be joyful though you have considered all the facts.” — Wendell Berry

You can call the Capitol switchboard, (202) 224-3121, and be connected to the offices of your representative and senators. To email your House member and your two senators, you can connect to their websites at Congress.gov. Most lawmakers seem to only accept emails from their constituents, but these leaders accept emails from Americans nationwide, at:

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer

Senate Majority Leader John Thune

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Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer leaving Trump Cabinet after abuse of power allegations

FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic over article that alleged excessive drinking

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Justice Department demanding 2024 Detroit-area ballots in latest move for local election records

With no end in sight after their deployment 8 months ago, more than 2,500 National Guard troops roam D.C.

Tim Cook to step down as Apple CEO, turn duties over to the iPhone maker’s hardware leader John Ternus

Fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden is cheered as she wins Authors Guild honor

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