I went to bed last night thinking I’ve been too easy-going in my last few posts. I’m trying to figure out how to be. The misogyny and blatant patriarchical tone—sexism— makes my skin crawl. It makes me angry and worried and sad. It’s heavy, but it has to be acknowledged and talking about it is helping me, as hard as it is.
There seems to be some chatter that Matt Gaetz will not be confirmed as Attorney General, this from both Republicans and Democrats. He has been accused, but not found guilty, of sex trafficing and sexual misconduct. There is a year-long investigation into the allegations, but it was stopped from being released because Gaetz quickly stepped down from the House. Lawmakers on both sides are demanding it be released.
Senator Dick Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who chairs the Judiciary Committee, which would have jurisdiction over confirming an attorney general, on Thursday called on the House panel to preserve and share its conclusions.
“The sequence and timing of Mr. Gaetz’s resignation from the House raises serious questions about the contents of the House Ethics Committee report. We cannot allow this valuable information from a bipartisan investigation to be hidden from the American people.”
It remains to be seen if Trump can control all the GOP. The reaction to Gaetz’s nomination is telling that perhaps he doesn’t have full control of how Senators vote as he expects.
Robert Kennedy Jr, a vaccine skeptic (among other things), is expected to be nominated as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He will also have trouble being confirmed.
We know Trump wants to change the government to suit his needs. This from Heather Cox Richardson today:
“Trump has made it clear that his goal for a second term is to toss overboard the rule of law and the international rules-based order, instead turning the U.S. government into a vehicle for his own revenge and forging individual alliances with autocratic rulers like Russian president Vladimir Putin.”
I wish I had a drawing that would be able to express my outrage. It’s a feeling with two sides: first, a fear that rule of law will be dismantled. Secondly, like a virus, an indignation at the spread of misogyny, of sanctimonious bro-culture, often with Christian overtones.
By the way, there will be a Women’s March in DC and other places on January 18th.
On another note, the other night Substack hosted a terrific gathering for those of us who live in the NYC area. It was fun to talk to the friendly Substack folks, and also meet some other creators and compare notes. Just as I was heading out the door, Steven Beschloss, who writes America America, stopped me to say hi. It was great to meet him, I’ve been a fan for a few years—unfortunately, I had to run to catch my ride, so we couldn’t talk then but hope to another time. It’s comforting to be in the company of fellow outraged creatives.
Happy Thursday, see you tomorrow. You guys help me carry the load.
Everything about the election and what has happened since is horrible and all are feeling it. But for all women it is even worse because both the 2016 and the 2024 elections have told us loud and clear that no matter how smart, experienced, well prepared and hard working a woman is, a totally incompetent male is preferred. What a gut punch.
Yeah, I hear ya, and feel the same...BUT I cannot keep myself in a state that will do me harm (move me into clinical depression or keep my body full of adrenaline/high blood pressure/too little sleep, etc.). So, I am continually working on "being" in a better state (I flee to Eckhart Tolle on Youtube), and that leaves me much more functional and I can even enjoy momentary joy. It's a struggle and we all have to find our way to some level of dealing well with "what is." If only 4 years, it will be a lonnnngggggg time.