I'm hoping on-line consumer supported content providers like you catch on in the news deserts. I have learned so much about Missouri local politics from you! Keep writing!
Wow! I had never thought about that. We don’t live in a news desert - but, the high price of newspapers has impacted our lives. One relative, quit reading their local newspaper in favor of Fox News because it was available, you didn’t have to do anything but turn on the TV - I have been pushing getting rid of our newspaper because of the high cost. Thanks to you I will no longer be advocating that!
It is one reason why letters to the editor and writing guest columns for your local newspaper is important. However, when you write them, focus on local issues. Do not just echo national news talking points. Focus on the local issues important in people’s everyday lives.
As always, Jess, your unique viewpoint zeros in on the problem. One issue that you bring up is presenting facts with your arguments. I truly don't know how to deal with this response, "Who's facts? Your facts?" At that point in the "conversation" I generally give it up as a lost cause. They are so thoroughly indoctrinated that they instantly rebel at anything that goes against what fux noise told them to believe. Thank you for everything you continue to do.
My husband and I do listen our local FOX station for news in addition to watching the regular networks. They do have good local reporting with none of the spam put out by the national FOX News programs.
I find I subscribe to e-news services if a local paper as well as the NYTimes, and then also purchase the weekly paper that serves our county. I watch the news feeds of ABC, NBC, CBS and get news blasts on my phone from a variety of sources. My husband checks out Fox from time to time when I am not in front of the TV because my tendency is to shout epithets at the a**holes for every lie or misrepresentation or egregious belief that comes out of their mouths
Thank you for this. No local news is bad....people need to realize that the federal government is not to blame for all of the things that are wrong in their communities...local politicians need to be held accountable for their actions.
This is why I read and support your blog even though I've never lived in a place without sidewalks or subways. Great stuff, Jess, that as far as I know is not available anywhere else.
It's not just nature that abhors a vacuum. So does information and you accurately describe the results.
I recently heard Natt Dowd on MSNBC say that democracy depended on 2 things--shared values and shared facts. I believe that most Americans share the same basic values; as you point out, the problem is they do not have the same facts.
Thank you for making this important point about the importance of local news sources. I strongly agree with this and it is why I encourage people to support our local newspaper here in the Texas Hill Country where I live. I also write a regular guest column for the local newspaper and sponsor subscriptions to the paper for our local public and school libraries.
I love what you’re saying, Jess. So much good information in this post. Tangentially, I am really hoping that the Democrats will take the moniker “ pro life “ and make it their own. What I mean by “pro life” is supporting life. Childcare, women’s healthcare, common sense gun laws, etc. The Democrats are very pro-life. It’s the Republicans that are not pro life. Let’s take this back!
I think that’s a great idea about the pro life rhetoric. It has been completely turned on its head by Republicans. They literally couldn’t care less about life.
Yes! Spot on Lisa Duggan. Democrats are absolutely pro-life. Supporting life. I’ve always thought better phrasing would be Democrats are pro-choice. The Republicans are anti-choice.
There’s also not a dichotomy between the two concepts, you could actually be against abortion but still be in favour of people having the choice.
Or - let me rephrase that - if you are pro choice, it does not mean that you are in favour of everyone left, right and centre having abortions before breakfast, after lunch and during dinner: It just means that the decision made by the most important person - the person who is pregnant! And not by a politician!
Here is where the proper use of language and phrases counts. Republicans say they are Pro-Life and Democrats are Pro Choice. This is a mixing of Pro and Con. Yes, Democrats are Pro-Choice, which means Republicans are Anti-Choice. And if you are Anti-Choice, then you are Anti-Freedom. And yes, Republicans, you are Anti-Life as you are opposed to the things that make life good. And you are opposed to the things that make life good because you are guilt givers. And guilt givers make themselves feel good about who they are by working to make other people feel bad about who they are.
Ann Arbor is a news desert. Believe it! It’s not just red states or rural areas suffering from a fatal lack of local reporting. We all are in this precarious situation. When our 2024 ballot arrived in August, there were two propositions about which we literally knew nothing. Both were apparently placed there by right-wing factions. It took hours of research to figure this out. And I am a retired professional journalist and my spouse is a retired trial lawyer. This is dangerous.
You are so right! I do the same thing with ballot initiatives. I dig around locally and find nothing and then spend hours trying to figure out what I will vote for.
Jess, we’re super motivated voters, so we invest the time. I know most voters don’t or can’t. That leaves our political system open to severe corruption and hijacking by malignant forces. This keeps me awake at night.
Totally get the news desert thing. One othe kind of contribution I make (and I live overseas, but am originally from Iowa) is to subscribe to good local publications, even if I can't read them much. They're hurting for revenue, and this helps keep the oxygen flowing.
Dear Jess: I don’t live in Missouri, the place of my birth, anymore but I try to read everything you write. I think you are absolutely wonderful. I find your views incisive, articulate, and never condescending. Thank you so very much.
This is not a condemnation of churches in general, but the Religious Right has too often filled that void with their own brand of news. Along with that comes the group pressure to conform.
I hadn’t thought about how critical it is to get local news information with accurate facts. I am fortunate to live where there are multiple local online news sources. The only thing I can think of is to share state based non local online news outlets. I would love to see other ideas.
I am very aware of how the Religious Right preaches things like Trump was sent by God. I'm wondering if anyone here knows if the Evangelical churches are still preaching that Trump will create a war in the middle east that will end the world and send the Evangelicals to heaven?
Or do they preach about more worldly "benefits" of a Trump presidency for poor and middle class believers like preventing abortions nationwide?
I think the rich already know the only thing Trump can do for them is lower their taxes even more than he already has and destroy government regulations that hamper their ability to pollute the environment and to continue overcharging Americans for their goods and services with little to no repercussions. And of course, allow right wing, white, Christian men to attempt to take control of America for the foreseeable future.
Brilliant discussion. A deeper understanding about “news deserts” needs to be integrated into the discussions about the going forward Democratic program inclusions. There are a lot of discussions about independent voters supporting Trump because messaging didn’t focus on matters that people are actually concerned with, but none that I’ve seen thus far focus on an absence of choice because of no local news coverage. The challenge is how to open those communication channels in the era of predatory “conservative” journalism rollups and little or no antitrust and anti-monopoly litigation opposition. In many ways, news deserts are like isolated tribal communities in prehistoric times. No news is good news, except for the irrelevant effluent blathered by Fox and Sullivan.
I have started supporting good local and state news coverage as part of my political activism, because as you say, an informed public is fundamental to democracy. The rise of nonprofit newsrooms is a light in this dark landscape. I recommend people take a look at the States Newsroom, a collection of state level news sources. Sadly, not covering every state. Also sadly, only online, which leaves out everyone on the other side of the digital divide.
🤯🤯🤯. Talk about eye opening!!! I’m posting this far and wide. You have really gotten my attention & hit the nail on the head. GREAT INFORMATION! Thank you. 💜💜
Even here in Blue Illinois, there are many red counties and towns. I happen to live in one of them. We have a population of 4600 people and FOURTEEN churches. We lost our local paper a few years ago, but a few men in town have put together a new one. One of the main “opinion” contributors lives about 100 miles away and his column is a constant drumbeat of hate, homophobia, racism and lies. A few local folks write their own letters to the editor to counter his disinformation, but it isn’t easy and I’m not really sure it’s even welcomed by those living here. I guess my observation in this moment in history is that if you DO happen to have a little local paper, it’s often not really there to serve the interests of the community: It’s there to further the agendas of the churches and the radicals in the area, carefully wrapped in fascist-friendly pretend patriotism.
I have often heard that all politics are local. How true that is. Unfortunately here in the reddest state of FL, local is, like MO, controlled by R politicians in every office. True for almost every office, for more than 20 years. I feel like I knock my head against a wall, trying to connect with neighbors. But I keep trying, hoping to break through someday.
I'm hoping on-line consumer supported content providers like you catch on in the news deserts. I have learned so much about Missouri local politics from you! Keep writing!
Thank you!
Wow! I had never thought about that. We don’t live in a news desert - but, the high price of newspapers has impacted our lives. One relative, quit reading their local newspaper in favor of Fox News because it was available, you didn’t have to do anything but turn on the TV - I have been pushing getting rid of our newspaper because of the high cost. Thanks to you I will no longer be advocating that!
Thank you, friend. I just subscribed to several local newspapers myself.
What about when your local and regional publications and broadcasters are just local versions of FOX ?
It is one reason why letters to the editor and writing guest columns for your local newspaper is important. However, when you write them, focus on local issues. Do not just echo national news talking points. Focus on the local issues important in people’s everyday lives.
As always, Jess, your unique viewpoint zeros in on the problem. One issue that you bring up is presenting facts with your arguments. I truly don't know how to deal with this response, "Who's facts? Your facts?" At that point in the "conversation" I generally give it up as a lost cause. They are so thoroughly indoctrinated that they instantly rebel at anything that goes against what fux noise told them to believe. Thank you for everything you continue to do.
I honestly try to read or listen most of the general news on a few stations, but NEVER FOX!!
And I’m fine with that!!
My husband and I do listen our local FOX station for news in addition to watching the regular networks. They do have good local reporting with none of the spam put out by the national FOX News programs.
I find I subscribe to e-news services if a local paper as well as the NYTimes, and then also purchase the weekly paper that serves our county. I watch the news feeds of ABC, NBC, CBS and get news blasts on my phone from a variety of sources. My husband checks out Fox from time to time when I am not in front of the TV because my tendency is to shout epithets at the a**holes for every lie or misrepresentation or egregious belief that comes out of their mouths
Thank you for this. No local news is bad....people need to realize that the federal government is not to blame for all of the things that are wrong in their communities...local politicians need to be held accountable for their actions.
This is why I read and support your blog even though I've never lived in a place without sidewalks or subways. Great stuff, Jess, that as far as I know is not available anywhere else.
It's not just nature that abhors a vacuum. So does information and you accurately describe the results.
I appreciate you, Jeff
Made me smile.
I actually live in a place without subways and sidewalks- they’re called pavements around here. ;-)
I just like Jess and her writing!
I agree!
And I look for your column every morning!!!
And I believe Missouri is a GREAT state
I recently heard Natt Dowd on MSNBC say that democracy depended on 2 things--shared values and shared facts. I believe that most Americans share the same basic values; as you point out, the problem is they do not have the same facts.
Absolutely. It's like Obama said --some people are living in an alternate universe.
Thank you for making this important point about the importance of local news sources. I strongly agree with this and it is why I encourage people to support our local newspaper here in the Texas Hill Country where I live. I also write a regular guest column for the local newspaper and sponsor subscriptions to the paper for our local public and school libraries.
I love what you’re saying, Jess. So much good information in this post. Tangentially, I am really hoping that the Democrats will take the moniker “ pro life “ and make it their own. What I mean by “pro life” is supporting life. Childcare, women’s healthcare, common sense gun laws, etc. The Democrats are very pro-life. It’s the Republicans that are not pro life. Let’s take this back!
I think that’s a great idea about the pro life rhetoric. It has been completely turned on its head by Republicans. They literally couldn’t care less about life.
Yes! Spot on Lisa Duggan. Democrats are absolutely pro-life. Supporting life. I’ve always thought better phrasing would be Democrats are pro-choice. The Republicans are anti-choice.
There’s also not a dichotomy between the two concepts, you could actually be against abortion but still be in favour of people having the choice.
Or - let me rephrase that - if you are pro choice, it does not mean that you are in favour of everyone left, right and centre having abortions before breakfast, after lunch and during dinner: It just means that the decision made by the most important person - the person who is pregnant! And not by a politician!
Here is where the proper use of language and phrases counts. Republicans say they are Pro-Life and Democrats are Pro Choice. This is a mixing of Pro and Con. Yes, Democrats are Pro-Choice, which means Republicans are Anti-Choice. And if you are Anti-Choice, then you are Anti-Freedom. And yes, Republicans, you are Anti-Life as you are opposed to the things that make life good. And you are opposed to the things that make life good because you are guilt givers. And guilt givers make themselves feel good about who they are by working to make other people feel bad about who they are.
Ann Arbor is a news desert. Believe it! It’s not just red states or rural areas suffering from a fatal lack of local reporting. We all are in this precarious situation. When our 2024 ballot arrived in August, there were two propositions about which we literally knew nothing. Both were apparently placed there by right-wing factions. It took hours of research to figure this out. And I am a retired professional journalist and my spouse is a retired trial lawyer. This is dangerous.
You are so right! I do the same thing with ballot initiatives. I dig around locally and find nothing and then spend hours trying to figure out what I will vote for.
Jess, we’re super motivated voters, so we invest the time. I know most voters don’t or can’t. That leaves our political system open to severe corruption and hijacking by malignant forces. This keeps me awake at night.
Totally get the news desert thing. One othe kind of contribution I make (and I live overseas, but am originally from Iowa) is to subscribe to good local publications, even if I can't read them much. They're hurting for revenue, and this helps keep the oxygen flowing.
Thank you!!!
Dear Jess: I don’t live in Missouri, the place of my birth, anymore but I try to read everything you write. I think you are absolutely wonderful. I find your views incisive, articulate, and never condescending. Thank you so very much.
Solidarity, friend
This is not a condemnation of churches in general, but the Religious Right has too often filled that void with their own brand of news. Along with that comes the group pressure to conform.
I hadn’t thought about how critical it is to get local news information with accurate facts. I am fortunate to live where there are multiple local online news sources. The only thing I can think of is to share state based non local online news outlets. I would love to see other ideas.
Your thoughts on the church are true enough
I am very aware of how the Religious Right preaches things like Trump was sent by God. I'm wondering if anyone here knows if the Evangelical churches are still preaching that Trump will create a war in the middle east that will end the world and send the Evangelicals to heaven?
Or do they preach about more worldly "benefits" of a Trump presidency for poor and middle class believers like preventing abortions nationwide?
I think the rich already know the only thing Trump can do for them is lower their taxes even more than he already has and destroy government regulations that hamper their ability to pollute the environment and to continue overcharging Americans for their goods and services with little to no repercussions. And of course, allow right wing, white, Christian men to attempt to take control of America for the foreseeable future.
Yes, some of them are.
I didn't phrase my question clearly. I'm aware of several reasons that have been given as to why Evangelicals are so loyal to the former president.
I'm just wondering what the MAIN reason is--if there is one now--that Evangelicals are so attached to Trump?
Brilliant discussion. A deeper understanding about “news deserts” needs to be integrated into the discussions about the going forward Democratic program inclusions. There are a lot of discussions about independent voters supporting Trump because messaging didn’t focus on matters that people are actually concerned with, but none that I’ve seen thus far focus on an absence of choice because of no local news coverage. The challenge is how to open those communication channels in the era of predatory “conservative” journalism rollups and little or no antitrust and anti-monopoly litigation opposition. In many ways, news deserts are like isolated tribal communities in prehistoric times. No news is good news, except for the irrelevant effluent blathered by Fox and Sullivan.
I have started supporting good local and state news coverage as part of my political activism, because as you say, an informed public is fundamental to democracy. The rise of nonprofit newsrooms is a light in this dark landscape. I recommend people take a look at the States Newsroom, a collection of state level news sources. Sadly, not covering every state. Also sadly, only online, which leaves out everyone on the other side of the digital divide.
Thank you. That makes a huge difference.
🤯🤯🤯. Talk about eye opening!!! I’m posting this far and wide. You have really gotten my attention & hit the nail on the head. GREAT INFORMATION! Thank you. 💜💜
Thank you, friend
Even here in Blue Illinois, there are many red counties and towns. I happen to live in one of them. We have a population of 4600 people and FOURTEEN churches. We lost our local paper a few years ago, but a few men in town have put together a new one. One of the main “opinion” contributors lives about 100 miles away and his column is a constant drumbeat of hate, homophobia, racism and lies. A few local folks write their own letters to the editor to counter his disinformation, but it isn’t easy and I’m not really sure it’s even welcomed by those living here. I guess my observation in this moment in history is that if you DO happen to have a little local paper, it’s often not really there to serve the interests of the community: It’s there to further the agendas of the churches and the radicals in the area, carefully wrapped in fascist-friendly pretend patriotism.
I’m so sorry and I have heard of other folks in the same position.
I have often heard that all politics are local. How true that is. Unfortunately here in the reddest state of FL, local is, like MO, controlled by R politicians in every office. True for almost every office, for more than 20 years. I feel like I knock my head against a wall, trying to connect with neighbors. But I keep trying, hoping to break through someday.