As my form of escapism, my attention is drawn to any Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake feud-related videos on YouTube (including all of the symbolism and references). It's a deep deep rabbit hole.

Mud season is just starting here in Maine. I'm trying to teach myself to enjoy it (big boots! spring soon!).

Had a fabulous time hosting a Board Game Night at a local community center yesterday. We played Anomia X and after a few rounds we had to stop saying Trump to describe "Natural Disaster" "Political Sex Scandal" "Scary Monster" etc

It's helped me to pair an action with any news, so I thought I'd pop on here to share Stacey Abrams' Assembly Required podcast because she talks with people already doing the work and integrates how we can do the work locally. I'm also heartened by seeing the nationwide protests and angry town halls. I wish they were getting even more attention.

Headlines on my daily reads are never ending gut punches, but it also feels so removed from daily life. I’m scanning the horizon trying to figure out where the first bad things to directly impact my family will come from. As an antidote: Love Island UK Season 5. I watch it for the accents.

I'm okay. Out here in washington state there's a really great geology prof at Central Wa. University who takes his own private time to do series of youtube videos on PNW geology. Whenever I get super stressed over it all I go to Nick Zentner's page to be reminded that all of this is very temporary in the big scheme of things.
I worry more about my kids than I do about myself. They've got to inherit the world we leave behind, and the work our generation has done to prepare them is quickly becoming obsolete.
My own work should survive. I do public health for a well funded native tribe. We're worried, but not day to day, where we continue to do good solid work for our community.
I appreciate everything this site is doing to inform us, but still keep us grounded. We're in it together, so only together will we make it through.

What a big question haha. I vacillate between hope and despair, fear and complacence. I'm leaning into my comfort media lately, lots of Bob's Burgers and William Gibson novels (don't ask me how they go together). Kottke.org has become my go-to for timely discourse, so that's nice.

Not great, Jason. I appreciate you asking. I’m a fed (that’s the most I will reveal) and things are, as you might guess, very bleak.

I am tearing through contemporary and historical romance novels because they offer the greatest escape for me right now. Fun fact: romance writer Courtney Milan is a former SCOTUS law clerk and a great follow on BlueSky.

Making a collaborate-by-mail anthology zine with colleagues across North America. Fighting despair by being creative, it works.

Not well this week. I’m overwhelmed by grief over what we have lost, and what we will lose.

As others, not so great. As a Canadian, we are subjected to everything south of the border that we did not vote for. The last two months have really galvanized me and I'm trying to find ways to channel my anger, frustration, disappointment, and despair into preventing a similar ideology from taking hold in our government.

As a Canadian, let me just say I appreciate you and everything you’ve posted to this site. I’ve been a reader for 20+ years. Also please don’t invade us.

We recently bought and moved into a new condo. The next day--THE NEXT DAY--roof leak. So now I'm paying 2 mortgages while staying in an Airbnb. It's been a fantastic few weeks.

So let me take the opportunity to recommend Derry Girls (available on Netflix). It's a comedy about some teenage girls living during the 90s-era Troubles in Ireland. One of the more subtle through-lines on the show is that, sure, these people are living through Great Events. There's always archival news footage in the background of some politician talking about the peace process. But none of the characters has power over that. Even amidst Great Events, they just have to be teenage girls and deal with their own catastrophes.

Honestly, I'm feeling all over the place. I woke up Saturday feeling quite down about this destructive administration, but then I saw social media posts about the protests in Waitsfield and felt buoyant and so proud of our state. I'm trying to limit my media intake and not listen to opinion podcasts.

One foot in front of the other. That's all I can manage.

Nothing I see at the national level—or the state, in one that's very red—gives me any hope. This country is being dismantled from within.

The endless idiocy and drama is a terrible tax on my mind. I feel like a third of my brainpower is missing and I can't concentrate on anything. I know that's part of the point of all this, but damn it's really effective.

I'm spending a lot of time on my bicycles in an attempt to stave off complete insanity. Reading books, taking photographs, listening to blisteringly loud death metal.

I edit a magazine about trees and forests, and we're planning a piece on the importance of federal stewardship for our next issue, to feature the stories of folks in government-supported research, land management, and collections care (for no particular reason at all, lol). I'm finding that just reaching out to friends and colleagues in federal service is impactful, for me and for them. If you know US gov employees, give 'em a holler, just to let them know you're thinking of them—they'll likely appreciate it.

I am really struggling. It's like a terrible car accident that we're all being forced to watch in slow motion. Attempting to distract myself with work and observing my daughter enjoy her last year of high school. Also, all things Severance.

It's been hard here, too! It's weird to see so much of the world go on as usual, and it's especially disorienting when friends seem not to register the enormity of things. But then you talk to people and often below the surface we're not so alone after all. I try to hold onto that.

Otherwise I'm doing everything I can to spend my time on things that feel generative. Last night I baked off two loaves of bread. This morning, got up early to write in my manuscript. Both of those were firsts since Jan. 20....

It's been a long year, and somehow we've still got 4/5 of it to go. And then 2026! We've all got to take care of ourselves and stay on our feet. Glad you're taking the day off, Jason.

And Vermont's turn on JD Vance was a wonderful reprieve. I find hope in seeing more and more of my fellow citizens just point and laugh at the idiot marauders and arsonists. They're risible, ridiculous, with fragile egos and limited imaginations. We once turned Bush II into a laughingstock. Laughter is joyous resistance.

As a retiree the threats to social security and Medicare are worrisome to say the least. I have a small amount of savings but not enough to make up for any loss. It hangs like a pall over the days.

Fellow Canadian here (but, as Canadians would say, I am an American-born Canadian). I'm spending my week at work trying to overhaul all our annual forecasts to account for the impact of the tariffs, which is nothing better than a guess. I'm trying to figure out how to shift my shopping away from U.S. products and realizing that I won't be seeing my family much in the next little bit. A bit of a silver lining, though, is that I'm seeing more of my friends, including my American friends, as they come through here as an escape.

I have to say I really appreciate the work you're doing here, Jason, as many days the four or five newsletters I get are just too much for me to read. Thank you for pulling out the best bits, so I know when to go back and read them, and making me aware of others.

Otherwise, my escape is planning travel. I know a lot of people heading for Japan now because it's become more affordable for Canadians. I may think about that soon.

Wanting to comment on this thread made me realize that my subscription ran out in November.

I’m halfway through a roadtrip to our new home in Detroit. This move has been postponed twice and comes at a terrible time for so many reasons, but we are barreling forward. I daren’t say that I feel hopeful. I am unexpectedly unemployed, moving to a city where we know very few people, certainly don’t own enough warm socks, and I am so glad I can’t drive because I would probably feel the urge to swerve into one of the countless Amazon, Target, or Hobby Lobby trucks that we keep passing. Let’s not talk about the billboards.

But! I feel engaged. I am choosing to move to a swing state after living abroad for 20 years. I’ve already joined a food coop and signed up as an LGBTQIA+ mentor to start building community. Our first full day in Detroit will be International Women’s Day. This has always been a significant day outside of the US and I am eager to mark it with my 13-year-old daughter by marching in our new home, a homecoming for this Midwestern gal after 30 years away.

I am not hopeful, but I am full of reasons to fight for hope. I’m also full of dried apricots, which might just be the best road trip food ever.

PS. In several comments over the last year, I’ve mentioned axe throwing. I went from throwing a “perfect game” (a perfect run of all zeroes, that is) to winning first place in the region for all women and third for intermediates in the coed league! This hobby came at a very dark moment in my life and sustained me. I share this achievement to (1) brag 💁🏼‍♀️ and (2) also encourage you all to find joy (and gentle, playful acts of violence?!) in the resistance. 🪓 🩵

Hi Jason. As a long time reader...25 years and counting, I appreciate all that you do. My subscription renewed today. That feels like a small act of resistance.

Living in the DMV, it is hard to watch it all happen with anything but incredulity. To take the edge off, we watch Jeopardy and a whole bunch of whatever version of 'reality' springs forth from Netflix.

Not sure if they are airing everywhere, but the propaganda commercials are the craziest thing I have ever witnessed. Never thought I would see outright, televised propaganda in the US. Like a campaign ad except there is no election.

NGL, this is a hard passage.
Two things that have helped with mental health:
(1) Oliver Burkeman wrote recently, "...you should make sure your psychological centre of gravity is in your real and immediate world – the world of your family and friends and neighborhood, your work and your creative projects, as opposed to the world of presidencies and governments, social forces and global emergencies." This is feels important to remember.
(2) When the real world gets really hard, I pull out the big guns: Tara Brach's RAIN meditations. This practice really does help.

Mostly ignoring the news and trying to "touch grass" a lot. Putting on my own oxygen mask first, as they say.

It's hard to get traction these days. Feels a lot like running in deep mud, while lost and looking around for some idea where to go. Trying to generate any speed without a clear direction. Appreciate the site and the coverage. I have to keep clear of most of the news and your filter/approach has been helpful.

If there's any fun thing, it's been practicing drawing cute characters with guidance from a library book --> https://archive.org/details/Kawaiidoodles

Oof.

Working on some messaging stuff for Kansas, trying to get the word out to the people who don’t read the news that unelected billionaires are a bad thing. It’s a group of us, and we are keeping each other sane. Or trying to?!

Spring is coming, or at least the bulbs in my garden peeking out of the soil say so, and it’s a very cheerful sight. If you have the ability to get your hands into some dirt this year, I would highly recommend doing so! The reminder that the growing season is a cycle is very soothing. And you can’t use your phone with dirty hands.

Not great, but better than a lot of folks. My job is tied to medicare, so wondering when that impact will hit...

Mostly trying to avoid (acknowledging privilege to be able to do this) the national nightmare news stream. I'm focusing on local support and mutual aid - volunteering at the local senior center and helping individuals directly.

We play a lot of games - mostly Wingspan. I also recently bought a bunch of used Michael Crichton books that I never got to in college from https://www.alibris.com/ and working through those.

Walking a lot. Exiting the dark wet here in the PNW - the sun is nice.

I am yet another Canadian and long-time KDO reader. Thanks for the great work you've been doing.

Personally, I've had a rough COVID-level week. The betrayal of Ukraine and Canada and other allies by the Trump administration felt like a series of punches in my gut. I have been doomscrolling and off my usual routines since Friday.

I want my US friends to understand how deeply my country has been affected *emotionally* by all of this. The "Governor Trudeau" taunt and 51st state talk is *extremely* insulting to me and other Canadians. I just feel sick. The trade war is almost an afterthought. The best explanation I have heard is from David Frum, who argues that Trump is like a primitive human who wants to burn down neighbouring villages and simply take our stuff. He does not see any value in mutually-beneficial trade when he has enough short-term power to simply take all the value for himself.

I hope I am over-reacting. Things will look better in weeks, months, or years. They will be different though. Canadians will never trust the United States again. Individual Americans will always be our friends, I hope, but you can expect us to be skeptical and guarded in every future interaction. Perhaps we are just in one of those parasocial relationships people have with celebrities -- where we think you care, but you don't actually know we exist. Fair enough. We won't make that mistake any more.

Anyhow, I'm trying to park my phone, get outside, read a book here and there. Anything to get out of the news cycle and the sense of sadness and outrage I've been suffering.

I feel a mixture of dismay and anger.

I am revolted by this administration's absolute lack of empathy, their willful creation of chaos and the cruelty of their actions. I am deeply saddened by the complete lack of any backbone or integrity on the part of our elected leaders in Congress.

I am angry with the democrat party for having no plan, no strategy. For being complacent and for losing connection and relatability with half the country.

Most of all, I am frustrated with myself for feeling powerless and not doing more.

Honestly, I'm putting my head down and doing as much work as I can while I can. I'm a county level government worker working in public assistance programming. I'm constantly waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. The most disheartening thing is the fear my clients are currently living under. It's enormously unfair. As if being poor in America didn't already suck so much.

Continuing to focus on what's in my zone of control. After moving from the city to a house with a few acres of suburban woods... is this the year I finally get this yard / grounds under control? yes, the answer is still no.

Also starting to get the enduro bikes ready. Hoping to see you post some more MTB / Bike park content this spring / summer.

My form of escapism--outside of time spent attempting to digest everything going on--has been to build cities in Cities: Skylines. Kind of mindless, but the sense of depression and the stress responses I'm experiencing are held in check while I do it.

I'm really struggling with my mental health, thank you for asking. What's going on is so ridiculous and hateful. Our own government is at war with us. They are burning it all to the ground as they said they would. My attention is on way too much noise, and it's a constant struggle every day to stay focused. I'm so grateful for you, Jason, for being a trusted source of information and inspiration. I'm coping with the uncertainty by focusing on what I can control and appreciating what is good in my life. I'm trying to imagine what comes next for us when it all collapses. We deserve something better than late stage predatory capitalism. We deserve a cooperative global civil society that is focused on the health of our planet and each other. I'm being very careful about how I spend my time and money and energy but it's very easy to give into despair and numbing. The view from my community is that we are getting together and talking and organizing. I'm scared and very very worried.

Messy is the best answer right now. I'm in higher ed, and work with folks across the college/university spectrum on some committees, and we all hang in through mutual support and hardcore snark. To keep the world at large at bay, I've been focusing on small joys: a starry night, a beautiful sunset, a great hug from my kid (the one at home), a good text with the one away, that sort of thing. Recently spent a few days in Montreal and it was wonderfully refreshing.

The other mantra I keep repeating is "respond, don't react, and take your time to respond." Helps to fight the onslaught of BS pouring forth.

I won't lie - I'm having a hard time with anxiety. I'm experimenting with CBD gummies (though I am already on 2 other meds for anxiety) and when I get the chance I sink into a comfy chair with some knitting and listen to podcasts that have nothing to do with the here and now.

I think my previous comment was a bit too optimistic. Truth is I'm mostly doomscrolling, working my day job which I'm afraid is going to vanish, not working on anything else that would help with income diversification or happiness, drinking wine and watching TV = Not great.

Not so great Jason.

The world has never been in more danger. Boo!
It's my birthday. Yay!
I've got kidney stones. Again. Boo!
I finally started a new job this week. Yay!
I'll end on that happier note, and hope that everyone here has better luck too.

I just feel worn out. In times like this, I always try to imagine a future — sometimes a small future — that can pull you through like a rope to another day. But it's not always easy. Sometimes the ropes are slick; sometimes they chafe your hands.

I'm not necessarily proud of this and I'm late to the party, but I found some solace going down the rabbit hole of Jenny Nicholson's FOUR HOUR long take down of Disney's Galactic Starcruiser Hotel. It was just what I needed to take my mind off ... everything.

As a distraction I have become obsessed with Ian Frazier's book Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York's Greatest Borough. I am adding places he writes about onto a GoogleMap and riding my bike up there to check them out. Soon, I will have a bicycle tour of Bronx history, culture, and food.

Optimistic.

One word to describe how I feel after spending all day evaluating nonprofits grant requests: optimistic

There are a lot of people in need. And there are definitely people making it harder to help people in need. But there are many, many, many more people who want to help and who are helping.

Thanks for all the good posts. I always enjoy diving down a KDO rabbit hole to distract from doomscrolling latest news. I am Canadian and share with others a sense of helplessness and sense of betrayal. I would suggest USA delay invasion today as roads closed due to winter storm. I am going to watch videos of wooly mammoth mice…
Harvey

I am... OK. We got through the LA fires and are finally resettled back home and feeling safe at home again. I feel like I missed the initial wave of political despair that launched all of this as the fires were Jan 7, and I've been so focused on immediate day-to-day tasks (where will my children and I sleep tomorrow night, and what level of toxins will there be?) that I had to gloss over the big picture political. I feel somewhat like I'm re-awakening in Russia. But as a benefit, I am reawakening into a place that does currently feel physically safe for me after ~two months of fear, so that feels still surprisingly good and OK.

Trying to strike a balance between reading enough to stay informed, and not reading too much to avoid falling into rage.
Sometimes I wonder if I am overreacting. Then I read Italian, British and French newspapers (I grew up in Europe), and no, I am not overreacting. What is happening is absolutely not normal.

Joined my local Indivisible group... signed up for protests and called my elected representatives to get up off their asses and do something. Wrote to Al Green and gave him a virtual "High-five." Volunteered to help out with the local Pro Democracy groups as best I can. Wrote letters for Vote Forward. And played my ukulele, baked bread, and made pizza to stay sane.

It helps to be active and give 'm hell.

Worried. For my trans and immigrant students. For a family member in the midst of a mental health crisis and who depends upon government-funded social services. For my friends working in literary nonprofits that care about DEI and whose funding depends upon the NEA.

Also uplifted though! By my students, writing essays about our busted discourse. By my imperfect and loving family. By my friends who still believe that poems will tell us in the future how it felt to be here now.

Despair, fear, anger. I’m a federal civil servant, priding myself on a career of providing non-partisan public service with honesty and responsiveness, like the vast vast majority of my colleagues across the nation and around the world. The slaps in the face, the destruction, the spite and adolescent cruelty driving it all just makes me want to scream and cry.

I cope by working on what I can control at work, keeping up with friends, creating things-building another guitar, cooking, enjoying my young adults as they fledge. A dip into Kimmel, McSweeney’s, Buzzfeed, Trae Crowder, Reddit, BlueSky to know I’m not alone.

The realization that you never know when the last time was, until later. The last time you saw a particular friend, or loved one. I will not know it was the last strawberry I will have eaten. Actually I did have the privilege of knowing as I ran my last ultramarathon that it was my last. In all the the several dozen I ran I thought the experience was eternal, but I knew there would be a last one. I realized I was tired of training, and I’d rather spend six or seven weekend hours making furniture. Or sitting on my butt. But it would be my last long race, and 17th and last finish on that race, and I said farewell to every turn and rock and tree that I had gotten to know.

As so many people have learned, when the war comes you must fight the war, and my plans o four more years of public service and then retirement are changing. Do I stay in the system and try to preserve the operation of my agency and hope there’s something left to rebuild? Or step out and enlist with the forces of democracy? That internal debate itself gives me a sense that I am in control of my destiny. Ta-pocketa -pocketa -pocketa.

So regardless of how I fight the coup, I distract from the day-to-day bad news by planning a long bikepacking trip this summer, because I want to do it and I don’t know how long I will be able to bike that far.

Sure it’s like sucking my thumb but it’s distracting. And I’m looking forward to fresh strawberries at the farmers market in June, blueberries in July, peaches in august, apples in September.

Gosh, sorry, I meant to write this longhand in the journal I sporadically keep and never share, not pick it out on a freaking tiny screen and inflict it on y’all. Have a good night.

Greetings from Chicago. Politically were good here and my son-in-law is heavily involved in Indivisible Chicago which he started in early '17. I think it's important to keep doing what gives you joy and involves your brain. For me, wood working and playing music. And, of course, RESIST!

Thought I was doing ok but lately I've realized things are getting to me more than I thought. I feel this constant low level stress and worry. I keep compulsively scrolling the conservative subreddit, I guess in hopes that I see them starting to understand how messed up things are and come to their senses? Hoping they start to wake up to the insanity so we can all start to work together on fixing this mistake. But it never happens and I keep scrolling in vain, obsessively waiting for something I'm never going to find. It's extremely depressing to get too wrapped up in that mindset and I've blocked Reddit from my phone so I hope that helps a bit. Just feeling a bit stuck really seeing the other side's perspective and how entrenched it is. Feels like we have no choice but for this to all unfold and keep hoping they see how much we need to band together to oppose what's going on.

Wow, these comments. I want to give you all a big hug. It helps to read that I'm not alone in feeling helpless and scared (but also optimistic and empowered at times) and I hope the act of sharing brought some comfort. 💞

I’m focused on planning a 4 day fatbike ride next week on the most picturesque paved road in N. America.
Inspired by these cool doods https://www.mountainlifemedia.ca/2022/11/friends-in-high-places/

just got back from Mardi Gras with my husband, kid, and kiddo's godmother. A week of parades, good food, and a genuine sense of welcome and community was a much needed reminder that there are GOOD folk in this country.

I'm grateful to read all of the comments. I feel like I'm in a room with all of you doing a group check-in without cross talk. I resonate with so much said and also take inspiration and solace, too. A member of my FOO (family of origin) had a psychiatric crisis last week and we're waiting for a geriatric psych bed to open up in a state that has poor psych services. But hey, live free or die. It's all a lot--but the love and care offered to our family is a testimony to building real community and connections.

The situation has required me to blog again, so there's that, I guess. https://mccorkindale.com/2025/02/28/practical-resistance/

Good to hear from everyone. I'm limiting my news intake, leaning on BBC and text.npr.org. Making calls or comments to White House (Tue through Thu only) and yesterday my damn governor for throwing transfolk under the bus. Working on strengthening my own resilience by building my strength and working on portion control. Still being very COVID cautious; surge of respiratory stuff in general here in Northern California. I've avoided it so far and will push it out as far as I can, though hopes of better vaccines and cures are greatly diminished. Working on building local support connections for mutual aid from my closest circle of folks outward.
Taking time to rest and restore—so much Stardew Valley, friends, so much, but also painting miniature terrain and playing board games with my little gaming group. Listening to music, reading. I was making a ton of soup, but as part of that portion control project I'm going to try Factor meals for three months and see if I can calibrate myself better. Tough times for a stress eater, so I'm trying to put the water glass in my hand before a snack. A little bit of home upgrades—Delta touch faucet in the kitchen, which I love—but generally staying prudent.
I take a weird, dark comfort in the inescapability of climate change being bigger than all those fucking guys. Worst case there's a very large reset button and I have faith in nature and humanity continuing; not looking good for extractive capitalism in the medium term though and I'm very fine with that.

Feelings of despair? Sure. Of course. But “pissed off” is mostly how I would describe myself after catching up on national news. And if I see that “funny” map of blue coastal states joining Canada and lumping me and my Midwest blue brethren behind with Trumpers … well, let’s just say it’ll be too soon (Fun fact- There are a lot of sad liberals even in my idiotic state of Indiana.) I find VERY little of this thing funny, so I quickly scroll past the Trump and Elon related jokes and memes these days. So yes, *breathes deep* I’m learning I need to keep my distance from the goings on.

For a distraction, I’ve been blowing a hole in our fun-times budget by filling the house with novels, which for me are escape hatches from this reality. I’ll have to get more bookcases before these four years are up.

Also (and this will be lost on all but my fellow NBA loving peeps) but I’ve been following the surreal Luka Doncic trade and its reverberations. So many hours listening to podcasts about it. I’m not necessarily a Lakers fan, but right now we have two of the three smartest basketball players in the world on the same team, and this is an incredible opportunity to witness these two greats combine their efforts. At the same time, I have great sympathy for Dallas Mavericks fans, whose team has been destroyed by a leader who thought he was smarter than he actually is (hmm, reminds me of someone else).

I dropped off my tax worksheet at my tax preparer's office today. As I handed it over I blurted, "I don't know why I'm doing this. What's the point this year?" My tax preparer gave me a deeply sympathetic look and said, "You're not the only one. You're definitely not alone."

I provide volunteer care and companionship for the elderly.

IMO: The best self-care is elder care. They are at the end of their lives, and most of them are forgotten entirely.

If you yourself are not at the end of your life today, this week, this month, then please consider connecting with someone who is.

Caveat: It’s a hell of a lot harder than binge-watching a brilliant streaming series.

Promise: It’s a hell of a lot more illuminating, rewarding, and profound.

If one single person reads this and does it … it will have been worth it.

Work was hard this week. Chest pains waking me at 4am? Nooooo go away. This on top of the news is hard to remedy.

Solace that spring is here and SXSW just started and can enjoy some music and free stuff to distract from the crap.

Delightfully giddy seeing the Cabinet meeting with Elong went off the rails. More press leaks please!

Gaga’s Mayhem is out!! Perfect timing. Reminds me when Chromatica came out 1st summer of Covid. It’s the small things. Can you tell music is my salve?

Lifelong anxiety on top of a high-stress career in Phoenix. When I retired eight years ago I vowed to minimize stress from entering into my home. I live alone, so at least I control what I read and watch. A news junkie, I've become adept at skimming through headlines and avoiding the quicksand. Sometimes my research-oriented mind tries to drag me in -- but my determination to stay sage floats me back out. The consequences of the election have been appalling. But I've worked too hard to achieve a healthy balance, and won't allow one "pumpkin head" to drag me down his chaotic hole of doom.

Instead, I read a LOT of books -- real books, Kindle books, and online books from the library (via the Libby App). My siblings and I truly love the Libby App! I'm nearly done with Connie Willis's four-book Oxford Time Travel Series, starting with "Doomsday Book", "To Say Nothing of the Dog", "Blackout" and "All Clear". The author is a lifelong American, but you wouldn't know it when reading these very British books -- great characters, humor, history, and a real understanding of the need to understand the consequences of our actions.

I have traveled a great deal over the past eight years (finally reaching my 50th state), and cruised to Hawaii and to N.E. Canada from Boston. I had planned more international travel in the future, but am quite honestly too ashamed of my government to impose myself on other countries.

I spent the summer of 1979 in France at the University of Strasbourg, and traveling by train throughout Western Europe. Even though the U.S. was in a deep crisis that year (the economy; hostages in Iran), I felt welcomed at every stop along the way. I would not expect the same welcome in 2025. It will take many years for the U.S. to earn back the trust of its friends and allies.

In the meantime I try to laugh every day, made easy through The Onion (see their hundreds of YouTube 3-minute videos), McSweeny's, and of course Kottke!

Not (directly) what you asked, but I just want to say that I am really appreciating the on again/off again comments section. Perhaps it's matter of absence makes the heart grow fonder. Perhaps it give provides time to think and ignore knee-jerk reactions. Or, perhaps it's the serendipity of logging on and seeing there's an opportunity to see how/what others are thinking and/or add my own comment. Regardless, I'm doing well (and thanks for asking)and I think I'd be doing a lot better if more sites had Jason acting as a comments section DJ.

How exactly it will come about but there is research showing that political movements such as the anti-Trump/Musk movement need a minimum of 3.5-4% of the total population involved to begin to have successes. This is 4 people of every 100. Old article but the general idea still holds.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
Also: The CIA Guide to Resisting Fascism is a good resource.
https://www.404media.co/declassified-cia-guide-to-sabotaging-fascism-is-suddenly-viral/
As for me, I'm keeping my head above water, I hope.

This is a separate comment, sorry.
I've observed that people don't know anymore how to live INTERdependently.
Living independently is overrated and was/is promulgated by Republicans et al. to the point where we all live TOO independently. Witness all the articles about Covid 5 years later where the new pandemic is separateness, aloneness, loneliness, depression, more dementia, etc.
Robert Putnam's book 'Bowling Alone' nailed this 25 years ago.
Hasn't got any better.
More things like mutual aid etc. will be more important but many people and places won't touch this with a 100-foot stick, sigh.