I’ve been reading the Bulwark since 2019. Stumbled upon it while searching for someone, somewhere who wasn’t crazy…and have stayed with them since! One of the first things that happened was - this was the pre-Substack days for you young ‘uns here 😄- was that I wrote an email to Jim. Fully expecting it to get lost in the nether regions of the digital world, imagine my utter astonishment when he responded!! And thoughtfully and with clarity. Then I wrote to Charlie and to JVL - asking questions and providing comments on the newsletter and each and every time, they responded. They didn’t have to - but they did.To have that human connection in this vast, anonymous digital landscape was such a hopeful thing and I’m eternally grateful to all of them for making and keeping this community real. That hope is still here and so I’m still here :)
Happy Thanksgiving, all! Hold on to that hope - it’s the thing that will save us.
Mona's story about beating her back pain warmed my heart. As enjoyable as it is to see bad things happen to bad people, it's much, much better to hear about good things happening to good people, and Mona's one of the best.
A belated Happy Thanksgiving to her, to you, Jim, and to the whole Bulwark family.
I had finally taken the plunge and subscribed to The Bulwark. Being a lifelong Democrat, I did not take this lightly. I found a treasure trove of brilliant writing from one author after another which I wasn't expecting. Not that I don't think Bulwark people are brilliant writers, I was expecting longer, if not more, podcasts. (I am new to political podcasts--I thought Jon Stewart was a political podcast.) Then someone in the Bronx hacked my SNAP card, the government shutdown, and I was forced to cancel my new Bulwark membership and regret mightily the loss of erudite, clean, thoughtful writing. I wrote my remorseful cancellation email and received my First Thanksgiving Miracle: a sweet email from this kind chap named Jim Swift who informed me that all The Bulwark wants is for readers to appreciate the articles and podcasts. I was invited to enjoy reading and listening to all Bulwark fare at no continued cost. I read it again and again, and expected my laptop to dissolve into fairy dust. I thought, "I love former Republicans. They're wonderful." The Second Miracle: a dear friend, furloughed from the government and already balancing a new husband and two mortgages, sent me a Thanksgiving card. He had taped two Trader Joe gift cards inside and I, thinking furloughs, marriage, and mortgages, explained to the cashier that I was sure it wouldn't be enough but I had my unpayable personal credit card. No worries, I said. The gift card paid and left an amount I wasn't expecting. "Fairy dust," I murmured. The cashier nodded knowingly.
This isn't about money. It's about kindness, understanding, and reaching out so good people can remain joined. I have my own pouch of fairy dust that I sprinkle about but that's not my story to tell. Thank you Jim Swift. Thank you Messrs. Friend & Friend. Gratitude.
Let me add my gratitude for all of you. Some days I just cannot read more about the state of our country or the world. It leaves me dispirited - what can I really do to make a difference? Then I get the Bulwark and it reminds me that wonderfully smart and energized people are out there telling the truth and educating us. That always gives me the hope that we will find a way through this together.
I'm thankful for the people of Bulwark and hopeful that the mission has lasting results.
Though I have been a member for a while, I don't know all the ins and outs of the membership process (maybe I just expect it to be more complex than it is?). I know that Bulwark "works out" deals for those who want to be members but cannot afford it. This is so unusual and outstanding that I wonder if there is a mechanism...if not, can one be developed...for donating extra without buying up to a Founder level? I think next week is Giving Tuesday (or something like that). If a Bulwark member wants to give, say, $50 towards new memberships, could that be a thing? Just wondering.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and the entire Bulwark Family. I wish I could have you all over to my house for drinks and laughs and commiseration ... and my legendary deviled eggs! I'm thankful for your support, Jim, and for the support and kindness and hope and reality checks from the whole The Bulwark Team. Onward!
This and so much more from Dr. Richardson this morning:
"Tonight, Drew Hinshaw, Benoit Faucon, Rebecca Ballhaus, Thomas Grove, and Joe Parkinson of the Wall Street Journal dropped a bombshell report that Witkoff, Kushner, and Dmitriev designed their plan to bypass U.S. national security officials and create opportunities for U.S. businessmen to win multibillion-dollar deals to develop energy and rare-earth minerals in Russia, Ukraine, and the Arctic. “By dangling multibillion-dollar rare-earth and energy deals,” the journalists report, “Moscow could reshape the economic map of Europe—while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies.”
Clearly trump is not in charge. He is being distracted by his total insanity about immigrants with lies and threats about everything. Meanwhile the traitors Witkoff and Kushner give away the country to Russia for personal gain, blow off Europe and NATO and rip apart Ukraine. Congress can stop all of this but they have to do it NOW.
Dear Jim: As I read your lovely - and hopeful - post, there came into my mind the music and lyrics of a song I recall from my childhood, in the 1940s and 50s, “This little light of mine.” Still and apt message.
Happy Thanksgiving to The Bulwark family, who help preserve my sanity with daily reassurances that there are wonderful people in this world. Kindness, grace and compassion are in short supply and I am grateful for all of you.
Thank you Jim, for this lovely, hopeful message. I am very grateful for the hard work of all the Bulwarkians and the many thoughtful (and frequently funny!) Bulwark followers.
"There in the heart of millions
Seen as a godsend to us
There stands our future" Yes. I'm Running.
Free minds and hearts, as I see in many of my fellow Bulwarkians.
I’ve been reading the Bulwark since 2019. Stumbled upon it while searching for someone, somewhere who wasn’t crazy…and have stayed with them since! One of the first things that happened was - this was the pre-Substack days for you young ‘uns here 😄- was that I wrote an email to Jim. Fully expecting it to get lost in the nether regions of the digital world, imagine my utter astonishment when he responded!! And thoughtfully and with clarity. Then I wrote to Charlie and to JVL - asking questions and providing comments on the newsletter and each and every time, they responded. They didn’t have to - but they did.To have that human connection in this vast, anonymous digital landscape was such a hopeful thing and I’m eternally grateful to all of them for making and keeping this community real. That hope is still here and so I’m still here :)
Happy Thanksgiving, all! Hold on to that hope - it’s the thing that will save us.
Mona's story about beating her back pain warmed my heart. As enjoyable as it is to see bad things happen to bad people, it's much, much better to hear about good things happening to good people, and Mona's one of the best.
A belated Happy Thanksgiving to her, to you, Jim, and to the whole Bulwark family.
The Matt Labash postsis for paid subscribers. It might have been a good idea for him to let everyone read it in case he picked up new subscribers.
I had finally taken the plunge and subscribed to The Bulwark. Being a lifelong Democrat, I did not take this lightly. I found a treasure trove of brilliant writing from one author after another which I wasn't expecting. Not that I don't think Bulwark people are brilliant writers, I was expecting longer, if not more, podcasts. (I am new to political podcasts--I thought Jon Stewart was a political podcast.) Then someone in the Bronx hacked my SNAP card, the government shutdown, and I was forced to cancel my new Bulwark membership and regret mightily the loss of erudite, clean, thoughtful writing. I wrote my remorseful cancellation email and received my First Thanksgiving Miracle: a sweet email from this kind chap named Jim Swift who informed me that all The Bulwark wants is for readers to appreciate the articles and podcasts. I was invited to enjoy reading and listening to all Bulwark fare at no continued cost. I read it again and again, and expected my laptop to dissolve into fairy dust. I thought, "I love former Republicans. They're wonderful." The Second Miracle: a dear friend, furloughed from the government and already balancing a new husband and two mortgages, sent me a Thanksgiving card. He had taped two Trader Joe gift cards inside and I, thinking furloughs, marriage, and mortgages, explained to the cashier that I was sure it wouldn't be enough but I had my unpayable personal credit card. No worries, I said. The gift card paid and left an amount I wasn't expecting. "Fairy dust," I murmured. The cashier nodded knowingly.
This isn't about money. It's about kindness, understanding, and reaching out so good people can remain joined. I have my own pouch of fairy dust that I sprinkle about but that's not my story to tell. Thank you Jim Swift. Thank you Messrs. Friend & Friend. Gratitude.
Welcome home, Katherine -- we're glad that you're here!
Let me add my gratitude for all of you. Some days I just cannot read more about the state of our country or the world. It leaves me dispirited - what can I really do to make a difference? Then I get the Bulwark and it reminds me that wonderfully smart and energized people are out there telling the truth and educating us. That always gives me the hope that we will find a way through this together.
I'm thankful for the people of Bulwark and hopeful that the mission has lasting results.
Though I have been a member for a while, I don't know all the ins and outs of the membership process (maybe I just expect it to be more complex than it is?). I know that Bulwark "works out" deals for those who want to be members but cannot afford it. This is so unusual and outstanding that I wonder if there is a mechanism...if not, can one be developed...for donating extra without buying up to a Founder level? I think next week is Giving Tuesday (or something like that). If a Bulwark member wants to give, say, $50 towards new memberships, could that be a thing? Just wondering.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and the entire Bulwark Family. I wish I could have you all over to my house for drinks and laughs and commiseration ... and my legendary deviled eggs! I'm thankful for your support, Jim, and for the support and kindness and hope and reality checks from the whole The Bulwark Team. Onward!
Re: one thing acquired that u would recommend...
As a 80 year old disabled vet - I acquired a new friend
I'm one of the people you've helped with a comped subscription, so thank you.
This and so much more from Dr. Richardson this morning:
"Tonight, Drew Hinshaw, Benoit Faucon, Rebecca Ballhaus, Thomas Grove, and Joe Parkinson of the Wall Street Journal dropped a bombshell report that Witkoff, Kushner, and Dmitriev designed their plan to bypass U.S. national security officials and create opportunities for U.S. businessmen to win multibillion-dollar deals to develop energy and rare-earth minerals in Russia, Ukraine, and the Arctic. “By dangling multibillion-dollar rare-earth and energy deals,” the journalists report, “Moscow could reshape the economic map of Europe—while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies.”
Clearly trump is not in charge. He is being distracted by his total insanity about immigrants with lies and threats about everything. Meanwhile the traitors Witkoff and Kushner give away the country to Russia for personal gain, blow off Europe and NATO and rip apart Ukraine. Congress can stop all of this but they have to do it NOW.
Thanks, Jim, for all you do and who you are.
Wishing you and your family lots of things to be grateful for.
Dear Jim: As I read your lovely - and hopeful - post, there came into my mind the music and lyrics of a song I recall from my childhood, in the 1940s and 50s, “This little light of mine.” Still and apt message.
Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🦃🍽 to all of The Bulwark team. We are all so thankful you & the family here!!
Happy Thanksgiving to The Bulwark family, who help preserve my sanity with daily reassurances that there are wonderful people in this world. Kindness, grace and compassion are in short supply and I am grateful for all of you.
Thank you Jim, for this lovely, hopeful message. I am very grateful for the hard work of all the Bulwarkians and the many thoughtful (and frequently funny!) Bulwark followers.