I empathize with the woman who wrote on Threads this weekend that she’d like to wake up just one morning and not hear distressing or disturbing or disgusting news emanating from the White House. On Saturday morning, it was war with Iran. Every day some hellish thing greets us — some video of ICE agents grabbing a woman who screams with a thick accent; some zealous official forcing an institution to abandon efforts at diversity; some horrible social media post depicting the nation’s first Black president and First Lady as apes.
We can all relate. For more than a year now, we’ve been flooded with actions creating chaos and causing cuts, and with frequent allegations of corruption in the Trump regime. And then there’s Kash Patel, followed by Trump, getting Olympic gold medals around their necks — images that cannot be unseen.
There’s a lot that’s distressing. I had my own moment Saturday morning: Stood outside at 6:30 am and heard a chorus of birds singing, breaking the long winter silence. It was inspiring. Then, I picked up The Times and my eye went immediately to this headline: Birds Aren’t Just Declining. They’re Declining Faster, a New Study Finds.
The study correlated the further loss of bird populations with warming temperatures, the loss of habitat due to intensive farming and economic growth from land development. We’ve heard that before. That bird populations are falling faster is what’s distressing. And this news comes at a time when our country is led by an ignoramus who dismisses science and rejects climate change as a hoax.
If we get our country back, we are going to have to purge all the know-nothings and pro-authoritarians and put some power in the hands of bird lovers, tree huggers and people who love democracy.
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Dan Rodricks 
Dan: We feel your pain about the horrendous political climate, and the dangers to our environmental climate as well. May the birds come back singing, and our democracy recovers!
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As always, you expressed what so many of us are feeling, Dan. We just have to hope and pray we can get thru another 2 years & 10 months of Trump’s idiocy. I woke up this morning too, hearing birds singing: what a joy. We will just have to look for little moments of joy during this trying time.
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ABSOLUTELY agree! Another chaotic attempt to make himself this wannabe “dear leader” is off again causing more chaos. He is a laughingstock all over the World, but now not so many are laughing. He and his minions seem to believe they can do whatever they want whenever! He is a totally out of control megalomaniac. It is a relief to have a sunny day filled with birdsong!
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There’s a line used after reading or hearing statements like this short essay: From your mouth to God’s ears.
Every person who reads this will have the items that are, for us personally, breaking points. Your closing, about replacing all the do-nothings, etc., are our individual responses to what needs replacing. For me, it is USAID and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The costs were minimal, provided farmers with income, and saved millions of children’s lives. It no longer exists. And I’m still angry. It must be replaced. Although, in reality, it may be too late.
I hope it’s not too late for the birds.
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Were these evening gross beaks at your feeder. Is this an irruption year for MD?
Good luck with all of your plays. You’re amazing — but you knew that already.
Question — was Bob Holt sick when he was at the reunion or was his condition recently diagnosed?
LL
PS. And a war to hide dealings regarding the Epstein files is a bit overkill but here we are. My moto is that the truth will always come out, even if it takes a very, very long time.
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