No Paine, No Gain & Other Stories
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ICYMI
My latest for the New York Times Book Review: In "A Perfect Frenzy," Virginia patriots' revolutionary spark was actually a panic button. The last Royal Governor promised enslaved people freedom if they'd take up arms to silence white colonists' cries for liberty.
Jamelle Bouie & John Ganz knew exactly what they were doing when they invited me on their podcast to talk about Oliver Stone's JFK. An old appearance but given Trump’s executive order, seems worth resurrecting.
No Miracle on Ice: Secular Survival & Sacred Spin
“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
—Thomas Paine, The Crisis Number 1, December 23, 1776
Happy 288th Birthday to Thomas Paine, the original influencer. His posts—in pamphlet form—went viral long before the internet was even a glimmer in humanity’s eye. Born in 1737, Paine’s Common Sense and The American Crisis ensured that thoughts of revolution weren’t just whispers in taverns but thunderous declarations of independence.
So pour one out for Thomas Paine, the man who taught us that a little radical honesty goes a long way.
Trump's Panama Canal rhetoric is like a low-rent magician's sleight of hand—dazzling but clearly deceptive.
The canal's history is less "selfless gift" than "imperialist land grab." The U.S. steamrolled Panamanian sovereignty and since 1999, Panama has run the show without Uncle Sam's "helping" hand.
Trump's narrative is as outdated as a telegraph and about as useful. It's a convenient smokescreen, designed to puff up American exceptionalism while distracting from pressing domestic issues.
So the next time you hear about "taking back" the canal, remember: it's likely just another trick to keep your eyes off the real issues - like why you’re about to get sticker shock from a carton of eggs.
Stay sharp, folks. The real story is what he’s not talking about.
See you soonish! In the meantime, you can find me on Esty, Instagram, Bluesky, and Twitter. My books on Bookshop, Amazon, and your local bookstore or library. If you’d like me to sign or personalize my books, purchase copies from Oblong Books.