Low bar, surprisingly cleared
+ Despair is a luxury, phone calls are torture (#417)
Before we begin, can I ask you a favour? I'm sure you have a friend or colleague who seems like they should be reading the Weekly Filet, but they don't. Tell them about it, or forward this issue to them (did someone forward this to you? Sign up here).
1. An enormously important result for the future of American democracy
«It's much more likely the 2024 election will be free and fair» is a ridiculously low bar for celebrations after the midterm elections in the USA, but I guess we'll take it. A trenchant short analysis of the (preliminary and incomplete!) results.
Max Berger
2. Why climate despair is a luxury
A couple of weeks ago, I shared a listicle by Rebecca Solnit, with advice on how not to lose hope. In this new essay, she specifically addresses the feeling of despair, and why we must not give in to it. She describes despair as an «enemy of hope», a «false certainty about what is going to happen that excuses inaction». My favourite bit of the entire essay: «Despair can be true as an emotion, but false as an analysis.»
Rebecca Solnit
3. The First Minute of Every Phone Call Is Torture Now
Very relatable. As a passionate despiser of phone calls, I'd argue you can improve this article's title by removing the last word and the first four.
Ian Bogost