Hello you.

I’m writing to you from Freeport, Maine. Officially, I’m here because we’ve commenced shooting Season 2 of my America Outdoors PBS series. Unofficially, I’m here to give all my money to L.L. Bean. The company’s flagship store—sorry, flagship campus—is utterly astounding. I might technically live there now. In other news, we launched the fourth season of my podcast, How To Citizen, last week. The premise of the show is that we interpret the word “citizen” as a verb and focus on stories of people showing us ways to live together better. This season is all about how we create a dope culture of democracy. It would mean a lot to me if you checked out our first two episodes, which feature writer and activist adrienne maree brown and ad man-turned-citizen-activist Jon Alexander.

Meanwhile, I can’t get enough of the ChatGPT Chronicles. Microsoft has integrated the A.I. chatbot into its Bing search engine, and it seems as if the entire tech industry is adding “A.I.” to its pitch decks and press releases to try to keep up. Alas, if you give the bot attitude, it...

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The Black Liberation Paradox

Modern emancipation needs to be more than a function of liberating white minds. Black people also need to find joy on our own terms. What’s the point of saying “Black Lives Matter” if that life is defined solely by struggle?

BARATUNDE THURSTON

In May 2022, a racist traveled several hours to kill 10 people at the Tops Friendly Market in a Black neighborhood in Buffalo. Last week, he was sentenced to life in prison. What I remember most about the event is that I could barely process it at the time. I was exhausted by this temporarily-latest instance of America’s oldest story: crush Black resources, Black community, Black bodies, and Black life. 

I couldn’t wade into the details at the time. I wrote recently of my decision not to watch the video of Memphis police beating to death Tyre Nichols. I believe my determination there was hardened after Buffalo. Instead of reliving that massacre, I sought out a counter-narrative. Within weeks of the incident, I found myself...

FOUR STORIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

Christie’s ’24 Lane

On the ambitious Republicans betting on Trump-DeSantis mutually assured destruction.

TARA PALMERI

Fire of Love

A captivating Q&A with the creatives behind the Oscar-nominated doc.

THE EDITORS

The DeSantis Constitution

DeSantis has flexed his dog-whistling prowess.

TINA NGUYEN

Netflix’s “Arrested” Development

Tracing Netflix’s business evolution over the last decade, via the Bluths. 

JULIA ALEXANDER