In his book, The Cruelty Is the Point: Why Trump's America Endures, Adam Serwer, an award-winning journalist at The Atlantic, presents a compelling argument that the cruelty witnessed during Donald Trump's presidency is not an anomaly but a reflection of deeply entrenched dynamics in American history. Serwer's essays dissect the most devastating moments in recent memory, revealing patterns as old as the country itself.

One of the central themes of the book is that Trump is not the cause of America's issues but a symptom. This perspective is particularly relevant as we observe the ongoing political and social landscape since Trump began his second term as president The January 6 insurrection, anti-immigrant sentiment, and American authoritarianism all have historic roots that explain their continued power, with or without Trump.

Serwer's phrase "the cruelty is the point" resonates across centuries, encapsulating the intentional infliction of harm on political opponents that has become a hallmark of Trumpism. This cruelty is evident in Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, where his refusal to address the crisis adequately was seen as a racist act, sacrificing the lives of disproportionately Black and Brown workers to fuel the economy.

Since Trump's return to the presidency, his administration has continued to push policies that reflect this cruelty. From mass layoffs at the U.S. nuclear weapons agency to the controversial handling of immigration and tariffs on steel and aluminum, Trump's second term has been marked by actions that many see as harmful and divisive.

The relevance of Serwer's book today lies in its ability to connect past and present, urging readers to confront the brutal realities of American history and politics. As we navigate the complexities of Trump's second term, it becomes increasingly important to recognize the patterns of cruelty and injustice that have long been part of the American experience.

 

I just finished the first season of School Spirits and I am floored by both the plot twists and the emotions. The show is way, way, way better than I could ever capture here.

There are so many things about the show I could write about if I had the right words, but one thing I want to talk about briefly is how I see ghosts as being deeply connected to the theme of closure and the heartbreak of not finding it for decades, if ever.

One of the ghost characters deeply regrets how things ended up with the boy he loved in high school. 28 years later, he finds himself writing a letter to “the love of his life” and hopes that he can both forgive and be forgiven for things that transpired when they were students in the mid-1990s. It’s a credit to both the actors and the writing and the atmospheric feel of the scene that it is touching and heartbreaking instead of creepy.

Boy, did this hit hard, both personally and because the show is just so good at pulling on your heart strings. My own situation is completely different and obviously I’m not a ghost. But I see the theme of being haunted (by something you did years and years ago) as something that can happen to a person who is alive or not alive. It’s one reason I think having ghosts and high school connected works so well and beautifully in School Spirits.

Whether we’re invisible in high school or we’re an adult years later and are stuck on things that happened to us as teenagers, we don’t need to be an actual ghost to be haunted or haunting.

More and more lately I see laugh emojis used on Facebook as hate and I just have to wonder what is wrong with people. 

It’s really disheartening to see something as seemingly harmless as the laugh emoji being used to mock and belittle others, especially when it comes to serious issues like politics and LGBTQ+ rights. 

Unfortunately, some people seem to derive satisfaction from trolling and spreading negativity. It reflects a lack of empathy and respect for others.

 

Oh my gosh, is Good Day Chocolate Calm a great way to relax. Ever since I gave up wine I’ve been trying to find another way to chill at the end of the day and I think I have found something that works.

It almost feels prescription-strength strong, kind of like the OxyContin I took last year when I broke my wrist.

 “Every one is haunted by something.”-Maddie

School Spirits(Season 1) mixes supernatural mystery with heartfelt teen drama and follows Maddie, a spirited student trapped in the afterlife at her high school. As she navigates her ghostly existence, she teams up with fellow spectral peers to unravel the mystery of her sudden disappearance, all while grappling with unresolved emotions and connections to the living world. 

The season surprises with its sharp writing, balancing suspense and emotional depth, and subverts expectations by weaving a twisty, tightly paced narrative that keeps viewers hooked. Anchored by strong performances—particularly its charismatic lead—the show explores themes of identity, loss, and resilience, delivering both spine-tingling intrigue and poignant moments.

I am pleasantly startled by just how much I love this show so far and I can’t wait to keep watching more episodes and start season two. I think one reason I like it so much is that the show speaks to a part of me that’s never quite let go of high school completely,  even though I didn’t particularly enjoy high school.

It’s funny because it also kind of ties into a book I’m currently reading: _My Best Friend’s Exorcism_ by Grady Hendrix, A wonderful ode to the 1980s, which is the time I was in high school.