Hey, Meidas Mighty, checking in after a big week.
This week was defined by a historic victory for democracy. But this is only the beginning.
As I’ve said before, we have to think beyond elections. We need to think about generational change. When we relentlessly talk about our values and principles, push back against the bullies and the fascists, stand shoulder to shoulder with a community of democracy-loving people, stand up for marginalized communities, and support each other, then when elections come around every two years, the choice becomes easy.
And we fortify our minds and our systems against all the bad-faith actors who pop up before elections.
Generational change means getting special-interest money out of our elections. It means abolishing ICE and Border Patrol. It means universal health care, so people can live healthier, more meaningful lives, and public education that is accessible and great.
It also means acting now.
In every state where Democrats hold a trifecta, we should be raising the minimum wage, and not just to a living wage. People deserve more than just to live. People deserve to thrive. I want a thriving wage, a wage with dignity.
We also need to keep building the structures of independent media and independent news, bigger and stronger.
That’s what we’ll keep doing here at the MeidasTouch Network.
There are other structures I want to help build too. The right wing has used the Federalist Society to recruit law students who go on to big law firms, then are placed in judgeships, where they dismantle law and order and the rule of law. We need a pro-democracy version of the Federalist Society doing that work with undergrads, law students, and across every part of the legal profession.
This is all one big generational project.
If you’ve read WTF America: The Way Out of This Hell and Back to Democracy, the book I wrote with my brothers, you know the modern era of right-wing propaganda, the dismantling and hijacking of the news, really began in 1970 with Roger Ailes’ memo laying out a plan for a right-wing propaganda network.
Six years ago, the MeidasTouch Network set out to be the antidote: a pro-democracy media network, a fire hose of truth to fight back against the fire hose of lies. We set out to build a network with infrastructure for modern times. Decentralized, international, and relentless in truth-telling and news reporting.
That’s what we’ve built, and I write about it a lot in the book.
Thank you all for your spirited and honest reviews.
Folks, cherish this moment. We did it. Now we need to build.
Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to this Substack. It always helps build this platform, and we need you more than ever.
And for those of you near Los Angeles: tomorrow, Saturday, at 1 p.m., I’ll be at Flintridge Bookstore (858 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011) signing copies of WTF America. Come say hi. Parking is behind the store, off Beulah Drive.
Thanks, everybody. I’ll see you soon.
— Ben
Ben, you’re doing a terrific job. Thank you.
Thank you Brothers so much for all you’ve done and will do!!
We need to address the fact that our Seniors have the same issues with a “living wage” from their Social Security that we’ve paid into for years. The COLA never is enough for inflation and it gets completely eaten up by the Medicare adjustment every damn year, and it’s not right to do that to our Seniors. I’d love to see you talk THIS please. So much appreciation for you guys 💜