Phew, what a rollercoaster of a piece: my feelings were everywhere. Down low on the politics (depressing, nauseating, scary), and up high on nostalgia (West Wing! Good Wife! The other shows you mentioned that I nodded along at, but now draw a blank at because... attention span). I, too, am now side-eyeing Sorkin for this mess! (lol)
You make an excellent point about the influence of entertainment on people's expectations of reality. I heard on a pod yesterday about how movies like Top Gun raised military enlistments and Twister created a rise in students in meteorology. Um, what? Alas, we are simple species! As a kid, I wanted an office job because I wanted to wear cute outfits to work in a fancy setting. End of reasoning. So, what I'm saying is: I don't think you are wrong on that.
I'm not American, so I can't attest to your point about the Democrats not doing enough, and just "encouraging voting" ... but I will say that yours is one of the first pieces that I have read that has made some of this make sense. As a Canadian, we get a lot of American content on the news and social media, so I am definitely *aware* of your situation, but I struggle to *understand* it. It just seems so alarming from this side of the border (and your side too, clearly), and we feel so helpless to just watch it all. [I'm back to depressed now... Gonna go watch the Sorkin supercut to lighten the mood.]
Thanks for the newsletter, I dig your writing, your POV and the topics you choose.
Guhhhh I love this, yes. And with what happened yesterday...like. I just can't even be mad at Trump anymore. It's like being mad at a tornado. I'm mad at everyone who's enabled him every step of the way--corporate media, Vichy Dems--which is the harder conversation. So folks just keep posting smug takedowns of whatever Trump says. Like Sorkin.
Thank you. I detest the noxious strawmanning that is the Sorkin Method, and I'm sick to death of Dems blaming everyone for Republican victories EXCEPT the people who actually vote Republican.
lol I love this Marion. If you find some sort of time portal where we could jump back into time and destroy The West Wing before its pilot episode, let me know, I'll be right there with you!!!!
I just discovered this piece and feel SO seen (and am once again reminded of Sorkin's terrible NYT op-ed where he said Mitt Romney should be the Dem presidential nominee once Biden stepped down - I feel that we've moved past that too quickly). I also adore The Social Network - both because of and despite Sorkin...
Phew, what a rollercoaster of a piece: my feelings were everywhere. Down low on the politics (depressing, nauseating, scary), and up high on nostalgia (West Wing! Good Wife! The other shows you mentioned that I nodded along at, but now draw a blank at because... attention span). I, too, am now side-eyeing Sorkin for this mess! (lol)
You make an excellent point about the influence of entertainment on people's expectations of reality. I heard on a pod yesterday about how movies like Top Gun raised military enlistments and Twister created a rise in students in meteorology. Um, what? Alas, we are simple species! As a kid, I wanted an office job because I wanted to wear cute outfits to work in a fancy setting. End of reasoning. So, what I'm saying is: I don't think you are wrong on that.
I'm not American, so I can't attest to your point about the Democrats not doing enough, and just "encouraging voting" ... but I will say that yours is one of the first pieces that I have read that has made some of this make sense. As a Canadian, we get a lot of American content on the news and social media, so I am definitely *aware* of your situation, but I struggle to *understand* it. It just seems so alarming from this side of the border (and your side too, clearly), and we feel so helpless to just watch it all. [I'm back to depressed now... Gonna go watch the Sorkin supercut to lighten the mood.]
Thanks for the newsletter, I dig your writing, your POV and the topics you choose.
Omg, the relationship between Hollywood and the Pentagon is one of my obsessions! Top Gun is just the tip of the iceberg. My friend and I did a podcast episode about it a couple years ago: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-the-intersection/id1353204113?i=1000576087950
Thank you so much for your kind words ☺️☺️ it really means a lot
Ooo, thanks for the pod rec - will listen!
NOT HIS TOXIC BETA MISOGYNY!!!!
This may shock you but I cut a BUNCH of ranting about this particular trait 🤣
Guhhhh I love this, yes. And with what happened yesterday...like. I just can't even be mad at Trump anymore. It's like being mad at a tornado. I'm mad at everyone who's enabled him every step of the way--corporate media, Vichy Dems--which is the harder conversation. So folks just keep posting smug takedowns of whatever Trump says. Like Sorkin.
Vichy Dems, damn
Credit Sarah Kendzior.
MARION THIS IS A PERFECT PIECE
🤭 thank you!! It’s been stuck in my craw for YEARS, can you tell 😅
“Hey I’m the WH Press Secretary and have been deeply involved in politics for at least a decade, but I don’t understand what the Census is.”
“I’m the Press Secretary, boo-boo. I don’t have that kinda time.”
Thank you. I detest the noxious strawmanning that is the Sorkin Method, and I'm sick to death of Dems blaming everyone for Republican victories EXCEPT the people who actually vote Republican.
Well this whole thing is just brilliant - Must read for all....
thank you so much!
🥰🥰🥰
lol I love this Marion. If you find some sort of time portal where we could jump back into time and destroy The West Wing before its pilot episode, let me know, I'll be right there with you!!!!
this is exactly what time travel is for
Even as a West Wing fan, this is 100% accurate. I can love it as a nostalgic piece of media, and still recognize that it is deeply flawed.
And I totally get its nostalgic value! It’s a cozy show fr, for all its flaws
glad to know I’m not the only one who thinks the west wing is awful and whatnot
This is our safe space
I just discovered this piece and feel SO seen (and am once again reminded of Sorkin's terrible NYT op-ed where he said Mitt Romney should be the Dem presidential nominee once Biden stepped down - I feel that we've moved past that too quickly). I also adore The Social Network - both because of and despite Sorkin...