Thanks for the pep talk. I needed it. I've already been to hell and back many times over. I can do this. And I feel my anger turning into resolve as I type. Thank you for the unvarnished truth.
Yes. I yelled at the top of my lungs, in my house, alone. Then I called the traitors, and my purportedly non-traitor senators. Feeling my disappointment deeply. Major suspicion that money found its way through to these senators like water finds its way through granite rock. I’m also feeling like I’ve got Zombies for friends, pardon my judgment. They suggest I am reading too much news. Probably true, but the idea that they “skipped over” this weekend’s events feels incredible to me. Hard to see so many folks asleep to what’s creeping up.
I hear EVERY word of this. And honestly? Your reaction makes perfect sense. When something hits you in the gut...your body knows it...before your brain does. Yelling in an empty house isn’t overreaction...it’s a release valve. It means you’re awake and paying attention.
And yeah… disappointment lands heavier when the pattern feels too familiar...and the explanations feel too thin. Suspicion...is natural...when the timing and behavior...make no emotional sense on the surface. You’re not crazy for noticing the cracks everyone else insists aren’t there...hell no.
As for your friends?
You’re not wrong...a lot of people really are sleepwalking through this moment. Not because they’re bad or stupid...but because numbness...is easier than clarity. Most folks don’t dig past the headlines. Most don’t want to. It’s safer to believe everything is “fine”... than to sit with the discomfort...of what’s actually happening.
But here’s the thing...
Being awake in an era of sleepwalkers is isolating… but it’s also powerful.
You see what’s coming.
You feel the shift.
You notice the things others skim past.
That’s not a burden...it’s a responsibility.
And disappointing as this week was...remember...staying conscious...even when everyone around you...wants sedation...is exactly what keeps people like you...from drifting into the fog with them.
Thank you, Jack. Your reply expresses exactly how I feel. I will never surrender to the fascists. I am still feeling empowered and confident that WE WILL WIN!!!
Amazingly, so many of my friends’ eyes just glaze over and start to wander when I begin to talk to them about current affairs and their importance. “Oh, I choose to not think about that. I just want to enjoy my . . . “. What unmitigated, self-centered PRIVILEGE have ya got goin’ on there, cupcake???? SERIOUSLY??
Fuck that and the horse it rode in on!!!
Ok, well, if you can’t even spare me a few minutes for MY concern, why are we even in the same room?
Talk about betrayal - of all we love and hold dear about our democracy. Sweet baby Jesus! I’d apologize about my coarse language if I were sorry. I can be a graceful butterfly of a lady, too, and you never know which one of me could pop out at any time.
Chin is up, shoulders square, heading forward, not quite sure where, nevertheless, determined, and together, we will get there! These are the uplifting beliefs we hold dear. There are many of us who care, and there are many people who need us, as we also need to count on ourselves. Thank you, Jack. Each in our own ways we shall remain strong, and yes, our memories hold fast to the history of wrongs which must remain guiding maps for our future steps.
Earlier I wrote to thank my bravely staunch senator for sticking to the plan, standing up to the wrongs and the bullies we know not to trust, as we are continually shown. My question was how we would go forward from here, but your strength and the goodness of a number of senators remind me that forward is the direction, and united is the form.
Your statement that we “…must go through it,” reminded me of the song about the wall of Jericho. I think that’s the song. I only remember “So high, you can’t get over it, so low, you can’t get under it, so wide so you can’t get around it, you gotta go through the door.”
Whatever is ahead, we’ve got lots of good people with memories, determination, genuine caring, and the willingness to see goodness defeat evil. As we pay attention, more answers should come. My concern today was the lack of an answer, and you have restored my confidence in faith that answers will come. Thank you!
What a powerful message! And you’re exactly right...sometimes the direction isn’t clear... but the posture has to be. Chin up. Shoulders square. Step forward anyway. That’s how every hard era in history has been walked through: not with certainty...but with conviction.
And you nailed something most people overlook…
memory is a map.
The things we’ve seen...the betrayals we’ve clocked...the moments that punched us in the gut...those become the markers that keep us from walking blind into the same traps again.
Your senator showed spine. A handful did. And that matters more than people think. It’s proof that not everyone folds under pressure...and that “forward” doesn’t always mean fast...sometimes it just means through...exactly like that song you quoted.
When the wall’s too high...too low...too wide… you take the door and you keep moving.
And you’re right about this too: good people are everywhere. Watching. Remembering. Refusing to let the worst voices define the moment. Answers come from that kind of vigilance. Confidence...comes from knowing you’re not alone in it.
Thank you for holding the line in your own way. That’s what gets us through the long haul!
Great piece Jack as always. I have been to hell and back and I do not give up. Losing my dad at 16 and having been sexually assaulted while he was in the hoslpital by a 21 y/o cousin we were staying at his mom's house. My mom spent most of the time at the VA hospital where he wanted to go when our local hospitals did not know what was wrong. this was 1968 and a lot of the tech today was not available. I never told anyone about it until I was 40 because back then no one talked about it. My first marriage after graduating high school...I now know I was running from everything but too young to realize it. 9 1/2 yrs later I got divorced and had 2 sons to raise. I had lost my full ride to college and my VA full coverage because dad was 100% disabled and I had 5 years fully paid for. I was in no shape to do that. so I went to JR College and the USA in tampa and got my BA and MA taught school for a while until they had shooting the late 80's and I did not like that. I went back to school for my RN and retired in 2018. I have a very strong will and will not let this get me down..too much is at stake. I believe we can defeat this orange menace and his band of thugs. I also believe if the epstein files are ever released there will be a lot of big wigs that will go down.He , the orange menace does not have 3 more years in my opinion and no one has his carney ability to keep his cult going for themselves.
You’ve walked through more fire than most people can imagine, Teri... and you didn’t just survive it....you kept building a life...a family...a career...and a spine that didn’t crack even when everything around you was doing its best to break you.
What you described… losing your dad so young...carrying trauma in silence for decades... raising two boys on your own...clawing your way through school...rebuilding yourself over and over...that’s not ordinary resilience. That’s endurance...on a level only people who’ve faced hell recognize in one another.
And it explains something important...
...moments like this...don’t knock you down...because you already know what real collapse looks like...and this isn’t it.
This is turbulence.
You’ve lived through earthquakes.
Your strength didn’t come from comfort...it came from survival...from discipline...from refusing to let the darkest chapters...define the rest of your story. That’s why you feel the stakes so sharply...now.
People who’ve lived through serious pain...have a finely tuned radar for danger...and for truth.
And let me say this clearly...
You’re not alone in believing that transparency...accountability...and the release of information...wherever it leads and whomever it affects...is part of what justice and stability look like in a country. Wanting clarity...isn’t partisan. It’s human.
But here’s the core of what you said that matters most...
“I have been to hell and back and I do not give up.”
That sentence tells me everything I need to know about you.
You’ve already outlasted worse.
You’ve already rebuilt yourself from the bottom.
You’ve already learned how to stand when the ground gives way.
And people with that kind of history…
people with that kind of will…
are the reason chaotic eras don’t swallow everybody whole.
Your story isn’t weakness.
Your story is armor.
And you’re right...there is too much at stake to fold now. Not because of any single figure or any single moment…but because people like you have earned the right...to see a future that’s better than the past you fought your way out of.
I’m honored you’re here.
And I’m damn grateful...you’re part of this community.
Damn, Teri...I almost wrote you a book...ha. But, you know what? I roll with me energy. It's 3:15 am...I'm wide awake...my mind is razor sharp right now...and so...I just went with it.
I always get my 7 hours, though. Whatever time it is when I go to sleep...everyone knows not to wake me for anything less than an emergency.
Thank you for the kind words. One of the hardest things was that even when my mother was near the end the only thing she would say about what happened to me after I had told her when I was 40 and then brought it back up when I had to become her POA and caregiver she could not say "I am sorry for what you went through" . Her only words were "he got what he deserved and died alone". That does not address my pain in any way and I finally dropped it and did the right thing in making sure she had the care she needed and did not die alone. My brother who I has to get a restraining order on for my safety did not come eb=ven though he knew about it but my ex sister in law and her son and My oldest son and his wife came to the hospice. Her son stayed until mom passed in case my brother showed up and created a scene. Cindy (my former sister in law) and I spread mom's ashes on the local golf course where she played all the time. Her wished were for no ceremony as all her friends had died. I gave some of her ashes to those that wanted them. Half of the ashes were saved for my brother and Jeff the one that stayed with me took them to give to my brother but he would never make time for Jeff to bring them to him. My brother died almost one year to the date after mom died. I described him to people as a poor Drumpf literally . Sorry for being so long. Thanks for listening.
What you carried...and what you still carry...is enormous. And the fact that you handled all of this...with more grace...steadiness...and integrity than the people who hurt you…says everything about your character.
You’re right...
“I’m sorry for what you went through” matters.
I was sexually abused by three different men during the early seventies. I was 8-12 years old for those experiences. I have some level of understanding for what you experienced emotionally. Although, in now way would I ever claim to know exactly how YOU feel.
"I'm sorry," It’s the sentence every survivor deserves.
Not getting it doesn’t mean your pain wasn’t real...it means the people who should have said it...simply couldn’t reach the emotional depth required to face the truth.
But you still showed up.
You still did the right thing.
You still made sure your mother didn’t leave this world alone.
And you still protected yourself from someone who didn’t protect you.
That isn’t weakness.
That’s strength most people will never fully understand.
I’m glad you shared this. You were not “too long.” You were honest. And I’m here...always...willing to hear whatever you need to say.
I can not imagine a boy that young experiencing what you had done to you. I hope someone was held accountable and that someone was kind and helpful in helping you move on and not having to carry it alone at such a young age. It does explain your background in know triggers and people that I am sure you have studied immensely. I see you as a very intelligent and honest human being that really cares. My youngest son who is now and ARNP and CRNA got a double major when he took his CRNA course) was physically locked in a closet when he went to his dad's for weekend before he was in jr high. I did not find out until he was an adult and his older brother told me about it. It explained why when he was old enough to refuse to go with his dad. When he got married his spouse told me he needed to make amends with his da. My comment back is ask him why and I told her he is his own person and no one should tell anyone what they should do. I am sorry about what you went thru and also I am sorry about what my son went thru. I have never spoken to him about it as I believe based on our close relationship it is his story to tell.His father died last year a hateful angry man. my son is54 now.
No child deserves to face that kind of fear or isolation, Teri...and the fact that he carried it quietly for so long...tells you everything about the strength he developed far too early.
And you handled it exactly right...you honored that it’s his story to tell... in his own time...on his own terms. That’s what safety looks like. That’s what respect looks like. Most people never get that kind of understanding from a parent.
As for me...yes, things that happen early in life shape you. They wire your instincts. They make you notice patterns other people miss. But they don’t get the last word...unless you let them...and I didn’t. And clearly...neither did your son.
He didn’t become who he is...because of what happened...he became who he is...in spite of it.
And you’re right...no one gets to demand reconciliation on someone else’s behalf. Healing is personal. Boundaries are personal. Forgiveness...or the lack of it...is personal. You protected his right to define that for himself...and that matters more than most people will ever realize.
I’m grateful you shared this. And I’m glad your son had you in his corner then...and still does now!
Virginia...you're the best. History...however the story gets written...if it's got a shred of truth in it...will say (about us): They. Never. Gave. Up.
Having Schumer and the despicable eight turn their backs on the rest of us is as you say a gut punch. But I have survived worse. NS² Never submit. Never surrender.
That’s exactly it, Sue....the hit landed...but it didn’t break you. People who’ve survived real storms don’t get flattened by political whiplash. NS² ....is the RIGHT mantra for moments like this...you take the punch...square your stance...and stay alert.
And thank you...truth doesn’t need polish...it just needs to be said out loud...by people who refuse to look away. YOU...Sue...are one of them.
I love this post like I love most of your posts, Jack. ("most of them" only because I haven't had time to read all of them!). But I get to the end of it, having recognized my stubborn self in it, and here I sit saying "OK BUT WHAT THE FUCK DO I DO?" I know, you've had great posts about what to do, so I try every day to do *something*: to write someone in office, call someone in office, donate a bit, post some good resources as widely as I can (including you my friend :), meet neighbors, grow my community.... What else?? Keep giving us tasks please?
I get it, Jane. That “WHAT THE HELL DO I DO NOW?” feeling hits hardest when you actually care. You’re not built to sit on your hands. You need motion...direction...something to push against.
That’s not a flaw...that’s why you’re still standing in this mess...when a lot of people checked out years ago.
And here’s the truth:
You’re already doing the real work.
Connecting with people.
Strengthening your community.
Sharing reliable information.
Reaching out.
Showing up.
Supporting the people doing hard jobs.
Keeping your corner of the world lit.
Those aren’t small things...those are the things that keep the center from collapsing.
But since you asked for more...here’s what “the next tier” looks like...and none of it involves burning yourself out or trying to save the world single-handed:
1. Build depth, not just motion.
Pick one issue you care about...and learn it inside and out.
Clarity beats volume every time.
2. Keep growing your local network.
Resilient communities...not institutions...are what carry people through chaotic times.
3. Strengthen yourself.
Mentally...emotionally...physically.
A strong person steadies entire rooms...without saying a word.
4. Document everything.
Not for arguments...for memory.
Numb societies collapse.
Remembering ones don’t.
5. Support systems you trust.
Any institution that protects transparency...accountability...or truth...if it matters to you... feed it.
6. Protect your stamina.
We’re not in a sprint.
We’re in a season.
You can’t help anyone...if you collapse from exhaustion.
And finally:
7. Keep showing up...consistently.
Not perfectly.
Not dramatically.
Just steadily.
That alone, Jane...puts you in the top 1% of people who actually hold the fabric together.
You’re not missing something.
You’re not falling short.
You’re not waiting for the “real” assignment.
You’re already doing the work...I’ll just keep giving you structure...clarity...and direction so you never feel like you’re doing it alone.
Woo hoo just found this. Thank you for all of it. Exactly what I needed. (How did you know hahaha.)
I would just add something about retaining a sense of humor—even dark humor—to keep us connected.
Your columns are amazing, and I read a lot. I have always wondered what Navy Seal training is like, certain that they get the best researched, best tested human technologies. Fascinating, and not altogether surprising.
This post is amazing! You are so on point in what I felt today. I even helped one of their campaigns. DIS-A-F@#$%ING-PPOINTED and betrayed. That stated, tomorrow, at 8 am, our weekly, rowdy group will protest on main street again. Go Democracy!❤️
I hear you, Vicky...that kind of disappointment hits harder when you actually invested time...energy...and heart. Betrayal from people you once backed...always lands with extra weight.
But I love...that you’ve already got your next morning mapped out. A rowdy group on Main Street...standing together...refusing to go numb? That’s how people keep their footing... when the week tries to knock it out...from under them.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. We will not let them win! I will not let them win. Thanks for keeping us clear eyed, focused, and attentive to the truth. I won’t let the idiots win! This is not their country. They have betrayed it. It is ours and we have work to do. As Yogi Berra used to say, “When you see a fork in the road, take it.’ Your message used the phrase of a fork in the road. I’m old, but it’s a Yogi-ism. He was wise, even if he didn’t realize it.
You’ve got the right fire, Jo. Tough moments...don’t break people like you...they sharpen you. And the Yogi Berra line is perfect here: when you hit a fork in the road...you move... you choose...you keep going.
No one “wins”...just because the rest of us get tired. People who stay awake...clear-eyed... and grounded...are the ones who hold the line...when everything feels shaky.
I’m glad you’re here. And I’m glad your spark’s still burning!
I caught your first post barely into O'Donnell's monologue. I was astonished by him and not surprised at all at what you said.
Thanks for this Ted pep talk. I am the point 'man' in my group of various ages and now I know what I will be saying and how I will be saying it. This is a big pile of stupid the democrats pulled, and not for the first time, and that requires that we be smarter, resilient, loud and persistent. If I didn't have my dog on my lap I would probably be pacing the house. Cheers Jack 🐸(I live in the PNW so …)
I’m glad it hit you at the right moment, Toni. Sometimes...you just need someone to say out loud...what everyone else is swallowing. And...if you’re the point person in your circle...you already know the job...keep people steady...keep them thinking...keep them from drifting into numbness.
Yeah, this week was a mess. No sugarcoating it. But moments like this don’t call for perfection...they call for resilience...clarity...and someone willing to stay centered...when everyone else...is spiraling.
Pace if you need to. Hold the dog if it keeps you anchored. And keep leading your crew the way you already are...clear-eyed...loud when it counts...and unwilling to get steamrolled by the noise.
As always, thanks Jack for the thoughts and feelings. “Get up. We’re not done.” you're damn right we're not! We have a midterm to protect and win, and a country's future to save. You're right I'm angry. I'm beyond angry I'm furious. But I will channel that anger into energy that will help me redouble my efforts to resist and end this trum[pian nightmare. Thanks again.
I hear that fury loud and clear, David...and honestly...it’s the right reaction when a week hits this hard. Anger isn’t the enemy...drifting into apathy is. You’re doing the smart thing... by turning that heat into fuel...instead of letting it scorch you...from the inside out.
“Get up. We’re not done.”
Yeah. That’s the whole point.
There’s a long road ahead...and it’s going to demand clear eyes...steady nerves...and people who don’t fold when they get hit. If anything...this week just clarified who’s awake... who’s paying attention...and who refuses to sit down in the fog.
Channel that energy into focus...endurance...and the work that keeps you grounded.
That’s how you stay strong...all the way through...not just in the moment you’re mad.
Thanks for reminding me I am so much more than I think I am. I’m in. Way in. And I feel kinda macho with my bruises showing. Now I need a great tattoo to memorialize the commitment. If you have any ideas, would love to hear them. Have one Tatoo: a phoenix rising.
I love that energy, Julie...bruises aren’t shame...they’re proof you stayed in the fight. And if you’ve already got a phoenix...you’ve got the perfect foundation...for a next-level mark.
A few tight tattoo ideas that fit this moment...
• A cracked but unbroken sword...strength after impact.
• A heartbeat turning into a flame...resilience refusing to quit.
• A compass with one glowing point...direction through chaos.
• “Still Here.”...simple, brutal, undefeated.
If you want...I can match one to your phoenix so it feels like part of the same story.
Guess what? My first tattoo...ever...was Mighty Mouse. He's been covered up for years...with other ink...but I have a picture around somewhere on that tattoo. If I find it...I'll send it to you in a message, Wende!
That’s exactly where it belongs, Debby. A message you can’t dodge...can’t ignore...can’t talk yourself out of. Every time you look in that mirror...you’re staring at the version of yourself...that refuses to fold.
You know me too well. I don't give up, I get up. I have spent an hour reposting with comments, asking people to read about the sh#t that is going on with ICE targeting disabled brown people. Asking (as a warning) if all disabled no matter their color will be the next target for what I consider genocide of the disabled! EVIL is still rampant! We need to pay attention damn it. Never be in a position to say you didn't know! Stay in the fight! When they punch, throw an upper cut or kick their cowardly asses and ideas with your words of truth. Johnson says he will swear in the new Rep as first item if business. Don't get too excited, we get her signature, but the question is when will he allow it to go to the floor for a vote when he has 60 days of unfinished business to take care of. Keep the heat up by pushing him about it! It just ain't over by winning a battle, we have to win the next battle and then the next. Take a breath, take a day, but get back in the game. Stay loud, stay focused and stay here where we support each other. I have to wait until night to do most of mischief as I am a caretaker for my twin sister who has 4 kinds of cancer! She is in the battle of her life and mine. Things aren't going very well, but we will give it all we have for as long as she chooses. I will support her through whatever she has to do. If you pray, pls send one up for the twins. God will know who it is for.
This substack is a life line to keep me informed. Jack is an inspiration, but so are the rest of you. I read everything you write. It is my fuel. ⛽ Thank you all for being here! 💙🇺🇲
You’ve got a hell of a lot on your shoulders, Brenda...and the fact that you’re still standing...still speaking...still paying attention...still caring for your sister...still showing up here with this much heart… that says everything about who you are.
Your anger...isn’t misplaced. It’s what happens when someone with a working moral compass...watches people suffer...while others look away.
And you’re right...paying attention is the difference between being blindsided by reality... and being ready for it. That’s not politics...that’s awareness...vigilance...and refusing to let anyone be dehumanized...without calling it what it is.
But I want to say this clearly...
you don’t owe the world nonstop strength.
You’re carrying a twin through the hardest fight of her life. You’re exhausted. You’re worried. You’re stretched thin. And still you’re here...trying to keep other people from slipping into the dark.
That isn’t just resilience...it’s devotion.
And yes...I’ll absolutely send a prayer...a thought...whatever strength I’ve got...for both of you. I don’t need names. The intention lands.
This community is better because you’re in it. Your words carry weight. Your presence matters. And your sister is damn lucky to have you...fighting beside her.
Take care of her.
Take care of yourself.
And when you need to breathe...rest...or fall apart for a minute...that’s not weakness. That’s being human.
If I haven't replied to your comment yet...you better believe...I WILL. I'm working through them, as I work on even more new material. Thank you for the grace...and understanding. So many comments to respond to, is a damn good "problem" to have!
Thanks for the pep talk. I needed it. I've already been to hell and back many times over. I can do this. And I feel my anger turning into resolve as I type. Thank you for the unvarnished truth.
You're welcome, Sandi. You brought a smile to my face...and a damn good warm feeling in my chest.
-Jack
Thanks, Jack; I needed this.
Helen...you're welcome. I SEE you.
-Jack
Yes. I yelled at the top of my lungs, in my house, alone. Then I called the traitors, and my purportedly non-traitor senators. Feeling my disappointment deeply. Major suspicion that money found its way through to these senators like water finds its way through granite rock. I’m also feeling like I’ve got Zombies for friends, pardon my judgment. They suggest I am reading too much news. Probably true, but the idea that they “skipped over” this weekend’s events feels incredible to me. Hard to see so many folks asleep to what’s creeping up.
I hear EVERY word of this. And honestly? Your reaction makes perfect sense. When something hits you in the gut...your body knows it...before your brain does. Yelling in an empty house isn’t overreaction...it’s a release valve. It means you’re awake and paying attention.
And yeah… disappointment lands heavier when the pattern feels too familiar...and the explanations feel too thin. Suspicion...is natural...when the timing and behavior...make no emotional sense on the surface. You’re not crazy for noticing the cracks everyone else insists aren’t there...hell no.
As for your friends?
You’re not wrong...a lot of people really are sleepwalking through this moment. Not because they’re bad or stupid...but because numbness...is easier than clarity. Most folks don’t dig past the headlines. Most don’t want to. It’s safer to believe everything is “fine”... than to sit with the discomfort...of what’s actually happening.
But here’s the thing...
Being awake in an era of sleepwalkers is isolating… but it’s also powerful.
You see what’s coming.
You feel the shift.
You notice the things others skim past.
That’s not a burden...it’s a responsibility.
And disappointing as this week was...remember...staying conscious...even when everyone around you...wants sedation...is exactly what keeps people like you...from drifting into the fog with them.
You’re not alone in this.
Not here.
Not in this community.
-Jack
Thank you, Jack. Your reply expresses exactly how I feel. I will never surrender to the fascists. I am still feeling empowered and confident that WE WILL WIN!!!
Sometimes I feel like the only one fighting! At least SOME of us care and will save this nation!
Absolutely, Barbara...we DO...and we WILL.
-Jack
Yes, some of us care deeply and we WILL save this nation!
Amazingly, so many of my friends’ eyes just glaze over and start to wander when I begin to talk to them about current affairs and their importance. “Oh, I choose to not think about that. I just want to enjoy my . . . “. What unmitigated, self-centered PRIVILEGE have ya got goin’ on there, cupcake???? SERIOUSLY??
Fuck that and the horse it rode in on!!!
Ok, well, if you can’t even spare me a few minutes for MY concern, why are we even in the same room?
Talk about betrayal - of all we love and hold dear about our democracy. Sweet baby Jesus! I’d apologize about my coarse language if I were sorry. I can be a graceful butterfly of a lady, too, and you never know which one of me could pop out at any time.
So, try to keep up.
Or not. 😘
Bye, Felicia.
Chin is up, shoulders square, heading forward, not quite sure where, nevertheless, determined, and together, we will get there! These are the uplifting beliefs we hold dear. There are many of us who care, and there are many people who need us, as we also need to count on ourselves. Thank you, Jack. Each in our own ways we shall remain strong, and yes, our memories hold fast to the history of wrongs which must remain guiding maps for our future steps.
Earlier I wrote to thank my bravely staunch senator for sticking to the plan, standing up to the wrongs and the bullies we know not to trust, as we are continually shown. My question was how we would go forward from here, but your strength and the goodness of a number of senators remind me that forward is the direction, and united is the form.
Your statement that we “…must go through it,” reminded me of the song about the wall of Jericho. I think that’s the song. I only remember “So high, you can’t get over it, so low, you can’t get under it, so wide so you can’t get around it, you gotta go through the door.”
Whatever is ahead, we’ve got lots of good people with memories, determination, genuine caring, and the willingness to see goodness defeat evil. As we pay attention, more answers should come. My concern today was the lack of an answer, and you have restored my confidence in faith that answers will come. Thank you!
What a powerful message! And you’re exactly right...sometimes the direction isn’t clear... but the posture has to be. Chin up. Shoulders square. Step forward anyway. That’s how every hard era in history has been walked through: not with certainty...but with conviction.
And you nailed something most people overlook…
memory is a map.
The things we’ve seen...the betrayals we’ve clocked...the moments that punched us in the gut...those become the markers that keep us from walking blind into the same traps again.
Your senator showed spine. A handful did. And that matters more than people think. It’s proof that not everyone folds under pressure...and that “forward” doesn’t always mean fast...sometimes it just means through...exactly like that song you quoted.
When the wall’s too high...too low...too wide… you take the door and you keep moving.
And you’re right about this too: good people are everywhere. Watching. Remembering. Refusing to let the worst voices define the moment. Answers come from that kind of vigilance. Confidence...comes from knowing you’re not alone in it.
Thank you for holding the line in your own way. That’s what gets us through the long haul!
-Jack
Great piece Jack as always. I have been to hell and back and I do not give up. Losing my dad at 16 and having been sexually assaulted while he was in the hoslpital by a 21 y/o cousin we were staying at his mom's house. My mom spent most of the time at the VA hospital where he wanted to go when our local hospitals did not know what was wrong. this was 1968 and a lot of the tech today was not available. I never told anyone about it until I was 40 because back then no one talked about it. My first marriage after graduating high school...I now know I was running from everything but too young to realize it. 9 1/2 yrs later I got divorced and had 2 sons to raise. I had lost my full ride to college and my VA full coverage because dad was 100% disabled and I had 5 years fully paid for. I was in no shape to do that. so I went to JR College and the USA in tampa and got my BA and MA taught school for a while until they had shooting the late 80's and I did not like that. I went back to school for my RN and retired in 2018. I have a very strong will and will not let this get me down..too much is at stake. I believe we can defeat this orange menace and his band of thugs. I also believe if the epstein files are ever released there will be a lot of big wigs that will go down.He , the orange menace does not have 3 more years in my opinion and no one has his carney ability to keep his cult going for themselves.
You’ve walked through more fire than most people can imagine, Teri... and you didn’t just survive it....you kept building a life...a family...a career...and a spine that didn’t crack even when everything around you was doing its best to break you.
What you described… losing your dad so young...carrying trauma in silence for decades... raising two boys on your own...clawing your way through school...rebuilding yourself over and over...that’s not ordinary resilience. That’s endurance...on a level only people who’ve faced hell recognize in one another.
And it explains something important...
...moments like this...don’t knock you down...because you already know what real collapse looks like...and this isn’t it.
This is turbulence.
You’ve lived through earthquakes.
Your strength didn’t come from comfort...it came from survival...from discipline...from refusing to let the darkest chapters...define the rest of your story. That’s why you feel the stakes so sharply...now.
People who’ve lived through serious pain...have a finely tuned radar for danger...and for truth.
And let me say this clearly...
You’re not alone in believing that transparency...accountability...and the release of information...wherever it leads and whomever it affects...is part of what justice and stability look like in a country. Wanting clarity...isn’t partisan. It’s human.
But here’s the core of what you said that matters most...
“I have been to hell and back and I do not give up.”
That sentence tells me everything I need to know about you.
You’ve already outlasted worse.
You’ve already rebuilt yourself from the bottom.
You’ve already learned how to stand when the ground gives way.
And people with that kind of history…
people with that kind of will…
are the reason chaotic eras don’t swallow everybody whole.
Your story isn’t weakness.
Your story is armor.
And you’re right...there is too much at stake to fold now. Not because of any single figure or any single moment…but because people like you have earned the right...to see a future that’s better than the past you fought your way out of.
I’m honored you’re here.
And I’m damn grateful...you’re part of this community.
Damn, Teri...I almost wrote you a book...ha. But, you know what? I roll with me energy. It's 3:15 am...I'm wide awake...my mind is razor sharp right now...and so...I just went with it.
I always get my 7 hours, though. Whatever time it is when I go to sleep...everyone knows not to wake me for anything less than an emergency.
-Jack
Thank you for the kind words. One of the hardest things was that even when my mother was near the end the only thing she would say about what happened to me after I had told her when I was 40 and then brought it back up when I had to become her POA and caregiver she could not say "I am sorry for what you went through" . Her only words were "he got what he deserved and died alone". That does not address my pain in any way and I finally dropped it and did the right thing in making sure she had the care she needed and did not die alone. My brother who I has to get a restraining order on for my safety did not come eb=ven though he knew about it but my ex sister in law and her son and My oldest son and his wife came to the hospice. Her son stayed until mom passed in case my brother showed up and created a scene. Cindy (my former sister in law) and I spread mom's ashes on the local golf course where she played all the time. Her wished were for no ceremony as all her friends had died. I gave some of her ashes to those that wanted them. Half of the ashes were saved for my brother and Jeff the one that stayed with me took them to give to my brother but he would never make time for Jeff to bring them to him. My brother died almost one year to the date after mom died. I described him to people as a poor Drumpf literally . Sorry for being so long. Thanks for listening.
Thank you, Teri... for trusting me with this.
What you carried...and what you still carry...is enormous. And the fact that you handled all of this...with more grace...steadiness...and integrity than the people who hurt you…says everything about your character.
You’re right...
“I’m sorry for what you went through” matters.
I was sexually abused by three different men during the early seventies. I was 8-12 years old for those experiences. I have some level of understanding for what you experienced emotionally. Although, in now way would I ever claim to know exactly how YOU feel.
"I'm sorry," It’s the sentence every survivor deserves.
Not getting it doesn’t mean your pain wasn’t real...it means the people who should have said it...simply couldn’t reach the emotional depth required to face the truth.
But you still showed up.
You still did the right thing.
You still made sure your mother didn’t leave this world alone.
And you still protected yourself from someone who didn’t protect you.
That isn’t weakness.
That’s strength most people will never fully understand.
I’m glad you shared this. You were not “too long.” You were honest. And I’m here...always...willing to hear whatever you need to say.
You didn’t deserve what happened to you.
You didn’t deserve the silence afterward.
But you deserve to be heard...now.
-Jack
I can not imagine a boy that young experiencing what you had done to you. I hope someone was held accountable and that someone was kind and helpful in helping you move on and not having to carry it alone at such a young age. It does explain your background in know triggers and people that I am sure you have studied immensely. I see you as a very intelligent and honest human being that really cares. My youngest son who is now and ARNP and CRNA got a double major when he took his CRNA course) was physically locked in a closet when he went to his dad's for weekend before he was in jr high. I did not find out until he was an adult and his older brother told me about it. It explained why when he was old enough to refuse to go with his dad. When he got married his spouse told me he needed to make amends with his da. My comment back is ask him why and I told her he is his own person and no one should tell anyone what they should do. I am sorry about what you went thru and also I am sorry about what my son went thru. I have never spoken to him about it as I believe based on our close relationship it is his story to tell.His father died last year a hateful angry man. my son is54 now.
No child deserves to face that kind of fear or isolation, Teri...and the fact that he carried it quietly for so long...tells you everything about the strength he developed far too early.
And you handled it exactly right...you honored that it’s his story to tell... in his own time...on his own terms. That’s what safety looks like. That’s what respect looks like. Most people never get that kind of understanding from a parent.
As for me...yes, things that happen early in life shape you. They wire your instincts. They make you notice patterns other people miss. But they don’t get the last word...unless you let them...and I didn’t. And clearly...neither did your son.
He didn’t become who he is...because of what happened...he became who he is...in spite of it.
And you’re right...no one gets to demand reconciliation on someone else’s behalf. Healing is personal. Boundaries are personal. Forgiveness...or the lack of it...is personal. You protected his right to define that for himself...and that matters more than most people will ever realize.
I’m grateful you shared this. And I’m glad your son had you in his corner then...and still does now!
-Jack
Thank you for listening. It means a lot. This is a truly safe space. Glad I found you on Substack.
I feel better Jack. Ready to go again.
Virginia...you're the best. History...however the story gets written...if it's got a shred of truth in it...will say (about us): They. Never. Gave. Up.
-Jack
Having Schumer and the despicable eight turn their backs on the rest of us is as you say a gut punch. But I have survived worse. NS² Never submit. Never surrender.
Thank you for speaking the unvarnished truth.
Sue
That’s exactly it, Sue....the hit landed...but it didn’t break you. People who’ve survived real storms don’t get flattened by political whiplash. NS² ....is the RIGHT mantra for moments like this...you take the punch...square your stance...and stay alert.
And thank you...truth doesn’t need polish...it just needs to be said out loud...by people who refuse to look away. YOU...Sue...are one of them.
-Jack
I love this post like I love most of your posts, Jack. ("most of them" only because I haven't had time to read all of them!). But I get to the end of it, having recognized my stubborn self in it, and here I sit saying "OK BUT WHAT THE FUCK DO I DO?" I know, you've had great posts about what to do, so I try every day to do *something*: to write someone in office, call someone in office, donate a bit, post some good resources as widely as I can (including you my friend :), meet neighbors, grow my community.... What else?? Keep giving us tasks please?
I get it, Jane. That “WHAT THE HELL DO I DO NOW?” feeling hits hardest when you actually care. You’re not built to sit on your hands. You need motion...direction...something to push against.
That’s not a flaw...that’s why you’re still standing in this mess...when a lot of people checked out years ago.
And here’s the truth:
You’re already doing the real work.
Connecting with people.
Strengthening your community.
Sharing reliable information.
Reaching out.
Showing up.
Supporting the people doing hard jobs.
Keeping your corner of the world lit.
Those aren’t small things...those are the things that keep the center from collapsing.
But since you asked for more...here’s what “the next tier” looks like...and none of it involves burning yourself out or trying to save the world single-handed:
1. Build depth, not just motion.
Pick one issue you care about...and learn it inside and out.
Clarity beats volume every time.
2. Keep growing your local network.
Resilient communities...not institutions...are what carry people through chaotic times.
3. Strengthen yourself.
Mentally...emotionally...physically.
A strong person steadies entire rooms...without saying a word.
4. Document everything.
Not for arguments...for memory.
Numb societies collapse.
Remembering ones don’t.
5. Support systems you trust.
Any institution that protects transparency...accountability...or truth...if it matters to you... feed it.
6. Protect your stamina.
We’re not in a sprint.
We’re in a season.
You can’t help anyone...if you collapse from exhaustion.
And finally:
7. Keep showing up...consistently.
Not perfectly.
Not dramatically.
Just steadily.
That alone, Jane...puts you in the top 1% of people who actually hold the fabric together.
You’re not missing something.
You’re not falling short.
You’re not waiting for the “real” assignment.
You’re already doing the work...I’ll just keep giving you structure...clarity...and direction so you never feel like you’re doing it alone.
I’ve got you.
And I’m not slowing down.
-Jack
Woo hoo just found this. Thank you for all of it. Exactly what I needed. (How did you know hahaha.)
I would just add something about retaining a sense of humor—even dark humor—to keep us connected.
Your columns are amazing, and I read a lot. I have always wondered what Navy Seal training is like, certain that they get the best researched, best tested human technologies. Fascinating, and not altogether surprising.
Thank you.
This post is amazing! You are so on point in what I felt today. I even helped one of their campaigns. DIS-A-F@#$%ING-PPOINTED and betrayed. That stated, tomorrow, at 8 am, our weekly, rowdy group will protest on main street again. Go Democracy!❤️
I hear you, Vicky...that kind of disappointment hits harder when you actually invested time...energy...and heart. Betrayal from people you once backed...always lands with extra weight.
But I love...that you’ve already got your next morning mapped out. A rowdy group on Main Street...standing together...refusing to go numb? That’s how people keep their footing... when the week tries to knock it out...from under them.
Hold on to that fire. It’s earned.
-Jack
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. We will not let them win! I will not let them win. Thanks for keeping us clear eyed, focused, and attentive to the truth. I won’t let the idiots win! This is not their country. They have betrayed it. It is ours and we have work to do. As Yogi Berra used to say, “When you see a fork in the road, take it.’ Your message used the phrase of a fork in the road. I’m old, but it’s a Yogi-ism. He was wise, even if he didn’t realize it.
You’ve got the right fire, Jo. Tough moments...don’t break people like you...they sharpen you. And the Yogi Berra line is perfect here: when you hit a fork in the road...you move... you choose...you keep going.
No one “wins”...just because the rest of us get tired. People who stay awake...clear-eyed... and grounded...are the ones who hold the line...when everything feels shaky.
I’m glad you’re here. And I’m glad your spark’s still burning!
-Jack
Thank you for continuing to provide truth, clarity, and a path forward!
I caught your first post barely into O'Donnell's monologue. I was astonished by him and not surprised at all at what you said.
Thanks for this Ted pep talk. I am the point 'man' in my group of various ages and now I know what I will be saying and how I will be saying it. This is a big pile of stupid the democrats pulled, and not for the first time, and that requires that we be smarter, resilient, loud and persistent. If I didn't have my dog on my lap I would probably be pacing the house. Cheers Jack 🐸(I live in the PNW so …)
I’m glad it hit you at the right moment, Toni. Sometimes...you just need someone to say out loud...what everyone else is swallowing. And...if you’re the point person in your circle...you already know the job...keep people steady...keep them thinking...keep them from drifting into numbness.
Yeah, this week was a mess. No sugarcoating it. But moments like this don’t call for perfection...they call for resilience...clarity...and someone willing to stay centered...when everyone else...is spiraling.
Pace if you need to. Hold the dog if it keeps you anchored. And keep leading your crew the way you already are...clear-eyed...loud when it counts...and unwilling to get steamrolled by the noise.
Cheers back at you.
-Jack
As always, thanks Jack for the thoughts and feelings. “Get up. We’re not done.” you're damn right we're not! We have a midterm to protect and win, and a country's future to save. You're right I'm angry. I'm beyond angry I'm furious. But I will channel that anger into energy that will help me redouble my efforts to resist and end this trum[pian nightmare. Thanks again.
I hear that fury loud and clear, David...and honestly...it’s the right reaction when a week hits this hard. Anger isn’t the enemy...drifting into apathy is. You’re doing the smart thing... by turning that heat into fuel...instead of letting it scorch you...from the inside out.
“Get up. We’re not done.”
Yeah. That’s the whole point.
There’s a long road ahead...and it’s going to demand clear eyes...steady nerves...and people who don’t fold when they get hit. If anything...this week just clarified who’s awake... who’s paying attention...and who refuses to sit down in the fog.
Channel that energy into focus...endurance...and the work that keeps you grounded.
That’s how you stay strong...all the way through...not just in the moment you’re mad.
And I’m glad you’re here...for the long haul.
-Jack
Thanks for reminding me I am so much more than I think I am. I’m in. Way in. And I feel kinda macho with my bruises showing. Now I need a great tattoo to memorialize the commitment. If you have any ideas, would love to hear them. Have one Tatoo: a phoenix rising.
I love that energy, Julie...bruises aren’t shame...they’re proof you stayed in the fight. And if you’ve already got a phoenix...you’ve got the perfect foundation...for a next-level mark.
A few tight tattoo ideas that fit this moment...
• A cracked but unbroken sword...strength after impact.
• A heartbeat turning into a flame...resilience refusing to quit.
• A compass with one glowing point...direction through chaos.
• “Still Here.”...simple, brutal, undefeated.
If you want...I can match one to your phoenix so it feels like part of the same story.
-Jack
I have Mighty Mouse tattooed just above my knee.
Guess what? My first tattoo...ever...was Mighty Mouse. He's been covered up for years...with other ink...but I have a picture around somewhere on that tattoo. If I find it...I'll send it to you in a message, Wende!
-Jack
Get up.
We’re not done.
That’s going on the mirror Jack.
Abso-fucking-lutely.
That’s exactly where it belongs, Debby. A message you can’t dodge...can’t ignore...can’t talk yourself out of. Every time you look in that mirror...you’re staring at the version of yourself...that refuses to fold.
Get up.
We’re not done.
Not by a long shot!
-Jack
You know me too well. I don't give up, I get up. I have spent an hour reposting with comments, asking people to read about the sh#t that is going on with ICE targeting disabled brown people. Asking (as a warning) if all disabled no matter their color will be the next target for what I consider genocide of the disabled! EVIL is still rampant! We need to pay attention damn it. Never be in a position to say you didn't know! Stay in the fight! When they punch, throw an upper cut or kick their cowardly asses and ideas with your words of truth. Johnson says he will swear in the new Rep as first item if business. Don't get too excited, we get her signature, but the question is when will he allow it to go to the floor for a vote when he has 60 days of unfinished business to take care of. Keep the heat up by pushing him about it! It just ain't over by winning a battle, we have to win the next battle and then the next. Take a breath, take a day, but get back in the game. Stay loud, stay focused and stay here where we support each other. I have to wait until night to do most of mischief as I am a caretaker for my twin sister who has 4 kinds of cancer! She is in the battle of her life and mine. Things aren't going very well, but we will give it all we have for as long as she chooses. I will support her through whatever she has to do. If you pray, pls send one up for the twins. God will know who it is for.
This substack is a life line to keep me informed. Jack is an inspiration, but so are the rest of you. I read everything you write. It is my fuel. ⛽ Thank you all for being here! 💙🇺🇲
You’ve got a hell of a lot on your shoulders, Brenda...and the fact that you’re still standing...still speaking...still paying attention...still caring for your sister...still showing up here with this much heart… that says everything about who you are.
Your anger...isn’t misplaced. It’s what happens when someone with a working moral compass...watches people suffer...while others look away.
And you’re right...paying attention is the difference between being blindsided by reality... and being ready for it. That’s not politics...that’s awareness...vigilance...and refusing to let anyone be dehumanized...without calling it what it is.
But I want to say this clearly...
you don’t owe the world nonstop strength.
You’re carrying a twin through the hardest fight of her life. You’re exhausted. You’re worried. You’re stretched thin. And still you’re here...trying to keep other people from slipping into the dark.
That isn’t just resilience...it’s devotion.
And yes...I’ll absolutely send a prayer...a thought...whatever strength I’ve got...for both of you. I don’t need names. The intention lands.
This community is better because you’re in it. Your words carry weight. Your presence matters. And your sister is damn lucky to have you...fighting beside her.
Take care of her.
Take care of yourself.
And when you need to breathe...rest...or fall apart for a minute...that’s not weakness. That’s being human.
We’ve got you here.
You’re not doing any of this alone.
-Jack
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I am on top of Sissy's situation. That is my absolute priority!
And that, Brenda...tells me a LOT...about the person you are. I'm not the least bit surprised.
-Jack
If I haven't replied to your comment yet...you better believe...I WILL. I'm working through them, as I work on even more new material. Thank you for the grace...and understanding. So many comments to respond to, is a damn good "problem" to have!
-Jack