Today’s the day none of us thought could happen—but here we are. As we cross the noon hour, Donald Trump, despite being caught (and in many cases convicted) of one crime after another—including staging a violent coup in 2021—has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. 

Many of us are taking the day to sign off, turn away, and check out. This is totally understandable. In fact, even some of Trump’s most passionate fans are doing the same—forcing the incoming president to move his inauguration inside to avoid facing record low inaugural turnout despite Washington being surrounded by clear skies, sunshine and seasonal temps right around 30 degrees.

None of us need to hear his address to know what he’s going to say—so missing a day won’t matter that much. But, as you head into this evening, feeling that you’ve sent a message by not watching news coverage, please know that the Executive Orders will have been signed and the very threat we’ve worried about will have arrived in full force.

The 1,461 days are going to be brutal. And, as we all know is possible, the United States may not survive this round. 

But we cannot go quietly and we cannot wait until November of 2028. 

Tomorrow, roll up the sleeves. Turn the news back on. Grow your network. Defend your allies. Fight for your friends. Stay engaged. Be on alert. But do not give up. Never give up. Never surrender to the dying of the light.

In the words of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

With the media landscape changing so rapidly, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find trustworthy news and analysis. Our longtime reliance on the fourth estate to provide well-researched, properly sourced reporting has been shattered as media companies struggle to compete with emerging platforms and hosts of new providers and influencers who don’t play by the same rules as their predecessors. 

Making matters worse, traditionally trusted names like the Washington Post, New York Times, ABC News—and even left leaning sources like MSNBC—have abandoned hard-hitting, objective news for a “both sides” coverage that serves neither the reader or journalists who write it. Networks like CNN struggle to understand how they’re losing viewers while their lineups are filled with stale and pointless debate shows where viewers are subjected to political spin instead of reporting. This isn’t 1992, but somehow they think we want to see Crossfire or the McLaughlin Group again. Unfortunately, we’re past the point of debating supply-side economics. The entire government is burning while they cover it like a campfire—and do it with a  “both sides” approach where Democrats are equally to blame for the arsonist.

Last week, we asked you to share your thoughts on the news. Where do you get your content? What sources do you trust? How are you navigating a media world that is shifting more in the direction of untrained and unverified influencers than toward network evening news hosts or established newspapers with trained and experienced journalists?

Are you cancelling subscriptions to WaPo to prove a point? Or are you doubling down there to protect the journalists who Jeff Bezos hasn’t silenced…yet? Have you stopped watching Morning Joe since Joe and Mika flew to Mar-a-Lago to kiss Trump’s ring? Are there podcasts or Substacks that you lean on more? What about local news? Over the months ahead, we’ll keep asking. And let’s face it, what’s new today may be old by October, but for now, here’s what you had to say this week:

Wendy in Chagrin Falls is struggling with social media. When our club recently announced that we’re moving away from X and replacing it with Bluesky, she responded: 

“I know it is hard. I like Facebook Marketplace and Village Block Club (a group on Facebook for Chagrin Falls neighbors).  And my generation really embraced it.  I have friends from college and my old home town that otherwise I would not be in contact with—so yes, I feel it.  I did not delete.  So, I can pop on if I have an urge to purge.

“I did love twitter and I dumped that when it went to X and I haven’t looked back. We stopped watching CNN, MSNBC and are watching local, evening news at 6:30 and the Weather Channel. It has been a healthy switch. My podcast consumption may have increased but, even that gets redundant.”

Kerry in Pepper Pike said: “Democratic Underground is an excellent source not only for all things in the political realm, but diverse topics as well. Along with social engagement, participants compile information and related articles from a variety of media.”

Beth in Pepper Pike is working through new behaviors of consumption. “Here’s a snapshot of my current daily news routine: I continue to listen to Progress (Sirius XM), specifically the Stephanie Miller Show in the morning.  I also listen to Progress occasionally at lunchtime and especially when  in the car—Thom Hartmann‘s show from noon to 3pm and Michelangelo Signorile from 3pm – 6pm.   

“I no longer watch MSNBC during the noon hour (host is Andrea Mitchell and she needs to retire).  I continue to watch Joy Reid after dinner.  I check out MSNBC on the weekends—with the morning show “The Weekend“, along with Alex Witt and Ali Velshi. I continue to watch ABC local and evening news with David Muir and team.”

“We subscribe to the Plain Dealer and Chagrin Valley Times. I check Apple News throughout the day and appreciate stories by The Guardian, The Atlantic and Politico. The other digital news sources I value throughout the day via email blasts are: Axios, Ohio Capital Journal, Morning Brew, The New York Times, HuffPost and Forbes.

Finally, I do not subscribe (and never did) to X (Twitter).  No Instagram.  No TikTok. No Facebook other than Marketplace to sell personal items.  I’ve signed into Bluesky but haven’t really followed anyone or any news.  

I do want to mention that I check out FOX online a couple of times a week just to see their headlines.   Kind of my way of doing “market research” on the competition.  

Nicole in Chagrin Falls is discovering foreign alternatives: “I went to Toronto last month and noticed the news didn’t make my blood boil. I’ve been watching it since. Streaming services with live TV (Samsung TV, Fire TV, etc.) might have the CBC News channel. If not, it’s on YouTube or for reading.  Conservatives want to cut it, so it might not be good in perpetuity, but it is for now. It covers major U.S. news but also what’s news in Canada is interesting. BBC also covers the Americas.  State-owned seems to be better than right-wing billionaire-owned if the state believes in social democracy, I guess.”

“There seems to be more journalistic integrity outside the U.S., so I also like France 24.”

Halle in Orange was inspired to go more local after discussions at our last meeting : “I started listening to Today in Ohio, the podcast from Cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer, hosted by editor Chris Quinn and featuring several reporters. It’s a way to learn more about local and state issues while I’m driving to work.”

If you couldn’t attend our March meeting, you missed a great presentation from Kathleen McGorray and Laura Pulliam of the Cleveland chapter of Moms Demand Action as they discussed their organization, their mission and the steps they are taking to help advance gun safety legislation. At the moment, there are a number of bills in committee—where they are likely to stay without constituent pressure or a change in the composition of the legislature.

Among the bills are:

• HB417, the Enact the Keeping Our Survivors Safe Act, which prohibits a person charged with or convicted of first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence from owning a firearm.
• HB418, the “Common-sense Conceal Carry Law” which would repeal permit less concealed carry law, restores duty ti notify police of concealed handgun during a traffic stop,
• HB419, the Enact the Universal Background Check Act (co-sponsored by State Rep. Phil Robinson) would require background checks for all sales and transfers of firearms, closes the unlicensed dealer “gun show loophole”;
• HB420, the Enact the Building Safer Communities for Ohio’s Children Act, which would declare gun violence a public health crisis and establish an Office of Firearm Violence Prevention within the Ohio Department of Children and Youth; and
• HB421, which would establish the Ohio Task Force on Gun Violence

Interested in tracking any or all of these bills? Create an account on the Ohio General Assembly website and you’ll receive updates as they occur. To learn more about the co-sponsors of these bills, or contact their committee chairs, please visit the Ohio House of Representatives website.