Articles of Interest

(click on an article)

The Threat of Oligarchy
A 10-minute Instagram video by George Monbiot, journalist and author of The Invisible Doctrine.
A well informed message delivered in a convincing British accent. His premise is that the U.S. and other Western democracies are already oligarchies and that the tendency to become an oligarchy is part of an inevitable, repeating cycle that has occurred worldwide for thousands of years. He argues that, historically, there are only 4 events that have reversed the tendency of oligarchs to keep amassing more and more power: Total War, Total and violent revolution, State Collapse, Massive Plague. Monbiot doesn’t want these things to happen but he cautions that millions of people with have to make concerted and relentless efforts to push back against the advance of oligarchs.
Contributed by: Wes M.

Republican Senators Put Manhood in Lockbox
A Daily Beast article by Democrat Rahm Emanuel describing how Republican leaders are absent in holding Donald Trump accountable.
Rahm Emanuel has called out his former Republican colleagues in Congress for being MIA while President Donald Trump and his “First Buddy” Elon Musk steamroll the federal government.
Contributed by: Sally P.

DOCC Information
A Word document containing Information about some Comal County organizations affiliated with the Democratic Party.
This document provides information about some meetings dates of the Democrats of Comal County (DOCC) and the Democratic Women of Comal County (DWCC). At time of posting, the meetings had already take place. But the information in this document provides details of the organizations themselves.
Contributed by: Suzanne M.

Trump Donors
A Word Document listing companies and executives who have donated to Donald Trump.
This document provides a listing of companies and executives who have either donated to Trump's presidential campaign or the Presidential Inaugrual Committee. Some may consider boycotting these companies.
Contributed by: Suzanne M.

How to Actually Change Someones Mind
A 10-minute read of an article by Laura Huang and Ryan Yu, written in 2020.
You don't change people's minds by simply beating them with facts and prevailing in debate. Instead, challenge them to convince themselves.
Contributed by: Wes M.

Facts Aren't Enough: The Psychology Of False Beliefs
A 50-minute audio by by Shankar Vedantam, Maggie Penman, Camila Vargas Restrepo,Laura Kwerel, and Tara Boyle.
A young mother is initially convinced to not vaccinate her child. And other examples.
Contributed by: Wes M.

The Influential Mind: What the Brain Reveals About Our Power to Change Others
A book by author Tali Sharot; neuroscientist and professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London and MIT. Available from Amazon in paperback, audiobook, and e-book.
The Influential Mind takes us on a thrilling exploration of the nature of influence. We all have a duty to affect others - from the classroom to the boardroom to social media. But how skilled are we at this role, and can we become better? It turns out that many of our instincts - from relying on facts and figures to shape opinions, to insisting others are wrong or attempting to exert control - are ineffective because they are incompatible with how people's minds operate. Sharot shows us how to avoid these pitfalls and how an attempt to change beliefs and actions is successful when it is well matched with the core elements that govern the human brain.
Contributed by: Wes M.

Republicans Face Angry Voters at Town Halls, Hinting at Broader Backlash
A New York Times article by Robert Jimison, reported from Trinity County in the 17th Congressional District of Texas.
After a monthlong honeymoon for the G.O.P. at the start of President Trump’s term, lawmakers are confronting a groundswell of fear and disaffection in districts around the country.
Contributed by: Suzanne M.

Motive Ambiguity
People commit evil acts to prove they're part of the crowd that's willing to do such things, even when they know it's evil and will not benefit them personally.
AI alignment research yields psychological insights. Explanation of Trumper's behavior from AI research. This is an incredibly convoluted series of connections but it finally explains the whole "own the libs at whatever cost to me" mentality of the Trumpers. Who would have guessed?
Contributed by: Wes M.

How to Un-D.E.I Your Office
Humor (on a matter that isn't really funny). A short, satirical video which aired on The Daily Show. Mildly profane language.
A satirical segment from The Daily Show which parodies corporate training programs by humorously illustrating how companies might dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, in accordance with Trump's dismantling of DEI initiatives.
Contributed by: Wes M.

Is Musk Becoming the Bigger Threat?
A 10-minute Brooks and Capehart video segment from PBS Newshour.
New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post editor Jonathan Capehart discuss the week in politics, including the mood on the ground from voters at town hall meetings, Elon Musk's prominence in the Trump administration and a prominent law firm and Columbia University comply with White House demands.
[Member's opinion: Trump is dumb and dangerous. But Musk is smart and dangerous, and possibly running in 2028.]
Contributed by: Wes M.