Week 3: Two Truths and a Fiction
News is overwhelming,... Let's try something new! This week we talk tariffs, Zelenskyy, and the empathy curse of Black women!
Top Domestic News Headline this Week:
Tariffs by Whim Keep Allies Off Balance, but Do the Same to Markets. New York Times
What?
I never understand why Trump is so upset about trade with Mexico and Canada. During his first term, he renegotiated the trade deal. But anyway, after spending weeks threatening to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada, he walked it back again when the markets started tanking. SMH.
Why do we care?
It shows that apart from the Supreme Court, markets play a big role in reeling in the Executive.
Top International News headline this week:
Zelenskyy calls Oval Office spat with Trump ‘regrettable,’ says he’s ready to work for Ukraine peace. AP.
What?
You might’ve seen the headlines about Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance effectively berating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and suspending military aid. Given that Ukraine is smack in the middle of a hot conflict with Russia, this is a big deal. But Zelensky is trying to smooth things over.
Why do we care?
This whole situation—Americans distancing ourselves from democratic nations and cozying up to more authoritarian ones—forces us to question who we are as a nation. We’ve championed Western values since World War II (and certainly throughout the Cold War), building strong alliances around shared democratic ideals. Watching it all unravel just makes me wonder: who are we becoming as a country?
The Fiction Fix
Alright, y’all, I finally got around to starting Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, and I’m genuinely obsessed. One thing really stood out to me:
The Power (and Pain) of Extreme Empathy
The main character, Lauren, has hyper-empathy syndrome. When I read it, I realized how powerful it was that Butler so clearly captured the Black woman’s experience through this fictional character. For many Black women I know, that is both our blessing and our curse— we are hyper-empathetic.
We see it in how we rally around social justice issues, care for our spouses and children, and put ourselves on the line for human rights. It’s a blessing because we connect so deeply with others, but it’s also a curse because it can be emotionally draining. Butler captures that tension so well.
(This week two people called me the next Octavia Butler, I’m honored and embracing it! My book comes out next week!)
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