Friday Notes, May 2, 2025

Dear Friends —

You know Leonard Cohen’s “Anthem”? That’s the one with the lines:

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

If you’re a long-time reader of these ramblings, you know I turn to that song occasionally in very dark moments to remind us all of the promise of future enlightenment. (Pasting all the lyrics and a video of a beautiful performance below.) Well, recently I’ve seen some light coming through the cracks.

We are now in a dark place, seeing many of our fundamental assumptions about our country and the institutions we depend on being shaken to their core — and hearing way too many echoes of history ringing in hateful speech. Just another press conference, just another executive order, just another occasion to dehumanize, just another quashing of dissent with the threat of violence.

But there are cracks: polls hinting that the Americans actually don’t want chaos and cruelty, alongside increasingly effective organizing, from community levels to circles of individuals who hold significant power. And through those cracks (or at least the ones I’m aware of) here’s the kind of light I’m seeing.

A rejection of the win-lose frame. In both domestic politics and international engagement, the mindset of scarcity and competition — that another’s gain is necessarily our loss (of money, prestige, opportunity) — has propelled us into a place where we’re all going to be losers. This is apparent in the unprovoked trade war, of course, but also in the defunding of global health programs, the alienation of military allies, the demonization of immigrants, the ahistorical reading of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and much more. In recent weeks I’ve heard more and more public intellectuals and others in influential roles explicitly calling this out as a source of toxicity — and that is a start at shifting the frame. (Recommended reading: “The Zero Sum Presidency,” by Yascha Mounk.)

Exposure of the global anti-rights agenda and networks. It has been tempting, and dangerously myopic, to see everything that’s happening as a function of the singular Donald J. Trump. In fact, there now is abundant evidence that the United States is following a global trend, influenced by ideas that are swirling around many parts of the globe. You can look at it through the rise of those who are enriching themselves to stratospheric heights through proximity to power, or through the cut-and-paste anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQI+, anti-feminist, anti-intellectual policy agenda. From whatever facet you choose, you can see groups like Citizen Go and the Heritage Foundation working through both popular and elite networks to coordinate and reinforce anti-rights actions worldwide. While this might seem like just more darkness, it’s crucial to understand the magnitude of the challenge — and to appreciate that addressing it will take a long-term commitment of intellectual and financial capital. (Recommended listening: “The Reactionary Spirit in America — and Abroad,” a podcast with Milan Vaishnav and Zach Beauchamp.)

Coalition-building around core democratic principles and practices. Step by step, as redder and redder lines get crossed and the words “constitutional crisis” become part of the daily news diet, people who might not otherwise see themselves as resistors get off the couch. Many universities, some law firms, a few businesses, and governors and state legislators confronting the consequences of slash-and-burn federal power for their own citizens and political futures — all are finding ways toward collective power with peers and with others who want to preserve the core architecture of the union. They may not agree on much else, but they’re all in on separation of powers, the rule of law, distribution and redistribution of resources, separation of church and state, and a few more of the basics. Moreover, a lot of folks who would probably prefer to be watching Netflix, playing pickleball, or doing science — people who also may not agree on much beyond those basics — are out in the streets with signs and bullhorns, self-organized and eager to be heard.

A recognition that we don’t have to give up on historic progress on human and civil rights to broaden the base of support. In the aftermath of the 2024 election, some of the post-mortems focused on a narrative about how differences among center, left, and far left were to blame. One of the story lines was that young coastal progressives went “too far” by advocating for trans rights and other forms of recognition and repair that were alienating to middle (and middle-aged) America. A related story line held that the pro-inclusivity left was actually exclusionary, shunning and shaming people with whom they disagreed. (All of this was exacerbated by the third rail of progressive politics: Israel / Palestine.) The good news: I think there is a chance we are moving into a new and more promising moment. As noted above, we can build bridges with and among people who have divergent views about many things except the basics of a liberal democracy. And progressive politicians and communities can garner widespread support by both supporting an expansive agenda for human liberation and focusing more intentionally and effectively on economic rights and justice. (The Fighting the Oligarchy Tour is a phenomenon.)

So, that’s my version of optimism for the week. Feel free to send me yours (ruthelevine150@gmail.com)!

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Anthem, by Leonard Cohen

The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what has passed away
Or what is yet to be

Ah, the wars they will be fought again
The holy dove, she will be caught again
Bought and sold, and bought again
The dove is never free

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

We asked for signs
The signs were sent
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah, and the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see

I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
They're going to hear from me

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in

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And now, in time for wedding season, here’s something completely different . . . .

Have a good weekend,

-Ruth