Email From Baratunde

Issue 12,984

Heroes. Citizens.

We made it to Friday. I offer a round of applause on this momentous occasion. 👏🏾 Fridays may soon be outlawed along with facts and compassion. So let's celebrate.

I've reorganized this email and just wanted to take a moment before diving in to say thank you. The world is in a topsy turvy place right now, and especially in these United States. We've discovered a new solar system, and I'm sure that means the people who got rich processing payments online will feel justified in leading colonial exoplanetary expeditions soon. We've been bombarded with counterproductive nonsense from the new American White House and its de facto president Steve Bannon, aka Bad Santa, aka Never Has A Face Provided Such An Accurate Picture Of The Soul.

Yet we've also seen the orange alien invader unite various factions in an unpresidented alliance of resistance in which immigrants and trans people and scientists and patriotic republicans and the intelligence community stand for the America we know is possible and against incompetence and corruption and irrational fear of stairs.

In this email you'll get the regular dose of Baratunde updates and self promotion (updated website people!), but I will start by shining a light elsewhere on the artists and activists and everyday citizens doing good work to keep us sane and woke and filled with smiles.

I love some of you,

Baratunde

Things Others Have Done

Comedian, writer, and diversity inclusion specialist Luna Malbroux is on a solo tour of the United States for her Mapping Privilege project. I think you should support it. Luna was the visionary behind the satirical-yet-functional EquiTABLE mobile app.
The world's most powerful satirical venture capital fund has launched a satirical board game.
Roy Wood Jr. had his standup special air on Comedy Central February 19. One of the best parts of being at The Daily Show was spending time with this good and hilarious man.
Congress is on recess, and it's not too late to go hang out with them at their local town halls. Here's how. See some of the inspiring citizenry in action in these posts.
To read: we made artificial intelligence sexist. Surprise!
To read: Black artists have to make the best art ever to win a Grammy.
To watch: just 18 seconds. Trust me.
To listen: Pod Save America is my new favorite ear-based activity.
To listen: comedian and friend Myq Kaplan has another comedy album out. I should do one of these someday. But until then, get his.

Things I Have Done

My First PSA: Encrypt Yo Shit

It definitely has nothing to do with the new administration and its lack of basic understanding of or competence at government, democracy, technology, or spelling. Buuut, I teamed up with Sandwich Video and the Electronic Frontier Foundation to help launch tools that make the internet more secure.

Calling Congress. Every. Week.

I've been engaging in democracy by means more active than shopping—namely, calling my elected representatives live on Facebook every Tuesday. Tools from 5calls.org and TheSixtyFive.org have made it easier than ever. I'm trying to demonstrate the process so it's less scary and more fun. I play Hamilton tracks while on hold. See the videos.

A Few More Things

I joined as a guest on Michelle Buteau's Low Budget Talk Show alongside The Read's Crissle West and chef Sunny Anderson.
I tweeted about Michael Flynn stepping down as National Security Advisor. 💩
On Valentine's Day I wrote a love letter to immigrants. I ❤️ immigrants.

Things I Have Yet To Do

March 2, 2017 - Brooklyn, NY. I kick it with Questlove in public talking about creativity. Tickets.
March 15, 2017 - Austin, TX. I'm speaking at SXSW about Trump. It's at 3:30pm. I'm joining good people.
March 24, 2017 - San Francisco, CA. I do standup and a public conversation at the Brava Theatre. Info and tickets.
My taxes. I haven't done my taxes yet, but there's time.

This is the End of the Email

EOF AF