Bette’s Weekly Roundup - Things To Remember
A list of the important stories of the week in one post
I am going to a French New Wave party, and I’m having a helluva time deciding if I want to dress like Fanny Ardant in Truffaut’s Confidentially Yours, Jean Seberg in Godard’s Breathless, Jeanne Moreau in Malle’s Elevator to the Gallows, or just keep it simple - put on a suit and glasses and go as Jean Luc-Godard. So many choices.
Last night, when I was one-minute too late to order my favorite Indian food take-out, I was ready to walk home with my consolation prize of my favorite cup of Chai when I heard one of my beloved Red Hot Chili Peppers songs’ Otherside wafting out of an Irish bar up the block.
Lured into the bar like a siren song, I discovered a vibrant scene in my own hood, but more importantly, I discovered they served food til 11 pm. I found a server, ordered a bomb burger, and tucked myself away in a corner to watch my neighbors in their natural habitat. Having been a nightlife columnist for 15 years, I am a keen observer.
My solitude lasted about 30 seconds, when I was joined by Rob, John, Wayne, and Jackson, and a robust conversation that can only take place in a bar ensued, because no one ever brings anything small into a bar. Soon we were joined by Richard and Christa, and before you knew it, I was invited to a wedding. The festivus erased the pain of the day - caused by all the messages I received from well-meaning people alerting me that my reputation is being trashed online by paid goons on the wrong side of history. That, and the psychologically battering emails that continue to stalk me.
But President Jackie Singh had already alleviated the worst of it. The former lead threat analyst for the Biden campaign, wrote me these words:
“Nothing they say matters, because they are nothing to you. Nothing anyone says who doesn’t love you matters.”
She reminded me of something I believe in my heart - love is what matters.
The rest? Pffft.
Just a reminder to stay close to the warrior goddesses in coming days - Ruth, Joyce, and Heather. Most of you already subscribe to their substacks. I am finding their words to be our best defense against the authoritarian right. I am hoping my words offer you similar relief and clarity.
We are all we have.
Looking forward to seeing many of you at tomorrow’s ‘Speakeasy’ Zoom with Martin Sheil. For registration details, please go here. If you want to upgrade to a paid membership and join our brilliant community, the 20% annual discount is still available for a few more hours here.
A note for new members: I write this Best of Bette post for all the busy members of this community, who may only have time to read one post. It contains all the essential reporting from the week. Nearly half of you read every post, and I truly am grateful for that.
So here’s what’s up:
I felt an urgency to create a priority list - some sort of framework - as a starter kit of what needs to happen to prevent the further deepening of authoritarian capture in the West. If you find this useful, please share.
‘The Walk-Back’ - Propaganda Exposed
Part of my fight-fascism toolkit, I expose a fluency in doublespeak. I knew that Ron DeSantis walking back his Kremlin friendly comment on the war in Ukraine, where he parroted Putin propaganda, would be problematic for the casual observer, so I asked Ruth Ben-Ghiat to clarify:
“The first impact is the tell,” said Ruth. “The first thing you say is the tell. The correction? Meh, no one cares. The walk-back is just politics. The master of this is Putin. These are strategies of propaganda and it’s signaling. The walk-back is insincere, and that too is staged.”
Thanks to Ruth’s brilliance, it took me a couple of minutes to write the post and about three hours to find the perfect accompanying gif of an ostrich running backwards. Lol.
Things to Remember - A List So You Won’t Forget
Anyone who has been reading Bette since the beginning knows that I promised this would be an anti-fascist fanzine. I believe I am delivering on that promise. Such muses as Ruth and Jason Stanley have given me an unlimited supply of inspiration that I like to share with you. It was Ruth who tipped me off about memory repression and self-censorship being early stage autocracy.
So I collected my most essential articles in one place for easy reference. Upon reviewing, I realized I had just listed out the entire game. I hope you share it far and wide. I also recorded the podcast version for paid members.
Byline Times - My Roundup of Trump’s Legal Cases
As I wrote:
Last night, I stayed up until the wee hours writing to the drama of lightning, thunder, and torrential rain to file my latest Byline Times report - Trump’s Various Legal Entanglements, which features a laundry list of cringy criming allegations. Just writing ‘allegations’ makes the bile rise. Trump has been criming in plain site, and when piecing together this investigation, it seems truly remarkable that he still walks free.
As I recorded all the legal cases potentially securing Trump’s path to unfreedom, my heart heavy that so many millions were duped by a veteran con man, do note - the base may be shrinking to a pinhead. This is good for America, and good for the world.
And btw, it’s a mob story. That much is clear. We will be talking with Marty about that on Sunday.
‘Springtime for Fraudsters’ - Martin Sheil on Trump’s Path to Unfreedom
Speaking of Marty, when I reached out to him for comment on Trump’s legal entanglements, he sent me something so beautiful, I had to print it verbate. Enjoy.
A little something I co-wrote that shows off my comedic chops. Perhaps not surprisingly, what I predicted about the eventual arrests of Fifth Column traitors appears to be coming true. Trump will look like the mobster he is when wigs, lifts, tanning beds, and good lighting are unavailable to him. By then, he’ll likely be pulling a Vincent the Chin - perfecting the art of the bathrobe shuffle.
The podcasts are for paid members, but I include links to the print versions, which are free.
The Last Smile - Resistance Reflections
It’s important we reflect on the moments. I shared a photo of my last smile before the 2016 election. I knew Trump was going to win, so I began writing feverishly the truth about him and media. I naively thought my words could sway the wind, and that the American people would rise to the occasion and elect the qualified candidate once they understood they were being duped.
I wrote of that photo:
In that moment, I had faith in my country and its citizens. Our imperfect democracy would withstand an assault from the authoritarian right and tankie left, and we would begin the healing from a vitriolic campaign cycle.
My children would have a record of how hard their mother fought for her presidency - both in the trenches phone banking and on my laptop.
Click.
And then, America elected a Russian asset - aided by an ongoing foreign attack and Fifth Column traitors.
It would be a long time before I smiled again.
Like millions throughout America, I felt the weight of the world settle on my shoulders.
It’s still there.
But as long as I’m taking action, and I got you and allies, I push on.
Stronger together.❤️🤍💙
Indeed we are.
I am glad you are here.
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PAID MEMBERS! Please register for the Bette Dangerous ‘Speakeasy’ Zoom, Sunday, March 26, 4 pm PT, with our featured guest retired IRS criminal investigator Martin Sheil, who will answer questions about Trump’s legal and financial entanglements. Looking forward to meeting new members and seeing Bette’s core group. Registration link here.
Bette Dangerous is a reader-funded magazine. Thank you to all monthly, annual, and founding members. Thank you as well to all those who support my work with your generous coffee tips and who buy my ebooks. A private link to group activist discounts available upon request.
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More info about Bette Dangerous - This magazine is written by Heidi Siegmund Cuda, an Emmy-award winning investigative reporter, author, and veteran music and nightlife columnist. She is the cohost of RADICALIZED Truth Survives, an investigative show about disinformation and is part of the Byline Media team. Thank you for your support of independent investigative journalism.
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“Something Sacred never dies in almost all of us, that can hear the invitation of Truth…”-words from a Bette Dangerous community member
Photo: ‘Here’s looking at you, kid’. Rainy day cacti with eyes - Huntington Gardens.