Love, Among the Ruins: Best of Bette 2024
Oh, America
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I had the sense to say yes to an invitation to watch the election results with activist friends. I generally prefer the solitude of my own company but on that night, I needed to be among allies.
Hiding under my Harris/Walz camo hat, my friends could see my distress and they gave me a coloring book and pencils so I could focus on clean lines and color contrast.
My hosts know I have post-traumatic news syndrome so they muted the cable news channel they were watching, but when I saw America’s Yanukovych take the stage, I got up and said, “I can’t do this again.”
I read history and document elections of other countries. I host an investigative show on disinformation and write a column for Byline Times. I publish my findings week after week here at Bette, where I am read by 81 countries.
Oh, America. Your navel gazing allowed for a sucker punch.
And here we are, love, among the ruins. The love of community, love for democracy, and even love for those who know not what they have done.
My life changed in that augenblick that Marci Shore referred to. I have always believed in love.
Through all of this, love is what we have to give freely. Guard it like a rare jewel.
Below, some of my favorite reports from 2024.
I’m glad you are here.
Best of Bette 2024
There are Bette podcasts to check out, event video/audio recaps with brilliant guests, incredible episodes of RadPod, important work at Byline, but the reports above should keep new members busy for awhile and offer a good refresh for veteran members.
Thank you for your support of my work. You will find buttons below if you feel like tipping your writer — there are no paywalls for my personal Bette investigations. I am grateful to be reader-funded in a time when the freedom to speak truth to power is in danger worldwide. As Maria Ressa says, “First they came for the journalists. We don’t know what happened next.”
In solidarity, reality, truth, and unity,
Heidi xo
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More info about Bette Dangerous - This magazine is written by Heidi Siegmund Cuda, an Emmy-award winning investigative reporter/producer, 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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Begin each day with a grateful heart.
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Love is all that matters ❤️ yes we all suffer from PTSD and hoping for the best but we shall see 🤦♀️
What a wonderful page, beautiful even among our ruins.... I love that photo at the end 🌹