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SusanK's avatar

Gavin Newsom should be included as a hero as well, possibly Momdani in New york

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Marliss Desens's avatar

That is true for both Newsom and Momdani, but I am glad that Mark is focusing on people who are not getting much of the media attention.

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lauren's avatar

Bravo! Please continue to celebrate new heroes. For all of your readers one of the most important things you can do is to explain the importance of Governor Newsom‘s redistricting initiative. It is going to face a barrage of right wing disinformation, but it is our most important tool to win back Congress and get some shred of accountability.

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Bill Ahlstrom's avatar

Jamie Raskin has been unrelenting in his opposition to the Trump/MAGA/enablers excesses.

He should be on this list….always!

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Mark Jacob's avatar

Good thought. I agree. Obviously a lot of worthy people weren't mentioned.

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The Fact And Just The Facts's avatar

In addition to Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, Seth Myers offers humor, wit and insightful observations during late night hours.

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Marliss Desens's avatar

I also want to put in a word for Trae Crowder, who does You Tube videos as "Liberal Redneck."

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Kathleenmulcahy's avatar

The response to the weekly protests I attend can be rewarding, uplifting, and curious. The Protestors are Elders, by and large, and Denouncers drive by a line of us with signs - pieces of papers. The anger this engenders is non-proportional. This takes place in a town lately voted as the #1 place to raise a family in the US. How can it be that this particular POTUS can drive elder men to get red-faced and call us (get ready) POS and Faggots. What? The?Faggots??? It’s remarkable.

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Arnie Gundersen's avatar

Guilty. Sorry. Typo.

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Paula Dunn's avatar

❣️🇺🇸Thanks Mark Jacob

much needed clear eyed optimism🗽💫

https://bsky.app/profile/kenaiseasky.bsky.social/post/3lwozqk4izk23

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Nancy's avatar

Don't forget Gavin Newsom and his social media director, Camille Zapata. They are on it these days.

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David's avatar

Bravo Mr. Jacob. Three cheers for Bernie Sanders. And Orwell: “If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face -- forever.”

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Al Draycott's avatar

Yes resistance is not futile , Keep up the protests. Keep the Fascists, dictators and sycophants on the defensive side of the equation. Don't let up. Keep the heat on the despots. I understand they are releasing the Epstein files in bits and pieces. What a crock of crap that is. . Release the entire file without scrubbing it.

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Marina Oshana's avatar

Fantastic column, Mark. As you know are many others in these communities (political, media, law, corporate, academic etc) who are standing strong against the authoritarianism of this regime, and we need to do our best to elevate them in the public eye. Doing so empowers us. It’s encouraging us to know that we do have prominent people who are on our team.

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La's avatar
Aug 18Edited

Great list, and reassuring to know that you couldn’t possibly manage to name them all. Enjoying seeing others add their heroes to your list.

I was tickled to see you mention Kai Ryssdal (did you know he’s a former Naval aviator?) We love listening to Marketplace. In the same category of economic heroes, I really enjoy Paul Krugman, too. And another historian here on Substack who’s worth reading is Kevin M. Levin, whose area of interest & expertise is the Civil War: (https://open.substack.com/pub/kevinmlevin)

And then there are all the people in public health who are vocal in their condemnation of RFK, Jr.’s unconscionable, dangerous policies and who tirelessly counter his disinformation; all of the legal minds who speak out and work to protect our civil rights, educating the rest of us in the process (Joyce Vance and Marc Elias come instantly to mind, just for starters); all of the people working to protect our environment, and animals, and the most vulnerable among us. The list of smart, brave, resilient people — some whose names we know and most we don’t — is truly inspiring!

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Arnie Gundersen's avatar

Not Alligator Alcatraz. Alcatraz inmates had due process and were found quilts. What is happening in Florida is Alligator Auschwitz. .

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Kathleen Parrent's avatar

Good list. Also: Bernie, AOC, Gavin Newsom, Cory Booker, Alex Padilla, Robert Reich, Timothy Snyder, Indivisible, 50501, Red, Wine and Blue, CASA, ACLU, federal employee unions, survivors of Epstein abuse.

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Summertime65's avatar

Don't miss scholar David Blight, whose recent gathering of historians in the most recent New Republic is amazing.

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SedonaRocks's avatar

Just followed Kai Ryssdal. Thanks for the tip as I'm always looking for more bright lights in this darkness.

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