Barbara Didrichsen
@bdidrichsen.bsky.social
My post-career passion is making my walkable community actually safe for walking (and biking). You can also find me at https://substack.com/@barbaradidrichsen
“Every increase means tough choices,” Dodd said. "We should be making it easier for family farms to survive, not harder.” @piperformissouri.bsky.social
Tariffs trickle into cost of Thanksgiving dinner, jilting consumers and farmers • Ohio Capital Journal
Collin Tuthill, president of one of the country’s largest canned and frozen food importers and distributors, said the current state of the U.S. food industry is “like we live in some kind of alternate...
ohiocapitaljournal.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:17 PM
“Every increase means tough choices,” Dodd said. "We should be making it easier for family farms to survive, not harder.” @piperformissouri.bsky.social
Vote with your dollars.
A call to action
‘We Ain’t Buying It’
contrarian.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Vote with your dollars.
As far as I'm concerned, crypto is just another term for kryptonite. No way I want to put any of my own money in this scheme that's frequently involved in crime and grift.
The Trump Trade is Unraveling
Tells from the crypto crash
paulkrugman.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:23 PM
As far as I'm concerned, crypto is just another term for kryptonite. No way I want to put any of my own money in this scheme that's frequently involved in crime and grift.
"What we are reading is a demand for capitulation by a country which is not doing well in a war that it began. It could never gain anything like the terms of this agreement on the battlefield. It needs Americans for that."
Russian Unreality and American Weakness
Notes from a bizarre moment of diplomatic history
snyder.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:40 AM
"What we are reading is a demand for capitulation by a country which is not doing well in a war that it began. It could never gain anything like the terms of this agreement on the battlefield. It needs Americans for that."
“Quiet Piggy.”
All you need to know about how this president thinks about --and treats -- women (and girls).
All you need to know about how this president thinks about --and treats -- women (and girls).
"Quiet Piggy!"
Subscribe to Civil Discourse and become part of a community that believes we have the power to save democracy, and that we don’t have to obey a president who wants us to give up our rights so he can b...
joycevance.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:28 PM
“Quiet Piggy.”
All you need to know about how this president thinks about --and treats -- women (and girls).
All you need to know about how this president thinks about --and treats -- women (and girls).
Remember how Republicans have been saying for years that they’re fine with immigration as long as people are following the rules?
Arrested for Following the Rules
The danger of ICE’s strategy of targeting immigrants fulfilling their legal responsibilities.
www.thebulwark.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Remember how Republicans have been saying for years that they’re fine with immigration as long as people are following the rules?
It's the stop and start nature of driving that drives the kind of impatience I never feel when I'm walking.
An Accidental Month Without Driving
Or, Bozeman, Montana on foot
thedeletedscenes.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM
It's the stop and start nature of driving that drives the kind of impatience I never feel when I'm walking.
Everybody's celebrating NYC, NJ and VA results.
But look what happened in Ohio, even in reliably red districts!
To understand what happened yesterday, we need to look further than the elections that national media paid the most attention to.
But look what happened in Ohio, even in reliably red districts!
To understand what happened yesterday, we need to look further than the elections that national media paid the most attention to.
Woke ain't dead, it just took a couple shots
Republicans took a beating in School Board races across Ohio, which could signal trouble for its chosen 2028 gubernatorial candidate,
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Everybody's celebrating NYC, NJ and VA results.
But look what happened in Ohio, even in reliably red districts!
To understand what happened yesterday, we need to look further than the elections that national media paid the most attention to.
But look what happened in Ohio, even in reliably red districts!
To understand what happened yesterday, we need to look further than the elections that national media paid the most attention to.
"We can’t fix this whole broken world, but we can take its pieces and make something else. We will make different mistakes, but perhaps the damage will be more contained. We will write new fables, but maybe they will be slightly closer to the truth."
Rereading The Poisonwood Bible
Back where it all began
hollyberkleyfletcher.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
"We can’t fix this whole broken world, but we can take its pieces and make something else. We will make different mistakes, but perhaps the damage will be more contained. We will write new fables, but maybe they will be slightly closer to the truth."
This is nothing to celebrate for Ohio Democrats. But it also delivered a blow to Republicans, who were angling to get even more seats in this round.
Between now and the 2030 census, I hope we can resurrect a nonpartisan redistricting commission so this forkery ends in 2031.
Between now and the 2030 census, I hope we can resurrect a nonpartisan redistricting commission so this forkery ends in 2031.
Inside the Ohio Democratic Congressional heist
Ohio Democrats walked away with a deal that would have seemed impossible as little as month ago. They can thank a "small group of people."
www.rooster.info
November 3, 2025 at 1:48 PM
This is nothing to celebrate for Ohio Democrats. But it also delivered a blow to Republicans, who were angling to get even more seats in this round.
Between now and the 2030 census, I hope we can resurrect a nonpartisan redistricting commission so this forkery ends in 2031.
Between now and the 2030 census, I hope we can resurrect a nonpartisan redistricting commission so this forkery ends in 2031.
"Art Cullen managed to see what I see every day. He captured the goodness of the people he knows. The people I know.
"He tells a hard story, but one with hope. There is still hope in Iowa. In the Heartland. Things can change, and the state is at a tipping point."
"He tells a hard story, but one with hope. There is still hope in Iowa. In the Heartland. Things can change, and the state is at a tipping point."
Government policies reward and compensate too much corn that needs too much fertilizer which runs off into too many streams and rivers and eventually kills too many people.
jesspiper.substack.com/p/universal-...
jesspiper.substack.com/p/universal-...
Universal Truths
Unspoken costs
jesspiper.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"Art Cullen managed to see what I see every day. He captured the goodness of the people he knows. The people I know.
"He tells a hard story, but one with hope. There is still hope in Iowa. In the Heartland. Things can change, and the state is at a tipping point."
"He tells a hard story, but one with hope. There is still hope in Iowa. In the Heartland. Things can change, and the state is at a tipping point."
I've been in England for over a week now. We're having a great time. A fun piece about the signs and sights I've seen that appeal to my droll side.
Whimsy
The lighter side of travel
barbaradidrichsen.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
I've been in England for over a week now. We're having a great time. A fun piece about the signs and sights I've seen that appeal to my droll side.
@microsoft I'm so frigging frustrated with you.
Dear Microsoft...
And I pay good money for this
barbaradidrichsen.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:53 PM
@microsoft I'm so frigging frustrated with you.
@microsoft.com I am about to go ballistic over an account issue, which has me locked out for 30 days. I'm about to leave the country and need access to my account. I've tried every method possible to reach SOMEONE. You've defied everything I've tried. Please contact me.
October 3, 2025 at 12:20 PM
@microsoft.com I am about to go ballistic over an account issue, which has me locked out for 30 days. I'm about to leave the country and need access to my account. I've tried every method possible to reach SOMEONE. You've defied everything I've tried. Please contact me.
"From the slight shunning of my Congressman, to the State Senate seat in Iowa, to the former Trump voter seeking me out, I feel like we can recognize that things in the heartland aren’t what they were. Things are changing."
Reporting From the Ground
Over their skis
jesspiper.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
"From the slight shunning of my Congressman, to the State Senate seat in Iowa, to the former Trump voter seeking me out, I feel like we can recognize that things in the heartland aren’t what they were. Things are changing."
"Trump voters and people who didn’t bother to vote need to learn for real that elections have consequences. The question is, what price the rest of us are willing to pay...because given all the rest of what Trump is doing and may yet do, his miserable economy could very well be the least of it."
Trump is destroying America. Are his voters starting to realize that?
Democrats are on the right track by picking a shutdown fight over cruel Republican health care choices.
jilllawrence.substack.com
September 21, 2025 at 2:45 PM
"Trump voters and people who didn’t bother to vote need to learn for real that elections have consequences. The question is, what price the rest of us are willing to pay...because given all the rest of what Trump is doing and may yet do, his miserable economy could very well be the least of it."
What if the decision you make behind the wheel of your car today saves the life of a total stranger? www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHp1...
September 21, 2025 at 2:32 PM
What if the decision you make behind the wheel of your car today saves the life of a total stranger? www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHp1...
"The reason we have freedom of speech is to speak truth to power. Lies coming from power are not essential to freedom of speech."
Four and a half minute video from historian and author of "On Tyranny," Timothy Snyder.
Four and a half minute video from historian and author of "On Tyranny," Timothy Snyder.
Speak truth to power
And other thoughts about a difficult week in the US
snyder.substack.com
September 20, 2025 at 12:32 PM
"The reason we have freedom of speech is to speak truth to power. Lies coming from power are not essential to freedom of speech."
Four and a half minute video from historian and author of "On Tyranny," Timothy Snyder.
Four and a half minute video from historian and author of "On Tyranny," Timothy Snyder.
When this nightmare ends, ICE must go. Reform won't be enough -- it needs to be eliminated.
I wish the cruelty were enough to persuade people that this cannot continue, but that hasn't worked so far. Maybe the economic pain will pierce the fog in a way that calls to our shared humanity does not.
I wish the cruelty were enough to persuade people that this cannot continue, but that hasn't worked so far. Maybe the economic pain will pierce the fog in a way that calls to our shared humanity does not.
ICEing the U.S. Economy
Mass deportations will hurt more than people realize
paulkrugman.substack.com
August 20, 2025 at 11:27 AM
When this nightmare ends, ICE must go. Reform won't be enough -- it needs to be eliminated.
I wish the cruelty were enough to persuade people that this cannot continue, but that hasn't worked so far. Maybe the economic pain will pierce the fog in a way that calls to our shared humanity does not.
I wish the cruelty were enough to persuade people that this cannot continue, but that hasn't worked so far. Maybe the economic pain will pierce the fog in a way that calls to our shared humanity does not.
My frustration with the Democratic party, in a nutshell. I can only imagine how much greater that frustration is in rural parts of my state and others.
They Can't See What I See
Because they aren't from where I'm from
jesspiper.substack.com
August 18, 2025 at 1:03 PM
My frustration with the Democratic party, in a nutshell. I can only imagine how much greater that frustration is in rural parts of my state and others.
"My neighbors would assume I was drunk if I knocked on their door and talked about Epstein’s Island in an attempt to get them to vote for Democrats, but they would all nod in agreement if I talked about the price of hamburger meat. Focus on groceries and housing and insurance and child care."
Will Work for Food
The price of groceries
jesspiper.substack.com
August 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
"My neighbors would assume I was drunk if I knocked on their door and talked about Epstein’s Island in an attempt to get them to vote for Democrats, but they would all nod in agreement if I talked about the price of hamburger meat. Focus on groceries and housing and insurance and child care."
“I wish the good people of Bibb County would start connecting dots and looking at big pictures. They, too, have one foot in autocracy and the other one getting a pedicure, they just don't realize it. They are fixated on the chips in their toenail polish while their entire foot is being sawed off.”
We've got one foot in autocracy, and the other one is getting a pedicure
Bifurcated lives
hollyberkleyfletcher.substack.com
August 5, 2025 at 12:38 PM
“I wish the good people of Bibb County would start connecting dots and looking at big pictures. They, too, have one foot in autocracy and the other one getting a pedicure, they just don't realize it. They are fixated on the chips in their toenail polish while their entire foot is being sawed off.”
"Silence is not surrender. This isn’t a plea for passivity. It’s a strategy of intentional absence. Walkouts, not speeches. Work slowdowns, not slogans. Strategic disobedience, not symbolic outrage."
The Regime Doesn’t Fear Your Rage. It Fears Your Absence.
Political journals are too afraid to touch it: why mass non-cooperation is more dangerous than protest.
www.thelongmemo.com
July 25, 2025 at 2:25 PM
"Silence is not surrender. This isn’t a plea for passivity. It’s a strategy of intentional absence. Walkouts, not speeches. Work slowdowns, not slogans. Strategic disobedience, not symbolic outrage."
"In theory, we can build our way to affordability. In reality, the way we go about financing housing will never let us."
What Happens When Housing Prices Go Down (because they are)?
A reflection on affordability, finance, and the deep contradictions we struggle to face.
open.substack.com
July 21, 2025 at 12:40 PM
"In theory, we can build our way to affordability. In reality, the way we go about financing housing will never let us."
I'm trying to wrap my mind around the fact that the #1 issue Trump supporters have raised strong objections to isn't cruel immigration tactics, defying judicial orders or trashing the Constitution -- it's not releasing the Epstein files.
July 13, 2025 at 4:12 PM
I'm trying to wrap my mind around the fact that the #1 issue Trump supporters have raised strong objections to isn't cruel immigration tactics, defying judicial orders or trashing the Constitution -- it's not releasing the Epstein files.