Hold on to Your Butts

resources for election commentary as we weather the week

Samuel L. Jackson always has the best advice.

No matter what happens on election night, this election won’t be decided and out of our collective system for quite a while. So I thought I would share some of the news resources that I will certainly be turning to for election results and commentary.

1. Democracy Now!
   Democracy Now! 2024 Election Night Live Broadcast
   You may already know this one, but have you checked in with it recently? Amy Goodman and her team have been on the frontlines of lefty news since 1996. While mainstream news only covers international news when it directly affects The United States of America, Democracy Now! covers so many international stories that it will have you googling the names of countries.
   
   “Wait… ‘Moldova’? That’s a country? It sounds like the name of a fake country in an Avengers movie.”
   
   Usually, I listen to this show after NPR’s morning news show Up First, which is like following a pumpkin spice latte up with a black coffee that has a double shot of espresso.
   

2. The Majority Report with Sam Seder
   Election Night 2024
   This show initially began as a program on the very short-lived progressive talk radio station Air America. As short-lived as the station was, it gave birth to some major shows and talent. Rachel Maddow was there before MSNBC picked her up. Air America was where comedian Marc Maron met producer Brendan McDonald. That relationship led to the legendary podcast WTF with Marc Maron. And Air America was also where comedian Al Franken decided to put his jokes where his mouth was and become a senator.
   
   Hosted by Sam Seder and Emma Vigeland, The Majority Report delivers progressive ideas in a mainstream format. Sam Seder is a former comedian and part-time actor who has been in the world of politics long enough that he has a sobering and reasoned take on pretty much everything, while sticking true to his lefty bonafides. And Emma is a former member of the Young Turks YouTube network, who seemingly got out of there just in time. Emma provides the necessary younger millenial perspective to Sam’s Gen X dad vibe. (a vibe I resemble) The MVP of the show is Matt Lech, who reminds me of my best friend Jason in high school. While no one’s politics is quite pure enough for Matt, his natural charisma and good humor carries his message. This show is filled with biting humor and heart.
   
   

3. The Rational National
   Trump’s MSG Rally BACKFIRES Big Time
   Hosted by Canadian David Doel, The Rational National is a classic YouTube-style show that features a person sitting in a chair (usually in their house) talking directly to camera. David’s easy manner and professional air give it an accessible approach that many YouTube shows don’t have. He clearly takes his work seriously, enjoys it, but also seems like a genuinely nice guy… and not just because he’s Canadian. But because he is Canadian, you also learn more about Canadian politics (not as rosy as we want to believe down here), and you get an outsider’s perspective on our country’s craziness. David is also a dad. And you can tell, in the best way possible.
   
   

4. Olurnatti
   Is Obama Helping Democrats Scapegoat Black Men for Not Supporting Kamala Harris?
   This is a YouTube channel hosted by Olayemi Olurin, a self described “movement lawyer and political commentator.” But she is so much more than that. She is best known for reading New York City mayor Eric Adams for filth on the radio show The Breakfast Club. The mayor expected a softball morning radio interview, but Olay was brought in to confront him about his misdeeds, lies, and worse, much to the mayor’s visible chagrin. Turns out she knew what she was doing. A few months after she grilled him, he was indicted by the federal government on charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. Let’s just say he spends way too much time in the country of Turkey for a New York City mayor.
   
   Olay’s channel features a variety of programs, from quick reactions to the news of the day, to deep dives into specific subjects, to live broadcasts with her politico friends (including David Doel from The Rational National). Her wit, intelligence, and fearlessness make it clear she is destined for big things. And the fact that she is an immigrant (Bahamian-Nigerian) who is working on getting her citizenship means that she has a different perspective and different experiences to add to any discussion.

   
   UPDATE: Here is Olay’s election reflection on Trump’s victory.
   
   

5. F.D. Signifier
   The REAL Faces of Black Conservatism
   F.D is a Black man from Chicago who lives in Atlanta, which means he has direct knowledge of a huge swath of the African-American experience. We just need him to move to Los Angeles so he can complete the trifecta. (For those of you screaming about New York City, New York City is just a supersized Chicago.)
   
   He has two YouTube channels for his work: F.D Signifire (for deep dives) and Signified B Sides (for shorter flights of Black boy fancy). F.D specializes in video essays, so his takes on the election may not come for a couple weeks, but I guarantee that they will be worth the wait. His work has really inspired my work. You can see it in my Washington Post piece, The Rookie. He combines searing analysis with barbershop humor. Although F.D’s the barbershop guy who corrects the conspiracy theories and misinformation of everyone else in the barber shop, he does it with respect and love. It is probably because in his former life he was a teacher and a social worker. He does incredible amounts of research and also has a homespun appeal. (Maybe because it looks like he’s in his kitchen sometimes?) There is a DIY component which only highlights how much his viewpoint is not seen in the media. F.D created the media that he wasn’t seeing in the world. I like to think of myself doing that, too.
   
   While his videos are often more focused on the pop-cultural than political, he always mixes in political analysis. And he will certainly be weighing in on this election. My personal favorite of his is his epic video about Black conservatives. It is simply a masterpiece. And it felt very connected to my series We Need To Talk About Cosby, even though he hadn’t seen it. His work is so uncompromising and scathing that I’m often afraid I’ll end up in one of his pieces at the business end of his scholarship. I can’t recommend him highly enough.
   
   UPDATE: Here’s F.D.’s thoughts about Trump’s victory.

So, instead of spending all your nervous energy and time staring at the usual cable news suspects, spend some time with these people. I promise it will be worth it. And you can watch the newest clip of Van Joes crying later.

You’re With Me

One last update before you go:

MY OFFICIAL RETURN TO STAND-UP IS THIS FRIDAY!

I’m making my OFFICIAL return to stand-up comedy this Friday, November 8 in Davis, CA at 7:30pm. Gets your tickets before they sell out.