Flying brings mixed feelings for me. On the one hand, I love to travel, I enjoy the people-watching opportunities that airports afford, and I often feel a sense of awe when I look down at the vastness of our planet from a vantage point of thirty thousand feet. On the other hand, I dislike being crammed into a ridiculously small space on the flying metal tubes that crisscross the skies, the number of people who are actually worth watching is frequently eclipsed by the number of people I find annoying, and no matter how fast we fly, the flight always seems to take too damn long.
You gotta run for mayor now you know that right???
also dude ahhhh thank you for the shout out!!! "a newsletter that’s hard to explain, but easy to love." might just become the new tagline for Both Are True
Ok, I’m running for mayor! But you’re running too. We’ll stun Los Angeles and transform American politics by saying nice, accurate things about each other. It’ll be confusing for the press, but a relief for voters because they can cast their ballots without feeling icky, or like they’re being played. Come to think of it, I’ll endorse you. And you should endorse me. Win or lose, we both win. Here’s to Dobrenko vs Estrin 2026!
On airplanes I fantasize a lot about how cool and calm I’ll be when we crash and how I’ll stay aware so I can experience it right up until the end and how I’ll reassure the person next to me that it’s going to be alright only I’ll mean it in the cosmic grand perspective sense. Other times I watch “What Not to Wear.”
I know unpaid/minimally paid canvassers have survived conversations with their political enemies for decades. But I wonder how someone musters the enthusiasm when it's a candidate as ephemeral as a Caruso. I can see mustering more enthusiasm for the more backwards or hateful ones, because that's a way people on the ground think too. But a Caruso is like the wind. Emptiness, backed by money. Money that's barely going to the canvasser. Some people have more discipline, I suppose.
You're right! Caruso is like the wind, a hot Santa Ana wind that blows through these parts. I don't think he'd fly outside of Los Angeles, but here in LaLa he's sort of the perfect conservative candidate because from the right angle, he looks like the sort of dude who can solve every problem. It's a facade, but we dig facades here! In a lot of ways, he's just a front man for this city's discontent -- and there is a good deal of legitimate discontent, which is why I worry he has a chance.
A stronger conservative brew would stir up the real conservative activists, but there just aren't enough of them in LA, and they're easy to spot and discount as kooks. The typical Caruso canvasser has an apolitical vaguely conservative suburban white guy energy -- the kind of dude who loves the diversity of the Dodgers pitching staff, but quietly worries that the neighborhood isn't what it used to be because of "those people." In good times, these types mumble their discontent into their In N Out orders, but in bad times, they're more vocal. At the moment, these suckers are coming out of the wood work.
I really like this JK Simmons idea! And you make an interesting point. I'm not sure a reliable character actor has ever thrown their hat into the political ring. It's always the stars, and those people are trouble.
Thank you! Between reading a lot of Rick Perlstein lately and your posts about Caro, I felt like I really needed to dive into the LBJ books. They've been in my TBR forever!
As I read those books, your observations about Caro's craft are top of mind. One thing I particularly love is how he takes you inside the interview by noting the uncomfortable moments, where the subject seems not to want to say something, but then reveals a deeper truth about LBJ. Those moments are so powerful, and your work at Noted has really helped me understand how Caro brings them to life on the page. Thank you!
Thank you! So glad my post enriched your experience of LBJ! I love how once you've seen an author's notes, you kind of read their writing with x-ray glasses.
I have to say one of the strangest gift I’ve been given was when Valerie started giving my phone number out. I don’t know Valerie, but she votes Democratic, belongs to a union, gives money to the ACLU, and owns 2 houses in Southeast Portland Oregon. I know all this because every week I get a text or 2 trying to get me to sell one of her houses, vote for a candidate somewhere in Portland, come to a union meeting, or give money to someone. I say gift because I usually end up trolling the texter.
As a true believer in a well used Oxford comma, thank you.
The 2nd amendment has several strategically placed commas...
And some very generous / delusional readers.
You gotta run for mayor now you know that right???
also dude ahhhh thank you for the shout out!!! "a newsletter that’s hard to explain, but easy to love." might just become the new tagline for Both Are True
Ok, I’m running for mayor! But you’re running too. We’ll stun Los Angeles and transform American politics by saying nice, accurate things about each other. It’ll be confusing for the press, but a relief for voters because they can cast their ballots without feeling icky, or like they’re being played. Come to think of it, I’ll endorse you. And you should endorse me. Win or lose, we both win. Here’s to Dobrenko vs Estrin 2026!
hahahaha ur.a genius. Dobrenko vs / & Estrin: A Both Are True Situation Normal 2026
On airplanes I fantasize a lot about how cool and calm I’ll be when we crash and how I’ll stay aware so I can experience it right up until the end and how I’ll reassure the person next to me that it’s going to be alright only I’ll mean it in the cosmic grand perspective sense. Other times I watch “What Not to Wear.”
I love this answer! Maybe it’s the altitude, but it seems our minds either go to the lofty, or low-brow when flying.
Really love the story about the flight. It's a kind reminder as people start to fly more often.
Thank you, Virginia!
I know unpaid/minimally paid canvassers have survived conversations with their political enemies for decades. But I wonder how someone musters the enthusiasm when it's a candidate as ephemeral as a Caruso. I can see mustering more enthusiasm for the more backwards or hateful ones, because that's a way people on the ground think too. But a Caruso is like the wind. Emptiness, backed by money. Money that's barely going to the canvasser. Some people have more discipline, I suppose.
You're right! Caruso is like the wind, a hot Santa Ana wind that blows through these parts. I don't think he'd fly outside of Los Angeles, but here in LaLa he's sort of the perfect conservative candidate because from the right angle, he looks like the sort of dude who can solve every problem. It's a facade, but we dig facades here! In a lot of ways, he's just a front man for this city's discontent -- and there is a good deal of legitimate discontent, which is why I worry he has a chance.
A stronger conservative brew would stir up the real conservative activists, but there just aren't enough of them in LA, and they're easy to spot and discount as kooks. The typical Caruso canvasser has an apolitical vaguely conservative suburban white guy energy -- the kind of dude who loves the diversity of the Dodgers pitching staff, but quietly worries that the neighborhood isn't what it used to be because of "those people." In good times, these types mumble their discontent into their In N Out orders, but in bad times, they're more vocal. At the moment, these suckers are coming out of the wood work.
I’d vote for JK Simmons for celebrity mayor. Reliable character actor means reliable governance. Plus, he’ll do something about our city’s spider men!
I really like this JK Simmons idea! And you make an interesting point. I'm not sure a reliable character actor has ever thrown their hat into the political ring. It's always the stars, and those people are trouble.
Loved the airplane story, and not just because you were reading Caro.
Thank you! Between reading a lot of Rick Perlstein lately and your posts about Caro, I felt like I really needed to dive into the LBJ books. They've been in my TBR forever!
As I read those books, your observations about Caro's craft are top of mind. One thing I particularly love is how he takes you inside the interview by noting the uncomfortable moments, where the subject seems not to want to say something, but then reveals a deeper truth about LBJ. Those moments are so powerful, and your work at Noted has really helped me understand how Caro brings them to life on the page. Thank you!
Thank you! So glad my post enriched your experience of LBJ! I love how once you've seen an author's notes, you kind of read their writing with x-ray glasses.
It really is like seeing behind the curtain of a magic show!
Actually, Monday's post is on Houdini's notes. Definitely a peak behind the curtain of the magic show there :)
Oooh! Very nice!
I have to say one of the strangest gift I’ve been given was when Valerie started giving my phone number out. I don’t know Valerie, but she votes Democratic, belongs to a union, gives money to the ACLU, and owns 2 houses in Southeast Portland Oregon. I know all this because every week I get a text or 2 trying to get me to sell one of her houses, vote for a candidate somewhere in Portland, come to a union meeting, or give money to someone. I say gift because I usually end up trolling the texter.
As a true believer in a well used Oxford comma, thank you.
I say you sell one of Valerie’s homes and buy yourself something nice!
Maybe a new phone with a new number.
And the best data plan you can get. Treat yourself!