We all have a Substack now.

I am joining the crowd. I think the conversation around why Substack is becoming popular is really important: There has been a near-total collapse of reasonable discourse on social media platforms like Twitter, where everyone seems primed to question your fundamental morality if you disagree.

We all need more grace and more humility. I love the Thomas Merton quote, “We do not want to be beginners. But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything but beginners all our life!”

I am starting this because I want to be able to provide some sort of service, whether it is breaking down the complexities of a certain news story or summarizing weekly events for people who do not have the time (nor should they) to follow every media story. I believe strongly that a routine disconnect from politics is important, almost as equally important to civic engagement itself.

But that doesn’t mean burying your head in the sand, so I hope I can somewhat fill the gap, with the grace and humility talked about above.

House rules:

  1. The Jackal always features a photo of either Colorado or wherever else I happen to be when writing a post, but you can submit photos for me to use!

  2. If you comment, be kind.

  3. Anything written here is based on my own personal views, and not my employer’s.

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Law, Public Policy, and Religion.

People

Brooke is an immunization-specialized epidemiologist working in global health. She thinks your attempt at a witty bio is stupid and contrived. Views are her own.
Overly opinionated mother of 4, rabid consumer of podcasts and master DIY-er who’s just figuring it out as I go.