First, read this from the Economist on the power of protests “When the marching started, youngsters were seen as having little interest in the politics of a country many were considering leaving anyway, says Slobodan Markovich at the Faculty of Political Science in Belgrade. Now they are invested in the country’s future, dissecting the inner workings of institutions from courts to state media. If that is not revolutionary, what is?”
FAST READS with Molly Jong-Fast
05/02/2025
Welcome to FAST READS with Molly Jong-Fast.
Please check out my latest Vanity Fair article: Some Good News: Americans Are Rejecting Trumpism. You can find an archive of my Vanity Fair pieces.
On FASTPOLITICS –
Video episodes:
The Lever editor David Sirota, who also hosts The Master Plan podcast and is the screen writer of Don't Look Up shares his expert insights on why he believes Trump's tariffs might be a strategic advantage for a certain segment of the Democratic Party, despite the widespread chaos they've introduced into the economy. Mother Jones Anna Merlan to discuss her groundbreaking reporting on the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. We dive into the origins of MAHA, which began with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s attempt to align his long-time interests with those of the Trump campaign. Now, RFK Jr. is making waves as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), implementing major agency reforms and cuts. Anna elaborates on the inner workings of the MAHA coalition, led by Del Bigtree, and how it's influencing public health policies. We also touch upon the recent measles outbreaks and the controversial stances of RFK Jr. on vaccinations. From promoting the MMR vaccine to pushing non-evidence-based treatments, his actions continue to stir debate within the anti-vaccine movement and beyond. The Origin Story's Ian Dunt explores the unsettling parallels between Brexit in the UK and the rise of Trump in the US.
Audio episodes:
Know Your Enemy’s Sam Adler-Bell examines Trump’s weaponization of law enforcement.The Shadow Docket author Stephen Vladeck details the courts’ pushback against Trump’s agenda. To The Contrary newsletter author Charlie Sykes examines Trump’s first 100 days of changing America.The Up and Up founder Rachel Janfaza details the divide in Gen Z’s voting and the complicated landscape of their support for Trump. The Nation’s Jeet Heer examines Canada’s election and what it means for Trump’s rule of America. The New York Times’ Peter S. Goodman details what the empty shipping containers coming into America’s ports mean for the shelves in your local community. The Weeknight host Symone Sanders-Townsend skewers Trump’s first 100 days and the lies he’s trying to spin around them. Personhood author Mary Ziegler details her powerful new book on reproductive rights.
My Recommended Reads For The Week:
The Economist - Who will stop Donald Trump’s drive for unchecked power?
The New York Times - Secret Deals, Foreign Investments, Presidential Policy Changes: The Rise of Trump’s Crypto Firm. By Eric LiptonDavid Yaffe-Bellany and Ben Protess
CNBC - Yale classmates warn Trump Treasury Secretary Bessent he risks enabling descent ‘into fascism’. By Dan Mangan
The Washington Post - Trump signs order seeking to end federal funding for NPR and PBS. By Frances Vinall
The Wall Street Journal - Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status to Be Revoked, Trump Says. By Gareth Vipers and Richard Rubin
This is cool – my forthcoming memoir was voted one of best memoirs for 2025
Thanks for reading!
Molly -