🚀 Heather Cox Richardson + Cliff

Well, that was something, wasn’t it?

We flipped the switch on another epic Substack Live session, and this time, we had the one and only Heather Cox Richardson joining the party. And when Heather speaks, you listen—because she doesn’t just know history, she sees it happening in real time, connects the dots, and somehow makes sense of the absolute chaos swirling around us.

🏛️ Government Efficiency… or the Slowest Coup Ever?

You know things are bad when even Heather Cox Richardson, a scholar who probably understands the U.S. budget better than most people in Congress, says she’s struggling to follow what’s going on.

From unelected officials apparently running major policy decisions (cough Department of Government Efficiency cough) to the ever-growing list of things Elon Musk is not controlling (except, actually, he is), the whole situation is like a bureaucracy-themed episode of Black Mirror. The takeaway? The people pulling the strings aren’t the ones you voted for. And that’s a problem.

🎮 Gamergate to Government Takeover

Somehow, we ended up connecting the dots between Gamergate (remember that mess?) and modern-day authoritarianism. Turns out, the same guys who made careers out of harassing women in video games are now running parts of the country. Oh, and Musk? He’s out here deciding that anyone who isn’t on his team is just an NPC (that’s “non-playable character” for you non-gamers), which is… let’s just say, not great for democracy.

The whole thing would be laughable if it weren’t so terrifying.

🦈 Lampreys, Disinformation, and the Plot Twist No One Saw Coming

Somehow, we even talked about lampreys. Yes, those horrifying vampire-eel things that suck the life out of fish. They were supposed to be under control, but—surprise!—budget cuts took out the people managing them, so now it’s lamprey anarchy in Lake Erie.

The metaphor writes itself.

Because whether it’s actual invasive species or right-wing disinformation networks, the lesson is the same: If you don’t regulate the predators, they take over.

🌎 The Real Fight: Inspiration vs. Fear

Heather made one of the best points of the night—fear spreads fast. It’s why disinformation works. But there’s one thing that spreads as quickly: INSPIRATION.

We’re not just witnessing history. We’re making it. Every single person who tunes in, shares these conversations, calls their reps (even if they won’t listen), and refuses to let democracy slide into the abyss—you’re part of this fight. And you’re making a difference.

So let’s keep going. More conversations. More truth. More kicking lampreys (metaphorically, of course).

Onward. Upward. And always loud.

— Cliff