Persuasion $10 / month

Persuasion challenges contemporary ideological norms, exploring themes such as the complexities of identity politics, the critique of progressive and post-liberal ideologies, and the examination of societal narratives around privilege, free speech, and political diversity. It promotes dialogue over dogma, and intellectual diversity in addressing modern social and political issues.

Political Ideologies Free Speech and Censorship Identity Politics Youth and Society Media Diversity and Bias Social Justice and Activism Higher Education and Privilege Mental Health in Education Healthcare for Transgender Youth

The hottest Substack posts of Persuasion

And their main takeaways

Guatemala Just Ran January 6th In Reverse

3852 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Democracy Corruption Protests International relations Political Movements
  1. Guatemala recently experienced a successful pro-democracy movement against a corrupt political establishment.
  2. A largely-indigenous grassroots movement mobilized to demand respect for their votes and succeeded in getting the new president sworn in.
  3. The international community largely overlooked Guatemala's impressive defense of democracy, pointing to various reasons like lack of attention and conflicting support from different political factions.

America’s Families Are Not Okay

2692 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Relationships Family Psychology Therapy Mental health
  1. Family estrangement is becoming more common in the United States, with societal shifts and individual empowerment contributing to the trend.
  2. The impact of estrangement on both parents and adult children can lead to deep sadness, embarrassment, and longing for familial connection.
  3. While family estrangement may seem like a socially endorsed choice, it carries a heavy emotional toll, spreading through generations and leaving individuals feeling lonely and anchorless.

Germany Is Being Served Up on a Platter to the Far Right

2240 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Energy Policy Climate change Renewable Energy
  1. Germany's energy policies are leading to a decrease in electricity generation, impacting the economy and potentially fueling support for the far right.
  2. The transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar in Germany has not kept up with energy demand, causing reliance on fossil fuels.
  3. The shift away from nuclear power in Germany has resulted in challenges balancing the energy grid and economic consequences, contributing to dissatisfaction and political shifts.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The Fire Next Time

1474 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Military Presidency Election
  1. During Trump's first term, the military faced challenges from its commander-in-chief.
  2. Concerns arise about potential misuse of military power in a second Trump term.
  3. The military may face impossible choices in a second Trump term, impacting civil-military relations.

Why I Just Quit Democratic Socialists of America

2574 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Israel Palestine
  1. The author quit Democratic Socialists of America due to the organization's response to a violent event in Gaza.
  2. The organization faced challenges with entryists trying to shift its focus and principles.
  3. The shift in DSA's leadership led to controversial stances on international issues, particularly the situation in Palestine.

Taiwan Goes Its Own Way

982 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Taiwan China Election Democracy
  1. The recent election in Taiwan reflected domestic politics more than reactions to China.
  2. Criticism of the ruling party in Taiwan focused on economic performance and frustrations with issues like low wages and housing.
  3. Despite challenges, Taiwan continues to navigate its future with democratic transitions of power.

A New Cohort of Transgender Kids

3223 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
🏥 Health Politics
  1. Care for transgender youth needs to be re-evaluated due to changes in the types of cases being seen.
  2. There is a need for more research on the emerging cohort of transgender kids and their care.
  3. The impact of past treatment protocols on transgender youth needs to be critically reviewed.

Chuck Your Privilege

2908 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Education Social justice Class Wealth Privilege
  1. Checking your privilege based on certain characteristics isn't as impactful as acknowledging and renouncing the privilege of money or class.
  2. Elite college students are likely to come from wealthy backgrounds or are aiming for prestigious, high-paying careers, prioritizing money and status over making a positive impact in the world.
  3. It is possible to act on privilege related to wealth and status by renouncing financial support, declining elite opportunities, and embracing a more humble and real outlook.

The ‘I’ in BIPOC

3105 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Identity Politics Political Activism
  1. Not all Native Americans are leftist political activists
  2. The term 'indigenous' has become associated with left-wing political activism
  3. There are right-wing Indigenous people, highlighting the diversity of political beliefs among Native Americans

Burn Down the Admissions System

2358 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Affirmative Action Higher education Supreme Court
  1. The end of affirmative action could lead to a crucial change in the flawed admissions system.
  2. Elite colleges might exploit loopholes to maintain unjust practices like legacy admissions, donor preferences, and subjective personal statements.
  3. The personal statement component of admissions can perpetuate privilege, as it is subjective and prone to manipulation, undermining the fairness of the system.

The New York Times Is Finally Moving on From 2020

3085 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics
  1. The New York Times has become more ideologically diverse in recent months.
  2. The paper's Opinion section now includes a broader range of perspectives.
  3. There has been a shift towards more trustworthy reporting and ideological diversity at The New York Times.

Why So Many Elites Feel Like Losers

3007 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Society Art Career Social Issues
  1. Elite overproduction can lead to social unrest among the financially secure who feel entitled to success.
  2. The democratization of creative tools has not made it easier for aspiring artists to make a living.
  3. The lack of a clear, achievable vision of success can lead to destabilization and dissatisfaction in society.

The Futility of Trigger Warnings

2830 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Literature Education
  1. Some universities are implementing trigger warnings on classic literature which may not actually be helpful for students' mental health.
  2. Research shows that trigger warnings do not alleviate emotional distress and may even increase anxiety in individuals with PTSD.
  3. There is concern that the trend of trigger warnings on literature may degrade the transformative power of art and hinder students' growth.

Why We Need a Serious Debate About Healthcare For Transgender Youth

2338 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Gender identity Mental health
  1. Understanding the nuances of healthcare for transgender youth is essential for improving the quality of care.
  2. Nuanced debates about transgender youth healthcare are important, despite controversies and biases.
  3. Major medical organizations emphasize the importance of gender affirming care for youth, but ongoing research challenges and the need for responsible practices remain.

This Week at Persuasion

137 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Community Events
  1. This week at Persuasion includes a London pub meet-up.
  2. The post contains a photo of snowfall in Central Park in New York City.
  3. Access to the post is for paid subscribers only.

This Week at Persuasion

39 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏝 Travel Events
  1. This week at Persuasion includes a London pub meet-up on Feb 7, 2024.
  2. Groundhog Day festivities on Feb 2, 2024 featured Punxsutawney Phil predicting an early Spring.
  3. The post with the image of Punxsutawney Phil is for paid subscribers.

This Week at Persuasion

19 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
📰 News
  1. This Week at Persuasion offers a weekly virtual happy hour event.
  2. The content in the post is for paid subscribers only.
  3. There are options to subscribe or sign in for paid access.