The lies we tell ourselves
U.S. politics edition. Euro news. Ukraine update. Plus some recommended reading on Russian spies in Austria and a fun beach book travel memoir.
I woke up on Friday morning with not enough sleep and an early morning appointment which turned out to be an incredibly unpleasant. I had been out on Thursday evening saying goodbye, ironically, to friends leaving Vienna for New York, and to dinner with an old friend. In short, I didn’t look at my phone, collapsed into bed, and started my day. As soon as I did see my phone on Friday morning, it was evident something had gone terribly wrong, namely, the first presidential debate which I hadn’t even been aware was scheduled.
Rather than watching the entire painful exchange, I would recommend these four podcasts (not that you have to listen to them all), for a variety of hot takes and perspectives and some very telling soundbites. I listened to them and felt like I had been there. It also made everything I was reading on “X” and elsewhere calling for Biden to give the Democratic ticket to someone else make a lot more sense.
First, I would recommend listening to The Daily, which was recorded immediately after the debate finished.
Next, I appreciated these “insider” insights by the team at Puck:
I then stumbled across this hot take by the Washington Post team, also recorded immediately after. And you have to listen to the golf part, even if you do not play golf. It is just so…unbelievable.
Finally, do listen to the New Yorker discussion featuring some of America’s most experienced political journalists who are old enough to remember the Reagan debates.
Once you’ve done all that (haha), I was wondering about the technicality, of how exactly does one go about replacing Biden on the Democratic ticket? One of the reporters said that he himself would have to drop out in order for this to be done (meaning the party itself cannot replace him at this point), and I read today that in at least one state, Ohio, the ballot would have to be adjusted before the DNC even takes place.
Publicly, voices like Obama and Clinton have put out statements of continuing support for Biden on social media. But you have to wonder what is happening behind the scenes. This whole thing reminds me of when you ignore a big problem for a really long time, hoping it will just go away, and instead it blows up in your face. The Biden team told us age was not an issue. They got upset about reporters covering the issue. And then one day, the issue took center stage and no one can undo it. And it is something as natural as the sun rising in the morning and setting in the evening. There is no job on this planet one would argue you are at your peak for at the age of 80+. But President of the United States is somehow an exception? How did they think the American people would swallow this so easily? It blows my mind.
A popular make-up blogger on TikTok posted a video of outrage about Americans being asked to choose between two very old men and it received 2.3 million likes and counting. My thirteen year-old sent it to me over DM. Every single young person you speak with thinks the whole situation is just bonkers. And yet here we are.
This morning I listened to a very interesting podcast which included clips from team Biden from March. As I wrote earlier today, it’s amazing to me how Democratic Party insiders reject(ed?) such an obvious no. 1 issue for any ordinary voter. And then they talk about saving democracy, as if they forgot what it means — choice. That voters’ preferences and voices matter. That democracy is not being shoved a choice that was not even put up for proper debate.
When non-U.S. citizens text me, I tell them I will not vote. Which I know is not a good answer, but it reflects a real anger, one I am sure resonates with many Americans. If being given a terrible choice, the most emotionally palpable response may be just to not show up at all. Let’s see what will happen between now and the convention. I am trying to remain hopeful, but initial indications seem to point in the direction of sweeping under the proverbial rug, unfortunately. Which is ridiculous when we are talking about someone old enough to have a major health problem at any moment, and technically now in charge of running the country. Which means we now have a group of un-elected advisors running the country, more so than usual. Think about that. Four more years? How do they imagine that works? AI? A hologram?
It blows my mind.
A big news day here in Europe. Soccer continues. The wonderful Georgians are playing at 9pm against Spain. I loved watching them defeat Portugal, will be rooting for them again.
This morning the head of Austria’s FPÖ (far right) party, which leads polls here, held a press conference with Orban and the head of the Czech government, in which they pledged to work together at the EU level, a far right alliance. Scary, yes. Scary how it has all become normalised and Orban continues to find new allies.
This observation from an Austrian journalist who covers Brussels is telling:
It’s almost as if you see the storm clouds in the distance but where you are the sun is still shining. For now.
France is voting today as Macron took a big gamble by calling for a snap election. We won’t know the results until later today, but from how I heard it described, Macron decided to call an election now while still president so that even if the far right does gain seats (surely), they will have to work with him rather than waiting and then letting them have a free for all once elected across the board. Or so the logic goes. We will see. You will find updates later today here once French polls have closed.
In Ukraine news, the attacks on civilian targets continue, and the world shrugs. Just like it shrugs about Gaza, Sudan, and so many other places of unimaginable suffering around the world.
I was contacted today by a Ukrainian woman who just arrived as her daughter is a civilian victim and was brought to Austria to undergo a series of operations. A year in hospital, they were told. She arrived here five days ago. I spoke this weekend with a woman from a small town west of Avdiivka, still Ukrainian-controlled Donetsk oblast. She is in her early 70s. Worked her whole life in construction. Forty years. Has been here for two. She and her daughter would like to go home but they understand that idea is crazy now. Their town is nearly deserted. Her daughter Skypes with a friend who remained. There are looters. Instead of the Russian army, now locals it would seem are pillaging fridges and white goods left behind. It is heartbreaking to listen to. Her other daughter worked for years in Russia, saving up money to build a house back in their hometown in Ukraine, only to lose that too, because of Russia.
We continue to help how we can where we can, like a grocery card for the family who just arrived, and I put them in touch with the team at VM4U, who have more resources than I do for long-term assistance to particular families in need. But it all feels like such tiny acts in the great scheme of things. I know it is all we can do. But still, it feels disheartening. As this woman said yesterday, if the war would end tomorrow, we would go home. To which I have to interject: but it is not going to end tomorrow, unfortunately.
The WSJ published a big piece a few days ago about Austria now being a hub for Russian spies, more so than ever before. The number of Russian “diplomats” stationed here has even increased since the war started.
A Den of Spies: Vienna Emerges as Hub for Russian Espionage
Funny thing here is no one blinks. They new it all before so it doesn’t make a difference now. These headlines ruffle exactly zero feathers.
If you are looking for a light beach-y read this summer, I really enjoyed this memoir by a passionate travel writer. I heard an interview with Nikki on a recent podcast and was intrigued. It did not disappoint, and is not overly heavy. You can easily read it lying in the sun soaking up some Vitamin D. At the moment Vienna feels like Phoenix, so you might want to try it in the shade. I don’t mind a heat wave but the lack of universal A/C is a killer.
That’s it for now. A bit all over the place. The heat, the news cycle, no excuses — it is what it is. We do what we can, for now, and tomorrow is anyone’s guess.
To support our work at Cards for Ukraine.