Elections and Holidays: At Least We Have Christmas to Look Forward To

Sitting down to write this month’s Publisher’s Note has been tough. This past week has pretty much been wasted. I have a long to-do list, and as an independent media still committed to true journalism, I can’t afford to take midweek days off. But I was spent. I couldn’t focus on anything in front of me.

Yellow Scene Magazine (YS) did not endorse Donald J. Trump in our Annual Election Guide. In fact, we rated him as too extreme—and we stand by that rating. America now faces a potential future of fascism and tyranny, where lives and loss of rights are at very real risk. It’s disheartening that we’ve reached a point where some find joy in the pain others express over these outcomes. 

Matthew Shepard

I am preparing for those who supported Donald J. Trump to feel emboldened. What I fear most is seeing people targeted, beaten, or attacked for simply being who they are—especially those who don’t fit the vision of America outlined in Project 2025 and those who oppose it.

Project 2025 isn’t new; its roots trace back to the 1970s. After the New Deal and the revolutionary progress of the 60s, the right realized it couldn’t win elections if left solely to voters. As America moved beyond the Robber Baron and Slaveowner eras, those clinging to the past organized, launching think tanks and securing corporate funding. Over the last 40 years, anti-trust laws and civil liberties eroded, granting corporations more rights than individuals. Both Republicans, led by Ronald Reagan, and Democrats, including Bill Clinton, played a role. As Heather Cox Richardson notes in Democracy Awakening, no single party will “save us.”

I’m troubled by how the mainstream media framed this election. Throughout the campaign, major networks portrayed Donald Trump as a legitimate candidate, often overlooking his 34 felony convictions, numerous civil suits, and involvement in the January 6 insurrection. In their pursuit of ratings, they failed to present all the facts, leading to the normalization of a candidate with a significant criminal record.

Since the election, they have presented a narrative of how America moved right. This is not factually correct.  In 2020, Trump received 74,224,319 votes. In 2024, he received 74,312,688. In 2020, Joseph Biden received 81,284,66 votes, and Kamala Harris garnered 70,383,093.

It is not so much that Trump won but that the Democrats lost. 

This isn’t to overlook the nearly 300 years of racism, sexism, patriarchy, and classism that are embedded in America’s foundation. Manifest Destiny and Chattel Slavery remain horrendous stains on our history, and racism and sexism are far from over—they persist in plain sight. But the deeper question is, why did 12 million people choose not to vote this time?

Voter suppression is still very real, and it certainly plays a role. However, in 2020, we had a national mail-in ballot system due to the pandemic, which made voting more accessible. This is precisely why Republicans work so hard to erode voting rights. Meanwhile, Democrats failed to effectively communicate how they would protect and uplift Americans, leading many to stay home.

I recently joined Denver journalist and influencer Jeff Fard on his show for a deep and thoughtful conversation. We delved into many topics, and while I didn’t have answers to all the questions, two points stood out: Jeff suggested that the first female president of the United States could likely be a Republican. More importantly, he emphasized that white people might abandon “woke” efforts and revert to a default state of whiteness to navigate the current climate. I fear this potential silence as much as I fear Project 2025.

You can watch the full discussion here: 

The Robber Baron’s corrupt business practices set the stage for the Great Depression. The 2008 Great Recession showed us that unfettered capitalism inevitably leads to collapse. America thrived most from the 1930s to the 1980s, a period when big business was also heavily regulated. Before Jack Welch took over General Electric, corporations prioritized a balanced approach: growing their businesses, providing stable jobs, and generating profits for shareholders, all while considering long-term sustainability and the greater good. Profit wasn’t the sole focus—there was a broader sense of responsibility. Welch changed that, championing the idea that shareholder value should come above all else. This shift moved corporate America away from a holistic role in society.

Today, we’re left with a proliferation of billionaires who, in my opinion, are overly idolized. Meanwhile, wages stagnate, the cost of living skyrockets, small businesses are squeezed, and industries and companies are gutted—all so a small elite can control 90% of the world’s wealth.

I don’t know what the future holds, and right now, it doesn’t look very bright. But throughout history, humans have endured cruel and unjust practices, and over time, humanity seems to push progress forward. It’s the short term that’s frightening. While I fear for what lies ahead for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, immigrants, women, and all other marginalized groups in our country, I have been in this fight for a long time.

In 2001, YS was just a few months old. We had grown from a simple yellow flyer into a true community resource. Then 9/11 happened, and I faced a pivotal decision: What kind of publication would we be? Would we stay silent and stick to safe stories, or would we speak out? We chose the latter, taking a stand against the Iraq War.

Looking back, I’m comfortable with the issues I’ve chosen to speak out on throughout my life. As a child, I didn’t understand why my Black friends and I couldn’t play together more often or why some people lived in slums while I lived in the suburbs. By my twenties, civil liberties became my focus, and back then, we believed we could win those battles.

I rebelled against the “Greed is Good” mantra of the 80s and vocally opposed Ronald Reagan, which didn’t win me new friends. I understood why the riots happened after the police beat Rodney King, and I was told I didn’t understand the nuances when I tried to explain. I spoke out against apartheid in South Africa and stood in support of Nelson Mandela. As a woman in business, I fought for equal treatment and batted away more than one unwelcome hand as a waitress.

I’ve taken a stand on Ireland’s right to self-rule, opposed Bush’s invasion of Iraq, and reminded people that the U.S. had one of the worst UN violation records—perhaps why 9/11 happened. I went to Standing Rock, covered the 2020 racial justice protests, and loudly fought against Oil and Gas harming human lives while advocating for alternative energy. I’ve pushed for criminal justice reform and spoken against the Prison Industrial Complex (everyone on the planet needs to watch the documentary 13th). I’ve called out the trauma at the root of addiction and our nation’s abhorrent treatment of mental health. Over the 24 years (soon to be 25) I’ve owned YS, I’ve published countless articles rallying against antisemitism. I’ve stood firmly against supporting the genocide of Palestinians, and looking ahead, I’ll be vocal about Project 2025, too.

I am discouraged that all the progress we’ve made could be undone in the face of Project 2025. I’ve dedicated my life to local journalism, and after 38 years, I believe in its importance now more than ever. Journalism must speak truth to power and hold those in power accountable. But despite the challenges, I also believe in humanity. There will always be truth-tellers. We may face threats, violence, and even death, but humanity does eventually seem to keep moving forward, even if prevailing feels uncertain right now.

As a community, we face a choice: Do we come together and keep fighting, or do we retreat underground and stay silent?

For my part, I will continue the mission of producing local journalism as we head into our 25th year in 2025. However, this is no small task. I have a team to support—writers, artists, printers, drivers, and our bookkeeper—all of whom make this work possible.

Next year marks our 25th anniversary. While I’m uncertain how celebratory the occasion will feel, I am committed to fostering joy and a sense of community amidst it all. Over the years, we’ve tackled vital topics like mental health, trauma, climate change, disaster recovery, economic crises, education, voting, democracy, justice, elections, corruption (both local and national), culture, and even marketing.

We must remain rooted in our community to find hope for our future. And to continue delivering truth to that community, we need your support.

The next issue coming up is our Annual Locavore Holiday Guide.

When you support the local businesses in our community, you support your neighbor, not the Billionaires. For this Holiday Season, vote with your pocketbook. 

Now more than ever, local journalism is essential. Please consider becoming a sustaining supporter and start receiving the printed copy at home. Research shows that most of us prefer reading on paper—it’s just crucial that what’s printed truly matters. YS is dedicated to bringing you the stories and insights we all need to stay informed, engaged, and connected to our community.

The poem read on Jeff Fard’s show:

You are awakening to the

same country you fell asleep to.

The very same country.

Pull yourself together.

And,

when you see me,

do not ask me

“What do we do now?

How do we get through the next four years?”

Some of my Ancestors dealt with

at least 400 years of this

under worse conditions.

Continue to do the good work.

Continue to build bridges not walls.

Continue to lead with compassion.

Continue the demanding work

of liberation for all.

Continue to dismantle broken systems,

large and small.

Continue to set the best example

for the children.

Continue to be a vessel of nourishing joy.

Continue right where you are.

Right where you live into your days.

Do so in the name of

The Creator who expects

nothing less from each of us.

And if you are not “continuing”

ALL of the above,

in community, partnership, collaboration?

What is it you have been doing?

What is it you are waiting for?

---

Like journalism like this? Consider becoming a sustaining supporter (and get our printed copy monthly at home.)

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.

Democracy needs journalism more than ever. We’ve been telling the truth for 24 years. Your support helps us keep telling it for at least the next four years.