It’s ok if you're not ok 🥺
Mōrena lil shits!!
Forgive me if this newsy is a little bit all over the place - I stayed up really late last night editing a special edition of The Shit Show for you all, where Squish and I explained exactly what’s happening in Ukraine right now - and why - in words you’ll actually understand!!! So, the least you can do is go and listen to it 🥺🥺🥺
Anyway, how was your weekend? Mine was supposed to be relaxing but actually incredibly busy. On Friday I was in Wellington for some work stuff for the day, and I ended up going to grab some drinks with one of my besties before I jumped back on the plane. LET ME TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, IT’S A BAD IDEA TO HAVE A BOTTLE OF ROSÉ BEFORE GETTING ON A PLANE. For starters, I thought the departure time was the boarding time so when I got to the airport I was just chilling, and then I heard my announcement, so I had to RUSH through security. Fun fact about me, I will beep EVERY TIME I go through those security checker things - and this time, I beeped, and had to go into one of those tube things where you have to stand with your arms above your head. Anyway, I zoned out while I was standing in it and honestly I must’ve been standing there with my hands up for like two minutes because the airport security workers had to come over and start waving at me like ‘yoo-hoo! it’s time to get out!’ I was mortified - and running late - and by the time I got to my gate they were doing the final boarding call and I was like the last person on the plane. All in a day’s work eh?!
This weekend I also intrusively chopped my hair off, dyed it pink, caught up with some old pals who I hadn’t seen in about 4 YEARS and of course, set aside some time to catch up on the news (and record a podcast about it for you.)
And a huge welcome/ hi to all our new members to the daily newsletter family!!! I’m so happy to have you here & hope you haven’t been scared off by the chaos of my weekend. I’m also sending the biggest love of all to our paying subscribers!!!! If u love this thing and wanna support me, u should become a member here 🥺)
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In today’s newsletter:
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in words you’ll actually understand
An update on the situation
Weekend recommendations
How are you feeling?
Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Explained
Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Explained - The Shit Show — open.spotify.com
Everything you've been wondering about what's going on in Russia/Ukraine right now, in words you ACTUALLY understand.
Squish and I spent a lot of time this weekend answering your basic question about what’s happening in Ukraine, and we recorded it ill into a handy podcast for you, - but I’m gonna give you a little bit of information each day to accompany the podcast (I don’t want to overwhelm you.) Today we’ll look at the “explain like I’m 5’ version of what’s actually happening, and introduce you to the key players.
Explain like I’m 5: What’s actually happening?
In the most ‘Explain Like I’m 5’ version of the conflict so far, Russian President Vladimir Putin is obsessed with the old Soviet Union, and doesn’t like how close Ukraine is getting to the west (not geographically, but politically/ ideologically.) To counter this Putin aims to replace the government, which is led by Volodymyr Zelensky, with a more pro Putin government.
In the weeks leading up to the invasion, Russia gathered troops on three sides of Ukraine, obviously gearing up for something - likely, war. Then, they started sending troops to a pro-Russian region in eastern Ukraine and then moved on to a full invasion on all sides, including the capital Kyiv.
Who is Putin?
C’mon, we all know Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, King of throwing his toys out of the cot. He's also obsessed with power & influence, & is a 2x Nobel Peace Prize nominee (are they just giving these out to anyone these days?)
Who is the Ukrainian President?
Obviously, we’ve been hearing a lot about the Ukrainian President - Volodymyr Zelensky - and how he’s holding it down in the capital and being a patriotic icon for a lot of Ukrainians. A couple of years ago though, President Volodymyr Zelensky was hosting comedy shows, and playing the president in a popular Ukrainian TV show.
Zelensky won the 2019 election in a landslide, somewhat controversially considering his lack of political experience, and his alleged backing by one of the richest men in Ukraine. Now, does this sound familiar????? If you’re thinking of D****d T**** then you’d be correct - except they’re completely different. For one, Zelensky isn’t backing down. He has had many offers of evacuation, but he’s turned them all down, allegedly saying: “the fight is here, I need ammunition, not a ride”.
He’s been seen in videos drinking coffee with soldiers fighting in Kyiv, and he has posted numerous selfie videos on his Twitter account with his key members of the government, saying that they are still in Kyiv and that they won't be leaving.
And another thing - you remember when Trump got impeached for the first time?? (god - sorry for bringing him up again) That was because he tried to extort Zelensky. Basically, on July 18, 2019, the Trump administration withheld $250 million of military aid to Ukraine (which Zelensky was asking for to buy anti-tank missiles for defence purposes, aka for this exact situation.) Then, seven days later, Trump held a phone call with President Zelensky and said that he would give him the money, but only if he investigated former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. This is the phone call and the ‘quid pro quo' deal that ultimately led to Donald Trump getting impeached for abusing his power. And so true.
Tomorrow, I’ll go into more detail about exactly why Putin is invading, and the media’s role in all of this, but until then, you should go and listen to this.
And now, an update on the situation:
First of all, I wanna point you in the direction of a really good news source - The Kyiv Independent.
I follow them on Twitter and they post up to the minute English updates about what’s happening.
The latest from the BBC:
Vladimir Putin says he is moving Russia's nuclear deterrent to "special alert"
He says it's a response to Nato "aggression"
The announcement does not mean Russia intends to use the weapons
The US has condemned the move as "unacceptable"
Ukrainian troops are in control of Kharkiv, governor says, after Russian attack
Ukraine claims 4,300 Russians have died in the whole invasion - this has not been verified
The EU is to send weapons to Ukraine and has banned all Russian flights from European airspace
A Ukrainian delegation will meet Russians on Belarus border for talks, Ukraine's president says
And Germany pledges a massive hike in defence spending
And here’s the latest from The Kyiv Independent:
How are you feeling?
Yesterday’s mundane poll was more of a mental health check-in.
27% of you are ok
73% of you are not that ok
And looking at the contents of this newsletter/ the world. it’s really not hard to know why.
Let me give you a wee pep talk eh?? I’m often asked what it’s like when it’s your job to stay in the loop with things all the time. Do I get tired? Upset? Burnt out?? Of course I do! But one thing I always come back to is that I am lucky enough to get to sit here and scroll on my silly little rectangle and learn about these things instead of living through them.
I think it is incredibly important for us to all try our best to comprehend what is happening outside of our life and our borders. That’s the thing that continuously gives me faith in humankind, because if we stop trying to understand it, how the hell are we ever going to be empathetic? As hard as it is, and as heavy as it feels, it is really important to me to stay in the loop - but we can choose how!!! (I would rec picking sources that don’t make you feel like an idiot, or feel totally depressed.)
And of course, I have (and you should have) boundaries! That’s our fucked up privilege. We can decide to put our phone down and go and see a friend/ watch a TV show/ play the guitar - and honestly, you really have to not feel guilty about taking a break. No good is ever going to come from us feeling shit if we’re staying informed and feeling shit if we’re taking a break. How the hell are we gonna make a difference if we’re living like that?
So go easy on yourself, do your best to try to comprehend what’s going on - and honestly, not to shamelessly plug Shit You Should Care About - but you can just come to me for a non-depressing update on the world, where I’ve done the heavy lifting for you. That way you’re staying informed, you’re comprehending it, but you’re also just catching up with your mate Luce. (Maybe point anyone who's feeling overwhelmed in the direction of the newsletter too??)
Hope that pep talk (pep rant??) helped, you’re doing amazing xxxx
I LOVE YOU 🥺
Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Explained (The Shit Show)
The Violation of Celebrity Sex Lives (Culture Vulture)
“Half A Billion of Bitcoin, Lost In The Dump.” (The New Yorker)
“The Accidental Revolutionary Leading Belarus’s Uprising.” (The New Yorker)
Dave Grohl’s Pure Disdain for James Corden Is Inspiring (Vulture)
Amanda Bynes Wants to End Her Conservatorship, Too (The Cut)
Biden picks Ketanji Brown Jackson as Supreme Court nominee (NPR)
GET A 14 DAY FREE TRIAL TO WATCH EUPHORIA OR YELLOWJACKETS! (Neon)
You can listen to us talk about all things pop culture on Culture Vulture, about THE WORLD on The Shit Show or watch us explain the internet on Extremely Online.
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LOVE YOU THE MOST, LUCE XX
