Is Shen Yun A Cult?
Falun Gong Plus Dance, Mushrooms, And Mormons
| Cate Blanchett calls it “An extraordinary experience for us and the children.” |
FROM MUA HQ
The week of August 17, 2024 we:
- Did a little yoga
- Laughed at these goth clubbing bats (the flying kind, not the baseball kind)
- Thought about mushrooms a lot
- And started Matrix, by Lauren Groff. What are you reading?.
Cause of the Week AGAIN! BECAUSE WE BELIEVE SO HARD IN THEM!Rural Wisconsin Democrats
- Our friend George Goehl, a leading progressive organizer, is all in on this organization that has literally been putting their lives at risk to preserve democratic values in rural Wisconsin. Let’s support them!
MASH-UPS IN THE NEWS
The Precarious Online Lives Of Young Men
TIME
We’re talking 18-23 year olds, many of whom are drawn to angry, racist, misogynist, anti-democratic voices online. (Fun fact: We at The Mash-Up Americans provided research and strategy to Equimundo and Futures Without Violence on the state of American men, which is cited in the article.)
Asian American Voters Could Be Key Swing Voters Of 2024
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Let’s make it count, people! “Asian American voters, a hugely diverse group, make up the fastest-growing eligible electorate in the country. They are starting to turn out in record numbers. And, crucially, neither party can take their support for granted.”
Inside The Viral Mormon Sex Scandal That Sparked A New Hulu Reality Series
VANITY FAIR
What in the quasi-polygamy is going on? The juicy details are coming out about this 8-episode series debuting September 6, and all we know for sure is there is an Affleck involved (cousin to Big Ben himself).
How A Persecuted Religious Group Grew Into A Global Movement
THE NEW YORK TIMES
The NYT went all in on Falun Gong and Shen Yun this week and it’s going to be hard for the group to beat their culty reputation. There are strong themes of activism, dance, and art, most definitely — but fear and abuse too.
Introducing Autocracy in America
THE ATLANTIC
Anne Applebaum and Peter Pomerantsev have a new podcast coming in September in which they look at how authoritarian tactics are already at work in the United States. Depressing and chilling, but a good reminder that we must know our enemies.
“No Charge”: Shirley Caesar And A Black Mother’s Sonic Archive
MEDIUM
In this touching personal essay, professor and author Mark Anthony Neal reflects on how the music his mother listened to back in the day offered a nuanced Black-woman centered view of the spiritual and secular worlds. You can bet we’re adding Shirley Caesar to our playlists immediately.
