🏁 Axios Finish Line: Normal revolts

Plus: Fun to-do list | Thursday, December 01, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Instagram   Axios Finish Line By Mike Allen, Erica Pandey and Jim VandeHei ·Dec 01, 2022 Dec 01, 2022 Welcome back. Reach tonight's host, Axios CEO Jim VandeHei, at jim@axios.com. Smart Brevity™ count: 450 words ... <2 mins.     1 big thing: Normal America strikes back Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios   My new obsession is that most of America is exponentially more normal than cable TV, Twitter and the most-read mainstream stories make it seem, Jim writes. Why it matters: The past few months prove that for all the hyperventilating and self-loathing, normal America is prevailing over the loudmouths on the left and the right who dominate our screens. Before you email me that I'm nuts, let's go to the tape: Most election deniers running in positions to manage elections were defeated, contrary to widespread worries. We had a razor-thin election for control of Congress, yet virtually everyone accepted the results, even when the vote-counting dragged on for days. Minimal protests followed. The nation is on the brink of federal protection for same-sex marriage, with 71% of Americans in support of it — unthinkable less than a decade ago. Democrats have mostly dropped their "defund the police" calls, replaced by a general consensus that police are a vital, if imperfect, part of safer communities. There has been a healthy pushback against obsessive word policing on one side and blatantly insensitive language on the other. Outside of Twitter and talk shows, how many people do you actually know obsessed with canceling people or doing things worthy of canceling? Our justice system seems to be working or holding. Two leaders of the Oath Keepers were just convicted of sedition for Jan. 6 plotting, and the best I can tell, few took to the streets in protest. The big picture: Yes, politics remains alarmingly polarized and Twitter, a hot mess. At the same time, most of America is busy being more nuanced and normal than what you often see on the screen. Share this story.     A message from Instagram Set up supervision on Instagram to help keep your teen safe online     Parents have support when it comes to keeping their teens safe on Instagram. They can see who their teen follows, who follows them and any reports their teen shares once supervision on Family Center is set up. Explore Family Center and set it up today.     📝 Your 2023 to-do list Our idea bank for free or inexpensive holiday gifts grows with tonight's submission from Finish Line reader Caitlin A. from Columbus, Ohio: "For Christmas in 2019, I gave my husband a list of activities we should do in 2020, obviously not knowing what was in store for that year. But we have completed the list since the world has opened up." "The list is full of little things, like watch planes take off and land from the small airport, attend our local high school football game, take a hike in a Metro Park, host our young nephew for an overnight, try tacos from a new food truck, and have a pint at a brewery we've never visited." "We hung it on the kitchen cabinet, and it provided us so much fun throughout the years that it took us to accomplish it.   Thanks to Amy Stern for copy editing Finish Line. Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: