Once a year, I write a newsletter where I look back on the previous year and talk about what I think I got wrong in the

previous. So much trust built so much trust built every year when you do that. And I'll be honest, that's not the most fun

newsletter to write because my preference would be to never get anything wrong. All journalism is coming to

conclusions. And what we try to do is be transparent about that. Here are the conclusions we're coming to.

Here's why we're coming to them. Here's what we're not so sure about.

This is Sarah Stewart Holland and this is Beth Silverce. Thank you for joining us for Pantsuit Politics.

Hello and thank you so much for joining us for another episode of Pantsuit Politics where we take a different approach to the news. We're going to try to bring that different approach to the news to talk a little bit about what's happening in Ukraine. And then we are very excited to have David Lee and heart of the New York Times here with us for a wide ranging discussion about news and COVID and trends that we think you're going to love.

Outside of politics, we're going to talk about what's saving our lives right now. Before we do that though, we are looking forward to getting together with many of you tonight with great anticipation. Yes, it's it's two to two to two. It's a very big day. And in honor of that. And also just happen to coincide with this very cool date situation. We're having our live quarterly Q&A with our amazing premium community members. Listen, listen, this Q&A. There's no boundaries. Okay.

If you want to update on my Botox, ask this fun. I'll give it. I'm excited to talk about it some more. If you need to get some recipes from Beth, ask if you want to know more specifics about Ukraine. Ask this is what the Q&A is about. It's just it's a free for all. We love it. It's so fun.

Like being part of events like that with us appeals to you. You can find the links to either subscribe through Patreon or Apple Podcast subscriptions and join us tonight. Now if you are subscribing through Apple Podcast subscription or are already subscribed through Apple Podcast subscriptions. Please make sure that you share your email with us. There's a form linked in the show notes and that way at least can email you the link for tonight. So you get to come and join us.

I'm thinking a lot about the Super Bowl commercials. I know this is a strange introduction to the topic of Ukraine. I definitely thought we were talking about Ukraine, but okay. Well, here's why I mentioned it. I've been thinking so much about how the Super Bowl commercials this year were a hard turn from the past couple of years.

In terms of advocacy and social justice and a hardcore like patriotism kind of theme. You could tell that there were deliberate decisions by companies to steer clear of anything political.

Even around like things that are political electric cars cryptocurrency like there. The time was marching forward with these commercials, but you could tell that they were really trying to just be funny or interesting and not touch hot button issues. And I think that represents a clear analysis that the American people are fried.

And that is what I want to connect to Ukraine because I think the condition of just being fried about hard things leads you either to be kind of panicked about the possibility of a world war.

Or ready to just tune this all the way out.

Now I might be ascribing more awareness and analysis than either the intelligence community or the Biden administration deserves.

But it does feel like their current approach to the situation takes that into account, right? They're not saying one thing. They're saying all the things. They're not saying it once. They're saying it every day.

Like you are not going to miss whether you're trying to tune it out or you're anxious or whatever that the Biden administration believes that Russia is on the path to war. You're not going to miss it. They're not going to let you.

I think some of this comes from the critique of Afghanistan that they let the situation sneak up on the American people and they're not going to let that happen again.

But the reason I like it is because it feels like the, you know, the chickens are coming home to roost for Vladimir Putin who just lies. He just lies. He just lies constantly and discriminately on a world stage.

Just really that is his mo.

And I feel like we finally revoked his like, okay, you can do that. But we are now longer going to treat you like a world leader who you listen to and act like they're telling the truth.

...