Alrighty guys…. I’ve got a slew of interesting reads from the past two weeks to start your weeks off on the right foot. Might as well get started!
“By saying nothing to anyone, Ivanka could be everything to everyone.”
This is one of my favorite quotes from this extremely good profile about Ivanka Trump. I admit, I’m biased because I absolutely love profiles on Washington women—BUT this is an excellent peek inside the enigma of Ivanka (particularly when you add in the challenge of not being able to actually interview Ivanka on-the-record). You think you know Ivanka, but you don’t. Is the “authenticity” she cultivated authentic at all? Image is important, but is it everything? Just a few questions that this piece poses.
I also really admire the author, Elania Plott, quite a bit. If you like this Ivanka piece, you’ll also really like her write-up on Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin’s wife, Louise Linton, and Heidi Cruz, wife of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
If you like profiles on mysterious famous figures (not just Washington Women), I recommend this Keanu Reeves profile from GQ.
History: South Korea struck down its abortion ban
This is a huge deal, considering I wasn’t even aware South Korea had a ban on abortions (except in cases of “rape, incest or danger to the mother’s health) for 66 years.
I think this an amazing example of progress in a country whose fight against the patriarchy has only recently gotten media coverage. I think its really easy for “feminists” in the United States to focus on the plights we have in our own country (wage gap, etc.) and forget the women around the world who are just catching up to our domestic status quo of gender equality. Having a global perspective on feminism is really great! Food for thought!
Preachin’ in Sneakers
IDK if you’ve noticed, but hipster churches are very much a thing Hollywood and other places (think Justin Bieber’s church, Hillsong) and they seem to be making a lot of money. How do I know? Because the preachers in these Trendy Places of Worship are literally wearing sneakers that costs thousands of dollars—along with designer clothes. Is this what Jesus would want? Whether or not you think its materialistic and a touch hypocritical, that’s your choice—but food for thought!
Also: Happy Belated Easter lol.
Reality Check: You’re not the Office All-Star Rookie you want to be in your workplace, and that’s okay
This was passed along to me, and I’m extremely thankful I read it because it gave me a lot of much-needed perspective (which you tend to lack when you’re a hyper-focused 20-something). It’s mostly a piece about the growing trend of young people almost expecting raises, promotions, or higher recognition from their management after just one year. I think people just starting out in their career are really hyped to prove themselves and show what they can do. This eager-beaver attitude, however, can put management in a tight spot: Your employee might not be ready for a promotion, but you don’t want to discourage them either.
I also think a part of the equation is the “image” aspect of career advancement and perhaps young people seeing their peers get promoted faster than they do. Not only are people my age eager to prove their bosses what they can do, but they also want other people to see that they’re a #successful #bossbabe who can afford a luxury apartment and boozy brunch every weekend. The desire to succeed is a dangerous cocktail of professional, social, and self-pressure.
But fact of the matter is: If you haven’t been promoted yet, it’s not your time. It doesn’t matter if someone you know just got promoted—you’re on your own career timeline. On my first-day of my full-time job, my former co-worker told me: “Welcome to the next 40 years of your life!” And he was right. I have years (and years and years) to get promotions and raises. I can wait, and so can you.
Music Monday: Yo-Yo Ma at the Southern Border
"As you all know, as you did and do and will do, in culture, we build bridges, not walls," he said. After his performance, he gestured to the bridge to his right. "I've lived my life at the borders. Between cultures. Between disciplines. Between musics. Between generations."
Stragglers
There was one woman who was KEY in making the grand behemoth called Game of Thrones. Her name is Bernadette Caulfield.
What do Lori Loughlin, Cardi B, and Anna Delvey have in common? They’ve made courtrooms their runways during their recent trails.
I couldn’t write this newsletter without mentioning the Mueller report at least once. An interesting tangent in the 440+ pages: A fashion industry figure was mentioned to have introduced Ivanka to some Russian folks.
Lara Logan, correspondent of CBS fame, has joined Sinclair Broadcast Group—which is notoriously right-wing.
That’s all for now folks!
See you next week!