Deadline Poet / March 12, 2024

Mike Johnson as Speaker So Far

Calvin Trillin
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, speaks during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on February 14, 2024.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, speaks during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on February 14, 2024.(Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Commissioned by the hard-right crew,
’Twas said Mike knew just what to do.
With Congress nearly comatose, he
Could learn some lessons from Pelosi.

Time is running out to have your gift matched 

In this time of unrelenting, often unprecedented cruelty and lawlessness, I’m grateful for Nation readers like you. 

So many of you have taken to the streets, organized in your neighborhood and with your union, and showed up at the ballot box to vote for progressive candidates. You’re proving that it is possible—to paraphrase the legendary Patti Smith—to redeem the work of the fools running our government.

And as we head into 2026, I promise that The Nation will fight like never before for justice, humanity, and dignity in these United States. 

At a time when most news organizations are either cutting budgets or cozying up to Trump by bringing in right-wing propagandists, The Nation’s writers, editors, copy editors, fact-checkers, and illustrators confront head-on the administration’s deadly abuses of power, blatant corruption, and deconstruction of both government and civil society. 

We couldn’t do this crucial work without you.

Through the end of the year, a generous donor is matching all donations to The Nation’s independent journalism up to $75,000. But the end of the year is now only days away. 

Time is running out to have your gift doubled. Don’t wait—donate now to ensure that our newsroom has the full $150,000 to start the new year. 

Another world really is possible. Together, we can and will win it!

Love and Solidarity,

John Nichols 

Executive Editor, The Nation

Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is The Nation’s “deadline poet.”

More from The Nation

The Story of the Year

The Story of the Year The Story of the Year

How did we allow this to happen?

Steve Brodner

A Movement-Building Strategy for All Workers

A Movement-Building Strategy for All Workers A Movement-Building Strategy for All Workers

Why we need a freedom agenda.

Peter Olney and David Bacon

Gentrifier Go Home

Gentrifier Go Home Gentrifier Go Home

Gentrification fuels displacement and dismantles communities.

OppArt / Motyko Morales

Biden

Biden Biden

Did it!

OppArt / Rob Rogers

Christmas Wish

Christmas Wish Christmas Wish

The toll is staggering: In 2024, gun violence in the US resulted in 40,886 deaths and 31,652 injuries.

OppArt / Andrea Arroyo

Gulf

Gulf Gulf

In America.

OppArt / Eric Hanson