Volume 5, Issue 76: No Kings.

I'm going out. You should too.

This weekend feels like a potential pivot moment—one way or another—for, well, everything.

I am currently in Oklahoma City with Real Storm’s Wynn Leitch—as he updated yesterday, there hasn’t been much of any extreme weather for us to observe and study—and while we have had an excellent time going to museums, playing air hockey and watching the NBA Finals inside the road team’s home arena (this kid owns so much Shai stuff now) … this morning, there are more important matters for us to attend to.

As you all know, the nationwide No Kings protests are taking place today, and the march here in OKC actually begins at 9 a.m. Central Time. So we’re going out for that: To be heard, to be seen, to be counted—to let it be known that there is opposition, and that collectively we will not be silenced. There are times in which one must do one’s part. This feels like one of those times.

Theres protests are taking place everywhere around this country, and I mean everywhere:

They are taking place in Athens (my parents are going), they are taking place in Mattoon (well, nearby Charleston, anyway), they are taking place in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, they are taking place in Williston, North Dakota. They are taking place near you, where you are right now.

This is the first protest I have ever attended that I wasn’t covering as a journalist. I know a lot of people do not consider themselves the type of person who goes to a protest; I am one of them. But I love this country—all its possibilities, all its flaws, all its ideals, no matter how often it falls short of them—and I want it to survive. For my kids, and their kids … and for the people who came before us who fought for it and believed in it. The direction we are headed toward is madness … even destruction. I have no idea if it will make a difference to stand up. I don’t know if it’s too late. But I have to try. And you should too.

Here’s where you can find a protest near you. Remember to wear sunscreen and bring water.

We’ll be back with a normal newsletter next week. (And we’ve got details on an official book tour announcement below.) But this is what I’m doing with my Saturday. You should join me, and millions of others, in letting it be known, now and forever, that we stood against this.

Be safe out there. I’ll see you next week.

BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT

The book is out. People tend to like it, I think. I hope you have bought your copy. If you have not, there is no time like the present: Buy now. If you have already bought the book, you are encouraged to leave it a review on Goodreads or Amazon, or both. It helps.

And an announcement: We now have an official Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride book tour. Thank you to Real Storm’s Wynn Leitch for the graphic:

In case that’s too, uh, busy for you, here are the dates and locations:

June 26: St. Louis, MO (with Bernie Miklasz), 7 p.m.
Left Bank Books
399 North Euclid, St Louis, MO 63108

July 16: Los Angeles, CA (with Jeff Garlin), 7 p.m.
Book Soup
8818 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA, 90069

July 30: Bethesda, MD, 7 p.m.
Wonderland Books
7920 Norfolk Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

August 15: Columbus, GA, 6 p.m.
Columbus Bound Bookshop
1328 13th St Ste 3, Columbus, GA 31901

November 6: Brooklyn, NY, 7 p.m. (with David Roth and Patrick J. Sauer)
DSK Brooklyn Beer Garden
710 Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217

I hope to see you there, it will be fun.

Here is a numerical breakdown of all the things I wrote this week, in order of what I believe to be their quality.

1. It Is Hard to Cheer for United States National Teams Right Now, The Washington Post. Another sad USMNT piece, on the eve of the Gold Cup.

2. My All-Star Ballot, MLB.com. A fun column ever year.

3. College Sports Is Worse Now, New York. The settlement hurts, not helps.

4. How Are the Astros Still So Good? MLB.com. I never hated the Astros as much as everyone else, apparently.

5. Predator Movies, Ranked, Vulture. Updated with Predator: Killer of Killers.

6. This Week’s Power Rankings, MLB.com. It actively hurts seeing the Cubs this high.

PODCASTS

Grierson & Leitch, Grierson and I discuss “The Phoenician Scheme,” “Ballerina” and “The Devil and Daniel Webster.”

Morning Lineup, I did Thursday’s show.

Seeing Red, Bernie Miklasz and I try to figure out Ryan Helsley.

LONG STORY YOU SHOULD READ THIS MORNING … OF THE WEEK

“When a Nasty Habit Is Part of Your National Identity,” Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic. This piece is about France banning smoking outdoors, but it’s really about a former smoker looking back nostalgically at smoking—relieved that he doesn’t smoke anymore but wistful for back when he used to get to slow down and just observe for a second. Great bit here:

It’s been a while—maybe 20 years—since I’ve touched a cigarette, but what I still remember, more than the nicotine, is the sensation of pressing “Pause.” For the few minutes it took a cigarette to become ash, I had nothing to do but enjoy the silence or the chat I was having outside a bar.

These moments of idle nothingness—or acute presence—are a source of nostalgia for me in part because they belong to the aimlessness of youth, and because our phones have since become a constant portal to somewhere else.

Also, this Kerry Howley piece on Pete Hegseth’s Department of Defense is a stone cold masterpiece.

ONGOING LETTER-WRITING PROJECT!

This is your reminder that if you write me a letter and put it in the mail, I will respond to it with a letter of my own, and send that letter right to you! It really happens! Hundreds of satisfied customers!

Write me at:

Will Leitch
P.O. Box 48
Athens GA 30603

CURRENTLY LISTENING TO

“All You Fascists,” Billy Bragg and Wilco. You’re bound to lose.

Remember to listen to The Official Will Leitch Newsletter Spotify Playlist, featuring every song ever mentioned in this section. Let this drive your listening, not the algorithm!

We really are having a fine time in Oklahoma.

Be safe out there.

Best,
Will