No matter how many “I told you so’s” you’ve heard, or even told yourself, the actions of January 6th were terrifying. Of course they were planned – some of the terrorists flew in from far flung states to storm the Capitol. Some wore merchandise. I saw a windbreaker that was printed with “Trump’s Civil War. MAGA January 6, 2021”. You saw the pictures. You saw the fur pelts and Viking helmets and pro-Auschwitz t-shirts. And now you’ve probably seen the videos – some made by the genius son, Don Jr. – of the Mob Family itself rooting on the rioters from an AV tent.
This podcast is called “Five Things that Make Life Better.” Some of you may recall that I began this enterprise because Trump and his MAGats brought me down. Every day brought bad news – many times a day. Whether it was Betsy DeVos knowing nothing about public education making sweeping stupid changes, or ending environmental protections of some kind, it made me feel despondent and helpless. This podcast changed that for me. I had an assignment – albeit from me – to find 5 things – a measly 5 things that made a positive difference in my life. Then I added conversations with interesting people, and over the course of the last two plus years, we’ve helped one another get through these gloomy days.
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Lisa Birnbach and Noel Casler
Some time ago I started following a very funny and brave fellow on Twitter. His name is Noel Casler, and he worked as a talent wrangler for some of Trump’s beauty pageants and on the Celebrity Apprentice finales for 6 seasons. Though he had to sign an NDA when he worked for Mark Burnett and NBC, he observed Trump, and especially the children up close, and has flouted the rules to talk about Donald Trump. Why? Because he knew this man was a bad man who damages everything he touches. Noel Casler, who also does standup when he’s not taking a celebrity to the stage or making sure their Evian is exactly 62 degrees cold, and he is my guest today.
I had to re-write my intro for today’s blog. No matter how bad I feared Jan. 6th would be, I could never have imagined what ACTUALLY happened.
Even though I had to re-write my intro, the five things that made life better for me this week didn’t change!
1. The puppy is sleeping near my ankles. She is a sweet little furball that will become a friend with a personality and a lot of needs. She is my own optimism in a living form
2. We just bought a new mattress. The amount of education one has to get before making a sound decision is overwhelming. It’s not fun, either. A good mattress in 2021 is expensive and if you are like me, you want to try it in the store before you bring it home. It arrived this week and my back is getting used to it. We are getting used to one another.
3 Saying “I love you” – I don’t suggest in a Valley Girl Gossip Girl Basic Girl way – Love you mean it; I appreciate so much the care and affection my nearest and dearest apply to me and I to them. It makes me feel good, and that’s the point.
4 The Washington Press Corps. I have said it before, and I’ll say it again. The reporters risk their own safety every time they leave the house and cover a riot, an insurrection, and not for riches, not for glory, but to get the true story out. This includes the photographers and camerapeople who are at the same risk as the reporters you see. Without them, we would definitely be in the dark with a mendacious president and the liars he employs.
5 A hot bath. Important. Without the news or twitter in my head. A break of every kind.
NOEL CASLER’S 5 THINGS
1. Sunshine
2. Birds
3. Guitars
4. Books
6. Neroli Oil
The 5 Things That Make Life Better podcast is recorded and produced at The Field in NYC. My team is Shpresa Oruci, Michael Porte, Sam Haft and Boco Haft.The Field in NYC