A message from a newly minted Tolkien fan

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     June 6, 2023 After many years of ignoring my boyfriend's demands, I finally watched The Lord of the Rings. The extended edition. All 11 and a half hours of it. After watching, I understood a lot of memes and Led Zeppelin lyrics. I was also overcome with a desire to go outside, and not just because I had been cooped up for 682 minutes, on and off, observing the machinations of hobbits. The films offered a compelling reminder of the restorative power of nature, and the idyllic scenes of the Shire made me want to run barefoot through a meadow, which seems easier than hopping on a flight to New Zealand. Naturally, I started reviewing Mother Jones' coverage of The Lord of the Rings, both the books and the films, and I discovered that I wasn't the only person in this publication to consider Tolkien's epic soothing. None other than Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale, [told MoJo in 2017](: In times of great anxiety, what could be better than The Lord of the Rings? A horrible tyrant. An obsession with power. Nine dead guys running errands for him. Small folks doing their bit. It’s okay to have pointy ears. And it comes out all right at the end. Or sort of all right. So comforting! If you have found the 2024 pre-presidential race to be as dreadful as I have, take note. Shortly after President Trump took office, we compiled a list of resistance reads recommended by great writers like Dave Eggers, George Saunders, and Peggy Orenstein. It has aged like fine, elvish wine. [Check it out](. —Abigail Weinberg Advertisement [House Store Ad]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [Atlanta City Council Approves Funding for “Cop City”]( The city will pour more than $30 million into the controversial project, which activists warn will further militarize the police and harm surrounding Black neighborhoods. BY ARIANNA COGHILL SPONSORED CONTENT BY PLANET DETROIT   Tough, impactful environmental reporting from Michigan's Motor City [Planet Detroit](amplifies the voices of Michigan residents fighting back against corporate and political interests and environmental injustices. Our green guides provide crucial resources to residents and grassroots advocates. We're the only news outlet laser-focused on climate solutions in the Motor City and Great Lakes state, from urban agriculture to solar farms and community-owned projects. Join the movement and support our nonprofit, independent journalism. Sign up for the Planet Detroit [newsletter.]( [Trending] [Disabled Mississippians now face even more hurdles in voting]( BY JULIA MÉTRAUX   [Legislatures passed 550 anti-trans bills so far this year]( BY ILEANA GARNAND   [EPA ends Trump-era bid to nix pollution rules for plastics recycling]( BY JAMES BRUGGERS   [The "BIG, BEAUTIFUL" Saudi golf deal is great news for Donald Trump]( BY RUSS CHOMA Advertisement [House Donations Ad]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [From Our Archives: What Some of Our Greatest Writers Are Reading to Stay Sane in the Age of Trump]( In their own words. BY MOTHER JONES [Fiercely Independent] Support from readers allows Mother Jones to do journalism that doesn't just follow the pack. [Donate]( Did you enjoy this newsletter? Help us out by [forwarding]( it to a friend or sharing it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755