Celebrating Good Things

"😎😎😎😎 GOOD THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN 😎😎😎😎"

Author

Sandy Allen
November 05, 2025

Welcome to What’s Helping Today, a newsletter about the everyday work of staying alive on earth — written by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.

Hey folks,

I admit lately I have felt really low (if you all couldn’t tell).

Like many, I really needed a win like last night’s historic victory in New York City and beyond. I think a lot of us did.

What’s Helping Today: Last night’s many victories and what they mean …

I will keep this post brief. First, ICYMI, the latest WHT from two days ago, with my thoughts on the Mamdani campaign … and then other links to things that made me nod my tired, trans head and/or smile etc.:

Why Mamdani's Victory Matters

Just expressing some gratitude to this candidate and campaign

whats-helping-today.beehiiv.com/p/why-mamdani-s-victory-matters?draft=true

😎😎😎😎 GOOD THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN 😎😎😎😎

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@aoc.bsky.social)2025-11-05T05:22:43.125Z

AOC: I have to tell you, in my traveling across the country, I am hearing and have been seeing consistent things from everyday people. And it is that they are terrified, they are frustrated, they are angry, and they are shocked by a president violating the values that we hold dear

— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social)2025-11-05T03:17:47.581Z

Watch Zohran Mamdani’s entire speech from last night (if you haven’t already); it was, as many are saying, just sensational:

I watched it at like 4:30 a.m. this morning and felt feelings. I also watched an old public access piece about his mom, the director Mira Nair (which was great).

LOL:

Me when someone starts HRT.

— Alejandra Caraballo (@esqueer.net)2025-11-05T17:38:52.308Z

Some worthwhile analysis …

"A Stunning Rebuke Of Anti-Trans Politics"—Dems Win Elections Nationwide Despite Anti-Trans Ads

As election results poured in on Tuesday night, it became clear that Democrats were winning nationwide against anti-trans opponents.

www.erininthemorning.com/p/a-stunning-rebuke-of-anti-trans-politicsdems

The Billionaires Who Tried—and Failed—to Stop Zohran Mamdani

Over 20 billionaires donated to super PACs supporting Cuomo or in opposition to the next mayor, Zohran Mamdani.

time.com/7331119/zohran-mamdani-billionaires-ackman-bloomberg

Zohran Mamdani’s Win Is Proof We Don’t Have to Settle for Newsom 2028

The Bushwick bisexuals have it! We can ask for so much more, and at COYOTE we plan to.

www.coyotemedia.org/zohran-mamdanis-win-is-proof-we-dont-have-to-settle-for-newsom-2028

remember all those hot takes during the primary about how Mamdani was the candidate for rich white liberals? a "champagne socialist" ? yeah, about that

— G Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris.com)2025-11-05T20:14:00.905Z

Heck yeah to other wins from last night, like:

Erica Deuso is the first openly transgender person to be elected mayor in Pennsylvania. The longtime Democratic advocate defeated Republican Rich Bryant Tuesday to serve as the next mayor of Downingtown. 🔴 Live election updates: www.inquirer.com/politics/ele...

— Philadelphia Inquirer (@inquirer.com)2025-11-05T13:50:28.232Z

Heck yeah to this:

BREAKING: Colorado voters approved a ballot measure that would raise state income taxes on higher-earning households to fund free meals for all public school students. Follow AP for live updates.

— The Associated Press (@apnews.com)2025-11-05T03:33:02Z

And to this:

A 13-year-long supermajority in the Mississippi State Senate has been broken after Tuesday’s special election with Dems flipping 2 seats. Reps still outnumber Dems but must cross the aisle for votes requiring 2/3 majority to to override gov vetoes.

— Riki Wilchins (@rikiwilchins.bsky.social)2025-11-05T20:13:40.011Z

And to this:

Georgia Democrats had not won a statewide race that wasn't for a federal office since 2006. They won two races tonight, both against GOP incumbents. The margins? 62% to 38% in both.

— Taniel (@taniel.bsky.social)2025-11-05T05:37:45.305Z

Some other links to maybe click on …

A Clippings Scrapbook: The Life, Times, and Records of Wendy Carlos — Assigned

Synth pioneer Wendy Carlos has given us eighteen albums, a massive website of personal writings and archival recordings, and a generation of trans synthesizer enthusiasts in her wake. For Halloween, we’re taking a look at her writings, her work, and the queer musicians she’s influenced.

www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-news/clippings-scrapbook-wendy-carlos-synth-musician

Trans service members have always been part of U.S. history

Across centuries of wars, bans, and battles for recognition, trans military members have answered the call. Now they're fighting for their right to do so.

www.advocate.com/history/history-of-trans-miltary-members

A big yikes to this (and a heads up to those who fly):

How to Opt-Out of Airlines Selling Your Travel Data to the Government

The Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), owned by major U.S. airlines, collects billions of ticketing records and sells them to the government to be searched without a warrant. I managed to opt-out of that data selling.

www.404media.co/how-to-opt-out-of-airlines-selling-your-travel-data-to-the-government

Fellow media professionals especially, please take note:

How journalists covered the attack on trans rights in Trump's first 100 days

Trans perspectives were rarely present in articles about the consequences federal actions would have on their lives, according to an analysis conducted by Berkeley Media Studies Group in partnership with the Trans Journalists Association.

www.transjournalists.org/tja-bmsg-executive-orders-analysis-transgender

One last thing:

Dearest subscribers, I have a favor to ask of you … If you enjoy this newsletter, I would appreciate it if you’d forward it to a friend or two, anyone you know who may like it, too … and/or share it wherever you share things online.

I am at about ~750 subscribers and have set a random goal in my mind of 1000 by the year’s end. A bit ambitious perhaps but I’m hoping with you all helping out … perhaps I can get there. Thank you!!!

Also, any fellow newsletter writers using beehiiv, consider adding What’s Helping Today as one of the other newsletters yours recommends. (This is a huge help, traffic-wise!)

Sending love and gratitude,
Sandy

Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today, a newsletter by me — author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen. If you were forwarded this message, WHT is free; you can subscribe here. If you appreciate my work and want to keep it going: Please consider contributing any amount to my Buy Me a Coffee. The suggested these days for those who can is $5 a month, which gets you access to some perks. Thank you for your support!!! 💓