Some Links, to Inform or Distract You ...

A quick Weekend Content type post

Author

Sandy Allen
September 14, 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.

Hi all,

I wanted to send some links both related to the news (in case you want things to share with others especially) and also not related to the news (in case you want a break) …

Some Topical Content

For interpretation of the scummiest-corners-of-the-internet, I tend to turn to my former colleague Ryan Broderick. I recommend his latest podcast episode:

Charlie Kirk was killed by a meme

Podcast Episode · Panic World · 09/12/2025 · Bonus · 1h 11m

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/charlie-kirk-was-killed-by-a-meme/id1740187810?i=1000726575477

Here are some other worthwhile pieces …

Not All Victims Should Be Martyrs

Charlie Kirk believed in advancing right-wing political goals and attacking left-wing opponents by any and all means necessary—including political violence.

www.liberalcurrents.com/not-all-victims-should-be-martyrs

The national gaslighting about Charlie Kirk

Another pattern of censorship that only hurts the left—and emboldens political violence.

spitfirenews.com/p/the-national-gaslighting-about-charlie-kirk

The WSJ carelessly spread anti-trans misinformation

The Wall Street Journal’s fuckup while covering Charlie Kirk’s killing needs more than an editor’s note.

www.theverge.com/politics/777630/wsj-trans-misinformation-charlie-kirk

Here’s what actual bravery looks like …

Official Defies GOP Governor's Order To Fly Flags At Half Staff For Charlie Kirk

He said he did not want to honor a man "who did so much to harm not only the marginalized, but also to degrade the fabric of our body politic."

www.huffpost.com/entry/jon-green-kim-reynolds-charlie-kirk_n_68c5c5c1e4b0254a6c64463a

Here’s what’s actually happening, post-Kirk’s murder …

Extremist Groups Hated Charlie Kirk. They’re Using His Death to Radicalize Others

The Oath Keepers are apparently restarting, and extremist groups like the Proud Boys are calling for “state violence” in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death.

www.wired.com/story/extremists-hated-charlie-kirk-now-radicalizing-others

It's never too soon for the right to blame trans people

A timeline of false "gender ideology" claims about the Charlie Kirk shooting.

www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/09/charlie-kirk-shooter-trans-ideology-false

These last days, in my observation many cis people are noticing perhaps for the first time the anti-trans warp of their own media diets and circles. If it’s helpful, here’s a previous post wherein I gave some suggestions re: improving said media diets.

Regarding some in the mainstream media’s eagerness to believe that trans people are monsters: Here again was my interview from earlier this summer on Cancel Me, Daddy on transphobia and the media. I also highly recommend my recent appearance on Proxy (especially to cis allies who’re wondering what you can do, I suggest checking that one out).

Here are some …

Like these images captured by kids who live in San Francisco’s Tenderloin:

Photos Capture SF’s Tenderloin Through the Eyes of Kids Who Live There | KQED

KQED partnered with San Francisco Tenderloin youth organizations to get a child’s perspective of their neighborhood.

www.kqed.org/news/12054193/photos-capture-sfs-tenderloin-through-the-eyes-of-kids-who-live-there

I enjoyed this conversation about trans music history and this rad archival effort:

The Trans Music Archive

Podcast Episode · TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones · 09/11/2025 · 35m

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trans-music-archive/id1527477503?i=1000725724233

Check out this organization of older folks helping to spread awareness as to why vaccines do matter:

Grandparents for Vaccines launches to share stories of life before immunizations

New volunteer group aims to educate parents about vaccine importance by sharing personal experiences with preventable diseases.

www.kgw.com/article/news/health/grandparents-for-vaccines-stories-life-before-immunizations/283-27bf3ad5-ca2f-4df8-afb6-255d25e62931

Great news re: saving the koalas from chlamydia!

Australia approves first vaccine to save koalas from chlamydia

A vaccine to protect Australia's koalas against chlamydia has been approved for the first time, a development that scientists believe could stop the spread of the deadly disease that has ravaged populations of the beloved endangered animal.

www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/australia-approves-first-vaccine-save-koalas-chlamydia-2025-09-10/?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=5fbdb3cb01-nature-briefing-daily-20250910&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-49683920

Great news re: making clean energy using the ocean’s waves!

In LA port, bobbing blue floats are turning wave power into clean energy

At the Port of Los Angeles on a site that once housed oil tanks, seven steel structures that look like small blue boats are lowered into the ocean, where they gently bob up and down with the waves to generate power.

apnews.com/article/eco-wave-los-angeles-renewable-electricity-7679b1ef04048250c4a66c148c82b809#

Impressive coverage of one giant wetland’s restoration …

Reviving the Old Bay

To undo centuries of damage in the Chesapeake Bay, six states are fixing forests, farms, city runoff, wetlands, rivers and oyster reefs across this massive watershed.

www.nature.org/en-us/magazine/magazine-articles/reviving-chesapeake-bay/

Speaking of oysters, I found this discussion super inspiring …

From Oyster Farming to Running for Senate with Graham Platner

Podcast Episode · Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast · 09/09/2025 · 51m

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-oyster-farming-to-running-for-senate-with-graham/id1382983397

These are really activated times. I hope you all can: Log out, take breaks, rest, care for your own insides — advice I gave more of in my most recent post.

Sending my best,
Sandy

p.s. What’s Helping Today: Making a bunch of marinara and muffins yesterday. Taking Bluesky breaks, especially when the transphobes and reply guys are just … too much.

p.p.s. Fellow nonfiction writers especially, please consider enrolling in/spreading word about my upcoming writing workshop! It starts later this month!

Workshop: Writing About the Self — and the Other with Sandy Ernest Allen — The Shipman Agency

8 Sessions: Sundays, September 28 - November 16 4:00-6:00pm ET Sandy Ernest Allen Writing about ourselves, writing about other people; both sound seemingly simple — and yet! Each can prove quite tricky, depending. Join acclaimed essayist, journalist and author Sandy Ernest Allen for an advanced

www.theshipmanagency.com/classes/workshop-writing-about-self-other-sandy-ernest-allen

Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today, a newsletter by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen. If you were forwarded this message, WHT is free; you can subscribe here. If you like this newsletter, consider forwarding this post to a few friends, or sharing it wherever you share things? ✨ Last thing: Consider giving to my Buy Me a Coffee, if you can. Just once is great — or better yet the suggested $5 monthly (or more!). Thanks so much!