W/C Nov 16
What's happening in Sudan, Sophia Bush, and a TikTok baroness!
Each week, the idea for a random preamble seems to fall into my lap. This week, it was an article from the girls at Shameless about the NYT’s Crossword Wordplay column arriving in my inbox. *et voilà*.
The daily crossword column and its accompanying comment section were entirely new to me (so is doing the crossword, tbh, so I’m not surprised), but once I found it, I couldn’t. stop. scrolling.
There’s so much I could say about this corner of the internet: how it’s a perfect place to find a sliver of joy and wholesomeness; how 90% of the comments show exactly what it looks like to celebrate someone when they make something you enjoy (see: last week’s intro); or just how cool it is to care about something so much that you’ll find any reason to connect with the community around it.
All of those things are true here.
But in an effort to cut myself off before I write a thesis, I’ll get to the point: I’m opening with this little musing because the first story this week is pretty dark. And, trite as it may sound, the world in general can feel really hard and scary lately.
And yet, most of us are also privileged enough to have access to so much goodness still. Sometimes it’s right in front of us (cc: the @upworthy & @goodnews_movement Insta accounts), and sometimes we need to look a little harder. Like the comment section from August 25 below, for instance.
So my reco, above any article or podcast this week, inspired by that email and the NYT Wordplay Column’s rich archive of crossword commentary, is to look for these things wherever you can, too.
Scoop: Your Topical Intake
Read: Sudan’s Crisis Has Entered a Dramatic New Phase — But It Started Years Ago
So, not to ~immediately~ kill the vibe, but we need to start by talking about Sudan. Note: this section is lengthy. Skim or skip as needed.
The situation in Sudan is difficult to cover here for a few reasons - not only is it horrifically brutal, but, like many civil wars, the problem is also incredibly complex. On top of that, it’s attracted far less attention than other wars.
There’s no formally assigned fruit emoji to communicate solidarity, and no mayoral candidate was asked their position on it. I doubt you’ll see “Let’s make sure we’re on the same page about: the Sudanese conflict” as you swipe through Hinge suitors. Despite that, the country is facing the world’s largest humanitarian crisis (as deemed by the U.N.).
Now, the ABC article linked above provides, imo, the most digestible explanation of what’s happening. There’s a lot to know, though, and I’ve had the benefit of six uninterrupted in-flight hours en route to SF to research. I’ve tried to simplify what I learned. If you’re struggling with time and/or emotional bandwidth right now, the following is a very high-level, sans murder details, overview.
WHAT’S HAPPENING:
On April 15, 2023, a civil war broke out in Sudan. It was the result of a power struggle between two military groups - the SAF & the RSF.
Who are they?
SAF = Sudanese Armed Forces. This is Sudan’s official military. Their leader is the country’s de facto ruler.
RSF = Rapid Support Forces. They are a paramilitary group (meaning they are organized like a traditional military in terms of structure and training, but they aren’t operated by the government, i.e., not the official army). They are an Arab-dominant group, and their leader, Hemedti, is a former warlord
WHAT’S THE HISTORY:
Between 2003 and 2005, Sudan’s president at the time, Omar al-Bashir, sought to suppress a rebellion of non-Arab groups. To do this, he enlisted the help of the Janjaweed, a nomadic Arab militia. Together, al-Bashir and the Janjaweed targeted non-Arab communities (i.e., not just rebels) and carried out systematic mass killings. This was labeled a genocide
If the Darfur genocide rings a bell, this is what it refers to
In 2013, the Janjaweed restructured and formalized, becoming the RSF
In 2019, the SAF & RSF banded together to overthrow al-Bashir (the president) following months of protests. They were successful. Left without a leader, they agreed to share power until a Democratic government could be organized
The deal did not eventuate, and as a result, a power struggle between the two groups (the SAF & RSF) over who would rule the country ensued
HOW’D THE LATEST WAR START:
In April of 2023, the RSF attacked the SAF in the country’s capital of Khartoum. The RSF seized most of the city
Since then, intense fighting between the two groups has spread to other parts of the country. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes
WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING
Beyond the ongoing death of citizens:
Both sides are targeting and destroying the country’s infrastructure (schools, hospitals, water and electricity services, etc.).
Humanitarian aid workers have been targeted and attacked
The consequences of the above mean that:
Access to healthcare is challenging, and diseases like cholera, the measles, malaria, etc., are spreading quickly under these conditions
The distribution of food aid and essentials has been severely disrupted; famine and malnutrition are rampant
Gender-based violence and abuse towards women and girls is soaring
WHAT’S THE LATEST:
The RSF & SAF had been fighting for control of the city of El Fasher (located in Darfur) for the last 18 months; it was the last major city in Darfur that was not under the control of the RSF. At the end of October, the SAF withdrew, leaving everyday citizens trapped inside. The RSF stepped in to capture it.
As part of overtaking the city, the RSF conducted an atrocious mass murder. They brutally tortured, dehumanized, and killed citizens. I won’t go into detail, but to give you an idea of the devastation:
They entered the last functioning hospital in the city and massacred those inside
The RSF has uploaded videos of these executions to social media
Satellite imagery shows clusters of bodies and discolored red ground across the city
The capture of el-Fasher means the RSF now has control of the entire western Darfur region
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW:
Death toll estimates across the country are over 150,000, with 12-13 million people displaced
Different countries are accused of supporting both sides (Sudan is a resource-rich country)
The UAE is allegedly the primary supporter of the RSF via funding and arms (along with other regional partners)
Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran are allegedly supporting the SAF
There have been talks about a ceasefire. The RSF says it agrees, but the SAF has not responded to it yet
There are concerns that the country will split again (South Sudan seceded in 2011) to form two independent countries
If you’d like to learn more, here are a few other things I consumed:
Listen: Darfur Conflict 101 (11/10 recommend browsing Wiser World for other topics)
Listen: How a Middle Eastern Superpower Is Fuelling the Sudan War
Listen: What’s Behind the War in Sudan
Read: A Simple Guide to What is Happening in Sudan (another breakdown with helpful maps of the country)
Spotlight: Your Pop Culture Intake
Read: Schlossberg Officially Launches New York House Campaign
Alright, let’s recalibrate with a (subjectively) sugary story after the above.
The meme, “Girls only want one thing and it’s Jack Schlossberg running for office,” is a great way to summarize this story.
So, who is the Democratic influencer Jack Schlossberg? Well, he’s hilarious, hot (sorry, I had to), and a descendant of the Kennedy political dynasty. He is the only grandson of JFK and Jackie O.
And this week, he announced he’ll be running for Congress.
I won’t go on too long, I’ve already clocked that I’m starting to make this list un petit too political (it’s hard not to in America). At the very least, browse his TikTok for the kookiness, read up on the Kennedys’ history, or Google outfit inspiration from his iconic uncle JFK Jr. & aunt Carolyn Bessette, etc.
Self: Your Introspective Intake
Listen: Sophia Bush on Tell Me Something Messy
A few things to preface before giving this episode a listen, especially if it’s your first time with this host. It was mine, and I personally found the intro and subsequent ‘messy’ puns too over the top. Those choices, and the host himself, were distracting.
If you can set that aside, I do think the episode is worth it for Sophia Bush (if for no other reason than her raspy voice - I know I wasn’t the only one who dreamed of having it growing up). Beyond her acting career, Sophia is an admirably outspoken activist who weathered plenty of public backlash when she and her partner, Ashlyn Harris, confirmed their relationship following Sophia’s 2023 divorce.
I find her beautifully articulate, grounded, and insightful. And I love that she clearly doesn't care about other people’s opinions. Two things she said that stuck with me:
Her test for choices and company. When you’re with someone, or weighing two options of something, ask yourself - Do you breathe in (i.e., contract), or do you exhale? That should let you know pretty quickly what’s right.
She talked about how the more she experiences sorrow, the more space it carves out for joy. That idea deeply resonated. For better or worse, my baseline outlook on life is - genuine yet borderline toxic (?) - positivity. The hardest things I’ve faced in life are unquestionably the reason for that. Difficult experiences take a lot from you, and as you start to process them, you’re forced to decide how you want to fill the void(s) they leave behind. Choosing to add little drops of optimism in those moments eventually fills a glass
halffull.
If this listen isn’t for you, her 2024 Glamour profile is still worth a read.
Something Else: Your Random Intake
Read: She’s a Millennial Baroness, but There’s More to Her Story
I didn’t think I’d find myself getting lost for hours learning about a millennial German barroness, but here we are.
Leonie made her way into the public sphere via her popular TikTok account, where she answers followers’ questions about life inside modern nobility. She also recently introduced a Substack account (I loved this essay of hers on A.I.). I think I want to be her best friend.
This article is pretty short, and this inclusion is merely my way of introducing you to her and providing you with an account that you can scroll through way past your bedtime tonight.
Read: The Silicon Valley Skin-Care Brand Biohackers Are Obsessed With
I had to sneak this one in, but my nephew is now knocking on my bedroom door, so time is up!
I hadn’t heard of this brand until now. Either the subline “all over TikTok” is exaggerated, or it just hasn’t made its way to TT’s low-fi competitor, Reels, where I frequent.
Skincare brands have long promoted their product and ingredient science to differentiate, but this is the first time I’ve seen a brand market it as ~biohacking~.
Select other things I’ve consumed this week:
Listen: Florence Pugh on Louis Theroux
Read: That New Hit Song on Spotify? It Was Made by AI.
Read: The Fight to Save the $2.7 Billion Botox Empire
Listen: The End of Dieting on Today, Explained
Listen: A Sea of Streaming Docs
That’s all for now, folks!
As always, if you love this Substack, I’d love for you to subscribe and/or share it with a friend.
Kelsi x