Semi-regular political linkspam

But becoming less regular -- have I really not done one of these since September? I hope they're still useful even if the links aren't all as timely.

• There are a lot of really great takes on the outing of film executive Harvey Weinstein as a sexual predator (and even more truly terrible ones). One I particularly appreciated was from former actress and director Sarah Polley, who talks about her own encounters with harassment in Hollywood and damns the entire system. I've been glad to see more people speaking up, not just about Weinstein but other serial harassers and predators, and the systems that protect them, in other industries as well. Is the dam finally breaking on this issue? It feels like we might be reaching a real turning point as a society. I can only hope so.


• Also recommended: "I Have Been Raped by Far Nicer Men Than You by Natalie Degraffinried at Very Smart Brothas, on men always putting the burden of preventing harassment and assault on women and why she (and the rest of us) are sick and tired of it.


• Emma Thompson also says smart and true things.


• Rebecca Traister talks about past attempts to report on the Weinstein story and speculates about why the New York Times finally felt able to publish the allegations.


• Another important event was the #MeToo hashtag, in which people (mostly but not exclusively women) shared their stories of sexual assault and harassment. An important thing to know: this idea wasn't new, but a revival of a movement created ten years ago by a black woman, Tarana Burke, to bring greater attention to another well-known predator, the musician R. Kelly.


• I have long believed that the whole "mothers, daughters, and sisters" response to these sorts of stories needs to die. Here's a good Vulture article on why it's so terrible. (P.S. Harvey Weinstein has daughters. So does Donald Trump, lest we forget that the anniversary of the Access Hollywood tape was this month, and the numerous allegations of assault and harassment against him. It is very much not just about Harvey Weinstein.)


• On to other topics, like all the GOP Senators who are saying mean things about Donald Trump but not making any substantive moves to rein him in. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate their speaking up. But talk is cheap. Nice speeches and two dollars will buy me a cup of coffee. Get back to me when someone actually does something besides decided not to run for re-election.


• Meanwhile, the white supremecist assholes came back to Charlottesville with their tiki torches. This issue is not over.


• Here's an excellent write-up of the oral arguments for the Wisconsin gerrymandering case that went before the Supreme Court at the beginning of the month. Challengers' lawyers are cautiously optimistic, so keep your fingers crossed. This one could be the whole ballgame.