vox--2020-01-18--The children’s librarian who hated Goodnight Moon

Welcome to Vox ’ s weekly book link roundup , a curated selection of the internet ’ s best writing on books and related subjects .
Here ’ s the best the web has to offer for the week of January 12 , 2020 .
• At the New Republic , Alex Shepherd argues that Amazon has begun the process of making publishers redundant : To a large extent , book publishers have themselves to blame .
Despite arguing that they provided necessary intangibles to the book-publishing process , they have spent the last decade gutting their marketing and editorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publishers to work with freelance editors , many of whom recently left or were pushed out of prestige imprints , on projects .
The layoffs were a cost-cutting move as conglomerate publishers consolidated imprints , but it has inadvertently leveled the playing field .
Dean Koontz no longer has to go to a big publisher to have his needs met ; Amazon and Bantam , his former publisher , are drawing from the same talent pool .
• At LitHub , James Wood thinks through the differences between journalistic and academic criticism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Not to think about literature evaluatively is not to think like a writer—it cuts literature off from the instincts and ambitions of the very people who created it .
But to think only in terms of evaluation , in terms of craft and technique—to think only of literature as a settled achievement—favors those categories at the expense of many different kinds of reading ( chiefly , the great interest of reading literature as an always unsettled achievement ) .
To read only suspiciously ( Stakes¹ ) is to risk becoming a cynical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only evaluatively ( Stakes² ) is to risk becoming a naïf of meaning , a connoisseur of local effects , someone who brings the standards of a professional guild to bear on the wide , unprofessional drama of meaning .
• At the Outline , Leah Finnegan argues that we need to stop comparing people to poor Joan Didion all the time : The Didion comparison irks me mostly for how boringly lazy it is , especially when it is used by writers , whose job is presumably to write original thoughts composed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a young female writer may indeed resemble Didion ’ s in that she is also women whose work involves observation , analysis , and sentences , but there is little depth to the comparison beyond that .
Haley Mlotek neatly summed this up in a 2015 Awl article : “ Joan Didion is a living stereotype and I only mean that in the most literal definition of the term : Joan Didion functions as a mental shortcut .
Joan Didion requires very little explanation to a very large group of people , representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be young , female , upper middle class , white , and somewhat inwardly tortured.
” • Also at the Outline , Sarah Menkedick defends the much maligned Eat , Pray , Love author Elizabeth Gilbert : Gilbert represents the fantasy of many women writers — the juggernaut bestseller , the speaking gigs and financial success and adoring fans– and also the nightmare : the contempt of critics , the “ chick lit ” label , the inability to crawl out from under a single book that has been deemed unabashedly female and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life and work illuminate women ’ s ambivalence toward female power , and their uncertainty about whether that power should celebrate the feminine or reject it .
• At The Millions , Adam O ’ Fallon Price asks whether our novels have gotten too subjective : All of which is to say that one feels a consistent , accompanying shift toward the subjective in the fiction of our moment , in what it does and does not do .
What it does do : relate intensely personal lived experience , depict trauma , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not do : usually attempt any sort of objectivity or try to situate a narrative in a moral framework .
The problem with this is , from my point of view , situating narrative in a moral framework is what novels do better than really any other type of art .
No other narrative form can so dexterously tell a story while critiquing it , a sleight-of-hand enabled by the engaged moral interplay of an author/narrator with his or her narrative .
The reluctance to engage on this level may become an inability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not just artistically , but socially , as well .
During times of moral crisis like the one we ’ re living in , we need books of moral power and daring that challenge us .
Books that are willing to take a stand , and in doing so , dare us to do the same .
• In celebration of its 125th anniversary , the New York Public Library released its top 10 most-checked-out books of all time .
Ezra Jack Keats ’ s The Snowy Day tops the list .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list is dominated by children ’ s classics , Goodnight Moon does not appear .
It gets an honorable mention , with the explanation that “ extremely influential New York Public Library children ’ s librarian Anne Carroll Moore hated Goodnight Moon when it first came out , ” so the library failed to acquire it as long as she was there .
Which : What ?
At Slate , Dan Kois investigates everything going on in that disclaimer : Miss Moore ’ s taste was particular .
She loved Beatrix Potter and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believer in the role of magic and innocence in children ’ s storytelling .
This put her in opposition to a progressive wave then sweeping children ’ s literature , inspired by the early childhood research of the Cooperative School for Student Teachers , located on Bank Street in Greenwich Village .
The Bank Street School , as it became known , was also a preschool and the teacher training facility where Margaret Wise Brown enrolled in 1935 .
This progressive wave was exemplified by the Here and Now Story Book , created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lucy Sprague Mitchell in 1921 .
A collection of simple tales set in a city , focusing on skyscrapers and streetcars , it was a rebuttal to Moore ’ s “ once upon a time ” taste in children ’ s lit .
• After a long hiatus , the Atlantic has started publishing short fiction again , beginning with a short story by Lauren Groff : The women were drinking peach schnapps , telling stories about the worst things they ’ d ever done .
They had already skimmed through the missing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past were gruesome , the two decades of lost friendship something untouchable and rotten .
Maybe it was , Nic thought .
Melodie had said she was a real-estate agent in San Luis Obispo , still playing the field .
Her face was so artificially plumped and frozen that it resembled a Greek-chorus mask that had slid between genres and settled on tragicomedy .
Sammie was overripe , a bruised apple .
Five kids with Hank , she had said with a sigh , all seven of them packed into the little house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same little town where the women had all grown up .
• At BookRiot , Jeffrey Davies explains how his love for Nancy Drew taught him to reject toxic masculinity : So in 5th grade I picked up a Hardy Boys book and was determined to love it .
I hated it , but I forced myself through every word .
And while I ’ m still mad at myself for forcing myself through a book I actively remember hating , it taught me something about myself ( which I would later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m very bad at pretending to care about things that I don ’ t care about .
I didn ’ t care about the Hardy Boys .
I cared about Nancy Drew .
And here ’ s the week in books at Vox : • In 2020 , Little Women has a men problem .
But it used to be seen as a story for everyone .
• Capitalism is turning us into addicts As always , you can keep up with all our books coverage by visiting vox.com/books .
Happy @ @

Welcome to Vox’s weekly book link roundup, a curated selection of the internet’s best writing on books and related subjects. Here’s the best the web has to offer for the week of January 12, 2020.
At the New Republic, Alex Shepherd argues that Amazon has begun the process of making publishers redundant:
To a large extent, book publishers have themselves to blame. Despite arguing that they provided necessary intangibles to the book-publishing process, they have spent the last decade gutting their marketing and editorial departments. It is increasingly common for publishers to work with freelance editors, many of whom recently left or were pushed out of prestige imprints, on projects. The layoffs were a cost-cutting move as conglomerate publishers consolidated imprints, but it has inadvertently leveled the playing field. Dean Koontz no longer has to go to a big publisher to have his needs met; Amazon and Bantam, his former publisher, are drawing from the same talent pool.
At LitHub, James Wood thinks through the differences between journalistic and academic criticism, and how to best combine the two:
Not to think about literature evaluatively is not to think like a writer—it cuts literature off from the instincts and ambitions of the very people who created it. But to think only in terms of evaluation, in terms of craft and technique—to think only of literature as a settled achievement—favors those categories at the expense of many different kinds of reading (chiefly, the great interest of reading literature as an always unsettled achievement). To read only suspiciously (Stakes¹) is to risk becoming a cynical detective of the word; to read only evaluatively (Stakes²) is to risk becoming a naïf of meaning, a connoisseur of local effects, someone who brings the standards of a professional guild to bear on the wide, unprofessional drama of meaning.
At the Outline, Leah Finnegan argues that we need to stop comparing people to poor Joan Didion all the time:
The Didion comparison irks me mostly for how boringly lazy it is, especially when it is used by writers, whose job is presumably to write original thoughts composed of original words. The work of a young female writer may indeed resemble Didion’s in that she is also women whose work involves observation, analysis, and sentences, but there is little depth to the comparison beyond that. Haley Mlotek neatly summed this up in a 2015 Awl article: “Joan Didion is a living stereotype and I only mean that in the most literal definition of the term: Joan Didion functions as a mental shortcut. Joan Didion requires very little explanation to a very large group of people, representing a class of consumers who tend to be young, female, upper middle class, white, and somewhat inwardly tortured.”
Also at the Outline, Sarah Menkedick defends the much maligned Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert:
Gilbert represents the fantasy of many women writers — the juggernaut bestseller, the speaking gigs and financial success and adoring fans– and also the nightmare: the contempt of critics, the “chick lit” label, the inability to crawl out from under a single book that has been deemed unabashedly female and therefore unworthy of serious critique. Her life and work illuminate women’s ambivalence toward female power, and their uncertainty about whether that power should celebrate the feminine or reject it.
At The Millions, Adam O’Fallon Price asks whether our novels have gotten too subjective:
All of which is to say that one feels a consistent, accompanying shift toward the subjective in the fiction of our moment, in what it does and does not do. What it does do: relate intensely personal lived experience, depict trauma, and—maybe especially—project personality. What it does not do: usually attempt any sort of objectivity or try to situate a narrative in a moral framework. The problem with this is, from my point of view, situating narrative in a moral framework is what novels do better than really any other type of art. No other narrative form can so dexterously tell a story while critiquing it, a sleight-of-hand enabled by the engaged moral interplay of an author/narrator with his or her narrative. The reluctance to engage on this level may become an inability, and this is a loss. Not just artistically, but socially, as well. During times of moral crisis like the one we’re living in, we need books of moral power and daring that challenge us. Books that are willing to take a stand, and in doing so, dare us to do the same.
In celebration of its 125th anniversary, the New York Public Library released its top 10 most-checked-out books of all time. Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day tops the list.
Notably, although the NYPL’s list is dominated by children’s classics, Goodnight Moon does not appear. It gets an honorable mention, with the explanation that “extremely influential New York Public Library children’s librarian Anne Carroll Moore hated Goodnight Moon when it first came out,” so the library failed to acquire it as long as she was there. Which: What? At Slate, Dan Kois investigates everything going on in that disclaimer:
Miss Moore’s taste was particular. She loved Beatrix Potter and The Velveteen Rabbit and was a steadfast believer in the role of magic and innocence in children’s storytelling. This put her in opposition to a progressive wave then sweeping children’s literature, inspired by the early childhood research of the Cooperative School for Student Teachers, located on Bank Street in Greenwich Village. The Bank Street School, as it became known, was also a preschool and the teacher training facility where Margaret Wise Brown enrolled in 1935. This progressive wave was exemplified by the Here and Now Story Book, created by Bank Street’s leading light Lucy Sprague Mitchell in 1921. A collection of simple tales set in a city, focusing on skyscrapers and streetcars, it was a rebuttal to Moore’s “once upon a time” taste in children’s lit.
After a long hiatus, the Atlantic has started publishing short fiction again, beginning with a short story by Lauren Groff:
The women were drinking peach schnapps, telling stories about the worst things they’d ever done. They had already skimmed through the missing years in haste, as though the past were gruesome, the two decades of lost friendship something untouchable and rotten. Maybe it was, Nic thought. Melodie had said she was a real-estate agent in San Luis Obispo, still playing the field. Her face was so artificially plumped and frozen that it resembled a Greek-chorus mask that had slid between genres and settled on tragicomedy. Sammie was overripe, a bruised apple. Five kids with Hank, she had said with a sigh, all seven of them packed into the little house her mother had left her, in the same little town where the women had all grown up.
At BookRiot, Jeffrey Davies explains how his love for Nancy Drew taught him to reject toxic masculinity:
So in 5th grade I picked up a Hardy Boys book and was determined to love it. I hated it, but I forced myself through every word. And while I’m still mad at myself for forcing myself through a book I actively remember hating, it taught me something about myself (which I would later learn again working in retail): I’m very bad at pretending to care about things that I don’t care about. I didn’t care about the Hardy Boys. I cared about Nancy Drew.
And here’s the week in books at Vox:
As always, you can keep up with all our books coverage by visiting vox.com/books. Happy reading!


vox--2020-01-19--What we know about a shooting, stabbing, and fire in Honolulu, Hawaii

Two police officers were killed in a shooting in Honolulu , Hawaii Sunday morning — a third officer was reportedly wounded , and fourth person was stabbed .
According to Hawaii News Now , the suspected gunman — who is believed to have died as well — opened fire on police officers responding to a stabbing .
That suspected gunman reportedly stabbed his landlord as she tried to evict him .
After the officers arrived , the gunman is believed to have set fire to his building , and those flames destroyed at least three other homes .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smelling some smoke , ” Robert Brassfield , who lives in the neighborhood in which the shooting took place , told the Associated Press .
“ And then we started hearing sporadic gunshots .
... That went on for several minutes.
” On Twitter , Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell called the incident “ an unprecedented tragedy for not only the City and County of Honolulu but the entire state of Hawai ’ i , ” and said , “ I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire Honolulu Police Department.
” This story is still developing .
Here ’ s what we know , and what we don ’ t .
What we know • Sunday morning , a woman was stabbed at a home near Hawaii ’ s Diamond Head State Monument .
• Officers responded to the stabbing at around 9:30 am local time , and were met with gunfire — two were killed , and one was wounded .
• By 9:45 am local time , the home was in flames ; the suspect in both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hanel , is believed to have begun the fire , which reportedly affected 12 homes , completely destroying four .
• The suspect is believed to have died .
• Officials have praised the action of first responders and offered their condolences to the families of the fallen officers .
Governor David Ige said , “ Our entire state mourns the loss of two Honolulu Police officers killed in the line of duty this morning.
” What we don ’ t know • The names of the killed and wounded • The status @ @ @ @

Two police officers were killed in a shooting in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sunday morning — a third officer was reportedly wounded, and a fourth person was stabbed.
According to Hawaii News Now, the suspected gunman — who is believed to have died — opened fire on police officers responding to a stabbing. That suspected gunman reportedly stabbed his landlord as she tried to evict him.
After the officers arrived, the gunman is believed to have set fire to his building, and those flames destroyed at least three other homes.
“A little bit before 10, we started smelling some smoke,” Robert Brassfield, who lives in the neighborhood in which the shooting took place, told the Associated Press. “And then we started hearing sporadic gunshots. ... That went on for several minutes.”
On Twitter, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell called the incident “an unprecedented tragedy for not only the City and County of Honolulu but the entire state of Hawai’i,” and said, “I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the two officers as well as the entire Honolulu Police Department.”
This story is still developing. Here’s what we know, and what we don’t.
What we know
Sunday morning, a woman was stabbed at a home near Hawaii’s Diamond Head State Monument.
Officers responded to the stabbing at around 9:30 am local time, and were met with gunfire — two were killed, and one was wounded.
By 9:45 am local time, the home was in flames; the suspect in both the stabbing and shooting, 69-year-old Jerry Hanel, is believed to have begun the fire, which reportedly affected 12 homes, completely destroying four.
The suspect is believed to have died.
Officials have praised the action of first responders and offered their condolences to the families of the fallen officers. Governor David Ige said, “Our entire state mourns the loss of two Honolulu Police officers killed in the line of duty this morning.”
What we don’t know


vox--2020-01-19--Is abuse of power an impeachable offense?

Throughout the impeachment process , President Donald Trump ’ s allies — from former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani — have argued abuse of power isn ’ t an impeachable offense .
In December , Trump was , of course , impeached in part on charges of abuse of power .
But that isn ’ t stopping Republicans , including members of Trump ’ s legal team , from making the claim that abuse of power isn ’ t impeachable a key part of their defense ahead of the president ’ s impeachment trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dershowitz , a member of Trump ’ s legal team , told ABC ’ s George Stephanopoulos abuse of power “ is not within the constitutional criteria for impeachment.
” Even if lawmakers were to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt Trump abused his power , Dershowitz argued , it would not be impeachable , because it is not “ criminal behavior , criminal in nature.
” According to Dershowitz ’ s interpretation of the Constitution and the writings of its framers , the founding fathers didn ’ t intend for Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges such as abuse of power or obstruction of Congress , because they are too “ open-ended.
” “ You can ’ t charge a president with impeachable conduct if it doesn ’ t fit within the criteria for the Constitution , ” Dershowitz said .
Dershowitz — known for defending sex offender Jeffery Epstein and who has been accused by several Epstein survivors of having sexually abused them , accusations he denies — plans to make this case in greater detail before the Senate in a presentation on “ what is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal experts — including those who testified during the inquiry about what constitutes impeachable offenses — disagree with Dershowitz ’ s reading of the Constitution .
Duke University ’ s Lisa Kern Griffin summed up this view in telling Vox ’ s Sean Illing , “ Although the Constitution expressly cites bribery as grounds for impeachment , it does not require that any criminal offense be committed in order for impeachment to occur.
” Article II , Section 4 of the Constitution requires a president commit “ treason , bribery , or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be impeached .
House Democrats took pains to define each of these ahead of the impeachment vote , specifically defining high crimes and misdemeanors as including abuse of power , betrayal , and corruption .
But Dershowitz — and figures like personal lawyers to Trump Jay Sekulow and Rudy Giuliani , White House counsel Pat Cipollone , and the president himself — think Democrats and experts like Griffin are mistaken .
Dershowitz , Sekulow , and Cipollone will bring their case to the Senate floor .
Presidential allies who will be listening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and who will not be allowed to speak during the trial itself ) have also shown they ’ re onboard with Dershowitz ’ s defense .
For instance , Sen. Lindsay Graham appeared on Fox News Sunday to criticize the impeachment articles ’ definition of “ abuse of power.
” “ Abuse of power is so poorly defined here I don ’ t know presidents in the future can confirm their conduct , ” Graham said .
“ It ’ s the first impeachment in history where there ’ s no allegation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of power falls under “ high crimes and misdemeanors ” Democratic lawmakers obviously have a very different opinion on the gravity of “ abuse of power ” than their Republican peers .
House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff called Dershowitz ’ s argument “ absurdist ” Sunday while on ABC ’ s This Week .
“ The only thing really new about the president ’ s defense is that they ’ re now arguing , I think , because they can ’ t contest the facts , that the president can not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , ” he said .
Again , many legal scholars have made the case for abuse of power falling under the Constitution ’ s high crimes and misdemeanors , and Schiff went on to call Dershowitz position “ far out of the mainstream.
” Supporting the Democrats ’ case is the fact that they have precedent on their side .
As Vox ’ s Sean Collins reported , Bill Clinton was impeached for the high crimes and misdemeanors of perjury and obstruction of justice .
And Richard Nixon could have been impeached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress if he hadn ’ t resigned before the House voted on impeachment .
And as Vox ’ s Ezra Klein points out , abuse of power may not be explicitly written out in the Constitution as an impeachable act , but it is generally considered to fall under the category of high crimes and misdemeanors , especially if one considers that “ misdemeanor ” in the framers ’ time meant “ ill behavior ; evil conduct ; fault ; mismanagement.
” With that definition in mind , Klein states that a president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — such as Trump ’ s plan to force the Ukrainian government into investigating his political rival — should be impeached .
When [ Charles Black , Jr. , author of Impeachment : A Handbook ] spoke of offenses that “ so seriously threaten the order of political society as to make pestilent and dangerous the continuance in power of their perpetrator , ” this is the kind of offense he described : an act that forces us to doubt the nature of elections so long as the perpetrator is a participant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ precisely the kind of offense that counts as a high crime and misdemeanor , whether or not the abuse in question is criminal : There is nothing more corrosive to systems of government than permitting officials to abuse power in order to amass power .
When that is permitted , systems quickly crumble into autocracy .
With respect to Trump , the issue of whether abuse of power is impeachable is settled : He has been impeached for it .
And jurors in his Senate trial are not likely to be affected much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Graham have stated they agree with him , and Democrats probably will not reject the work and arguments of their House colleagues .
All this suggests that although Trump was impeached for abuse of power , he probably will not be removed from office over it .

Throughout the impeachment process, President Donald Trump’s allies — from former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani — have argued that abuse of power isn’t an impeachable offense.
In December, Trump was impeached in part on charges of abuse of power. But that isn’t stopping Republicans, including members of Trump’s legal team, from making the claim that abuse of power isn’t impeachable — a key part of their defense ahead of the president’s impeachment trial in the Senate.
Sunday, Alan Dershowitz, a member of Trump’s legal team, told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that abuse of power “is not within the constitutional criteria for impeachment.” Even if lawmakers were to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Trump abused his power, Dershowitz argued, it would not be impeachable, because it is not “criminal behavior, criminal in nature.”
According to Dershowitz’s interpretation of the Constitution and the writings of its framers, the founding fathers didn’t intend for Congress to remove a president based on political charges such as abuse of power or obstruction of Congress, because they are too “open-ended.”
“You can’t charge a president with impeachable conduct if it doesn’t fit within the criteria for the Constitution,” Dershowitz said.
Dershowitz — known for defending sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and who has been accused by several Epstein survivors of having sexually abused them, accusations he denies — plans to make this case in greater detail before the Senate in a presentation on “what is a constitutionally authorized criteria for impeachment.”
Many legal experts — including those who testified during the inquiry about what constitutes impeachable offenses — disagree with Dershowitz’s reading of the Constitution.
Duke University professor Lisa Kern Griffin summed up this view for Vox’s Sean Illing, “Although the Constitution expressly cites bribery as grounds for impeachment, it does not require that any criminal offense be committed in order for impeachment to occur.”
Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution requires a president to commit “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors” in order to be impeached. House Democrats took pains to define each of these ahead of the impeachment vote, specifically defining high crimes and misdemeanors as including abuse of power, betrayal, and corruption.
But Dershowitz — and figures like Trump’s personal lawyers Jay Sekulow and Rudy Giuliani, White House counsel Pat Cipollone, and the president himself — think Democrats and experts like Griffin are mistaken.
Dershowitz, Sekulow, and Cipollone will bring their case to the Senate floor. Presidential allies who will be listening to their arguments on the point (and who will not be allowed to speak during the trial itself) have also indicated they’re onboard with Dershowitz’s defense.
For instance, Sen. Lindsey Graham appeared on Fox News Sunday to criticize the impeachment articles’ definition of “abuse of power.”
“Abuse of power is so poorly defined here I don’t know presidents in the future can confirm their conduct,” Graham said. “It’s the first impeachment in history where there’s no allegation of a crime by the president.”
Abuse of power falls under “high crimes and misdemeanors”
Democratic lawmakers obviously have a very different opinion on the gravity of “abuse of power” than their Republican peers. House Intelligence Chair Rep. Adam Schiff called Dershowitz’s argument “absurdist” Sunday while on ABC’s This Week.
“The only thing really new about the president’s defense is that they’re now arguing, I think, because they can’t contest the facts, that the president cannot be impeached for abusing the power of his office,” he said.
Again, many legal scholars have made the case for abuse of power falling under the Constitution’s high crimes and misdemeanors, and Schiff went on to call Dershowitz’s position “far out of the mainstream.”
Supporting the Democrats’ case is the fact that they have precedent on their side. As Vox’s Sean Collins reported, Bill Clinton was impeached for the high crimes and misdemeanors of perjury and obstruction of justice. Richard Nixon could have been impeached for abuse of power and contempt of Congress if he hadn’t resigned before the House voted on impeachment.
And as Vox’s Ezra Klein points out, abuse of power may not be explicitly written out in the Constitution as an impeachable act, but it is generally considered to fall under the category of high crimes and misdemeanors, especially if one considers that “misdemeanor” in the framers’ time meant “ill behavior; evil conduct; fault; mismanagement.”
With that definition in mind, Klein states that a president who tries to manipulate the political system — such as Trump’s plan to force the Ukrainian government into investigating his political rival — should be impeached.
When [Charles Black, Jr., author of Impeachment: A Handbook] spoke of offenses that “so seriously threaten the order of political society as to make pestilent and dangerous the continuance in power of their perpetrator,” this is the kind of offense he described: an act that forces us to doubt the nature of elections so long as the perpetrator is a participant. This is why abuse of power is precisely the kind of offense that counts as a high crime and misdemeanor, whether or not the abuse in question is criminal: There is nothing more corrosive to systems of government than permitting officials to abuse power in order to amass power. When that is permitted, systems quickly crumble into autocracy.
With respect to Trump, the issue of whether abuse of power is impeachable is settled: he has been impeached for it. And jurors in his Senate trial are not likely to be affected much by Dershowitz’s argument — senators like Graham have stated they agree with him, and Democrats probably will not reject the work and arguments of their House colleagues. All this suggests that although Trump was impeached for abuse of power, he probably will not be removed from office for it.


vox--2020-01-19--New anti-government protests in Beirut leave more than 300 injured

More than 300 people were injured on Saturday during clashes between protesters and police in Beirut , Lebanon , as the county struggles to find a way out of its worst economic crisis in decades .
The protests first began last October after the government attempted to tax WhatsApp users to generate funds for damage caused by wildfires — some which protesters argued could have been avoided if the government had better prepared for the blazes .
Already exhausted by water and electricity shortages and the rapid devaluation of the Lebanese pound , people took to the streets demanding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hariri resigned on October 29 , but there have been major delays in forming a new cabinet .
Hassan Diab , a university professor who is slated to become the next prime minister , was expected to give an update on the formation of a new cabinet Sunday , but left a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun without doing so .
Even before the absence of Sunday ’ s cabinet report , protesters rejected this lack of progress , and began calling for a completely new government filled with experts that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Diab has promised his cabinet will meet this requirement , but protesters have signaled they do not trust him — and that they do not want him as prime minister .
Frustrated with this political impasse , and a dismal economic outlook , thousands of protesters gathered on Saturday afternoon under the slogan “ We will not pay the price , ” in reference to the country ’ s crushing $ 87 billion debt , according to the Associated Press .
Clashes began when rioters threw stones and firecrackers at police dispatched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with water cannons and tear gas .
It was one of the most violent days since the protests started three months ago , and more than 300 people were injured .
Officials responded forcefully to news of violence .
President Aoun called on the army to “ protect the safety of peaceful protesters and of public and private property , and to restore calm to central Beirut , ” according to his office .
The AP ’ s Dalal Mawad reported seeing the military take to the streets in downtown Beirut Sunday following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister Raya Haffar El Hassan condemned the rioters , saying that “ blatant attacks on members of the security forces and public and private property is condemned & never acceptable.
” The protesters — and some experts — are criticizing the government ’ s response , however , calling Saturday ’ s use of force excessive , especially as reports of tear gas canisters being shot at the protesters ’ heads began to surface on social media .
Aya Majzoub , a researcher at Humans Rights Watch in Lebanon , tweeted : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their human rights obligations ” and called on the government to launch a transparent investigation into the police force .
Majzoub also demanded any wrongdoing on the part of officers be met with disciplinary action .
Although the violence died out by early Sunday morning , protesters show no sign of backing down anytime soon .
Zeina Khodr , a reporter for Al Jazeera in Beirut , told the outlet that the “ people are very defiant.
” “ They say the more violence used against us , the more revolutionary we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are promising to stay in the streets and continue with their protests action until they see a change in leadership.
” And indeed , despite Saturday ’ s violence , more protesters took to the streets Sunday , chanting that they would “ continue our journey.
” Security forces have reportedly attempted to break up Sunday evening ’ s protests , but according to some on social media , including freelance journalist Luna Safwan , the demonstrators are largely standing resolute , even taunting law enforcement officials with chants of “ again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they shoot tear gas .
Although the protests in Lebanon first began in October , the frustrations that led to them have been increasing for years .
Many have long been frustrated with what is seen as the corruption of elite politicians , who took control of the country after the Lebanese Civil War ended in 1990 .
And it doesn ’ t help the country ’ s leaders have been ineffective at mending the worst economic crisis Lebanon has faced in decades .
Economic growth fell to 0 percent this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carries a debt of about $ 85 billion .
Its current GDP is $ 55 billion .
Meanwhile , the unemployment rate for those under 35 has soared to 37 percent .
The value of the Lebanese pound has fallen as prices increased , a monetary situation worsened by a dearth of US dollars .
For the last 20 years , Lebanon has interchangeably used US dollars and the Lebanon pound thanks to a central bank policy that set the exchanged rate at about 1,500 pounds to the dollar , according to The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using both currencies should pose no problems .
But to sustain the system , Lebanon has to continuously bring in new dollars , something it did in the past largely by wooing investors .
The system began showing strain as local banks were required to honor high interest rates they had promised these investors .
And it was further taxed by difficulty in finding new investors who weren ’ t frightened by regional turmoil .
Without these foreign investors to funnel in more dollars into the market , banks have been struggling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In response , banks have been regulating the amount of money people can withdraw or transfer .
Without access to their money — even when they have money in their accounts — people are struggling to pay basic necessities such as rent .
And so , people have taken to the streets to protest .
“ I have seen a woman begging — literally begging the bank employee — and going on the floor and kissing it , asking for her money , ” Khaled Taki , a 68-year-old consultant from Lebanon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your money , and they will give it to you when they want to , just like a father giving his son a weekly allowance , ” he added .
Coupled with the political turmoil , the economic crisis threatens to have long-lasting effects .
The World Bank announced poverty rates could increase by 20 percent — meaning half the country would be living in poverty — if solutions to the political and economic impasses are not found , according to Al Jazeera .

More than 300 people were injured on Saturday during clashes between protesters and police in Beirut, as Lebanon struggles to find a way out of its worst economic crisis in decades.
The protests first began last October after the government attempted to tax WhatsApp users to generate funds for damage caused by wildfires — some which protesters argued could have been avoided if the government had better prepared for the blazes. Already exhausted by water and electricity shortages and the rapid devaluation of the Lebanese pound, people took to the streets demanding the resignation of then-Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Hariri resigned on October 29, but there have been major delays in forming a new cabinet. Hassan Diab, a university professor who is slated to become the next prime minister, was expected to give an update on the formation of a new cabinet Sunday, but left a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun without doing so.
Even before the absence of Sunday’s cabinet report, protesters rejected this lack of progress, and began calling for a completely new government filled with experts that lack any ties to established political parties. Diab has promised his cabinet will meet this requirement, but protesters have signaled they do not trust him — and that they do not want him as prime minister.
Frustrated with this political impasse, and a dismal economic outlook, thousands of protesters gathered on Saturday afternoon under the slogan “We will not pay the price,” in reference to the country’s crushing $87 billion debt, according to the Associated Press.
Clashes began when rioters threw stones and firecrackers at police dispatched near the parliament; the authorities responded with water cannons and tear gas. It was one of the most violent days since the protests started three months ago, and more than 300 people were injured.
Officials responded forcefully to news of violence. President Aoun called on the army to “protect the safety of peaceful protesters and of public and private property, and to restore calm to central Beirut,” according to his office. The AP’s Dalal Mawad reported seeing the military take to the streets in downtown Beirut Sunday following the president’s statement:
Weapon experts correct me if I am wrong , but isn’t that the army parading Beirut’s downtown with heavy weaponry including RPG??? #LebanonProtests pic.twitter.com/8CvdOuJL1t — Dalal Mawadدلال معوض (@dalalmawad) January 19, 2020
Interior minister Raya Haffar El Hassan condemned the rioters, saying that “blatant attacks on members of the security forces and public and private property is condemned & never acceptable.”
#Lebanon Interior Minister: "More than once I have promised to protect peaceful protest & I have always upheld the right to protest. But what turns from protest into blatant attacks on members of the security forces & public & private property is condemned & never acceptable." https://t.co/zTrXY1f3EY — Lizzie Porterلِيزي بورتر (@lcmporter) January 19, 2020
The protesters — and some experts — are criticizing the government’s response, however, calling Saturday’s use of force excessive, especially as reports of tear gas canisters being shot at the protesters’ heads began to surface on social media.
Aya Majzoub, a researcher at Humans Rights Watch in Lebanon, tweeted: “The riot police showed a blatant disregard for their human rights obligations” and called on the government to launch a transparent investigation into the police force. Majzoub also demanded any wrongdoing on the part of officers be met with disciplinary action.
The riot police showed a blatant disregard for their human rights obligations, instead launching teargas canisters at protesters’ heads, firing rubber bullets in their eyes and attacking people at hospitals and a mosque. — Aya Majzoub (@Aya_Majzoub) January 19, 2020
Although the violence died out by early Sunday morning, protesters show no sign of backing down anytime soon. Zeina Khodr, a reporter for Al Jazeera in Beirut, told the outlet that the “people are very defiant.”
“They say the more violence used against us, the more revolutionary we become,” Khodr said. “They are promising to stay in the streets and continue with their protests action until they see a change in leadership.”
And indeed, despite Saturday’s violence, more protesters took to the streets Sunday, chanting that they would “continue our journey.”
Another video from today’s protest in Beirut . Really unbelievable #Lebanon #LebanonProtests pic.twitter.com/Ikd6EAG2op — Dalal Mawadدلال معوض (@dalalmawad) October 20, 2019
Security forces have reportedly attempted to break up Sunday evening’s protests, but according to some on social media, including freelance journalist Luna Safwan, the demonstrators are largely standing resolute, even taunting law enforcement officials with chants of “again, again, again,” as they shoot tear gas.
VIDEO: I am still in Down town #Beirut and more teargas is being shot at protestors - the way they are responding is hilarious, protestors just started shouting "again again again" #lebanon #LebanonProtests pic.twitter.com/tjaWUcsYwj — Luna Safwan - لونا صفوان (@LunaSafwan) January 19, 2020
Lebanon’s economic crisis is exacerbating its political troubles
Although the protests in Lebanon first began in October, the frustrations that led to them have been increasing for years.
Many have long been frustrated with what is seen as the corruption of elite politicians, who took control of the country after the Lebanese Civil War ended in 1990. And it doesn’t help the country’s leaders have been ineffective at mending the worst economic crisis Lebanon has faced in decades.
Economic growth fell to 0 percent this year, according to Reuters, and the country carries a debt of about $85 billion. Its current GDP is $55 billion. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for those under 35 has soared to 37 percent. The value of the Lebanese pound has fallen as prices increased, a monetary situation worsened by a dearth of US dollars.
For the last 20 years, Lebanon has interchangeably used US dollars and the Lebanon pound thanks to a central bank policy that set the exchanged rate at about 1,500 pounds to the dollar, according to The New York Times.
In theory, using both currencies should pose no problems. But to sustain the system, Lebanon has to continuously bring in new dollars, something it did in the past largely by wooing investors. The system began showing strain as local banks were required to honor high interest rates they had promised these investors. And it was further taxed by difficulty in finding new investors who weren’t frightened by regional turmoil.
Without these foreign investors to funnel in more dollars into the market, banks have been struggling to provide money to their everyday customers.
In response, banks have been regulating the amount of money people can withdraw or transfer. Without access to their money — even when they have money in their accounts — people are struggling to pay basic necessities such as rent. And so, people have taken to the streets to protest.
“I have seen a woman begging — literally begging the bank employee — and going on the floor and kissing it, asking for her money,” Khaled Taki, a 68-year-old consultant from Lebanon, told France 24.
“They have your money, and they will give it to you when they want to, just like a father giving his son a weekly allowance,” he added.
Coupled with the political turmoil, the economic crisis threatens to have long-lasting effects. The World Bank announced poverty rates could increase by 20 percent — meaning half the country would be living in poverty — if solutions to the political and economic impasses are not found, according to Al Jazeera.


vox--2020-01-19--House managers: Trump poses an “immediate threat to the nation and the rule of law”

The first legal filings for the Senate impeachment trial gave a preview of what to expect in the upcoming weeks : The House impeachment managers called for Trump ’ s removal , arguing that his “ conduct is the Framers ’ worst nightmare , ” while the president ’ s defense team called the entire impeachment process “ brazen and unlawful.
” House impeachment managers filed their 111-page trial brief to the Senate on Saturday .
Throughout the document , the managers explain why Trump was impeached and why House Democrats believe he must be removed .
They do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to pressure Ukraine into investigating his political rivals , and how he denied Congress access to material illuminating that pressure campaign .
Essentially , the trial brief states the case for Trump ’ s removal like this : He abused his presidential power for his own political benefit , then tried to cover it up .
Trump is expected to deliver his own brief by Monday , but his team has already filed a six-page response to the House managers ’ document , in which they cast impeachment as an unfair and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The filings come a month after the House voted to approve two articles of impeachment against Trump .
The first article charges him with abusing his power by withholding military aid , and a White House meeting , to pressure the Ukrainian government into digging up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 election .
The second charges Trump with obstruction of Congress for directing his officials to ignore congressional subpoenas for documents and testimony .
The legal brief explains that House Democrats decided to impeach Trump after reviewing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness testimony and statements by the president himself .
This evidence will be presented to the Senate , the brief suggests , along with new evidence that has emerged in recent days .
The brief makes reference to a report from the Government Accountability Office ( GAO ) , the US government ’ s top internal watchdog .
Released Thursday , the report stated the Trump administration broke the law when it withheld military aid to Ukraine without notifying Congress .
The managers also cite evidence from Lev Parnas , a close associate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s personal lawyer with Ukrainian officials .
After being indicted for violating campaign finance laws , Parnas handed over multiple files and documents to the House as evidence of his work with the Trump administration in Ukraine .
Observers can expect both Parnas ’ evidence and the GAO ’ s report to factor into the managers ’ prosecutorial efforts once the trial begins .
The House trial brief directly addresses the president and the Republican senators President Trump and his allies have long cast the impeachment process as unfair , and of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is also unconstitutional .
Top Senate Republicans have been criticized for claiming , as Sen. Lindsey Graham did , that they don ’ t plan to “ pretend to be a fair juror ” in the trial — essentially admitting that they ’ ve made up their minds to vote against removing the president before hearing the manager ’ s case .
The managers addressed both the president and his Senate allies in the brief , rebutting questions of the process ’ fairness by pointing out that the Constitution gives the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment .
And they argue , “ President Trump has been afforded protections equal to or greater than those afforded Presidents Nixon and Clinton during their impeachment proceedings in the House , ” noting that he was invited to participate in inquiry hearings , but refused .
They claim Trump ’ s argument that he was impeached unfairly because he didn ’ t commit a crime to be invalid , writing , “ Any claim that President Trump was entitled to due process rights modeled on a criminal trial during the entirety of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and history .
A House impeachment inquiry can not be compared to a criminal trial because the Senate , not the House , possesses the ‘ sole Power to try Impeachments.
’ ” And they rebut Trump ’ s assertion House Democrats should have fought him in court over his efforts to block subpoenas , writing that his administration ’ s strategy in combating the one congressional subpoena case that is before the courts shows it is trying to use the courts to run down the clock .
“ He is saying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Executive Branch in court to enforce their subpoenas , ” the brief reads .
“ But he has argued to that court that Congressional Committees can not sue the Executive Branch to enforce their subpoenas.
” To their colleagues in the Senate , the managers repeatedly plead that all jurors look beyond career-oriented calculations , and that they think about what long term effects a vote to allow Trump to remain in office would have .
“ If the Senate permits President Trump to remain in office , he and future leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even enlist , foreign interference in elections for years to come .
When the American people ’ s faith in their electoral process is shaken and its results called into question , the essence of democratic self-government is called into doubt.
” Trump ’ s legal team ’ s response : The impeachment process is “ brazen and unlawful ” In response to the House managers ’ legal briefings , Pat Cipollone , the White House counsel , and Jay Sekulow , Trump ’ s personal lawyer , wrote that Trump “ categorically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rather than directly tackle the evidence and arguments presented by the House Democrats , however , Cipollone and Sekulow criticized Democrats and the impeachment process .
Trump ’ s defense team reiterated an argument Republicans have made throughout the impeachment process : That impeachment is an attempt to “ overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election ” and a “ dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their President.
” “ The highly partisan and reckless obsession with impeaching the President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to this day , ” the statement reads .
The White House also denied obstructing the House ’ s investigation for two reasons .
One , the lawyers wrote , confidentiality within the executive branch is a constitutional privilege .
They did not respond to the manager ’ s argument that that executive privilege is inapplicable when used to covering up wrongdoing , however .
And they did not rebut the managers ’ claim that Trump “ diminished any confidentiality interests ” by giving statements and tweeting about the matters the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House argued , the subpoenas that Trump ignored were unconstitutional to begin with because they were issued without a congressional vote .
The House , however , has the authority to determine the rules of impeachment procedures — and it decided a full vote was unnecessary for the subpoenas .
Addressing the charges that Trump abused his power in pressuring Ukraine , Cipollone and Sekulow wrote that his actions were “ perfectly legal , completely appropriate , and taken in furtherance of our national interest ” — and were focused on rooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there isn ’ t much substance to Cipollone and Sekulow ’ s letter ; however , Trump ’ s defense team is expected to file a more thorough legal brief akin to the document shared by the managers by Monday at noon .
Following a written rebuttal from House Democrats on Tuesday , the managers are expected to begin making their case before the Senate on Wednesday , with Trump ’ s team following as early as Friday .

The first legal filings for the Senate impeachment trial gave a preview of what to expect in the upcoming weeks: The House impeachment managers called for President Donald Trump’s removal, arguing that his “conduct is the Framers’ worst nightmare,” while the president’s defense team called the entire impeachment process “brazen and unlawful.”
House impeachment managers filed their 111-page trial brief to the Senate on Saturday. Throughout the document, the managers explain why Trump was impeached and why House Democrats believe he must be removed. They outline the manner in which Trump tried to pressure Ukraine into investigating his political rivals, and how he denied Congress access to material illuminating that pressure campaign.
Essentially, the trial brief states the case for Trump’s removal as: He abused his presidential power for his own political benefit, then tried to cover it up.
Trump is expected to deliver his own brief by Monday, but his team has already filed a six-page response to the House managers’ document, in which they cast impeachment as an unfair and unconstitutional power grab by the House.
The filings come a month after the House voted to approve two articles of impeachment against Trump. The first article charges him with abuse of power by withholding military aid and a White House meeting, to pressure the Ukrainian government into digging up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election. The second charges Trump with obstruction of Congress for directing his officials to ignore congressional subpoenas for documents and testimony.
The legal brief explains that House Democrats decided to impeach Trump after reviewing the evidence available to them, including witness testimony and statements by the president himself. This evidence will be presented to the Senate, the brief suggests, along with new evidence that has emerged in recent days.
The brief makes reference to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the US government’s top internal watchdog. Released Thursday, the report stated the Trump administration broke the law when it withheld military aid to Ukraine without notifying Congress.
The managers also cite evidence from Lev Parnas, a close associate of Rudy Giuliani who helped connect Trump’s personal lawyer with Ukrainian officials. After being indicted for violating campaign finance laws, Parnas handed over multiple files and documents to the House as evidence of his work with the Trump administration in Ukraine. Observers can expect both Parnas’s evidence and the GAO’s report to factor into the managers’ prosecutorial efforts once the trial begins.
The House trial brief directly addresses the president and the Republican senators
President Trump and his allies have long cast the impeachment process as unfair, and of late, the president and Giuliani have claimed it is also unconstitutional. Top Senate Republicans have been criticized for claiming, as Sen. Lindsey Graham did, that they don’t plan to “pretend to be a fair juror” in the trial — essentially admitting that they’ve made up their minds to vote against removing the president before hearing the manager’s case.
The managers addressed both the president and his Senate allies in the brief, rebutting questions of the process’s fairness by pointing out that the Constitution gives the House the power to decide how to conduct impeachment.
They also argued, “President Trump has been afforded protections equal to or greater than those afforded Presidents Nixon and Clinton during their impeachment proceedings in the House,” noting that he was invited to participate in inquiry hearings, but refused.
They claim Trump’s argument that he was impeached unfairly because he didn’t commit a crime to be invalid, writing, “Any claim that President Trump was entitled to due process rights modeled on a criminal trial during the entirety of the House impeachment inquiry ignores both law and history. A House impeachment inquiry cannot be compared to a criminal trial because the Senate, not the House, possesses the ‘sole Power to try Impeachments.’”
And they rebut Trump’s assertion that House Democrats should have fought him in court over his efforts to block subpoenas, writing that his administration’s strategy in combating the one congressional subpoena case that is before the courts shows it is trying to use the courts to run down the clock.
“He is saying to Congress that the Committees should have sued the Executive Branch in court to enforce their subpoenas,” the brief reads. “But he has argued to that court that Congressional Committees cannot sue the Executive Branch to enforce their subpoenas.”
To their colleagues in the Senate, the managers repeatedly plead that all jurors look beyond career-oriented calculations, and that they think about what long-term effects a vote to allow Trump to remain in office would have.
“If the Senate permits President Trump to remain in office, he and future leaders would be emboldened to welcome, and even enlist, foreign interference in elections for years to come. When the American people’s faith in their electoral process is shaken and its results called into question, the essence of democratic self-government is called into doubt.”
Trump’s legal team’s response: The impeachment process is “brazen and unlawful”
In response to the House managers’ legal briefings, Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel, and Jay Sekulow, Trump’s personal lawyer, wrote that Trump “categorically and unequivocally” denies all the claims. Rather than directly tackle the evidence and arguments presented by the House Democrats, however, Cipollone and Sekulow criticized Democrats and the impeachment process.
Trump’s defense team reiterated an argument Republicans have made throughout the impeachment process: that impeachment is an attempt to “overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election” and a “dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their President.”
“The highly partisan and reckless obsession with impeaching the President began the day he was inaugurated and continues to this day,” the statement reads.
The White House also denied obstructing the House’s investigation for two reasons.
One, the lawyers wrote, confidentiality within the executive branch is a constitutional privilege. They did not respond to the manager’s argument that executive privilege is inapplicable when used to cover up wrongdoing, however. And they did not rebut the managers’ claim that Trump “diminished any confidentiality interests” by giving statements and tweeting about the matters the administration has claimed privilege over.
Two, the White House argued, the subpoenas that Trump ignored were unconstitutional to begin with because they were issued without a congressional vote. The House, however, has the authority to determine the rules of impeachment procedures — and it decided a full vote was unnecessary for the subpoenas.
Addressing the charges that Trump abused his power in pressuring Ukraine, Cipollone and Sekulow wrote that his actions were “perfectly legal, completely appropriate, and taken in furtherance of our national interest” — and were focused on rooting out corruption in Ukraine.
Overall, there isn’t much substance to Cipollone and Sekulow’s letter; however, Trump’s defense team is expected to file a more thorough legal brief akin to the document shared by the managers by Monday at noon. Following a written rebuttal from House Democrats on Tuesday, the managers are expected to begin making their case before the Senate on Wednesday, with Trump’s team following as early as Friday.


vox--2020-01-20--TikTok is full of Sephora and Chipotle employees spilling secrets. That can get complicated.

Kyra Gallego never intended to be an influencer .
It all started this summer , on her last day working at Sephora , when she created a TikTok video that would instantly go viral : “ A Sephora Girl Takes Off Her Makeup.
” Building on the immediate success , she posted a follow-up video titled “ Sephora Worker Pet Peeves , ” followed by “ Sephora Hacks.
” The views and “ Likes ” started racking up ; 10,000 , 30,000 , 100,000 .
“ If you want to learn how to cheat the system at Sephora , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while filming from her iPhone in the bathroom mirror .
“ You can get your birthday gift any time , even if it ’ s not your birthday month , just ask.
” She continues , “ You can get a sample of as much as you want , don ’ t listen to them , there is no limit.
” While Kyra was sleeping , the video hit the “ For You ” page , the app ’ s equivalent to a website homepage , and went viral .
The video currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the verified Sephora TikTok videos combined .
“ I saw the opportunity to speak about a popular brand and help people .
I saw the ease and quickness that comes with TikTok .
...
It was more accessible for people who would want to watch and learn from me .
Then I posted that video and it went off , ” said Gallego .
“ I ’ m basically doing anything I would have done at work , but on my own platform now.
” Kyra is not the only inspired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boasts 1.5 billion users around the world .
In the pursuit of sharing real-life content to gain and entertain followers , cashiers , baristas , and floor employees are introducing the TikTok community to their day-to-day lives working for the world ’ s most popular brands .
The formal influencer programs brands like Sephora dream up in the boardroom can be easily surpassed by those they hired to work the counter — and their worker ’ s videos can be seen by millions around the world .
TikTok has been fueled by Generation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , authenticity , and online influence .
According to a survey conducted by Morning Consult , 86 percent of Americans aged 13 to 38 would like to become a social media influencer , and TikTok , the newest platform in the game , is a channel primed for the taking .
It is less saturated than Instagram and YouTube for those who aim to become influencers and more welcoming to quick , replicable content that is easy to produce and make viral .
For a TikTok to go viral , sophisticated agency work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rewarded , even from global brands .
One dance video from the “ Queen of TikTok , ” Charli D ’ Amelio , a 15-year-old from Connecticut , may easily garner 24 million views , while a TikTok on the NBA ’ s official account , a celebrated brand with one of the largest followings on TikTok , may obtain hundreds of thousands .
Charli ’ s bedroom is her set , sweatpants are her wardrobe , and production is courtesy of her iPhone .
This evens the playing field for regular teens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , creating an open space for new , uninhibited voices to rise to the top of the influence chain — and many of them are just starting their careers behind the counters of our favorite retailers and restaurants .
In June , Starbucks baristas were dumbfounded when young customers began to order the “ TikTok ” drink , an off-menu item that was never promoted or officially recognized by the brand .
Seemingly overnight , there were two camps : baristas who knew what was going on and those who didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what to do : start with a Strawberry Açaí Refresher , three scoops of strawberries , three scoops of blackberries , blended with ice or lemonade .
After all , # TikTokDrink has 52.6 million views and counting around the world .
Starbucks is a lifestyle on TikTok , but with no officially endorsed account , passionate employees have stepped in to promote their favorite drinks and provide barista commentary on their personal accounts , unsponsored and uninfluenced by their managers .
Videos of brightly colored , creative drink recipes are described from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.5 million views , as in this TikTok about the “ IT ” frappuccino by user @ StarbucksRecipesWithM .
This is the kind of exposure marketers dream of .
By searching the hashtag # starbucksbarista , you ’ ll find videos of employees providing insight into not only their favorite drinks , but also why they love to work at Starbucks , and yes , making fun of customer interactions or exposing the mundanity of their jobs .
You can ’ t help but smile when you ’ re introduced to the local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or see customers sing their orders to the baristas , just to make them smile ( and for the “ Likes , ” of course ) .
( Starbucks did not respond to multiple requests for comment . )
Of their own volition and without any special compensation , employees representing all sectors are lifting the corporate curtain that once hid the backstage workings of major brands .
The viewers of their viral videos receive raw exposure to brand values right from their device , from people they can relate to ( and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees to influence brand perception on TikTok is limitless ; this opportunity can be a risk when less-favorable videos are distributed straight to the masses , unfiltered by corporate finesse .
Take the power of the unofficial employee influencer @ Brinaraelanee , who made national news when her video went viral for “ exposing ” the preparation of Panera Bread ’ s mac & cheese ( spoiler : It ’ s frozen , a standard industry process to ensure quality control ) and was subsequently fired .
It ’ s safe to assume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had access to , information about how their favorite dish was made .
But thanks to Bri , we know .
All 7.3 million of us that viewed it .
“ Employees can be your best advocates because they know and love the brand , they know all the ‘ hacks ’ and insider info , ” said Mae Karwowski , CEO of influencer marketing agency Obviously .
“ The first step is to give guidelines to employees , ” she continues .
“ Show that corporate actually knows that this is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reward positive behavior.
” And brands have done just that , which is why it ’ s no coincidence that Kyra Gallego started posting TikToks on her last day working for Sephora .
Corporate social media guidelines are standard practice and may indirectly or explicitly discourage employees from posting content related to their work or the brands they represent .
For creators who depend on social media to promote their personal brand or portfolio , these agreements may restrict professional growth , especially as an influencer .
Sources report that Sephora has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on personal social media channels unless you are within the approved “ Sephora Squad , ” a group of influencers that apply and are selected by Sephora to collaborate on content and campaigns .
Sephora denies this practice but confirms there is a social media policy in place .
Former employees no longer restricted by company policy are free to publish videos ( like @ MakeupbyMaritza ’ s “ Sephora Worker Tea ” ) , which makes possible the skyrocketing fame of free agents like Kyra Gallego .
Karwowski points out that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free advertising ” but admits that you also run the risk of someone having a bad day and going on a rant .
“ I would argue that the person is already on TikTok and is going to rant anyway , ” Karwowski says .
“ Why don ’ t you capture the good and create parameters for the rest ?
” Some brands have been early movers to capitalize on positive employee content and harness it to create a successful TikTok strategy .
Chipotle utilized the passion of employees to dream up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” challenge , born directly from an employee on the line that did the fun trick when creating bowls .
With the success of the challenge , Chipotle went on to formally partner with TikTok to promote the “ # GuacDance ” around National Avocado Day and “ # BooritoChallenge ” for Halloween .
In addition to promoting user-generated content , Chipotle tapped already popular TikTok creators to promote the hashtag .
For the # GuacDance campaign , popular creator Loren Gray , who boasts 37.2 million followers , feeds a friend guacamole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guacamole song , ” a sound inspired by a viral internet video .
At its core , it is a zero-budget , eight-second video promotion for free guacamole if you visit a Chipotle on the holiday ; but what it lacks in production value it makes up for in relatability and nearly 700,000 “ Likes.
” The TikTok community embraces the brief , authentic , and often ordinary in contrast to the aestheticized expectations of other platforms , and some brands have taken note .
“ Young people have grown up with branded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans and harshest critics .
They can sense when something is inauthentic or forced , ” said Karwowski .
“ Brands have to understand this content is not going to be like a TV commercial , ” she advises .
So Chipotle kept it true to the platform .
They tapped current employees and customers to shoot videos in-store ; used trending “ sounds , ” dances , and memes to increase the chances of going viral ; and uploaded content that looks like it was shot from a cellphone .
Because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where our customers are , ” said Tressie Lieberman , VP of digital marketing and off-premise at Chipotle , when asked about joining TikTok .
“ We are creating content at the restaurants and we bring in team members to create content with us .
A lot of our employees are following TikTok , so it ’ s a special moment for them , too.
” In her video titled “ I < 3 Chipotle , ” popular creator and former Chipotle employee Zahra , username @ Muslimthicc , gushes about how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anyone that knows me relatively well knows that I love Chipotle , like I could absolutely live off of it , it is my favorite thing to eat when I go out .
And I also used to work at Chipotle for two-and-a-half years , ” she tells her 1.7 million followers .
“ You got ta ask for honey , I swear its life-changing … it ’ s so worth the mild embarrassment and social anxiety.
” ( Honey is available ; it ’ s an ingredient used in their homemade vinaigrette @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views and is not sponsored or tagged for Chipotle to see and potentially sponsor .
You can ’ t help but believe that Zahra genuinely wants you to have a good experience at her favorite restaurant — that ’ s it , plain and simple .
Her channel is not loaded with paid posts and we often see her studying or driving around with her little brother .
She is the exact brand of influence that users on TikTok can trust .
Lieberman , speaking to me from corporate headquarters in Newport Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was referring to made by Zahra , a college student in Albany , NY .
“ There are all these creators that love the brand and are creating really cool content that people enjoy watching , because we are a place where people have so much passion , ” Lieberman said .
Thanks to her inside knowledge of Sephora and internet savvy , Kyra Gallego has hit a sweet spot of influence serving the burgeoning Gen Z beauty community on TikTok ( Kyra is not currently sponsored by Sephora and she has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
She wants to stay focused on helping others learn beauty tricks and guide her now-320,000 followers through the often overwhelming world of skin care and beauty .
“ I want people to know that Sephora is not a scary , mean place ; they value customer service and experience .
I just want people to know Sephora wants to make you more beautiful than you already are , ” said Gallego .
As for the future , Kyra is about to begin her last semester of college , then she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s degree in education .
“ If I can have this much success within one month of being on TikTok , who knows what will happen by the time I ’ m ready to teach , ” said Gallego .
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Kyra Gallego never intended to be an influencer. It all started this summer, on her last day working at Sephora, when she created a TikTok video that would instantly go viral: “A Sephora Girl Takes Off Her Makeup.” Building on the immediate success, she posted a follow-up video titled “Sephora Worker Pet Peeves,” followed by “Sephora Hacks.”
The views and “Likes” started racking up; 10,000, 30,000, 100,000. “If you want to learn how to cheat the system at Sephora, then keep on watching,” Gallego says while filming from her iPhone in the bathroom mirror. “You can get your birthday gift any time, even if it’s not your birthday month, just ask.” She continues, “You can get a sample of as much as you want, don’t listen to them, there is no limit.”
While Kyra was sleeping, the video hit the “For You” page, the app’s equivalent to a website homepage, and went viral. The video currently has 9.6 million views, more than all of the verified Sephora TikTok videos combined.
“I saw the opportunity to speak about a popular brand and help people. I saw the ease and quickness that comes with TikTok. ... It was more accessible for people who would want to watch and learn from me. Then I posted that video and it went off,” said Gallego. “I’m basically doing anything I would have done at work, but on my own platform now.”
Kyra is not the only inspired employee creator on the app, which boasts 1.5 billion users around the world. In the pursuit of sharing real-life content to gain and entertain followers, cashiers, baristas, and floor employees are introducing the TikTok community to their day-to-day lives working for the world’s most popular brands. The formal influencer programs brands like Sephora dream up in the boardroom can be easily surpassed by those they hired to work the counter — and their worker’s videos can be seen by millions around the world.
TikTok has been fueled by Generation Z, digital natives that value transparency, authenticity, and online influence. According to a survey conducted by Morning Consult, 86 percent of Americans aged 13 to 38 would like to become a social media influencer, and TikTok, the newest platform in the game, is a channel primed for the taking. It is less saturated than Instagram and YouTube for those who aim to become influencers and more welcoming to quick, replicable content that is easy to produce and make viral.
For a TikTok to go viral, sophisticated agency work or corporate savvy is not required or rewarded, even from global brands. One dance video from the “Queen of TikTok,” Charli D’Amelio, a 15-year-old from Connecticut, may easily garner 24 million views, while a TikTok on the NBA’s official account, a celebrated brand with one of the largest followings on TikTok, may obtain hundreds of thousands. Charli’s bedroom is her set, sweatpants are her wardrobe, and production is courtesy of her iPhone. This evens the playing field for regular teens and big advertisers alike (for now), creating an open space for new, uninhibited voices to rise to the top of the influence chain — and many of them are just starting their careers behind the counters of our favorite retailers and restaurants.
In June, Starbucks baristas were dumbfounded when young customers began to order the “TikTok” drink, an off-menu item that was never promoted or officially recognized by the brand. Seemingly overnight, there were two camps: baristas who knew what was going on and those who didn’t. Employees active on TikTok knew what to do: start with a Strawberry Açaí Refresher, three scoops of strawberries, three scoops of blackberries, blended with ice or lemonade. After all, #TikTokDrink has 52.6 million views and counting around the world.
Starbucks is a lifestyle on TikTok, but with no officially endorsed account, passionate employees have stepped in to promote their favorite drinks and provide barista commentary on their personal accounts, unsponsored and uninfluenced by their managers. Videos of brightly colored, creative drink recipes are described from behind the counter to the tune of 4.5 million views, as in this TikTok about the “IT” frappuccino by user @StarbucksRecipesWithM. This is the kind of exposure marketers dream of.
By searching the hashtag #starbucksbarista, you’ll find videos of employees providing insight into not only their favorite drinks, but also why they love to work at Starbucks, and yes, making fun of customer interactions or exposing the mundanity of their jobs. You can’t help but smile when you’re introduced to the local baristas in Port Richey, Florida, or see customers sing their orders to the baristas, just to make them smile (and for the “Likes,” of course). (Starbucks did not respond to multiple requests for comment.)
Of their own volition and without any special compensation, employees representing all sectors are lifting the corporate curtain that once hid the backstage workings of major brands. The viewers of their viral videos receive raw exposure to brand values right from their device, from people they can relate to (and order from).
And it works.
The potential for employees to influence brand perception on TikTok is limitless; this opportunity can be a risk when less-favorable videos are distributed straight to the masses, unfiltered by corporate finesse. Take the power of the unofficial employee influencer @Brinaraelanee, who made national news when her video went viral for “exposing” the preparation of Panera Bread’s mac & cheese (spoiler: It’s frozen, a standard industry process to ensure quality control) and was subsequently fired. It’s safe to assume most customers had never demanded, or had access to, information about how their favorite dish was made. But thanks to Bri, we know. All 7.3 million of us that viewed it.
“Employees can be your best advocates because they know and love the brand, they know all the ‘hacks’ and insider info,” said Mae Karwowski, CEO of influencer marketing agency Obviously. “The first step is to give guidelines to employees,” she continues. “Show that corporate actually knows that this is an app that exists, then monitor and reward positive behavior.”
And brands have done just that, which is why it’s no coincidence that Kyra Gallego started posting TikToks on her last day working for Sephora. Corporate social media guidelines are standard practice and may indirectly or explicitly discourage employees from posting content related to their work or the brands they represent. For creators who depend on social media to promote their personal brand or portfolio, these agreements may restrict professional growth, especially as an influencer.
Sources report that Sephora has a policy discouraging the discussion of makeup brands on personal social media channels unless you are within the approved “Sephora Squad,” a group of influencers that apply and are selected by Sephora to collaborate on content and campaigns. Sephora denies this practice but confirms there is a social media policy in place. Former employees no longer restricted by company policy are free to publish videos (like @MakeupbyMaritza’s “Sephora Worker Tea”), which makes possible the skyrocketing fame of free agents like Kyra Gallego.
Karwowski points out that these employees are “essentially providing authentic, free advertising” but admits that you also run the risk of someone having a bad day and going on a rant.
“I would argue that the person is already on TikTok and is going to rant anyway,” Karwowski says. “Why don’t you capture the good and create parameters for the rest?”
Some brands have been early movers to capitalize on positive employee content and harness it to create a successful TikTok strategy. Chipotle utilized the passion of employees to dream up sponsored challenges like the “#FlipYourLid” challenge, born directly from an employee on the line that did the fun trick when creating bowls. With the success of the challenge, Chipotle went on to formally partner with TikTok to promote the “#GuacDance” around National Avocado Day and “#BooritoChallenge” for Halloween.
In addition to promoting user-generated content, Chipotle tapped already popular TikTok creators to promote the hashtag. For the #GuacDance campaign, popular creator Loren Gray, who boasts 37.2 million followers, feeds a friend guacamole while she bops along to the “guacamole song,” a sound inspired by a viral internet video. At its core, it is a zero-budget, eight-second video promotion for free guacamole if you visit a Chipotle on the holiday; but what it lacks in production value it makes up for in relatability and nearly 700,000 “Likes.” The TikTok community embraces the brief, authentic, and often ordinary in contrast to the aestheticized expectations of other platforms, and some brands have taken note.
“Young people have grown up with branded content, so they are its biggest fans and harshest critics. They can sense when something is inauthentic or forced,” said Karwowski. “Brands have to understand this content is not going to be like a TV commercial,” she advises.
So Chipotle kept it true to the platform. They tapped current employees and customers to shoot videos in-store; used trending “sounds,” dances, and memes to increase the chances of going viral; and uploaded content that looks like it was shot from a cellphone. Because it was.
“We want to be where our customers are,” said Tressie Lieberman, VP of digital marketing and off-premise at Chipotle, when asked about joining TikTok. “We are creating content at the restaurants and we bring in team members to create content with us. A lot of our employees are following TikTok, so it’s a special moment for them, too.”
In her video titled “I <3 Chipotle,” popular creator and former Chipotle employee Zahra, username @Muslimthicc, gushes about how to make the perfect burrito bowl.
“Anyone that knows me relatively well knows that I love Chipotle, like I could absolutely live off of it, it is my favorite thing to eat when I go out. And I also used to work at Chipotle for two-and-a-half years,” she tells her 1.7 million followers. “You gotta ask for honey, I swear its life-changing … it’s so worth the mild embarrassment and social anxiety.” (Honey is available; it’s an ingredient used in their homemade vinaigrette.)
The video has nearly 775,000 views and is not sponsored or tagged for Chipotle to see and potentially sponsor. You can’t help but believe that Zahra genuinely wants you to have a good experience at her favorite restaurant — that’s it, plain and simple. Her channel is not loaded with paid posts and we often see her studying or driving around with her little brother. She is the exact brand of influence that users on TikTok can trust.
Lieberman, speaking to me from corporate headquarters in Newport Beach, California, knew exactly what video I was referring to made by Zahra, a college student in Albany, NY. “There are all these creators that love the brand and are creating really cool content that people enjoy watching, because we are a place where people have so much passion,” Lieberman said.
Thanks to her inside knowledge of Sephora and internet savvy, Kyra Gallego has hit a sweet spot of influence serving the burgeoning Gen Z beauty community on TikTok (Kyra is not currently sponsored by Sephora and she has not heard from corporate regarding her videos). She wants to stay focused on helping others learn beauty tricks and guide her now-320,000 followers through the often overwhelming world of skin care and beauty.
“I want people to know that Sephora is not a scary, mean place; they value customer service and experience. I just want people to know Sephora wants to make you more beautiful than you already are,” said Gallego.
As for the future, Kyra is about to begin her last semester of college, then she’s off to pursue her master’s degree in education.
“If I can have this much success within one month of being on TikTok, who knows what will happen by the time I’m ready to teach,” said Gallego.
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