Ryu Spaeth is the features editor for The New Republic’s website; he also edits TNR’s culture vertical, Critical Mass, and writes about politics and the arts.

Dear Friend,

Between the presidency of Donald Trump and the pandemic, it often seems like there is little space in our lives for culture. Confined to our homes, we have long hours to idle away, yet as soon as we pick up a book or hit Play on a new show, our attention wanders and the smartphone beckons, promising the latest updates on a world turned upside down.

At Critical Mass, we strive to bridge the divide, applying TNR’s long tradition of rigorous, muscular cultural criticism to the most pressing issues of the day. We believe that it is impossible to fully understand what is happening in this country without a perspective rooted in history, literature, and the arts, and that we are one of only a few places in the current media landscape that can provide that perspective with depth and seriousness of purpose. With the support of our readers, we hope to do so for a long time to come.

The work of Ryu and the Critical Mass team is what makes TNR more necessary than ever. We depend on you to ensure voices like his—and other independent journalists' at TNR—have an outlet.

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Articles you'll find in Critical Mass:

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