Dear Friend,

Between the polarization of our politics 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 continue publishing stories to feed our soul, like:

• Pankaj Mishra’s Reckoning With Liberalism’s Bloody Past
• The Polite Rage of Shirley Hazzard
• Lauren Oyler Is a Tough Critic of Contemporary Fiction.  Can Her Novel Do Better?
• The Comedy Industry Has a Big Alt-Right Problem

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My team and I are acutely aware that we cannot do this without you, and are immensely grateful for support like yours that ensures we can continue to produce this kind of uncompromising content.

Please help us keep it up—the wide-ranging essays, book reviews, and other explorations of our culture—by supporting Critical Mass’s team of incredible, independent journalists.

Ryu Spaeth, TNR features editor

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Contributions to the Fund for The New Republic are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.