Reader Recommendations March 2025

Here's what you love for March 2025

Here’s who you, the subscribers of TLM, recommended as the best Substacks:

They are in no particular order, just in which they were reviewed and examined for the article. Each stack was reviewed, and several articles read, to develop a summary for this article. All submissions received from readers by the end of the previous month are eligible to make the next month’s recommended list. April’s list closes March 31st. See the last section for instructions on how to nominate your favorite substack.

Pen Strokes, by Nick Anderson

Oh my, I love this. Nick is a gem. A former illustrator for the Houston Chronicle (and a former Pulitzer prize winner), he distributes his wit and charm on Substack before it gets distributed internationally.

This is awesome. I can’t write much about it, because its art, not articles. Look for yourself.

Village Medicine, by Malin Mycelium Christenson

Malin Mycelium Christensson’s Village Medicine offers a deeply introspective and poetic meditation on identity, belonging, and the ever-evolving self. With a voice that is both vulnerable and insightful, Christensson invites readers into the messy, layered, and interconnected nature of personal and collective transformation.

This one is unique. Go take a look.

American Times, with Tim Barnicle

Tim Barnicle’s American Times delivers what excellent historical writing should: a compelling, well-researched narrative that bridges the past and present with striking clarity. In his most recent piece, for example, Moment of Surrender: PEPFAR and America’s Declining Leadership, Barnicle takes a deep dive into the surprising origins of one of the most successful foreign aid programs in modern history—and the political failures that now threaten to dismantle it.

It’s a gem to read that comes from fellow former politicos like Barnicle.

Small Deeds Done, by Michele Hornish

I read a few pieces on this Stack. The one that caught my eye the most was her last. My Dad, the Dittohead: Rush Limbaugh Stole Our Fathers is a masterful blend of memoir, media history, and political analysis—delivered with the raw emotional weight of someone who lived through the consequences firsthand. It’s not just an indictment of Rush Limbaugh or right-wing talk radio; it’s a deeply personal story of generational loss, the slow erosion of empathy, and the corrosive power of infotainment on the American psyche.

The most gut-wrenching moments come in the quiet, everyday interactions: a father laughing at a sexist joke on the radio, only to catch his daughter’s reflection in the rearview mirror; a daughter struggling to reconcile the warmth of a parent with the coldness of their politics. These small, human moments make Hornish’s argument more powerful than any policy critique could.

And yet, the piece is not just personal—it’s a devastating critique of how America lost its way. Hornish lays out, in strikingly clear terms, how the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine set the stage for an entirely one-sided media ecosystem that radicalized millions. She methodically traces how the tactics Limbaugh pioneered—righteous indignation, identity-based grievance, an “us vs. them” mentality—became the bedrock of modern conservative politics, culminating in Trump’s MAGA movement.

She doesn’t publish much, but this is worth reading when it drops.

Red State Resistance, by Rev. Shannon Fleck

Well, here’s one I wasn’t expecting, to be sure. Rev. Fleck and others write at “Red State Resistance,” about “White Christian Nationalism,” from their perspective as members of the clergy (I presume they’re Episcopals, although their faith doesn’t particularly matter to me.) They’re doing so from the “heart” of the MAGA “Bible belt,” Oklahoma. This makes the content even more stunning. All I could think was Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves.”

The women writing at RSR (Rev. Fleck is one) are hardly sheep; if anything, they are possibly the wolves with their wit and insight. But then, people misunderstood Matthew: Jesus is telling his apostles to be wise and harmless when faced with persecution, shrewd as snakes to avoid being taken advantage of, innocent as doves to avoid inviting conflict, and on guard against men who will hand them over to councils and flog them in synagogues. People forget that part of the Bible.

Rev. Fleck doesn’t just report on the latest legislative moves—she translates them into practical steps that everyday citizens can take to push back. Whether it’s tracking SJR4, which threatens the separation of church and state by allowing public funds to flow to religious organizations, or recognizing Representative Kevin West as a rising star in the Christian Nationalist movement, she names names, breaks down threats, and arms her readers with knowledge.

She also understands the importance of timing and morale. Rather than waiting for legislative battles to escalate, she calls for preemptive gratitude, urging readers to thank state representatives who voted to uphold the separation of church and state in previous sessions. It’s a subtle but brilliant strategy: legislators who feel supported are more likely to stand firm amid mounting pressure from extremists.

Rev. Fleck’s writing is sharp, urgent, and laced with just the right amount of dry humor—she acknowledges the overwhelming flood of bad bills but refuses to let despair take hold. Her voice is one of both authority and camaraderie, reminding readers that while the opposition is relentless, so too must be the resistance.

For anyone concerned about the rise of Christian Nationalism at the state level, Red State Resistance is an essential read. It’s not just an analysis of the problem—it’s a roadmap for fighting back.

Again, here’s how it works to nominate your favorite Stack:

Nominate an author you love. Here’s what to send me:
✅ Their Substack (or another place they publish)
✅ A sentence or two on why their work is great
✅ Send via DM (best way to keep it organized)

Self-nominations? Totally fine. There is no shame in self-promotion.

What’s in It for You?

• The first 20 subscribers each month (including now through Friday) who send recommendations get a free 1-month comp, even if their author declines. (You don’t control that—I get it.)

• If your recommended author contributes to The Long Memo, you get a 6-month comp.

• Every month, I’ll publish two “Referrals” lists—one with your nominations and one with my editorial picks, giving these writers more visibility.

This is about expanding the conversation at The Long Memo. I know I have one of Substack's sharpest, most engaged readerships. Let’s use that.

👉 Send me your picks.

Thank you to all those who submitted stacks for us to review. Let me also say that several guest writers will be featured at TLM as a result of our first round. Look for their articles starting about mid-March.