Some days on The Daily Whatever Show feel important.
Today felt historic.
Dana DuBois and I had the honor—and I do mean honor—of sitting down with Karen Attiah, one of the most vital voices in journalism today. She is a truth-teller, a builder, a fighter, and—after the year she’s had—still somehow radiates resilience, clarity, and grace.
We opened by grounding our audience in Karen’s extraordinary path: from her Fulbright in Ghana to Columbia, from the Associated Press to her decade-plus at the Washington Post, where she founded the Global Opinions desk and championed voices like the late Jamal Khashoggi. Her leadership in the wake of Khashoggi’s assassination earned her Journalist of the Year from the NABJ and the George Polk Award. That résumé alone is enough to humble anyone. But that was just the prelude.
Karen joined us in the middle of what can only be called a storm. In just the past year, she’s endured Columbia canceling her course on race and media, the Washington Post firing her under circumstances that smell of retaliation, and then the national media largely looking away—while eagerly covering Jimmy Kimmel’s firing and rehiring. We all named it plainly: race and patriarchy are baked into whose stories get told and whose voices get amplified. Sitting with her, hearing her frame it in her own words, Dana and I both felt the weight of what’s at stake.
What struck us most was how Karen refuses to retreat. Instead, she’s building new institutions—on her own terms. Her Substack, The Golden Hour, isn’t just a newsletter; it’s a declaration that she will not be silenced. She spoke about what that name means: light and beauty, yes, but also urgency—the medical “golden hour” when quick action can save a life. That’s how she sees America right now: in a precarious window, with truth itself on the line.
She’s also teaching. Her Resistance Studies series, born from the ashes of her Columbia course, is already connecting students across generations, geographies, and disciplines. From teenagers to septuagenarians, from artists to government officials, people are showing up to learn, to connect, to resist. Karen has built not just a class, but a community—and she does it with joy, humor, and a deep belief in what’s possible.
And then there’s the art. We talked about her now-iconic photo in that brilliant blue dress, holding the burning Washington Post like a torch. It’s an image that stops you cold. Some on the right called it reckless; we saw it as a tarot card for a warrior goddess of truth. Karen explained that it was as much about art as it was about journalism—about speaking symbolically when words fail, about turning pain into power.
Here’s what I’ll remember most: Karen embodies the very thing she calls us to do. She doesn’t just write about resistance; she lives it. She doesn’t just critique power; she builds alternatives. And she does it all with a sword in one hand (literally—she declared this her “Sword Girl Summer”) and a pen in the other.
We are in awe. And deeply grateful.
If you’re not already subscribed to Karen’s Golden Hour, fix that immediately. If you’re looking for hope, clarity, and fierce truth-telling in dark times, she’s the voice we need. Today, Dana and I didn’t just host a show. We bore witness to someone who’s reshaping what journalism—and courage—can look like.
Thank you, Karen, from the bottom of our hearts.
Love you! Mean it!
~Lawrence & Dana
PS: Karen’s kitty, Artemis the Birman isn’t feeling so well—send him all your kitty love and good vibes for a full and speedy recovery!
Huge thanks to everyone who tuned in to The Daily Whatever Show today, including Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq. , Yolanda D. , Victor Cardenas , The One Minute Daily Boost , PhemK , Ralph Carabetta , Karen Marie Shelton , Cathi Connelly , MorganX , KC , Bean Pan , Linda C , Damon , Polly Walker Blakemore , Nick Paro , Patrick Hanley , Robin Wilding , Teresa , Dana DuBois , Karen Attiah , Rosie the Resister , Rachel Hendricks , BJ Roberts , OldHenCharlie , Beth Cruz , Patrick Fitzgerald ca , Halimah Abdullah , Jazmine Johnson , Michael Horstman , Virginia Smith , denise weik , Kali , LCarlson , Rhoda , Nzinga Williams , Cheryl Jones , valarie mcneil , Marisa Bergeson , Cat , Yanni Hamburger , Niki , Sharon , Atomic Elbow , Carolyn , KATIE FULLER , Katie , Lauren , Change Champion , ACSheen , Angie , Musings on Interesting Times , Gregg B. , Jane Ellingwood , Stephanie McMorris , Cynthia Aguirre , Taylor Anderson , Diane Johnston , Gail Waldby , wassbossauce , Firmilian Talpan , tina , Margaret L Anthony , Bernice Doyle , Sherrie Rager , BiffBiff , Nadine Matheson , Sheryl- smarieblanca , Mat Hydad , Gary Sorensen , Alison , Meredith Saunderson , Tony Williamson , Jim Tragos , Jenny_Static , OzzieDRD , Education is a lamp , Scott R , Biff Thuringer , Tabitha , LeftieProf , Di Girgenti , Cort Gross , RS , MJoT , Soumen Sarkar , Science Curmudgeon , Brandon Ellrich , Lorenzo , Karin McTeague , Mason/she/her/💛🤍💜🖤 , Charlotta Jensen , Jo , Kate Eliza Sloan , litelwyng_222 , Bill Cuff , Cliff McCloe , MB Matthews, she/her , Aderemi A Adeyeye , Nicole Simmons , gene weingarten , Patty Evans , Anne Harrison , Colin Crockatt , Frederick Lieber , Hog Manay , sonia , Drrobi , Katie , Cid Arroyo , Joseph Dwyer , Suzy Peers , Alexi McCammond , Marianne Streisel , Tech Bloke , Rocka , Hawin Tunc , Gwendolyn L Steinhauer , Annie , Jeri Nutter , Beth Young , SJP , Rachel Hendricks , Saidi Ssebagala , Kit , Frank Arcoleo , Kim Rogers , Christopher Munt , Ann Marie Johnson , Daria , Bv , William , Michael Teferi , ILA , Josie Esquivel , Carrie , MarcoNOTRubio , Mayra , The Momster , CJ McNew , Ted Patchell , Elaine smitham , Rick Kohut , Gloria Jean Brewer , Maria romero-gunnstaks , Laura 👗 , abner , Stephanie , Bridget Brown , Corporate Managed , Lissa Warr , RevTiTiKym , toad , MustI , Luke Thomas , Amy , Rachel , Baylen , Noble Blend , Shane Yirak , Mark Olson , Nancy Mitchell , Ameia Actually , Kat Wood , Professor Radiculous , Jerry Pankey , Jennifer Arterbury , Shannon Bacon , Pauline , ArtB3ing , Christine , Debra Piper , Claudia , PamC , Jen , Canadian Crone , Won't Back Down! , Johan Bw , Cindy , Judy Shelton , GW B , Paula , Monica Barto , Patricia , Char Sundust , Jagat Bandhu , M R YOUSUF , Jacqueline , Rhett , Stewart Andrews , Tovaramer , Stacy Dimmich , Xavier Briand , Crystal Torres , bernadette jackson , Geraldine Brauer , Lauren W Kaplan , Jake , Nathalie Chi , Darren , Christine Hicks , Daphne Panayotatos , Barry A , Rene Powell , Pangia Macri , Renée , Donald A. L. Macintyre , Fred , Patricia Anne Boone , CC , 3rdaughter , C krezman , Elizabeth , EaB , Matt Arnold , Lily Lindler , David Cheezem , Robert Berges , Katharine Hill , Justin M Griffin , April Boxeth , Ira Madison III , Margaret Doris , Amanda Voss 🗺️ , Weirdorockwav , Denise , Robert Jones , Jeanette H , Cyril Mychalejko , mellen , Jacpb Vlaardingerbroek , Dalai Mama 💗 , Dianne Sichel , Tom Canepa , Tonantzin333 , WavesK , Kim Yingling , martha shepard , Dawn Waddilove , Gonzo Gato , Bryant Isaacs , Anne Cahill , Maureen Drews , JaAmerican P , Edwin J Messner , Jeff Stenehjem , Leslie Shalduha , Reem Ginns , Judith Simmons , Eugene Hoffman , MsMishi , Trish , Sue 🇨🇦 , Finzen , Miguel The PIMM Trader 📈💡 , SUTHESHNAIDU , 🌸jennie🌸 , Beth Bastow , Barb Bohn , Steven Routh , Richard Jantz , Brushy 🦝📚 , Lynette , 🇨🇦Marianne , CasualObserver , Zachary Rosen , Stephen J. Skelton , Being Human , LJW , Sushipheliac 🍣🍥🍣 , Angie Decadencce , Golda , Miriambis , Wendy Spendiff , Michelle Luque , Ruin Unleashed , Roscoe Hill , Eagle , Alice Little , Morgan and many others.
Please join us tomorrow on The Daily Whatever Show as we welcome Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, Esq. to talk about emigration—away from the United States.
