How to be Less Useful

How to be Less Useful

Yoga Mom Fall

I can explain

Priyanka Mattoo's avatar
Priyanka Mattoo
Nov 05, 2025
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Vasantha Yoganathan, A World of Books (2014)

Headnotes:

  • I am delighted about Mayor-elect Mamdani. We desperately needed a populist win that doesn’t feel fueled by hatred and ignorance. Do I think he’s the solution to all of our problems? No, but his campaign was a model for how we can connect to voters and win around the country, and I am wholeheartedly on board with the values espoused by his platform. Also, he makes caring about people look fun. Has anyone else done that, in recent memory?

    During the campaign, the one argument against him that made any sense is to me is that he has so little experience. And I agree he has a long, steep road ahead of him, but I also believe nothing is impossible. We’ll see what kind of team he puts together. Unless you’re saying this clueless lamb can’t handle big city politics, and will be flummoxed by navigating New York’s interconnected web of criminal-adjacent syndicates. But is he a silly little baby, or is he a bloodthirsty militant who goi…

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