Josh Morgan
@monarchjogs.bsky.social
Applied sociologist and aspiring helper. Boosting kindness and trust. He/Him.
Pinned
Josh Morgan
@monarchjogs.bsky.social
· Jul 15
Trust Among Americans Isn’t Over Yet - The Plural of You
Only 1 in 4 Americans now agree that most people can be trusted. What has caused the decline of trust and what can be done about it?
pluralofyou.org
Only 1 in 4 Americans now agree that most people can be trusted. What has caused the decline of trust and what can be done about it? See my analysis below.
Reposted by Josh Morgan
You know, a lot of us who were kids in the 80s were told the myth that a stranger in a van was around every corner waiting to get us. Wild that it's actually a problem now and the gov. is the one doing the kidnapping.
October 30, 2025 at 5:52 PM
You know, a lot of us who were kids in the 80s were told the myth that a stranger in a van was around every corner waiting to get us. Wild that it's actually a problem now and the gov. is the one doing the kidnapping.
According to 2024 GSS data from @norc.org, social trust among Americans has dropped 5-6 percentage points in the 2020s.
Only 1 in 4 Americans now say "Most people can be trusted."
Race continues to be the most significant factor, with White trust declining and non-White trust even more rare.
Only 1 in 4 Americans now say "Most people can be trusted."
Race continues to be the most significant factor, with White trust declining and non-White trust even more rare.
August 9, 2025 at 5:12 PM
According to 2024 GSS data from @norc.org, social trust among Americans has dropped 5-6 percentage points in the 2020s.
Only 1 in 4 Americans now say "Most people can be trusted."
Race continues to be the most significant factor, with White trust declining and non-White trust even more rare.
Only 1 in 4 Americans now say "Most people can be trusted."
Race continues to be the most significant factor, with White trust declining and non-White trust even more rare.
Reposted by Josh Morgan
I have decided to end The Plural of You podcast—for real this time. There are several reasons why I’m ending it, mostly because I think I’ve reached the ceiling of what I can do with it.
Before I go, I thought I’d share the conversation that shaped my beliefs about helping people the most.
Before I go, I thought I’d share the conversation that shaped my beliefs about helping people the most.
[FINALE] Awakening Compassion at Work - Monica Worline (Replay) (POY 68) - The Plural of You
Monica Worline has co-authored a book about the benefits of compassion at work, and about how we can make our workplaces better for everyone.
pluralofyou.org
June 15, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I have decided to end The Plural of You podcast—for real this time. There are several reasons why I’m ending it, mostly because I think I’ve reached the ceiling of what I can do with it.
Before I go, I thought I’d share the conversation that shaped my beliefs about helping people the most.
Before I go, I thought I’d share the conversation that shaped my beliefs about helping people the most.
Trump's military parade has sponsors including Coinbase and the UFC. Yes, I'm sure my grandfathers served specifically to prop up the corporatocracy we have today. Thank you, Mr. Trump.
June 14, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Trump's military parade has sponsors including Coinbase and the UFC. Yes, I'm sure my grandfathers served specifically to prop up the corporatocracy we have today. Thank you, Mr. Trump.
The Black Lives Matter / "Defund the police" protests in 2020 had no effect on police budgets in Democrat cities but *increased* those budgets in Republican cities—the opposite of what they were going for. Yikes. doi.org/10.1093/socp...
The Effect of the 2020 Black Lives Matter Protests on Police Budgets: How “Defund the Police” Sparked Political Backlash
Abstract. This article investigates whether a core political demand of the 2020 Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests was realized: “defund the police.” Origin
doi.org
May 26, 2025 at 1:51 AM
The Black Lives Matter / "Defund the police" protests in 2020 had no effect on police budgets in Democrat cities but *increased* those budgets in Republican cities—the opposite of what they were going for. Yikes. doi.org/10.1093/socp...
We shouldn’t need to supplement our social safety nets with things like Little Free Pantries, but here we are. Alex Forsythe, who stewards these pantries, sees a world where everyone has their needs met. We all rely on people like her to catch us when we fall through society’s cracks.
![Quote from Alex Forsythe: "The more we expand the [Little Free Pantries] locally, the stronger the safety net becomes and the more we start thinking about community care as a whole."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bckaqxbixs7vzgiwnljycemw/bafkreicwuxzosukbsjeu4kyt6mbydpkps5pkp4mbexzwvmayxh5tna3fti@jpeg)
May 17, 2025 at 4:21 PM
We shouldn’t need to supplement our social safety nets with things like Little Free Pantries, but here we are. Alex Forsythe, who stewards these pantries, sees a world where everyone has their needs met. We all rely on people like her to catch us when we fall through society’s cracks.
I’d like to introduce you to Alex Forsythe. With social safety nets stripped, where can people in need turn to? Alex shares her experience with a network of Little Free Pantries in Alabama. Check out our conversation in my monthly newsletter.
Let's talk about community safety nets 🪢
With social safety nets stripped, where can people in need turn to? Alex Forsythe shares her experience with Little Free Pantries in Alabama.
open.substack.com
May 15, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I’d like to introduce you to Alex Forsythe. With social safety nets stripped, where can people in need turn to? Alex shares her experience with a network of Little Free Pantries in Alabama. Check out our conversation in my monthly newsletter.
I can't believe caring about Palestinian children is now considered anti-Semitic. What a world we live in.
The New York Times is running a piece questioning why Ms. Rachel is so concerned about kids in Gaza.
We have the answers — watch her full interview with @mehdirhasan.bsky.social.
zeteo.com/p/exclusive-...
We have the answers — watch her full interview with @mehdirhasan.bsky.social.
zeteo.com/p/exclusive-...
EXCLUSIVE: The One and Only Ms. Rachel Opens Up to Mehdi on Her Advocacy for Gaza's Kids
The global YouTube star and educator says “silence wasn’t a choice” for her when it came to speaking out against the killing and maiming of Palestinian children.
zeteo.com
May 14, 2025 at 10:09 PM
I can't believe caring about Palestinian children is now considered anti-Semitic. What a world we live in.
I've been writing an encyclopedia of American social issues because I haven't seen one written since the 1990s. I'm up to 420 (heh) social issues affecting Americans and have written entries for about a third of them.
Below is a preview of my list, broken into 11 categories.
Below is a preview of my list, broken into 11 categories.
May 10, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I've been writing an encyclopedia of American social issues because I haven't seen one written since the 1990s. I'm up to 420 (heh) social issues affecting Americans and have written entries for about a third of them.
Below is a preview of my list, broken into 11 categories.
Below is a preview of my list, broken into 11 categories.
@pewresearch.org published a data-rich essay about social trust among Americans. They point to education, income, and geography as primary factors in the decline of trust. Their state-by-state map is also something I haven't seen before. Interesting and well done.
Americans’ Trust in One Another
Americans trust each other less than they did a few decades ago. We explore why this is, and why some are more trusting than others.
www.pewresearch.org
May 9, 2025 at 1:47 AM
@pewresearch.org published a data-rich essay about social trust among Americans. They point to education, income, and geography as primary factors in the decline of trust. Their state-by-state map is also something I haven't seen before. Interesting and well done.
Here's an article related to my recent writing on toxic empathy. Just bewildering.
"Lack of empathy for a presidential candidate whose leadership and legacy was harshly (and correctly) assessed by a newspaper: callous and despicable. Empathy for a migrant ripped from his family and abruptly flown to a brutal foreign prison: suicidal."
The Bizarre Right-Wing War on…Empathy?
It’s hypocritical and often misogynistic—and echoes totalitarian rhetoric.
www.thebulwark.com
April 22, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Here's an article related to my recent writing on toxic empathy. Just bewildering.
@roderickstruth.bsky.social isn't just wise. He's also humble, especially when talking about his book. 😅 You can hear the whole conversation this month on The Plural of You.
April 21, 2025 at 9:23 PM
@roderickstruth.bsky.social isn't just wise. He's also humble, especially when talking about his book. 😅 You can hear the whole conversation this month on The Plural of You.
@roderickstruth.bsky.social is a wise person. Being prepared doesn’t mean giving up all of your comforts to be an activist. It means starting with what you have to help the people around you, especially your loved ones and neighbors.
Roderick’s book, Starting Somewhere, is full of wisdom like this.
Roderick’s book, Starting Somewhere, is full of wisdom like this.
April 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
@roderickstruth.bsky.social is a wise person. Being prepared doesn’t mean giving up all of your comforts to be an activist. It means starting with what you have to help the people around you, especially your loved ones and neighbors.
Roderick’s book, Starting Somewhere, is full of wisdom like this.
Roderick’s book, Starting Somewhere, is full of wisdom like this.
I’d like to introduce you to @roderickstruth.bsky.social. He’s a community organizer from Binghamton, New York. He also wrote a new book titled Starting Somewhere: Community Organizing for Socially Awkward People Who’ve Had Enough.
My chat with Roderick is in my newsletter and podcast.
My chat with Roderick is in my newsletter and podcast.
Organizing for awkward people 📣
Community organizing can be intimidating for many of us who are aspiring helpers. Roderick Douglass wrote a book to share his wisdom about it.
pluralofyou.substack.com
April 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I’d like to introduce you to @roderickstruth.bsky.social. He’s a community organizer from Binghamton, New York. He also wrote a new book titled Starting Somewhere: Community Organizing for Socially Awkward People Who’ve Had Enough.
My chat with Roderick is in my newsletter and podcast.
My chat with Roderick is in my newsletter and podcast.
I wrote recently about how "toxic empathy" is spreading in American culture. Looks like coverage of the issue is picking up steam.
Loathe thy neighbor: Elon Musk and the Christian right are waging war on empathy
Loathe thy neighbor: Elon Musk and the Christian right are waging war on empathy
Trump’s actions are irreconcilable with Christian compassion. But an unholy alliance seeks to cast empathy as a parasitic plague
www.theguardian.com
April 9, 2025 at 1:59 AM
I wrote recently about how "toxic empathy" is spreading in American culture. Looks like coverage of the issue is picking up steam.
Reposted by Josh Morgan
What is the meaning of life? 15 possible answers – from a palliative care doctor, a Holocaust survivor, a jail inmate and more
What is the meaning of life? 15 possible answers – from a palliative care doctor, a Holocaust survivor, a jail inmate and more
I asked some well-known names for their thoughts on the ultimate existential question. Their answers were fascinating, funny – and could help us frame our days on Earth
www.theguardian.com
March 22, 2025 at 7:10 AM
What is the meaning of life? 15 possible answers – from a palliative care doctor, a Holocaust survivor, a jail inmate and more
I recently stumbled onto what I call a "Toxic Empathy" movement in our society, led by Elon Musk. Musk and other far-right grifters are pushing the narrative that empathy is no longer a desirable skill. I couldn't shake my disgust, so I wrote a blog post about it.
In Praise of Empathy: Why “Toxic Empathy” Won’t Last - The Plural of You
A subculture is emerging that claims empathy is “progressive,” “sinful,” and “parasitic.” What can aspiring helpers do to outlast the fad?
pluralofyou.org
March 22, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I recently stumbled onto what I call a "Toxic Empathy" movement in our society, led by Elon Musk. Musk and other far-right grifters are pushing the narrative that empathy is no longer a desirable skill. I couldn't shake my disgust, so I wrote a blog post about it.
“We all have privilege,” @melaniehood-wilson.bsky.social told me. She said it is the “height of arrogance” to assume we don’t.
Some have labelled privilege a dirty word. For us as empathetic people, it shouldn’t be.
Being aware of what advantages you may have can help you help others.
Some have labelled privilege a dirty word. For us as empathetic people, it shouldn’t be.
Being aware of what advantages you may have can help you help others.
March 17, 2025 at 7:52 PM
“We all have privilege,” @melaniehood-wilson.bsky.social told me. She said it is the “height of arrogance” to assume we don’t.
Some have labelled privilege a dirty word. For us as empathetic people, it shouldn’t be.
Being aware of what advantages you may have can help you help others.
Some have labelled privilege a dirty word. For us as empathetic people, it shouldn’t be.
Being aware of what advantages you may have can help you help others.
I’d like to introduce you to @melaniehood-wilson.bsky.social. She consults on programs and projects around the country that relate to teaching, learning, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
My full conversation with Melanie is available in my monthly newsletter and podcast, The Plural of You.
My full conversation with Melanie is available in my monthly newsletter and podcast, The Plural of You.
You can help stop racism. Here's how. ✊
Too many Americans think they can't—or won't—do anything about racism. Melanie Hood-Wilson is building communities to help reach them.
pluralofyou.substack.com
March 15, 2025 at 11:49 AM
I’d like to introduce you to @melaniehood-wilson.bsky.social. She consults on programs and projects around the country that relate to teaching, learning, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
My full conversation with Melanie is available in my monthly newsletter and podcast, The Plural of You.
My full conversation with Melanie is available in my monthly newsletter and podcast, The Plural of You.
I'm in shock. I've gone down the rabbit hole of the "toxic empathy" subculture online and I don't want to believe it.
Empathy as positive skill seems to be under attack.
For all the talk about America's decline, I'd say the labeling of empathy as a bad thing would put us on the fast track.
Empathy as positive skill seems to be under attack.
For all the talk about America's decline, I'd say the labeling of empathy as a bad thing would put us on the fast track.
March 12, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I'm in shock. I've gone down the rabbit hole of the "toxic empathy" subculture online and I don't want to believe it.
Empathy as positive skill seems to be under attack.
For all the talk about America's decline, I'd say the labeling of empathy as a bad thing would put us on the fast track.
Empathy as positive skill seems to be under attack.
For all the talk about America's decline, I'd say the labeling of empathy as a bad thing would put us on the fast track.
My old USB mic of 10 years died. Time for an upgrade.
March 12, 2025 at 1:24 AM
My old USB mic of 10 years died. Time for an upgrade.
Reposted by Josh Morgan
Latest newsletter: The New Old Racism. Eight years after our "Seeing White" series, whiteness is still a helluva drug -- and a powerful tool for Trump 2.0.
@chenjerai.bsky.social
buttondown.com/KeepingScOR/...
@chenjerai.bsky.social
buttondown.com/KeepingScOR/...
March 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Latest newsletter: The New Old Racism. Eight years after our "Seeing White" series, whiteness is still a helluva drug -- and a powerful tool for Trump 2.0.
@chenjerai.bsky.social
buttondown.com/KeepingScOR/...
@chenjerai.bsky.social
buttondown.com/KeepingScOR/...
Reposted by Josh Morgan
March 10, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Where do people publish long-form writing these days? Medium was the place 10-12 years ago but they seem to have fallen off.
March 6, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Where do people publish long-form writing these days? Medium was the place 10-12 years ago but they seem to have fallen off.