Time to Enter Your Insufferable B*tch Era
How to become the strongest you the world has ever seen.
I’m currently writing to you from the ninth circle of hell, where Dr. Oz—yes, the same guy who recommended raspberry ketones as a miracle weight-loss cure—is about to oversee health insurance for more than 150 million Americans. It’s like putting a toddler in charge of NASA, except the toddler would be less of a sycophant. The "doctor" (and I’m using that title with the same generosity he uses for science) has been accused of medical malpractice and has a track record of backing about half of his advice with actual evidence. Not great odds when the stakes are, oh, I don’t know, human lives.
Oh, and I thought this was the worst of it—until mid-writing, I got word of another fun little update.
Honestly, Judge Judy as Attorney General would feel like a welcome relief at this point.
Speaking of horrifying nominations, Matt Gaetz is also slated to be Attorney General. I haven’t even been able to fully process this yet because it’s so nauseating. That makes him the third person in Trump’s cabinet to be formally accused of sexual assault. JUST TOTALLY NORMAL STUFF.
And also in the last 24 hours, right-wing performance artist slash Congresswoman Nancy Mace chose to terrorize her first trans colleague with a bill that would make her use the men’s bathroom, citing “feminism”. The best part is that she used her history of sexual assault to justify her intimidation, despite supporting for a rapist for president and a pedophile as AG. Go off queen.
If you’re wondering whether this is a sexist dystopian social experiment, trust me, same.
I’ve been trying to keep a running list of good news, and so far, the only thing on it is that JD Vance is nowhere to be found. That’s it. That’s the list. But honestly, if you’ve got anything remotely positive to share—big, small, or even delusionally optimistic—please drop it in the comments so we can all bask in the faint glow of hope together.
So are you feeling angry, overwhelmed, and ready to scream into the void yet? Good. You’re awake. Now it’s time to take that anger and channel it into the kind of sustained action that dismantles autocracies like Trump’s and builds something better. It’s time to evolve into the best YOU that the world has ever seen.
Here at Airplane Mode, we’re all about finding the positive spin—and you entering your Insufferable Bitch Era is exactly that. The good news? Many people around the world and throughout history have survived authoritarian regimes and even learned how to resist them. And the first step is to stay mad. It scares them.
To help you turn that rage into results, I proudly present your Insufferable Bitch Starter Kit, packed with tips inspired by Timothy Snyder’s must-read book, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. This is just the beginning.
Let’s get to work.
1. Be the Bitch Who Calls Out Lies
Autocrats thrive on muddying reality, and they’re counting on you to play nice and let it slide. Don’t. When someone parrots misinformation or conspiracy theories, be the bitch who shuts it down. “That’s not true” or “That’s propaganda” is your go-to. You don’t have to argue endlessly; you just have to refuse to let the lie stand unchallenged. Truth-telling isn’t rude—it’s revolutionary.
2. Bitches Build Systems That Autocrats Can’t Touch
If government systems break down, create your own. Join or support grassroots organizations, mutual aid groups, and local networks. These are lifelines during chaos and power bases for change. Think underground networks in resistance movements. Bonus: You’ll meet other insufferable bitches like yourself.
3. Bitches Win Wars, Not Pointless Arguments
Not every conversation is worth your energy. Your aunt sharing QAnon memes at Thanksgiving? Detach. Your cousin who might actually listen? Engage! Focus on people who are persuadable and step away from those who aren’t. You’re here to plant seeds, not win unwinnable arguments.
Be a bitch, but be a tactical bitch. This isn’t just about keeping your sanity intact—it’s about deploying your energy where it can make the biggest impact. Snyder emphasizes individual responsibility for change in Lesson #12: “Make eye contact and small talk.” Focus on humanizing moments where you can connect authentically, and let the rest go.
4. Be Insufferable, Stand Out
Autocrats want you quiet, agreeable, and blending into the background. Don’t give them what they want. Be the person at the protest with the loudest sign, the one posting that fiery TikTok, the one who refuses to stay silent. Your visibility is a weapon, and your courage is contagious. Standing out isn’t just being insufferable—it’s being unstoppable.
5. Be Defiant: Support Independent Media (Like This Newsletter!)
Authoritarians hate independent media because it refuses to bow down or play along. They attack truth by going after journalists. (remember when Trump blocked me on Twitter) You can fight back by funding the truth: subscribe to local newspapers, support independent outlets, and yes—subscribe to this newsletter. Sharing accurate information is an act of rebellion, and every click, share, and subscription helps drown out the noise. By supporting work like this, you’re saying no to propaganda and yes to building a better-informed, defiant world. Let’s keep the truth loud, together.
So, if you haven’t become a paid subscriber yet, now is the time to join the revolution. Your support makes you a part of the fight—calling out lies, amplifying the truth, and refusing to be silenced by the noise. Subscribing isn’t just supporting my work; it’s taking a stand. It’s defiance. It’s action. Let’s fight back, together.
6. History Belongs to the B*tches Who Don’t Back Down
Every autocracy falls, and it’s always the fearless, defiant bitches who make it happen. History isn’t written by the polite or the passive—it’s built by the people who refuse to shut up, sit down, or make themselves small. That’s you. You’re part of a long, unshakable legacy of people who said no in the face of evil.
Authoritarianism often escalates before it collapses. In fact, regimes tend to get the most violent and absurd right before they crumble. The clock is ticking on Trump’s sad crap, so yes—fight like hell, but also grab some popcorn. Because according to history, he’s going down.
7. Rest Like a Rebel
You’re no use to the movement if you’re burned out. Rest. Eat foods that loves you back. Laugh. Find joy even in the darkness. Taking care of yourself is a middle finger to the systems that want you to feel powerless. It’s not just about staying in the fight—it’s about making sure you win it. For me, that meant taking a moment this morning to sit with gratitude for this community. Other times, it has meant stepping away when I’m too heartbroken to write anything meaningful. Because when I come back, I come back stronger—and so will you. Rest, recover, and then get back to work. The movement needs you at full power so we can go full beast mode and crush this regime.
There’s a future version of you out there—a badass, unshakable version—who will look back at this moment and feel so proud of how strong you were. So stay angry. Be insufferable. And whatever you do, don’t ever stop being a bitch. The world needs you exactly as you are.
I love you!! x
Liz
Undrown Yourself
Feeling overwhelmed by the relentless attacks on women’s rights, the chaos of the news cycle, or just the general vibes of 2024? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it alone either. By subscribing to this newsletter, you’ll stay informed, find moments of joy, and join a community of people who care deeply about the world and each other. You’…
tell me one thing you’re going to do to be insufferable today!!
Delusionally optimistic, perhaps: Pluto went into Aquarius yesterday, where it will be for the next 19 years. It just left Capricorn (the house of government, hierarchy, structure) where it hates change and grasps tightly to old systems. The last time Pluto was in Aquarius, the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, the American Revolution and the Irish Rebellion all happened. The yin is about to transform into yang or vice versa, depending on how you look at it.