Next week, we celebrate our nation’s shared, uniting holiday of civic thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a seasonal, needed reminder of the promise and reality of America.
We the People are not doing well. We are divided, angry, and house-poor. That said, whether you are liberal, conservative, progressive, or MAGA, we all have much – by any real, clear metric – to be thankful for and much that’s deserving of our collective, bipartisan celebration, cherishing, and defense. We are a better and more united people when we look up in shared gratitude.
If you are an American – poor, middle class, or rich – there is still an “Unum,” part principle and part shared experience, which connects the American “Pluribus” and our varied pursuits of happiness.
Regardless of your own familial origin story, there remains a shared American truth and reality: “We the People” are all born on third base compared to the rest of the world, and it’s not because we hit a triple.
This country is special. It remains special. Whatever our problems, we still have much to be thankful for and reasons to rise above our differences and unite in a common good for civic defense.
On a personal note, I am thankful that I am going to be a grandfather soon. A new chapter in our family’s American story will begin in the new year of our country’s 250th year. Having grandkids reminds us to keep our eyes on defending the prize.
Civically and professionally, I am giving thanks for RealClear’s readers and supporters.
I write this Thanksgiving note, having come back from a lunch with one of you – someone who exemplifies our audience and patrons. Smart, accomplished, and discerning. You represent thoughtful citizenship at its best. These getting-to-know-you conversations with RealClear readers inspire us.
Most of my meetings are with reader-supporters over Zoom, which provide daily bounces in our team’s steps. (If you are interested in having one, reach out to our advancement coordinator, Frank Filocomo [frank@realclear.com], and he will set one up. We truly enjoy it.)
This one was in-person and ennobling. I broke bread with a U.S. Navy pilot who flew 85 combat missions in Vietnam. On his return, he had to test fate again by landing a fighter jet on a battleship in hostile waters. After the war, he made his fortune on Wall Street, retired to Florida, and dedicated himself to public service as our local county commissioner. Thank you, Hal. You are a great American, and we are thankful to count you among RealClear’s faithful readers and steadfast supporters.
For the rest of you: Come to our Samizdat Prize Gala on Feb. 11, 2026, and I will introduce you to Hal.
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For the past 10 years, it has been hard to be RealClear.
Our advertising revenue has been attacked because our viewpoint-diversity journalism – the kind that encourages Americans to think for themselves – offends the smug sensibilities of the self-appointed censors who prefer monologues managed to their liking. But we know that healthy democracy requires open dialogue. We went hungry when our business model was ambushed and we remain hungry, but, because of you, we did not starve as intended. Thank you.
My job at RealClear is Sisyphean in structure. I apologize for talking Greek. Please indulge me for a moment. Sisyphus’ curse was that he had to push a rock up a hill, with no hope of getting to the top and enjoying a level roll. It’s not a life for everyone, but we – with your funding at our back – have found both purpose and joy in it.
What would happen if Sisyphus didn’t show up for work? What would happen if RealClear simply quit? For us, giving up on presenting an array of viewpoints and keeping polling accurate and honest is not an option. Defeat is a possibility but surrender is not. Because of you, we will continue to push the viewpoint-diversity rock up a hill, and we’ll keep doing so joyfully. Thank you.
We could not do it alone. RealClear exists, still consequentially positioned on the “hill” of viewpoint diversity because of you. What others have taken away, or tried to sideline, our reader-supporters like you have preserved. And our country is better for it.
It pays to be partisan in today’s media landscape. But we’re still pushing against the ideological, closed-minded, censorious grain. If you are a past supporter, stay with us. Or, if you are reading this and haven’t given before, please consider joining us as a reader-supporter. Click here: www.realclearmediafund.org/donate.
Thank you for your past support and present consideration. We don’t take your support for granted. We hope you consider independent and unbiased news coverage as vital as we do. Our need for your support is real and enduring, as is our thanks.
Sincerely,
David DesRosiers
President
RealClear Media Fund
P.S. To make a tax-deductible donation, please click here: www.realclearmediafund.org/donate/
P.P.S. You can also support RealClear by incorporating us in your estate plan. Some of you out there may be disappointed and feel let down by your alma mater. If this is you – and you want to advance viewpoint diversity, sanity, and accurate and honest polling for years to come – please consider making a planned gift to RealClear Media Fund. To discuss this with us, please contact our advancement coordinator, Frank Filocomo at: frank@realclear.com.
P.P.P.S. Again, we love talking to our readers. If you’d like to set up a conversation, Frank is the man for that as well.
David DesRosiers is the publisher of RealClear. This article is derived from a salon with Rep. Balderson and a diverse group of reporters and energy experts. The opinions expressed here are his own.
