The USA is marking the 250th year since declaring its independence. We offer this zine, the second in our series, as a record of political hope at a time of transformation. We asked for contributions from artists, creators, and advocates who are reckoning with hope and shaping what comes next at a moment when the nation's stories about itself are cracking open, and something more just and joyful can emerge in their place.

What good is hope in a time led by charlatans and monsters? 

In our present moment, forces aligned toward extraction, opportunism, oppression, and violence seem to have gained momentum over our systems and our narratives, making the news cycle relentless. We are living in dangerous times, and we are overwhelmed. Still, we are called to confront greater threats, commit to political action, deepen our bonds to communities, and to care for one another. In the face of this, “hope” as a mere feeling can be a passive stance, a looking beyond or away, or a distraction.