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- Salty Ginger Talk Newsletter
Presidential hopeful Newsom tells Black people he’s like them because he scored poorly on his SAT’s and can’t read
Our take: In a conversation with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, current California Governor and presidential hopeful Gavin Newsom tried to connect with the audience by telling them, “I’m like you. I am no better than you.” To prove his point, he said, “I’m a 960 SAT guy.” And “I cannot read a speech.”
We suggest going forward that Newsom run his planned remarks by someone who may be able to tell him something like the following. “Hey Gavin – calling Black people dumb and telling them you’re dumb too so they should support you is probably not the best campaign strategy.”
People tell you who they are all the time, but for some reason, many people simply don’t believe them. I don’t think Gavin Newsom is racist despite this ridiculously racist incident. I think Gavin Newsom only cares about Gavin Newsom and will say or do anything to further his own agenda. Support this psychopath at your own peril.
COURTESY: MSN
Cardiac surgeon dismisses his own heart attack symptoms
Our take: Two points to make here. First, even experts are fallible. This guy is literally a cardiac surgeon and ignored his own heart attack symptoms all day until he finally could no longer move. People are not perfect. If things don’t make sense to you, you should always ask questions and demand proof before you agree with something, no matter how credentialed or qualified the person you are dealing with may be.
Second, there is good information in this article about the heart and overall health. It’s worth a quick read to help you live a healthy life and give yourself and those around you the best odds at a long and healthy life.
COURTESY: MSN
The healthcare subsidy story misses the main point that should be discussed
Our take: ACA stands for the Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare. This law was originally passed back in 2010, despite much debate about its long-term efficacy. Fast forward to 2026, and you get stories like this one trying to shame people into ignoring the larger problem with the issue. We do have empathy for those affected by the loss of the subsidies, but the subsidies are a band-aid on a bullet wound. Our healthcare system has been broken for a long time, and until we tear it down and fix it the right way, no number of subsidies will fix our issues.
The ACA uses taxpayer funds to subsidize private health insurance premiums for people who qualify for the subsidies, typically those in the bottom 25% of income earners. While it’s a noble effort, the real question that needs to be answered is why everyday Americans need subsidies to access basic health care in our country.
To me, the obvious answer is that the health care system has been taken over by politicians, bureaucrats, and insurance companies who all profit from the current system at the expense of the rest of us. The fix is super simple but will be difficult to implement because of all the money involved—trillions of dollars. Get the government out of regulation, push the job to the states, and things would be fixed in about a year.
If you don’t believe this, ask yourself why home, life, and auto insurance all work just fine, while health insurance is a mess. It’s because life, home, and auto insurance are largely run by the individual states, and health insurance is handled federally. If you get the government out of the process and allow the market to allocate resources where they are best utilized, this whole mess will solve itself.
I know, I know—it sounds too easy and impossible to do, but it’s really not.
COURTESY: HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL
Tip of the day – How to approach difficult conversations
Add Your Perspective
When it’s your turn to talk, use the STATE method.
First, share your facts instead of your story. For example, say someone is often late. Instead of sharing your interpretation of the fact (that they “don’t respect your time”), simply begin with the fact that you noticed they’re often late.
Then, once the fact is out, you can tell your story about the fact. This is when you can share your interpretation, making it clear this is just your interpretation, not necessarily fact.
Finally, you can ask for their path, remembering that the goal here isn’t to prove you’re right but to understand their perspective and resolve the situation.
To incorporate all three strategies, you could say something like:
I’ve noticed you’re often late. Now, I’m not sure why that’s happening. But it gives me, and others, the impression that you’re unreliable or don’t care about how your lateness affects them. Am I missing something about what’s going on? I’d love to hear things from your perspective.
When sharing your story, again, remember it’s an assumption, not a fact. So talk tentatively and show that you’re open to being wrong. Saying things like: “it makes me wonder” and “I get the impression” works better than “it’s obvious to me” or “it’s clear that.”
Finally, encourage testing by asking them to share their viewpoint, even if it’s completely opposite to yours. This helps add to the shared pool of meaning while also demonstrating you want to hear what they have to say. If they’re non-communicative, you can prompt with:
Let’s say I’m wrong here. Can you help me see things from your point of view?” or “You seem frustrated, and I’d like to understand why. Can you help me see your perspective?
In summary:
Share your facts
Tell your story
Ask for their path
Talk tentatively
Encourage testing
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” – John Spence