Hey Everyone,

This week I am doing something different.

My son, Orlando, has started writing a substack called Orlando Doull’s Lunch Break. Orlando is 23. He works in corporate communications in Washington, DC. He’s a politics junkie.

His latest substack about Zohran Mamdani and the wave of Democratic Socialism sweeping New York, where he grew up, is thought-provoking. I know many people (my age and older) who are panicked in the way he describes, but I love how thoughtfully he argues they should not be. There is a precedent for the current moment that I think he lays out beautifully. (I think he’s omitted some important things from his argument but he tells me he has his reasons. He wanted to keep it tightly focused).

I may be his proud mom – and as you can see from the photo collage, we enjoy goofing around together – but I don’t think everything that comes out of his mouth or proverbial pen (or social media feed) is worth pondering or repeating. And he’s not shy from telling me whenever he thinks I have generated crud! But even when we disagree, we are usually able to have a constructive dialogue. Usually. There are also times where we feel frustrated with each other, like any parent and child.

As you know I am writing a book about Luigi Mangione and am therefore focused on trying to understand Gen Z, a generation that feels misunderstood and unfairly pigeon-holed by their elders.

So, when I phoned Orlando to talk about his piece on Zohran, we decided we’d try doing some mom/son live video chats around controversial topics to see if we can find a way to better understand each other’s points of view and, perhaps, bridge the generation gap between Gen X (me) and Gen Z (his).

We are noodling a title for our series, so feel free to write in with suggestions as well as ideas for subjects we should talk about

Meanwhile, his substack is below. Do subscribe to it, if you like his writing!

And, Happy July Fourth!

Read the rest of the article on Vicky Ward Investigates.