Guest Feature: Dana Ballout
Gun violence must be stopped. It’s senseless that this is something that routinely happens in the United States, that we go through this cycle where a tragic event like a mass shooting occurs and our elected representatives continue to bicker rather than get anything done.
If our government actually cared, something would’ve been done a long time ago.
It breaks my heart seeing anyone’s lives abruptly end and people killed, let alone children who were barely on this earth long enough to live.
Guns are the leading cause of death for US children and teens. Firearms accounted for nearly 19% of childhood deaths (ages 1-18) in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wonder database.
This is where I was this week emotionally. I’ll personally never understand the obsession with guns and rifles. It’s truly awful what took place in Nashville.
Thank you, friends. I do want to bring some joy this week with the newsletter, especially because our guest feature is a dope human being. I am so excited to introduce this week’s guest: Dana Ballout!
Dana is Lebanese-American, Emmy-nominated documentary producer at Muck Media and a podcaster at Kerning Cultures. She was a reporter at The Wall Street Journal covering the Syrian war and its resulting refugee crisis. She also worked at Al Jazeera English, helped launch Al Jazeera America (RIP), and worked at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for few years.
One of her favorite quotes is by Gillian Flynn: “I think the world can be divided into the people who like to look under the rock and the people who don’t want to look under the rock.” She is the kind that looks under the rock.
Dana is currently based in Los Angeles, CA.
I have to say, Dana is one of the most empathetic and thoughtful storytellers and human beings I’ve had the honor of meeting. The way that she thinks through unearthing stories about the community, doing so in a nuanced way that clearly shows she cares. Dana is also truly always so supportive, constantly looking for different ways to be helpful and big-up people and initiatives in the community—me and this newsletter included, for which I’m truly grateful. So obviously I had to know what some of her go-to songs were:
1. What is your favorite song right now?
I love this entire album, and Tootard is a band I adore. Some songs on this album are about the small joys of nature and living in a rural mountain town (at least in my interpretation), which reminds me of my childhood and where I’m from in Lebanon. Listen to the words, and I dare you not to smile!
2. What’s your go-to song for all your feels?
“Shim el Yasmine” by Mashrou Leila
This was in Mashrou Leila’s earliest album, and I put it on when I just wanna feel all the feelings. It’s a great break-up song, and although I’m in a beautiful, happy relationship now, I still listen to it sometimes. (Especially around that time of the month, haha)
3. Name a song that reminds you of home.
One time in high school, my few best friends of mine (some besties today!) sang this song on stage for a ‘Fairouz night’. I cannot sing, so I was one of the MCs of the show. This is one of my favorite Farouz songs of all time, and I always put it on when I’m homesick.
4. Name a song you know all the words to.
I feel like everything I memorized in the 90s - from songs to phone numbers - are the only things my brain can continue to retain. Thanks to social media, I can barely recite my own phone number these days. Anyway, all that to say that all the songs I loved in the 90s and sang with my older sister are the ones I know by heart. And this song is definitely one of those.
5. Name a song that gets you really hype and ready to go.
I started listening to Leikeli47 after watching HBO’s Insecure and becoming obsessed with the music in the show. This was my #1 song on Spotify for 2022. I don’t know all the right words for it, but I sure do pretend when I’m blasting it in the car. My favorite line is, “The only thing I need validated is my parking.” I mean, c’mon, great line.
Big shout out to Dana for joining and sharing her song selections! All of Dana’s songs will be included in this week’s playlist, so be sure to take a listen. Make sure you follow Dana on Twitter and Instagram and be sure to keep up with all of her work incredible work at Muck Media and Kerning Cultures!
What I’m Listening To
Full Playlist
🎧 Middle Eastern, North African, & Diaspora Flows 🎧
Yalla Yalla Habibi - KHALIFA OG featuring Clement Marfo
Hala2 Ma3le - Beatlalipos
Legit - Sabrina Bellaouel
Sheel Oyounak 3ani - Nancy Ajram
Calma - Djalil Palermo
Tmsa7 - Fodi
Elyom - Sara Moullablad
Ne3ref Ne3ish - Abo El Anwar
El Hob Elly Kan - Mayada El Hennawy
Samra - Omar Offendum & Thanks Joey
🎤 Latinx & Hispanic Vibes 🎤
WM (Wifey Material) - Immasoul
Soy Cubana - Son Damas
Chanel - Becky G featuring Peso Pluma
MÁS ALLÁ - Myke Towers
No Se Puede Decir Adíos - Yahritza Y Su Esencia
ALGARETE - Natti Natasha
El Merengue - Manuel Turizo & Marshmello
Coco Chanel - Eladio Carrion featuring Bad Bunny
La Single - Ozuna featuring Juanka and Brray
Chapón - Jenn Morel
🎼 Other Good Music 🎼
Kintsugi - Lana Del Rey
Company Pt. 3 - Don Toliver
Virgo - Meshell Ndegeocello featuring Brandee Younger and Julius Rodriguez
UNAVAILABLE - Davido featuring Musa Keys
The World - 50 Cent & DJ Whoo Kid featuring Governor
Softest Touch - Khalid
calm & patient - Jhené Aiko
Raised Different - DJ Drama featuring Nipsey Hussle, Young Jeezy, and Blxst
Celebrate - Popcaan featuring Black Sherif
Cruisin’ - AMAKA
What I’m Reading
🇱🇧 Lebanon 🇱🇧
The costs and challenges of having a baby in crisis-hit Lebanon - Océane Bourdenet, L’Orient Today
In addition to rising prices, the limited availability of maternity-related products is a challenge for new mothers in Lebanon.
Lebanon fumes as another woman murdered by husband - Beatrice Farhat, Al-Monitor
The murder of a 26-year-old woman by her husband in the Choueifat area southeast of Beirut over the weekend sent shockwaves across the country and revived calls to end the rampant violence against women in Lebanon.
After timezone fiasco, Lebanese ask for real change - Mia Alberti, Al Jazeera
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Lebanese say they want real action from their government to solve the country’s crises, but don’t expect it.
The trees of Lebanon: Victims of the country’s energy crisis - Antonio Pita, El Pais
Energy poverty across the country is driving deforestation. Hundreds of oak, pine, fir and juniper trees — some of them centuries old — have been illegally cut down.
How Lebanon is replacing the collapsing lira with the dollar - Hanna Davis, Middle East Eye
US currency replaces lira in shops, as Lebanese struggle to keep up with free-falling currency.
🌍 Middle East, North Africa, & Diaspora 🌎
Amnesty: West’s ‘double standards’ fuel Mideast repression - Kareem Chehayeb, Associated Press
Amnesty International on Tuesday decried what it said were double standards by Western countries that have rallied behind a “robust response” to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but remain “lukewarm” on issues of human rights violations in the Middle East.
Searching for my roots in an Algerian cemetery - Maher Mezahi, BBC News
Maher Mezahi writes about what looking for the branches of his family tree has taught him.
Exorbitant prices and an unregulated black market: Getting medicine in Jordan - Mahmoud Al Sharaan, Raseef22
Patients continue to search for medication for their illnesses, which they will not be able to obtain at reasonable prices in the absence of a health insurance network that governments have spoken about over the past years, while drug brokers continue to reap more profits at the expense of patients' health.
Opportunities for Sudanese women dry up amid debilitating drought conditions - Austin Bodetti, The New Arab
Sudanese women in rural areas are bearing the brunt of a climate that is only worsening. With rising temperatures compounded by drought, a raft of UN initiatives has stepped in to mitigate these conditions and empower the marginalised demographic.
Analysts say Palestinians will pay the price for Israeli ‘democracy’ - Yumna Patel, Mondoweiss
Benjamin Netanyahu temporarily halted reforms he sought to make to Israel's judicial system, but critics say Palestinians will pay the ultimate price as the far-right continues to consolidate power.
🎶 Music, Arts, & Culture 🎶
Bad Bunny's Next Move - Mariah Espada and Andrew R. Chow, TIME
Bad Bunny wants to be the biggest artist in the world—and he is.
Is Lana Del Rey Really a Pop Star? - Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone
Or is she a brilliant, alt-leaning singer-songwriter disguised as one?
Zeyne, the Jordanian-Palestinian Pop Powerhouse - Aasiyah Faryal, SceneNoise
SceneNoise contributor Aasiyah Faryal unpacks the work of Jordanian-Palestinian musician, Zeyne, and the continuous pursuit of artistic growth.
As government threatens TikTok shutdown, the music industry holds its breath - Kenan Draughorne, Los Angeles Times
Artists from Doja Cat to Lizzy McAlpine to Ice Spice, to name but a few, have enjoyed meteoric rises thanks in part to the platform, connecting with fans through humor, authenticity or both. In the United States, however, TikTok faces an uncertain future.
Songwriting at the Dawn of AI: When Machines Can Write, Who Is the Artist? - Matthew Ismael Ruiz, Pitchfork
The U.S. Copyright Office recently issued new guidelines regarding works created with artificial intelligence tools. What does that mean for songwriters and artists?
📚 Other Reads 📚
Maybe our children will do better than adults at curbing gun violence - Courtney Schultz, The Tennessean
“Students who organized 2018 protests were following the advice that I am giving my students now: use your voice, speak your truth, make people listen.”Dumb phones are on the rise in the U.S. as Gen Z looks to limit screen time - Liam Mays, CNBC
Dumb phones may be falling out of fashion on a global scale, but it’s a different story in the U.S.
The radicals’ rifle - Hannah Allam, The Washington Post
Far-right groups have used the AR-15 for years to intimidate political opponents. Now leftist groups are turning to the same weapon.
D.C.'s Shoe? An oral history of the District's obsession with New Balance sneakers - Nayion Perkins, WAMU 88.5
“D.C. native and sneaker enthusiast Jacob Garibay is the mind behind DC's Shoe: The Origin of New Balance in Washington DC. In the 11-minute film, Garibay talks with several D.C. natives across generations who have a distinct connection to the brand and history of the shoe.”
The Twins Who Went From “Best-Kept Secrets” to Likely NBA Lottery Picks - Mirin Fader, The Ringer
Amen and Ausar Thompson were relatively unknown high schoolers who blossomed into star two-way prospects with the fledgling Overtime Elite. Now, the pair are poised to be much more than consolation prizes for whichever teams miss out on Victor Wembanyama in June’s NBA draft.