Welcome to the Summer 2026 issue of the new Pageant Magazine, America’s Digest of Character and Culture.

Summer of Sycophants
I read a great article this past week by Adam Kirsch about how LLMs are not so much changing the way we write, but how they write and put together text. The full text of the article can be found here (WHY AI IS INCORRIGIBLY DIDACTIC) and I highly recommend it. While not the main body of the article, the sycophantic way that LLMs, chatbots, synthetic agents interact with us, is very much a sign of our times.

If one looks at social media, the whole idea of Likes and Hearts isn’t far removed from that same idea of sycophancy. An echo chamber of approval (or disapproval depending on the platform) telling you that your ideas, your outfits, your movie preferences, your political ideology are valid… or not. When did we as a culture become so dependent on the approval of others to enjoy our meal, a book or how to think? Our cover article this issue features Sue Clowes. Her insight into the era of the 1980s in particular is exquisite. And those people, many (including Sue herself) becoming cultural icons (and dare I say many are still beloved), would be shocked at how shallow the approval pool has become.

But I suspect many would celebrate this time of new DIY ethics and the ability to reach audiences undreamed of in the 1980s. Making your own way, in some senses, has never been easier or more rewarding. GRAMMY®-nominated artist, Glenda Benevides for example, shares her thoughts on teamwork and is releasing a brand new song this summer. While she works with a team of professionals, she isn’t supported by a big record label or trust fund. She works the DIY process relentlessly. Her way, without needing anyone’s approval. To quote from Sue Clowes feature, “There was no Instagram to check out how many ‘likes’ you got before stepping out. You merely opened the front door and sashayed onto the street. Nobody cared what people thought. And if society at large shouted insults, you stuck two fingers up, yelled “wankers” at the top of your voice …then ran as fast as you could.” That’s the DIY ethic that Glenda and many other artists and creative people embody to this day. So can you. Go on, sashay out onto the street with your bad self…

The Summer issue of Pageant also shines a light on several authors and their books. After all, what’s summertime for if now to devour a few good books? Nearly twenty authors have submitted articles or interviews for this issue. There’s a wide gamut of new reads scattered across this issue to inspire your summer reading.

And of course, a big happy birthday to the United States of America. This country is still a great country, no matter how badly that a small screaming minority want you think otherwise. Why do I know this, because we are a country of real people that work for a living, create art, make things and generally want to lift up our fellow human. Don’t be fooled by a few loud demagogues, charlatans, and fear mongers.

Two hundred and fifty years has proven that our differences are not our divisions, they are our depth. We are, and have always been, a symphony, not a solo. The American experiment didn’t survive 250 years because we always agreed. It survived because, when the ground shook, when shit hit the fan, we held onto each other. A quarter-millennium of history shows us an undeniable truth, our independence was won together, but our interdependence is how we thrive. Together we are better, that has always been true and I expect it will remain so. I toast all the people who still live by the following quotes:

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

and

“By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.” — John Dickinson, 1768 (The Liberty Song)

We want to feature remarkable people, compelling stories, thoughtful essays, photography, music, literature, and the many creative expressions that make life richer. We’re gonna try some things that nail that and we’ll likely swing and miss a few, too. That’s all part of a realistic process of growth and adaptation. Our goal is that Pageant remains committed to something timeless: the pleasure of reading and discovery.

In every era, culture is shaped by those who care enough to explore it, celebrate it, and contribute to it.

We invite you to do exactly that. Welcome to the Summer 2026 Pageant Magazine.

Contributors in this issue: Sue Clowes, Glenda Benevides, Mark Everglade, Jennifer Lieberman, Simone Bell, Bianca Rose, Alan R Warren, Gene Williams, Doug Lawrence, Sassy Reads, Anderson Routh, Tricia Copeland, Kim Lengling, S.E. Tschritter, S.A. Schneider, Tara Hodgson, A-M Mawhiney, JM Shaw, Nicole Fronek, T.K. Bush, Edwina Perkins, Maria Gallucci and DC Gomez.