20 Comments
User's avatar
K S's avatar

It's so clear you're making a difference. I hope your reach continues to grow.

Expand full comment
Everest's avatar

“This isn’t the West Wing (though I so wish it were)” bffr 😭😭😭 all I want is President Bartlett why is that so much to ask???

Also “be kind to yourself and others” absolutely ❤️ thank you for always providing a balanced, calm take in the middle of the storm

Expand full comment
Jess W's avatar

The West Wing is my ultimate comfort show

Expand full comment
JDLS's avatar

I wish I was more upset by this event. My dislike of the intended victim, my exhaustion of the rhetoric, the tiring polarization and the never ending news cycle has changed me in ways I never anticipated. I feel numb. It’s just all too much, all the time.

Gun violence of any kind seems very par for the course for America. I sincerely hope people can gather their hope and good sense, and mobilize to positive action. 🙏

Expand full comment
Emily's avatar

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this! I doom-scrolled a lot more than I should have this past weekend, and then dropping my puppy off for his neuter this morning was apparently the potent combo of anxiety + free time that I needed to do a full-on doom spiral. But I also needed the pragmatic nudge that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and stressing out on the internet accomplishes nothing except to waste my own limited energy and time.

Expand full comment
Amber's avatar

Reading your thoughts in long form is so refreshing. It's obvious that we can't all be experts in everything and having your thoughts on politics and current events in this way is helpful and needed.

Expand full comment
Lea's avatar

Appreciate the hopeful realist view you remind me to have.

Expand full comment
MARY ANNE's avatar

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I felt myself spiraling deeply downward on Monday when the Cannon announcement came out. I knew then I needed to change course. I’m off IG, Twitter (yup, refuse to call it by that letter) and FB for now. I turned off notifications for the TOO MANY news sites I subscribe to. I made a donation to OATH, and signed up with PA Dems to knock on doors this Sunday with my 18-year-old daughter who is voting for the first time. AND your book arrived today. 🙏🙏❤️

Expand full comment
Maddie's avatar

Thank you. You’ve so eloquently expressed the word jumble that’s been in my brain since Saturday.

Expand full comment
Jen's avatar

Marathon not a sprint. Thank you for this important reminder.

Expand full comment
AHTDE's avatar

Just keep in mind a few things about this one: Trump was suddenly despised by democrats, celebs, and media personalities the second he ran for office. Why? When he won in 2016, they all publicly vowed “we will do anything to be rid of him? Why? Celebs cursed him, ridiculed and scorned him violently. Madonna spoke of blowing up the White House. Kathy Griffin dangled an effigy of his offed head. Why? Legal attempts to ruin him failed. Why? They have been lying and cheating and censoring to further their cries of …dictator! …followed by insurrectionists!, The violent rhetoric has been spewed by many democrats for the last eight years. And yes, there has been actual evidence of voter fraud bc after all the recounting Biden could not have had the votes that were tallied in several states. But you would not hear this on the main news outlets bc they have taken to censoring to protect this group of elite, career politicians. Recently they illegally attempted to arrest and convict Trump of false charges. They fell apart. Why? Then this shooting. Why? Because he is NOT an insider, career baked politician. He is not in on their deals. They cannot buy him so he is their biggest threat. That is why they hated him so suddenly and duped masses to hate him as well. Why? Because he will expose all their wrongdoing. Why else would anyone be hated so much? He’s no angel but he’s also alot butter than most of those in DC right now. If you seriously research this, you will see. Ask why? more often.

Expand full comment
Sharon Myers's avatar

Well said!! 👏👏👏

Expand full comment
Shawnna OakParkVeggie's avatar

Yep. “Unfollow” is so helpful!

Expand full comment
Anna Crollman's avatar

You are bringing us calm in the storm!!!

Expand full comment
Marla Lynum's avatar

Wow. Thank you so much for being level headed and helping me stay level headed.

Expand full comment
Sharon Stanton's avatar

Thank you for this clearheaded take. Your book arrived on my doorstep Saturday. Timing could not have been better.

Expand full comment
Kaitlyn Vertullo-Sands's avatar

My biggest fear is violence from his supporters. Surviving an assassination attempt doesn’t change who Trump is and it’s not going to make people vote for him who weren’t already.

Expand full comment
Robin Lloyd's avatar

Agreed re: further violence. I am curious as to how long this lower temperature posture holds. It seems like leaders in both parties are delivering that message, and then Trump picks Vance as his VP which is doubling down on extremism. A lot can happen between now and November - I just hope it's a lot in terms of Dems getting organized and not anything worse.

Expand full comment
Kaitlyn Vertullo-Sands's avatar

I don’t think very long. Trump will go back to being Trump.

Expand full comment