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Latest — Sep 18, 2026

The Good News About Hard Times

My Mum believed in calling hard stuff what it was. Name the unwelcome guest at the table, she’d insist. Your energy is finite, don’t waste any pretending what’s happening isn’t happening. "The weight of these sad times we must obey, speak what we feel, not

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A Love Note for the Tired + Overwhelmed

If you feel like this moment is taking more than it’s giving you. If you feel like you can only give slivers of yourself to all that life is asking. Remember, even the moon is only full once a month. And at a sliver of its full self, it

The First Question to Ask When Making Good Change

Hello Wonderful Reader! I’ve been heads down on a fun democracy project this week (more details to come later!), so I tracked down this favorite from the back catalog. I am wishing you all possible goodness as you step into the weekend, Caitie You can learn a lot about

The Election We Aren’t Talking About, and Could Easily Sway

Now for three things we likely didn’t learn in high school. And hold onto your hats and pearls, because you’re about to get (civically) blown away! First: State legislatures are the hottest legislative thing around. They calls the shots on redistricting, data center regulation, how millionaires and billionaires

A Political Secret, and How You Can Use it to Your Advantage

Most bills in Congress live short, unremarkable lives. At the time of this writing, 18,470 bills have been introduced this Congress, and 2% have become law. You’re more likely to find a four-leaf clover in Washington, D.C. than a bill that’s passed. Congress, in its

What Can Change a Politician’s Mind

Hello Wonderful Reader! Happy Sept 1 to you! E. B. White says you’re supposed to say “Rabbit, Rabbit” on the last day of the month and “Bunny, Bunny” on the first day for good luck. So a big, hearty “Bunny, Bunny” to you! May all possible luck be yours.

Bettering Our Democracy in Less Than a Minute

I once had a client who changed it all for me. Some years ago, she was winding down her time at a job and making the requisite calls to notify bigwigs and stakeholders. A few calls were plain yogurt pro forma, she said. But a bunch of calls...she paused,

How to Predict the Future!

And now for a great cocktail party trick to impress your friends. As an aside, I was sure there was an expression that had the phrase “impress your friends” in it. So I turned to the internet, typed in “impress your friends expression,” and here’s what came up: To

A Simple Practice for When the World’s Got You Down

Wifi worked all day. Shower drain didn’t clog. Keys were just where I thought I’d left them. Library had the book I wanted. I’ve been thinking of all the stuff that is overlooked, that easily falls into the category of unremarkable. And yet stuff going right does

The (Underrated) Key that Gets Politicians to Yes

It’s been said that the fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. And it’s true that chocolate chip zucchini bread has delivered me from many a grumpy mood. For politicians, though, the fastest way to their heart is often through their district. What, pray tell,