Sesame Street Is Not Going Anywhere.
And neither are the people fighting back in courtrooms and communities.
Last week, I attended a training about how to engage people in activism through art, and something they said really stuck with me. They told us to not just think about what we want people to know and do, but how we want them to feel.
If you’ve been here a while, you’ve probably heard me say I like to let thoughts percolate. I need time to sit with things, to figure out not just what I think or feel, but also how that information might land with you. I want to be thoughtful about how I share, because I know the weight the news can carry.
That’s why every Saturday, I sit in my piano teacher’s living room and read through everything I’ve bookmarked during the week. And even when the news feels overwhelming, I write this newsletter to show you that there are plenty of stories that remind us we’re not powerless. That there is a path forward. So today, like every week, I’m sharing some of those stories with you.
📻 Public media is fighting back; we can’t let them fight alone.
NPR and three Colorado public radio stations are suing the Trump administration for trying to cut off their funding. The lawsuit doesn’t dance around it: they’re calling this an attack on the First Amendment. PBS filed a separate lawsuit for the same reason.
And in the middle of all this? Sesame Street announced a huge new streaming deal with Netflix. Not to leave PBS behind, but to stay on PBS and expand its reach.
So if you grew up on Sesame Street, if you’ve ever found clarity or comfort through public broadcasting, now’s a good time to speak up for it. Share their stories. Donate if you can. Help make sure these institutions survive not just for nostalgia, but because they matter.
🔁 DOGE is in retreat because we didn’t quit.
A federal judge just ruled that 14 states can move forward with their lawsuit against Elon Musk and DOGE, the shadow government agency he’s been running without accountability. The judge said this might be flat-out unconstitutional.
And according to legal experts like Robert Hubbell, the writing is on the wall. Most of DOGE’s budget cuts have either failed or been overturned. Their so-called “savings” don’t hold up, especially when a single IRS cut could cost taxpayers twice what DOGE claimed to save.
This didn’t happen because someone in power had a change of heart. It happened because people didn’t give up.
⚖️ Trump lost 96% of his federal court cases in May.
Not a typo. Ninety-six percent.
One of those losses came last week, when a judge struck down Trump’s executive order targeting the WilmerHale law firm, a blatant attempt to punish lawyers he didn’t like. The court called it what it was: a political stunt meant to intimidate.
We can’t ignore how important this is. The courts are still a place where facts matter and overreach gets called out, at least for now. But that’s only true because people keep showing up, documenting the damage, and fighting it in every legal way possible.
❌ Oregon banned child marriage.
Oregon passed a bipartisan law banning child marriage, with no exceptions. But in 35 states, it’s still legal to marry a minor, sometimes with just one parent’s signature.
If that sounds unbelievable, you’re not alone. I wrote a whole post about this yesterday, and I hope you’ll take a minute to read it and share it:
Kids Are Still Getting Married in 35 States. Seriously.
Most people are shocked to hear this, but yes, child marriage is still legal in most of the U.S.
Ending child marriage isn’t just a win on paper; it’s a real shift toward protecting young people. The more people know this is happening, the more pressure we can put on other states to follow.
🏳️🌈 Utah Republicans paid for a study on gender-affirming care, and it backfired.
In 2023, Utah passed a law banning gender-affirming care for minors, saying it was dangerous. But now the state’s own study says otherwise: it found that gender-affirming care reduces suicide risk and improves mental health for trans youth.
The study doesn’t minimize the risks. But it also makes it clear that access to care saves lives. Full stop.
❌ 👑 This June 14, it’s about us.
On June 14, people across the country are hitting the streets for No Kings Day, a coordinated day of protest to call out corruption, authoritarianism, and the creeping cult of personality around Trump.
Check out NoKings.org for more information and ways to participate.
And guess what else is happening that same day? Trump is throwing himself a big, flashy birthday parade in D.C.
But here’s the cherry on top: also on June 14, in Chicago, tens of thousands of people will gather for a mass honoring Pope Leo XIV. He’s not attending in person, but his video message to “the young people of the world” will debut during the event.
That timing? Chef’s kiss. Whether it was planned or not, it’s a perfect reminder that tRmp doesn’t own the spotlight, especially when people all over the country are stepping up to take it back.
If you ever feel like the good news is hard to find, you’re not imagining it. The news cycle tends to amplify fear, chaos, and worst-case scenarios, but that’s NOT the whole story.
That’s why I write The Bright Side every week. Not to pretend everything is fine, but to remind us that people are still showing up, fighting back, and making real progress, sometimes in small ways, sometimes in huge ones.
If you missed last week’s edition, here you go. It will give you even more reasons to smile:
Yes, Things are a Mess. But Also… Look at This
Let’s be honest: this week was a lot. My heart broke several times with everything going on, and I don’t think I’ve even processed all of my feelings. Even my therapist reached out to me on Thursday because she had seen a lot of the headlines and knew I was going to be struggling more than usual.
And if this week’s post brought you a little hope, I hope you’ll share it with someone else who needs that too. You never know who might need a reminder that we’re not alone, and we’re not powerless.
We’re in this together. Always.
Con cariño,
I so wish Pope Leo was going to be in attendance, I'd have my sign!