We’re Finding Our Mojo

We can build something better by showing up now. Here’s what happened when people demanded change this week.

Hola!

Thank you to everyone who responded to last week’s newsletter with kind messages and support. It meant the world to know that I’m not alone, and that none of us has to be strong and brave all the time.

There’s power in being vulnerable and honest about how much this moment hurts. And there’s comfort in knowing that when one of us needs to pause and recover, others step in to carry the load.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

This week brought a little more energy, and with it, a chance to support others who were having a harder time. That’s what being in community looks like. It’s how we keep going. It’s how we get through these next 3.5 years: not by doing it all alone, but by taking turns, offering help, and building each other back up.

On Thursday, historian Heather Cox Richardson said something that stuck with me, and maybe it’ll stick with you, too. Watch this, starting at 31:25 until 32:10.

Now let’s talk about what else gave me hope this week, because yes, good things are still happening:

Another court win against Trump’s deportation machine

The Trump administration tried to overturn a judge’s order releasing Mahmoud Khalil from immigration detention, but a federal appeals court said no. The ruling blocks his deportation and keeps him free.

Teens nationwide can now access banned books, thanks to Long Beach

In a beautiful act of resistance, the Long Beach Public Library will soon offer free digital library cards to teens across the U.S. so they can access the full e-book collection, including titles banned in other states.

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Illinois takes new steps to prevent gun violence

Governor JB Pritzker just signed two new gun safety bills into law. The Safe Gun Storage Act requires secure firearm storage to keep kids and vulnerable individuals safe, and another bill expands protections to help prevent self-harm and harm to others.

Roy Cooper is running for Senate and starts strong

North Carolina’s former governor is jumping into the race for U.S. Senate, and his launch made waves. He raised $3.4 million in just 24 hours—95% of it in grassroots donations. A new Emerson College poll shows him leading his Republican opponent, 47% to 41%.

We’re not powerless

Back to that Heather Cox Richardson clip: people are furious with what this administration is doing.

Simon Rosenberg said this, and I agree with him:

“I want to be clear - we are not where we want to be. Trump continues to do extraordinary harm to the country and his autocratic ambitious continue to grow; and we have work to do to strengthen our brand and lay out an agenda for what we will do when we are back in power. But we enter this August break with Trump flailing and us beginning to find our mojo.”

We may not be where we want to be yet, but we’re not standing still.

Every court decision, every banned book made accessible, every campaign fueled by small-dollar donations… these are signs that people are still fighting, still organizing, still believing.

And that includes us.

Let’s keep showing up. For each other. For what’s right. For the future we’re building. Together.

Warmly,