Yes, Things are a Mess. But Also… Look at This

9 stories that reminded me this week isn’t just about what’s broken

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.

But that’s why this Sunday newsletter is so important. On those weeks when you’ve felt like you just want to hide your head in the sand, you’ll know there’s one thing you can read that will give you a glimpse of hope, and the endorphin boost you need to say “how can I help? What else can I do?”.

We all can contribute in different ways. This week, in Say Yes to This Stress, I wrote about how we sometimes think there is only one way to oppose this regime or push back against everything going on.

Here are a few bright spots I found this week. I hope they will do the same for you.

This first story is something I forgot to include in the newsletter last week!!

🔵 A Democrat becomes the first elected Black mayor of Omaha

In a big win for progress and representation, Omaha just elected its first Black mayor, and he’s a Democrat.

John Ewing Jr., a longtime public servant, won with 56% of the vote, flipping leadership in a city that hadn’t elected a Democratic mayor in over a decade. His opponent, a Republican incumbent, ran anti-trans ads during the campaign. Ewing stayed focused on community and public service, and voters responded.

In a red state, in a heated race, a message came through loud and clear: progress is possible, and people are ready for something new.

Click here to read more from NPR

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🌟 A judge paused Trump’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to gut the Department of Education by laying off more than 1,300 employees in one sweeping move.

The judge ruled that the executive branch can’t just try to dismantle an entire federal agency without Congress because, yes, checks and balances still exist. The layoffs would’ve disrupted vital work like enforcing civil rights protections and distributing student aid, but now the department has to reinstate the workers while the legal battle continues. For education advocates and anyone who believes public education should be protected, not sabotaged, it’s a much-needed win.

Click here to read the full story from CNN

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📚 The Supreme Court stopped Oklahoma from opening a taxpayer-funded religious school.

This didn’t make headlines everywhere, but it should have.

The Supreme Court just stopped Oklahoma from opening the first taxpayer-funded religious charter school in the country.

The justices didn’t agree on the case, so the lower court’s ruling stayed in place, and that ruling said no. No to public dollars funding religious education. No to breaking down the wall between church and state.

It’s not a sweeping national decision (yet), but it’s still a big deal and a relief for people fighting to keep public schools truly public.

Click here to read the full story from ABC News

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💪🏼 More Americans support unions than big corporations, by the biggest margin in 60 years.

A new report shows public opinion has swung hard in favor of workers, with support for unions soaring while trust in big business has dropped.

People are tired of being squeezed while CEOs hoard the profits. This trend could help push for stronger labor protections and better wages across the board.

Click here to read more from AXIOS

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❤️ A Georgia college student who was wrongly detained by ICE is back home with her family.

Ximena Arias-Cristobal - Credit: GoFundMe

After being arrested because police mistook her truck for someone else’s, 19-year-old Ximena Arias-Cristobal was detained by ICE for two weeks.

But now she’s free. She was released on bond this week and reunited with her family. If you want to contribute to her GoFundMe, click here.

Click here to read more from ABC News

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🛍️ Target learned the hard way: people actually care about diversity.

Target reported disappointing earnings this week, and company leaders admitted that backlash over their changes to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts played a role.

They also pointed to economic uncertainty and shifting consumer habits. But here’s what stands out: customers are paying attention, not just to prices, but to values. When a company walks back its commitment to inclusion, people notice. And it turns out that kind of decision can cost you more than just good press.

Click here to read more from CNBC

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🎙️ The hosts of The View didn’t back down.

After Disney executives reportedly asked the hosts of The View to tone down their criticism of Donald Trump, the co-hosts didn’t back down.

They kept speaking up, kept calling things out, and their audience kept showing up. The show’s ratings are still strong, a reminder that telling the truth doesn’t drive people away. If anything, it builds trust.

Click here to read more from The Daily Beast

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⚖️ The Lawyers Who Walked Away

Some of the top lawyers in the country just walked away from one of the most powerful law firms to start their own, and the timing says a lot.

Karen Dunn, Jeannie Rhee, and two other partners left Paul Weiss just months after the firm made a deal with Trump to avoid new restrictions that would’ve limited their work. The firm faced backlash for it, and now these lawyers are choosing a different path.

Their decision speaks volumes. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is walk away.

Click here to read more from The New York Times

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🗳️ Philly Voters Just Sent a Message

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner just won his primary election in a landslide, despite years of attacks from Republican lawmakers, from a law that tried to weaken his authority, and even from Elon Musk, who reportedly threatened to go after him for opposing Trump’s policies.

But none of that stopped Philly voters. Krasner won big, especially in Black neighborhoods and progressive parts of the city, and a ballot measure to increase jail oversight also passed in every ward.

At a time when the right is trying hard to roll back justice reform, this win is a big deal and a reminder that when communities organize, they can block even the richest and loudest voices.

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I know the weight of this week hasn’t magically lifted, but I hope these stories helped you feel even just a little more grounded, a little more hopeful, and a little more ready to keep going.

Because look at what’s possible: voters showing up in red states, communities standing up to billionaires, everyday people speaking out and being heard.

We don’t have to do it all. But we do have to keep showing up: for each other, for what’s right, for the future we’re building together.

And in case you missed them, here are a few other pieces I shared this week.

And if you’re still in the mood for more hope, last week’s Bright Side is still fresh and full of good news, too.

Thanks for being here. Thanks for caring.

If you made it all the way to this part, please comment below with YOUR FAVORITE EMOJI! Mine varies, but I usually love this one: 💃🏻

And if this gave you a little boost, forward it to someone else who could use it, too.