We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out – and we have only just begun. ~Neil deGrasse Tyson
Yesterday, in backyards from Texas to Maine, school kids and grandparents alike grabbed eclipse glasses and watched in awe as the light dimmed. It was a rare, strange, collective, experience.
As luck would have it, our city was in the path of the solar eclipse for the second time in seven years. So, even though we didn’t get “full” totality (it was still 99%) my son and I spent the morning watching NASA’s livestream and learning all about eclipses and plasma and solar weather.
And then we donned our eclipse glasses, sat on the front porch, and experienced the dimming of the lights. The animals quieted. The crickets emerged, along with the streetlights. The sky went from robin’s-egg blue … to slate … to denim …
And then, on the other side, the light reemerged.
After “the show” was over, my son – now a lanky 11 years old – fell asleep on my lap (hopefully not for the last time). So I was in that now no-longer-familiar nap jail that parents sometimes find ourselves in. When a movement this way or that could end the magical peace, you freeze and try to memorize the moment. They’re so fleeting.
And to the rhythm of his breathing (the one thing that hasn’t changed in 7 years) I found myself transported back to the last eclipse in 2017.
It was a sticky August St. Louis day; I had food poisoning. My son was at the age where life revolves around naptime and goldfish crackers.
Donald Trump was president – it had not yet been a year. And the world felt topsy-turvey, like a funhouse mirror. It was the wild west of activism, with pop-up groups and huddles and new websites and energy and an urgency bordering on panic that felt overwhelming at times.
And in the middle of all of this chaos, there was this eclipse. This dark but glorious event that cast its shadow across the whole United States spliced the country in two, carving it from coast to coast – from Oregon to South Carolina.
It felt significant in more than mere astronomical ways.
It was in that moment – in the days after the eclipse – that I met Jonathan Zucker, who had been the first COO and second CEO of ActBlue. Jonathan has spent his entire career at the intersection of campaign finance and law and technology. We met because I had started this action list – this very newsletter you’re reading – and we collaborated so well on an article that it seemed we should maybe do more work together.
So while he was in town for the eclipse, we met up at a quirky St. Louis coffee shop that boasted broad farm tables and a backyard with chickens.
I still remember where we sat.
And I remember it feeling weighty. Significant. Like a beginning, but … somehow more than that.
In some ways, it felt like we were answering a question that hadn’t been asked.
Jonathan and I have been working together ever since, iterating and changing and growing and evolving – finding the niches and filling the gaps that we see needing to be filled. Now called Every State Blue, we’re creating communities of Democrats that support downballot nominees in red states. The underdogs.
It’s catching on. Now we’re in Missouri, and Ohio, and Texas, and Tennessee – with our model getting shoutouts from national publications, Democratic influencers, and activist organizations. I have to pinch myself sometimes that some of my dearest friends and colleagues have hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, podcasts, and appearances on MSNBC.
My phone is filled with text messages with them about how what we are doing together can change the world.
It’s … surreal.
And it all started in a chicken-themed coffee shop in the days after the 2017 eclipse.
Eventually, yesterday, my son started to stir, and my thoughts drifted from the eclipse of 2017 to the events of today. It feels like full circle – and a jumping off point.
In some ways we’re back at the beginning, fighting the same battle. After all, Donald Trump will once again be on the ballot.
But there’s a big difference this time. With seven years of experience and training, we’re a far more formidable and organized force. We’ve developed strength, and stamina, and strategy. We’re a far tougher opponent this time than we were in 2017, even if we are a bit battle-worn.
It’s inspiring to look at this progress that we’ve made, bookended as it is between two rare astrological events. It makes me excited about what is to come – about what could come, if only we have the will and the dedication to make it our jumping off point.
Famous astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson once said We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out – and we have only just begun.
Indeed, friend.
Let’s get to work.
Small Deeds To Do for the Week of April 9, 2024
Peter Marshall once said “Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.” So here are four simple “small deeds to do” (one thing to read, a few events to attend, and a call to make to your elected official). This is the new format I’ll be using going forward – let me know what you think!
Something Small to Read: I finally joined substack!
Well, I did it friends – I took the plunge and finally joined Substack! You can find me at this link. https://michelehornish.substack.com/subscribe
Please do share with your friends and network? It would be lovely to see you there, and to be able to have more back-and-forth conversations, which Substack makes easy. So let’s make a community of it, yes?
As always, the newsletter will remain free. But if you do wish to support my work, you can become a paid subscriber very easily on Substack. Please accept my thanks in advance (though you’ll receive it on the back end as well), and know that it is deeply, deeply appreciated. A note that these posts will also be available via audio on Substack, so check that out!
Something Small to Read, Part Two: Independent reporter Martin Kuz’s Substack, Reporting on Ukraine, is worth reading always – but in the wake of the Israeli airstrikes that killed seven World Central Kitchen workers last week, he details what WCK has meant to the people there. It’s a beautiful piece. Please read and share. A mission of courageous kindness
World Central Kitchen has kept Ukrainians alive in a literal and emotional sense
A Small Call to Make: The Republican party’s “Putin Wing,” as Liz Cheney aptly puts it, has delayed critical aid to Ukraine for six months. I cannot overstate the importance of this issue, yet it continues to get pushed to the side as yesterday’s news. I’m a persistent person, and I think you are as well. So today, please make a brief call to your congresscritter (your House Representative, which you can find here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative)
It’s a simple script: Hi, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent at [zip code, or town, or address]. I’m calling because aid to Ukraine has been delayed for six months, and I’m very concerned that this delay is only serving the interests of Vladimir Putin. Reports tell us that if an aid package for Ukraine were brought to the floor, it would pass. So what is the Congress(wo)man doing right now to get the aid to Ukraine up for a vote?
A Small Event (Or Two) to Attend
Wednesday: On Wednesday, April 10 at 7:00 PM ET, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY) and award-winning journalist Katie Couric are joining BigTent to discuss the future of American democracy, insights from Cheney’s best seller, Oath and Honor, the dynamics within the Republican Party, perspectives on Trump and the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and previously undisclosed stories from Cheney’s time in Congress. Additionally, they will delve into ways we can safeguard American democracy.
BigTentUSA is a moderate, inclusive, and collaborative community empowering citizens to take action to protect democracy, defend women’s rights, and protect our children. Join our free educational series of events and our calls to action detailed and updated regularly on our website.
Please use this link to register: A Conversation with Liz Cheney and Katie Couric: Oath and Honor – BigTent USA
Also Wednesday: Powering Progress’ Truth Brigade Big Truths: Deep Dive into AI and Social Media this Wednesday, April 10 at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT. What in the world is happening in the social media world, and how will AI impact the spread of lies in 2024? Most importantly, what can grassroots volunteers do to make a real difference in an unregulated social scene? Join the Indivisible Civics Truth Brigade with special guest Tim Chambers of Dewey Square Group/Dewey Digital to learn about identifying and countering online disinformation.
Well, friend – there you go again, making the world a better place. Thanks for showing up! I’ll see you back here in a few days’ time.
Onward, upward, and in solidarity~
Michele
Small Deeds Done 