I think this article fits in here. I don't usually read at The New Republic much but found this opener intriguing (last day of Womens History Month):

"Lotte Scharfman (1928–1970) was a Jewish refugee from Nazi-occupied Austria who became president of the Massachusetts chapter of the League of Women Voters. Her cause was an obscure one: She wanted to reduce the size of Massachusetts’s bloated House of Representatives from 240 members to 160. The measure failed on its first vote in the House in 1970, for the obvious reason that no representative wanted to risk losing their own seat. But after several House members were voted out later that year for opposing the reform measure, it cleared the state legislature, and in 1974 it won overwhelming approval from Massachusetts voters."

Fighting Back: A Citizens Guide

https://newrepublic.com/article/193193/citizen-guide-trump-resistance-fighting-back

People who run for something in times like these will usually stand for something once elected. Kat seems like she would be that sort of politician. I just hope she can manage to lean in on issues like Israel in a very different way than Rep. Tlaib has.

Beto O’Rourke and Tim Walz had a great event in Fort Bend County Texas a few days ago as well.

I also think we should recognize younger people have a different take on "what's funny" than people my age do. Jon Stewart is no longer the epitome of cleverness and "snark" seems to turn them off completely. They came up in a much more chaotic, frightening world than we did - they've left 1990s and early aughts humor completely behind.

I frequently enjoy a dash of schadenfreude as a complement to hope, so am sharing some:

"Now that's how you do it! Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right party, was handed a four-year prison sentence and banned from holding public office for five years by a French court yesterday."

https://crooksandliars.com/2025/03/marine-le-pen-sentenced-prison-barred

I truly appreciate hopefulness wherever I find it, as it is as necessary as food and oxygen to me. Kudos for the focus on what's possible!

I saw an MSNBC interview of Abugahazaleh and she is very good on substance and style. Spending so much time making video posts in her previous positions as a journalist gives her a leg up on the incumbent and any potential challengers. She sketched out an outline of her campaign that I would says meets both the moment and the strategy necessary to at least be a serious contender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiIE2FBTZds&t=4s

The movement is picking up steam. I plan to attend the Hands Off protest and march on the Boston Common. Seems fitting to have one there.

I think if we start with "the status quo isn't working for a lot of people" without becoming defensive about it and protecting the Party instead of reform we'll be on the right track. The rest is tactics. But there needs to be a fearless and positive commitment to reforming each and every institution that failed, and that includes the Democratic party. That's how we get our groove back - we tell voters we're open to change and they should lead the agenda. Out of the ashes, and all that.

Absolutely. It's a perfect time for the much-needed revitalization of US liberalism. We need to stop excluding people and start bringing people in.

I'm going to a Hands Off gathering in Wauseon OH on the 5th. My group is focusing on the US Dept of Ed - a lot of mothers and grandmothers, but other people attending are doing Hands Off Social Security or Medicaid.