August slipped away into a moment in time.

I never really thought about a world without Dolly Parton in it. But here we are.

And for all the things people are remembering and will remember about her, I keep coming back to one thing: Dolly believed in people.

She also spent decades saying she wasn’t political. Republicans love that part. What they ignore is that many of the things Dolly believed in have become political only because Republicans decided to make them political.

Dolly believed people deserved kindness and dignity. She supported LGBTQ people. She wrote a song for “Transamerica,” a movie about a transgender woman, and received death threats because of it. She loved drag queens — once entering a Dolly Parton look-alike contest at a gay bar and lost.

She believed kids should have books. Her Imagination Library has given away more than 330 million of them.

Dolly supported COVID vaccines and donated $1 million to research that helped lead to the Moderna vaccine.

She cared about the environment, too. For 35 years, Dollywood partnered with the nonprofit American Eagle Foundation to protect bald eagles and other birds of prey.

None of those things should be political. Republicans made them political.

And kindness sure as hell shouldn’t be political. But somehow, here we are.

Be more like Dolly.

🍒

📍 Google Maps caves to Trump — again

Google Maps caved to Trump’s bogus executive order “renaming” Lake Ontario. Google caved when it came to Trump trying to “rename” the Gulf of Mexico, too. He’s floated the idea of “renaming” an ocean.

Meanwhile, MapQuest (yep, it’s still around) didn’t necessarily cave, but also decided to give users the opportunity to “rename” Lake Ontario whatever they wanted.

As of publishing this, Apple Maps has yet to cave to Trump, but it did eventually give in with Gulf of Mexico.

🚔 Georgia cop accused of using Flock cameras to track 2 other cops

A Georgia cop is accused of using Flock cameras to track two other cops — his ex-romantic partner and a friend, Wired reports.

Dustin Bozzo, who resigned in August as a patrolman for the Alpharetta Police Department, is under investigation for allegedly accessing Flock cameras more than 50 times to search the license place of his ex. Bozzo also is accused of accessing the system nearly 30 times to track a friend of his ex.

Wired said the relationship itself was a violation of city policy.

Bozzo’s alleged use of the system isn’t isolated. There are at least 45 instances where cops have been accused of misusing Flock systems to access data on current or former romantic partners.

🦈 Shark resurrgence keeps Cape Cod on alert

It seems Cape Cod’s hot real estate market isn’t just on land. A resurrgence of seals has also prompted an uptick in white sharks.

So much so that, as the New York Times reports, has “turned Cape Cod into one of the world’s top seasonal hot spots for great white sharks.”

The stretch of the Cape from the Outer Cape (which includes Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet and Eastham) to the “elbow” (Chatham) is now considered the “best place on Earth” to see sharks closest to shore.

Speaking of Chatham, shark seekers can take a private shark charter (where some cost more than $2,000) from there to observe the animals in their habitat.

But the increase also means fewer people are in the waters. But that doesn’t stop people from continuing to enjoy the beach: “I understand the fear,” Lisa DonDiego, told the Times. She and her family visit the Outer Cape each year. “And at the end of the day, I recognize that the ocean belongs to them. But I still want to come to Cape Cod.”

📺 ‘Kelly Clarkson Show’ demise brings end of era for daytime talk

Monday not only marks the final episode of Kelly Clarkson’s show, it is the end of an era for daytime talk shows.

While Clarkson has said she wanted to step away from the show for personal reasons (she wants to focus on raising her kids), the show’s end is is part of a broader effort by NBCUniversal to end its first-run syndicated television production division.

In addition to Clarkson’s show, NBCU will end “Access Hollywood,” “The Steve Wilkos Show” and two other programs.

When Clarkson’s show ends, it also brings an end to an era of daytime television that stretches back to Oprah Winfrey’s show. Before Clarkson, there was Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres.

You can watch Monday’s final episode in Pittsburgh on WTAE at 3 p.m., in Erie on WICU at 2 p.m. and in Youngstown on WKBN at 4 p.m.

briefly…

• 💉 The HPV vaccine isn’t just preventing cervical cancer, new research reveals (Gizmodo)

• 🏳️‍⚧️ Abdul El-Sayed brilliantly turns the table on Jesse Watters in debate over trans healthcare (Queerty)

• 🤖 Bill Gates: The turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical. (GatesNotes)

And, finally…

It’s been a bit since my last Substack newsletter — whoops.

My last one landed in your inbox June 14, and the weeks since have been a bit of a whirlwind.

June was especially busy. My American Cancer Society Relay For Life event happened, and I completed a fellowship program at work. The fellowship was rewarding, but the final stretch required a lot of time and energy. Add in a few other obligations, and the month seemed to disappear.

Then came July — and a much-needed week in Provincetown.

Provincetown, Cape Cod, is quickly becoming has become one of my absolute favorite places. I leave a piece of my heart there with every visit. I find it harder to leave and easier to imagine simply moving there. This latest trip was wonderful, and I’m already looking at a return over Labor Day weekend.

Amid all of that, I’ve also been toying with an idea: starting a podcast. (I can hear the groans.)

I’ve put together a plan, thought through the scope and developed a list of possible guests. The basic idea would be a weekly, 45-to-60-minute conversation with one newsmaker from Western Pennsylvania — people we already know and love, along with people doing remarkable work who deserve more attention.

I’d likely record several episodes at a time to make the schedule manageable. Still, I’m unsure how to begin, whether I want to make the commitment and whether the podcast would find an audience.

So, I’d genuinely welcome your feedback: Would you listen? Does the idea sound interesting? And in a world already filled with podcasts, is there room for one more?

Merry Christmas in July!

🍒

U.S. hits record number of measles cases

Actions have consequences: The United States recorded 2,318 confirmed cases of measles (so far this year). And most of those are among children. Even to this point in the year, that’s more than any year since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000.

The Florida Phoenix (part of the nonprofit States Newsroom group) shared a pretty direct sentence: “The best way to avoid measles is with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.” In other words: Get vaccinated.

In Florida, the state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, a doctor who has refused to believe the scientific evidence supporting vaccines, told reporters after being asked what families should do: “Everyone’s got to take a vaccine.”

He claimed “a lot of those cases” in Florida (ranked fifth in the country for measles cases right now) were reported at Ave Maria University — a Roman Catholic college where people refuse to acknowledge that no new aborted fetus stem cells are used to create the MMR vaccine.

As the Florida Phoenix noted: “Measles vaccines are made from two cell strains that came from human fetal lung tissue in the 1960s. These original tissues were collected from elective abortions, and scientists used them to grow the live measles virus safely. These same fetal cells have continued to grow in the laboratory and are used to make vaccines today. No further sources of fetal cells are needed to make these vaccines.”

The Hill has an interactive map showing each state’s measles report. Avoid South Carolina, Utah, Texas, Virginia, Florida and … oh, whoops, Pennsylvania.

And, this line from the Florida Phoenix is LOL: “The U.S. is now at risk of losing its measles elimination status, a designation it has held since 2000.”

The diarrhea lettuce outbreak of 2026

Speaking of making the United States healthy again (or not, actually)… the Trump-controlled CDC expanded the cyclosporiasis outbreak to nine states.

If you’re having trouble keeping up, this is the fresh produce parasite that causes you to experience diarrhea.

Shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms could likely be the cause, the FDA has said. But it might not be the only source. Though, the FDA said tested lettuce from one shipment provided a false positive — but the agency still was focusing on Taylor Farms.

There are nearly 12,000 confirmed or suspected cases of the illness nationwide with most in Michigan (nearly 8,000) and Ohio (more than 2,500). But hundreds of other people in states not linked to the outbreak have also reported getting sick.

By the way, thanks to capitalism, four companies control 54 percent of the country’s fresh-cut salad market.

Also, if you’re seeing posts discussing a lengthy list of store brand lettuce, as of publishing this newsletter, all of that information is misleading. Taylor Farms does supply multiple stores with lettuce, but only some of Walmart’s supply has been pulled from store shelves. The voluntary recall does not involve Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target, HEB or any other store you see listed. (Stop just believing random Instagram and Facebook accounts, damn it.)

• And whatever you do, please don’t avoid fruits and vegetables.

Merry Christmas in July

Here are some Christmas-related headlines for you:

• Rockettes announce new sparkle for 2026 (USA Today)

• ‘Ebenezer’ Trailer: Johnny Depp Transforms Into Grouchy, Snowball-Throwing Scrooge (Variety)

• Autumn Reeser, Wes Brown and Hallmark’s Iconic ‘Little Red Truck’ Team Up for Christmas Delivered (People)

• Holiday season at Disneyland will begin sooner than expected (KTLA)

• Christmas in July brings holiday cheer to patients at Buffalo’s children’s hospital (WIVB)

• Georgia small town hosting 3-day star-studded Christmas in July ‘Christmas in a Small Town’ Hallmark Convention (Secret Atlanta)

briefly…

• The viral online attack on Pittsburgh doctors that sparked a national debate over vaccines (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• ‘General Hospital’ writes off Maxie Jones after Kirsten Storms’ monthslong hiatus (Entertainment Weekly)

• A solar-powered home in Vermont — can you guess the price? (The Boston Globe)

• QVC hosts vote to unionize (The Philadelphia Inquier)

And, finally…

I love Provincetown so much.

A special edition of Buried Ledes… I’m celebrating 30 years of volunteering with the American Cancer Society. My Relay For Life of Erie County event is this Saturday, June 20. If you’re able and inclined, I am asking you to consider making a $30 donation to my Relay For Life efforts.

Thirty years ago, I found my way to the American Cancer Society through grief.

My gram was dying, and like so many families touched by cancer, mine was trying to make sense of the loss and what came next.

For me, part of the answer became Relay For Life.

I didn’t know then that volunteering would become such a defining part of my life. I didn’t know I’d spend three decades walking tracks, lighting luminaria, cheering on survivors, remembering those we’ve lost and standing beside people who understood why this work matters so deeply.

The American Cancer Society’s mission is big: ending cancer as we know it, for everyone.

Relay For Life is one of the ways communities help carry that mission forward, bringing people together to celebrate survivors, remember loved ones and support the work that saves lives.

That work remains urgent. In 2026, the American Cancer Society projects more than 2.1 million new cancer cases in the United States.

This special edition is personal. It is about my gram, yes. But it is also about the people I’ve met, the stories I’ve carried and the reason I keep showing up.

Thanks for reading, and for being part of this reflection on 30 years of Relay.

🍒

Make a donation today

30 years later, still turning grief into purpose

My American Cancer Society story started before I really knew what the American Cancer Society was.

I was in middle school when cancer changed my family forever.

I knew what chemotherapy was before I knew what Relay For Life was.

I knew what cancer could take from a person before I knew the words “survivor,” “caregiver” or “luminaria ceremony.”

My grandmother died from bladder cancer when I was young. She never saw me drive a car. She never saw me graduate. She never read my byline on a news story. And she never walked a survivor lap with me at an American Cancer Society Relay For Life event.

I have never gotten over what cancer did to her, to me and to my family.

But grief was not where my story ended. In many ways, it is where my volunteer story began.

Relay For Life became part of my life after cancer had already left its mark. What started as something my family attended became something I poured my heart into.

Relay For Life gave me a place to remember, to grieve, to hope and to act.

Cancer had taken someone from me, but Relay For Life gave me somewhere to put the pain.

Now, I am celebrating 30 years of volunteering with the American Cancer Society. Over three decades, I have participated in Relay For Life events across Western Pennsylvania; served on national and regional leadership teams; trained volunteers; organized conferences; and helped raise money for research and patient programs.

At first, I participated because of my grandmother. Then cancer kept writing new chapters. Friends, teachers, colleagues and people from my community became part of the story. I watched people I love become survivors and caregivers. I watched families face journeys that changed everything.

That is why I keep coming back.

I come back because research matters. Because rides to treatment matter. Because Hope Lodge matters. Because stories matter.

Losing my grandmother to cancer changed my life. The American Cancer Society helped me turn that grief into purpose.

And 30 years later, I am still here — still volunteering, still raising money, still sharing the story and still believing that together, we can help end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

Read more:

• 30 Years of volunteering began with one story of loss

Investing in the next cancer breakthrough

One of the things I’ve always appreciated about the American Cancer Society is that its work reaches people in so many different ways. The American Cancer Society is there for patients and caregivers through support programs, transportation, lodging, education, advocacy — and, just as importantly, research.

And research is where so much hope begins.

When you make a donation to the American Cancer Society, you’re helping fund ideas that can become the next breakthrough. You’re helping scientists ask better questions, test new approaches, and move us closer to better ways to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer.

Over the years, American Cancer Society-funded researchers have been part of some incredible milestones in the fight against cancer. Their work has helped establish the link between smoking and cancer, show the effectiveness of the Pap test, improve childhood leukemia outcomes, advance cancer-fighting drugs, and prove the safety and effectiveness of mammography.

The American Cancer Society has also funded researchers who later received the Nobel Prize.

What makes this especially important to me is that this research is not just happening somewhere far away. Some of the researchers funded by the American Cancer Society have been in Pittsburgh and across Pennsylvania.

As of October 2025, there are 52 research grants across Pennsylvania, totaling more than $32 million.

I’ve had the privilege of meeting some of them over the years, and it’s inspiring to hear firsthand how committed they are — not just to science, but to people.

Read more:

• Current grants by cancer type

• Current grants by state

• Current investment by areas of research

Make a donation today

Two ACS programs that meet patients where they are — and where they need to be

In addition to research, the American Cancer Society is also there in very practical, human ways for people facing cancer and their families — especially when treatment brings extra challenges.

Two programs I always enjoy sharing are the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge program and the organization’s Road To Recovery program.

For many people, the best treatment option may not be close to home. That can mean long drives, hotel costs and the stress of figuring out where to stay during an already overwhelming time.

Hope Lodge communities help ease that burden by offering a free place to stay for people with cancer and their caregivers when treatment is far from home.

It is more than lodging — it is a place where guests can rest, prepare meals, do laundry, connect with others, and feel a little more at home during treatment.

Road To Recovery helps with another major challenge: getting to treatment. For some patients, transportation can be one of the biggest barriers to care. Through volunteer drivers, the Road To Recovery program helps provide free rides to cancer-related appointments, helping people get to the treatments they need.

Read more:

• Hope Lodge

• Road To Recovery

An app for patients and caregivers navigating cancer

When someone hears the words “you have cancer,” it can feel like everything changes at once.

There are appointments to think about, treatment options to understand, questions to ask and emotions that can be hard to sort through.

That is why the American Cancer Society’s ACS CARES app is such an important resource.

(By the way, “CARES” stands for “Community Access to Resources, Education and Support.)

ACS CARES is designed to help people facing cancer and their caregivers find support, information, and guidance in one place.

It can also help connect people with ACS team members and trained volunteers who understand parts of the cancer experience.

Read more:

• Learn more and download the ACS CARES app

Make a donation today

ACS effort focuses on cancer risk and health outcomes for Black women

One of the many things I like about the American Cancer Society is that its research does not just look for better treatments. It also asks important questions about why cancer affects people and communities differently — and what we can do to change that.

That is why the VOICES of Black Women effort is so important.

Launched in 2024, VOICES of Black Women is a population study with a goal of enrolling 100,000 Black women across the country.

The purpose is to better understand the many factors that drive cancer among Black women in the U.S., so that American Cancer Society can help improve health for future generations.

Read more:

• VOICES of Black Women

• VOICES of Black Women Study Broadens Scope to Maximize Impact

Relay For Life taught me how to lead

Someone I worked with years ago used to call Relay For Life a “party with a purpose,” and I loved that description.

Because that’s what Relay really is.

There’s music, games, themed laps, laughter and good chaos. But there are tears, too — luminaria bags, hugs, survivors celebrated and loved ones remembered.

And for me, Relay has also been a place where I’ve grown.

Over the years, I’ve led local Relay For Life events as a volunteer event lead. I’ve served as a volunteer lead for the region, for the division and in a national capacity.

What started as showing up for something personal became a place where I learned how to lead, communicate, organize and build community.

Relay helped me sharpen skills in communications, marketing, fundraising, event planning, branding, social media, training, public speaking, volunteer management, relationship building, crisis communication and leadership.

All of those skills connected to my full-time work. That is part of what has also made Relay so valuable.

It’s given me a place to try things.

Relay became a kind of sandbox where I could test ideas, build campaigns, try new ways to reach people and figure out what worked. Sometimes it did. Sometimes it didn’t. But I always learned something.

That kind of experience builds confidence.

Relay taught me how to walk into a room with a plan and how to change the plan when something went sideways. And if you’ve ever planned a Relay, you know something always happens.

You learn how to stay calm, ask for help, delegate and keep people focused on the mission.

You also learn that leadership is not always the big speech or the title.

Sometimes leadership is sending the email, unloading tables from a rental truck or making sure a new volunteer feels like they belong.

Relay taught me that volunteer work is real work. It takes strategy, patience, creativity, communication and heart.

It has given me confidence, friendships, memories and plenty of lessons learned the hard way.

Somewhere along my volunteer journey, Relay For Life helped me become more of who I am.

Make a donation today

Briefly…

• American Cancer Society Warns of Increase in U.S. Food Swamps; No Substantial Progress Reducing Food Deserts for Millions of People (cancer.org)

• American Cancer Society Updates Colorectal Cancer Screening Guideline: Major Changes Emphasize Blood-Based and At-Home Stool Testing (cancer.org)

• High Cancer Burden Shifted From Urban to Rural Areas and Gap Widening (cancer.org)

And, finally…

Please consider making a $30 donation toward my Relay For Life fundraising efforts.

Hi! Welcome to the new subscribers. Glad you’re here — hope you stay!

Last week, I wrote about Pride as more than celebration. The entire newsletter was about how existence is resistance.

Right now, LGBTQ people — especially transgender people — are being targeted by the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers who are trying to limit rights, restrict health care, police identity and push people further to the margins.

That should make you mad. I know it makes me pissed off.

Pride cannot just be something we cheer for in June and forget by the Fourth of July. Pride has to push us to act (and act now before it’s too late) — vote, defend our friends and refuse to let cruelty win.

Support LGBTQ businesses and organizations.

This one’s really important: Pay attention to what is happening in your state.

And push back when cruelty is dressed up as policy.

🍒

Not every brand has given up on Pride

A lot of companies have left LGBTQ people in the dust — nixing store displays, social media posts or email campaigns celebrating Pride. Despite the retreat, some brands continue to feature inclusivity.

The Advocate highlighted seven of them (one of which, Levi’s, I mentioned last week), including American Eagle.

The Pittsburgh-based company has a line of Pride apparel and said its AE Foundation is donating $150,000 to It Gets Better.

29* MLB teams to host Pride nights — 1 still refuses

Of the 30 MLB teams, 29 plan to host Pride nights.

Any guesses on that one team that refuses?

The hometahn Pittsburgh Pirates have set June 11 as Pride night. While no giveaway is planned, the Bucs have a post-game fireworks show planned.

Cleveland plans to have a gay ol’ time June 8 when they host the Yankees for Pride Night. The Guardians booked Onya Nurve to throw out the first pitch. The night also will feature the Windsong feminist chorus, Cleveland Foundation’s LGBTQ+ Opportunity Fund, the Play Catch with a Dad volunteer group and card writing to LGBTQ+ people.

In addition to hosting a Pride game at PNC Park, the Pirates are on the road for two other Pride nights — Houston (which was June 3) and Sacramento (June 17).

The team that won’t acknowledge Pride? The Texas Rangers. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

*What did the Royals do?

Somehow, the Kansas City Royals failed to be a good ally and still outraged the trolls.

The social copy and image copy just ain’t it: “A sport enjoyed and loved by all.” “Proud to be a Royal.” Huh?

At least they got the Pride flag colors right — including the trans flag, lesbian flag and Progress Pride flag.

Christian Post compares ‘faith nights’ and Pride nights

The Christian Post shared a story detailing that half of the MLB teams are planning “faith nights.” It noted each team’s plans for those promotions.

While the Christian-focused site did not belittle Pride nights, its comparison of Pride nights and Christian faith nights is incorrect.

Faith is a choice. Being LGBTQ is not a choice.

Time running out for ‘60 Minutes’?

According to published accounts, sources suggest the long-running “60 Minutes” could soon be canceled.

This comes following the ongoing behind-the-scenes madness created by Trump-friendly Bari Weiss, the blogger-turned-NYT opinionist was handed the role of editor-in-chief at CBS News last year.

The feud escalated last week when the network abruptly fired Scott Pelley, who apparently told the show’s new executive producer that Weiss was “murdering ‘60 Minutes.’”

“She does not love this place; she was brought in to kill it and is doing exactly that,” Pelley reportedly said in a Monday staff meeting.

By Tuesday, the longtime journalist was fired.

Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim say they plan to “stay and fight” at 60 Minutes.

Here’s a growing list of major figures who have resigned or been fired from CBS News since Weiss took over (as of June 6), according to People magazine:

• Scott Pelley (fired)

• Anderson Cooper (resigned)

• Sharyn Alfonsi (let go through contract expiring)

• Cecilia Vega (fired)

• Tanya Simon (fired)

• Scott MacFarlane (resigned)

• Mary Walsh (resigned)

• John Dickerson (resigned)

• Maurice DuBois (resigned)

• Lisa Ling (laid off)

• Michelle Miller (laid off)

• Dana Jacobson (laid off)

Big Boy to make Pennsylvania stops on U.S. rail tour

Big Boy No. 4014 — the world’s largest operating steam locomotive — is expected to pass through Erie County on June 9, stopping briefly in North East.

The locomotive is on a coast-to-coast tour as part of “America250,” with a July 4 weekend stop in Philadelphia.

It will make an extended stop in Altoona, arriving July 8 and departing July 11 on its way west toward Pittsburgh.

A 30-minute stop is planned for Leetsdale on July 11.

Big Boy is 133 feet long and weighs 1.2 million pounds, according to Union Pacific.

There were 25 Big Boys commissioned for Union Pacific Railroad. The first was delivered in 1941. The locomotives were used to haul heavy equipment in support of the war effort and typically operated between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

You can track Big Boy here and find its schedule here.

‘I Knew It’: Taylor Swift continues breaking records

Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” is breaking records.

Apple Music said the song broke its all-time record for “biggest soundtrack single, based on first-day plays.” It also became the streaming platform’s biggest country single of 2026.

On Spotify, the song became the “most-streamed country song in a single day by a female artist in Spotify history.”

And, on Amazon Music, the song had the “biggest first 24-hour streaming debut globally for any song” this year. “I Knew it, I Knew You” is included in the upcoming “Toy Story 5” film, set for release June 19.

And, finally…

Existence is resistance, ‘n at.

Pride month began as a protest

Pride month did not start as a corporate campaign or a month of rainbow logos.

It grew out of protest — out of LGBTQ people pushing back against harassment, criminalization and the idea that they should stay quiet and hidden.

More than 50 years later, the fight is not over.

Across the country, LGBTQ rights are being challenged and rolled back, with transgender people targeted most directly. These are not abstract debates. They affect whether people can get health care, feel safe at school, use public spaces, update legal documents or live without being treated as a political problem.

That is why Pride has to be more than “love is love.”

Pride is about safety, rights, visibility and dignity. It is about paying attention when people are being singled out and not waiting until things get worse to decide it matters.

For allies, friends, family members, coworkers and neighbors, Pride month should be a reminder to do more than cheer from the sidelines.

Learn what is happening.

Speak up.

Support the people and organizations doing the work.

Celebrate Pride. But do not look away from why it still needs to exist.

🍒

Pride events feel sponsorship squeeze

Corporate sponsorships, once a major funding source for large and small Pride events alike, are drying up as companies cave to anti-LGBTQ efforts.

Organizers say the pullback is forcing them to rethink budgets, cut programming and, in some cases, cancel events altogether.

NPR reported sponsorships are down in cities including New York City, Salt Lake City, Louisville, St. Louis, Orlando and Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pride faces funding gap

Pittsburgh Pride is still moving forward, but organizers say corporate sponsorships are not keeping pace with the cost of putting on the event.

Pittsburgh Magazine in April reported the group had raised about $80,000 toward a $500,000 goal, including about $33,000 from six corporate sponsors.

In a May 30 story, NPR reported organizers expected to secure only 30% to 40% of the sponsorship dollars they raised a few years ago.

“It takes a lot of money to do this,” Dena Stanley, director of Pittsburgh Pride, told NPR. “Permittings costs, security costs, headliners costs, staging costs, cleaning crew costs, insurance costs, all of these are expenses.”

NYC Pride is still rebuilding

Even one of the largest Pride events in the world is feeling the squeeze.

Gothamist reported NYC Pride was about $500,000 short heading into June, after the organization faced a $750,000 shortfall last year when corporate sponsorships declined.

Its executive director said the same issue has continued this year, with former major sponsors still not returning.

Some events are pausing altogether

In Florida, Gay Days — the long-running LGBTQ event series around Orlando-area theme parks — canceled its 2026 events after organizers cited sponsorship losses and other challenges.

Tampa Pride also canceled its 2026 festival and parade, pointing to the current political and economic climate, including corporate sponsorship struggles and reduced public support. A new group stepped in to host a March festival.

Smaller communities are feeling it, too

In Georgia, WJCL reported the Savannah Pride Center faced a $30,000 funding cut and said corporate sponsors had pulled back, putting its 2026 Pride Festival and Vogue Ball at risk.

City leaders later provided $10,000 to support the center’s outreach work, but organizers said the earlier funding loss still threatened major community events.

The attacks keep coming

Across the country, LGBTQ rights continue facing a wave of attacks, with transgender people at the center of many of them.

In 2026, Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration have advanced efforts to restrict gender-affirming care, limit participation in school sports, roll back federal protections and narrow legal recognition of gender identity.

Anti-LGBTQ people often frame these measures around “parental rights,” “women’s sports” or “religious freedom.”

LGBTQ advocates say the impact is much broader: fewer protections, more barriers and greater risk for LGBTQ people and families.

Here’s an exhausting, non-exhaustive list from 2026 alone:

Federal policy

Federal scrutiny grows over transgender athletes

The Trump administration opened 18 Title IX investigations into school districts, colleges and state education entities with policies allowing transgender athletes to compete on teams matching their gender identity. The investigations are part of a broader federal push to treat transgender inclusion in girls’ and women’s sports as a Title IX violation. (K-12 Dive)

California schools and athletics policies face federal pressure

Federal officials widened investigations in California, including scrutiny of policies involving transgender athletes at schools and community colleges. The Los Angeles Times reported the investigations as part of an escalating effort to challenge trans-inclusive athletic policies under Title IX. (EdSource)

San José State warned over transgender volleyball player

The Education Department said San José State violated Title IX by allowing a transgender volleyball player to compete on the women’s team. In March, the administration gave the university 10 days to change its policy or face possible legal action and loss of federal funding. (AP)

Civil rights settlements protecting transgender students rolled back

The Trump administration ended six prior civil rights settlement provisions that had required schools to protect transgender students. Reuters reported the Education Department said the agreements wrongly interpreted Title IX, while advocates warned the move weakens protections for LGBTQ students. (Reuters)

HUD proposes rollback of gender identity protections

A proposed HUD rule would remove gender identity protections from federally funded housing and shelter programs. Stateline reported that advocates warn the change could make it easier for shelters and housing providers to deny access to transgender people. (Stateline)

Smith College investigated over transgender admissions

The Education Department opened a Title IX investigation into Smith College over its policy admitting transgender women. The 19th reported the inquiry targets one of the country’s most LGBTQ-friendly women’s colleges and could test how the administration applies Title IX to single-sex institutions. (The 19th)

DOJ subpoenas target gender-affirming care records

The Justice Department has pursued subpoenas seeking records tied to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Reuters reported that a Texas judge granted one DOJ petition involving a Rhode Island hospital, while other judges had rejected similar subpoenas; the San Francisco Chronicle reported California families sued over demands for sensitive medical records. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Families weigh moves as care access narrows

Families of transgender youth are considering relocating, seeking care elsewhere or using telehealth as federal and state pressure grows around gender-affirming care. Reuters reported that more than 40 hospitals have paused or limited services since early 2025 amid legal and financial threats. (Reuters)

Federal grant proposal raises LGBTQ and DEI concerns

The Trump administration proposed an overhaul of federal grantmaking that would give political appointees more authority to review and terminate grants based on administration priorities. AP reported that critics, including the Human Rights Campaign, warn the policy could be used to target DEI programs and services for LGBTQ communities. (AP)

Congress

Federal “Don’t Say Trans” bill advances

House Republicans advanced H.R. 7661, which LGBTQ advocates describe as a national “Don’t Say Trans” bill. The Advocate reported that the proposal would classify discussion of transgender identity as “sexual,” raising concerns that it could restrict classroom discussion, books and school materials that acknowledge transgender people. (The Advocate)

House passes school ‘gender ideology’ bill

The U.S. House passed a bill requiring parental consent before public elementary or middle schools update a student’s pronouns, gender markers or preferred name in school records. The bill would also restrict federal education funding from being used to “teach or advance concepts related to gender ideology.” (News From the States)

Senate blocks transgender sports amendment

Senate Republicans pushed an amendment that would ban transgender athletes from playing in women’s sports as part of a broader voting bill debate. AP reported the Senate blocked the amendment, rejecting one of President Trump’s priorities. (AP)

Anti-LGBTQ riders added to State Department funding bill

House Republicans added several anti-LGBTQ riders to a State Department funding bill. The Washington Blade reported that one provision, described by advocates as a “Trans Global Gag Rule,” would restrict foreign assistance to organizations that acknowledge transgender people or advocate nondiscrimination protections. (Washington Blade)

Supreme Court weighs transgender athlete bans

The U.S. Supreme Court heard challenges in January to Idaho and West Virginia laws banning transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s school sports. Reuters reported the court’s conservative majority appeared inclined to uphold the bans. A ruling has not yet been issued, but is expected before the court’s term ends in June. (Reuters)

Idaho restroom law challenged in federal court

Six transgender Idaho residents sued to block Idaho’s H.B. 752 before it takes effect July 1. The lawsuit, brought by the ACLU, ACLU of Idaho and Lambda Legal, argues the law violates constitutional protections for due process, equal protection and privacy. (Lambda Legal)

State laws

Kansas law restricts IDs and restroom access

Kansas’ S.B. 244 took effect in February and invalidates state driver’s licenses with gender markers that do not match sex assigned at birth. The ACLU says the law also restricts transgender people from using restrooms in government buildings that align with their gender identity and allows private lawsuits against people suspected of violating the law. (ACLU)

Florida law threatens local Pride support

Florida’s “Anti-Diversity in Local Government” law limits how cities and counties can support programs labeled as diversity, equity and inclusion. WLRN reported the law could affect local support for Pride events, while Equality Florida called it a sweeping and vague attempt to intimidate local governments that celebrate diverse communities. (WLRN)

Montana redefines sex across state law

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed S.B. 437, defining sex as binary and based on reproductive anatomy. Montana Free Press reported the law amends broad sections of state code and defines “gender” as synonymous with sex, not gender identity or gender expression. (Montana Free Press)

Idaho criminalizes restroom use by transgender people

Idaho’s H.B. 752 bars transgender people from using public restrooms that align with their gender identity and makes doing so a crime. Lambda Legal and the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of six transgender Idahoans, arguing the law violates due process, equal protection and privacy rights. (Lambda Legal)

Ballot efforts

Washington transgender sports initiative moves toward voters

An anti-LGBTQ group filed signatures for a Washington initiative that would ban transgender girls from girls’ school sports. The measure would also require students in girls’ athletics to verify their biological sex through a health care provider (Washington State Standard)

Colorado voters to decide two trans youth measures

Colorado voters are set to consider two ballot measures affecting transgender youth: one restricting participation in school sports and another banning certain medical procedures for minors related to sex characteristics. The Colorado Sun reported both measures qualified for the November ballot. (Colorado Sun)

Maine transgender sports initiative removed from ballot

A Maine initiative aimed at limiting transgender students’ access to school sports and bathrooms was removed from the November ballot after officials found invalid signatures. AP reported supporters are seeking judicial review, so the issue may not be fully settled. (AP)

Want to track what’s happening?

If you got through that entire section above, congratulations. If you didn’t, I hope you understand the magnitude of what’s happening.

To help understand what’s happening, the sites listed below offer a great way to track all of the Republican anti-LGBTQ efforts across the country.

ACLU: Mapping attacks on LGBTQ rights

The ACLU’s tracker focuses on state legislation targeting LGBTQ rights. It lets readers search by state and bill category, making it useful for seeing what lawmakers are introducing, advancing or passing close to home.

HRC: Accountability Tracker

The Human Rights Campaign’s tracker focuses on federal threats and policy actions, including moves from the Trump administration, Congress and the courts.

Trans Legislation Tracker

Trans Legislation Tracker focuses specifically on bills affecting transgender and gender-nonconforming people. It tracks legislation by year, state, status and category, including health care, education, sports, legal recognition and public accommodations.

Some brands are still showing up

As some companies pull back from Pride events and LGBTQ marketing, a few brands are still putting public support behind queer communities this year.

Converse released a 2026 Pride collection that leans into visible LGBTQ messaging, with rainbow designs, Gilbert Baker-inspired stripes and phrases including “Still here, still queer.” Queerty described the collection as “full rainbow rebellion,” a notable contrast at a time when other companies are scaling back Pride campaigns.

Converse says proceeds from the collection will support LGBTQ nonprofit groups including It Gets Better, the Ali Forney Center, Bagly and The Theater Offensive.

Levi’s also released a 2026 Pride collection, “Together We Ride,” inspired by queer motorcycle clubs, leather culture and the ways LGBTQ people have built community and protection for one another.

The collection draws from the GLBT Historical Society archives in San Francisco, and Queerty reported Levi’s is donating $100,000 to Outright International.

3 ways to take action

Contact the people making decisions

Start with the people who represent you — at every level.

Congress. State lawmakers, county officials, municipality leaders and school board directors. A lot of the policies affecting LGBTQ people start locally, and those meetings are often shaped by whoever is willing to show up and speak the loudest.

So write, call, go to meetings, speak during public comment. Ask candidates where they stand. Pay attention before something is already on the agenda.

If you are not sure where to start, I wrote about how to find and contact your elected representatives here with this January post I created to help people understand how to contact legislators.

Support the people doing the work

Support organizations that are helping LGBTQ people and defending LGBTQ rights.

That can mean national groups like the Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project, Lambda Legal or the ACLU. It can also mean local Pride groups, LGBTQ community centers, drag shows, queer artists, mutual aid efforts and businesses creating safe and affirming spaces.

Donate if you can. Share their work. Buy a ticket. Show up.

Listen to LGBTQ people in your life

Talk with your LGBTQ friends, family members, coworkers and neighbors — and actually listen.

You do not need to make them explain everything. You do not need to turn their lives into a debate. Ask what support looks like. Believe them when they say something feels unsafe, exhausting or targeted.

Being supportive cannot just mean saying the right thing when it is easy. It has to mean showing up when it matters.

briefly…

• Your Guide to Every Pittsburgh Pride 2026 Event (QBurgh)

• I cared for dying gay men during the AIDS crisis. Now, younger queers treat me like I’m invisible. (Queerty)

• GLAAD Responds to FCC’s Inquiry into Television Ratings for Programming with LGBTQ Content (GLAAD)

And, finally…

Block era ends at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Today marks a major milestone in the Pittsburgh region.

May 3, 2026, marks the final edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette under Block Communications leadership — a journey that began in 1927 when Paul Block acquired and combined two Pittsburgh newspapers — the Post and the Gazette.

Of course, the Post-Gazette’s history dates back 240 years, to 1786. The Pittsburgh Gazette, first published on July 29, 1786, was the first newspaper west of the Alleghenies.

As a recorder of news, the Post-Gazette isn’t often the story.

But in January, just hours after losing a yearslong labor dispute that ended up in front of the Supreme Court, Block Communications announced it would close the newspaper in early May.

In the time since, people and groups came out to draw up plans and dreams to save the PG.

As the drama increased, we learned that the nonprofit Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism would acquire the PG.

Closing the PG would have been unthinkable.

And yet, even saved, something is ending.

The Post-Gazette will continue. That is no small thing for a region that has depended on it for nearly 240 years, and at a time when news companies are struggling.

But the paper the Pittsburgh region has known — the one that covered Pittsburgh before it became the center of steel and the life and eventual death of major local institutions like Kaufmann’s, Horne’s, Mellon Bank, USAir, Duquesne Brewery and nearly every regional steelmaker — will be (and, let’s face it, has been) different.

Already, the new ownership group has slashed the newsroom — journalists found out in the last few days whether they’d move forward with the new PG.

That means fewer reporters. Fewer investigations. Fewer sports stories. Fewer arts stories. Fewer photo essays. Fewer people showing up to ask questions, take notes and record what happened.

To be clear, this is a huge loss.

The Block family did not create every challenge facing local journalism. But under Block Communications, the Post-Gazette became defined by years of labor fights, mistrust and damage that brought a proud institution to the edge.

Now, many talented journalists are without jobs and we are left with a newspaper that survived, but in a diminished form. Even still, Pittsburgh needs a newspaper.

Let’s hope the new PG remains committed to the journalism we have come to expect.

🍒

PG layoffs mark start of new ownership

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s transition to new, nonprofit ownership is beginning with deep newsroom cuts.

The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh said at least 40% of newsroom workers are expected to lose their jobs as the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism takes over the paper from Block Communications. The union said the cuts fall especially hard on journalists who participated in the PG’s three-year strike, with about 80% of former striking workers not being retained.

The layoffs affect coverage areas including local news, high school and college sports, the arts, photography, editing, and production, according to the union and local reports. Several longtime journalists have publicly said they were not offered jobs.

The Venetoulis Institute, which also publishes The Baltimore Banner, has said it is committed to preserving local journalism in Pittsburgh but must put the publication on stronger financial footing.

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee condemned the cuts, calling on the new owners to reinstate workers, bargain in good faith with the Newspaper Guild and rebuild trust with the community.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s first 148 years … in a miniature history book

The first 148 years of the Post-Gazette’s history is highlighted in this book, which is 2.75 inches by 1.75 inches.

I found it on eBay in January — days after Block Communications announced the newspaper would cease operations on May 3, 2026.

Very cool Pittsburgh find!

Spirit shutdown leaves 15,000 workers without jobs, adding to list of major layoffs

Spirit Airlines’ shutdown has put about 15,000 people out of work.

The losses affect pilots, flight attendants, gate agents, maintenance workers and other employees tied to the budget carrier’s operations.

Spirit’s collapse — brought on by Republican-supported tariffs and gas prices — followed years of financial strain and failed merger efforts.

The announcement comes alongside other major layoff plans. Oracle laid off 30,000 globally as the tech company shifts more resources toward AI and data-center expansion.

Facebook parent Meta recently announced laying off 8,000 people and freezing 6,000 job openings.

The job cuts, plus Mark Zuckerberg’s address to employees this week, likely left workers feeling anxious.

“If we’re investing more in one area to serve our community, then that means we have less capital to allocate to the other. So that means we do need to take down the size of the company somewhat,” Zuckerberg said in a town hall.

Estée Lauder has also announced plans to cut up to 10,000 jobs globally as part of a restructuring effort aimed at lowering costs and responding to weaker demand.

Pittsburgh native wins men’s full marathon

As WTAE wrote: “Pittsburgh Marathon men’s winner is a yinzer.”

Will Loevner, 28, crossed the finish line Sunday morning with a time of 02:14:52.

Loevner, a Winchester Thurston and Penn State grad, returned to long-distance running three years ago, according to a 2025 Tribune-Review story. He spent the previous five years mountain bike racing.

The PG on Sunday said Loevner “teared up immediately upon crossing the finish line.”

He’s previously won the Philadelphia Marathon and holds back-to-back titles at the Cleveland Marathon in 2023 and 2024.

Jane Bareikis claimed first place among women in the full marathon in her third consecutive win. She finished with a time of 2:30:33, besting her previous two wins.

btw…

The NFL draft last weekend in Pittsburgh was, hands down, a great experience.

And Pittsburghers (and other NFL fans, like those from Philly 🙄) showed up — so much so that the 2026 draft broke an attendance record (805,000) for the three-day event. The Steelers have a great recap of the event.

And, of course, I have a bunch of Instagram posts. Like this video recap and this gallery.

briefly…

🎭 “Evita” — starring Rachel Zegler — will make its way to Broadway in 2027 at a Shubert Organization-owned theater to be announced. While London’s revival features its Evita performing “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” from an outdoor balcony, Andrew Lloyd Webber said the same can’t happen in NYC: “I mean, something awful could happen. We have gun laws in Britain.”

🛒 Wegmans paid $14.11 million for 13 acres in Cranberry Township, Butler County, as it prepares to open its first Pittsburgh-area location. Wegmans is targeting a 2027 opening of that location as it apparently eyes Mt. Lebanon for another location.

🚑 Waymo’s autonomous vehicle technology is getting worse, emergency first-responder leaders told federal regulators. “Waymo is frequently now blocking our fire stations from access,” chief of the San Francisco Fire Department said.

And, finally…

It’s World Press Freedom Day. Thank a journalist. And pressure your lawmakers to protect the First Amendment and journalists.

Congrats, ‘n at: 10-year-old wedding gift (re)discovered

I got one of those texts the other day that immediately sends you back in time.

A friend messaged me on his 10th wedding anniversary to say he and his wife were going through their wedding cards — which, first of all, is an incredibly sentimental and organized thing to be doing 10 years later, considering I don’t know where Christmas cards people sent me five months ago are — and they came across mine.

Still inside the card was the Amazon gift card I gave them.

Unused.

Not only unused, but so unused that the code was still covered.

I was the best man in their wedding, and I still enjoy telling people about that experience: “I was the best man in a Vegas wedding with showgirls — and I met Marie Osmond the next day.” It is a completely true statement.

What people think, of course, is something much different. The reality is his bride was a Vegas showgirl, several bridesmaids were showgirls and the wedding itself was at a beautiful ranch outside Las Vegas — not some drive-thru chapel with Elvis and a heart-shaped arch. And, yes, I met Marie Osmond the next morning.

More importantly, this throwback gives me some hope.

Because I have two friends who got married in New England in 2023, and when I got to the resort for their wedding, I realized I had left their gift back in Pennsylvania — and it still has yet to make its way to them. Thanks to one perfectly preserved wedding card with an unused Amazon gift card, I’m choosing to believe I may still be operating well within the acceptable wedding-gift window.

🍒

Walmart heirs’ Bentonville influence comes with increased scrutiny

Bentonville, Arkansas, has been transformed from Walmart’s hometown into a fast-growing hub for arts, cycling, tourism and corporate talent — with much of that change driven by the Walton family.

Through philanthropy and affiliated investments, the heirs to the Walmart fortune have helped fund museums, trails, public spaces and redevelopment projects that have reshaped both the city’s image and daily life in northwest Arkansas.

But that influence is drawing pushback.

Jessica Mathews detailed the ongoing and increased scrutiny of the Walton family's influence on the city in a recent Fortune story.

“As the ultrawealthy fund political campaigns and amass influence, the billionaire class has been under fire,” Matthews writes. “In California, progressives and unions are pushing for a ‘wealth tax.’ In New York, efforts by billionaires to defeat a democratic socialist mayoral candidate backfired spectacularly.

She goes on to write: “In Bentonville, there are no protesters marching with signs. But growing pushback against the Waltons is showing up in snarky Instagram posts and damning opinion pieces in magazines. It goes to the heart of a community that has for decades revered and identified with Sam Walton and his kin—and to some of the inherent tensions in large-scale civic philanthropy.”

Last year, when Alice Walton’s foundation agreed to a $239 million loan to help the city upgrade its wastewater system, officials described it as a necessary step to keep pace with rapid growth and said the financing terms were generous. But the arrangement also drew skepticism from some residents, who questioned why a family so closely tied to the region’s explosive development was offering a loan instead of a grant.

Perhaps, the tipping point came in 2023 when two grandchildren (Tom and Steuart Walton) of Sam Walton, the Walmart founder, explored an idea to capitalize on national park and preserve status for the Buffalo National River — considered one of Arkansas’s natural gems.

That issue centered on a company tied to the Waltons having purchased 6,000 contiguous acres near the headwaters of the river. While proponents pushed for tourism and economic growth, speculation grew strong that designating the river as a national park preserve could allow for oil and gas extraction.

Key to the controversy is the fact that redesignating the Buffalo National River as a National Park Preserve would allow for oil and gas extraction.

The Walton family's influence is an about-face from their stance more than 20 years ago.

In 2004, Fortune published a story detailing how you’d be “hard-pressed” to find Walton family names or financial influence anywhere in Bentonville, Matthews wrote in the recent Fortune piece. Today, as Matthews wrote, “if you throw a stone in the town, you’ll likely hit something the family had a role in creating.”

Can Sam Altman be trusted?

In a lengthy piece published last week in The New Yorker, Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz chronicled the maniacal rise of artificial general intelligence and of Sam Altman, the highly influential and controversial OpenAI CEO.

After reading the story, I asked ChatGPT to summarize it, offering both a lengthy summary and, as the AI put it, “my read in one sentence,” which it described as “a deeply reported warning that even if Sam Altman is not proven to be uniquely villainous, he may still be too slippery, too powerful, and too weakly checked to be trusted as a self-policing steward of AI.”

(After using ChatGPT to summarize the story, the Guardian’s Emma Brockes suggested Altman is a “corporate grifter.”)

Farrow and Marantz interviewed more than 100 people with “firsthand knowledge of how Altman conducts business,” and talked with Altman more than a dozen times for the story.

The piece appears to leave no stone unturned — from Altman’s evolution from safety-focused A.I. evangelist to his more recent power-broker mindset, to the 2023 OpenAI board revolt, questions about truthfulness and regulatory maneuvering, and geopolitical and military implications of OpenAI’s growth.

It explores even deeply personal allegations, including abuse claims made by his sister that Altman denies and that have not been proven in court, and an unfounded claim from Silicon Valley rivals insinuating that Altman sexually pursues minors — allegations The New Yorker could not substantiate after months of reporting and dozens of interviews. (Altman told the New Yorker he was “sort of grateful” for the time the publication spent “so aggressively trying to look into this.”)

Before the likes of ChatGPT were haphazardly thrust upon workplaces everywhere — from newsrooms to Fortune 500 companies to retailers and everywhere in between — some of tech’s giants shared dystopian outlooks.

“We need to be super careful with AI. Potentially more dangerous than nukes,” Elon Musk tweeted in 2014 — long before he would Tasmanian-Devil himself in 2025 through federal agencies in an ultimately short-lived bromance with Donald Trump.

Even Altman himself once (apparently, perhaps?) believed — in 2015 — that artificial intelligence “does not have to be the inherently evil sci-fi version to kill us all. A more probable scenario is that it simply doesn’t care about us much either way, but in an effort to accomplish some other goal … wipes us out.”

That appears to be a far cry from a recent interview with Farrow and Marantz, where he said: “My definition of winning is that people crazy uplevel—and the insane sci-fi future comes true for all of us.”

In a blog post published Friday, hours after someone threw a Molotov cocktail at his house, Altman shared a photo of his family, adding that he “underestimated the power of words and narratives.”

In the post, Altman called for the de-escalation of what he called “rhetoric and tactics” within the AI industry.

He shared what he said are his beliefs, writing: “Working towards prosperity for everyone, empowering all people, and advancing science and technology are moral obligations for me.”

But Altman seemingly continued to stoke the fears of people anxious about AI’s power, writing: “It will not all go well. The fear and anxiety about AI is justified…we urgently need a society-wide response to be resilient to new threats.”

Perhaps trying to put out the idea that he seeks total control, Altman wrote, “AI has to be democratized; power cannot be too concentrated. Control of the future belongs to all people and their institutions. AI needs to empower people individually, and we need to make decisions about our future and the new rules collectively. I do not think it is right that a few AI labs would make the most consequential decisions about the shape of our future.”

Briefly…

🎮 While movie critics crap on the “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” it continues soaring, bringing its running domestic total to $308.1 million and $629 million globally, making it the top-grossing Hollywood title of the year to date.

🔌 After a sharp decline likely tied to the end of the $7,500 federal tax credit, the drop in electric vehicle sales might be starting to level off. People in the U.S. bought 216,399 electric vehicles in the first quarter of 2026, down 27% from a year earlier but just 7.8% lower than the fourth quarter of 2025, according to Kelley Blue Book. Electric vehicles accounted for 5.8% of new vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2026, unchanged from the previous quarter.

🏳️‍🌈 Pittsburgh Pride organizers say this year’s event is well short of its fundraising goal, with just $80,000 raised toward a $500,000 target as of April 2 as corporate donors pull back, Pittsburgh magazine reports. Without more support, they warn the June 5-7 festival and parade could face major cuts. So far, corporate sponsors include Sheetz, Macy’s, Trulieve, American Eagle Outfitters Inc., ConnectiveRx and Covestro. Walmart and Tito’s Handmade Vodka have not yet signaled if they’ll return.

btw…

Late to the game, but I recently started watching “The Pitt,” which is shocking, given my love of all things Pittsburgh. I’m about 12 episodes in. Generally, it’s fine — nothing more than any other medical drama we’ve seen since “ER.” It might actually be a bit underwhelming (don’t revoke my yinzer card!) compared to others.

Aside from me wincing (and muting the TV) at some of the more vivid scenes, there are several parts of the show where the writing seems incredibly forced and sloppy.

While the shots of the city give me all the Pittsburgh feels, I can’t figure out if I like the other Pittsburgh tie-ins (the Primanti’s bags, Altius shout-out, Wholey’s mention [even if it was mispronounced]), given that I don’t really recall any show going that hard to represent the city it’s in. Name-dropping areas like Monroeville, Beaver County, Mill Village (a real place in Erie County) and Shadyside seems like a stretch.

Maybe crime and medical dramas set in other cities (outside of NYC and Chicago) did this and I never paid much attention — or knew.

I do, however, appreciate that Michael Robinavitch’s name is seemingly a nod to Jerry Rabinowitz, who was one of 11 people killed on Oct. 27, 2018, when a gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood.

I am a little bit into the PittFest storyline, which has been difficult to think about because of how real gun violence is.

➡️ Speaking of… NPR’s Juana Summers spoke with actor Sepideh Moafi (playing attending physician Dr. Al-Hashimi) and Dr. Seema Jilani about the second season of “The Pitt.” Listen here.

And, finally…

Happy 412 Day! 🖤💛

The mall was never dead

Gen Z is helping revive the mall, with traffic up in the first two months of this year compared with the same period last year, according to USA Today.

But the mall was never quite as dead as the narrative suggested.

The “dead mall” narrative took hold years ago, but it left out a big part of the story. Some retailers were hurt not just by changing tastes or a tough economy, but by financial pressures, including private equity deals that hollowed them out.

Even so, people kept going to the mall. Outside the disruption of COVID-19, they were still showing up to shop, eat, meet friends and spend time in a place that offered more than a transaction.

And people were already signaling what they wanted from those spaces.

In a 2018 study, 70 percent of adults said shopping centers should focus on creating engaging experiences that combine shopping with entertainment and other activities, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. Food halls, distinctive dining and community events were among the draws.

More recent numbers tell a similar story.

Placer.ai told the USA Today that mall traffic was up 4.5 percent in the first two months of this year compared with the same period last year.

Circana, in the same story, reported that shoppers ages 18 to 24 made more than 62 percent of their general merchandise purchases in stores last year. Among shoppers 25 and older, that figure was 52 percent.

“The mall is an experience,” 24-year-old Annabelle Saco, of Bloomfield, Michigan, told USA Today. “You go there and you see all different kinds of people, and it’s just getting out of your isolation in your home.”

Even in 2019, before the pandemic scrambled shopping habits, e-commerce accounted for just 10.7 percent of total retail sales. Most shopping was still happening in person.

But not every mall is making it

Not every mall is thriving, of course.

Some are still closing, especially older and lower-tier centers with smaller customer bases.

But that says as much about population shifts, changing shopping habits and the sheer amount of retail space developers built over the years as it does about the mall itself.

Research shows lower-tier malls were already under pressure before the pandemic, while stronger centers in more desirable areas continued to outperform.

In that sense, some mall closures are less about the death of the format than about which places kept up, which ones got reinvestment and which markets simply had more retail space than they could support.

Historic Lawrence Park Dinor for sale

The 78-year-old Lawrence Park Dinor in Erie County is for sale.

The diner, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004, is listed for $285,000 and includes “all supplies, equipment and bragging rights,” the Howard Hanna listing says.

“This place just isn’t a restaurant, it’s a home, it’s a family,” owner Dawn Van Scoter told the Erie Times-News. “We have regulars that walk through the door and everyone says hi to you like on ‘Cheers.’ It’s a place where everyone can come, enjoy a meal and conversation.”

She bought the diner in 2022.

In a Facebook post, Van Scoter dispelled any rumor suggesting the diner is in financial straits, adding that the diner “has been an important part of the community for decades, and it has been an honor to be part of its story. While this decision wasn’t easy, it is the right step for me and my family as I focus my time and energy on the next chapter and new endeavors closer to home.”

A Silk City Diner

Lawrence Park Dinor is a Silk City diner, a style built by a Paterson, New Jersey, manufacturer that turned out about 1,500 diners between 1926 and 1966.

Each one carried a production number tied to the year it was built and its place in that year’s run. Over time, Silk City diners became recognizable pieces of roadside Americana, and several have been added to the National Register of Historic Places — including the Lawrence Park Dinor.

O, why?

Yes, it’s “dinor,” not “diner.”

That “o” is not a typo — at least not anymore.

In Erie County and across northwestern Pennsylvania, “dinor” became a regional spelling that showed up on several local diners over the years.

The exact origin remains unclear.

Some accounts say it might have started as a typo that stuck, while others suggest it could reflect German-language influence in the region.

There’s the All Aboard Dinor in Lake City, Zodiac Dinor in Erie, Gem City Dinor in Millcreek, The Crossroads Dinor in Edinboro, Russ’ Dinor in Weslyville and Greenville Dinor in Greenville. The Girard Dinor closed in 2025. (Haggerty’s in Erie is officially, apparently, known as “Haggerty’s Bar & Dinor,” though it looks nothing like a diner and it appears to permit smoking, which means food sales are not more than 20 percent of gross sales.)

Briefly…

📺 Peter Alexander, the chief White House correspondent and co-host of NBC’s Saturday edition of “Today,” announced this weekend he’s leaving the network, citing personal reasons. Alexander, who has been with NBC News for 22 years, is expected to join MS NOW — the former sister cable network of NBC News.

🏠 A Florida man (yes, really) used ChatGPT to sell his home in less than a week. Robert Levine used AI to plan, price and market the house. He also used it to draft the contract. “I really wanted to challenge myself to use AI. for the entire journey, not just piecemeal. Every step along the way,” he said.

⚕️ Health officials are tracking a COVID-19 subvariant, nicknamed “cicada.” While case numbers for the variant in the U.S. appear to be low, it has spread significantly in Europe. The variant gets its name because it first appeared in 2024, went dormant and resurfaced late last year.

And, finally…

This is shweet! Thanks to Sheetz, Pittsburgh Regional Transit will offer free T and Mon Incline rides during the NFL draft weekend. The announcement was made Friday at the Steel Plaza station. Of course, I was there.

Hey, there—

“The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”

That was the message shared on the big screen during Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance.

We live in a time when everyday random people seem moved to hate — in comment sections, at school board meetings, in grocery store aisles. It’s easy to blame cable news, social media, Hollywood, “the media.” As someone who has worked in and is familiar with “the media,” I can tell you that’s too simple. Media can amplify division, sure. But it doesn’t force a neighbor to sneer, a coworker to belittle or a relative to weaponize words.

Hate is a choice.

But so is kindness.

Most of us learned the golden rule early: Treat others the way you want to be treated. It’s foundational. But maybe we’re called to something even higher — the so-called platinum rule: Treat others the way they want to be treated.

That takes listening, humility and empathy.

None of this means we ignore injustice. We absolutely should defend human rights. We should call out racist, misogynistic or dehumanizing language — whether it comes from family, friends, workplaces, businesses we frequent or churches we attend.

Love is not passive. It’s active. It’s courageous.

If hate is loud, love must be louder — not with volume, but with consistency.

And that starts with each of us.

🍒

A quick look at the Olympics

What would the Olympics be without a controversy or two?

IOC disqualified Ukrainian athlete over helmet

The biggest controversy, so far, involves the International Olympic Committee's disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from competition because he planned to wear a helmet that featured images of more than 450 fellow Ukrainian athletes who had been killed in Russia’s invasion of his country.

In the four years since Russia invaded Ukraine, more than 15,000 Ukrainians have been killed, and another 40,000 have been injured.

However, the IOC decided that the helmet depicting images of more than 450 Ukrainians killed by a war that Russia started was political, saying that Heraskevych violated a guideline that says the Olympics are “neutral and must be separate from political, religious and any other type of interference.”

Interestingly enough, Italian snowboarder Roland Fischnaller was permitted to display a Russian flag on his helmet. This comes despite Russia’s national symbols being officially banned at the Games due to the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Just the fact that Russian athletes can compete upsets Ukrainian athletes.

“We are fighting for our freedom, for our lives,” short-track speedskater Yelyzaveta Sydorko, whose father is serving Ukraine in the war that Russia started, told CBC News. “Their country has attacked our country, every day, every night.”

Before being banned for invading Ukraine, Russia was banned from entering as a country due to a government-sponsored doping scandal during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

But there is growing support within the IOC to ease restrictions on Russia (and Belarus, as an invader accomplice).

Youth athletes from the two countries could compete in future international youth competitions and under their respective country flags, the IOC executive board recommended in December.

All of this as the Opening Ceremony of the Games ended with the words: "So let these Games be more than just sport. Let them be a reminder of our common humanity, our respect for one another and a resounding call for peace everywhere."

Canadian curling teams accused of cheating

Meanwhile, the Canadian men’s curling team is accused of cheating — and it was caught on video.

But Marc Kennedy, the Canadian curler at the center of the scandal, claims he’s not a cheater, and is now alleging that the team could be the target of a “premeditated” attack by … Sweden.

Video shows Kennedy “double-touching” the stone. He then launched an expletive-laden blowup (“You can f-ck off.“) at Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson, who accused Kennedy of the violation. The outburst aired live on television and streaming in North America.

When asked about the video, Kennedy deflected: “Yes, I’m not even going there. I’ve never even known that to be a concern before. It’s never ever come up in conversation.”

While talking with his coach during a fifth-end break, Swiss curler Pablo Lachat-Couchepin said: “I don’t want to focus too much on it, but he double-touched, and the referee saw it.”

Kennedy was issued a verbal warning from the World Curling governing body, which has not officially charged him with cheating. The association does not use video replay, but did deploy match officials to the “hog line” (the green line) for Saturday’s matches.

Canadians are trying to divert attention away from their cheating and onto how the act was caught on camera, trying to allege that improper filming was occurring.

In a separate incident, the Canadian women’s team is also accused of the same infraction by match officials — this time against Switzerland on Saturday.

Kennedy was issued a verbal warning from the World Curling governing body, which has not officially charged him with cheating. The association does not use video replay, but did deploy match officials to the “hog line” (the green line) for Saturday’s matches.

Other controversies

• A controversial scoring decision left United States’ ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates taking home silver as a French judge was accused of helping France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron take gold.

• Due to “higher-than-anticipated demand,” condoms in Olympic Villages were temporarily depleted, the Italian organizing committee confirmed Saturday.

Party balloons led to airspace closure

It was party balloons — not a Mexican drug cartel drone, as the Trump administration first tried pushing — that shut down the airspace last week above and around the El Paso International Airport.

The shutdown was initially set to last 10 days.

It was lifted after eight hours.

Customs and Border Protection officials used a laser weapon to take out the party balloons.

There are, of course, more questions than answers — like why did they try claiming it was the Mexican drug cartel? Why was CBP involved? Why did the FAA act alone in closing the airspace? Why was the laser deployed without talking with the FAA?

Briefly…

📺 Stephen Colbert said his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico was pulled from Monday night’s show over network fears it would violate Trump administration guidance. CBS claims that’s not true.

⚖️ Republican Nancy Mace, U.S. representative from South Carolina, is demanding the Central Intelligence Agency release “any and all” documents it has related to convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Mace is among a small but vocal group of Republicans who are finally sounding the alarm on the Epstein files.

⛸️ Just before Amber Glenn performed her short program at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Tuesday, which is set to Madonna’s song “Like a Prayer,” she received a video from the “Queen of Pop” wishing her luck in the individual competition at the Winter Games.

And, finally…

Don’t mind me, just walking on (frozen) water.

Hey, there—

A friend recently told me there are a few different versions of me. There’s “Christmas Bobby.” There’s “Taylor Swift Bobby.” And then there’s “Olympics Bobby” — the one who goes all in, posts nonstop and fully rearranges his life around the Games. He said “Olympics Bobby” might be his favorite. I think there are more than just three versions, and “Christmas Bobby” is my favorite.

Given how dark things are in America right now, I wasn’t sure “Olympics Bobby” was going to show up this year. But within seconds of opening Peacock on Friday evening, he was back.

Saturday, alone, I watched more hours of the Olympics than I’m willing to admit. I had Peacock’s multi-view up on my TV with three sports on screen, while also searching for schedules, news and random Olympic happenings on my other devices.

I woke up early this morning and watched Breezy Johnson’s downhill gold run. And Lindsey Vonn’s crash.

If Olympic viewing were a sport, I’d be a medalist.

What keeps pulling me in is the athletes. These are people who have spent years training in relative obscurity, building their entire lives around early mornings, injuries and repetition — all for moments that might last seconds. Most won’t become household names. They show up anyway. And they don’t even get paid unless they win a medal (or become popular enough to pick up a brand sponsorship).

This year’s Games also feel heavier. There’s always that corporate/elitist push to pretend politics don’t belong at the Games, but the Olympics have never been separate from the real world. When Team USA athletes speak out — including calling attention to the disgusting actions of ICE — that’s not shocking. It’s reality.

There’s also a record number of openly LGBTQ athletes competing this year. That visibility matters.

I don’t watch the Olympics for nationalism. I watch because I’m endlessly impressed by how hard people are willing to work for something they love — and because, for a few weeks, I let myself be fully, unapologetically “Olympics Bobby” again.

Let the Games begin!

🍒

Milano Cortina ‘26 controversies: Minions, penis injections, JD Vance boos edited out

What would the Olympics be without controversy? The Winter Games officially kicked off Friday, but Milano Cortina 2026 is already full of controversies — from “Minion”-gate to “Penisgate” to growing calls for the head of the LA28 Olympic committee to resign. Here’s a brief look at the ones I know of:

• LA28 Olympic committee head Casey Wasserman is facing growing calls to resign. This stems from the latest release of Jeffrey Epstein documents, which revealed racy emails between him and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

• NBC edited out the crowd booing JD Vance’s appearance at the opening ceremony on Friday. The audience reaction aired in Canada, with a CBC commentator saying: “There is the vice-president, JD Vance, and his wife Usha — oops, those are not … uh … those are a lot of boos for him. Whistling, jeering, some applause.” Journalists in the arena also reported hearing the crowd boo.

• ICE individuals are at the Olympics, despite a number of Italian government officials saying they are not welcome. “This is a militia that kills, a militia that enters into the homes of people, signing their own permission slips. It is clear they are not welcome in Milan, without a doubt,” Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala told a local news outlet.

• U.S. sled racer Katie Uhlaender was denied a chance to compete in a sixth Winter Olympic Games — and she’s blaming Team Canada. The 41-year-old Uhlaender has accused Team Canada of purposefully withdrawing four athletes from a January qualifying event in Lake Placid that ultimately awarded her fewer qualifying points. Uhlaender lost all of her appeals.

• A Spanish figure skater is once again able to use his “Minions”-inspired performance at the Olympics. With days to go, Universal Studios asked Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate for more information about his use of music and his outfit. Sabate was quickly able to get approval for two of the four cuts of music, then a third by contacting a Spainish artist. The final hold up was for Pharrell Williams’ “Freedom” song.

• And then there’s “Crotchgate” or “Penisgate” — whichever you prefer. The World Anti-Doping Agency is investigating allegations that ski jumpers have been injecting their penises with hyaluronic acid. Doing so could increase penis circumference by one or two centimeters, giving athletes a potential extra 5.8 meters on every jump. In separate incidents, two coaches and a staff member of the Norwegian team were suspended for 18 months in January for manipulating suits to make them more aerodynamic. Two athletes served three-month suspensions last year. Oddly enough, Norwegian ski jumpers seem skeptical of the penis-enlarging rumors.

These Pittsburgh area athletes are competing at the Winter Games

Six Olympians call Pennsylvania home. And four of them are from Western Pennsylvania.

• Dan Barefoot (skeleton): The 35-year-old Johnstown native didn’t take up skeleton until he was in his mid-20s. As his bio says, Barefoot, in 2016, searched Google to find an Olympic sport one could learn later in life with no experience. A Penn State grad and landscape architect, he is competing in his first Olympics.

• Jasmine Jones (bobsled): The 29-year-old Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, native will compete on the bobsled team. At Hempfield High School, she was a standout basketball player and a two-time state champion in the 4x100-meter relay. She is a senior airman in the Air Force.

• Ava McNaughton (hockey): The 21-year-old Seven Fields, Butler County, native attended an elite girls’ hockey program at Bishop Kearney, a private school in Rochester, New York. She then played at the University of Wisconsin, where she won a national title.

• Vincent Trocheck (hockey): The 32—year-old New York Rangers forward and Upper St. Clair native is looking for gold at his first Olympic appearance. He was a third-round pick in the 2011 NHL draft by the Florida Panthers.

But, wait! There’s more. In addition to those four:

• J.T. Miller (hockey) considers East Palestine, Ohio, home, but the New York Rangers captain lived in Moon during his teenage years.

• Gwyneth Philips (hockey), an Athens, Ohio, native, played hockey and lacrosse for Shady Side Academy.

Don’t forget about the Penguins:

• Sidney Crosby (Team Canada)

• Rickard Rakell (Team Sweden)

• Erik Karlsson (Team Sweden)

• Arturs Silovs (Team Latvia)

Record number of out LGBTQ athletes competing at Winter Games

There are at least 47 out LGBTQ athletes at the Winter Games — including the first publicly identified trans athlete, Swedish moguls skier Elis Lundholm.

Team USA’s roster includes eight out athletes, including speedskater Conor McDermott-Mostowy and figure skater Amber Glenn.

In his Team USA bio, Conor said he chose to speak publicly about being gay after his first national championship in 2021: “As a gay athlete, I think visibility is extremely important. (Sports) is an area in which gay people are underrepresented, and hopefully by seeing more ‘out’ athletes, more gay people will feel comfortable coming out and participating in sports.”

French figure skater Kevin Aymoz told OutSports that coming out as gay was a healing process: “When I first came out, I had put a bandage on a wound. But now … talking about it publicly and freeing myself gave me the opportunity to remove that bandage and to let the wound breathe. And there’s no wound anymore. It was over. It made me feel good. And if it helped other people, it helps me feel better too.”

Nick Novack, who lives in Lake Placid, New York, and competes for Czechia, has talked publicly about identifying as bi.

OutSports says there are 23 out women competing in ice hockey — the largest of any sport at the Winter Games.

• Grindr announced a “game plan” to help LGBTQ athletes meet people safely at the Games. Among the protections, the app has turned off features that allow users to explore areas outside of their own, which will keep people from outside Olympic Village from searching for and messaging people in that area. (People)

• Conor McDermott-Mostowy Redefines Representation at the 2026 Olympics (GLAAD)

• See a list of out athletes at the Winter Games (OutSports)

More Olympic headlines

Here are some other headlines from the Olympics worth reading. BTW, it’s 2026, please don’t complain about spoilers for live sporting events.

• As it happened: Lindsey Vonn crashes early in the Olympic women’s downhill (AP)

• Breezy Johnson’s downhill gold is America’s first medal of 2026 Winter Olympics (NPR)

• Olympic Figure Skater Amber Glenn Steps Away from Social Media After Receiving ‘Threats’ for Speaking Out Against Trump (People)

• He Lost His Parents in a Plane Crash. Next Week, He’ll Skate at the Olympics. (NYT; published Jan. 29)

• Summer Britcher posts fastest US time in Olympic women’s luge training (USA Today) (she’s from Pennsylvania)

• Olympic committee: New transgender policy consensus reached across sports (Al Jazeera) (spoiler alert: It’s going to be very anti-trans, sadly)

• Meloni slams ‘enemies of Italy’ for railway sabotage and anti-Olympics protests (Politico)

• Everything that happened on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Winter Olympics (NBC Olympics)

Super Bowl 60 briefly

Oh, and it’s Super Bowl Sunday. (Go, Seattle.)

• Puppy Bowl 2026 features Bad Bunny, Josh Allen-inspired pups (ESPN)

• Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show: Here’s some things to expect and what they mean (AP)

• What Time Is Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show? (Today)

• Steelers’ Super Bowl Record In Jeopardy As Patriots Eye Another Title (SportsNet Pgh)

And, finally…

Meet Tina, Milo and The Flo — the mascots of the Milano Cortina Olympics — the “first openly Gen Z mascots.”

Hey, there—

The purpose of this newsletter has always been about helping people stay informed. Most of the time, that has meant breaking down the news. It’s also meant sharing context. And, sometimes, like today’s newsletter, it has meant offering practical tools to help you.

Right now, a lot of people are hurting and asking what they can do.

You can doomscroll and do something.

And one of the most accessible, impactful answers is this: Contact your members of Congress. It may not feel flashy or revolutionary, but it works — especially when a lot of people do it together.

I’ve had some people reply to me on Instagram and Facebook asking what to say in a message, how to make it happen and if people on the other end actually listen.

So, I’ve put together this newsletter on how to make a call or send a message, what to include, and a bunch of ready-to-use scripts. Oh, and, full disclosure: AI did assist in the creation of parts of this newsletter.

Whether you care about government transparency, civil liberties, immigration policy or all of the above — let’s make it happen.

So, if you’ve ever felt unsure or overwhelmed by doing this, here is your chance to begin.

You don’t need to say everything. You just need to say something.

Let’s go.

🍒

Contact your members of Congress — and why it matters

It can feel intimidating to call or email your U.S. senators or representative — but it shouldn’t. It’s one of the most powerful tools in our democratic back pocket — and it’s more effective than most people realize.

For perspective: Only about 40% of Americans say they’ve ever contacted an elected official in the past five years, according to a 2018 Pew Research Center report. That means most engaged citizens don’t ever contact their elected representatives.

Congressional offices track and log all constituent communications — calls, letters, emails, even social media messages — and they use that data to understand what issues matter to voters in their districts. Staffers sort correspondence by topic and tally how many constituents take a particular position; offices then share that information with lawmakers.

There’s also evidence that regular contact shifts how legislators see their districts’ priorities. Research shows that constituents who reach out repeatedly on an issue are more likely to be recognized by their member as relevant voices on that subject — and that visibility can influence policy advocacy and voting behavior.

Inside Capitol Hill offices, incoming correspondence can be overwhelming. Some Senate offices receive tens of thousands of messages on any given topic in a week. That means when lawmakers see patterns — spikes in calls or emails on an issue — it registers as a signal of urgency and priority from voters.

So your call or message isn’t just noise in an inbox that gets ignored. It’s data. And when enough data accumulates on a topic — from people in a representative’s own district — that data becomes part of the pressure lawmakers respond to.

One message. One topic.

When you contact your members of Congress, it’s important to focus on just one issue per message — whether you’re calling, emailing or using an advocacy tool like Resistbot.

Here’s why: Congressional offices log and categorize every message they receive. Staffers don’t just jot down “heard from a constituent.” They’re tallying those messages: What was the issue? Was the constituent for or against it?

If your message covers three or four topics, it’s harder to categorize cleanly — and it’s more likely your main point gets watered down or lost in the shuffle.

Even if you care about multiple issues (and most of us do), each one deserves its own spotlight. That might mean sending three emails or making a couple calls — but that clarity makes your communication more powerful and more likely to be counted accurately.

It’s also a signal to your elected officials that this issue matters enough to you to take the time. When staffers see multiple messages on the same topic from the same constituent, they know: this isn’t a passing thought. It’s a priority.

So, when you reach out, stay focused. Pick one issue. Be clear about your ask. If you have another issue to raise, send another message. They’ll notice.

This is how your voice becomes part of the record — and how pressure builds.

Stick to your own representatives — and help others do the same

When you’re reaching out, only contact your own elected officials — your two U.S. senators and your representative in the House. Congressional offices prioritize messages from their own constituents. If you don’t live in their district or state, your message is usually dismissed. (In many cases, you can’t send a message if you live outside the district.)

Not sure who represents you? You can look them up here.

All you need is your ZIP code (and sometimes your full address) to find the right names and official websites.

And here’s why sharing this guide matters: Your family and friends might have different representatives — especially those who live in other states. That means they have different people they can influence. When you encourage someone else to speak up — even if they live one town over — you’re expanding the map of pressure and making this advocacy work even harder.

But even if they share the same district as you, the more messages an office gets from constituents, the more seriously they take it.

So, how often should you speak up?

When it comes to contacting your elected officials about an issue, once is a great start — but don’t stop there.

If the issue is active (a bill in committee, a vote coming up or ongoing oversight), you can and should reach out regularly. Weekly is a good cadence if it’s something urgent or evolving. If the issue is more long-term, once a month is a strong way to stay on their radar without overwhelming your own schedule.

Daily messages can risk being filtered out as spam unless you’re varying the message or sharing updates (especially in email). But a consistent drumbeat — from you and others — keeps pressure on.

And remember: Lawmakers represent many people. Every single message counts, but patterns are what grab attention. If dozens of people in a district are contacting their senator weekly about one issue, staff will notice.

So, follow up. Send another note. Make another call. Stay focused, stay respectful — and keep showing up.

I personally send anywhere from one to four messages a week to my senators and representative. Sometimes I write the message myself. Other times, I use tools like Resistbot, which can help you send a quick message from your phone in under two minutes. And yes, sometimes I let AI help draft a first pass — then I edit it so it sounds like me.

Follow the same basic structure for any issue that matters to you:

• One message per issue

• Keep it short and direct

• Identify yourself and your ZIP code

• Make the ask

• Share a personal note if it’s relevant

• Include your contact info if you want a reply

You don’t need to sound polished or professional. You just need to be clear, respectful and persistent. Whether it’s immigration, public health, free speech or infrastructure, the process is the same — and it works best when we keep at it.

Tips for effective messaging

• Always include your voting address or at least your ZIP code. This confirms you’re a constituent.

• Be polite but firm. Staff track tone and content.

• Stick to the point. Aim for a message that’s short, direct and passionate.

• If you have a personal story, share it — briefly. It makes your ask more powerful.

• Don’t feel pressured to be eloquent. Speaking from the heart works.

Not sure about calling? Here’s what to know.

Calling your members of Congress is one of the most effective ways to be heard — but a lot of people feel nervous about calling people, especially when it comes to issues and the government. That’s totally normal.

The truth is, you probably won’t talk to anyone directly. Most congressional offices send calls straight to voicemail, especially when they’re getting a high volume. So you can just read a short message (scripted or not), say your name and ZIP code, make your ask and hang up. No debate. No confrontation.

If calling still feels like too much, don’t worry — email works just as well. Every message gets logged and sorted by issue, whether it’s a voicemail or a written note. Calls can feel a bit more urgent in the moment, but emails and contact forms are just as legitimate and easier to send regularly.

What matters most is that you speak up — in whatever way you’ll actually do it.
Your message doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.

How to call

You can reach your members of Congress by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

You’ll be prompted to enter your ZIP code or connect to a specific office.

Most of the time, you’ll get a voicemail — not a person — and that’s OK! Just leave your message clearly and briefly.

Here’s a sample script:

Hi, my name is [your full name], and I live in ZIP code [your ZIP code].
I’m calling to ask Sen./Rep. [Name] to [insert your ask — e.g., support efforts to defund ICE].
This matters to me because [brief personal reason or moral principle].
Please take action. Thank you for your time.
You can reach me at [email and/or phone] if you’d like to follow up.

Issue-based sample scripts for calling

Defund ICE

Option 1:

Hello, my name is [your name] and I’m a constituent from ZIP code [ZIP code]. I’m calling to urge you to support legislation that defunds ICE. The agency has a record of human rights abuses, and my tax dollars should not fund that. Please take action to redirect these funds to humane, community-based immigration programs. Thank you.

Option 2:

I’m [your name] from [city, ZIP code]. I’m asking you to stop funding ICE. Their practices are cruel, unaccountable and harmful to families. We need immigration policy rooted in dignity, not detention. I want you to vote no on any future ICE funding bills.

Get ICE out of Minnesota

Option 1:

This is [your name], a constituent in [ZIP code]. I’m calling to demand you take immediate action to get ICE out of Minnesota. Their presence is terrorizing immigrant communities and undermining public safety. I expect you to speak out and work toward ending contracts with local law enforcement.

Option 2:

I’m [your name] from [city, ZIP code]. I’m calling to say ICE has no place in Minnesota. Community trust is broken, and immigrant families are living in fear. You need to advocate for state and local leaders to sever ties with ICE now.

Make ICE accountable

Option 1:

Hi, I’m [your name] from [ZIP code]. I’m calling to demand full accountability for ICE. From forced sterilizations to wrongful detentions, their abuses must be investigated. I urge you to support oversight hearings and legislation requiring transparency and public reporting.

Option 2:

This is [your name] in [ZIP code]. ICE operates with virtually no accountability. Congress must act now to bring transparency, enforce oversight and hold this agency responsible for its actions.

Remove Kristi Noem from office

Option 1:

My name is [your name], I live in [ZIP code], and I’m calling to urge you to take a public stand calling for Kristi Noem’s removal from office. Her actions have undermined democratic norms and endangered public trust. We need leaders to hold each other accountable.

Option 2:

Hello, I’m [your name] from [city, ZIP code]. I’m urging you to demand Kristi Noem’s resignation. Her misconduct cannot be ignored. We need principled leadership in this country.

Protect the First Amendment — journalists should not be arrested

Option 1:

Hi, my name is [your name], and I’m a constituent from [ZIP code]. I’m calling to urge you to protect the First Amendment — especially the freedom of the press. While Don Lemon has been released, the fact that a journalist was arrested in the first place is deeply alarming. Congress must take steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Journalists should be protected, not punished, for doing their jobs.

Option 2:

This is [your Name] in [city, ZIP]. I’m calling because press freedom is under threat. The recent arrest of journalist Don Lemon — even though he’s now released — highlights a dangerous trend. I want you to speak out and support legislation or oversight that defends journalists and the First Amendment. Our democracy depends on a free and independent press.

DOJ is defying the Epstein Files Transparency Act — Congress must do something

Option 1:

I’m [your name], a constituent in [ZIP code], and I’m calling about the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The DOJ is defying Congress and the public by withholding information. We deserve the truth. I’m urging you to publicly pressure the DOJ and hold hearings if necessary.

Option 2:

Hello, this is [your name] from [ZIP code]. Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the DOJ is ignoring it. That’s unacceptable. I want you to demand enforcement and take steps to compel the release of those files. The public has a right to know.

How to email

To email your members of Congress, go to their official websites — each will have a contact form. This isn’t a standard email address; it’s a form where you’ll need to:

• Select your issue area

• Include your name, full address, email and phone number

• Type your message (best practice is to keep it under 1,000 characters)

There’s usually a checkbox to request a response.

Issue-based sample scripts for emailing

When you email your senators or representative through their website, you’ll be prompted to fill in your name, address, ZIP code and contact information before writing your message. That means your actual message can get straight to the point.

Below are copy-and-paste-ready scripts for some key issues. Each one is under 1,000 characters to fit within most web form limits. I’ve also included a suggested topic/category to choose from the drop-down menu you’ll see on their site.

Defund ICE

Topic to select: Immigration

I’m urging you to support efforts to defund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE has a long record of abusive practices, inhumane detention and a lack of oversight.

Our tax dollars should go toward community-based immigration services that treat people with dignity — not toward raids, detention, and cruelty. Please support legislation that redirects ICE funding into more humane alternatives.

Get ICE out of Minnesota

Topic to select: Immigration or State/Local Issues

I’m calling on you to take action to end ICE’s presence in Minnesota.

ICE is harming immigrant families and eroding community trust in our public institutions. I urge you to advocate for cutting ties between local agencies and federal immigration enforcement, and to block contracts that allow ICE to operate in our state.

Make ICE accountable

Topic to select: Government Oversight or Immigration

I urge you to demand full accountability and oversight of ICE.

There are ongoing reports of human rights violations, medical neglect and abuse — yet ICE continues to operate without transparency or consequences. Please support legislation that brings this agency under serious public and congressional scrutiny.

Call for Kristi Noem’s removal

Topic to select: Government Oversight or Ethics

Kristi Noem’s actions and ethics violations demand public accountability. Her behavior undermines the credibility of elected office and erodes public trust in government.

I urge you to publicly support her removal or resignation and advocate for clear consequences for elected officials who abuse power.

Protect the First Amendment

Topic to select: Civil Rights or Freedom of the Press

The recent arrest of journalist Don Lemon — even though he’s been released — highlights a disturbing trend: journalists being targeted for doing their jobs.

The First Amendment must be protected. Please speak out against these arrests and support measures that ensure a free and independent press cannot be silenced.

Enforce the Epstein Files Transparency Act

Topic to select: Government Transparency or Justice System

The DOJ is refusing to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Congress passed this law to ensure the public gets answers — and the DOJ is ignoring that mandate.

Please take immediate steps to hold the agency accountable and compel the release of these records.

Want to go deeper? You absolutely can and should.

If you have a personal story or a specific reason why an issue hits close to home — you should absolutely include it. That kind of detail can get flagged and passed up the chain. Even a sentence or two can elevate the message:

“As someone whose family member was detained by ICE, this issue is personal.”
“I’m a journalist, and Don Lemon’s arrest hit too close to home.”
“I’m a caregiver to someone with cancer…”
”I’m a cancer suvivor…”
”I watched my grandmother die from cancer…”
”My family depended on government assistance like SNAP…”

Adding something real, even briefly, makes it more memorable. But if someone doesn’t have a personal tie or doesn’t feel comfortable sharing it, the default scripts are still powerful.

Tell people. Invite them in. Keep it going.

Once you’ve called or emailed your elected officials, there’s one more powerful thing you can do: Get someone else to do it too.

That’s how advocacy becomes action. That’s how pressure builds.

Talk about it. Mention it to a friend over coffee. Text your group chat. Post about it on social. Let people know: “Hey, I sent a message to Congress today. You can too — here’s how.” Forward this newsletter if that’s easiest. Share a script. Offer to help someone write their first message.

You can even make it social:

• Host a “Cocktails & Congress” night where everyone brings a snack, a drink, and sends three messages.

• Turn it into a Sunday ritual — check the news, pick an issue, and call together.

• If you’re part of a community group or a book club, consider making civic advocacy part of the conversation.

We are more powerful when we act together. One voice is important. A few dozen voices from the same district? That’s when offices start paying closer attention. Lawmakers notice patterns — and those patterns start with you helping someone else speak up.

So don’t keep this to yourself. Advocacy is contagious. Let it spread.

And, finally…

If they will arrest a journalist for reporting the news, they will arrest you.

What is Pittsburgh without the Post-Gazette?

Like sands through the hourglass… the drama around the impending death of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette just keeps getting more convoluted.

On Jan. 7, Block Communications dropped a bomb on the region: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — a newspaper that’s been part of this community’s civic fabric for nearly 240 years — will publish its final edition May 3, and the entire operation will cease to exist.

This isn’t just another checkmark in the long casualty list of American journalism. This is the newspaper that defined reporting in Pittsburgh, that held power accountable and that offered depth few outlets even attempt anymore.

And soon, it will be gone.

How did the PG get here?

In July 2020, the Post-Gazette declared an impasse in contract negotiations with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh and unilaterally altered employees’ terms of employment, including health care. (Federal labor authorities later ruled those actions violated labor law.)

That decision sparked a newsroom strike on Oct. 18, 2022, that stretched on for more than three years, officially ending Nov. 13, 2025. PG journalists had been without a contract since 2017.

More recently, a federal appeals court upheld a ruling requiring the company to honor its labor obligations. Block Communications sought a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court. When the justices refused to grant it, the company chose closure over compliance.

The scramble to save something — anything

Since the Blocks refused to comply with the ruling, local groups and individuals have announced a flurry of plans — to expand coverage, remind readers they exist, build something new or attempt to acquire PG assets to keep something alive.

Nearly 50 newsroom staffers who did not strike have called for new union elections and proposed either saving the paper or starting a new one.

Those 49 staffers appear ready to bend the knee. “In today’s media landscape, we must be realistic, not idealistic,” they wrote collectively, adding that they want to “change the tone of our union’s relationship with the Post-Gazette.” Because that has ever worked well for unions.

In a separate effort, former Penguins executive Kevin Acklin is attempting to line up investors to convert the Post-Gazette into a nonprofit newsroom. In an interview with Axios Pittsburgh, Acklin said he had a “good opening conversation” with Allan Block, CEO of Block Communications.

“We feel strongly that converting to a nonprofit is a very attractive alternative to shutting down the Post-Gazette,” Acklin said. “I am hopeful the present ownership group recognizes the importance of the paper to the ongoing vitality of our city.”

His full letter to Block was published in a WESA story.

Meanwhile, the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh has launched its own initiative — Pittsburgh Alliance for People-Empowered Reporting, or PAPER — aimed at carrying forward the spirit of PG journalism outside Block ownership. The union recently held a virtual meeting that it says drew 145 attendees, despite technical hiccups.

“You made it very clear that you’re eager for an alternative to the Block-owned PG — for something that authentically connects our communities and better reflects the concerns of working-class people,” the guild wrote in a follow-up message. The group plans a public launch in the coming days.

And if all of that weren’t enough, the Tribune-Review announced it will launch a weekend “Pittsburgh” print edition starting May 9. A weekly printed summary of news is not a daily newsroom embedded in the region it serves. Trib staffers are already stretched thin covering Westmoreland County, the Alle-Kiski Valley and whatever drives clicks online.

(Also: why this wasn’t launched before the PG’s closure is anyone’s guess — and speaks volumes.)

A fractured news ecosystem

Pittsburgh won’t technically become a “news desert” when the Post-Gazette closes. There are other news outlets — and operations masquerading as news outlets — that all provide some level of journalism or information sharing.

Public Source. Next Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Magazine. CityCast Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. Pittsburgh Business Times. Axios Pittsburgh. Plus television and radio: KDKA-TV, WTAE, WPXI, WESA and KDKA Radio.

None of them offers the depth, breadth or daily accountability journalism the Post-Gazette once provided. Some, in fact, often rely on the PG for their own reporting.

That fragmentation has been happening for years as the paper downsized following circulation cuts, ad revenue losses and Block dysfunction: Suburban weeklies reduced to ad circulars, websites with little original reporting, influencer feeds posing as news, PR firms pushing spin, communications teams rebranded as “content creators.”

You already have to work to find real reporting on Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Removing the Post-Gazette doesn’t simplify the ecosystem — it makes it harder.

The PG’s decline also mirrors a national trend. Locally, the region has lost countless newspapers that once covered suburban communities, school boards and borough councils. With those losses went community calendars, nonprofit announcements and everyday civic information.

People used to look in one place to understand what was happening around them. Now they must subscribe to a patchwork of newsletters, Facebook groups and alerts — and still get less news.

Newspapers helped build community

“The local newspaper not only informs citizens but also helps build community among its readers,” Andrew Conte wrote in his 2022 book, “Death of the Daily News: How Citizen Gatekeepers Can Save Local Journalism,” which examined the closure of the McKeesport Daily News.

Conte references political scientist Robert Putnam’s “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community,” which argues that social capital — networks of trust and civic participation — has been eroding for decades. Putnam also found a link between newspaper readership and civic engagement.

Without newspapers, it becomes harder for people to share information, build trust and participate meaningfully in public life.

The trance we didn’t notice

Conte also cites media theorist Marshall McLuhan, who warned about society’s failure to recognize how new media reshape behavior.

“If we continue in our self-induced subliminal trance, we will be their slaves,” McLuhan said, referring to electronic media of the time — notably, television.

He died in 1980, three years before the internet.

Apply that logic to cable TV, video games, computers, smartphones, streaming, social media — and now AI. There may never have been a moment more hostile to shared facts and verified information than now.

A less informed public and fractured communities create fertile ground for misinformation, distrust and apathy. Chaos.

This isn’t nostalgia

I love news. I love newsrooms.

But this isn’t nostalgia. It’s a sober assessment from someone who’s worked in journalism and understands what quality reporting actually looks like — as both a journalist and a reader.

Pittsburgh’s civic discourse — what we know, what we debate, who we hold accountable — is poorer without its paper of record. In May, we’re going to find out just how much poorer.

Note: This post is published at BobbyCherry.com.

Hey, there—

I’m in recovery from sinus surgery — again. Ten-ish years after the first one. It hasn’t been easy. There’s been pain, discomfort and the ongoing struggle of trying to sleep at a 90-degree angle.

But I’m doing mostly OK.

My doctor is great. I trust him completely — even if sleeping upright for days post-op should be classified as a form of punishment. (It’s so difficult.)

I’m doing my best to rest, be gentle with myself and not rush it. That part has actually felt good — no meetings, no emails, no plans. Just rest.

It’s the first time in a long time (probably since my last surgery) I’ve given myself permission to truly do nothing. Because I have to.

I’ve been joking that I’m living like my Sims when I use the “motherlode” cheat code (iykyk) — mostly just moving from one room to another, cooking occasionally and sometimes changing clothes for no reason. Sul sul!

🍒

What ‘Friends’ accidentally preserved about the ’90s and early ‘00s

I’ve been rewatching “Friends” during my recovery.

What stands out isn’t so much the jokes, the fashion or even the apartments (though, all great!).

The show has been a weird reminder of how much day-to-day life has changed — not in big, dramatic ways (although…that, too), but in all the small, ordinary ones we barely noticed at the time.

The world of the show runs on things that either don’t exist anymore or barely matter now.

Landline phones. Answering machines. VHS tapes.

Newspapers and magazines you actually had to buy, hold and flip through.

Calling someone’s house and hoping they were home, or talking with their family member or roommate instead.

Coffee shops as true third places, where people sit for hours with nothing to do except talk.

Cell phones are rare, and when they do eventually appear, they’re a novelty. (Ross had a beeper for when ex-wife Carol went into labor.)

Being unreachable is normal.

Photos live in physical albums, on walls or in film yet to be developed.

“I often wish I could have experienced that period as an adult. It had just the right amount of technology,” a Reddit user wrote in a post asking if others also watch to “escape” for the ‘90s/early ‘00s vibe the show has. “I love the scenes where characters use landline phones, leave funny voicemail messages or scribble notes on a magnetic drawing board. There’s something so charming about the absence—or primitive state—of smartphones, laptops and social media. Games involved pen and paper. Conversations happened face-to-face. It felt real.”

It’s not that everything was better — plenty of it was inconvenient, especially by today’s standards.

But it was different. Slower (even if people back then didn’t think so).

Less optimized. Less algorithmized.

You couldn’t instantly clear up a misunderstanding, track someone’s location or fill every quiet moment with a screen.

Watching it now feels like looking at a familiar life with the Ghost of Christmas Past sitting beside me.

“I have three kids, and my youngest is 20, but when she was in high school, and it first went on Netflix, her friends said to her, ‘Did you see that new show called Friends?’” Marta Kauffman, who created the series with David Crane, told ET in 2021. “They thought it was a period piece about the ‘90s. Isn’t that great?”

I doubt “Friends” set out to document a disappearing world — it just happened to capture one right before it changed.

‘Most Pittsburgh institution’ to cease operations

After nearly 240 years of operation, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — an institution older than the U.S. Constitution — will be no more.

(The Pittsburgh Gazette, as it was then known, was first published on July 29, 1786.)

The owners of the newspaper — the Blocks — decided that instead of doing what’s right by company employees, this region, democracy and journalism, closing the storied keeper of facts was apparently the best option.

You can read all about the ongoing labor issues here, here, here, here and here. (My favorite headline came from The Keystone, telling the hard facts: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ceases operations in order to break union.)

In a column paying homage to the newspaper and its legacy, editorial page editor Brandon McGinley said the PG is the “most Pittsburgh institution in the city.”

“That’s because while U.S. Steel captures the history and the Steelers capture the culture of this scrappy part of the world, the newspaper is the crossroads of everything: culture, politics, society, business, food, sports.”

He’s not wrong.

With all of the pomp and circumstance that Pittsburgh notables will give the PG and the PG will likely give to itself over the next few months before it ends May 3, there’s a very important story of capitalism and greed that might conveniently be forgotten in a lot of those retrospectives (as was forgotten in McGinley’s piece).

Former Post-Gazette staffer Kim Lyons highlights some of the insidious behavior of the Blocks in a recent piece she published on her “General Assignment” Substack, including this one:

“JR Block came to the newsroom apparently intoxicated one evening in 2019, accompanied by his young daughter, and yelled at the crying child, ‘You’re a Block, you’re not one of them, and, ‘Do you want to be high class or low class? You’re a Block, you’re one of us!’”

As she notes, “Pittsburgh deserves better than what the Post-Gazette owners had to offer.”

Virginia Montanez, known as “PittGirl” back when the internet and social media were fun, tore the Blocks to shreds in a post on her “Breathing Space” Substack: “You create nothing. You leave nothing. You are parasites who are no longer welcome in Pittsburgh where we now have to mourn that which you murdered.”

Wegmans could be watching you … and they’re not the only ones

When I first read CityCast Pittsburgh’s Jan. 15 newsletter, I was in a little bit of a panic. Tucked at the end, editor/host/friend Megan Harris shared a “cautionary” food tale from New York City and wondered if the same could happen in Western Pennsylvania.

At issue: Wegmans began announcing in its NYC stores that it is collecting biometric data on shoppers.

Gothamist was first to report it.

(Wegmans will finally open a store in the Pittsburgh region any year now, the company announced about one year ago. The company already has two locations in Erie County and one in Centre County.)

Facial recognition isn’t new. Governments, police departments, businesses and even entertainment venues have used the controversial technology for more than a decade.

Walmart, Kroger and Home Depot are all known to use the surveillance technology, CNN reports.

“Probably virtually every large and medium-sized retailer is using biometrics,” Adam Pollock, an attorney representing the lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against the New York Mets over biometric data collection at Citi Field, told CNN.

Companies don’t like to talk about it, he said, because “Americans are pretty universally squeamish about facial (and) biometric recognition.”

But the uproar over Wegmans’ use of it prompted the usually “notoriously media-shy” (as CNN correctly noted) company to issue a news release.

The company claims the technology is “solely used for keeping our stores secure and safe. The system collects facial recognition data and only uses it to identify individuals who have been previously flagged for misconduct. We do not collect other biometric data such as retinal scans or voice prints. Images and video are retained only as long as necessary for security purposes and then disposed of. For security reasons, we do not disclose the exact retention period, but it aligns with industry standards.”

Thanks to a 2021 law, businesses in NYC are required to disclose if they are collecting or storing biometric information on patrons. Similar legislation has stalled at the state level. And if New York State lawmakers can’t even figure it out, you know few areas around the country have.

Rite Aid (RIP) was banned from using the technology for a period of five years beginning in 2023 because the Federal Trade Commission determined the then-operational drug store chain falsely accused customers of crimes and unfairly targeted people of color.

“Rite Aid’s failures caused and were likely to cause substantial injury to consumers, and especially to Black, Asian, Latino, and women consumers,” the FTC said.

Briefly…

🛬 You can soon hop off the plane at L.A.X. with a Smiley Cookie and a Terrible Towel. United Airlines announced Friday that it will offer daily, year-round nonstop service between Pittsburgh International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport beginning March 29. Read more from Blue Sky News, the public relations site of the Pittsburgh airport.

👑 Social media personality Dylan Mulvaney will step into the role of Anne Boleyn in “SIX: The Musical” on Broadway. In an Instagram post Friday, the musical wrote, “Losing our heads to introduce your newest Anne Boleyn!” (BTW, Dylan liked my comment on the post, tyvm.)

📚 A New York City bookstore offers pickles in exchange for donating books. (Yes, you read that right.) And, it’s not new, the USA Today explained. Sweet Pickle Books has been offering a jar of its self-branded pickles when people donate books and records on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The store started doing this shortly after opening in 2020.

And, finally…

Just three dinosaurs hangin’ aht.

Duncan, on the left, has to be one of my favorite mascot friends. He’s from Sandcastle. Duke, on the right, is from Dutch Wonderland … and Idlewild Park.

Hey, there—

Somehow, here we are again—reflecting on the year that was and (cautiously) looking ahead at the year to come.

2025 was a mess in more ways than one for so many.

Everything around me felt like it was on fire most of the time. But strangely, I was good. Like that dog in the meme, “this is fine.”

And somehow, it actually was for me.

This year gave me moments I want to hold onto. I think daily about my trip to Provincetown and Cape Cod. I checked off a new state in November — Arizona.

And now we’re hours from 2026. No fresh start, no magic reset button—just a slightly quieter season and a chance to continue asking: What actually matters? What do I want more of? What can I let go of? (A quest that’s been my focus for a few years now.)

I don’t have a list of resolutions. I’m not overpromising to myself. But I am walking into the new year with a little more clarity and a little less noise.

Here’s to carrying forward what works, leaving the rest and finding small pockets of joy—no matter what’s on fire.

🍒

‘Auld Lang Syne’ is a song of ‘reunion, not parting’

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, “Auld Lang Syne” remains a fixture in celebrations around the world. The centuries-old Scottish song was popularized globally in the 20th century.

First written down by poet Robert Burns in 1788, the phrase translates “old, long since.” Edinburgh’s Poet Laureate Michael Pedersen says that loosely translates to “for old times’ sake.”

“It’s a song of reunion, not parting,” he told CNN. “It’s about celebrating happy days gone by and the glorious bonfire in the belly when you come back together.”

Retail we lost in 2025

Several well-known brands bid farewell this year, as Jordan Valinsky (a Pittsburgh native, by the way) reports for CNN.

• Jo-Ann Stores, which began in 1943 as Cleveland Fabric Shop and which you likely knew as Jo-Ann Fabrics, closed in February. Michaels picked up some portions of Joann’s former business.

• Rite Aid, which had ties to Pittsburgh and Erie through its legacy under Thrift Drug and Eckerd, ended its long run in October.

And while other brands are still around, many closed or will close dozens or hundreds of locations, including Pittsburgh-based Dick’s Sporting Goods, which announced it will close a number of Foot Locker locations.

• Wendy’s plans to shut down hundreds of underperforming stores next year.

• Starbucks will close hundreds of stores next year.

• Despite announcing its restaurants are “here to stay,” Hooters closed dozens of locations in June, two months after filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

• Saks Global said it’s not ruling out a Chapter 11 filing next year. The luxury retail group owns Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

The year that was in news

Some local news outlets put their usual year-in-review stories together. Here are just a few that I read:

• Pittsburgh City Paper news editor Colin Williams highlights his favorite stories of 2025, including “Vision Zero Summit proves Pittsburgh is a rising star in the world of mobility.”

• CP Staff writer Rachel Wilkinson also noted her favorite stories from 2025, which include “Is Station Square on its death bed, or just about to resurrect?”

• Under the “Valley News Dispatch” (?) nameplate, the Trib/TribLive/PghTrib/WhoKnows detailed the 25 most-clicked stories.

• Pittsburgh’s Public Source put together an interesting design to showcase its year-in-review coverage.

Here’s The New York Times’ look back at the year through photos, which the newspaper titled, “Reflections of Turbulent Times.” And that sums that up.

In memoriam: Those we lost in 2025

If you’re like me, you saw an “in memoriam” story and were shocked at the number of people whose deaths this year you didn’t know about.

• Wayne Osmond, singer and guitarist for The Osmonds, died in January. He was 73.

• Gene Hackman died in February at 95.

• Michelle Trachtenberg, known for roles in “Gossip Girl” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” died in February. She was 39.

• Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Roberta Flack also died in February. She was 88.

• George Foreman, the boxing-turned-TV pitchman, died in March. He was 76.

• Val Kilmer, known for “Top Gun” and “Batman Forever,” was 65 when he died in April.

• George Wendt, best known as Norm from “Cheers,” died in May. He was 76.

• Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson, 82, died in June.

• Pop rock performer (and Moon High School alum) Lou Christie died in June. He was 82.

• In July, “The Cosby Show” star Malcolm-Jamal Warner died at 54, Ozzy Osbourne was 76 and jazz legend Chuck Mangione was 84.

• Loni Anderson, star of “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died in August. She was 79.

• Fashion icon Giorgio Armani died in September at 91.

• Ernest Hemingway’s last surviving child, Patrick Hemingway, also died in September. He was 97.

• Renowned conservationist Jane Goodall was 91 when she died in October.

• Diane Keaton died in October. She was 79.

• Susan Stamberg considered the “founding mother” of National Public Radio, was 87 when she died in October.

• June Lockhart, a Golden Age of Hollywood actress known for her roles in “Lassie,” “A Christmas Carol” and “Meet Me in St. Louis,” died in October. She was 100.

• Jimmy Kimmel’s bandleader Cleto Escobedo III died in November. He was 59.

• Anthony Geary, best known as Luke on “General Hospital,” died in December. He was 78.

• Tatiana Schlossberg, journalist and granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, died in December. She was 35.

Read more stories of those who died in 2025 from these news outlets:

• AARP shares stories of more 2025 celebrity deaths.

• Buzzfeed lists 47 celebrity deaths from the year.

• AP includes politicians and other notable figures.

Notable Pittsburgh area deaths

Here are some of the notable deaths of people who are from the region or contributed in some way to Western Pennsylvania.

• Mike Lange, longtime Penguins radio broadcaster, died in February at 76

• Longtime KDKA-TV host and weatherman Jon Burnett died in February. He was 71.

• Bruno Tambellini, a Lucca, Italy, native whose last name became synonymous with Italian food in Western Pennsylvania, died in February. He was 99.

• Craig Wolfley, former Steelers lineman turned broadcaster, died in March at 66.

• Burton Tansky, whose storied retail career began at Kaufmann’s before leadership roles at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and CEO of Neiman Marcus, died in March at 87.

• Ray Shero, the former Penguins general manager who led the team through its first Stanley Cup victory in the Sidney Crosby era in 2009, died in April. He was 62.

• Judith Dodd, a nationally recognized nutritionist and founder of the Allegheny County Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, died in May. She was 85.

• Mary Catherine “Mary Kay” Poppenberg, who founded the Pittsburgh Film Office and was a key figure in bringing the Hollywood film industry to Pittsburgh, including “The Silence of the Lambs” and “Striking Distance,” died in June at 85.

• Jack Etzel, known for his “Etzel at Large” and “Jack of all Trades” segments on WPXI-TV, died in June at 91.

• Jimmy Joe Robinson, the first Black varsity football player at Pitt, died in July at 97.

• Mark Barash, a longtime WPXI-TV director who brought shows like “Jeopardy,” “Wheel of Fortune” and “Judge Judy” to Pittsburgh, died in September. He was 70.

• Frank Yankello, who co-owned Yankello’s Radio and Television in Sewickley for 57 years, died in September. He was 88.

• Maggie Patterson, a Pittsburgh native and Duquesne University journalism professor who was a trailblazer for women pursuing a journalism career, died in November at 80.

• Squirrel Hill native and sign expert Steve Gerson died in December.

And, finally…

Hey, there—

I keep waiting for U.S. journalists to stop hiding.

For U.S. newsrooms to step forward and face this moment with honesty — to name what’s happening without fear or hesitation.

We’re watching a political movement grow more extreme and more willing to undermine democracy itself.

That’s not just another campaign story. It’s a defining test of what journalism is for.

Yet, too often, coverage downplays what’s really at risk, softening the reality of how serious this moment has become.

I don’t say that with anger — I say it with understanding.

Newsrooms today are stretched thin, working under immense pressure to stay afloat, to sound neutral, to avoid alienating anyone.

The fear of backlash is real, and so is the exhaustion.

But journalism was never meant to be comfortable.

It was meant to be truthful.

And, right now, truth requires courage — the kind that cuts through fear.

I miss working in news.

I miss the people who care, who try and who still believe in the mission.

But I’m grateful I stepped away when I did.

Because I’ve watched journalism not just shrink, but retreat.

From boldness.

From truth-telling.

From the responsibility to serve the public, not cater to power.

We need a press that’s brave again (Make Journalism Brave Again?) — willing to stand up when it matters.

🍒

‘Plenary authority’: Stephen Miller said the quiet part out loud — and few American news outlets told the story

Few news outlets covered Stephen Miller’s wild moment Monday on live TV when he said Trump had “plenary authority” over the military.

“Under Title 10 of the US Code, the president has plenary authority. Has —”

— Stephen Miller on CNN

He then appeared to act as though he was frozen, though his eyes continued to blink and his body continued to move. It was obvious he was not frozen, though it appeared he tried to remain still.

CNN host Boris Sanchez claimed there were technical difficulties.

“It seems, Stephen, I apologize. It seems like we’re having a technical issue. We’ll try to fix that and get back to you after a quick break,” Sanchez said.

CNN claims a technical glitch had an audio feed from another channel playing in Miller’s in-ear monitor. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

CNN also said that a portion of the interview was cut from re-uploads due to time. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Unless you read one of a handful of news outlets, you likely didn’t know about this.

In fact, most of the information shared above came from ABC News — but not that ABC News.

Nope.

It was the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s news division that had the most detailed story.

The New York Times poorly covered the slip-up by sowing the seeds of doubt with online “conspiracy theories.”

The Times’ story clearly doesn’t take Miller’s gaffe seriously with this line: “But by that point, the internet was doing what the internet does.”

This isn’t just the internet doing what the internet does.

This is a fascist leader claiming the president has absolute power over the military.

By the way, if you’re wondering, no, Trump does not have plenary power.

Title 10 only allows a president to call the National Guard into federal service when the country “is invaded” or when there is “a rebellion or danger of rebellion” against the authority of the government. (For example, if Qatar were to, say, invade the United States.)

People dressed as dancing frogs, peacocks and unicorns are not a <checks notes> rebellion.

If you don’t open the NBC News link in the graf above, know that this is the lede and it is amazing: “A small group of federal agents in camouflage and face masks watched from atop the immigration processing center Thursday night as a unicorn, peacock, dinosaur and raccoon danced to Cher’s ‘If I Could Turn Back Time.’”

Other coverage

HuffPo had strong coverage.

But the Tegna flagship station — WUSA-TV (a CBS affiliate) in D.C. — had a terrible headline: “Stephen Miller’s comments on presidential powers spark search interest in ‘plenary authority.’” It makes it sound like he didn’t even say it.

A new kind of marriage is resonating with some queer people

Millennials and Gen Z are reviving the concept of lavender marriages.

Once used by closeted Hollywood actors to maintain a heterosexual public image, the term now describes intentional partnerships between queer individuals seeking emotional connection, financial stability and chosen family.

One example is Anna Muller, a TikTok creator who gained attention this year after sharing that she married her gay best friend, Queerty.com reported.

It should be noted that Muller’s marriage is technically not considered “lavender” but “rainbow” — two bisexual or queer people in a marriage.

Experts point to several factors behind this shift, including economic pressures, social isolation, and a growing emphasis on chosen family structures.

“For a generation that’s dealing with sky-high living costs and social isolation, lavender marriages have evolved into something that’s not just about hiding but about creating stability, connection and shared support,” relationship expert Channa Bromley told Mashable in an interview last year.

While there’s limited data on how common these partnerships are, sociologists say they reflect a broader redefinition of commitment among some LGBTQ+ individuals.

Experts caution that navigating nontraditional unions requires clear boundaries and ongoing communication, particularly as personal identities continue to evolve.

And then there were none

Rite Aid has closed its last stores.

“All Rite Aid stores have now closed. We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support,” the company’s website reads, alongside information on how to obtain pharmacy records.

The company, which at its peak had about 5,000 stores nationwide, shut down operations at its remaining 89 stores by Oct. 3.

Founded in Scranton in 1962, Rite Aid was once one of the largest drug store chains in the country.

As the New York Times notes, about a third of pharmacies closed between 2010 and 2021. The newspaper cited the journal Health Affairs, and said that other giant drug stores like CVS and Walgreens have closed about 1,000 stores each in recent years.

Its final CEO — Matt Schroeder — now lists himself as chief financial officer at carwash company Spotless Brands.

• A former Rite Aid location in the city of Pittsburgh will become a Sheetz, Kim Salinetro, chief of staff for Pittsburgh Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, wrote in a Facebook post in August.

Rite Aid’s connections to Erie and Pittsburgh

Like just about everything else, Rite Aid has ties to Western Pennsylvania.

While the drug store industry can be confusing due to divestitures, many Rite Aid locations were once Eckerd or Thrift Drug locations.

Eckerd was founded in Downtown Erie in 1898 (the same year as Kennywood!) in the same building that now houses Plymouth Tavern. In those days, it was known as Erie Cut-Rate Medicine Store.

Thrift Drug opened its first stores in the Pittsburgh suburbs of Sewickley and Bellevue in 1935.

Both Eckerd and Thrift Drug remained active in-name-only subsidiaries of Rite Aid through its closure.

Other things to know…

Economy

• As the public sours on his economic performance, Trump tries playing make-believe (MSNBC)

• Wall Street tumbles in its worst day since April after Trump threatens more tariffs on China (PBS)

• Why soaring gold prices could be a warning sign for the economy (ABC News — the American one)

News about the news

• Illinois Press Association CEO resigns after dispute over ICE lawsuit (Northwestern University’s Medill Local News Initiative)

• Journalists at 3 newspapers quit over edits to a Charlie Kirk story (NYT)

• The Pittsburgh Downtown Media Hub is a novel way for funders to support local news (Poynter)

Pennsylvania

• Wawa and Sheetz tied at No. 2 for customer satisfaction in national survey (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Erie Maritime Museum hosts scientists exploring bottom of lake (Erie Times-News)

• University of Pittsburgh launches world’s first center to study horror genre (WESA)

Entertainment

• ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ 30th anniversary reunion special to honor late stars Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle (Entertainment Weekly)

• Tina Fey and Seth Meyers make surprise ‘Weekend Update’ appearance with Amy Poehler on ‘SNL’ (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Dick Van Dyke says ‘Mary Poppins’ author didn’t think he or Julie Andrews were ‘right’ for the movie (People)

And, finally…

peek-a-boo!

Hey, there—

It’s been a minute — July 13, to be exact. Not that anyone was counting. I kept meaning to do another newsletter, but between the constant drumbeat of bad news and the pull of summer, I stepped back for a bit. Sometimes you have to live in the moment.

But it’s hard to ignore what’s happening. We’re no longer on the edge of fascism — we’re living in it. And yet, the news coverage around Trump continues as if this is all business as usual. His latest executive order targeting flag burning? Unconstitutional, plain and simple. But it barely made a ripple. At the same time, we’re seeing cuts to cancer research, vaccine development and more — all buried under a pile of chaos.

It’s intentional: flood the zone, keep people distracted and hope no one notices what’s really being dismantled.

What’s most unsettling isn’t just the regime’s actions — it’s the collective shrug from the American people. Too many are tuning out, hoping things will sort themselves out. But silence only makes space for more damage.

Still, I believe it’s not too late. If we’re willing to face what’s in front of us, speak up and stay engaged, we can push back.

btw, 117 days until Christmas. (Gotta keep my trademark vibes going.) You’re welcome.

🍒

‘Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married 🧨’

Have you heard? A woman from Berks County, Pennsylvania, is going to marry a man from Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

There’s actually been some fun — and interesting — stories come out following the engagement announcement from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

This couple predicted Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship 5 years ago

My favorite story is from the New York Times, which featured a couple who dressed as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce for Halloween in 2020 — a few years before Travis tried giving Taylor a friendship bracelet with his number on it. Makayla Stephens joked on Instagram that night about the unlikely pairing, only for it to come true years later. When the engagement news dropped, her post resurfaced and fans flooded her comments calling her a psychic and a time traveler.

Many comments suggest the couple should be invited to the wedding. Makayla told the NYT, “I just got my Real ID, so they can do a background check, like, whatever you guys need. I’m good to attend wherever it is. I’ll sign any NDAs. I’ll do whatever, just let me know.”

The big moments from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s love story

Another story from the New York Times chronicled their love story, including his failed friendship bracelet idea, lol.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce make their first public appearance after getting engaged

USA Today’s Taylor Swift reporter (yes, that’s a real gig. No, I did not apply for it when they opened it, but many people thought I should have) Bryan West shared details of their first public outing since the engagement announcement.

It was, of course, at Arrowhead Stadium.

JD Vance ‘worried’ the NFL will have ‘a Super Bowl wedding’ for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

LOL, what?

The vice president of vacationing says he’s “worried” about what the engagement will do for the NFL. Or, rather, what the NFL will do because of the engagement.

L. O. L.

He also referred to Taylor as “maybe the most famous woman in the world.” He almost gets it.

Just a thought, but if you’re the vice president of the United States and your first inclination is to think that someone will rig something massive like the NFL for a wedding…maybe you have a guilty conscience?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Longest-running Rafiki says goodbye to ‘The Lion King’

After more than 9,000 performances, Tshidi Manye bids farewell to the popular Broadway show. Sunday is her last performance.

Manye first appeared as Rafiki in the Toronto production of Disney’s hit musical in 2000.

Most of her performances have been with the Broadway company, making her Broadway debut in 2004.

Is she leaving the show forever, though?

“Here’s the thing,” Manye told the New York Times. “You never leave ‘The Lion King.’ I’m pretty sure that if they call me two days after I’ve left and say, ‘Tshidi, we want you to come in for a second,’ I will jump and be here, no matter what.”

Other things to know…

Economy

• 3 ways tariffs are impacting retailers (Retail Dive)

• Trump facing 'self-inflicted disaster,' Nobel Prize-winning economist says (Newsweek)

• America’s economy runs on data. What Trump’s firing of a top data chief means for California (CalMatters)

Pennsylvania

• Gates will be installed at I-79 and I-90 on-ramps in Erie County (Erie Times-News)

• Pa. water supply could be strained by new data centers, freshwater overseers warn (WITF)

• Meet Tom Cillo, the 58-year-old retired freshman playing on the Lycoming College football team (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Entertainment

• Fake videos of ‘General Hospital’ star Steve Burton allegedly scam woman out of over $80k: 'I thought I was in love' (Entertainment Weekly)

• Cruel ‘SNL’ summers: Cast overhauls are a time-honored ritual (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Sabrina Carpenter drops new album 'Man's Best Friend' with a warning: 'It is not for the pearl clutchers' (Yahoo)

And, finally…

Big duck, tall ships

Hello, dear readers,

I used to think boredom was something to avoid at all costs.

Pre-COVID, I packed my life full.

Work, volunteering, projects — all good things, but I almost never stopped moving.

If I had a free hour, I likely filled it with something.

Being busy felt like proof that I was doing something right. I was helping others. I was helping to report on more news. I was doing something good.

Then the world stopped.

And, honestly? I welcomed the quiet. I didn’t panic.

I think I was already burning out and just hadn’t admitted it to myself yet.

The stillness felt like relief.

Of course, that time was heavy — full of fear, grief and uncertainty. Like everyone else, I was worried and processing loss in real time.

But alongside all of that, the sudden quiet gave me something I didn’t know I needed.

For the first time in years, I could hear myself think.

I wasn’t rushing.

I wasn’t overbooking.

I wasn’t focused on productivity.

I was just... still.

And it was exactly what I needed.

At the end of 2022, I left my full-time journalism job.

There were a bunch of reasons, but one of them was this need for space — to slow down, to reset, to figure out what mattered to me outside of constant deadlines.

Now, five years out from that big pause, I’m still learning how valuable doing “nothing” really is.

I don’t fill every minute.

My phone’s on “do not disturb” just about all of the time. Most of the app notifications are off.

I still doomscroll Instagram more than I’d like, but even that feels different when it’s not jammed in between a hundred things.

I’m learning that boredom isn’t failure. It’s breathing room.

It’s where real thoughts show up, and where my voice finally gets a word in. Which — let’s be honest — is both enlightening and mildly terrifying. (Turns out, I have a lot to say to myself when I’m not drowning in notifications.)

So, if you’re tired and your brain feels full but fuzzy, maybe boredom isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s the answer.

🍒

Can men and women be just friends?

Yes.

No need to even click the link (it’s paywalled anyway) from The Economist.

And if you can’t just be friends with someone without there being a romantic attraction, that’s on you. Moving on.

Target continues missing its … well, target

The retail giant that, in January, announced it would cut diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives — including promoting Black-owned businesses, sourcing products from Black suppliers and participating in the Human Rights Campaign survey — continues to struggle.

The number of customers visiting Target stores per location in the first quarter of the year declined by 4.8% year-over-year.

In the first quarter of 2025, comparable sales decreased by 3.8%, with comparable store sales declining by 5.7%, according to the company’s earnings report.

However, Target refused to acknowledge in its earnings report that widespread boycotts of the company are to blame, referring only to “a challenging environment.”

In its second quarter investor letter, ClearBridge Investments, an investment management company, also ignored the boycotts, saying Target has been “challenged by continued shifts in consumer spending away from discretionary categories.”

Small business retirement crisis looms as baby boomers age out

Nancy Forster-Holt, a business professor writing for The Conversation, warns that aging small business owners across the U.S. are facing a retirement crisis with sweeping economic consequences.

With boomers owning 2.3 million U.S. businesses that employ nearly 25 million people, Forster-Holt says the lack of succession planning is a looming crisis.

Many owners plan to sell their businesses to fund retirement, but just 20 percent are market-ready, and current economic headwinds—high inflation, borrowing costs and weak buyer interest — are making exits harder.

Policymakers often focus on flashy startups, ignoring the quieter backbone businesses at risk of simply shutting down.

Forster-Holt argues that retirement planning support should be baked into small business policy from the start.

That includes building exit infrastructure, stabilizing tax policy and considering the ripple effects of public budget cuts on regional business ecosystems.

Candymakers holding out against RFK Jr.’s pressure

As the measles outbreak surges, RFK Jr. has continued to push companies into removing synthetic dyes.

But there’s at least one holdout: Candymakers.

While Nestle, ConAgra, Kraft Heinz, General Mills and PepsiCo have agreed to remove synthetic dyes despite limited research backing up RFK Jr.’s claims, a spokesperson for the National Confectioners Association, a candymakers’ trade group, told the New York Times the group “will continue to follow regulatory guidance from the authorities in this space.”

In 2027, Texas will require warning labels on food and drinks that contain certain additives. That includes the dye used to make M&M’s, NYT said.

The following year, in 2028, West Virginia, citing potential health risks, will ban foods containing most artificial food dyes and two preservatives.

What’s causing this uproar over food dyes? Despite limited research, there is a belief that artificial dyes are linked to behavioral problems in children.

The quiet revolt, already underway: Where the world has already moved beyond capitalism

This week’s “Deeper Dive” from Andrew Springer at Novice News is usually just for paid subscribers — but he made this one free. And I’m glad he did.

It’s a sharp breakdown of something I think about often: What it would actually take to move beyond capitalism — not in some abstract, burn-it-all-down way, but practically.

Springer walks through real-world examples, like Sweden’s Meidner Plan in the ’70s, which aimed to transfer corporate control to workers over time. Or the UK’s 2019 Inclusive Ownership Fund proposal under Jeremy Corbyn.

Both were democratic. Both were feasible.

Both scared the hell out of the rich.

He also points to examples already in motion here in the U.S. — from the publicly owned Bank of North Dakota to the VA health system to Alaska’s Permanent Fund.

Give it a read.

Other things to know…

Changing this up this week…Here’s a look at other stories I’ve read recently:

Economy

• Dollar Tree completed its sale of Family Dollar to two private equity firms for about $1 billion, Retail Dive reports. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar for $8.5 billion over a decade ago.

• A new CNBC analysis ranks the ten weakest U.S. state economies in 2025, with Alaska, Mississippi and Kansas landing at the bottom. These states face headwinds like declining oil prices, weak job growth, overreliance on federal funding and vulnerability to tariffs.

Pennsylvania

• The Department of Justice has asked Pennsylvania election officials to provide detailed information on how the state maintains its voter rolls, WESA reports. In a June 23 letter, the DOJ requested data on voter registration additions, removals and access controls as part of a broader review of compliance under the guise of the Help America Vote Act. Similar inquiries were sent to other states, raising eyebrows of election integrity and voting rights experts ahead of the 2026 election.

• As many as 150,000 Pennsylvanians could lose their health insurance coverage in 2026 if Congress fails to renew enhanced premium tax credits, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Pennie, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, projects average premiums could spike 82 percent next year once the federal subsidies expire. The potential increase comes alongside new federal rules requiring customers to pay full price until income is verified, which could leave another 100,000 temporarily uninsured.

• An Erie restaurant that called its staff “doms” and mistresses,” offered sensually indulgent decor and required diners to pay in advance for their four-course vegan meal at about $100 per person is set to close just 10 months after opening, the Erie Times-News reports. Sauce Vegan Ristorante — which had a list of rules including no phones and an all black dress guest code — will transition to a food truck.

• Jenny Lee Breakfast Nook is set to celebrate its grand opening July 16, WPXI/Pittsburgh Business Times reports. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because the restaurant, which will serve Turner’s Iced Tea during its breakfast and lunch hours, is connected to the 150-year-old McKees Rocks-based Jenny Lee Bakery, which has been known as 5 Generation Bakers since 2009. Read more about the menu from Pittsburgh magazine.

• Olympic sailor Sarah Newberry Moore gave birth at UPMC Hamot in Erie after doctors successfully delayed her premature labor by 11 days, the Erie Times-News reports.

Entertainment

• MAGA actor Dean Cain says James Gunn made a “mistake” calling Superman an “immigrant,” asking, “how woke is Hollywood going to make this character?” The movie soared to a $217 million global opening. Sorry, Dean Cain – of course, Superman is woke, he fights injustice, The Guardian’s Betsy Reed writes.

And, finally…

Booms over the bay.

Hello, dear readers,

This week, America celebrates freedom. But what exactly are we celebrating?

I spent part of the weekend at Erie Pride. And what I saw was beautiful — people showing up for their LGBTQ kids, friends, coworkers and neighbors.

People who just want to exist without being told they’re a threat or a political talking point. People who just want to stay alive.

But in a nearby marina, there were boats with “Trump won” flags waving in the wind like they meant something righteous.

They don’t.

Those flags don’t stand for freedom.

They don’t stand for peace or patriotism.

The flags do stand for harm.

The flags represent a movement that’s actively working to take rights and dignity away from LGBTQ people — especially trans youths.

That’s not hyperbole.

Republicans are rolling back LGBTQ protections at every level. School boards. Municipal government. County councils. Statehouses. Congress.

It’s coordinated, it’s strategic and it’s happening out in the open.

Book bans. Drag bans. Theater performances shut down. Health care blocked.

Pride flags debated like they’re dangerous.

These aren’t isolated incidents.

They’re part of a broader plan.

And LGBTQ people are paying the price.

So when Republicans talk about “freedom,” ask who they mean. Because for a lot of people, that word doesn’t hold up.

And while the people doing harm are loud, too many others are staying quiet.

Supporting “the nice Republican” on your school board helps them.

Eating at Chick-fil-A helps them.

Shopping at Target helps them.

Shrugging this off like it’s just political noise helps them.

Silence always helps them.

What’s happening now is serious.

And if it doesn’t make you uncomfortable, it should.

🍒

P.S. This newsletter intro was adapted from this post at BobbyCherry.com.

Patriotism is on a steep decline

This should come as a surprise to nobody, just in time for America to celebrate its “independence.”

Just 58 percent of Americans say they’re “extremely” or “very” proud to be American, according to a new Gallup poll, marking one of the lowest levels recorded since the organization began tracking national pride in 2001.

The drop is sharpest among Democrats and Gen Z.

Only 36 percent of Democrats express strong national pride, compared to 92 percent of Republicans.

The partisan gap—now 56 points—is the widest Gallup has measured.

Among age groups, Gen Z reports the least pride (around 40 percent). Meanwhile, 75 percent of Boomers are extremely or very proud to be an American.

National pride peaked after the Sept. 11 attacks, with about nine in 10 adults expressing high levels of pride.

That sentiment has eroded steadily, dipping below 80 percent in the mid-2000s and continuing its downward trend.

Jeffrey Jones, a Gallup senior editor, said the decline is not solely tied to recent political events but reflects a broader cultural shift.

“Each generation is less patriotic than the prior generation, and Gen Z is definitely much lower than anybody else,” Jeffrey Jones, a senior editor at Gallup, said to the AP. “But even among the older generations, we see that they’re less patriotic than the ones before them, and they’ve become less patriotic over time. That’s primarily driven by Democrats within those generations.”

Are GenXers the real loser generation?

Gen X, born roughly between 1965 and 1980, often claims the title of the forgotten generation—overlooked in media, memes and even search trends.

Unlike Millennials or Gen Z, they have few cultural touchstones, yet some GenXers argue they've had it worse, laments this unnamed byline in The Economist, with stalled wages during the 2007-09 crisis, a weak stock market in their prime investing years and declining homeownership rates.

But how forgotten are they, really?

While they missed Boomer-era gains, they also avoided the worst of student debt and came of age before social media rewired Millennials and completely took hold of Gen Z.

Millennials, by contrast, continue facing ballooning housing costs and rising economic inequality, yet are often painted as entitled rather than unlucky.

(BTW, you’ll need to create a free account to read the story linked above.)

MLB permanently bans fan who brought Arizona player to tears for trash-talking his late mother

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was brought to tears last week after a fan at Wrigley Field shouted a comment about his late mother during an at-bat.

The 22-year-old man allegedly said he had “sent a message to your mother last night” — a remark Marte, whose mother died in a 2017 car crash, described as crossing a line.

“He wasn’t getting it and was very pompous, and it didn’t sit right with me,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said, the AP reported. “It was just a gross comment you wouldn’t say about anybody, let alone someone who lost their mom.

What made the incident more painful, Marte said, was that the Diamondbacks were in Chicago to play the Cubs when she died.

MLB has since banned the fan indefinitely.

Buffett to give $6 billion in donations to five foundations

Warren Buffett, one of the world’s wealthiest people, has made his largest annual charitable gift, donating $6 billion in Berkshire Hathaway stock to five foundations.

As for the groups receiving his money? Let’s just say that, for the most part, he’s keeping it in the family.

The bulk—9.4 million shares—goes to the Gates Foundation, with the remainder split among four Buffett family foundations: the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, the Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and NoVo Foundation.

Buffett, 94, will convert roughly 12.4 million Class B shares for the transfers, retaining ownership of Class A shares valued near $145 billion—over 99 percent of his net worth.

Since launching this giving plan in 2006, Buffett has donated more than $60 billion in stock.

He remains in the top tier of the world’s richest, currently holding about 13.8 percent of Berkshire.

His will pledges that 99.5 percent of his estate will go to charity, though posthumous gifts to the Gates Foundation will cease.

John Oliver’s Moon Mammoths to debut July 19 in Erie

The Erie SeaWolves are going prehistoric — and lunar — for a wild July night at the ballpark.

Thanks to HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” the SeaWolves will take the field as the Erie Moon Mammoths on Saturday, July 19.

The surprise rebrand was dreamed up by Oliver’s team and inspired by Erie’s own frozen history: in 1991, local scuba diver George Moon discovered woolly mammoth bones in nearby Lake Pleasant.

That fossil — known as the “Moon Mammoth” — became the inspiration for this crazy new identity.

The mammoth madness hits UPMC Park when the SeaWolves host the Chesapeake Baysox, who’ll be suiting up as the Oyster Catchers — a name with quite the chaotic backstory.

Oliver will be at the game, too.

SeaWolves President Greg Coleman called the night “playful, prehistoric, purposeful and purple.”

(By the way, as of early afternoon Monday, standing-room-only tickets remained. I was unsuccessful last night and this morning in procuring tickets online until I saw a message on the SeaWolves’ site saying to call for standing-room-only tickets.)

• Why you can't see the mammoth bones uncovered 30 years ago in an Erie County lake (2021 Erie Times-News story)

• Happiness & Long Life for All its Residents #67 (2021 Hagen History Center blog post)

• The State Museum of Pennsylvania Gives Visitors Rare Opportunity to see 12,000-year-old "Moon Mammoth" (2012 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission news release)

Haul out the holly! It’s Christmas in July on Hallmark Channel!

It’s the second most wonderful time of the year!

Hallmark Channel is all in on Christmas in July!

Along with nearly nonstop Christmas movies all month, Hallmark Channel will air a special four-part “Unwrapping Christmas” series each Saturday in July.

Other things to know…

Here’s a look at other stories I’ve read recently:

Tracking Trump

• The real reason Republicans are rushing to pass the Trump megabill (MSNBC)

• Who’s calling? A reporter, and it’s often President Donald Trump answering (AP)

• Threat of more tariffs hangs over countries negotiating trade deals (NYT)

Economy

• The world economy is on the brink of epochal change (The Atlantic)

• Deep inside US economy, more sticker prices start going up due to tariffs, and inventory is headed down (CNBC)

• US economy shrank 0.5% in the first quarter, worse than earlier estimates had revealed (AP)

Pennsylvania

• Democrats are trying to figure out what to do about John Fetterman. One of them is stepping up (AP)

  • Conor Lamb, John Fetterman’s former primary opponent, said the senator ‘talks about bombing and killing like it’s a video game’ (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Advocates rally in support of trans health care in front of UPMC HQ (WESA)

• Philly awarded WNBA franchise that will begin play in 2030 (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

  • WNBA expanding to Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia by 2030 (ESPN)

Entertainment

• Fans criticize Beyoncé for shirt calling Native Americans ‘the enemies of peace’ (AP)

• Never quitting ‘Brokeback Mountain’ (NYT)

• As Anna Wintour shifts her focus, 'Vogue' is looking for a new U.S. editor (NPR)

And, finally…

Just me, reppin’ the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life on local TV.

Hello, dear readers,

Something’s off this June.

Pride feels quieter.

Businesses feel safer staying silent.

And while ICE is in full attack mode in Los Angeles, the broader response—from so-called allies across the country—feels muted at best.

It’s not just a vibe shift—it’s a warning sign of growing complacency and general acceptance of fascism.

In Los Angeles, ICE is ramping up—and barely anyone’s talking about it.

Trump’s fascist movement is marching forward in plain sight (and, funny enough, wearing face masks).

We’ve seen this before, but this time it’s elevated. And yet, too many people are acting like it’s not happening.

I get it—there’s “It’s not happening to me, so I am fine.” But there’s also a point where ignoring it starts to look like giving in and accepting that one day it will be you.

And then there’s Pride.

This year feels quieter.

Fewer flags in store windows.

Fewer Pride items on store shelves.

Even small businesses—places that say they lead with values—seem more muted.

It’s not just about merch. It’s about showing up. Being visible. Letting people know they’re not alone.

Pride should be very public.

Yes, even from big companies.

Because they have LGBTQ employees and customers.

When they show up, it creates space for others to show up.

And let’s not pretend Target gets points for tossing a few queer-themed items for sale after caving to fascism so fast. That’s not support. (I hope you are continuing to boycott Target.)

Supporting small businesses matters—but values matter, too.

If a place is quiet during Pride or silent while ICE destroys families, we should notice that. And we should think twice about where our money goes.

This isn’t about calling people out. It’s about calling attention in.

This is about staying awake. Staying engaged.

Pride doesn’t always have to be loud—but it should always be clear.

Same goes for resistance. Silence, in moments like these, sends a message—the wrong message.

🍒

You otter read about this success story

Once all but wiped out by development, industry and trapping, North American river otters are making a comeback in Western Pennsylvania.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, wildlife teams released over 150 otters statewide, including 28 along the Youghiogheny River, some of which are believed to have repopulated the Conemaugh River.

Researcher Tom Serfass—and his canine partner Merlin, a Labrador retriever trained to locate otter latrine sites—is documenting signs of these semi‑nocturnal mammals along the Conemaugh and its tributaries.

Cameras set near these latrines have captured otters sliding through snow and using scent to communicate—a behavior that also aids scientific monitoring.

“It feels very good for me and other conservationists who are interested in our native wildlife,” Serfass told The Allegheny Front. “So, it’s a great environmental success story.”

In 2023, I shared in a Substack post news that Presque Isle State Park environmental education specialists had publicly announced otter sightings at the popular Erie-area peninsula.

Conservation efforts—most notably the Clean Water Act and targeted reintroduction programs—have helped in Pennsylvania, Serfass said. Similar efforts have taken place in 22 other states.

‘Small Town Setup’ misses mark by forcing real women into Hallmark movie tropes

Hallmark Channel’s “Small Town Setup” wants to be the real-life version of its most beloved movie plot: Big-city woman returns to her quaint hometown, realizes she’s missing love and finds it.

But what plays like a romantic fantasy in a movie script feels far more intrusive and problematic in reality.

The show, which airs only on Hallmark’s streaming service, is a cringeworthy framework that’s rooted in dated gender roles and small-town idealism masquerading as universal truth.

Read more of my thoughts here.

End of an icon on ‘Days of our Lives’

John Black’s death on “Days of our Lives” hit hard—not just because we lost a fictional hero but because of what it meant for the people who knew and loved Drake Hogestyn.

For nearly 40 years, John Black saved lives, beat the odds and always came home to “Doc”—his wife, Marlena Evans. But his final act of heroism—saving Bo—was one he wouldn’t survive.

John Black was the heartbeat of Salem—the other half of one of daytime’s most iconic couples, and a dependable constant through the wildest soap storylines imaginable. Watching him take his final breath wasn’t just painful—it felt personal.

The way he died was classic John Black: Heroic, self-sacrificing and driven by love for family.

Drake Hogestyn last appeared on the show in September and died a few weeks later following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, which he kept away from the public spotlight. “Days of our Lives” films about eight months ahead, so, at the time, Hogestyn was leaving the show for medical reasons.

Read more of my thoughts here.

Other things to know…

Here’s a look at other stories I’ve read recently:

Tracking Trump

• RFK Jr. removes all members of CDC panel advising U.S. on vaccines (CNBC)

• What Trump's national emergencies could mean for American democracy (NPR)

• Gavin Newsom says Trump ‘manufactured’ crisis in Los Angeles (Time)

Economy

• Vanishing immigration is the ‘real story’ for the economy and a bigger supply shock than tariffs, analyst says (Fortune)

• Corporate layoffs have ramped up in recent weeks. Here are the companies making cuts (CNBC)

• The U.S. economy is headed toward an uncomfortable summer (WSJ)

Pennsylvania

• Elon Musk turned this once-popular Pennsylvania tourist destination into a ghost town (The Keystone)

• 5 years after George Floyd’s murder, Pa.’s police misconduct database remains full of loopholes (WESA)

• Aging Pennsylvania power plant to keep running after Trump order on eve of shutdown (Penn Cap-Star via Inside Climate News)

Entertainment

• Katy Perry reacts as fan storms stage during concert: 'What the hell is going on?!' (Entertainment Weekly)

• Jamie Foxx cries in BET Awards speech about near-death health scare (USA Today)

• Warner Bros. Discovery breakup cues Hollywood’s latest succession drama as two new companies take shape (Deadline)

And, finally…

Hello, dear readers,

With the Pennsylvania primary just a day away, finding clear, accessible information about most candidates feels harder than it should be.

Outside a few key races, coverage is sparse.

There are few—if any—forums, no comprehensive guides and not much effort from political parties to help voters get informed.

In both Allegheny and Erie counties, the Democratic committees endorsed challengers in their respective city mayoral races, but offered little explanation—leaving the decisions feeling more like popularity picks than policy-based choices.

When I worked as a full-time journalist at a newspaper, the primary and general election meant weeks of focused effort: interviewing every candidate, pressing for policy details and making sure voters had the information they needed.

It was time-consuming but essential work.

Now, with the decline of local newspapers, those kinds of deep dives are rare.

There are fewer reporters, fewer resources and far fewer outlets doing the kind of coverage that helps people understand what—and who—they’re voting for.

At the same time, many remaining outlets prioritize quick-hit stories over context, skipping over the details that actually matter.

It’s a strange reality: we’re surrounded by information every second, but when it comes to electing people to represent you and your community, it’s often the substance that’s missing.

As someone who is deeply connected to news and politics and still feels lost without information, it’s easy to see how so many people feel disconnected from the process.

🍒

President Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office announced Sunday.

The diagnosis followed Biden reporting urinary symptoms, which led doctors to discover a small nodule on his prostate. The cancer is classified as Stage 4 and characterized by a Gleason score of 9, indicating one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.

Understanding the Gleason score

The Gleason score is used to grade prostate cancer based on how abnormal the cancer cells look under a microscope.

Pathologists examine two main tissue areas and assign each a grade from 1 (least aggressive) to 5 (most aggressive).

The two grades are added to get a Gleason score, which ranges from 6 to 10.

• Gleason 6: Low-grade, slow-growing cancer.

• Gleason 7: Intermediate-grade, may grow or spread moderately.

• Gleason 8–10: High-grade, aggressive cancer more likely to spread.

Stages of cancer explained

Cancer is generally staged from zero to four, indicating how far it has spread. (Stage 5 is rarely used.)

Stage 0 means the cancer is localized and hasn’t invaded nearby tissue, while Stage 4 indicates it has spread to distant parts of the body.

Stage 1 through Stage 3 reflect increasing tumor size and regional spread.

Doctors use this system to assess the severity of the disease and determine the most effective treatment plan.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer originates in the prostate gland, a small organ in men that produces seminal fluid.

It's the most common cancer among American men after skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

In 2025, the American Cancer Society estimates approximately 313,780 new prostate cancer cases and about 35,770 deaths in the United States, according to the company’s Cancer Facts & Figures 2025 report.

Dick’s grows with Foot Locker acquisition

Your options for athletic shoes and other related gear could be decreasing.

Findlay Township-based Dick’s Sporting Goods said it is buying Foot Locker for $2.4 billion.

The deal gives Dick’s control over Foot Locker’s network of 2,400 stores across 20 countries.

Foot Locker will operate as a standalone unit under Dick’s, the company said.

The move comes amid growing concern over tariffs and supply chain pressures, with companies like Nike and Adidas adjusting sales strategies and shifting focus. It also follows Skechers’ recent $9 billion buyout by 3G Capital.

Welcome! I wanted to welcome the many new followers over the past few weeks! For those who are new, I’m a longtime journalist who’s finding new ways of sharing what I’m reading. This newsletter will always be free. The only “ads” will be me seeking donations for nonprofit groups I’m attached to, such as the post below. Thank you for giving this newsletter your time. I truly appreciate that you’re here.

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Get all of the details and enter here. If you donate, please place my name in the box on the checkout page. Please and thank you!

Census estimate shows Pittsburgh city population up

Pittsburgh’s population grew by about 1 percent from 2023 to 2024, increasing from 304,766 to 307,668, according to new estimates from the Census Bureau.

The gain of 2,902 residents marks the city’s largest annual increase in years.

It’s also the second straight year of population gains for Pittsburgh, which has long faced declines tied to aging demographics and the steel industry’s collapse in the 1980s.

Pittsburgh is one of the oldest regions in the country, and has been since 1960. The region also has had more deaths than births since the mid-90s.

In Erie, from 2020 to July 1, 2024, the city of Erie lost 2,077 residents, according to the census estimate.

It remains unclear how accurate the 2020 census was, as reports suggest white populations were overcounted while Black and Latino populations were undercounted.

The Census Bureau acknowledged errors, the PEW Research Center says.

Other things to know…

Here’s a look at other stories I’ve read recently:

Tracking Trump

• Republicans advance Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ in unusual late-night vote (The Hill)

• Trump faces a trillion-dollar tariff disappointment (The Economist)

• Trump’s clash with the courts raises prospect of showdown over separation of powers (AP)

Economy

• Americans’ optimism about the economy is at a near-record low (CNN)

• QVC CEO: Our consumers are ‘heavily distracted by current events’ (Retail Dive)

• Rite Aid to sell 1,000 pharmacy assets to CVS, Walgreens and others (Reuters)

Pennsylvania

• MAGA activists target state Supreme Court (WHYY)

• The tastiest coffee roasted right here in Pennsylvania (The Keystone)

  • Coffee shops in Pittsburgh and Erie made the list

• Giant Eagle reportedly acquiring some of Rite Aid's assets (KDKA Radio)

Entertainment

• Daughters of longtime ‘Days of Our Lives’ star Drake Hogestyn open up about why he kept his condition to himself (Soaps)

• ‘Ragtime’ will return to Broadway this fall (BroadwayWorld)

• Smokey Robinson’s victory lap upended by allegations of sexual assault (NYT)

And, finally…