To everyone so eager to cancel someone for a tattoo they got at age 22, a drunk text, a selfie they took in the middle of a mental health crisis:
Show us your laptop.
Show us your iCloud.
Open your entire digital life to your worst enemy. No context. No filter. No explanation.
You won’t.
You won’t because you know what I know. Any one of us, frozen at our worst moment, photographed in our lowest hour, looks like a monster. Looks like a stranger. Looks like someone who deserves to be cast out.
That is not who we are.
My mom and baby sister were killed in a car accident when I was just a kid. Cancer took my brother Beau, my best friend and my rock. I battled alcoholism. I battled addiction. I chose the coward’s way out more times than I can count.
For years I believed the defining chapters of my life were written by tragedy, loss, and shame.
I no longer believe that.
Pain can shape us. Loss can humble us. Failures can leave scars that never fully fade. But none of them have the authority to define us.
And it sure as hell ain’t the critic that counts.
That authority belongs to us alone-the person in the arena.
Every setback presents a choice. Play the victim, or cut the bullshit and take ownership for who we become next.
Life does not determine our character. It reveals it.
Again and again we are asked the same question. When shit happens, what next?
We are not defined by what happened to us. We are not defined by the worst photo, the worst text, the worst tattoo, the worst night. We are defined by the person we choose to become. And by the courage to choose that person, every single day.
So before you reach for the gavel - show us your laptop.
You won’t.
The whole world saw mine. And I am still here. Still becoming. Still choosing. Still standing.
That is the only definition that matters.
Open Letter
To the President of the Russian Federation
From the President of Ukraine
When you came to power in Russia more than 26 years ago, many people in Ukraine viewed you positively. That is how it was. But that is now in the past.
Now, the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians view it positively that our long-range drones paid a visit to the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg, covering a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers. As you know very well, that distance is not the limit of our capabilities.
It’s metastatic bone cancer that spread from the prostate. They caught the bone issue quite early and with radiation and hormone therapy it’s under control, but he will live with cancer for the rest of his life. Listen man- I understand if you don’t like my Dad’s politics and you hate me because you believe everything Fox News has told you. I’m fine with that, but my Dad has cancer. How is that an issue you want to attack. What sickness is in you that makes that fair game Patrick.
Gratitude isn’t just for the good times. The real practice is finding it in your worst moments.
And I promise you, it’s there.
Gratitude can turn what you thought broke you into the very thing that made you whole.
I’m George Conway, a constitutional lawyer and co-founder of the Lincoln Project.
We’ve got to protect our democracy from Trump’s deranged, egomaniacal descent into authoritarianism.
But Congress is doing NOTHING to stop Trump, and it’s time for a change.
We need the resources to win this race — so I can take this fight straight to Congress as a fearless Democrat who knows exactly how to stop this fascist administration.
Will you chip in right now to help fuel my fight to STOP Donald Trump and flip the House?
https://t.co/Qh3fzGGO1a
Trump’s approval rating is 34%. Let that number sink in.
Lower than Jimmy Carter at his lowest point.
As low as Herbert Hoover in the middle of the Great Depression before he got ousted.
He campaigned on ending wars in the Middle East. We have a new war in the Middle East.
He campaigned on lowering prices. Prices are up across the board: energy, tariffs, everything.
And the same people who were with him when he said he wouldn’t do it are still with him now that he’s doing it.
Here’s the real question: Does he care about any of this?
I would submit to everybody — he does not.
He’s entered the nihilistic stage of his political career.
The polls don’t matter. The people don’t matter. The consequences don’t matter.
That is the most dangerous version of this man.
And that’s exactly where we are.
Actual quotes from President Trump:
Trump’s “victory timeline” claims.
Mar 3: "We won the war."
Mar 7: "We defeated Iran."
Mar 9: "We must attack Iran."
Mar 9: "The war is ending almost completely, and very beautifully.
March 10: practically nothing left to target
Mar 11: “You never like to say too early you won. We won. In the first hour it was over.” Mar 12: "We did win, but we haven't won completely yet."
Mar 13: "We won the war."
Mar 14: "Please help us."
Mar 15: "If you don't help us, I will certainly remember it."
Mar 16: "Actually, we don't need any help at all."
Mar 16: "I was just testing to see who's listening to me."
Mar 16: "If NATO doesn't help, they will suffer something very bad."
Mar 17: "We neither need nor want NATO's help."
Mar 17: "I don't need Congressional approval to withdraw from NATO."
Mar 18: "Our allies must cooperate in reopening the Strait of Hormuz."
Mar 19: "US allies need to get a grip - step up and help open the Strait of Hormuz."
Mar 20: "NATO are cowards."
Mar 21: "The Strait of Hormuz must be protected by the countries that use it. We don't use it, we don't need to open it."
Mar 22: "This is the last time. I will give Iran 48 hours. Open the strait"
Mar 22: "Iran is Dead"
Mar 23: "We had very good and productive talks with Iran."
Mar 24: "We’re making progress."
Mar 25: “They gave us a present and the present arrived today. And it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money. I’m not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize.” Mar 26: "Make a deal, or we’ll just keep blowing them away."
Mar 27: "We don’t have to be there for NATO."
Mar 28: No major quote
Mar 29: Claimed talks were progressing
Mar 30: "Open the Strait of Hormuz immediately, or face devastating consequences."
Mar 31: Claimed a deal was "very close" and that Iran would "do the right thing"
Apr 1: "We’ll see what happens very soon."
Apr 2: Repeated that a deal was likely, while warning of continued strikes if not
Apr 3: "Something big is going to happen."
Apr 4: Said Iran must comply "immediately" or face further consequences.
Apr 5: "Open the fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah."
April 6 :a whole civilization will die
April 7: total and complete victory
April8: objectives were met
A true disaster
One thing is clear: we’re about to take back Texas.
To the billionaires who have taken over our state and our country: your unchecked power is coming to an end.
To the people of Texas: this election is our chance to take power back for ourselves and our communities.
Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. But right now, they’re under attack.
Several Republican-controlled states have redrawn their congressional maps to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterm elections.
Now Virginia has a chance to help level the playing field. If you live in the Commonwealth, early voting begins March 6, and Election Day is on April 21. Vote YES.