Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is struggling, a fact that becomes clearer with every report. I feel tremendous sympathy and concern for him. I feel acute frustration for everyone who depends on his authentic, diligent service in the Senate.
This week, Annie Karni reports that Sen. Fetterman is showing up for work more, but begrudgingly. He thinks that his openness about mental health challenges has been weaponized against him. He feels “unfairly shamed into fulfilling senatorial duties, such as participating in committee work and casting procedural votes on the floor, dismissing them as a ‘performative’ waste of time.” It’s a hard story to read until Senator Peter Welch makes an appearance.
Senator Welch, a Democrat from Vermont, is a friend to Senator Fetterman, and he sounded like a great one when speaking to Karni: “‘This is very stressful…John is hanging in…It’s fair to say this is pretty stressful. This is a hard thing.’”
I didn’t realize how tense I felt this morning until I read that quote from Senator Welch. It helped me breathe a little deeper, for Senator Fetterman, for myself, for all of us.
Most of the time, I’m not aware of my own stress. I feel, on the whole, peaceful, loved, lucky, challenged, purposeful, content. But there are signs that all is not as well as I tell myself. I have broken a tooth from grinding at night. You don’t want to hear about my dreams. My hips don’t lie.
If you’re reading this newsletter, you probably carry some of the world’s weight on your shoulders. Whatever your phase of life, you’re engaging with a political podcast, and that demonstrates a sense of responsibility, an engagement with the world, a care and curiosity that is bound to lead to some stress. Add to that ordinary life: health concerns, caregiving, too much or not enough work, relationships, finances, apps and forms and bills. Add to all of that an administration that is changing the world in fast, furious, unpredictable, constantly-changing, hugely-consequential ways.
It’s fair to say this is pretty stressful. This is a hard thing.
It’s becoming easier for me to see the signs of stress around me. I experience it while driving, in the grocery store, at church, in the comment threads. The sharpest feedback Sarah and I receive often doesn’t argue with our opinions as much as it conveys the angst of someone who is in the center ring and heard dumping instead of comfort from us.
I worry that many of us, like Senator Fetterman, feel punished for admitting the struggle, which has the perverse effect of causing us to be defined by it. It’s a tough thing to know when to dig in and when to step back, take a break, regroup. That’s why we all need to have and to be friends like Senator Welch. Sometimes just calling it for what it is — “this is pretty stressful” — helps smooth a rocky path.
May this weekend offer something that makes your path smoother. To get you started, here are some places I find release:
These photos from the Scripps Spelling Bee are pure delight.
It was a little awkward when Ellen grabbed my phone and asked why I’ve been listening to Bitch radio, but it was worth it.
If you’ve ever received a personalized pep talk from us, I might have read to you my favorite poem for tense moments.
In case you missed our Spicy Thursday discussion, it’s never wrong to watch Emma Stone’s lip sync battle (or Tom Holland’s, which is uncut dopamine)
The Instagram account I can’t quit is raisingcades10. I would like for Melanie to adopt me so that I can eat exquisite food on camping trips, enjoy a salad bar daily, and revel in the sheer competence this woman constantly exhibits. Every time I watch one of her reels I think, “ok, if Melanie can do this looking so cool and collected with eleventy-million kids, I can make it through my measly tasks today.”
For the University of Kentucky men’s basketball fans (niche! but I couldn’t help it): Otega Oweh’s return video has carried me through this week.
McSweeney’s always delivers.
When in doubt, watermelon, mint, and lime cocktails (I hold the vodka).
1000 Episodes of Pantsuit Politics
Next week, we are celebrating our 1000th episode and kicking off our 10-year anniversary celebration with the incomparable Jen Hatmaker. If you have (perhaps) been avoiding politics because it’s just too much, please join us next Tuesday because this episode is the mom hug from Jen that we all need this year.
We would love for you to join in our 10th Anniversary Summer Celebration.
We're collecting a few types of messages for our celebrations this year:
Birthday Congratulations - Share a special birthday message congratulating Sarah and Beth on their amazing decade of work.
Pantsuit Politics Impact Stories - How has the show impacted your life? What conversations has it sparked? What perspectives has it changed? Did you vote for the first time? Did you decide to run for office? Did you make progress in a relationship with a loved one? Whether it's a profound transformation or a small but meaningful moment, we'd love to hear your story.
Pantsuit Politics Babies - Sarah and Beth's youngest children were babies when they started. We know so many of you also had babies over the years you have been listening. We're hoping to have a segment of the live show in Cincinnati where we share "then vs. now" pictures of these Pantsuit Politics kiddos.
We are accepting written, audio, and visual messages. If you share an audio or video message, we ask that you keep it under 1 minute if you can.
*By sharing your story, you are giving us permission to use it on the show, at our live show, on social media, or in whatever way we see fit.
Don’t Miss Out on Reimagining Citizenship
Our 30 Meditation Series, Reimagining Citizenship, starts next Thursday, June 5. We cannot wait to share these daily reflections and hear the ways that you are also reimagining citizenship as we count down to America’s 249th birthday.
Something Nice to Take You Into the Weekend
Several of you sent us this Instagram reel. It’s a silly thought exercise: which members of our administration would you trade for a muppet and why? (We’d love your suggestions and takes on this in the comments.)
What We’re Reading and Listening To This Week
Sarah: How the iPhone Drove Men and Women Apart (The New York Times)
Maggie: This topic lives rent-free in my head. The Chinese Adoptees Who Were Stolen (The New Yorker) Also, I’ve been listening to The Happiness Lab’s series on parenting. This episode, in particular, helped me navigate some tough transition moments this week with my tween.
Copyright (C) 2024 Pantsuit Politics. All rights reserved.
If you aren’t already, I highly recommend yoga and acupuncture for the hips and stress, to anyone who experiences less than inner peace. I just returned from acupuncture and am floating on air. Last night I did a warm yin yoga class and slept like a log. Please take care, everyone. 🙏
I know I’m not alone in having found you way back when through Jen Hatmaker! It would be fun for you to ask people to raise their hands if that’s the case— I’d love to know a ballpark number!