Five things that brought us together as a country in 2024

1. Mourning the memory of former President Jimmy Carter: 

Although President Carter left office deeply unpopular, he died a "beloved figure," to quote historian Jonathan Alter (who wrote a much-heralded book on Carter). Jimmy Carter very much earned this reputation: he changed the lives of millions of people, around the world, for the better. 

As such, it was heartening to see, in the immediate aftermath of his passing, tributes to Carter from across the political spectrum. Even very right-wing Republicans, from Carter's home state of Georgia especially, praised Carter. It speaks to his deep selflessness, in his private acts especially, that Carter got such commendations. No one can find fault with his genuine commitment to people in need -- and for that, the memory of his legacy brought us together.

2. April 8 solar eclipse:

Across the United States, esepcially in the parts of the country where the eclipse was most visible, the April 8 solar eclipse really was one of those increasingly rare unifying, culturally significant events. Everyone, me included here, wanted to catch a glimpse with their signature solar eclipse glasses. Businesses offered deals, employers provided glasses during work hours, people took time off to go travel to see points of high visibility, and social media was abuzz. It is one of those awe-inspiring moments that remind you of the beauty of this world. 

3. "Glicked"

Not quite as popular as "Barbenheimer," "Glicked" - the release of Gladiator II and Wicked - on the same day in late November was a cultural phenomenon. The films boasted big stars and fans flocked to movie theaters across the country to see these hits. And how many times did you see posts across the Internet about "defying gravity?" 

4. Moo Deng!

This adorable pygmy hippopotamus from Thailand captured our hearts this year. Moo Deng is a sensation and her vibes are perfect. We love her sassy, food-loving, cute self. May we channel Moo Deng's vivacious energy in 2025! 

5. Rooting for Team USA in the Summer Olympics

We got the highest number of medals at the summer Olympics in Paris! Team USA represented our country with pride and tied for highest number of gold medals as well. Swimmer Katie Ledecky especially made history as the most Olympic award-winning female swimmer in history. It was also particularly great to see gymnast Simone Biles -- who became a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient since the last summer Olympics -- win several medals as she continues to be a great role model as well for prioritizing mental health.

Fighting for our rights: the case for Kamala Harris

A few months ago, when President Biden was still running in the 2024 campaign, a New York Times opinion piece asked readers what they thought the President's reelection campaign message should be. Here is what I wrote to them (alas, it did not make it into their highlighted suggestions!):

"The slogan "Fighting for Your Rights" captures the essence of what President Biden's campaign is about: advocacy and action for our personal freedoms. The President can break it down compellingly along several themes all wrapped up in one rights-based message.

He is fighting for your rights as workers and students, he is fighting for your right to bodily autonomy and personal destiny, he is fighting for your civil rights, and he is fighting for your right to live freely and safely.

Biden can effectively convey, through this freedom-centered message that worked well for him and Democratic allies like my governor Josh Shapiro in 2022, what he has done and what he will do. On workers' and students' rights, he can say how he's done more to encourage unionization, target arbitration, go after corporate mergers, and cancel student loan debt than any president but he wants to go further but President Trump wants to go backwards. 

On the right to choose and choose who you love, he signed executive actions to expand abortion access and federally enshrined marriage equality but he wants to do more, with the help of Congress, to fortify these rights -- and Trump wants to go backwards. On civil rights, Biden has appointed many progressive judges, including from public interest backgrounds, and signed executive orders to root out federal law enforcement abuse but he still wants to go further, with Congress' help, to reform the police and protect voting rights. 

Trump wants to put more right wingers on the courts and doesn't want your vote and voice to count. On the right to live freely and safely, Biden has strengthened background checks with the first gun control law in decades and he's helped states and cities boost public safety but with a better Congress, he can ban assault weapons and create conditions for more safety with affordable housing and community investment. Trump will cozy up to the NRA and he'll reward his rich developer friends who destroy communities."

All of this still applies now frankly with Vice President Harris in the race and it is the best argument, politically and policywise, for her campaign and she has run on all of these issues of course. That is why you should vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Their vision gives us the opportunity to protect and expand our rights, rather than restrict our rights. 

I should have, at the time I wrote the above, included too something you hear the Vice President often reference in her remarks on the trail: the right to clean air, water, and land -- as part of a broader effort to protect the climate. And arguably, climate change is the most important issue in the world. The contrast between the only two people with a chance of being president, Harris and Trump, on this issue is significant.

Harris would go after big polluters and invest in clean energy whereas Trump has cast doubt on climate change and would roll back regulations against polluters. Often, this issue, though a fundamentally personal matter, is not perceived as a rights-based matter but given our human rights, as citizens of this world, to breathe unpolluted air and drink uncontaminated water, to be able to live healthily, it very much is rights-oriented.

Lastly, another issue I did not mention in the above snippet was the right of individuals to shape their own destinies and support their families so they can economically thrive. It is FDR's vision of a right to a "decent living," as part of his broader goal of a Second Bill of Rights, that we should always be striving for here. Vice President Harris' policies would help us achieve this vision: paid family leave, universal pre-K, child care assistance, the construction of millions of new homes and down payment assistance, expansion of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, a higher minimum wage, and expanded Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. The cumulative effect of these policies, even if only *some* of these programs were enacted, would greatly enhance individuals' economic freedoms to enable them to have more prosperous lives. 

All of these important policy issues are on the line in this election. At its core, this campaign has been about whether we will protect these rights to craft our own future and raise our families. Vice President Harris' agenda is one that is focused on fighting for these rights -- and giving us all the chance to keep fighting for them ourselves. For that reason, and so much more, please vote for the Harris/Walz ticket.