January 28, 2025
At the end of last week, a friend joked that we usually pay attention to the first 100 days of a new administration, but this time we're paying attention to the first 100 hours. As SMPAers, we're tracking executive orders, nominations and confirmations, rules, edicts, social media posts, press conferences, statements, and, and, and. As SMPAers, most of us have opinions about most of it (those opinions aren't all the same, but they're all strong).
Many of you are acting in the political moment. You're journalists, political staffers, and advocates. That's one reason you're in SMPA. The other reason you're in SMPA is to step back from the moment to better understand it. You and your professors talk about the causes and consequences of political conflict. You talk about ways to understand and analyze our political and media worlds. Together we talk about strategies to influence policy and build a strong democracy. Outside of 805 21st St., we are in the storm, we're reporters braving hurricanes. Inside 805 21st St., we're meteorologists working to better understand the wind and rain.
Like you, I am caught in the political storm. I have spent a lot of the first 200 hours (and counting) of the new administration trying to keep up with everything that's going on and figuring out the best times and ways to respond. And, like you, I also try to step back. To give my brain a break, I spend a few minutes with the puzzle on the fourth floor and continue to not learn Spanish on Duolingo. I look at data and read political theory to better understand the causes and consequences of our politics. I talk to you, your professors, and our staff to get other perspectives and learn more about these political winds.
Be in it. This is SMPA, political and media hurricanes are what we do. But it is also important to come in from the rain to catch your mental breath and better understand the storm.