Did You Ever Think We'd Have an Administration Siding with Cancer?

Was siding with Russia too subtle?

I’m working on a difficult post about a drama unfolding in my neighborhood: the guy who’s had Trump signs out non-stop since 2015 is now getting his fence tagged with “Nazi” in black spray paint.

Some of you know that after 30 years in the private sector, I’ve resolved to spend the next 10 years working full-time in public service, as long as my personal finances and caregiving responsibilities allow it*. Now, I just (ha! “just”) need to figure out where best to plug in—and it turns out this neighborhood battle, as ugly as it is, is guiding me to an answer. More on this next time.

For today: in light of Johns Hopkins’ layoff announcement yesterday (2,200 people, the largest layoff in the university’s history), I just wanted to say this:

This is my mom. In the 3.5 years between her Stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis and her 2018 death, she pursued every possible treatment, not just to extend her own life but also for science. Blocking research not only undermines scientists; it dismisses the sacrifices of patients like my mom.

Zooming out: we have two main ways to stop Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (my proposed nicknames for Trump, Musk, and Vance):
1. In the courts, where we are actually seeing a few wins;
2. In Congress, if our reps can get it together to hold the line—by, for example, refusing to support the GOP’s funding bill. (Schumer’s flip-flop on this is baffling/infuriating to me.)

There is little we the people can do to influence the courts (other than publicly applaud anyone who upholds the rule of law), but there is a lot we can do to influence Congress, including sharing our stories with Democratic “leadership.” (Leadership in air quotes until we spot even the vague outlines of a collective spine.)

As you consider your story, remember this: you don’t have to *be* a laid-off federal worker yourself to be affected by what’s happened. You can be a person with cancer. You can know a person with cancer. You can be a person whose hard-earned retirement funds are caught up in Trump’s market turmoil. The point is: while hundreds of thousands of Americans have already been directly affected by DOGE et al, this is just the beginning. In fairly short order, the damage will affect us all. So again: if you can muster even five free minutes, share your story now.

Kate

*As an “un-exited” business owner, the only reason I can even think about pivoting from the private sector to public service is because I have two wildly talented people running my business. If you two happen to read this: please know that I start every day full of gratitude for you, your talent, your hard work—and our whole fantastic team.

Finally, a lighter note about this photo: To me, it’s evidence that Chemistry teachers never really retire. Even when my mom, a.k.a. “Granny MacGyver,” wasn't feeling well, she'd still do stuff like set up a raku kiln in the sandbox on a Friday night—just to experiment. :-)