The fact that Trump pardoned one drug-trafficking strongman (Hernández of Honduras) one month before capturing another (Maduro of Venezuela) has been much discussed. Also much discussed: Venezuela’s oil, Trump’s embrace of the Monroe Doctrine, Trump’s love of made-for-TV displays of dominance, and his need
I didn’t find a lot to laugh about in 2025, but I really enjoyed this moment on New Year’s Eve: My son realizing that he and the gigantic pants favored by his generation would need to get through airport security—without a belt. Fortunately his film education includes
If you know me even a little bit, you won’t be surprised that my ‘holiday card’ is another Venn Diagram. (You may be surprised that it’s not laminated but, sadly, the technology isn’t there yet.) Look, I’ve been as heartened as anyone by the MAGA infighting
Most weeks I publish on Friday mornings, so this post is early. But coming three full days after 15 people were gunned down while celebrating the first night of Hanukkah, this post is also late. On the subject of Israel and Gaza, I’ve always put myself on a “read
At the DRC (Dispute Resolution Center) where I now work, all mediations are confidential and privileged. However, we’re allowed to use anonymized anecdotes for educational purposes. In that spirit—but also because I’m still laughing (ruefully) about it—I’ll share this: in a session a few days
A computer desktop littered with files can become more pleasing to the eye with one click: Snap to Grid. The ideas in those files might be half-baked at best, but the files themselves are suddenly tidy. It’s as though there’s a plan. When Kamala Harris chose Tim
When I shared in last week’s post that the past two years have been difficult—that I’ve struggled to find my lane—I got what I seek most from writing: real connection. Thank you for your comments and emails. I look forward to continuing those conversations, both here
When I stepped back from running my company nearly two years ago, I had three good business reasons: risk management, talent retention, and strategic renewal. I also made one huge mistake: I had no real plan for myself. I didn’t consider myself retired. I’m an “un-exited business
This (above) is what the Frances Perkins Department of Labor Building looks like right now. Frances Perkins, the first woman to hold a cabinet role, was FDR’s Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, and her policy accomplishments include the development of social security, the 40-hour workweek, minimum
Hello! I published early this week, because I’m heading to what we in Seattle call Other Washington. No promises I can single-handedly end the shutdown, but if I see Mike Johnson, I will ask him how allowing people to go hungry in the richest country in the world
Back in elementary school, my kids, Anna and Peter, were often mistaken for twins. But in fact they were born two years apart, and, as I like to tell them, they have radically different ROIs (returns on investment). Anna was born in Hong Kong. Had I been less of a
I’ve shared this with some of you already: I’ve been traveling this week, and one of my flights was genuinely terrifying. Right before takeoff, the flight attendant returned to the intercom and said this and only this: “Now is when you need to say goodbye to all those