Yesterday, I let both kids skip school to attend the Seahawks parade in downtown Seattle. I know. I barely recognize myself. We are not a football family, and typically when the kids tell us what their friends are allowed to do, we are quick to joke (or not joke): “How
…is die. Stay with me. I know that’s a strange way to start a pep talk. The more conventional pep talk to humans these days centers on our hard-to-replicate judgement—the kind of discernment that comes from years of roving the earth in a fleshy body. The
Back in the late 90s, I was a fish out of water in Wharton’s MBA program: as an undergrad, I’d studied literature not economics. I’d worked not in investment banking but in the wordy world of crisis communications. I had not yet met the wonders of Excel.
A few weeks ago, I used Paperless Post to create this draft invitation (above). I then downloaded the image and texted it to a bunch of fellow parents I like but rarely see. I chose not to use Paperless Post’s built-in RSVP function and email reminders, all of
It is not in my nature to yell “Fuck you!” at strangers. In fact, I typically aim to move around the world, connecting quietly with passersby: a smile here, a lifted stroller there, a wave to say, “After you.” I love a moment of shared humanity that doesn’t require
I started writing here a year ago. At first, I called What Now a “newsletter,” because that’s what most people call missives that drop regularly into readers’ inboxes. But I don’t write to deliver news. That critical work is done by journalists, the professional reporters who do all
This week has not lent itself to sleeping, but I cannot not write, so you are once again getting a list of thoughts that may or may not be connected: 1. Last time I did this, I slandered lists as “the lowest form of human writing,” but one of you—
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