No, yeah, I went to Congress.

Takeaways from Trending Up, meetings on the Hill, and a little (big) breakthrough.

The conference recap is meaty so you’re just here for the personal updates, scroll on down to snippets (below the videos of my interviews from Congress).

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The night before flying to DC for Trending Up - a conference with a mission to help creators leverage their platforms for social good - I frantically googled how to fold a blazer in a carry-on suitcase and called my fanciest friend to ask if “true to self business attire” meant I could wear platform Chucks with a suit.

An hour before, I was deciding which dresses to pack and trying to squeeze one more pair of shoes into my bag when I received an email from the conference organizers, letting me know that I’d been chosen to meet with a member of Congress. I didn’t know who, I didn’t know what we’d talk about, but I knew I needed to pack a suit. (And I was thanking my lucky stars for my first Baacal collab, knowing that I had the perfect wide leg trousers and oversized blazer waiting for exactly this moment to be paired together.)

The conference itself was a whirlwind. I connected with some phenomenal creators (Miranda, Carlos, Ashton, Fay, and Yare, to name a few) and sat front row for speeches from Maxwell Frost, Raphael Warnock, Elizabeth Warren, and Pete Buttigieg (who was really rocking that hiatus beard). Experts shared knowledge on specific issues — immigration, the economy, education, reproductive rights, state & local advocacy, branding, legal, and more — and panelists discussed topics like diversifying platforms, speaking with the press and getting paid for your content.

Understanding that I’m a lifestyle creator (who, yes, talks about politics because I talk about the things I care about), I figured some other creators in attendance would also exist outside the news and politics niche. But to be completely honest, I expected the political™ creators to be treated like A-listers and the rest of us to…be there. It was so not that. It was the opposite of that.

Here’s the thing about the right. They have a lock on the internet. They have an established pipeline that has seemingly-nothing to do with politics. They grab people through every niche: wellness, cooking, beauty, lifestyle, comedy, etc. etc. etc. and indoctrinate them down the line. There’s a reason Candace Owens started talking pop culture — it casts a wider net and captures a different audience than hate-filled rhetoric and conspiracy theories ever could.

You’ve probably seen this chart of the top left and right-leaning podcasts, weighted by viewership:

source: MediaMatters.org

It’s grim. During one panel discussion, Adam Mocker, a contributor to pro-democracy news network MeidasTouch, pointed out that none of the top right-leaning shows are overtly political, while all of the left-leaning ones are. I’ve heard many takes on this image, and a whole lot of speculation about what the left can do to level the playing field, but never had anyone flagged that discrepancy. The right creates entertainment for a crowd that doesn’t necessarily want to engage with politics, then infuses that content with right wing messaging. They manage to keep viewers who say things like “I don’t really agree with him on X but I like how he talks about Y” until repetition makes X begin to sound more reasonable.

The left needs a pipeline.

It sounds gross when you say it, but at the end of the day it’s simply about progressive creators and entertainers infusing their values into their content. Showing that it’s possible to care about what’s in your food without decrying science, to be funny without the -ists and -isms, to ditch the purity testing and talk to people instead of at them. The world is bleak but our content doesn’t have to be.

I sat in on a panel about the economy, hoping to educate myself on a topic that felt a little over my head. I’m not sure what in the imposter syndrome had taken hold in this brain of mine, but within two minutes I realized that I know way more than I was giving myself credit for. Not only that, but I regularly talk about the economy on my socials. I talk about where we spend our money and who it benefits. I talk about cost per wear and making your purchases last, about shopping small and avoiding corporate giants, about the importance of investing in your community and doing the best you can with the resources and information available.

Turns out, I’m doing it. My way. Which is valid.

I am so appreciative to Trending Up for recognizing the need for different voices and approaches to value-based content. The organizers did a fantastic job of inviting in creators from so many “non-political" niches (though, of course, everything is political) and making us feel not just included, but vital to the conversation.

On that note, I was stoked to be one of a small group of creators invited to meet with members of Congress on our final day. I talked about the housing crisis with Representative Jimmy Gomez from California’s 34th, an LA neighborhood very near my own, and discussed Republicans’ attempts to gut essential programs and our hopes for the future with Representative Melanie Stansbury from New Mexico’s 1st.

Note: I did not know who I would be meeting with until we were introduced in the moment, so these chats were entirely off the cuff. All the creators were taking meetings in the same room, so please forgive any distractions (and the lighting).

Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-1)

Okay, that’s that for Trending Up. It was a lot! And so good. And so much. And I look forward to hopefully participating again next year. But for now, life keeps lifing so here are the snippets — and a little (big) breakthrough on the breakup front.

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snippets.

A peek at where I've been and what’s been on my mind.

(Note: this section contains affiliate links.)

I bought a couch! It’s not here yet, but I cannot wait for the vibe shift in the room. I did not, however, buy the set of 1960s Danish Teak ostrich leather dining chairs I saw at the Rose Bowl Flea and I’ll be kicking myself for year.

My green era. These nails (inspo: green tortoise) may be my favorite of all time.

Sinners. I don’t do scary movies but I am so so glad I saw this in the theatre. I literally cannot stop thinking about it and I’m soaking in all the commentary, like this video (thanks to my dad for sending) and this and this and this and for laughs, this.

Fried rice. My current hyperfixation breakfast (leftover rice + two eggs + whatever veg is wilting in the fridge). Single person decision fatigue is real, so I’m eating a lot of the same these days. Overnight oats are making a comeback, too.

Shirt dresses. This one from Baacal and this one from Universal Standard are on repeat. This is possibly also decision fatigue, but I’m not mad at it.

Gilmore Girls. I needed a comfort watch and I’ve been rocking straight through. The Richard and Emily separation hit hard this time?? And in addition to my Christopher hatred, I’ve realized that my distaste for Max runs deep. But I love Lorelei the way I love Carrie Bradshaw and anyone who can’t handle a flawed woman leading a show can step right on out of my way.

Travel brain. The planner behind my epic friendcations joined me for my second official YouTube video. We answered questions and discussed how to travel with friends (and still like each other at the end). We’re going to NYC together next month, so send any topics you’d like covered and we’ll record a part two.

Affirmation of the week. Courtesy of the Chani App: I’m interested in sustainable progress, scalable solutions, and a long-term love affair with my calling. (Yes, yes I am.)

And finally, a breakthrough. (Divorce talk continues behind the paywall, thanks for understanding.)