What I’ve been up to (and a reminder)...

We won’t let them take our joy.

I’ve been on the road for the last few days on the Coded Justice Book Tour, talking to people about storytelling, artificial intelligence, and democracy. It’s been wonderful to engage directly with folks, hearing their profound concerns for our democracy and our society amidst so much technological uncertainty and political cruelty. I wrote Coded Justice because I started to wonder how AI works in our world. I wanted to imagine how our world could be better if we use the tools at our disposal, and I also considered what happens when even the right intentions turn dastardly. For me, living is political – every choice we make, every challenge we face, reflects and shapes the world around us, and the negotiation of our priorities and sacrifices is inherently political.

That’s why over the past few days, I’ve been choosing to smile and to laugh more, and to share those moments with the people around me. It’s a small act, but in these times, it feels like a quiet rebellion. Amidst all the serious discussions about the future, finding moments of light and even joy has become incredibly important for me. This is precisely why we won't let them take our joy.

Pictured above: All smiles with moderators Hank Phillippi Ryan in Plainville, MA (left) and Glory Edim in Brooklyn, NY (right) 

Pictured above: Smiling after signing copies of Coded Justice for readers in Wilmington, DE (Photo by Emir Lake)

Last week on Assembly Required, we had the incredible comedian Amber Ruffin join us to talk about how we can navigate this relentless moment in history with more laughter and maybe a little less fear. Political humor is more than just a distraction. It’s where punchlines meet headlines and chaos turns into catharsis. It offers us moments of levity amid an overwhelming, anxiety-fueled news cycle. In an America galloping towards autocracy, where the political landscape shifts by the hour and human rights teeter on the edge of policy, humor isn’t just helpful…it’s essential. I hope you'll listen (and that you’ll take a moment to laugh with us).