We're NOT Doomed: Feb 6, 2026

So...a flip phone?

Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) has a “digital first” staff. That means that his digital team (yes, more than one person) is part of his senior staff. And, as far as he knows, he’s the only member of Congress who has his staff structured in that way.

I was in a creator briefing with him this week, and his briefings are visibly different than the others I’m in. We’re on equal footing with him. We’re giving suggestions to him, incredibly candidly. Such as language to use when discussing dismantling ICE (which he wants to do, by the way), to brainstorming how to get Dems all on the same page with social media.

He talked about how Chuck Schumer has a flip phone. And, the only way he will see what one of us posts unless his staff shows it to him. So we brainstormed how to make new media more reputable in the eyes of those who just don’t see it. And that went hand in hand with how do we get all Democrats to realize the importance of watching the heartbreaking videos, so we are all working with the same information.

I suggested that maybe, like we creators get a newsletter about what’s going on in Congress, Members of Congress should get a weekly newsletter highlighting a handful of creators and videos that are must watches. Schumer may have a flip phone but he also has an email.

If you remember, a few months ago, a reporter asked a handful of members on the Hill who their favorite creators were, and out of the handful of people they asked, only Rep Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) were able to answer. That doesn’t work anymore.

Washington Post is dying, and it already hasn’t been fully reputable for over a year. CBS is literally operated by the enemy, now. Traditional media that isn’t biased against the left is few and far between and definitely not where most people get their news. It’s imperative that all Democratic members start seeing new media as reputable, maybe even more reputable than traditional.

But it’s more than that, because we’re at a place where being an elected official means having the ability to individual influence and inspire the masses themselves. Maybe if more members has digital on senior staff it wouldn’t matter how awkward a member might be in front of the camera, they’d be able to make it compelling, because they’d have staff who’s entire job was just to do that.

I will say, I don’t think Rep Gomez is as alone in this as he thinks he is. That said, for all the digital staffers I’m connected with, this meeting was the first time I heard the term “senior staff” associated with digital. I hope that’s just because it hasn’t come up.

And if it’s not, well, if you work on the Hill, and I know some of you reading this do, might be worth bringing it up with your boss. If they’re on the fence, have them talk to Rep Gomez.

For everyone else, I hope you enjoyed this little behind the scenes and maybe understand why things aren’t entirely working the way you wish they would. But what Rep Gomez said, and how he structures his team? Hopefully, that will become the norm, rather than special circumstance.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sun, Feb 1 - The World Snow Sculpting Competition was held in Stillwater, MN a couple weeks ago. Team USA’s sculpture “A Call to Arms,” was of various things said in sign language, including “ICE out.” The competition received complaints, and the sculpture was destroyed.

And this wasn’t the first time. “ICE Out MN” had been removed from a sculpture at the state competition a few days earlier. The whistle sculpture that had been carved next to it had also been destroyed.

Poet Heid E. Edrich heard about the destroyed sculptures and was so inspired, she got a location secured on private land and facilitated the creation of a new sculpture that includes elements of both competing ones.

Team USA’s Dusty Thune, and state competitors, Logan Thomas, Siera Himmerich, Nick Langer as well as Heather Friedli created a new sculpture that not only won’t be destroyed, but is more direct.

The sculpture will be up for The Luminary Loppet tomorrow night, an annual winter festival that features 1,000 ice sculptures lit by candlelight. There will also be a vigil and a reading by Edrich herself.

Friedli told Twin Cities:

Once the censorship happened, [Erdrich said] we need to incorporate everything,. She approached some nonprofits, and I think they were scared, too, so they turned us down. Just like the community takes care of itself, the community said yes, right? And so we’re on a private location [and have] freedom of speech.

“The community takes care of itself.” That’s the essence of mutual aid. And that is how we’re going to survive this. That’s why We’re NOT Doomed. As long as we fight back and make sure to protect those fighting back and we keep doing so, it doesn’t matter how they try to shut us up. We will succeed.

Los Angeles, California

Wed, Feb 4 - Kristen Stewart has bought the Highland Theater in Highland Park. The theater was built in the 1920s and originally used for vaudeville.

The theater closed in February 2024 thanks, in large part to not being able to bounce back after lockdown.

Stewart is hoping to bring it back, not just as a theater, but as a space for the community. She told Mayer Rus at Architectural Digest:

It’s an opportunity to make a space to gather and scheme and dream together. This project is about creating a new school and restructuring our processes, finding a better way forward. We want to make it a family affair, something for the community. It’s not just for pretentious Hollywood cinephiles. I see it as an antidote to all the corporate bullshit, a place that takes movie culture away from just buying and selling. I think there’s a huge desire and craving for what this kind of space can offer.

As she also said:

Making films is a political act. You have to decide how you want to wield your presence and your voice.

And that’s what she’s doing. Creating and fostering community IS political, especially right now. I think there’s this idea that for something to be considered activism, it has to happen at a protest or in a government building, but that’s just not true. Being involved in the arts is a political act. Finding joy and community and being able to hold onto it despite all this shit is a political act. It gives us the strength to keep fighting, and reminds us what we’re fighting for.

I can’t wait to see what Stewart does with this project. Everything I hear about, that is focused on building community, makes me feel less Doomed.

Santa Clara, California

NOW - There’s an action being planned for the Superbowl. It’s being organized by Shasti Conrad in conjunction with CONTRA-ICE featuring their artistic director, cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz.

On their website they explain

We’ll be running a large-scale campaign featuring the art of our award-winning co-founder and artistic director, Lalo Alcaraz, to spotlight ICE’s cruel actions while supporting Bad Bunny’s halftime show.

Amid escalating state violence, including nine tragic deaths this year alone, we’re harnessing the energy of the world’s largest sporting event to demand fundamental change in immigration enforcement.

And Conrad gave me her own statement, saying:

The Super Bowl is one of the most American moments that happens all year, where culture, competition, and hope all merge. With performers like Bad Bunny and Green Day, the Super Bowl is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on what Americans want: a celebration of bold expression for our rights, a country living up to its creed to welcome immigrants, and a strong rebuke of ICE. And we’re doing it in a way to make fun, and memorialize the moment we are in.

I know it involves towels and volunteers and they need your help to pull it off. Part of us not being Doomed is supporting each other to make noise and create change. If you are able, please support by going to givebutter and donating what you can.

We have the eyes of the world on Sunday, so let’s make sure we use them.

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So hopefully, after reading this, you feel less Doomed, and you’re inspired to find ways to fight back yourself!

Our voice are our superpower, but ONLY when we use them!