John,

Over the next few weeks, you’re going to probably hear from me a little less. That’s because I’m going to be hard at work in the nation’s Capitol.

But I wanted to take a moment to tell you how I’ve prepared for big hearings and big moments during my time in Congress.

You might remember a few years ago when I was in the middle of impeachment hearings for President Donald Trump. Well, I wanted to take you inside what it’s like.

Every Member prepares differently, but I start by reviewing the evidence. That means reading transcripts of interviews and depositions — often hundreds or thousands of pages — watching video evidence, listening to recordings, and reviewing exhibits. I look up prior hearings and see how others have conducted them, which were successful, and try to figure out why. Getting ready for the first impeachment, I read the entire record of the Clinton trial and watched key segments, like that of former Senator Dale Bumpers. I often hunker down late at night — just me and my iPad by the fireplace — even on nights when it's too hot to use it.

My next step is to outline. What are my objectives? What evidence am I hoping to highlight? What moments are most important for the public to see?

And then, I write. I write a lot. While most Members have their staff draft their lines of questioning or opening statements, I try to write my own. And while the staff are the unsung heroes of hearings — and do amazing amounts of work — I think it’s important to write and speak in my own voice. That’s what people expect.

After all of that, I prepare with staff. Again, a lot. We do mock hearings. We change lines of questioning. We go over the videos and evidence. And then do it again. And again.

Finally, I take a step back and evaluate it all together. Will what we are going to present resonate with the American people? Are they going to truly care? Is it going to reach people who, on the natural don’t tend to agree with me, or will it only preach to the choir?

Then, when the hearing begins, I set all that preparation aside and listen to what the witnesses have to say, looking for something unique, a new insight that I can draw upon in follow-up questions. I try not to be so wedded to a script that I miss what is truly important. You would be surprised how often that happens.

The end result can be magical, and it can also go awry. It’s fraught and takes a careful hand.

It’s long and arduous work. But it’s worth it. Because hopefully, the end result is something that really connects with the American people, and is deeply meaningful.

So, as I begin a busy month in DC, I hope that I can continue to convince people of the same things that I have always thought were important: That what is right still matters. That the truth matters. And that decency matters.

Because it does. And it always will.

— Adam