John,

On this July 4th, I want to take a moment to celebrate with you and reflect on the current moment. The past few years have undoubtedly shaken the integrity of our institutions and tested the strength of our democracy. The ongoing January 6th hearings – a year after the culmination of the “Big Lie'' – serve as a sobering reminder of how close our democracy came to falling apart.

However, despite the many events in which dis- and misinformation attempted to disrupt the fabric of our institutions, we continue to fight.

In a letter to James Lloyd in 1799, George Washington wrote, “The great mass of our Citizens require only to understand matters rightly, to form right decisions.” In a time in which conspiracy theories are accepted as fact, we must meet this moment with the urgency it demands.

This July 4th, let’s give ourselves an opportunity to recharge and reflect. And then let’s get back to work.

Happy 4th,

Phil