Thank you to everyone who helped make I AM MARIA a No. 1 Instant New York Times Bestseller! I’m humbled, blown away, and thrilled that so many people are reading poetry. I’m honored and grateful that my reflections of heartbreak and healing are resonating with so many of you, and I love seeing the poetry that you are creating as well! Keep going, and keep ordering at iammariabook.com

This week, a pre-K graduation reminded me of something I think many of us forget. The people who teach us the most are not always the ones we expect. Sometimes they’re five years old. I wrote about friendship, kindness, bucket fillers, and why every person who crosses our path has something to teach us. I hope you’ll take a moment to read this week’s essay. n9.cl/thv91

Crews begin removing Trump's name from Kennedy Center after missing Friday night deadline, video from a CNN crew appeared to show. cnn.it/4v41yvf

Preach, @bobbyshriver.

In this week’s edition of @thesundaypaper, I talked about this summer being a summer of friendship, a summer of connection. So many people in our country are lonely, divided, and scared to reach out. Reaching out is hard. Reaching out takes courage. Reaching out takes vulnerability. That is what I think @HunterBiden is doing here. He’s very open and honest about his own life, the mistakes he’s made and wanting to own up to them, while also wanting to reach out to others who might have gone through the same type of thing. I think Hunter’s desire to talk and start a conversation about addiction, about recovery is wonderful. He acknowledges that not everybody will like it and that people might complain about it, but I’m glad that he acknowledges it. He’s also been met by a lot of love a lot of friendship. People need support in their lives. Life is tough for everyone, so when someone says, I’m here to start a conversation about mistakes I’ve made, about what I’ve learned about recovery, about addiction, I think it’s moving. It’s scary for them, and I’m sure scary for those who want to reach out and start that conversation with him, but in the spirit of this being the summer of friendship, the summer of connection, and in the spirit of moving forward and reaching across the divide, why not support someone who’s trying?  Let this be your reminder or your nudge to reach out to someone you’ve not spoken to, whether because of a political difference, distance, or just because. Let today be the day you reconnect, and start your summer of friendship and connection off with an outreached hand.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the extraordinary outbursts of the President of the United States against female journalists... well, actually against journalists in general and journalism. But it feels like he saves his most childlike behavior and irrational language for female reporters, calling them all kinds of names that kids in kindergarten are given times out for. It’s stunning to me to witness such behavior from any leader, any CEO, any person of influence or importance. I’ve never witnessed someone like this raging, this weekend with @meetthepress host @kwelkernbc, just last week in the Oval Office with @cnn’s @kaitlancollins, calling women stupid or piggy, telling them to “smile”, calling them darling, demeaning their credibility. Every good man should denounce this behavior. Every person should be able to stand up for their colleagues and say “No more.” Imagine this man screaming like this at your daughter, your wife, your sister, your mother... would you stand for it? No, you wouldn’t! And neither should any of us. It’s unacceptable and undignified. Period. End of story.

I’ve spent the past week reading your stories about friendship, loneliness, and the longing for deeper connection. Your messages reminded me that no matter our age or stage of life, we all want to know that we belong. This week, I’m inviting all of us into what I’m calling the Summer of Friendship. I hope you’ll read the essay and join me in making connection, community, and friendship a priority this season. n9.cl/2cfnq

No matter who you vote for, I hope you don’t take the opportunity to vote for granted. Today is primary day here in California, as well as Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, South Dakota and New Mexico. Voting is also underway in a host of other states for their primary elections across the country. While we won’t always agree on who is best, on who should win (especially here on social media), I hope we can agree on the power of voting, of showing up, of casting a ballot, and making our choice in this democratic process. Today, I showed up, and I hope my neighbors and fellow Californians did as well. And as we await the results, let’s be grateful that our voice matters, that we can contribute, that we are part of this exciting process! Have you voted in your state’s primary election? 🗳️

Smart insight from Professor Green!

I’ve been thinking about what makes us truly human in an age of A.I. This week’s essay is about loneliness, connection, friendship, and why our humanity is worth protecting. No machine can replace a shared laugh, a meaningful conversation, or the feeling of belonging. I hope this piece inspires you to reach out, show up, and remember that we need one another now more than ever. n9.cl/r38mdb

An appropriate birthday present on my uncle's birthday today. A federal judge ruled that President Trump and the Kennedy Center Board acted unlawfully in renaming the Kennedy Center. The judge held that only Congress can change the Center's name and blocked the planned two-year closure. I know they'll probably appeal and the story isn't over, but for today let’s celebrate a great birthday gift.

Excellent statement by Cecilia Vega. What’s happening at 60 Minutes is beyond belief and should concern everyone who wants to live in a country with a free press.

I’ve been thinking about the question so many of us struggle to answer: Who are you right now, in this chapter of your life. This week, I wrote about loneliness, friendship, purpose, aging, and learning to pay attention to the quiet longings we carry inside us. The questions we can’t answer are often the ones most worth asking. I hope you’ll read this week’s essay and reflect alongside me.n9.cl/tvxjg

Our Quote of the Week is in honor of Head Start’s 61st birthday, which we marked on Monday, May 18. sargentshriver.org/blog/happ…

Beautifully said, @davidaxelrod. Thank you, Barney Frank for your service, your patriotism, your courage.

Billie Jean King continues to inspire me and I know millions of others. Congrats, my friend 👏

I’ve been thinking about the difference between chasing a title and living with purpose. A position can change. A purpose stays with you. This week’s essay is about finding the deeper reason behind what we do and the stories that shape our calling. I hope it encourages you to reflect on your own North Star. n9.cl/7iyku

Definitely worth one’s time to listen to this interview. I found Mr. Platner open, honest, and compelling. Great broad definitions on masculinity, the working class, and the political establishment. nytimes.com/2026/05/16/magaz…

Wise words from @JerryBrownGov. America must get its act together.

This is good news. Women’s health needs to be radically reframed—diseases need to be renamed and they need to be researched, studied, and acknowledged. There’s a lot of work to do and each generation faces different issues. Medical schools need to teach women’s health and women need to be able to afford the care they need. This is an urgent national issue.

Americans are having to make stark choices every day—afford gas to go to work and take their kids to school, or take care of aging parents, or afford medical care. The Trump economy is costing people in every way.