…How did you feel about your conversation with VVP yesterday? The G noted you are dealing with a “complex, confrontational situation” & that while you had “a lot of give and take, there was no finger-wagging.”…

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…Some say the Ukraine is a “trauma wrapped in a trauma.” President Zelensky was a Russian-language comedian, so there must be a lot of Russian speaking folk there. So maybe VVP is on to something when he says that the Russians and Ukrainians are one….

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…According to the G, you got lots of ovations at the Kennedy Awards Ceremony last night. That must feel good….

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…I’m sure Reps Emanuel Cleaver & Sherice Davids (SLD) will be happy to welcome you to KC this week t…Hopefully, this federal spending will help SLD keep her seat. SLD is tweeting about letting Medicare negotiate prescription prices. I hope we can find a way to make that happen….

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…KLS is your biggest obstacle to getting Voters Rights legislation passed because she is opposed to eliminating the filibuster. While I understand her desire to hold onto to it to “compel moderation,” that assumes a level playing field….

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Last night you had a menorah lighting. Tonight, it’ll be the Christmas tree. Will you also be lighting the Kwanzaa candles on Dec 26?…

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…Did you get a chance to speak with the Ethiopians who were protesting during your visit to MN yesterday? They are worried about the civil war back home and that humanitarian aid is not getting to the people who need it. Did you notice whether any Burmese were in the crowd making the same kind of appeal?…

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…Are you enjoying the festive décor of the WH? I’m not big on that kind of thing. I pulled out a dish towel with Santa riding a bike & hung it on the stove. That’s the extent of my holiday décor for the time being….

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…Please add a conversation with Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison to your “to do” list this week. According to the G, “Australia… has invested $157m in 14 publicly traded companies that have done business with the Myanmar military… ” Please tell him, “It is time Australia stops profiting at the expense of the lives of Myanmar people and Myanmar’s future.”

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…While we may be “witnessing what economists are calling the Great Resignation, the unprecedented decision by many Americans to voluntarily quit their jobs, step back, and ask what they really want from work and life,” we can also engage in a national “Great Reconsideration… recalibrating along higher hopes for equality and fairness, compassion and safety, freedom and responsibility.” I encourage you to try on this rhetoric this week as you try to sell BBB…

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…your TO DO list should include A) support research on OM, B) ramp up genomic surveillance, C) require Moderna & Pfizer to develop OM specific vax & D) get people in Africa vaxed. The jury is out on whether a travel ban is going to do any good….

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…The best news of the day comes from the KCS which announced that Kevin Strickland, who has been unjustly imprisoned for the last 40 years, has received pledges totaling $951,338 from 16,300 donors from around the world…

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..How are things in Nantucket? It looks like you are having s sunny end-of-fall day. Perfect for a bike ride….

…Thought I’d give Keto pumpkin pie a try. Do you have a favorite pie? …

…We began our time together by talking about Tazaungmone festival in Myanmar …. Our Friend in Yangon reported that while not as spectacular as some years, this year people are gathering to mark the occasion bringing some joy to the embattled community. That was heartwarming news…

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