4/27/2022

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Congratulations – your news count is up today – “Biden” had 7 hits in the NYT & 12 in the WP with stories about clemency, Madeleine Albright’s funeral & student debt featured in both. Surprisingly, the G had 0 hits. Go figure.

            One of the pieces in the NYT coupled your name with Aung San Suu Kyi’s, noting that the Tatmadaw has sentenced her to 5 years on charges of accepting $1.3 million in cash & gold bars brought to her in shopping bags. The only evidence of this is the testimony of one man, so there’s plenty of doubt as to the veracity of the case. It gives me hope to see the NYT covering Myanmar. I wish they would do that more often.

It’s surprising that your name ended up in the headline, since it only appeared once in the story, indicating that you are hosting an ASEAN summit in May where ASSK’s situation will be “a major point of discussion.” I hope it brings the Burmese some comfort to know they have not been forgotten.

            Thanks for hosting Kurt Russel, 2022 Teacher of the Year at the WH today. It’s wonderful that an African American male teacher is being honored for his work to, “confront the uncomfortable” in courses that include, African American History, as well as, Race, Gender, and Oppression. He endeavors to “provide an inclusive and safe environment for studying the histories of diverse groups and encouraging all students' voices to be heard." He looks like a gentle, kind individual who has a passion for history. We need more folks like him in the classroom!

         Please pay my respects to MJKA’s family at her service today at the National Cathedral. She was an amazing woman who served us well.

         BYBS,