Roots in Water

Last week, I was invited to speak during the lunch break for the NWPCTN (National Women’s Political Caucus TN) Day on the Hill.

It was that midday moment — right after folks had spent the morning in workshops, caucusing, and meeting with state legislators. They’d be heading back to the Hill after lunch, so I was trying to figure out where they’d be emotionally.

Would they be fired up? Hopeful? Discouraged? Had they actually gotten to meet with any Republican legislators? Hard to say, since meeting with constituents seems to be off limits for a lot of them these days.

I knew I had about 30 minutes. And I wanted to make that time feel worth it. I wanted to leave them with something educational, something inspiring, and if possible, something hopeful. That's not an easy lift at this moment.

I decided to start with a little history — a story about President Lyndon B. Johnson and the speeches he used to give from the Rose Garden. I brought photos of what it looks like today, just in case this administration really does decide to pave it over.

Then we got into the real stuff. What they were hungry for. What do we do right now? How do we make a difference in this moment?

I shared a few things that have kept me going. Some come from books like On Tyranny and the Indivisible guide. Some come from my own experience. Here's what I offered them:

---

1. Tell your story.

We have to keep telling our stories.

When I ran for Congress, the thing that created the most connection was when I talked about Max. Our family’s story. Substance use disorder. Shame. Struggle.

People leaned in when they heard that story.

I didn’t win the race, but we moved the needle in rural counties. We did better than the time before. It was a small win. But it mattered.

---

2. Support the institutions that are still standing.

Especially the press and the courts.

Good journalism is struggling to breathe. So if there’s a publication you trust, pay for it. Seriously. A free press is one of the last guardrails we’ve got, and it doesn’t survive on good vibes. Support nonprofit journalism like ProPublica, or your favorite local newsroom.

Same goes for the legal organizations that are challenging this administration in court. Filing lawsuits costs money. If you’ve got some to give, send it to groups like the ACLU. They’ve filed hundreds of legal actions to protect civil rights — and we need that work now more than ever.

---

3. Organize for the people who need it most.

When a school board wants to ban books — welcome to Tennessee — we need to run candidates for that school board.

When a legislature wants to ban kids from getting an education — again, welcome to Tennessee — we show up. We testify. We sing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” right into the mic.

Because love still matters. Because community still matters. And because silence won’t protect us.

---

I closed with a story about the Swedish ivy that used to live in the White House.

You might’ve seen the article — the plant’s been removed. Just another tradition, another piece of history, gone. A quiet reminder that not everything has to change with every administration. But here we are.

I have a cutting from that ivy. It’s been with me for years. It started small, but when I planted it in good soil, it exploded. And when I placed it in water, it grew long, deep roots.

It’s hardy. It’s resilient.

At the end of my talk, I passed out cuttings to anyone who wanted one.

Because we’ve got to keep propagating what we believe in.

We may only be able to grow roots in shallow water right now, but we’ve got to be ready for the day when we can plant them in fertile ground.

Keep growing. Keep telling your story. Keep showing up.

It’s going to take time. But don’t give up.