Winning The Year
Why Community, Connection, and Coalition Matter More Than Ever
We’re only five days into 2026, and as we step into a new year, there’s already so much awful happening.
As an American, I’m embarrassed.
Our country has been stained by so much harm, and right now, there’s an unmistakable orange stain that will take many cycles of blue to wash out. Not just to stop further damage, but to undo what’s already been done.
That said, I’m not going to spend my time here cataloging the daily awful.
For this moment—right now—my mantra for 2026 is simple:
Winning the year.
From my armchair, wearing my pundit hat, there are several aspects to winning the year that I will be sharing with you.
Today, I share with you one aspect of what it will take.
And for me, part of winning the year comes down to three things:
Community.
Connection.
Coalition.
Community, Connection and Coalition
I started the year by attending the North Gwinnett Democrats monthly meeting.
On the morning of January 3, 2026, as I was getting ready to head out the door, we woke up to the news that the United States had invaded Venezuela—a sovereign nation—and kidnapped its President and First Lady.
I cannot describe what it felt to walk in the door.
I was greeted warmly. I felt joy—not just in being seen, but in seeing others. The hugs, the greetings, the conversations—they were genuine.
And while the social interaction filled my soul, we were all there with a sense of purpose.
We were setting the tone on the year before us.
That’s when my mantra came back to me: winning the year.
This is where the foundation is set.
It starts in community.
By deepening our connections.
By forming coalitions—with activists, with elected leaders, and with those running for office.
This is how we win the year.
Because at the end of the day, we can’t do this alone. We need each other.
This is work that can only be done together—by we the people—and not by AI.
Finding your community
If you’re wondering where to start, the best place is close to home.
Get involved with your local county party or your local Indivisible chapter. Attend meetings. Show up consistently.
From there, you’ll make connections. You’ll discover other groups doing the work. You’ll meet elected officials—and candidates who are running because they believe in something better.
Find someone whose values resonate with you and get involved in their campaign.
These groups are grassroots. They’re powered by we the people.
And it’s we the people who will wash away the stain.
Together, is how we win the year.
Thanks for reading The Arm Chair Pundit.
These are dark times for the country we love—but disengagement isn’t an option. From our armchairs to the front lines, our voices matter.
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Together is how we move out of the darkness—and into the light—by shining it brightly on our democracy and the country we love.