https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press daily 0.75 2026-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/9f65b953-1591-4b04-afed-090cb0265b16/download+%289%29.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/89308728-1848-4f19-871b-f7b992cf0780/SLJ+Sept+2024.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a0dbf771-bf15-4708-945f-ab71deaa80b2/SLJ-Logo.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/ae83ec0f-d12b-4209-a206-4ad446ddff8f/Hill+Rag+Losing+is+Democratic https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/the-dogs-of-fina-mendoza monthly 0.5 2026-04-03 https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/chesapeake-press-goes-to-the-culver-city-book-festival monthly 0.5 2026-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6429764b-4c4c-4270-9a0e-f3709d547223/Chesapeake+Press+at+the+Culver+City+Book+Festival+2026 News About Chesapeake Press - Chesapeake Press Goes to the Culver City Book Festival - READ ALL ABOUT IT! Chesapeake Press returns to the Culver City Book Festival in 2026. Here’s an article in Culver Crescent. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/interview-with-writer-kitty-felde monthly 0.5 2025-05-23 https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/honors-for-losing-is-democratic monthly 0.5 2025-05-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d2c28d03-9efc-449e-9ac2-f6ee0e365d1f/download+%284%29.jfif News About Chesapeake Press - Honors for “Losing is Democratic” - Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids about January 6th The NextGen Indie Book Awards has honored Losing is Democratic as a 2025 Finalist in the novella category. Awards will be handed out at The Notary Hotel in Philadelphia, PA on Friday, June 27, 2025 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/la-times-festival-of-books-2025 monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/03f9cd05-07b1-4abd-83b8-9bae6a23c326/IMG_2868.jpg News About Chesapeake Press - LA Times Festival of Books 2025 - THANK YOU! Thanks to all the Fina Mendoza Mysteries fans who dropped by the Chesapeake Press booth at this weekend’s LA Times Festival of Books! Our intrepid interior designer Kelly Samojlik was there along with writer Kitty Felde (she took the picture). See you next year! https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/ccss-2025 monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/23a6c871-e10d-4593-b7fb-1251bed5be18/Losing+is+Democratic+Cover+%281%29.jpg News About Chesapeake Press - CCSS 2025 - Writer Kitty Felde will be presenting a session called Civic Literacy: How a Big Orange Dog Helps Creates Tomorrow's Voters Friday, March 7, 2025 1:30 pm Santa Barbara - San Francisco Room https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/culver-city-book-festival-1 monthly 0.5 2025-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/dcd977ba-0a28-404b-8862-d3fc1c225c40/culver-city-book-festival-2025.png News About Chesapeake Press - Culver City Book Festival - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/2ed1ed8c-389d-47b6-a8cc-646f08cb6ded/Also+by+Kitty+Felde_FM+Front+Covers_whiteBG.png News About Chesapeake Press - Culver City Book Festival - Make it stand out WHERE: WENDE MUSEUM - 10808 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA WHEN: Saturday, February 22 10AM-4PM FREE https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/civics-101-are-you-smarter-than-a-kid-about-civics monthly 0.5 2025-01-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/3a69607b-d99a-41f5-a937-caa3424fe985/1.13+civics+101.png News About Chesapeake Press - Civics 101 (are you smarter than a kid about civics?) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/going-to-the-american-library-association-conference-in-san-diego monthly 0.5 2024-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/ed56aaee-519c-490f-b0e8-5c278a8126c7/ala.png News About Chesapeake Press - Going to the American Library Association Conference in San Diego? - DROP BY AND SAY HI…AND GET A FREE BOOK! I’ll be signing and giving away copies of my Fina Mendoza Mysteries series of books on both: SATURDAY - NOON SUNDAY - 12:30 PM BOOTH 1837 Drop by to say hello…and if you have a reading tip for getting reluctant readers to pick up a book, share it with me! https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/culver-city-book-festival monthly 0.5 2024-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d4e84954-8b45-48fd-8548-f21df7a15f3e/Culver+City+Book+Festival.png News About Chesapeake Press - Culver City Book Festival - Visit a Culver City publisher at a Culver City Festival! Stop by the Chesapeake Press booth at the Culver City Book Festival on Saturday, June 29th from 10-4. 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Kitty worked several elections as a poll worker herself. She write this Op/Ed for the New York Daily News Election Workers: Super Heroes in Neon Nails.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661544791913-N363U5SQDCINLS97QOXI/US+Capitol+%282%29.jpg News About Chesapeake Press - Writer Kitty Felde in Front Row at January 6th Hearing - U.S. Capitol (photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661546061181-4DJGO0WAKY5TWR1EN67W/Kitty+Felde+at+January+6th+Hearing+%28Logo%29.png News About Chesapeake Press - Writer Kitty Felde in Front Row at January 6th Hearing - Kitty Felde at January 6th hearing Kitty Felde, author of “State of the Union” and other Fina Mendoza books, attends January 6th hearing on Capitol Hill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661544812449-CDG636075X1KH9Q5MPV3/Kitty+Felde+at+January+6th+hearing.jpg News About Chesapeake Press - Writer Kitty Felde in Front Row at January 6th Hearing - Kitty Felde at January 6th hearing (photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661544811243-GSQNNFUEWFNSRXDE6GR9/Rep.+Adam+Schiff+greets+Arizona+GOP+Speaker+Rusty+Bowers.jpg News About Chesapeake Press - Writer Kitty Felde in Front Row at January 6th Hearing - Rusty Bowers shakes hands with Rep. 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Liz Cheney hugs Ruby Freeman Congresswoman LIz Cheney hugs Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman at January 6th congressional hearing (photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661544817065-VST5BHAA73E7TMZGWGNO/IMG-4908.jpg News About Chesapeake Press - Writer Kitty Felde in Front Row at January 6th Hearing - January 6th Congressional Hearing photographers wait for witnesses at January 6th hearing (photo by Kitty Felde) https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/8r95zn4623zclummy6ysj7xvirhiv3 monthly 0.5 2022-06-03 https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/finas-showing-up-everywhere monthly 0.5 2022-05-12 https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/a-new-season monthly 0.5 2022-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/cb5baaa2-6420-4dc4-be46-72280052dea5/Untitled+design+%2818%29.png News About Chesapeake Press - A New Season - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/hooray-for-fina-at-hooray-for-books monthly 0.5 2022-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/9852930b-7bdd-4f17-b080-a9be762052bb/Hooray+for+Books%21.jpeg News About Chesapeake Press - Hooray for Fina at Hooray for Books! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/fina-goes-to-the-literary-hill-bookfest monthly 0.5 2022-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/c9d2d6f8-e099-400d-80f4-0efbe2191c4c/Literary+Hill+BookFest.png News About Chesapeake Press - Fina Goes to the Literary Hill BookFest - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/1xv2zgon6eqcw39np0qvgj1g876ti4 monthly 0.5 2022-02-20 https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/more-about-kitty-felde monthly 0.5 2022-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1634246560848-FER8DDRMEOOZ0P1PZIIG/kitty.jpg News About Chesapeake Press - More About Kitty Felde - Make it stand out Kitty loves the beach. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/state-of-the-union-in-the-spotlight monthly 0.5 2022-05-12 https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/author-interview monthly 0.5 2022-05-12 https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/poopgate monthly 0.5 2022-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1631917008085-6YQFA3SYPFKUKT3GNWK2/IMG-2783.PNG News About Chesapeake Press - Poopgate - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/a-rave-from-kirkus-reviews monthly 0.5 2021-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1626918802193-982BN8RGUVN6WIR4XPHK/State+of+the+Union News About Chesapeake Press - A Rave from Kirkus Reviews - Make it stand out Preorder now! https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/thank-you-school-library-journal monthly 0.5 2021-07-06 https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/tedx-talk-kitty-felde monthly 0.5 2021-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1622144781556-EPXSFBD3KIW9VGDJVTTR/TED.JPG News About Chesapeake Press - Chesapeake Press Author Now a TEDx Speaker - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/state-of-the-union-a-new-fina-mendoza-mystery monthly 0.5 2021-05-27 https://www.chesapeakepress.org/news-about-chesapeake-press/fina-mendoza-mysteries-podcast monthly 0.5 2021-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1617824938045-2LWY2MNA18V31PUBUNXS/logo+400.jpg News About Chesapeake Press - Democracy in Your Ears Come with us to Capitol Hill where the 10-year old daughter of a congressman walks congressional dogs and solves mysteries. 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https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/who-runs-elections-understanding-the-constitutional-balance-of-power monthly 0.5 2026-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/68b5b135-67ca-4b8e-be02-977d94b31568/image+of+scales+of+justice Facts Behind the Fiction - Who Runs Elections? Understanding the Constitutional Balance of Power - Balance of Power The Founding Fathers were worried about America being once again ruled by a king. It's the reason they created a balance of power between the executive branch, the legislature, and the courts. They were also concerned about balancing federal power with that of individual states and put it in the Constitution that states control the "times, places, and manner" of congressional elections. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, says Congress can pass laws about voting, but the executive branch "plays literally zero role in setting election policy in the United States." Becker says decentralizing elections makes it harder to tamper with. It's like having "10,000 little elections all over the country, run by our neighbors and community members who know our communities best." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/ce29f4dd-28c7-4a08-bd4c-cbda639b782a/voters+image Facts Behind the Fiction - Who Runs Elections? Understanding the Constitutional Balance of Power - Congress and the Supreme Court Weigh In That principle of local control of elections was reinforced in 1932 when the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in, telling states it was their job to decide how to conduct elections, supervise voting, prevent fraud, count votes, and publish election results. Congress has expanded the federal role in elections over the past 60 years, mostly dealing with funding upgrades in voting technology and protection of voting rights. In 1993, Congress passed the National Voter Registration Act that required states to designate a chief election official to oversee elections in the state, a post usually held by the secretary of state or lieutenant governor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e930f209-ad40-4bab-8501-54e3153906ac/presidential+podium Facts Behind the Fiction - Who Runs Elections? Understanding the Constitutional Balance of Power - The Executive Branch Last October, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that would require a passport or citizenship document to register to vote, but a federal court blocked the order, finding that the power to change election procedures belongs solely to Congress and the states. Now, the administration is using a different tactic: repeating unfounded allegations of voter fraud. In late January, the FBI searched an elections office in Georgia, looking for evidence that the 2020 election was stolen. Then earlier this month, President Trump told a podcast audience that Republicans should “nationalize the voting” and challenged the GOP to "take over the voting." https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/jlnsy87y9h6hi961l84791ydtgv49l monthly 0.5 2026-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/c566649e-8725-49dc-9b25-1617de726aed/naturalization+act.png Facts Behind the Fiction - A Short History of the Immigration Fight That Built—and Still Divides—America - Image courtesy of the Library of Congress America's First Immigration Law Congress has been making immigration policies since 1790. The U.S. population at that time was either immigrants or Native Americans. Only one group was allowed to become a citizen. The Naturalization Act of 1790 reads: any "free white person who resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States for at least two years could be granted citizenship if he or she showed good character and swore allegiance to the Constitution." More exclusions followed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/43e9c481-e0a2-4017-a891-c116cd0e11f4/Ronald+Reagan+signing+the+1986+IRCA+law Facts Behind the Fiction - A Short History of the Immigration Fight That Built—and Still Divides—America - Photo courtesy of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service IRCA The last major piece of immigration legislation was passed by Congress in 1986. The Immigration Reform and Control Act was also known as "Reagan Amnesty." It offered the opportunity for more than two million undocumented immigrants who'd lived in the U.S. for a decade or more a path to citizenship. It also imposed civil and criminal penalties on employers who knowingly hired individuals not authorized to work in the U.S. President Reagan signed the bill, saying, "Our objective is only to establish a reasonable, fair, orderly, and secure system of immigration into this country and not to discriminate in any way against particular nations or people." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/fe5e9201-b039-4534-a0a8-779e3eba0dae/ICE+image.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - A Short History of the Immigration Fight That Built—and Still Divides—America - Photo courtesy of ICE Immigration Policy Today Unlike previous immigration policies, written into law by Congress, current immigration actions have come from the executive branch. The White House initially announced that it would marshal federal resources to arrest and deport violent criminals. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says so far, more than 600,00 people have been deported. According to the Cato Institute, just 5% of those detained by ICE have been convicted of violent crimes, 73% have no convictions at all. More than 170 U.S. citizens have also been caught up in immigration raids, according to ProPublica Most recently, visas for visitors from 75 different countries have been frozen. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/government-shutdowns monthly 0.5 2025-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f2188bc7-f167-4251-9094-9b24cf76f53d/Untitled+design+%2888%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Government Shutdowns - a Short History - In the final Fina Mendoza Mystery Let Kids Vote! Fina's congressman father tells her there's going to be a government shutdown. I pictured in my head someone hammering plywood boards over the windows and doors of the Capitol. "The government's going out of business?" I asked. "Not exactly. Technically, the government's running out of money," said Papa. "Congress was supposed to pass a funding bill to pay for government expenses for the next year." "Isn't that your job?" I asked. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/4abc4c3b-6b90-4f2d-ba11-5bd639d77ba7/Untitled+design+%2889%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Government Shutdowns - a Short History - Who's in Charge of the Money? The U.S. Constitution requires Congress to appropriate the funds needed to pay for the activities of all three branches of the federal government. This year, lawmakers failed to do so by the September 30th deadline, so the U.S. Government effectively shut its doors on October 1st. It's not the first time this has happened. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e14bf960-0268-44f8-ae15-5a4caa8b2e73/Untitled+design+%282%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Government Shutdowns - a Short History - Was Congress Always This Late? House Appropriations Committee 1888 - painting by Paul Rénouard in Harper's Weekly (courtesy of House of Representatives) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/8d1f5684-71ed-4ed2-a848-81bfca2dc010/Untitled+design+%2891%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Government Shutdowns - a Short History - How It's Supposed to Work Under the rules of the Congressional Budget Act, the president is supposed to submit a budget proposal by the first Monday in February. It's often late. Meanwhile, Congress starts work on its own spending proposal, due the same day taxes are due: April 15th. Congress has been late 45 of the past 51 years, including this year. Once a budget resolution is adopted, Congress gets to work on separate bills that fund various parts of the federal government. The deadline for passage is October 1st, the start of the new fiscal year. But that hasn’t happened since 1996. These days, rather than work on individual spending bills, Congress prefers omnibus bills, packing nearly everything into one big bill. If Congress can't agree, lawmakers push back the deadline by passing temporary measures called continuing resolutions, or CRs, to keep the government running. If Congress can't get enough votes to pass the CR - which is what happened this year - there's no money to fund the federal government, so it shuts down. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d9233198-1e05-4445-907e-88c5de441341/Untitled+design+%283%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Government Shutdowns - a Short History - How Many Shutdowns? How Much Does it Cost? There have been six government shutdowns since 1995. One lasted two days. The longest lasted 34 days - from December 21, 2018 to January 25th, 2019. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said that particular shutdown cut the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by $11 billion. That battle was over funding the border wall. This one is over extending Covid era health insurance tax credits. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/the-monster-that-is-gerrymandering monthly 0.5 2025-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/3c59214b-f906-4f1f-b565-db4805b3aba8/John+Adams Facts Behind the Fiction - The Monster That is Gerrymandering - In the Beginning The U.S. Constitution is fairly vague about how congressional districts should be created: The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States. In a 1776 letter, Founding Father John Adams had a few thoughts about creating a fair legislature. He said it should be: An exact portrait of the people at large. It should think, feel, reason, and act like them...Great care should be taken to effect this, and to prevent unfair, partial, and corrupt elections. He had a further warning about the legislative branch, saying it is apt to grow ambitious, and after a time will not hesitate to vote itself perpetual. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d0d21b64-9766-41ce-857c-66509903564b/The+Monster+that+is+Gerrymandering Facts Behind the Fiction - The Monster That is Gerrymandering - Political Cartoon by Elkanah Tisdale, courtesy of the Library of Congress March 26, 1812, the Boston Gazette published a political cartoon showing a winged monster built of congressional districts and named it after Governor Elbridge Gerry: Gerry-mander. The Governor's political party, the Democratic-Republican Party, was determined to hold onto its majority in the state senate. Lawmakers passed a bill to redraw districts to guarantee their success and the measure was signed by the Governor, even though he thought the scheme was "highly disagreeable." One of the redrawn districts in the Boston area looked a bit like a mythological salamander. Hence, the name: gerrymander. Governor Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and former Vice President to James Madison, lost his election, but the legislature remained in the hands of his party. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/25a008f9-55d3-44ef-ab76-84011d90b8b1/the+34th+Congressional+District Facts Behind the Fiction - The Monster That is Gerrymandering - The 34th Congressional District In the early days of American democracy, members of Congress were chosen "at large" - in other words, there were no crazy lines that divided up the state into specific districts. That's not to say that our Founding Fathers were above gerrymandering. When drawing Virginia’s very first congressional map, Patrick Henry tried to draw district boundaries that would block rival James Madison, from winning a seat. It wasn't until after the 1930 census that it came to the court's attention that political parties were tinkering with district lines to their own advantage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f89838b7-74d0-4feb-8512-bd1bb823c11a/cracking+and+packing Facts Behind the Fiction - The Monster That is Gerrymandering - How is it Done? They call it cracking and packing. Cracking identifies voters who are likely to vote against your candidates and splits them up. This dilutes their voting strength. Packing involves smushing disfavored voters together into as few congressional districts as possible. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/aebffbb6-5339-47f3-b90f-cd582882b635/US+Supreme+Court+photo+by+Kitty+Felde.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Monster That is Gerrymandering - The Court Giveth and the Court Taketh Away The Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it illegal to discriminate against voters of color when drawing districts. But those protections have been chipped away in recent years. The High Court has agreed with states who argue that maps can be drawn to discriminate against a political party, not against Black, Latino, or Asian voters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/04c0da3c-e875-4add-b640-efd305f36456/Texas+vs+California Facts Behind the Fiction - The Monster That is Gerrymandering - Texas vs California State lawmakers draw the congressional district lines in 33 states, including Texas. In nine states, including California, independent commissions do the job. Two states have hybrid systems where lawmakers and commissions both work on map drawing. Of course, there are six states with just one congressional district. So redistricting isn't necessary. Traditionally, congressional district lines are redrawn every ten years, using the latest census numbers. Republican lawmakers in Texas want to do it now, hopefully creating enough safe GOP seats to hold onto their majority in Congress. Mid-term elections usually favor the party of the person who is not in the White House. California's governor wants to redraw his state's map to counter the Texas plan. He and the majority Democratic legislature can't do that...unless California voters agree to temporarily suspend its independent redistricting commission. That vote is expected in early November. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/codel-are-taxpayers-picking-up-the-tab-for-congressional-trips monthly 0.5 2025-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/839410f4-7599-4dc9-8063-eb786f2c1463/marchtovalleyforge_trego_1883_ARC2.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - CODEL: Are Taxpayers Picking up the Tab for Congressional Trips? - A Tradition as Old as George Washington It was a cold, bleak winter at Valley Forge in 1777. Soldiers serving under General George Washington didn't have enough food, clothing, or blankets. Many lacked shoes. Nearly three thousand men were listed as unfit for duty because they had inadequate clothing. Congress wanted Washington's army to get back to fighting the British. Washington realized Congress had no idea of the wretched conditions and invited a Committee of Conference from Congress so that they could see for themselves the hardships in the encampment. It worked. After visiting Valley Forge, the Committee convinced Congress to provide the needed supplies, including "comfortable Quarters for the Officers and Soldiers.” It was the nation's first CODEL. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/9fca8511-164d-4d5e-926a-976b3cf07f0c/Untitled+design+%2867%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - CODEL: Are Taxpayers Picking up the Tab for Congressional Trips? - Who Pays? It depends. Congressional rules allow private organizations to sponsor travel, but only when the travel is for official business purposes. Members are also allowed to accept trips paid for by a foreign government as long as the travel complies with the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (MECEA) or the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act (FGDA). But usually, it's you and me who pick up the bill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/ed76612a-98bf-4771-8ae1-7bb7bfd86c17/Tom+Tillis.jfif Facts Behind the Fiction - CODEL: Are Taxpayers Picking up the Tab for Congressional Trips? - Do We Get our Money's Worth? (photo courtesy of Tom Tillis Facebook page) CODELs give members of Congress a first-hand look at issues they spend money on or write legislation about. They travel to fulfill their oversight duty - such as recent congressional visits to immigrant detention centers. But some argue that CODELs are a secret weapon to fight partisanship. There are few opportunities for members of Congress to talk to folks on the other side of the aisle. They fly in to Washington on Monday nights and fly home Thursday afternoons. They eat lunch with members of their own party. In an era where partisanship divides Congress completely, CODEL trips can create, according to Politico, "rare human connections that can shape future policy — even on issues unrelated to foreign affairs." North Carolina Republican Senator Tom Tillis was on a CODEL to Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo with Democrat Chris Murphy. The trip, according to Tillis involved "working 12- and 14-hour days, we’re sometimes traveling two or three hours from country to country. And that just gets you into a position where … you build that trust and you build that familiarity, [and] that serves as a basis for getting accomplished what we did.” What they accomplish was bipartisan gun legislation. PS: Tom Tillis will not be running for re-election after his clash with the President over the "Big Beautiful Bill." https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/politics-meets-pop-flies-the-congressional-baseball-game monthly 0.5 2025-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1731012940452-JEWI6KKOB5FA98TM4YQ5/Cover+Snake+in+the+Grass.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game - In Snake in the Grass (book 3 of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries series) partisanship has gotten so bad, somebody's dumping snakes in the gym bags of members of Congress who are playing in the annual charity Congressional Baseball Game. Fina's father, Congressman Arturo Mendoza, is playing this year and his daughters are there to watch. After school, Gabby and I walked to Nats Park. We had to stand in a long line that stretched out to the street. People ahead of us wore blue or red tee shirts with numbers on the back. “What do you think the numbers mean?” I asked. “They’re probably staffers,” said Gabby. “That must be the number of their boss’s congressional district.” “We should be wearing number 34 for Papa,” I said. But we weren’t. Nobody told us about the numbers. There were no seat numbers on our tickets, but it wasn’t hard to figure out where to sit. Half the stadium was dressed in Republican red. The other side was wearing Democratic blue. That’s the side where we sat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/40758834-e537-4773-afcd-b3eac86f9553/Congressional+Baseball+Game+Logo.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game - One of the Oldest Traditions in Congress Last week, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle took their disagreements outside - to the baseball field - for the annual charity Congressional Baseball Game. It's a tradition that stretches back more than a century. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1809de03-d081-456e-a06c-66e9c8fedcbe/John+Tener%2C+Chicago+Whte+Stockings+Baseball+Card+image+LOC.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game - (photo courtesy of Library of Congress) John Tener was born in Ireland, the seventh of ten children. After emigrating to America, he was also an orphan. His became an American success story, becoming a major league pitcher, a successful businessman, a United States Congressman, the Governor of Pennsylvania, and President of the National League. He also invented the Congressional Baseball Game. That first game was played in 1909, led by the right handed Republican from Pittsburgh. Tener must have had a bad day on the mound. The GOP team lost, 26-18. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/25adf517-42dc-4c64-8d0d-018e5c2e0dad/ticket.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game - (photo courtesy of Congressional Baseball Game) The game continued off and on over the years, interrupted by the Depression and World War II. Sometimes, actual lawmaking - or leadership - interfered. In 1914, the Speaker of the House had to send the Sergeant at Arms to the ballfield to drag lawmakers back to the Capitol to work on a bill. House Speaker Sam Rayburn cancelled the game completely in 1958, saying it had become too physical. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/fb7eff07-19d6-472b-9467-7b33dc35c9b1/IMG_8354+%281%29.JPEG Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game - (photo of Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) after the 2014 game courtesy of Kitty Felde) Speaker Rayburn Might Be Right It's not unusual to see members of Congress wearing a sling or a cast or hobbling around on a cane the week after the Congressional game. These players take it seriously. In 1956, a collision at home plate sent catcher Rep. Charles Curtis, R-Mo sprawling. He had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. But then there was 2017. A gunman opened fire on Republican players practicing for the big game. Five people were wounded, including the current GOP Majority Leader Steve Scalise. These days, lawmakers take batting practice under the watchful eye of the Capitol Police. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/af1f1a73-fafc-486d-bf58-a20b1cbef8a5/Kitty+Felde+%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game - Not a Boys Game Anymore In 1993, a trio of congresswomen broke the gender barrier at the Congressional Baseball Game: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Blanche Lambert (D-AK). In 2009, a Congressional Women's Softball Game was started with women members of Congress playing against a team of female reporters. Finally, in 2022, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez D-CA became the first female manager of the Congressional Baseball Game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750096946592-FKTA1UZ76XL8TDB275ZY/Untitled+design+%2857%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750096946701-8KCZSTN8KIV5L4OMKCOE/Untitled+design+%2856%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750096948107-V0P8FHPBJ3E5KZDJZ2JI/Untitled+design+%2855%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750096948175-U1K3HZH4Z1Y53M41JV8K/Untitled+design+%2854%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750098713494-QVPF0LSGQI9D4N5LQE46/Untitled+design+%2866%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750098713555-EMUE8HLZOTKFEDHPEH9E/Untitled+design+%2865%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750098714940-WEMK5WGABOI92I6TE77P/Untitled+design+%2864%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750098715249-U3RJOQUUKGU5YLLRSNJ7/Untitled+design+%2863%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750098716405-T0ODTLY5GH6C6R8FLALL/Untitled+design+%2862%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750098716561-A2O49GRR6JMXCC8HG5L1/Untitled+design+%2861%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750098718062-2N4ZTPB0W41UB39NMAEI/Untitled+design+%2860%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1750098718170-6ZH901IFW6C1B7VY2BCQ/Untitled+design+%2859%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Politics Meets Pop Flies: The Congressional Baseball Game https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/is-everything-partisan-in-congress monthly 0.5 2025-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1731012940452-JEWI6KKOB5FA98TM4YQ5/Cover+Snake+in+the+Grass.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Is Everything Partisan in Congress? - Fact or Fiction? In Snake in the Grass (book 3 of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries series) partisanship has gotten so bad, somebody's dumping snakes in the gym bags and trash cans of any member of Congress who dares talk to someone from the other party. And then Fina stumbles across a press conference. "We’re here to announce the formation of a new group: the Let’s Talk About It caucus. We’re a bipartisan group of freshman lawmakers willing to step across the aisle and work together on issues we all care about. It’s the first step in breaking the partisan logjam in Congress.” I knew what a logjam looked like: a bunch of cut down trees stuck in a river. I pictured the hundreds of bills that members of Congress introduced every year being tossed in the river, getting stuck on underwater logs or beaver dams or just floating away. They were the bills that went nowhere, either because the lawmaker couldn’t get anyone from the other party to cosponsor the bill, or because it was loaded up with amendments - suggestions from other members that they thought should be included in the bill, but sometimes were designed to make other lawmakers mad and make them want to vote against it, so nothing got done. That was the logjam in Congress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/cd4a44a7-f31f-4a44-80de-792f2045ea5f/Congressional+Baseball+Game Facts Behind the Fiction - Is Everything Partisan in Congress? - Them vs Us Conventional wisdom on Capitol Hill says Democrats and Republicans get together for only two events a year: the Congressional Prayer Breakfast and the Congressional Baseball Game where Democrats and Republicans slug out their differences on the field. But do politicos of both parties ever get together to accomplish anything in Congress? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/07b7a547-38e0-468f-9026-7412540f1897/logo_0.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Is Everything Partisan in Congress? - Meet the Problem Solvers The Problem Solvers Caucus in Congress was created in 2017, the brainchild of the centrist political organization No Labels. The goal was to create a space where Democrats and Republicans could talk about collaboration on issues important to people on both sides of the aisle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1e905980-9a46-42e7-8fa5-04b311c1ce26/Problem+Solver+Caucus+members+visit+the+US+Border+in+2019 Facts Behind the Fiction - Is Everything Partisan in Congress? - Who are they? (photo of Problem Solver Caucus visit to US Border in 2019; photo courtesy of Problem Solver Caucus) Ideally, the Caucus is made up of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. Currently, there are 26 Democrats and 23 Republicans: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f4deb7ab-1f1a-4779-b2d7-518791447fef/%E2%80%9CI%E2%80%99m+tired+of+all+this%2C%E2%80%9D+she+said.+%E2%80%9CAll+what%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%9CI+need+a+change.+Running+your+father%E2%80%99s+office+is+making+me+crazy.%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%9CYou%E2%80%99re+leaving%21%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%9CNot+until+I+figure+out+what+to+do+next%2C%E2%80%9D+she+said.+It+would+be++%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Is Everything Partisan in Congress? - Make it stand out Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus in May, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/0b5e24ea-7757-4629-800b-c3e705d77640/GOP+Kevin+McCarthy.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Is Everything Partisan in Congress? - What have they done? The group claims some successes over the years, backing legislation related to infrastructure, health care, and Congressional rules changes. But politics has interfered twice in recent years. In 2021, the Problem Solvers Caucus endorsed bipartisan legislation to investigate the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, but only 18 of 28 GOP Caucus members voted to create the bipartisan commission that investigated the attack. In 2023, Democratic members of the Problem Solvers Caucus declined to support then-Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy when he was ousted by conservative members of his party. Things got so bad, the Caucus failed to meet for an entire year. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/presidents-day monthly 0.5 2025-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/8e72e0dc-0e59-4d6e-8053-a71b0ce88f85/national+archives.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Presidents’ Day - (image courtesy of the National Archives) (photo courtesy of the National Archives) George Washington's Birthday America’s first president George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. His birthday became a national holiday in 1879. But we Americans love our three day weekends, so in 1971, Congress designated the third Monday in February as President’s Day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d8ae2cbf-8af2-4b86-9916-115e30617ca6/mansion-interior-2013-shenk-262.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Presidents’ Day - (photo of George Washington’s study at Mount Vernon; photo courtesy of Mt. Vernon) No Holiday for George George Washington himself wasn’t big on birthdays. In fact, he’d often spend the day writing letters or tending to chores around Mount Vernon. But Washington was a larger-than-life hero in early America and colonists around the country celebrated his birthday even while he was alive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f73f79cc-b0ef-4aec-a690-b5320b374a4a/facebook+tea+party+%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Presidents’ Day - Everybody Wants a Holiday Not everyone gets Monday off. Indiana and Georgia push the holiday back to the day after Christmas for state workers. Delaware lets state workers choose their own “floating” holiday. Washington isn’t the only president with his own holiday. More than a dozen states honor Abraham Lincoln with a day off on February 12th. May 8th is Harry Truman day in Missouri and a holiday for state workers. In Massachusetts, the Citizens Committee for the JFK Holiday is lobbying for a state holiday to honor native son President Kennedy. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a New Yorker with no connection to Kentucky, but January 30th is the state’s holiday honoring FDR on his birthday. A State Senator named George Ed-Overbey proposed the FDR holiday back in 1958. Why 1958? “I guess I just thought of it then,” said Senator Overbey. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/inauguration-day monthly 0.5 2025-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/b3ccba3b-c0af-4411-9511-09a861a41d09/historical-articles-inaugurations-washington.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Inauguration Day - (image courtesy White House Historical Society) Weather Challenges America's brand new government was supposed to start work on March 4, 1789, but bad weather pushed it back until April 6th, when enough members of Congress could get to New York to count the electors' votes. It took another few days to get word to George Washington, who traveled by horseback, coach, and finally a barge that was rowed across the Hudson River to Manhattan. He was finally sworn in on April 30th and delivered a speech now called an Inaugural Address. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e7a575f4-afbb-485b-8e41-e985b7c2c5b0/Capitol-in-1800-Library-of-Congress.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Inauguration Day - (image courtesy National Park Service) Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be sworn in in Washington, D.C. While other dignitaries took their finest carriages to the Capitol for Thomas Jefferson's inauguration, Jefferson walked. He then walked back to his boarding house for dinner. For his second term, Jefferson arrived on horseback. By then, the "President's House" was finished and his journey down Pennsylvania Avenue to what we now call the White House inspired an impromptu celebration of music and cheering crowds - the precursor of today's Inaugural Parade. Jefferson also began another tradition: the Open House, inviting the public to the Executive Mansion for a party. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/9a49af7d-1cee-4cf3-97f1-74ea93b12e71/Painting-of-Andrew-Jacksons-Rowdy-Party.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Inauguration Day - (painting courtesy of White House Historical Association) The Party's Over There was an Open House after Andrew Jackson was sworn in in 1829, but the enthusiastic crowd got out of hand. In their rush to the refreshment table, people crashed into furniture and shoved servants carrying the food. A bowl of spiked orange punch spilled all over the carpet. People stood on the furniture to get a look at the new president. Jackson reportedly had to crawl out a window to escape the mob. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f3d668ee-e28e-49f1-bfeb-d403afabb520/civil+war.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Inauguration Day - (image courtesy National Park Service) It took an amendment to the Constitution to change the date That four month delay between Election Day and Inauguration Day became a problem when a national crisis broke out. Both Abraham Lincoln (the Civil War) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (the Great Depression) could do nothing to intervene until their March swearing-in. Finally, in 1933, the 20th Amendment was ratified, changing the date of Inauguration Day to January 20th. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/2f3e4c0e-05be-441f-ad75-d2cd47976cf0/IMG_5241.JPG Facts Behind the Fiction - Inauguration Day Fina Mendoza has not attended a presidential inauguration. Yet. But back in my reporting days, Kitty Felde was lucky enough to snag a nearly front-row seat! It was very exciting. And very cold. Fina will experience Inauguration Day in Book 5 of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries: LET KIDS VOTE! It will be published in 2027. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/pardoning-turkeys monthly 0.5 2025-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/81d711e8-b1a9-4331-9a69-7388a00204ca/Untitled+design+%2834%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Pardoning Turkeys Article II of the Constitution outlines the powers of the president, including: He shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment. The power to pardon is a tradition inherited from English law. Ever since medieval times, the monarch was allowed to forgive the legal sins of his or her subjects. Even the Greeks had their own version of pardons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e5161e58-11b9-411b-a8b6-899c5dad7d96/Untitled+design+%2835%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Pardoning Turkeys - Washington and whiskey President George Washington issued pardons to sixteen people - including a pair of rabble rousers who took to the streets to object to a tax on whiskey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/ca655895-2f47-48bf-bb92-b2bc2604fa44/Untitled+design+%2836%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Pardoning Turkeys - How many pardons? President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued the most pardons - 3687 - during his four terms in office. William Henry Harrison issued no pardons during his one month in office. Neither did James Garfield. (Both men died during their first year in office.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f6958d6b-cd84-4237-b98d-d45c1afc9be3/Untitled+design+%2837%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Pardoning Turkeys - And then there are turkeys… This week, President Biden pardoned a pair of turkeys - Peach and Blossom - in an annual ceremony held in the Rose Garden. Why? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/7de5bbc8-8029-4611-9ff2-085de4bf9c7d/Tad+Lincoln+LOC.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Pardoning Turkeys - Please, father… Thanksgiving itself became a national holiday in 1863. Sometime late that year, the First Family received a live turkey for the White House Christmas dinner. 11-year-old Tad Lincoln immediately named the bird Jack and the turkey became a White House pet. On Christmas Eve, the president told his son that Jack was on the menu for dinner. Tad refused, saying, "I can’t help it. He’s a good turkey, and I don’t want him killed.” The president relented, even writing a card officially granting the pardon for the bird. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/poll-workers monthly 0.5 2024-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a85d048f-d208-4cac-8c50-8d15ad76497b/poll+worker Facts Behind the Fiction - Poll Workers - Make it stand out Poll workers are the face of elections. They set up the polling station, greet voters, verify registrations and hand out blank ballots. They teach voters how to use the voting equipment and remind them to collect their "I voted" sticker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/bae2620f-8967-438a-971c-16ed3a978bc9/download+%286%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Poll Workers - Why I Volunteered I was sitting in the front row of the January 6th hearings the day that poll workers Shaye Moss and her mother Ruby Freeman tearfully testified about the harassment they faced after a conservative PAC and former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani accused them of election fraud, claiming they had packed ballots into suitcases - suitcases that were actually storage containers designated to hold absentee ballots. I wrote about that day for the New York Daily News, but kept thinking about it. I had served as a poll worker a decade earlier. I knew that I had to volunteer again for this election. Certainly working the polls in Southern California posed no risk, but I felt it was important to be there in solidarity with poll workers around the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a9c89331-2824-4408-9852-c80c1a4422e5/ers+%282%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Poll Workers - Four Days of Voting DAY ONE: I joined a group of strangers who wandered into an elementary school auditorium. We wore name tags and clutched our water bottles. We'd all received six hours of training. (I confess: I couldn't remember much.) We put out signs and flags and powered up the voting machines and registration tablets and welcomed our first voters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/065a5b6d-8824-4165-bddd-f2f3c390ea44/dog+wearing+an+%22I+Voted%22+sticker+at+poling+place Facts Behind the Fiction - Poll Workers - Dodgers, Dogs, and Democracy The Dodgers had just won the World Series and there was a lot of Dodger gear - hats, tee shirts, even Dodger earrings on one voter. Other voters wore campaign-related items, but covered up or removed them when we reminded them that electioneering was forbidden within 100 feet of the polling place. The woman with the red, white, and blue headscarf was allowed to keep her head covering. There were voters who cast their ballots in Spanish, voters who'd immigrated from Iran and India. Many voters brought their children - babies in strollers, toddlers with soccer balls, and tweens who stood beside their mom as she touched the computer screen and cast her ballot. One voter asked Chat GPT to help him decide on ballot measures. But sometimes AI makes things up. He told me that he couldn't find Proposition 7...a measure that did not exist on this year's ballot. More than half a dozen voters brought their dogs. Everyone - including the dogs - went home with an "I VOTED" sticker. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/8ceabb30-dd2f-4fe6-adc2-4f8b0a831f44/ers+%284%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Poll Workers - DAY FOUR - ELECTION DAY Election Day -began at 6 AM for our merry band of poll workers. More than a thousand people cast ballots at our polling place on Tuesday - a record number. There was a line out the door from 4 PM until the polls closed at 8 PM. And many, many of those voters had cast their very first vote. We were exhausted, fueled by pizza and coffee and a sense that we were doing something important. One man was still working his way through California's ten ballot measures half an hour after the polls closed. When he finally cast his ballot, we sent him home with leftover Halloween candy, closed the door, and began dismantling the electronics and securing the ballots and checking our phones for election results. It got very quiet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/bc8dcda6-8cce-46a1-bfbf-6d3ce787c057/ers.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Poll Workers Finally, at 10 PM, we were dismissed. We said goodbye and started to head home, but someone shouted, "Hey, let's take a selfie!" And so we did. It was a moment of joy and fellowship and democracy in action. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/ill-never-run-for-political-office monthly 0.5 2024-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/8864c602-3664-49af-81ba-59e6ba87b7c4/campaign+%284%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - I'll Never Run for Political Office - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6bc0aa6b-5b4b-464c-92ca-9ba8fdaa3e9e/campaign.png Facts Behind the Fiction - I'll Never Run for Political Office - Why Don't People Want to Run? Fina doesn’t want to run for political office. And she’s not alone. Our current political climate has created a nationwide depression about government work. A 2024 poll by the Harvard Public Opinion Project found that among 18-to-29-year-olds, just 12% have any trust in Congress. A recent Pew Research poll shows that 63% say they have little or no confidence in the future of the U.S. political system. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/38d4420b-6098-4f9c-8d7f-ae9920b9686f/campaign+%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - I'll Never Run for Political Office - Money It’s expensive to run for Congress. The average price tag for a 2024 race for the U.S. House of Representatives is two million dollars. Thinking about running for the Senate? Open Secrets says an average Senate campaign these days costs $13.5 million. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/203b74a4-78b6-4cb6-ac1d-d04eec16acb9/campaign+%283%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - I'll Never Run for Political Office - Gender A Cambridge University study found that men were two-thirds more likely than women to report that they “definitely” plan to run for office at some point in the future. Women, on the other hand, were 45% more likely than men to assert that they would never run. Roughly a third more college men receive parental encouragement to run for office or discuss politics regularly with their friends. They're nearly twice as likely as college women to visit political websites. And more than twice the number of men as women say they are confident in their qualifications to run for office. Currently, about one in four members of Congress is female - 25 in the Senate, 126 in the House. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/c7814628-3ce2-42eb-b726-31f407c94dc5/jan+6+courtesy+of+stanford+university.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - I'll Never Run for Political Office - (photo courtesy of Stanford University) Safety and Privacy Another reason men and women are reconsidering running for public office is the safety and protection of their private life and the lives of their families. There were more than 7500 threats made against members of Congress in 2022. Just 22 were prosecuted. And former President Trump narrowly escaped assassination in 2024. Rutgers University Political Science Professor Shauna Shames has surveyed more than 750 public policy and law school students and reports that a lack of personal privacy is another reason young people are hesitant to run for office. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/743c8321-7735-4b3d-ba02-9b37b095640c/Youtube+Banner+%282048+x+600+px%29+%282048+x+1152+px%29+%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - I'll Never Run for Political Office - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/ssovtxsj5av59htmna6jwh21995jxu monthly 0.5 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/96a2e9ed-3c75-4890-a950-647c4f0907f3/president.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Poop on the President - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/b5b530e7-72f6-46f0-8fed-4b6a0b45d7a6/biden.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Poop on the President - Just a bit of corn. It happened in 2022 when President Joe Biden visited a bioprocessing plant to talk about ethanol and gas prices. He was standing next to a huge pile of corn and a bit of chaff landed on his jacket. But it looked like bird poop and social media and news organizations went crazy. Feathered fiend poops on Biden's shoulder inside Iowa - the Daily Mail Biden wasn't the only one spouting poop today - Twitter Even The Birds are pissed off now. What's NEXT? - Twitter Even Snopes, the website that debunks rumors, weighed in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/c6ceb58c-04e4-4799-8848-3576291da914/Nixon+courtesy+Richard+Nixon+Foundation.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Poop on the President - (photo courtesy of the Richard Nixon Foundation) President Nixon and the Pigeons President Nixon was worried about bird poop. Before the 1973 inauguration, Richard Nixon noticed the many birds hanging out in the trees along Pennsylvania Avenue and feared that one or more of them might let loose as he passed below on the car trip from the Capitol to the White House. The president reportedly ordered the 1973 Inauguration Committee to spray a chemical deterrent along the parade route. The Environmental Protection Agency called the substance "practically nontoxic." However, $13,000 of the sticky substance was applied far and wide...including onto the birds themselves. It made the birds too heavy to fly and the parade route was lined with dead birds. Not a good start to his troubled second term. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/743c8321-7735-4b3d-ba02-9b37b095640c/Youtube+Banner+%282048+x+600+px%29+%282048+x+1152+px%29+%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Poop on the President - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/arresting-presidents monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1c64c981-88db-4ef7-b716-2f74af6a51e0/US+Grant+White+House.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Arresting Presidents - Ulysses S. Grant (photo courtesy of the White House) President Grant loved horses. According to the National Park Service, he had a "natural ability" with horses and even trained them for his neighbors in Ohio. He followed horse races wherever he was stationed in the Army. And he loved buggy racing himself. That's what got him in trouble. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f5bb9d1a-5d66-4160-b0ca-6c02af9eee29/Grant+racing+in+NY+Library+of+Congress.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Arresting Presidents - Make it stand out (painting courtesy of Library of Congress) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6c07dad4-3d12-4421-9d6b-f0ab3b1d6f61/Policeman+William+West.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Arresting Presidents - "I am very sorry. Mr. President, to have to do it, for you are the chief of the nation and I am nothing but a policeman, but duty is duty, sir. And I will have to place you under arrest." In 1872, there were complaints in Washington about buggy races terrorizing a particular neighborhood - a 19th century version of street takeovers. A woman and a six-year-old child were knocked down and badly injured during one race. William West, an African-American policeman, was investigating the incident, near 13th and M Streets. The original team of racers were long gone, but a second group of buggy racers came tearing up the street. One of the drivers was the President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f3b6c39c-e53c-47b1-ac99-6a9ff2a8ac78/Camden+Daily+Journal+citing+National+Intelligencer.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Arresting Presidents - Repeat Offender This wasn't the first time Grant had been pulled over for speeding. A year after the end of the Civil War, in 1866, then-General Grant was cited for "fast driving." The story was picked up by newspapers as far away as Nevada, buried next to ads for millinery goods and “the most elegant, graceful, and serviceable hoop skirt in America." The story may have had legs because here was the General who won the war to preserve the Union, doubting whether the cops had the authority to arrest him. (Camden Daily Journal citing National Intelligencer) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/25597fab-851f-4b9a-bf45-82960ae8eea1/arrest+photo.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Arresting Presidents - Did Grant Learn a Lesson? When Policeman West pulled over President Grant, the chief executive asked,"Well, officer, what do you want with me?" West responded, "I want to inform you. Mr. President, f that you are violating the law by speeding along this street. Your fast driving, sir, has set the example for a lot of other gentlemen." The president apologized, promised not to do it again, and got off with a warning. The next day, Policeman West watched as two dozen teams of horses came roaring down 13th Street, led by President Grant. West stopped the race, reminded the Commander in Chief of his promise, then escorted him and half a dozen of his buddies down to the station house where they were fined $20 apiece as bail and ordered to show up the next day in court. President Grant was a no-show and forfeited his $20. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/07d8713e-8dd8-408d-9b42-ff503a8caa39/Screenshot+2024-05-31+191513.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Arresting Presidents - Consequences for the Cop? Officer West told this story to the Evening Star in 1908. According to William West, President Grant had heard a rumor that the cop might be fired and sent a message to the chief of police, complimenting West on his fearlessness in making arrests, and "made it plain that he would not allow any harm to come" to him. We have only William West's word about the truth of the story of President Grant's arrest. Researchers with the National Park Service couldn't find any other other primary source documents from the period to back up the story. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/quitting-congress monthly 0.5 2025-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/71256291-4adf-474e-b603-6a9f0f760204/%E2%80%9CI%E2%80%99m+tired+of+all+this%2C%E2%80%9D+she+said.+%E2%80%9CAll+what%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%9CI+need+a+change.+Running+your+father%E2%80%99s+office+is+making+me+crazy.%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%9CYou%E2%80%99re+leaving%21%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%9CNot+until+I+figure+out+what+to+do+next%2C%E2%80%9D+she+said.+It+would+be+.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Quitting Congress - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/86756153-039e-41e7-87d4-878d133ff7bf/fob+%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Quitting Congress - The shadows of January 6th Safety was cited as a prime concern. Nearly three out of four staffers from both parties said they frequently received “direct insulting or threatening messages” and are anxious about the safety of their boss and colleagues. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/congressional-thanksgiving-2023 monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/28622f75-d80d-42ac-9adc-6a167e7b89ff/Calendar.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Thanksgiving Recess - Congressional Thanksgiving 2023 Congress has left town after partially funding federal agencies into the new year. House Speaker Mike Johnson labeled the temporary money measure a "laddered" approach to keep the government running. Critics from his own party say it's just another name for a congressional staple: a continuing resolution. In other words, rather than a series of bank CDs that mature every few years, the House laddered measure means the money runs out for some parts of the government in mid-January and the rest in February. Congress will have to work fast. A quick glance at the calendar shows there are few actual "work days" left before the Christmas holidays. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/5456886e-31f0-444d-b35f-16344c393a98/Untitled+design+%2864%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Thanksgiving Recess - Ho Ho Ho Congress usually manages to tie a bow on urgent legislation - though it should be noted that funding for weapons for Ukraine and Israel was left under the Christmas tree as members flew home for the holidays. It's a rare thing when Congress spends the holidays in the Capitol. The last time was Christmas Eve, 2009, when the Senate finally found the 60 votes necessary to approve the Affordable Care Act. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1700252421809-16FG7BQ2APQCYKT58T1O/unnamed+%2875%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Thanksgiving Recess https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1700252429673-3RMU7CQOI9DUGR4R0CJW/unnamed+%2874%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Thanksgiving Recess https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1700252437314-OZ5UNQV6AUF0ZEFH732E/unnamed+%2873%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Thanksgiving Recess https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/constituent-services monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6c16b5b7-5192-4982-ba5b-64ee2633be99/unnamed+%2865%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Constituent Services - What Are Constituent Services? Some call it the Customer Service Department for the federal government. Staffers call it casework. In the office of every member of Congress, at least one staffer is assigned to solve problems of constituents back in the home district. It's not unusual for a Congressional office to receive thousands of requests every year asking for help. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/5ab6f265-3a58-4330-9969-aefd033670d8/unnamed+%2813%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Constituent Services - Problem Solvers Your member of Congress can help cut through the red tape in all sorts of areas: A lost passport or delayed application for a passport A nomination to West Point or the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis or another military academy Immigration issues Problems with student loans Environmental pollution Cable TV or cellphone issues https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f68ef5da-52fa-496f-a56b-53f9983b95bd/unnamed+%2814%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Constituent Services - Dear Congresswoman, IRS and Social Security issues seem to be the top issues for offices. But during the pandemic, one very pregnant woman contacted her representative about the shortage of toilet paper. When she got home from the hospital with her new baby, there was a case of toilet paper waiting for her on her doorstep. Talk about customer service! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e644a6aa-b17b-4fca-a2cb-7ca31b336e65/unnamed+%2815%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Constituent Services - Good Stuff, Too Even if you’re not having problems, constituent services can get you: A flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol (usually a fee is involved) Birthday or anniversary greetings from your member of Congress or even the President. (Special birthdays only: 13, 21, 50, and 80 or older. 50th anniversaries or higher.) Also, you can request new baby greetings for parents, congratulation letters for achieving Eagle Scout Awards or high school or college graduations, even condolence cards. Tickets for White House or U.S. Capitol tours. Tours can even be arranged for the Bureau of Engraving, the U.S. Mint, the Washington National Cathedral, the Library of Congress, and the Kennedy Center. My favorite? Gallery Passes for the House and Senate Chambers where you can be in "the room where it happens." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6ba7edc3-1d7a-4fea-9265-46e2f8c2998c/unnamed+%2866%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Constituent Services - The Oscars of Capitol Hill (photo courtesy of the Congressional Management Foundation) So whose congressional staff does the best job of serving the needs of constituents? For the past six years, the non-profit Congressional Management Foundation has invited nominations for the congressional office that is tops in customer service. Bradford Fitch, President & CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation says an example of outstanding service would be the staffing of California Congressman Ro Khanna’s office. Staffers speak eight different languages to serve the needs of constituents in his ethnically diverse district. Currently, four offices are up for the 2023 award: Illinois Congresswoman Lauren Underwood’s office , which recovered nearly $25,000 for constituents. South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson cites a casework review showing that 96% of constituents had a positive experience with his office. New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s office points to its 50+ page casework manual created during her first term - a manual that's been updated continuously over the past 14 years. Utah Congressman John Curtis brags of an open-door policy, welcoming all visitors in a supportive atmosphere, answering constituent phone calls on the first ring. The prize? A plastic model of the U.S. Capitol and the bragging rights that go with it. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/lucky-charms monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a770ba86-3343-4ea2-80a2-c4242378adb2/32ec4f69f3416c05f322ae45e08f451910ddd40c.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - Lucky Charms - Who’s the Most Superstitious? Actors are also notoriously superstitious. They religiously refer to a particular Shakespeare production as “the Scottish play” and forbid whistling in dressing rooms. Baseball players are also well known for a variety of superstitions: no one talks to a pitcher throwing a potential no-hitter, even changing their walk-up music to break out of a slump. CIA operatives are also superstitious. Before leaving on a mission, agents stop by the statue of America's first spy Nathan Hale. They leave either 76 cents (the year Hale was executed) or a quarter (in honor of the man depicted on the quarter, General George Washington, under whom Hale served.) The money is donated to the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6056532a-9426-4986-af9f-7c2a5d87b9a8/unnamed+%2868%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Lucky Charms - Political Good Luck Charms James Carville was the political strategist behind Bill Clinton's campaign for president. He wore the same underwear for days on end...as long as the campaign was going well. John McCain had a stash of lucky charms: a compass, a feather, a penny, a rock, and a lucky pen. If he needed a boost, he'd add a pair of L.L. Bean rubber-soled dress shoes. (We should point out that he lost his bid for the White House.) Even Papa had his own good luck ritual: touching the nose of Winston Churchill on his way to vote. (Something that has gotten Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza banned from the U.S. Capitol gift shop because – according to the Congressional Visitors Center – it encourages tourists to touch things they are not allowed to touch.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/b34e5aae-acb7-4607-a494-b20cbd6beb18/unnamed+%2869%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Lucky Charms - Fina’s Good Luck Charms Fina's grandmother bestows her own good luck charm on Fina: the Queen of Hearts from a deck of playing cards called La Reina. Abuelita uses it for luck at the blackjack table. Fina uses it to give her courage to battle the Demon Cat. But do lucky charms really work? Researchers at the University of Cologne told one group of golfers that they were playing with a "lucky ball." They sank 35% more putts than those who got "regular" golf balls. "Our results suggest that the activation of a superstition can indeed yield performance-improving effects," says the study's co-author Lysann Damisch. The study was published in the journal Psychological Science. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/political-yard-signs monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/39f974fe-a20e-4fcf-bacd-186346efcbce/unnamed+%2816%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Political Yard Signs - Yard Signs Yard signs have been a part of American political campaigns since John Quincy Adams ran for president. Adams tried to convince his neighbors to put his posters in their yards. It may not have helped: Adams didn't get a majority of electoral votes. It was the House of Representatives, along with state delegations that got one vote apiece, who elected him president. No yard signs in sight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/973fb441-93ce-4b7b-aacd-c5db1eae8c30/unnamed+%2870%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Political Yard Signs - Older Than That You could say yard signs date back to Roman times. The walls of Pompeii are covered with political slogans and endorsements: I beg you vote for C. Julius Polybius for aedile. He makes good bread. Primus and his household support Cn. Helvius Sabinus for aedile. The fruit sellers incorporated together with Helvius Vestalis recommend M. Holconius Priscus for duumvir with judicial authority. (photo courtesy of Mirko Tobias Schäfer / Flickr) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/37fc9fb0-e4f2-4fc9-9bf7-b61d5b5737ff/unnamed+%2871%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Political Yard Signs - But Do They Work? Back in 2015, a political science professor at Columbia University conducted a study of yard signs and found that they make a tiny difference in voting results - perhaps 1-2 percent. What yard signs do provide is name recognition. A Vanderbilt professor in 2011 planted yard signs with the name of an imaginary candidate near a school. A few days later, the PTA mailed out a survey with the names of five actual candidates plus the name of the fictional one, asking voters to pick their favorites. Nearly one in four respondents named the fake candidate among their top three. (photo by Kitty Felde) https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/the-house-ethics-committees monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f317326e-d9f6-43b9-9e6b-ecc023a33897/unnamed.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The House Ethics Committees - Official Duties vs Personal Errands Congressional staffers walk a careful line: when is doing a favor for your boss a violation of the ethics code? The rules are clear. Sort of. Funds appropriated for congressional staff to perform official duties should be used only for assisting a Member in his or her legislative and representational duties, working on committee business, or performing other congressional functions. Employees may not be compensated from public funds to perform nonofficial, personal, or campaign activities on behalf of the Member, the employee, or anyone else. - House Committee on Ethics (photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/b6e57c1a-8d92-4cbd-a8b7-6871fabcd1cb/unnamed.png Facts Behind the Fiction - The House Ethics Committees - Make it stand out Ethics has been a concern since the early days of the United States. In 1798, Congressman Matthew Lyon of Vermont spit on a fellow lawmaker. The entire House of Representatives considered throwing Lyon out of Congress for disorderly conduct. He survived expulsion by two votes. The Constitution itself gives Congress the power to discipline lawmakers. But it wasn’t until 1967 that the House got around to creating an official ethics committee. It’s a non-partisan committee, with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, the only such committee in the House. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/46526bed-5bb7-4368-9cb4-19a6b1e2bcbb/unnamed+%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - The House Ethics Committees More than two centuries after Matthew Lyon's transgression, House Democrats created a second ethics body after a series of lobbyist scandals: The Office of Congressional Ethics. It allows independent investigations into alleged misconduct by lawmakers or staff. Unlike the House Committee on Ethics, it cannot hand out punishments. Instead it hands its conclusions to Committee on Ethics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/39cdbf68-04e4-4ec7-9812-f99794215870/unnamed+%281%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The House Ethics Committees - So What’s Allowed? Is John the Staffer allowed to walk Congresswoman Mitchell's dog on company time? No. Is Claudia allowed to take Fina and Gabby to the zoo? Probably. (It was on her own time and her own idea.) Has anyone gotten in trouble for mixing personal errands and congressional business? Yes. But it was for big time violations. (photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/4472e78c-8189-4134-9493-0e685d9c2605/unnamed+%282%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The House Ethics Committees - An Errand Too Many? In 2019, both the Office of Congressional Ethics and the House Committee on Ethics concluded that Virginia Congressman Tom Garrett had crossed the line. The congressman and his wife had asked staff to help them move to a new apartment, shop at IKEA for furniture, take their car in for an oil change, make doctor’s appointments for the kids and help with school applications, and take care of the dog “particularly outside the office.” Garrett chose to not run for re-election rather than face punishment. (official Congressional photo) https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/the-national-mall-table monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/154b0d0f-eb65-41a7-8be3-69253a1408c3/unnamed+%289%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - The National Mall Table - So Many Questions Why ARE there two Washington Monuments on the National Mall table? What's the PURPOSE of the National Mall table anyway? And what the heck is the OCAS? (photo of the original National Mall table by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/fae0c815-43d7-4ab6-a65e-17747597248c/unnamed+%2810%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - The National Mall Table - What's the OCAS? Our tour guide for these questions is Tyler Pumphrey, Director of the Office of Congresssional Accessibility Services, otherwise known as the OCAS. Since the 1980's, the OCAS has been finding ways to make Capitol Hill accessible to ALL Americans. That includes accessible parking (you need to ask your member of Congress to arrange this) and Assistive Listening Devices and the National Mall table. (map courtesy of the OCAS) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6fdbe8bd-9f1f-450f-a251-32977b4f304a/unnamed+%2811%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - The National Mall Table - Why Two Washington Monuments? Tyler Pumphrey says the original display was created in the 1980's to provide a "tactile table of the National Mall for low vision or blind visitors to see the city through touch." Three models were built. Why duplicate monuments? The original tables were built in three pieces, designed to be spaced apart to allow easier access. At some point, the separate pieces were pushed together to allow visitors to understand the entire layout of the Mall. (photo courtesy of Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/c4e1031b-3034-47e2-aa63-88f5919eb7f6/unnamed+%2812%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - The National Mall Table - 3D and Bronze A new table was commissioned. It's about the same size (96" long by 36" wide and 32" high) and more visually appealing to the visitors gifted with vision. "It's in color, like a Google maps photo," says Pumphrey. The model includes grass, water features, and roads. The new table was built by Touch Graphics in Maryland. And it's built to last. Instead of the plastic figures on the old table, all the monuments and museums on the new table were 3-D printed in bronze, then painted. (Poor Senator Something would break a tooth trying to bite off THIS Washington Monument.) Pumphrey says the table has to be tough: it's the number one attraction on the tour of the U.S. Capitol. The reason? It's the only thing visitors are allowed to touch. (photo courtesy of Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f60dbab2-7189-4f6a-9326-ed690971a831/unnamed+%2864%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The National Mall Table - Peek Inside! There's one special "Easter egg" (treat) inside the tables' Lincoln Memorial at the west end of the Mall. Peek inside to see a tiny model of the statue of Abraham Lincoln. (photo courtesy of Touch Graphics)Peek Inside https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/whats-a-whip monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e014f461-30a4-4922-b568-cd3f6976d388/unnamed+%286%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - What’s a Whip? Lawmakers called “whips” ran around talking to people in their own party, making sure that they would vote the way their party leaders wanted them to vote. It was the whip’s job to keep track of who was voting which way and make sure there were enough votes to pass the bill. Papa said whips had to be very good at math. I told him I’d never be a whip. - Fina Mendoza https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/78fc7f78-9c48-4e90-8b25-ba829fc89afa/unnamed+%287%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - What’s a Whip? - Job Description of a Whip Each party has a whip in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Basically, they have four jobs: Share information with lawmakers in their party from leadership about upcoming votes and when they are scheduled. Find out how members of their own party plan to vote on a particular bill. The whip will also let leadership know any information gathered from lobbyists, the White House, or personal contacts about how members of the OTHER party might vote. Make sure members of your own party show up to vote. Exert pressure to - in the words of Randall B. Ripley of the Brookings Institute - “change the minds of the recalcitrant and stiffen the wills of the wavering.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/3863e1a0-ac08-437c-a27c-c74cd9e844de/unnamed+%288%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - What’s a Whip? - A Bit of History There have been informal whips as long as there have been political parties. But the title was formally adopted by Congress at the end of 19th century. The name comes from the name of the person in charge of the dogs during a fox hunt, the “whipper-in." https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/king-of-the-hill-senate-or-house monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a70bcdfd-38df-4a6e-8c7b-0bd658857b76/Untitled+design+%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - King of the Hill: Senate or House? - Becka announced that she was the group leader before I could even sit down. She bragged that her mother was the chief of staff for a senator, which meant her mom was the boss of his office and since senators were so much more important than congressmen, that meant she was more important than me. I decided to steer clear of Becka. Chapter 7: Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661544791913-N363U5SQDCINLS97QOXI/US+Capitol+%282%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - King of the Hill: Senate or House? - Why Two Sets of Lawmakers? The Senate . . . was intended that it should resist the hasty, intemperate, passionate desire of the people. -George Hoar, 1897 As the Constitutional Convention was debating what sort of government it wanted, Virginia delegate George Mason had a vision: one house would be the “grand depository of the democratic principle of government.” This became the House of Representatives, the place where Fina's father works. Fellow Virginian James Madison had another idea: create a second, smaller group of lawmakers designed to be deliberative and independent. This became the Senate. But which is more important? Or more powerful? Since this is Congress, let the debate begin. (photo courtesy of Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6967a3d8-f710-4c48-9066-e8fd8330ad5e/The+US+Senate+by+Robert+E+Whitechurch%2C+after+Peter+Frederick+Rothermel+William+Smith.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - King of the Hill: Senate or House? - The Senate Some argue that the Senate wins hands down. It's a smaller group of lawmakers: 100 Senators compared to 435. Senators ratify treaties and confirm the appointment of judges (including those on the U.S. Supreme Court.) Senators serve six year terms. House members must run for re-election every other year. A number of Senators "graduated" from the House of Representatives. Of the 12,506 people who have served in Congress over the years, 683 Senators ALSO served in the House. (Just don't suggest the House serves as the minor leagues.) The Senate gives tiny states the same power as larger ones. That means Vermont has the same clout as Fina's home state of California. (engraving courtesy of the U.S. Senate) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/72d78f27-4a14-4654-acb9-249ebeb4965a/ed36be0f-087b-4d83-b361-a307c5b4194b.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - King of the Hill: Senate or House? - The House I don't think anyone is closer to the voters in Washington than members of the House of Representatives." - Judy Woodruff House members scoff at any suggestion that their side of the legislature is any less important. The House holds the purse strings. Money bills originate in the House. The House acts as a government watchdog. Its duty is to investigate and conduct oversight into matters of importance. House members are more likely to know their constituents. Each represents about 710,000 people. Compare that to California's Senators who represent nearly 40 million people. House members are often younger, with newer ideas and more familiarity with technology. House members can be as young as 25. Senators must be at least 30 years old. (photo courtesy of House of Representatives is that of Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first minority woman elected to the House)The House https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/the-scariest-room-in-the-capitol monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/b94c36bf-0668-4429-b466-d2960bdc2d4c/Capitol-Crypt.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Scariest Room in the Capitol - (image courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol) During the day, it's crowded with tour groups. At night, it's a bit spooky. Cathedrals often have crypts - underground chambers where important people are buried. There are no bodies buried in the Capitol Crypt. But there might have been. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/caa4c83f-f14e-4a3f-87b3-7cfe83399eda/NPG-NPG_75_3.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Scariest Room in the Capitol - (photo courtesy of National Portrait Gallery) Always Ask the Wife When George Washington died in 1799, Congress asked the builders of the U.S. Capitol to include a special chamber for our first president and his wife. The chamber was built, but Martha Washington had other ideas. She wanted to bury her husband in the place he loved most: Mt. Vernon. That left Congress with one problem: a hole that let drafts and dampness into the building. The chamber was sealed shut in 1828. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/91296614-2d6a-4344-a60c-899399482543/Screen-Shot-2015-11-24-at-10.05.45-AM.png Facts Behind the Fiction - The Scariest Room in the Capitol - (Photo courtesy of Foursquare City Guide) Congress thinks of itself as the center of the universe. The truth is that the building they work in IS the actual center of Washington. When Pierre L'Enfant was designing the District of Columbia, he divided it into fourths, known as quadrants. The four sections meet at the U.S. Capitol. In fact, you used to be able to stand on the compass star in the middle of the floor in the Crypt and be in all four quadrants at the same time. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/the-state-of-the-union-address monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/c16de341-1777-458b-9df6-e4ececa4e042/George+Washington.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The State of the Union Address - George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address. At the time, it was called the Annual Message and Congress was meeting in New York City. He combined his Inaugural Address with the Annual Message on April 30, 1789. A year later, he delivered the first first regular Annual Message to a Joint Session of Congress, again in New York City. (image courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery) https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/battle-of-the-dc-christmas-trees monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/c062a54b-96da-4d06-a2ad-7e1370e3745c/WH+Tree.jfif Facts Behind the Fiction - Battle of the DC Christmas Trees - (photo courtesy National Park Service) The oldest and most famous is held in President’s Park, behind the White House. The “National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony” began in 1923 when then-President Calvin Coolidge walked from the White House to the Ellipse to flip the switch on 2,500 electric red, green, and white light bulbs that lit up a 48-foot fir tree. The president and his party were entertained by a local choir and a Marine Band quartet. These days, the ceremony is pure Hollywood. On Wednesday, November 30th, 2022, celebrities like LL Cool J, Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, will be entertaining the president and his family. There’s a lottery for tickets if you want to attend, too. Unfortunately, the lottery closed the fi rst of November. You can watch it on TV. CBS will be broadcasting the event on Sunday, December 11th. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a5b1c906-0980-453d-bac2-66551700855b/photo+of+Capitol+Christmas+Tree+by+Kitty+Felde.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Battle of the DC Christmas Trees But there’s another, lesser known ceremony down Pennsylvania Avenue: the lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree. The Architect of the Capitol calls it “The People’s Tree.” (photo courtesy Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d76e4b6e-217f-4ac5-ae0e-6c31265c9d2b/1913+US+Capitol+Christmas+tree.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Battle of the DC Christmas Trees - (photo courtesy Library of Congress) On December 24, 1913, thousands flocked to the East side of the Capitol – the side facing the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress. They weren’t there to lobby, they were there to celebrate what was described as Washington’s first “community Christmas.” A 40-foot Norway Spruce, covered in patriotic red, white, and blue electric bulbs, was surrounded by nativity scenes and a sign reading “Peace on earth, good will to men.” Boy Scouts provided crowd control. The Marine Band played the “Star Spangled Banner” and a choir sang Christmas hymns. Two years later, the tradition was cancelled due to lack of funds. The Washington Post ran with the headline: “Shock Awaits Santa Clause: No Community Christmas Tree Will Be at the Capitol for Him.” No word on whether coal was left in the stockings of members of Congress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/5557266e-3183-4c80-a18c-d624bd34bf5a/1964+tree.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Battle of the DC Christmas Trees - (photo courtesy of House of Representatives) Half a century later, then-Speaker of the House John McCormack had a tinsel-covered tree placed in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol, between statues of John C. Calhoun and Lewis Cass. He declared that it was “most appropriate” for a tree to be placed in “the heart of legislative activity of our country.” He kept lobbying the Architect of the Capitol to plant a tree on the West Front Lawn. On December 18, 1964, a 25-foot Douglas Fir was declared the “Congressional” tree and decorated with white lights and a star on top. The tree died due to wind and root damage. The tradition returned in 1970 when the Architect of the Capitol asked the U.S. Forest Service to provide cut trees from National Forests around the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/8a6e22a9-22bb-4feb-a2db-a357374ff10e/Coche+Tiger.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Battle of the DC Christmas Trees - (Photo credit: James Edward Mills of Choose Outdoors) This year, the 78-foot Red Spruce comes from the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. It will be decorated with more than 7,500 ornaments decorated by school kids and civic organizations around the state. In Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza and The Fina Mendoza Mysteries series, the tree comes from Southern California and is decorated with things Fina and her sister Gabby love: dogs and cats and fast racing cars. The girls get to hit the button that lights the tree. This year’s tree lighter is a nine-year-old Cherokee boy named Coche Tiger. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/dia-de-los-muertos monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/3e756fa0-df1b-4e9a-93e1-f517951bccbf/Purple+Dia+De+Los+Muertos+Instagram+Post.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Dia de los Muertos - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/62f58a70-4689-4a2f-a055-05c4a6ead1ee/Purple+Dia+De+Los+Muertos+Illustrated+Facebook+Post.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Dia de los Muertos During the two days of Dia de los Muertos, souls of dead loved ones are believed to return, greeted by special altars. Traditionally, altars - or ofrendas - are decorated with pictures of departed loved ones, candles, and their favorite sweets. Symbols of the four elements - water, wind, earth, and fire - are represented. There are even traditional dances like the dance of the little old men - La Danza de los Viejitos - where boys dress up like old people, hobble around, then jump up and dance like crazy. In many cemeteries, families gather to decorate graves and share a picnic with spiritual loved ones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/59ca104e-c88e-4894-b806-d57039fcbfc0/Black+and+Bright+Day+of+The+Dead+Animated+Instagram+Post.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Dia de los Muertos - Until the 20th century, Dia de los Muertos was largely celebrated only in Mexico, Central America, and Haiti. In the 1970’s, the Chicano Movement brought attention to the holiday in America, where it has become part of pop culture. Today, museums around the country feature special Dia de los Muertos altars by local artists. There are street festivals, skull - or calavera - makeup tutorials on TikTok and YouTube, even a Dia de los Muertos beer. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/let-kids-vote monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/0c6e89de-bec0-4949-a255-070d66ea90d9/let+kids+vote+%284%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Let Kids Vote! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6cd75552-8724-44c3-a154-7fccf74aef8f/26th+amendment.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Let Kids Vote! - Young people had been trying to lower the voting age since World War II, when President Franklin Roosevelt moved to drop the draft age to 18. The Vietnam War inspired another movement to allow 18-year-olds to cast ballots. The argument was the same: old enough to fight, old enough to vote. In 1970, Congress added a provision to the Voting Rights Act to lower the voting age to 18, but the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the measure, telling lawmakers it wasn't enough. So Congress passed the 26th Amendment to the Constitution. It then went to the states, needing approval from 38 of America's 50 states. It took just four months to change the Constitution, the fastest ratification in history. (photo courtesy of National Archives) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/0edff804-cf5c-4c87-852b-6be8f13921ee/day+of+democracy+social+media++%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Let Kids Vote! Later Efforts Over the past half-century, lawmakers across the country have proposed lowering the voting age for local elections. 1989 - Phyllis Kahn proposed lowering the voting age to 12. As a state lawmaker, the Minnesota lawmaker changed her mind and thought 16 was an appropriate voting age. 2003 - A measure lowering the voting age to 16 actually made it on the ballot. It was defeated by voters. 2003 - Maine lawmakers voted to lower the voting age to 17 in the primary election, but only if young people turned 18 by the general election. 2013 - The first 16-year-old in American history cast a legal ballot in a city election in Takoma Park, Maryland. 2016 - Berkeley, California voted to allow 16 year olds to vote in school board elections https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d5edc49b-fe72-483e-9e32-6108d18c4e84/US+Capitol+photo+by+Kitty+Felde.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Let Kids Vote! - (photo courtesy Kitty Felde) In 2019, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts introduced an amendment to a voting rights bill that would lower the voting age. "Beginning at the age of sixteen," she said, "young people are contributing to both the labor force and their local economies by paying income taxes, and yet they are deprived of the opportunity to exercise their right to vote." The amendment was defeated. In this most recent Congress, at least three new measures were introduced to lower the voting age. None have advanced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/72276412-19d9-45af-af57-5a10adca6ce1/Congressman%2BMark%2BTakano.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - Let Kids Vote! - But what about kids who are double digits? Congressman Mark Takano from California was one of the 126 lawmakers who voted for the amendment. Fina Mendoza's fictitious classmates put him on the hot seat, asking him whether he'd also support lowering the voting age to "double digits" - in other words, kids as young as 10. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-18-campaign-fundraisers monthly 0.5 2024-10-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/8f835073-9566-43f9-b6e3-31b3b8f1ab34/fundraising+2024.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1a14fb54-cd5c-4f52-b74d-48fa8fe624e0/california.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers - But the big money is in California, often referred to as “the ATM of politics.” California has two draws: Hollywood and high tech, both feature folks with deep pockets. According to The Los Angeles Times, one of the more famous Hollywood fundraiser was hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow for the Democratic National Committee. The event featured not only Barack Obama, but also Julia Roberts, Robert Downey Jr., Diane von Furstenberg, Barbra Streisand, Tobey Maguire, Billy Crystal, Jack Black and Salma Hayek Republicans have found friendly funders in California in Silicon Valley, where Oracle tech founder Larry Ellison opened his house to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Orange County is another place to raise GOP campaign cash. The Los Angeles Times also reports that individual California donors have contributed more than $88 million to the Harris campaign and over $32 million to the Trump campaign. The numbers reflect the $3,300 contribution limit for contributions to individual candidates. Individuals have contributed millions more to political action committees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661644895150-3XSKZ2W95C1KR5W2JS79/photo+by+Amelia+Heymann.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661644810611-SX1I4OUYDHTOXCP2S1YN/Wasserman+room.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661644853440-PJIP7POQ7VW8W7RUWIKP/Olivia%2BKaris-Nix%2BJune%2B8%2Binvitation.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661644828111-EE7C7DJTKGKXVFLSMXX8/E3jUfa9XIAASBn8.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661644853544-1AYNHOVBT4MKEQOLE00C/6a00e5526aaf9d883401bb0824d9ea970d-320wi.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661644853973-QQEHB5N4RJCWQXROF0BS/images+%287%29.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661644882815-CBLASZW6Y60H8VY9N0KI/images+%286%29.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1661644854227-QNFMKX99HE303G4J9JC0/ryaninvite.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d809b5ad-e56e-471b-947f-b5bb4d1ff048/pie+in+face.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers - Make it stand out Pie in the Face The political fundraising company Fundly suggests a different incentive: hold a “Pie-the-Politician” event. “Who wouldn’t want to pay for the chance to pie their politician in the face? If you need to raise a little extra money and don’t mind the mess, you can host a pie-throwing event! All you’ll need to do is fill some tin foil pie pans with whipped cream and find a crowd of supporters who can throw them in the face of your politician or candidate.” Given the current nastiness over anything political these days, Fundly adds: “Make sure that everyone knows that the event is supposed to be in good fun.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/ec759867-1335-4735-a788-23994bb7a37d/s-l500.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/8d967314-5c87-447a-b956-5ad9523a89f0/karaoke.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 18: Campaign Fundraisers - Make it stand out Fun is the Theme A few memorable political fundraisers from Politico: Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang held his fundraiser at New York’s Karaoke City, which bills itself as “Midtown Manhattan’s Largest Karaoke Experience.” Another presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg, rented a suite at legendary Fenway Park (where the Boston Red Sox play) for a fundraiser. Raffles and bingo are popular, including several that offered guns as prizes. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-17-fixing-the-rayburn-garage-ld538 monthly 0.5 2024-10-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6d26a2b1-f0a3-4ccd-949b-94bf8028c5f8/download+%2822%29.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 17: The Rayburn Garage - (photo by RebelAt at English Wikipedia) The Rayburn House Office Building and the garage underneath were completed in 1965. The Architect of the Capitol, the government agency assigned to maintain the infrastructure on Capitol Hill, describes it this way: “The design of the building is a modified H plan with four stories above ground, two basements, and three levels of underground garage space.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1660881573092-T7QBGO80U7PUNYMW8ZPZ/Rayburn+Garage.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 17: The Rayburn Garage - Make it stand out (photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/b80fdf00-afa9-478d-91dc-84b1b90c110a/rayburn+jfk.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 17: The Rayburn Garage - (photo courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol) President Kennedy speaks at the laying of the cornerstone in 1962 The Rayburn Building itself was a challenge to build. The site was atop the Tiber Creek Sewer. The soil was lousy, incapable of supporting the weight of the building, and the slope of the hill required a 70' hole on the eastern side of the building. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/dcdbae64-7c2f-4283-8bdc-98727399ec19/IMG-2153.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 17: The Rayburn Garage - (photo by Kitty Felde) The Rayburn gets a little love in the Capitol Market, the snack bar in the basement of the U.S. Capitol. They named a sandwich after the building. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-16-congressional-subpeonas monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/dbeff9d6-f474-424e-b810-9234456bf9fb/US+Capitol+photo+by+Kitty+Felde.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 16: Congressional Subpeonas - What’s a congressional subpoena? (photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/aebffbb6-5339-47f3-b90f-cd582882b635/US+Supreme+Court+photo+by+Kitty+Felde.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 16: Congressional Subpeonas - Why does Congress need subpoena power? Congress needs information to do its job. In other words, to write laws. As recently as 2020, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, said “When Congress seeks information “needed for intelligent legislative action,’ it ‘unquestionably’ remains ‘the duty of all citizens to cooperate.’” Congress also needs to make sure its laws are being followed. That’s the reason congressional committees hold hearings, and issue subpoenas to those who can shed light on the topic under investigation. difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1c1211f0-758f-4ee1-9627-765c0659a495/House+Speaker+Jonathan+Dayton.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 16: Congressional Subpeonas - Has Congress ever actually arrested anyone? Yes. Back in 1795, future President (and current Congressman) James Madison accused two men, Robert Randall and Charles Whitney of bribery. He produced evidence that the men promised money or land grants if lawmakers would help them acquire vast amounts of the Northwest Territory.  The Speaker of the House, Jonathan Dayton, ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest them. There was a trial and eventually, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of Congress to arrest and try citizens for contempt of Congress. These days, such disputes are usually handled out of court, with negotiations taking place away from the public. There may be punishments, such as out of court settlements, or charges might just be dismissed completely. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-15-congressional-work-week monthly 0.5 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/b57ae989-12aa-4295-8799-51176285dc79/US+Capitol+at+night+photo+by+Kitty+Felde.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Congressional Work Week - What’s a typical work week for members of Congress? (photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1659815714972-XQOBFT1K5NMG7KGU3KJF/Former+Rep+Henry+Waxman+meets+with+students.JPG Facts Behind the Fiction - Congressional Work Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1659815717589-SLBB2GU5B30DEXHU9JCO/IMG-9577+%281%29.JPG Facts Behind the Fiction - Congressional Work Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1659816153780-OWFJ2NMIEVNV1S57JS8O/Congressman%2BMark%2BTakano%2Bon%2BBook%2BClub%2Bfor%2BKids.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Congressional Work Week https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/357066e0-5a77-4d7f-9927-4e9adc3a7d12/house+calendar.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Congressional Work Week In the fall, instead of working on legislation, members of Congress are back home, trying to persuade voters to send them back to Washington for another term. Senators run for re-election every six years; House members run every other year. That means they are fundraising, meeting with voters, creating campaign ads, and coordinating with state and national parties to get out the vote. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/09988f61-992c-4288-b07a-cfa3003bad76/curtis_with_fan.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Congressional Work Week - (photo courtesy of U.S. Senate) The tradition began in 1791, long before there was air conditioning, when anyone who could, would escape Washington D.C. during the worst of the heat and humidity. In the 1960’s jets made cross country travel easier and lawmakers would fly back and forth every week. Younger lawmakers lobbied older members to let them go home to spend time with their families. Senate Historian Don Ritchie says members were “looking for regularity and wanted to be able to promise their families in January that they could have an August vacation,” It became law in 1970. The law allows lawmakers to vote to push back the recess if there’s urgent business. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-14-whos-the-boss-of-congress monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/9a0f5e12-f3ee-411c-8181-c065a0b04182/Press+conference+at+the+US+Capitol.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 14: Who’s the Boss of Congress? - Make it stand out (photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/058a8476-553a-40de-8e69-69109953de17/House+Rules+Committee+%28photo+by+Kitty+Felde%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 14: Who’s the Boss of Congress? - It’s also up to leadership to decide which members from their party get seated on which committees. And who gets removed from a committee. Some committees are considered more desirable than others. Sitting on the Financial Services Committee, for example, can attract contributions from banks and other financial institutions. (House Rules Committee, photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/fcabf9a9-e678-437c-84f8-ad3a7d6749dd/House+Minority+Leader+Kevin+McCarthy.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 14: Who’s the Boss of Congress? - In 2021, an off year for elections, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy raised $13.2 million in campaign contributions. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi raised $12.3 million. Holding the purse strings gives them an enormous amount of power. Leadership decides which candidate to share funds with and who to punish. They can also make personal appearances to help raise funds for selected candidates. (photo by Kitty Felde) https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-13-family-feud monthly 0.5 2024-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/9cfd29bd-87d7-45a9-9627-fd39a4e578d0/Capitol+Protest.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Is it Legal for Families of Congress to Protest? - Make it stand out (photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/3a14056a-6335-4105-874a-7b296cc260a7/Payne+Todd.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Is it Legal for Families of Congress to Protest? - The stepson of James Madison, John Payne Todd, had a criminal record for assault and “shooting incidents” and spent time in debtor’s prison. None-the-less, the president sent him to Russia with a diplomatic team, but Todd was more interested in the ladies. After spending time in Paris, he ran up another $10,000 in debt. (photo courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/4fe33176-734f-44e8-a027-480fcea53631/Alice+Roosevelt+Longworth+National+Portrait+Gallery.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Is it Legal for Families of Congress to Protest? Alice Roosevelt was a teenager when her father Theodore Roosevelt became Commander in Chief. She smoked in public, gambled on the ponies, and carried a snake with her named Emily Spinach, named after an aunt. TR threw up his hands, telling a friend, “I can either run the country or I can attend to Alice, but I cannot possibly do both.” (photo courtesy National Portrait Gallery) Perhaps Papa should adopt the philosophy with regard to his mother. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-12-protesting-101 monthly 0.5 2024-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/fe6688dd-8269-4b2c-9ee7-e874684cc130/Jacob+Coxey.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Protesting 101 - (photo courtesy of Library of Congress) Jacob Coxey (photo courtesy National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/631d8fb3-a491-4a01-aac3-916d2fb1ae98/Immigration+reform+protest+at+US+Capitol+2014+%28photo+by+Kitty+Felde%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Protesting 101 - The U.S. Capitol Police define “demonstration activity” as any “protest, rally, march, vigil, gathering, assembly or similar conduct engaged in for the purpose of expressing political, social, religious or other similar ideas, views or concerns protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.” You’re still not allowed to demonstrate on the Capitol steps or in the streets or inside any of the congressional buildings. That’s why some of Abuelita’s friends were arrested: they took their protest inside the Cannon House office building. If there are fewer than 20 of you who’d like to demonstrate, you don’t need a permit. If it’s a larger crowd, you have to apply for the permit at least 10 days ahead of time. Weapons are verboten. So are candles. There are even rules about signs and banners. Sticks must be thinner than ¾ of an inch and you can’t have nails or screws sticking out. You’re not allowed to sell anything or ask for contributions, either. And you can’t turn up the sound: you’re not allowed to disrupt the business of Congress. 2014 Immigration reform protest at the U.S. Capitol https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/91a30dd5-4d1a-41b6-9f6d-91b245aabdff/Ssnk7DWdMJgk9eoPbWWUuA-0001-16791228987.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Protesting 101 - Which brings us to January 6th. Thousands of angry voters marched from a rally outside the White House to the U.S. Capitol with the specific intent of disrupting Congress. Specifically, the crowd wanted to stop the vote certification, the last step before Joe Biden was officially named winner of the 2020 election. Thousand of people were arrested and prosecuted for a number of crimes, including obstructing that vote count. However, in June of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the scope of that rule, saying prosecutors must show that "the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or other things used in an official proceeding.” Many of those behind bars will have their sentence reviewed or their case retried. They may also be released. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/811bc829-50ea-47d4-8edf-70cc913d6f6c/Capitol+Crawl.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Protesting 101 - (photo by Tom Olin) One of the most creative protests happened in 1990. Congress had stalled on a bill that would make sidewalks and staircases more accessible. Dozens of protestors converged on the Capitol in wheelchairs and walkers and other mobility aids. Then they climbed out and began to crawl up the stairs of the west Capitol front. It was dubbed the Capitol Crawl. The protest was effective. Congress passed what would be known as the Americans with Disabilities Act in July of that year. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-11-chickcharney monthly 0.5 2024-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f15c519f-0d51-4199-b5ec-9801e2f5c3ec/Congressman+David+Valadao+with+artist.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - High School Art in the U.S. Capitol - Make it stand out Congressman David Valadao from California welcomes high school artist Tanya Fuentes from his district to see her work displayed in the basement of the U.S.Capitol. “Every year, I am amazed by the talent and vision on display from students in the Central Valley,” says Congressman Valadao. “I look forward to seeing the incredible works students create this year.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/fee81108-e523-4773-8e99-1a841aa2d0db/tunnel.png Facts Behind the Fiction - High School Art in the U.S. Capitol - You can see why they thought putting art on the wall was a good idea. This is the Cannon Tunnel. Those pipes extend all the way from the U.S. Capitol to the Cannon House Office Building. They hang the art on the opposite wall so that you’re distracted from seeing all the exposed infrastructure. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-10-no-more-church-shopping monthly 0.5 2024-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/47693936-62dd-441d-9dde-a2fadb21d36d/pc6134.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Catholic Church in Washington D.C. It was the Spanish Conquistadors who brought Catholicism to America. The first mass was said in 1565 in St. Augustine, Florida. (image courtesy of Florida Memory) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1b3aa458-1fb3-4a3a-a12b-731c61c9e74b/img_4705-2.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Catholic Church in Washington D.C. - The church that inspired Our Lady of Refuge was established in 1903. St. Vincent de Paul is a Romanesque Revival building of gray stone, located right down the street from Nat’s Park, where the Washington Nationals baseball team plays. (There’s even a Nats Mass before Sunday afternoon games during baseball season.) (photo courtesy of Julie Bourbon, NCR) https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-9-the-house-chaplain monthly 0.5 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/eb03819c-18a3-410e-811a-5a56cd34587e/Rev+William+Henry+Milburn.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The House Chaplain - (photo courtesy of Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives) The House Chaplain The House of Representatives has had a chaplain since 1789. The tradition began earlier than that when Jacob Duché, rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, was invited to say an opening prayer at the First Continental Congress. Rev. William Henry Milburn was a favorite among lawmakers. He served three separate terms: 1845-47, 1853-55, and 1885-93. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f133de3d-50c4-4062-b1f6-8a1cc60efdc1/Office+of+the+Chaplain.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The House Chaplain - (photo courtesy of the Office of the Chaplain) Meet the House Chaplain The current House chaplain is a woman, Margaret Grun Kibben. She’s Presbyterian, the most common denomination among House chaplains. Besides offering a morning prayer from the House Floor, the chaplain is available for counseling for lawmakers and staffers who work on the House side of the Capitol. The chaplain also arranges memorial services, and in the old days, performed marriages for members of Congress. The House chose its first Catholic priest in 2000, but he was asked to resign in 2018 by fellow Catholic, then-House Speaker Paul Ryan. The reason? Politics. Like Papa, Speaker Ryan felt that he was being preached at politically by Fr. Patrick Conroy over tax policy. The Jesuit priest offered a particular prayer for lawmakers, “May their efforts these days guarantee that there are not winners and losers under new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e2ee5382-ef37-49ec-b09e-e50a7d3ea5d6/Office+of+the+Senate+Chaplain.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The House Chaplain - (photo courtesy of the Office of the Senate Chaplain) The Senate has one, too he Senate has its own chaplain, currently the Reverend Barry C. Black, a retired Navy Rear Admiral and former Chief of Navy Chaplains. He’s the first African-American chaplain in Congress. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-8-news-cycle monthly 0.5 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/600272b1-7644-4c16-a6c8-34ef25eb6fc8/images+%284%29.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - News Cycle - News cycle. It is not a giant bicycle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d7e7581f-c06f-4ffb-afa0-e01d4a36ea73/unnamed+%282%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - News Cycle - Make it stand out "News cycle" originally described the time between newspaper editions. The cycle could be as long as once a month, or once a week, or several times a day. The latest edition of that paper would include the latest news, pushing out older, less interesting or less important information. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1f9c9f77-3521-42cd-9f03-9a006bc4e238/CNN.png Facts Behind the Fiction - News Cycle - Make it stand out That “leisurely” cycle changed drastically on June 1, 1980 when CNN went on the air with the first 24-hour television news. With a continuous news cycle, the pressure was on to find something new to say, all the time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/60ee0da0-2d87-4189-adfb-27f955cf9288/talk+radio.png Facts Behind the Fiction - News Cycle - Make it stand out Weekends are notoriously slow news days. Mostly because government offices are closed. So is Wall Street. And so are many businesses. It’s the reason local news stations beef up their sports coverage on weekends. Everybody has to “feed the beast” – fill the newspaper pages or the 30-minute local TV news or the 5-minute newscast at the top of the hour on radio with SOMETHING. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-7-bird-myths monthly 0.5 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/5aea6b53-ee3c-4632-afe7-f83d612909f3/bird.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Bird Myths https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/431ed54c-1bea-46cd-b4f0-fc178757d5ff/bird+2.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Bird Myths - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/5d2c5b17-341f-47d4-9c9d-923d0956d7ee/bird+1.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Bird Myths - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/3441ca8d-e59a-48f6-9e11-b1b950eef984/Minimalist+Light+Blue+Graphic+Designer+Personal+Profile+LinkedIn+Banner.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Bird Myths - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/congress-and-immigration-reform monthly 0.5 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/2e295736-98f4-45c7-9dc6-881650480e13/234843e18457af4ccf708a891506b0b2aabb0c9c.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - Gang of Eight - (photo: Kitty Felde) The 844-page immigration reform bill of 2013 (photo: Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/01812944-9fc3-4473-8c36-7b9d9720efb2/gang.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Gang of Eight - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/818bca5c-af10-4d40-a40c-d3dd5d780c8e/SOTU+Email+Signature++%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Gang of Eight - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/episode-5-eagles-everywhere-p3jds-h6dj5 monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1653946529089-78L2WMJ068UNBOF3093R/mace+courtesy+of+Capitol+Visitor%27s+Center.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 5: Eagles Everywhere https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1653946528835-HKR1TTEJSUXZ08DGVZMK/eagle+image+by+NASA+HQ+via+Flickr.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 5: Eagles Everywhere https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1653946615106-VROVHRQ2QW9ID4ED4VDW/eagle+freedom+architect+of+the+capitol.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 5: Eagles Everywhere - (Freedom image courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol) She wears an unusual helmet: one topped with an eagle. And yes, those are bird feet hanging down over her ears. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/14e0bbb7-57d3-41f9-b904-e61f0276d80a/The-Red-Liberty-Cap-or-Bonnet-Rouge.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Episode 5: Eagles Everywhere - (Self Portrait with a Phrygian Cap - Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson. Public Domain) It’s likely that Freedom would have worn a liberty cap – a knit hat with a point that bends to the side. It looks a bit like the hat on a garden gnome. In ancient Rome, such a hat would indicate that you were a freed slave. However, the construction of the Capitol – including the statue on top of the dome – was under the supervision of the Secretary of War. His name was Jefferson Davis. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/blog-post-title-four-7lspc-24t3h monthly 0.5 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a610bc0d-2cec-4e41-bd54-adc1e76fb07f/sotu+pix.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Rebuttal Speech - So what is the rebuttal speech? (photo courtesy of the House of Representatives) After the President delivers his State of the Union speech to Congress, there is the rebuttal speech. Claudia, a longtime House staffer, tells Fina: “The reason for the rebuttal speech is to present different ideas, from our party’s point of view.” , https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/9397cb20-d180-427e-84de-8bc6cbd9e28f/download+%283%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Rebuttal Speech - (Senator Dirksen and President Johnson - photo courtesy of U.S. Senate) It All Began… The rebuttal speech traces its origins to 1965 when then-President Lyndon Johnson, a Democrat, scheduled his State of the Union address for primetime television. Usually, Presidents gave the speech during the workday when few were watching. According to the Senate Historian, LBJ’s speech became a major TV event, promoted by the networks, with a possible audience three times the size of earlier SOTU speeches. The Senate Minority Leader at the time was Republican Everett Dirksen who knew a thing or two about television. He pushed for equal time and in 1965, Dirksen and Congressman Gerald Ford taped a 30-minute rebuttal to the State of the Union. The TV networks aired the speech five days after the SOTU, but the public reaction was positive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/660e98fa-c548-4085-b12b-db250f647ef6/Richardson.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Rebuttal Speech - (photo courtesy of C-SPAN) The Rebuttal Speech en Español A Spanish language rebuttal became a tradition in 2004 when then-Governor Bill Richardson, a Democrat from New Mexico, delivered a response to Republican President George W. Bush. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e67b3eac-768d-44da-be32-53bfbf7b7edb/other+sizes+Estado.png Facts Behind the Fiction - The Rebuttal Speech - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/blog-post-title-three-b8pn8-jlmyz monthly 0.5 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/38d4420b-6098-4f9c-8d7f-ae9920b9686f/campaign+%281%29.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Fina and Campaign Finance - The cost of running for political office How much does it cost to run for Congress? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/0b4d9531-144c-4fef-a39f-e04be3e4efdb/Jimmy+Gomez.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Fina and Campaign Finance Election night 2014: Ted Lieu wins the seat held by Henry Waxman who retired after 40 years in Congress (photo by Kitty Felde) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/7154f960-2878-4b58-bed0-36518eac8e42/George+Washington+courtesy+of+National+Park+Service.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Fina and Campaign Finance - (image courtesy of The National Park Service) Campaign spending is nothing new. George Washington spent nearly $200 on punch and hard cider for friends before the 1757 election where he was running for the Virginia House of Burgesses. The legislature responded by outlawing gifts to voters of “money, meat, drink, entertainment.” I wonder whether George Washington put a few shillings down to pay for donuts to go with that punch and hard cider? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/9cee331b-1b30-4819-849a-89167149ef09/ESTADO+Email+Signature_450x225px.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Fina and Campaign Finance - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/blog-post-title-two-lsrsw-Ea3u7-icyY1 monthly 0.5 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/058c82ef-6998-4446-b294-ee63214b7ead/Reagan+National+Airport+statue.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Ronald Reagan and Immigration Reform - The statue of President Ronald Reagan at Reagan National Airport. (photo courtesy of Library of Congress) Nancy Reagan poses with the statue of her husband at Reagan National Airport. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/728d64d5-fbce-4990-82b2-5b32b22c68b9/60206-eight.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - Ronald Reagan and Immigration Reform - Kitty revisited Oscar and Martha many years later. Here’s that story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e67b3eac-768d-44da-be32-53bfbf7b7edb/other+sizes+Estado.png Facts Behind the Fiction - Ronald Reagan and Immigration Reform - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/facts-behind-the-fiction/Blog Post Title One-9tnhe monthly 0.5 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/9a63ea17-0002-4fd9-ba8f-644a3c497cb0/Chickcharney+G+%281%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Bird With the Lizard Tail - (Chickcharney (artwork by Imelda Hinojosa) There are lots of stories about Chickcharneys. According to a Caribbean blog, they can be bribed into granting good luck. But apparently Chickcharneys don't have a very good sense of humor. If mistreated or joked about, you'll be cursed with bad luck. How bad? Your head can spin around to face your back. Ouch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a62712bf-2f2f-4a97-b629-e022e4b9401a/Chamberlain.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Bird With the Lizard Tail - (photo of Neville Chamberlain courtesy of the National Gallery) Long before he tried to appease the Nazi's, a young Neville Chamberlain had a run in with Chickcharney. He was managing his father's sisal plantation on Andros nd wanted to cut down a tree in order to build a railroad across the land. Locals warned him that he was inviting Chickcharney trouble, since they lived in tall pine trees. Chamberlain ignored the advice and hired a crew from another island who cut down the tree. The farm failed. Locals blamed Chickcharney. The truth? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/3bb38c2a-b7fe-4369-888a-f8bb02522cd6/extinct+owl.jpeg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Bird With the Lizard Tail - (photo courtesy of Los Angeles Audubon) There is an extinct owl in the Bahamas called Tyto pollens. It died out during the last Ice Age. There are only bits of a few birds to testify to its existence. Scientists imagine that Tyto pollens looked a bit like a barn owl. And owls look a bit like...Chickcharney. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d0bf7753-fb44-4d5b-bff0-9c4e82cc1a38/9781737097808+%283%29.jpg Facts Behind the Fiction - The Bird With the Lizard Tail - GET YOUR COPY NOW! 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Anyone who sees the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill will be cursed. Fina Mendoza, the daughter of a congressman, just saw it. Can she save her family from "cat"astrophe? These are the Fina Mendoza Mysteries. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a75ec91f-ff96-4861-9ffe-c6e0b93fc9b0/The+Fina+Mendoza.jpg About The Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6a1d51ef-3bd7-4585-9a46-85e011155774/banner+for+website.gif About The Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/46122860-b26b-430c-9b78-988efc75e27e/Losing+is+Democratic+Cover.jpg About The Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - How do you talk to kids about January 6th? Let Fina Mendoza help. Free curriculum included in the book. BUY IT NOW! https://www.chesapeakepress.org/chesapeakepressfaq daily 0.75 2026-01-05 https://www.chesapeakepress.org/curriculumfinamendoza daily 0.75 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/42934377-b1fb-4861-a179-484e058afb14/Cover+page.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6a1d51ef-3bd7-4585-9a46-85e011155774/banner+for+website.gif https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1607796415792-AO47JEF1F5HV2EPSN9SX/Curriculum+for+Fina%27s+Coronoavirus+Diaries.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1607796444687-8WU4BUJ90UT10GEB2B2T/Start+your+own+Coronavirus+diary.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1607796756294-6SFGG8QDADWASHANIH32/Dia+de+los+muertos.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1607796770445-85QBPNMJMRUXM5L18R3K/Curriculum+for+let+kids+vote.png https://www.chesapeakepress.org/episodes-of-the-fina-mendoza-mysteries-podcast daily 0.75 2024-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/31ec3916-ff57-4294-8671-663fd67438a0/English+and+Spanish.png Episodes of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Capitol Hill is haunted by a Demon Cat. If you see it, you are cursed with bad luck. Fina Mendoza, the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman just saw it. Can she save her family from “cat”astrophe? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618435404352-N6WN3YOE6KFKA1UIXB42/spotify%2Blogo.jpg Episodes of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618435628963-IB96LSWG71KVOKMH8Q09/apple%252Bpodcast%252Blogo%252B3.jpg Episodes of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/6f22cbe3-d68c-48fb-af60-88f643e65864/Fina_StateoftheUnion_5.03.23.jpg Episodes of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out A mysterious bird poops on the president during the State of the Union address? Can Fina find that bird and learn its secret message? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/46122860-b26b-430c-9b78-988efc75e27e/Losing+is+Democratic+Cover.jpg Episodes of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out How to talk to kids about January 6th https://www.chesapeakepress.org/special-episodes-fina-mendoza-mysteries daily 0.75 2023-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/af81c86c-df52-4730-8685-7c266a043bde/Black+and+Bright+Day+of+The+Dead+Animated+Instagram+Post.png https://www.chesapeakepress.org/meet-the-cast-fina-mendoza-mysteries daily 0.75 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618439787293-A2JXMR4UXJ58RD1SS6RK/Amy%2BSolano%2BFina%2BMendoza%2BMysteries.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Amy Solano - Fina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/86619bce-2aeb-44d7-bd93-0eb770261255/IMG_8722.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Ian Muchuri - Michael (season 2) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618440691344-AWBYS1I4WIYBN86A60M7/Susan%2BValot+%282%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Susan Valot - Ms. Greenwood https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618441047876-X7D36FB369EWGEYV7SO5/Leo+%281%29.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Leo Schodorf - Mason https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618441696201-APOMY83KOFSXAN5DZ2Z1/Melanie%2BMacqueen+%281%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Melanie MacQueen - Capitol Policewoman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e54d13c4-51d3-485b-94a4-f7b768487820/Alexandra+Bank+Headshot+1.JPG Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Alexandra Bank - TV Reporter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618442186922-TOWXFOPD1Y3O8TULLSRQ/Brian_R_Bland+%282%29.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Brian Bland - Capitol Tour Guide, Veteran https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618439974773-YRV4ZISRQF3P51NHPGT4/Monica+%281%29.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Monica Vigil - Gabby https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618440490490-DEA8JOH2O14BIXIZU11J/India.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast India Scaglione - Becka https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618441314230-KT403AZLLV1V1L3EWZER/Elizabeth%2BLogun+%281%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Elizabeth Logun - Librarian/St. Sebastian/Cats https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618441902676-YS0YON1BHTT40H6KRSAJ/Steve%2BGamber+%281%29.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Stephen Gamber - John the Staffer, Pizza Delivery Guy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618442550878-U3XOE0W6R7DK01L95Q3L/Congressman%2BMark%2BTakano%2Bon%2BBook%2BClub%2Bfor%2BKids.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Congressman Mark Takano - himself https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1632718841562-QUMKILM0XVNQZCQDMB5H/Mark-66b.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Mark Bramhall - President of the United States https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618442914683-TGZJ9UN5LR5RJ3IT6GOA/Hannah%2BMetzecki+%281%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Hannah Matzecki - Associate Producer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1668717182223-9E0WE2XAUQNK4GQC9L9J/KittyFelde002_WebRes_Cropped.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Kitty Felde https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618440079764-H8ZS97VJXMEJD44MROY4/Steve%2BDeVorkin+%281%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Steve DeVorkin - Senator Something, Father Andrew https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618440947428-9ZZLQDPNDIE58UAP2G33/IMG-0162+%281%29.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Michela Scaglione - Margaret https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/7ac2028f-c185-4f0c-9803-207a6fc7c0d8/Garrett.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Garrett M. Brown - Political Pundit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618442364261-CFAZTF2RNZ7ZUD28PN6R/Isla+%281%29.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Isla Schodorf - Cara https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618441763528-DWJ6IQ5SSA1IE3P8VPNN/Rosalie%2BHuntington%2B-%2BHeadshot+%281%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Rosalie Huntington - Veterinarian/House Minority Leader https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618441993011-G7SJIBVJB6YQFD1WFJK1/Mat%2Bat%2BDesk-Big%2BSmile+%281%29.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Mat Kaplan - House Historian https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618443058507-P5XG5YN9X55BA638W4LO/Andrew%2BBarkan.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Andrew Barkan - Composer of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries theme https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618440160879-5CJT4SC0OJTYXCGVA68T/Christine%2BAvila+%281%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Christine Avila - Abuelita Meet Abuelita https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/00c66116-8487-406e-8e12-80d553dc17f3/Ken.gif Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Ken Rudin - Political Pundit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618441592798-92SR5G2JRYKFONNCZSOC/Wenzel%2BJones+%281%29.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Wenzel Jones - Statue of Caesar Rodney/ Mario’s Pizza Guy/ Waiter https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618441233003-VC80S8K4WF7VRO9QOAYL/EdwardPike+%281%29.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Edward Pike - Michael https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/86e3ecaa-ac1d-4018-9fe8-6c96efeb2b68/Andrea+Felix-Cervantes.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Andrea Felix-Cervantes Associate Producer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618440605741-A4EHPP2K9JDZUWS1ZV02/Cuevas+%281%29.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Steven Cuevas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f4f2be87-9a70-4434-ac21-32e5bb7a9f04/IMG_8720.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Mark Muchiri - Brian https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1635798974980-XPA8ES7WYFVUNECCUGN4/BC.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Bill Case - Memphis the weatherman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/59ea954b-4b64-4693-ac5e-994ce4c82f9d/image.png Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Claudia Peschiutta - Vicki https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/b874c5ef-c16e-42ea-bebf-b91e31589c16/paul+2.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Paul Cummings - Carl Jefferson/Driver https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618440284127-P2B4T86SN2OEOM0AXXT0/Raul%2BGarza+%281%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Raul Garza - Papa (season 1) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618443001109-W9US6HHBT4E0B0HM4IM0/Hunter%2BFelde+%281%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Hunter Felde - Associate Sound Designer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618440407145-UY5D65GZ43UCOVMM2U9H/Linda%2BGraves.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1630181115579-OXQ5JCPWZ1HMG7WFJD1I/LauraStegmanbyDanielReichertPhotography-91-72dpi.jpg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Laura Stegman - Congresswoman Mitchell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/56f8829c-f0ba-4e0d-99de-644f11f3b8d3/Daniel+Leslie+%281%29.png Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1632941960208-MMB4NJGOIV2PYK208F19/KC+8-30-21.png Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast - Make it stand out Kevin Carr - Eagle Burger Commercial Pitchman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618442790497-88AVVQB5UHIWE1CRVJ01/Imelda%2BHinojosa+%281%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Imelda Hinojosa - Tia Catalina https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618440886778-E21STUP8SJ06D2J6900U/William%2BBeemer.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast William Beemer - Michael (season one) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1618442690068-4QT9MWIUVKNXE9ADXB3Z/Terry%2BMarks-Tarlow+%281%29.jpeg Meet the Cast of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries Podcast Terry Marks-Tarlo - Mistress of Ceremonies https://www.chesapeakepress.org/welcome-to-washington-fina-mendoza daily 0.75 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/98bc4ce1-8669-4918-bf83-1305e927fabf/9781735976716+%282%29.jpg Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/fe25e613-c22c-4b84-bcfc-e69e75af4c9a/Add+a+little+bit+of+body+text.png Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f6bf791c-05e6-43a3-84c8-b650454986e1/unnamed+%283%29.png Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1622856440381-9Q6WTOCMWIPYQLYBLGKR/Readers+Favorite+Award+Winner.png Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1622856364928-LBWXUY327V4QSWRMAN3Y/NIEA+finalist.jpg Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1622856477643-P1FXPC40ZTKNFUWIT5U2/MAXY.png Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f7932dd0-6a69-4115-b0bd-1dfd9c0bbd89/9781737097846_ePUBSpanishEd_4.09.23.jpg Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - Make it stand out NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a0dbf771-bf15-4708-945f-ab71deaa80b2/SLJ-Logo.jpg Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d3e7b151-575c-4893-84e3-943eec379cd1/SLJ+Sept+2024.png Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1668717040553-V9TWD8K0Q7UELDG0JYWT/Kitty+Felde Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - ABOUT THE WRITER: Award-winning public radio journalist Kitty Felde hosts the award-winning Book Club for Kids podcast – named one of the top 10 kidcasts in the world by The Times of London. Kitty looked for the Demon Cat while covering Congress for public radio. She found the paw prints, but not the cat. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/teachers-guide-to-fina-mendoza daily 0.75 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f7caa5cd-140e-4572-82dc-df87db05af2a/new+cover+teachers+guide.png Teacher's Guide to Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1622064636881-1FR0H668QWRZ8YCKDAO2/Podcast+logo.jpg Teacher's Guide to Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/state-of-the-union daily 0.75 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/49da266a-6b02-471b-ac5c-2ed17c13f560/SOTU+Estado.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/9cee331b-1b30-4819-849a-89167149ef09/ESTADO+Email+Signature_450x225px.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a0dbf771-bf15-4708-945f-ab71deaa80b2/SLJ-Logo.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/e3e8e517-0ee0-498f-9cf4-812ec604fd6d/SLJ+Sept+2024.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/7f57e495-84de-4a90-bacd-7159d759439b/kobo+3.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a6094fb1-c320-45b9-9ef1-10175f26c640/village+well+2.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/ccf39a37-c20f-47b1-9e98-c408afec564a/IPG.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/4b366df6-fed9-4b78-8ffc-50753e5ceb7e/bn2.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/5e0fb211-4a1f-4803-8627-0f8dadf2c584/Apple_Books_Icon.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/ac8cd8a1-bf0e-4f85-8512-2f959521ec06/amazon.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/12852784-5dc8-42b3-abaa-390f4d557470/Class+Visit.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f37e3603-2a0c-4631-adc3-3c609c21c371/KittyFelde002_HighRes_Cropped.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/3441ca8d-e59a-48f6-9e11-b1b950eef984/Minimalist+Light+Blue+Graphic+Designer+Personal+Profile+LinkedIn+Banner.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1628365896676-888M238ZWDWE38J4J932/Kitty+Felde+bio State of the Union - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.chesapeakepress.org/january6th daily 0.75 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/91a30dd5-4d1a-41b6-9f6d-91b245aabdff/Losing+is+Democratic+Fina+Mendoza+Mysteries January 6th Episode: Losing is Democratic - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/5db43943-578e-41a1-9d76-51c0b4ffc1e1/Untitled+design+%2814%29.png January 6th Episode: Losing is Democratic - Make it stand out There’s even a novella version of these episodes. 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way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d3e7b151-575c-4893-84e3-943eec379cd1/SLJ+Sept+2024.png Snake in the Grass - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1668717040553-V9TWD8K0Q7UELDG0JYWT/Kitty+Felde Snake in the Grass - ABOUT THE WRITER: Award-winning public radio journalist Kitty Felde hosts the award-winning Book Club for Kids podcast – named one of the top 10 kidcasts in the world by The Times of London. 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Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/f7932dd0-6a69-4115-b0bd-1dfd9c0bbd89/9781737097846_ePUBSpanishEd_4.09.23.jpg Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza (Copy) - Make it stand out NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/a0dbf771-bf15-4708-945f-ab71deaa80b2/SLJ-Logo.jpg Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza (Copy) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/d3e7b151-575c-4893-84e3-943eec379cd1/SLJ+Sept+2024.png Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza (Copy) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fc41a68ea4a794d56598972/1668717040553-V9TWD8K0Q7UELDG0JYWT/Kitty+Felde Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza (Copy) - ABOUT THE WRITER: Award-winning public radio journalist Kitty Felde hosts the award-winning Book Club for Kids podcast – named one of the top 10 kidcasts in the world by The Times of London. Kitty looked for the Demon Cat while covering Congress for public radio. She found the paw prints, but not the cat.