So That Just Happened

On the first day of my internship, my coordinator made it a point to tell my fellow interns and me what an unusual period we were in and how these seemingly "normal" happenings are quite out of the ordinary. Yeah, sure.  Flash forward about two weeks and lo and behold the government is probably going to shut down over the expiration of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy and subsequent deportation of illegal immigrants who were brought to the country as children and are American in nearly every way except for their country of birth.  I found out through the grapevine that there was to be a protest on the Capitol lawn (which happens to be a five minute walk from home) to speak out against conservatives who would like to see these DREAMERs deported.  Naturally, a merry band of Kate, Fallon, Mikayla, and I decided to attend because in the words of the poet Drake, "you only live once."

It was amazing! We were in the second row listening to representatives and senators like Bernie Sanders, Joe Kennedy, Cory Booker, and Kamala Harris speak out about an issue that was not only in the national news, but an issue that we were informed on and passionate about.

However, American democracy is a fickle creature and the government shutdown for a few days.  I thought I would have the following Monday off of work but no! Your valiant hero who just so happened to be in the right place at the right time received an email instructing him to report to work.  I ventured on in that morning and awaited instructions but was told that we'd have a staff meeting at 2:30 PM to go over shutdown protocol.  I had a little free time until I was needed to cover the front desk so my fellow interns and I walked through the tunnels to the Capitol into the Senate gallery.  Then being in the right place at the right time, we were able to listen to Senators Schumer and McConnell lay out their agreement for a continuing resolution and witness a cloture vote that would reopen the government. Strange times indeed. And yes this is a picture I took with Senator Kamala Harris.