TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING

So I’ve been thinking a lot lately about temperament, especially the temperament that is critically required to govern and lead, and successfully navigate the political landscape. It seems like there are so many forces that can draw one away from being focused and dedicated to the tasks at hand. And speaking of required temperament and focused dedication, thank you for listening to the show and for rating and kindly reviewing it and following on social media. It’s very much appreciated, and I’m quite grateful. I don’t know if you ‘ve heard, but t’s a busy election year so far and I can already feel the tone of discussion and dialogue changing to the point where we need reminders about listening and engaging and finding common building blocks instead of retreating into our tribes. So it was actually terrific to talk to Suhas Subramanyam, someone who is governing at the state level and now aiming for national impact. Suhas is currently a State Senator in Virginia and is running for Congress for Virginia’s 10th district. He’s a business owner, a dad, a volunteer EMT and firefighter, and he’s spent his career serving his community and taking on some pretty tough fights. After getting a law degree, Suhas served as a White House technology policy advisor to President Obama, tackling cybersecurity threats and modernizing government agencies. Since 2019 as a Virginia state senator, he’s passed legislation to bring down drug and health care costs, fought against costly overcharges by utility companies and toll operators, and worked to fully fund schools and mental health services while also combating the rise of gun-violence. And his passion for coalition building, staying true to his identity as an Indian American and a Hindu, and simply getting things done is evident as co-Founder of Virginia’s first Asian-American and Pacific Islander Caucus, and as founder of the Commonwealth Caucus, a group of legislators dedicated to building unity and bridging the political divide. Suhas, his wife Miranda, and their young daughters Maya and Nina are in Ashburn, VA,and with all of his busy endeavors and commitments and an ongoing campaign, in meetings and in conversation, I’ve been truly struck by his calm and engaging temperament, but I also wanted to know more about what keeps him energized…