Politics

Dealing with post-election stress? Now’s the time to breathe.

Published

8 months ago

November 11, 2024

Dealing with post-election stress? Now’s the time to breathe.

Many of us woke up Wednesday morning — if we slept at all — anxious about how to speak to our children, loved ones and how to feel ourselves.

The 2024 presidential election has left our country more polarized than ever. With now President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House, many Americans are feeling angry, fearful and deeply concerned about the future. As a physician who has worked in health policy at the highest levels of government, I’ve seen firsthand how political divisions can impact people’s well-being.

We need to recognize that the deep partisan polarization in our country didn’t start with Trump, and it won’t end with his re-election.

I’ve also witnessed the resilience of the American people and our ability to come together in times of crisis. As we look ahead to the next four years, there are some key steps we can take to begin healing our national wounds and bridging the divides that threaten to tear us apart.

First, we need to recognize that the deep partisan polarization in our country didn’t start with Trump, and it won’t end with his re-election. The roots of our current divisions go back decades, fueled by economic inequality, cultural changes and an increasingly siloed media landscape. Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric and norm-breaking behavior have certainly exacerbated these divisions. But simply removing him from office was never going to be a panacea. We must address the underlying factors that have led so many Americans to feel angry, disenfranchised and disconnected from their fellow citizens.

That starts with rebuilding trust, in our institutions, in our democracy, and in each other. Trust in government and the media is at historic lows, with many Americans retreating into partisan echo chambers that reinforce their existing beliefs. We need to create more opportunities for genuine dialogue and understanding across political and cultural lines. This means getting out of our comfort zones and engaging respectfully with those who hold different views. It also requires a shared commitment to facts and truth, even when they challenge our preconceptions.

At the same time, we can’t ignore the very real policy differences and values that divide us as a nation. On issues from health care to immigration to climate change, there are fundamental disagreements about the role of government and the direction our country should take. These debates are a healthy and necessary part of democracy. But we must find ways to disagree without demonizing those on the other side or questioning their basic humanity and patriotism.

As a doctor, I know that healing starts with treating the symptoms of here and now. When patients are presenting with symptoms that are consistent with grief reactions, post-traumatic stress and affective disorders, there are some simple practices I often suggest:

1. Take a news break: Allow yourself 1-2 hours away from all news and social media by putting the phone down and walking outside, rain or shine. This can help lower your stress levels and provide mental space.

2. Practice deep breathing: Try the 4-7-8 technique: Inhale for four counts, hold for seven, exhale for eight. Repeat 4 times.

3. Use grounding exercises: Focus on your five senses to anchor yourself in the present moment. Name five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste.

4. Engage in physical activity: Even a short walk or some stretching can help reduce anxiety and improve mood.

5. Connect with supportive people: Reach out to friends or family who can offer comfort and understanding.

6. Practice self-compassion: Acknowledge your feelings without judgment. It’s OK to feel upset or anxious.

7. Focus on what you can control: Make a list of small, positive actions you can take in your community or personal life.

Remember, it’s normal to feel strong emotions during this time.

Remember, it’s normal to feel strong emotions during this time. If your distress persists or interferes with daily functioning, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.

Ultimately, healing our national divisions will require sustained effort from leaders and citizens alike. We need a renewed commitment to civic education, community building and the shared values that have long united Americans across partisan lines. We must resist the forces seeking to pull us apart and remember that what we have in common as Americans is far greater than our differences.

The road ahead won’t be easy. But I remain optimistic about our ability to overcome this difficult moment and emerge as a stronger, more united nation. Time and again throughout our history, Americans have risen to meet grave challenges. By recommitting ourselves to our highest ideals and to each other, we can do so once again.

Dr. Kavita Patel

Dr. Kavita Patel is a teaching professor of medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine at Stanford University and a board certified internal medicine physician. She served in the Obama administration as director of policy for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement in the White House. Her area of expertise is around the intersection of health policy, clinical medicine and innovation. She also spends time advising venture capital and is a medical contributor for NBC news.

Politics

Biden pays respects as former Minnesota House Speaker Hortman, killed in shooting, lies in state

Published

7 hours ago

June 28, 2025

Blue Light Newsroom

ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Former President Joe Biden joined thousands of mourners Friday as former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman lay in state in the Minnesota Capitol rotunda while the man charged with killing her and her husband, and wounding a state senator and his wife, made a brief court appearance in a suicide prevention suit.

Hortman, a Democrat, is the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans accorded the honor. She lay in state with her husband, Mark, and their golden retriever, Gilbert. Her husband was also killed in the June 14 attack, and Gilbert was seriously wounded and had to be euthanized. It was the first time a couple has lain in state at the Capitol, and the first time for a dog.

The Hortmans’ caskets and the dog’s urn were arranged in the center of the rotunda, under the Capitol dome, with law enforcement officers keeping watch on either side as thousands of people who lined up filed by. Many fought back tears as they left.

Among the first to pay their respects were Gov. Tim Walz, who has called Hortman his closest political ally, and his wife, Gwen. Biden, a Catholic, visited later in the afternoon, walking up to the velvet rope in front of the caskets, making the sign of the cross, and spending a few moments by himself in silence. He then took a knee briefly, got up, made the sign of the cross again, and walked off to greet people waiting in the wings of the rotunda.

The Capitol was open for the public from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, but officials said anyone waiting in line at 5 would be let in. House TV livestreamed the viewing. A private funeral is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday and will be livestreamed on the Department of Public Safety’s YouTube channel.

Biden will attend the funeral, a spokesperson said. So will former Vice President Kamala Harris, though neither is expected to speak. Harris expressed her condolences earlier this week to Hortman’s adult children, and spoke with Walz, her running mate on the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket, who extended an invitation on behalf of the Hortman family, her office said.

Lisa Greene, who lives in Brooklyn Park like Hortman did, but in a different House district, said she came to the Capitol because she had so much respect for the former speaker.

“She was just amazing. Amazing woman. “And I was just so proud that she represented the city that I lived in,” Greene said in a voice choked with emotion. “She was such a leader. She could bring people together. She was so accessible. I mean, she was friendly, you could talk to her.” But, she went on to say admiringly, Hortman was also “a boss. She just knew what she was doing and she could just make things happen.”

A hearing takes a twist: The man accused of killing the Hortmans and wounding another Democratic lawmaker and his wife made a short court appearance Friday to face charges for what the chief federal prosecutor for Minnesota has called “a political assassination.” Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, surrendered near his home the night of June 15 after what authorities have called the largest search in Minnesota history.

An unshaven Boelter was brought in wearing just a green padded suicide prevention suit and orange slippers. Federal defender Manny Atwal asked Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko to continue the hearing until Thursday. She said Boelter has been sleep deprived while on suicide watch in the Sherburne County Jail, and that it has been difficult to communicate with him as a result.

“Your honor, I haven’t really slept in about 12 to 14 days,” Boelter told the judge. And he denied being suicidal. “I’ve never been suicidal and I am not suicidal now.”

Atwal told the court that Boelter had been in what’s known as a “Gumby suit,” without undergarments, ever since his transfer to the jail after his first court appearance on June 16. She said the lights are on in his area 24 hours a day, doors slam frequently, the inmate in the next cell spreads feces on the walls, and the smell drifts to Boelter’s cell.

The attorney said transferring him to segregation instead, and giving him a normal jail uniform, would let him get some sleep, restore some dignity, and let him communicate better. The judge agreed.

Prosecutors did not object to the delay and said they also had concerns about the jail conditions.

The acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota, Joseph Thompson, told reporters afterward that he did not think Boelter had attempted to kill himself.

The case continues: Boelter did not enter a plea. Prosecutors need to secure a grand jury indictment first, before his arraignment, which is when a plea is normally entered.

According to the federal complaint, police video shows Boelter outside the Hortmans’ home and captures the sound of gunfire. And it says security video shows Boelter approaching the front doors of two other lawmakers’ homes dressed as a police officer.

His lawyers have declined to comment on the charges, which could carry the federal death penalty. Thompson said last week that no decision has been made. Minnesota abolished its death penalty in 1911. The Death Penalty Information Center says a federal death penalty case hasn’t been prosecuted in Minnesota in the modern era, as best as it can tell.

Boelter also faces separate murder and attempted murder charges in state court that could carry life without parole, assuming that county prosecutors get their own indictment for first-degree murder. But federal authorities intend to use their power to try Boelter first.

Other victims and alleged targets: Authorities say Boelter shot and wounded Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, at their home in Champlin before shooting and killing the Hortmans in their home in the northern Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, a few miles away.

Federal prosecutors allege Boelter also stopped at the homes of two other Democratic lawmakers. Prosecutors also say he listed dozens of other Democrats as potential targets, including officials in other states. Friends described Boelter as an evangelical Christian with politically conservative views. But prosecutors have declined so far to speculate on a motive.