Politics

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

Published

11 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

Pennsylvania man pleads guilty in arson attack at governor’s mansion while Shapiro’s family slept

Published

2 hours ago

October 14, 2025

Blue Light Newsroom

A man who scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and used beer bottles filled with gasoline to ignite the occupied Pennsylvania governor’s mansion pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and other charges.

Cody Balmer, 38, also entered pleas to terrorism, 22 counts of arson, aggravated arson, burglary, aggravated assault of Gov. Josh Shapiro, 21 counts of reckless endangerment and loitering in the April 13 attack that did millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned brick building.

Under a plea deal, Balmer was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison.

Shapiro and members of his family had to be awakened and evacuated, but no one was injured. The multiple endangerment charges reflected the number of people in the residence at the time, including the governor’s family, guests and state troopers.

The fire was set hours after they celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover with a Seder in the residence. Prosecutors played video clips that showed Molotov cocktails going off and a figure inside and outside the residence. Judge Deborah Curcillo called the video “horrific” and “very frightening.”

Balmer told police he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he had encountered him after breaking into the building, according to court documents. Balmer turned himself in the next afternoon to face charges of attempted homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault.

Police say Balmer broke in through the southern wing of the residence, into a room often used to entertain crowds and display art. Investigators recovered two broken glass beer bottles containing gasoline. The fire charred walls, tables, buffet serving dishes, plates and a piano. Window panes and brick around doors and windows were also damaged.

Shapiro’s Jewish faith and the attack during the Passover weekend raised questions about Balmer’s motivation, but Balmer told The Associated Press in a May letter from jail that had not been a factor in his decision.

“He can be Jewish, Muslim, or a purple people eater for all I care and as long as he leaves me and mine alone,” Balmer wrote.

He said in a brief June 9 video interview from Camp Hill State Prison that he did think beforehand about whether children might be injured.

“Does anyone ever consider children?” Balmer said in June. “It doesn’t seem that way. I sure as hell did. I’m glad no one got hurt.” Asked why he felt Shapiro had somehow done him wrong, Balmer replied: “I’m not going to answer that.”

Balmer’s mother said days after his arrest that she had tried to get him assistance for mental health issues, but “nobody would help.” Court proceedings had been delayed while he received mental health treatment, his lawyer has said.

At a court hearing a few days after the fire, Balmer told a judge he was an unemployed welder with no income or savings and “a lot of children.”

The residence, built in 1968, did not have sprinklers. Work to fix the damage and to bolster its security features continues.

Politics

Chuck Schumer gets his preferred candidate, Janet Mills, in crowded Maine Senate race

Published

5 hours ago

October 14, 2025

Blue Light Newsroom

Maine Gov. Janet Mills joined her state’s crowded Democratic Senate primary as the establishment favorite on Tuesday, aiming to flip Republican Sen. Susan Collins’ seat in a pivotal midterm year.

Democrats view the seat as one of their top pickup opportunities — the only in a state Kamala Harris won in 2024 — and Mills is among a few top-tier candidates Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer aggressively recruited to run this cycle. But first the term-limited governor must contend with a competitive primary against breakout candidate Graham Platner, an oyster farmer who announced he has more than $3 million in the bank and already received the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Maine Beer Company owner Dan Kleban is also running for the nomination and his fundraising figures will be made public Wednesday, when federal filings are released.

In her launch video, Mills highlighted her recent fight with President Donald Trump over transgender sports and accused Collins of enabling him. “I won’t sit idly by while Maine people suffer and politicians like Susan Collins bend the knee as if this were normal,” Mills said.

Despite initial hesitation, the governor started interviewing staff and telling local reporters she was seriously considering a bid last month.

She addressed that long contemplation in her announcement, saying in the video, “Honestly, if this president and this Congress were doing things that were even remotely acceptable, I wouldn’t be running for the U.S. Senate.”

The race sets up the latest generational clash for a party struggling to find its footing after losing the White House and both branches of Congress last year.

Mills, who won her seat by wide margins in her last two races, is 77 years old, making her five years Collins’ senior at a time when Americans are grappling with debates about the age of their politicians. If elected, she would be the oldest first-year senator ever. Platner is 41 and unlikely to leave the race for Mills; Kleban, who is 48, has so far dodged questions about what he would do if Mills jumped in.

Democrats need to pick up four seats in order to win back control of the Senate, a difficult task that all but has to include a pickup in Maine, where Harris won by 7 points.

Democrats poured millions of dollars into an ultimately-unsuccessful effort to unseat Collins in 2020 — but her declining popularity in the bluing state is giving Democrats hope that next year’s race could be their best chance yet.

Republicans are eager to expose Mills’ weaknesses, and have already targeted her public fight Trump, as well as her age.