tuscany, the province of mosakacra, current population, just 15. it was about 300 in the 1950s. no electric, no indoor plumbing when renado was born. he had four siblings, was a shepherd, he was nevertheless able to emigrate to the united states where he became an orthopedist, one of countless american rags to riches stories. when i travel abroad, i often come home mindful of two things, first how insular we americans can be, inwardly focused and disconnected from global affairs, despite as tom friedman would say, the world being flat. and second i m always grateful to have been born here. this time, i had a third thought, for the first time in my life, i worry about our ability to stay in tact. leadership, incivility, polarization, immigration, violence, all very much on my mind. and recent data suggests i m not alone in my concerns. many of us have more fear than optimism about the united states. of course i m concerned about the economy, with the price of everything fro
mind. and recent data suggests i m not alone in my concerns. many of us have more fear than optimism about the united states. of course i m concerned about the economy, with the price of everything from gas to coffee exploding, inflation now 9.1%, stocks and 401(k) s crashing but those metrics feel transitory. the headlines from home while i was abroad put bigger worries in my head. i departed two weeks ago on the day that cassidy hutchinson was testifying before the january 6th committee. the i the 26-year-old former aide to chief of staff mark meadows delivered credible testimony about the unhinged behavior of then president donald trump. even if it turns out that her testimony overreached by offering hearsay about what went on inside the presidential suv, she was yet another witness who painted a compelling picture of