The In-Between Place
Grieving the Old, Building the New
Programming note: For those in Washington, DC, I'm teaming up with Mark Scott (and his excellent newsletter, Digital Politics) for a tech policy event in DC the week of March 10. If you're interested, let us know here.
I’m writing this on the train from Paris to Agen, where I’ll start a two-week writing and creative retreat—the first time I’ve ever taken this much time to work on a project and strategize about the future.
While waiting at the train station, I brainstormed with ChatGPT about what I wanted to write this week. I shared my thoughts on where I was, the rapid changes in America, and the need to grieve what has been lost while considering what we’re building in this new world.
I love using ChatGPT for brainstorming. It suggested that trains are inherently symbolic—you’re leaving behind one place, heading toward another, with a stretch of liminal time in between.
We are in the in-between space.
This period reminds me of 2017 when Trump first won. After Election Day, my work at Facebook with politicians went from being celebrated to being hidden. I resisted the change, struggling to accept what this shift meant for me and my team. It wasn’t until the summer when we discovered the Russian Internet Research Agency ads, that Facebook began to build its civic integrity team. I found a role there but initially resisted that, too—I kept trying to fit the new work into old structures that no longer suited the realities we faced.
I’m proud of our work and the people I worked with—but I never fully fit in. By late 2019, I was sidelined, and by late 2020, I realized Mark wouldn’t be leaning into politics anytime soon (if only I had a crystal ball for where we’d be now). I used that year to figure out, in broad strokes, what I wanted to do next.
We’re at a similar juncture now. The bell has been rung—we aren’t going back. Some celebrate Trump and Musk’s moves to dismantle government structures, while others are aghast. Many are caught in between, understanding that changes are needed but recognizing that this isn’t the responsible way to implement them. People’s lives are being upended. The New York Times reported that the goal is to traumatize people.
It’s hard to believe we’re only in week three, but keeping perspective is crucial. Ezra Klein’s piece about not believing Trump is worth reading. We also need time to grieve what’s been lost before deciding what to do next.
Astrologers call this in-between time the void moon. I recently learned that moons go through this phase when changing signs. During this time, the energy is wobbly and unstable. We experience this as plans falling through, projects stalling, and a general lack of motivation and decisiveness.
Sound familiar?
I’ve long believed it will take people until March to start forming concrete plans for moving forward. That prediction was formed when looking back at 2017 and 2018 and all the organizations, projects, and teams that emerged from that period. It’s one reason I chose now for this writing retreat—a void moment where I can write about a past era and reflect on lessons we can bring into the future. It’s a chance for me to step away from the chaos, retreat to the French countryside, and take time to think without being rushed. I don’t know what will come out of this, but I’m confident there will be seeds of something new.
I share all this to help us define this moment and give ourselves grace for not knowing what to do next.
I’m trying to channel those feelings—processing what’s happening through writing, conversations, and, yes, panicking responsibly. I can’t afford to get outraged over every single event we’re witnessing. Heck, some, I think, may even be the shock to the system that was necessary. But the best I can do is prepare—to offer ideas for what might come next while being ready to pivot as needed.
I’ve worked with many of the organizations currently under attack. I know my vulnerabilities well, but I’m also preparing, such as working with a friend’s company to compile an opposition research file on myself, just in case. I’m thinking through responses and available resources should I need them. I hope I won’t, but I want to be ready. I’m also ensuring all of my digital security practices are current. This is a great primer on what to do to protect yourself online for everyone.
Sometimes, we need to sit in the in-between space as we transition from the past to the future—much like I’m on this train now, moving between two destinations. I understand where I’m going, but I don’t know exactly what to expect when I get there. The good news is these void periods always end. The train always arrives.
I’d love to hear from you—how are you processing this moment? Are you feeling stuck? Already planning your next steps? Waiting for clarity to emerge?
Let me know. And if you need a reminder, remember that this moment is temporary. We’ll get through it, just like we have before.