2/26/2021

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Will you be meeting Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (LMH) on your visit to Houston today? I’m sure you know about her, but I am slow on the uptake & just encountered her name today as I read today’s headlines in the Houston Chronicle.  I try to read the local paper of the places that the POTUS’ visits so I can see what’s on the minds of the natives. LMH was in the headlines for warning folks that the freeze would be like a Cat 5 hurricane. She was also noted for being named one of Time’s “100 Next” List & whether or not she’s “too principled for politics.” She’s only 30 & she’s in charge of a $4.3 billion budget. My favorite part of her bio is that she spent some time in Myanmar, so when you meet her today please ask for her suggestions about how to handle that situation. She wrote her Stanford honor’s thesis on “military intervention against popular protest” so she’s quite knowledgeable on the topic.

            I hope that UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (LTG) is also knowledgeable on the topic. I caught the tail end of her remarks to the special meeting that the special envoy to the UN Sec Gen called today. It seems that she’s bringing her commitment to multilateralism to the situation. I understand that she has shown a willingness to cooperate with China on some things so maybe she’ll quietly reach out to see what can be done. Perhaps she will invite some Southeast Asian diplomats over to her house to help her make gumbo so they can talk about possibilities. She likes to use communal cooking to build bridges & I think that’s fabulous. Have you ever cooked with her? I understand from Jill that you don’t do much cooking. Maybe LTG can teach you a few things. If you invite LMH, the 3 of you could cook up some great ideas 

            Safe Travels,

PBWY,

            RCA