I like to think of myself as someone who takes responsibility. I pay my taxes. I walk my dog. Perhaps most importantly, I vote. So, when I look at the state of the country, I don’t point fingers. I look inward, back to the pivotal moment when I was told what would happen if I voted for Kamala Harris, fully aware that I was setting certain things in motion, and I voted for her anyway.

Iran is a great example. Viewing the latest war footage had a way of clarifying cause and effect. I was told in no uncertain terms what my vote would unleash. I then cast that vote for Kamala Harris, and today, as the world map again looks like a supercharged holiday display of twinkling critical alerts, it’s hard not to recognize the throughline from my ballot to cable-news chyron.