Hi y'all,

🎧 Have you listened to The Advocate's new podcast The Advocate Weekly? Our host Kevin Ortega-Rojas takes listeners through a roundup of headlines, a deep dive with one of The Advocate's journalists, and a special interview with an LGBTQ+ changemaker. You can find The Advocate Weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast platforms.

🧩 It Gets Better released a "banned words" crossword puzzle mocking Donald Trump's censoring of certain words — including "advocate" — in the federal government. (Honestly, it's the first crossword puzzle I've done in more than 10 years. I'm a bit obsessed.)

🗳️ Pete Buttigieg has decided not to run for the U.S. Senate or Michigan's governorship in 2026. “I care deeply about the outcome of both races, but I have decided against competing in either,” Buttigieg wrote on Substack. The decision not to run may indicate Buttigieg is eyeing a presidential run in 2028.

Onwards and upwards,

Alex Cooper

Editor-in-chief, Advocate.com

P.S. Support The Advocate's journalism. Find out how to contribute here.