Columns

The culture wars have arrived at the U.S. Mint.

(THE CONVERSATION) — The culture wars have arrived at the U.S. Mint.

Commemorative coins aimed at celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 were unveiled by the mint on Dec. 10, 2025, and they reflect the country’s currently divided politics and views of history.

In an unexpected move, most of the original designs for the “America 250” coins that were approved by two official committees in 2024 were abandoned and replaced. Most notably, the Black Abolition, Women’s Suffrage and Civil Rights quarters were replaced with quarters that instead commemorate the Mayflower Compact, Revolutionary War and the Gettysburg Address.

As a cultural geographer and coin collector, I believe the release of these new dimes, quarters and half-dollars offers a reminder that coins, despite their small size, share important messages about what it means to be an American.

This isn’t the first time politics has invaded the design of U.S. coins. The history contained in their designs is often negotiated and politicized, which is manifested into coins as public memory.

—————

From Congress to your pocket

The production of these America 250 coins, part of the celebration formally referred to as the “American Semiquintennial,” was authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in January 2021.

This reflects the long-standing formal process for designing and producing U.S. coins, both regular circulating ones and commemorative ones.

First, Congress calls for the production of new coins. Then, design ideas and draft art are solicited from medallic artists at the U.S. Mint, who create the raised, three-dimensional designs that are sculpted into models.

Two groups – the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, which exists to advise the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury on the designs of all U.S. coins and medals, and the federal Commission of Fine Arts, which provides advice to the federal government on matters of design and aesthetics, including memorials, buildings and coins – work together over time, including through public meetings, to review proposed designs and recommend revisions and selections of specific designs.

The recommendations of the advisory committee and the commission have in the past proved valuable to shaping the final depictions portrayed in coin engravings, but the final authority and decisions come from the Secretary of the Treasury.

In the case of the America 250 coins, the designs were discussed across multiple meetings in 2024, with the final report from the Commission of Fine Arts published on Oct. 24, 2024.

The final recommendations were for a dime that bears a “Liberty Over Tyranny” design; five quarters that would have the “Declaration of Independence,” “U.S. Constitution,” “Abolitionism,” “Suffrage” and “Civil Rights” as their respective designs; and a half-dollar that would bear a “Participatory Democracy” design.

—————

Why the big switch?

The original dime and half-dollar images remained unchanged in the officially accepted designs unveiled on Dec. 10, 2025. However, all quarter designs were changed, eliminating the proposed images representing the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Abolitionism, Suffrage and Civil Rights, with the exception of the reverse side of the Declaration of Independence quarter.

No official explanation for these changes was provided during the U.S. Mint’s design unveiling event. But it is not hard to see how the nation’s current political climate, in which President Donald Trump has complained that the Smithsonian focuses too much on “how bad slavery was” and not enough on the “brightness” of the country’s history, may have played a role.

This is significant for two primary reasons. One, the process for choosing the design was supposed to reflect public input, via the public meetings with the two advisory committees regarding these changes. But these fundamental changes were ultimately decided by the Secretary of the Treasury out of the public eye, likely in concert with other members of the Trump administration.

Second, these changes of the America 250 quarters reinforce a more traditional and exclusionary view of nation’s founding and continued progress. The new designs sideline Americans’ historical struggle against oppression and social injustice and are demonstrative of the Trump administration’s collective efforts to bar government statements and initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The selective editing of American memory portrayed on the America 250 coins is not only a breach in established process, but it’s also a missed opportunity to provide new and diverse representation in an easy, yet meaningful, way.

—————

Public memory in your pocket

Ever since the U.S. Mint opened in Philadelphia in 1792, coins and currency with depictions of American figures, symbolic representations and iconic inscriptions have circulated throughout the nation and the world.

For example, the Fifty States Quarters program, which ran from 1999 to 2008, was very popular among Americans who appreciated seeing different designs on quarters that were emblematic of their own state’s identity. For example, the Vermont version of the quarter included an image of Camel’s Hump Mountain and maple trees with sap buckets hung on them.

Scholars have argued that coins and currency are examples of everyday or banal nationalism, which refers to the often unnoticed expressions of national identity that persist throughout material culture and society.

Coins occupy sparing yet evident moments throughout our lives. You can find them in routine places, with little attention given to their presence, such as the bottom of your junk drawer, in the cup holder in your car or abandoned on the sidewalk.

To cultural geographers like me, coins serve as vessels of passive and active public memory. They subtly signal values and reinforce figures and events as important to American culture and history by being portrayed on government-issued coins.

This understanding further highlights the significance of the recent design changes to the America 250 coins. The removal of imagery of women, people of color and historic events important to marginalized people are not subtle choices.

Whether someone is an active coin collector or just looking to buy a candy bar at a convenience store, all people participate in the reproduction of American public memory. And they do this regardless of which narratives of public memory are chosen to be shared by the federal government.

—————

What comes next?

Recent controversies regarding the end of production of the U.S. penny and the proposal for a new one-dollar coin commemorating President Donald Trump illustrate the American public’s continued interest and attention to coins and currency despite an increasingly digital age. The redesign of these America 250 coins is yet another story in this ongoing saga.

Historically, designs of coins or currency that are unpopular with the general public are ripe for being defaced, such as the scratching out of public figures or the complete destruction of the piece.

Although sometimes illegal, such an act sends a powerful political message of subversion against the government. This tends to be more common in other nations, beyond minor graffiti drawn onto paper currency in the U.S.

If the U.S. Mint maintains the product schedule of previous years, the America 250 coins should begin to circulate in February 2026. It may take time for the coins to arrive at banks, and even longer for them to show up as change from grocery stores, convenience shops and beyond.

Whether you believe in the appropriateness of the new designs or not, the coins and their backstory can serve as a prompt for discussion with friends and family, or even educating children, about what it means to be an American. The power – and the coins – will soon be in your hands.

Obituaries preserve what families most want remembered about the people they cherish most. Across time, they also reveal the values each era chose to honor.

(THE CONVERSATION) — Obituaries preserve what families most want remembered about the people they cherish most. Across time, they also reveal the values each era chose to honor.

In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, we analyzed 38 million obituaries of Americans published from 1998 to 2024. We identified the values families most often highlight, and how those values shift across generations, regions and major historical events.

Specifically, working with psychologists Liane Young and Thomas Mazzuchi, we examined the language used on Legacy. com, an online platform where families often post obituaries and share memories of loved ones.

During their lifetime, most people tend to be guided by a small set of broad values like caring for others, honoring tradition, keeping loved ones safe and seeking personal growth. To understand how these values showed up in remembrance, we used text-analysis tools built on curated lists of everyday words people use when talking about those themes.

By analyzing the words that appeared again and again in memorials, we could see which values communities chose to emphasize when looking back on the lives of their loved ones, and how those patterns changed over time. Because the dataset included 38 million obituaries, the analysis ran on a supercomputer.

Across nearly 30 years of obituaries, words related to the value “tradition” appeared most often – many tributes described religious participation and enduring customs. Words related to the value “benevolence” – caring for the welfare of others – were also consistently prominent. In fact, tradition and benevolence formed the dominant value profile across the dataset: They appeared in more than 70% of the obituaries. By contrast, words related to values like “achievement” and “power” appeared far less often.

Historical events did leave a mark. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the language families used to remember loved ones shifted compared with the period just before the attacks – and those shifts persisted for at least a year. Words related to the value “security” – including terms like “surviving,” “health” and “order” – showed up less often. At the same time, families used more language related to values like “benevolence” and “tradition.” Terms like “caring,” “loyal” and “service” showed up more often. These changes were especially strong in New York, where the attacks had the most direct impact.

COVID-19, however, produced the most dramatic shifts. Beginning in March 2020, benevolence-related language – including terms like “love,” “sympathy” and “family” – declined sharply, and hasn’t been the same since. Tradition-related language – terms like “service,” “faith” and “heritage” – initially declined as well, then rose above baseline levels during later stages of the pandemic.

These changes show that collective disruptions impact the moral vocabulary families use when commemorating loved ones. They shift what it means to have lived a good life.

We also saw differences that reflect stereotypes about gender and age. Obituaries for men contained more language linked to achievement, conformity and power. Meanwhile, obituaries for women contained more language associated with benevolence and enjoying life’s pleasures.

Older adults were often remembered more for valuing tradition. Younger adults, on the other hand, were often remembered more for valuing the welfare of all people and nature, and for being motivated to think and act independently. Value patterns in men’s obituaries shifted more across the lifespan than those in women’s. In other words, the values highlighted in younger and older men’s obituaries differed more from each other, while women’s value profiles stayed relatively consistent across age.

—————

Why it matters

The most visited parts of print newspapers and online memorial sites, obituaries offer a window into what societies value at different points in time.

This study contributes to the broader scientific understanding of legacy. People often hold strong preferences about how they want to be remembered, but far less is known about how they actually are remembered, in part because large-scale evidence about real memorials is rare. Our analysis of millions of obituaries helps fill that gap.

—————

What’s next

Obituaries allow researchers to trace cultural values across time, geography and social groups. Future work can examine differences across race and occupation, as well as across regions. It could also look to earlier periods using historical obituary archives, such as those preserved in older newspapers and local records.

Another direction is to examine whether highlighting how often kindness shows up in obituaries could inspire people to be more caring in daily life.

Understanding what endures in memory helps clarify what people consider meaningful; those values shape how they choose to live.

In 2026, the biggest battles over abortion will not be at the polls.
There will be a few contested measures on state ballots. Next year, Nevada’s government will ask residents to approve constitutional protection for abortion rights for the second time, as required by state law. The same measure passed in 2024 with just over 64% of the vote.

By Rachel Rebouché
The University of Texas at Austin

(THE CONVERSATION) — In 2026, the biggest battles over abortion will not be at the polls.

There will be a few contested measures on state ballots. Next year, Nevada’s government will ask residents to approve constitutional protection for abortion rights for the second time, as required by state law. The same measure passed in 2024 with just over 64% of the vote.

Virginians will likely see a similar ballot initiative. In November 2025, voters there cemented a majority for Democrats in the state legislature, and the House of Delegates is expected to put forth an abortion rights ballot measure to voters in 2026.

Anti-abortion proponents in Missouri want to undo an amendment protecting abortion rights that voters passed in 2024. They’re advancing a new measure that could strip residents of the reproductive rights that are now constitutionally enshrined.

However, the most consequential questions about abortion in 2026 could be answered at the federal level, by the Trump administration or in the courts. As a scholar of reproductive health law, I’m watching how federal judges and agencies respond to conservative efforts to restrict or end people’s access to mailed abortion medication.

—————

Medication abortion in the courts

Over 25 years ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone – one of two drugs commonly paired together to end a pregnancy. Since that time, medication abortion has been closely regulated by the FDA and is under attack.

In 2022, the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a coalition of anti-abortion physicians, sued the FDA for approving mifepristone in 2000 and for each time the agency eased a restriction on mifepristone thereafter, in 2016 and 2021. The complaint argued that the FDA failed to consider evidence establishing the harm caused by medication abortion – claims roundly rejected by decades of rigorous, peer-reviewed research.

The Supreme Court in 2024 ruled that the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine lacked standing to sue because FDA regulation of medication abortion caused no actual injury to the doctors it represented, who do not prescribe mifepristone or perform abortions.

Yet the case lives on in lower federal courts. There is ongoing litigation, and politicians are taking up the fight over mailed medication abortion.

Kansas, Missouri and Idaho intervened in the Alliance lawsuit in 2023, seeking to establish standing, and Louisiana sued the FDA in a separate case challenging the FDA’s regulation of mifepristone.

The pending actions focus on the FDA’s decision in 2021 to lift the requirement that patients pick up mifepristone in person, which has permitted patients to receive medication abortion by mail. These states claim this development is dangerous and threatens their right to enforce their abortion bans.

In October 2025, a federal court in Hawaii came to a different conclusion. The court concluded that because mifepristone is very safe, the FDA must reconsider whether the drug necessitates any restrictions at all.

—————

The politics of medication abortion

The dispute over medication abortion is playing out in Washington, D.C., too.

In 2025, 51 Republican senators and 22 Republican attorneys general asked the FDA to reinstate the 2021 in-person restriction and upend the transit of abortion pills.

In response to Republicans’ push to restrict or withdraw the availability of mifepristone, 47 Democratic senators and 20 attorneys general issued letters supporting mifepristone’s safety. The letters questioned a pledge by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his FDA chief to commence a “review” of the drug. The Democratic senators’ letter pressed the agency to remove all remaining restrictions on mifepristone.

In early December, Bloomberg reported that the FDA had quietly postponed its planned mifepristone “review” until after the 2026 midterm elections.

—————

The battle over telehealth abortion care

Decades of research demonstrates that medication abortion is safe and effective. When commenced before 10 weeks’ gestation, the two-drug method is effective about 98% of the time. Complications, such as infection or hemorrhage, are rare; they occur in perhaps a fraction of a percent of all medication abortions.

Yet courts and legislators cannot agree on basic facts, in part due to widespread disinformation about abortion care, and anti-abortion forces have waged a concerted national campaign to stop mailed abortion pills.

Today, no part of the medication abortion process needs to be done in person: The patient, provider and pharmacy can all interact virtually.

Mailed medication abortion is popular nationwide, particularly in states with abortion bans. Because of mailed medication abortion, the average number of abortions nationwide has actually increased since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade, reversing abortion protections under the U.S. Constitution.

Providers in so-called “shield” states are a key reason for this. Eight U.S. states have laws that shield providers from civil, criminal and professional consequences for delivering reproductive health care to out-of-state patients.

In these shield states, doctors may prescribe abortion medication no matter where the patient lives, so long as that care is delivered by a provider licensed and located in the shield state, complying with the shield state’s laws.

These laws are the subject of legal conflicts between anti-abortion states and shield states.

Late in 2024, Texas sued a doctor in New York, a shield state, for violating Texas abortion and licensure laws. In early 2025, Louisiana indicted the same New York physician.

Texas won its case in a Texas court and then asked New York to enforce the judgment of more than $100,000 in fines and fees. A New York court has refused to do so, citing its shield law. New York also rejected Louisiana’s request to extradite the doctor to stand trial for the same reason.

On Dec. 4, 2025, Texas officially enacted the first bill in the country that explicitly targets shield laws. Passed in September 2025, HB 7 allows private citizens to file lawsuits against a person or entity for attempting or intending to mail abortion pills into the state.

—————

Watch the courts and the FDA

Having written about shield laws extensively, I believe these interstate conflicts will land, sooner or later, before the Supreme Court. Right now, state and federal courts are deciding the issues.

If judges determine that shield laws are unconstitutional or that the FDA acted illegally, courts could substantially alter people’s ability to gain access to medication abortion.

So could the FDA. If it reimposes an unnecessary restriction on mifepristone, meaning the drug would no longer be widely available through telehealth, that decision would curb how 1 in 4 women in the U.S. receive abortion care today.

But opinion polls indicate that the majority of Americans do not think abortion should be illegal in all circumstances, and they vote accordingly.

In November 2025, Democrats won significant elections, for example, in New Jersey, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Abortion was absent from ballots in these states this year, but these races still held significance for abortion rights.

The election of a pro-choice governor and legislature in Virginia, for example, all but guarantees that abortion will continue to be legal in the last Southern state to protect broader abortion rights. Likewise, Pennsylvanians opted to keep the state supreme court’s liberal majority, which struck down the state prohibition on Medicaid payment for abortion.

In 2024, two years after the fall of Roe v. Wade, 14 states put forth ballot initiatives to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right. Eleven passed.

With little political support to pass a nationwide abortion ban, making it illegal to mail abortion pills is the most immediate way to obstruct reproductive health care in states with abortion bans.

The question for abortion in 2026, then, is: Will courts or federal forces do what democratic processes cannot?

More than 1 million consumer users have logged into GuideGeek, the newest AI travel platform from Matador Network. Instead of forums and travel agents, travelers bank heavily on artificial intelligence to plan their future vacations. It’s clear that AI is rapidly reshaping the global travel industry, but it may come with some downsides.

More than 1 million consumer users have logged into GuideGeek, the newest AI travel platform from Matador Network. Instead of forums and travel agents, travelers bank heavily on artificial intelligence to plan their future vacations. It’s clear that AI is rapidly reshaping the global travel industry, but it may come with some downsides.

As interest grows, destinations also hop on board and adapt to meet the demand as people trade human knowledge for AI-planned travel. Artificial intelligence has steadily moved from a behind-the-scenes tool to a central companion for modern travelers.

—————

AI reshapes the traveler experience

Once used mainly for basic customer-service chatbots, artificial intelligence now anticipates traveler needs, personalizes recommendations and streamlines planning in ways that were previously impossible. Increasingly, travelers rely on AI not just for convenience but for reassurance that their trips will run smoothly from start to finish.

Younger generations, accustomed to instant digital solutions, drive this shift as they turn to AI platforms for itinerary building, budget tracking and real-time destination insights. In fact, a growing majority of millennial and Gen Z travelers say they trust AI-generated trip suggestions as much as, or more than, traditional travel agents.

By removing guesswork and reducing the time spent on logistics, AI empowers travelers to focus more on the experiences themselves. The rising demand pushes travel companies to redesign their services around predictive technology, offering journeys that adapt to user preferences, respond to real-time disruptions and deliver a more personalized sense of control.

—————

Travelers bet everything on AI to cut costs

One of the upsides to using AI is saving money. As the economy tightens, travelers opt to cut costs without canceling the trip. Intelligent platforms can scan flights, hotels and rental options to find the best deals. By analyzing pricing trends and predicting when rates will drop, AI tools can alert users to the optimal time to book, helping them save hundreds of dollars without spending hours hunting for bargains.

AI doesn’t just help with headline prices; it also uncovers hidden fees. From recommending hotels with free amenities like breakfast or shuttles to flagging airlines with lower baggage fees, AI helps travelers avoid unexpected expenses that can quietly inflate a trip’s cost.

Even the most casual travelers are exploring AI, using it to hunt for itineraries. The result is smarter, more efficient travel planning that gives users more experiences for less money.

—————

Tourism boards jump on the rise of AI

For well over a century, Mammoth Lakes has been a top California tourism destination. Travelers planning a trip to Mammoth can now rely on Sierra, an AI travel genius that provides instant answers to any travel or tourism questions about the area. The tool gives custom travel tips and itineraries in 50 languages, and leans into the history, culture and community of Mammoth Lakes. Exploring the rugged terrain starts at your fingertips.

Tourism New Zealand uniquely leverages AI, becoming the first playable destination to integrate with the Minecraft universe. A full New Zealand now exists in Minecraft, and users can seek answers to their New Zealand travel questions through the game.

Tourism New Zealand reports a significant impact since the integration. Over 200,000 unique visitors have leveraged the tool. The use of AI is clearly a key for tourism markets.

—————

The future of global tourism in an AI-powered world

Clearly, AI is set to transform global tourism, and 2026 marks a major shift as we see more tourism boards joining in. Future AI tools could design entire trips, optimize itineraries in real time and suggest eco-friendly routes or accommodations, helping travelers reduce costs and environmental impact. That’s only on the traveler’s side. In the transportation industry, it assists travelers in moving more efficiently.

However, reliance on AI raises concerns: privacy issues, fewer opportunities for human connection and potential shifts in tourism jobs. Striking the right balance between human involvement with machine intelligence will be key to this new frontier of AI for travel.

—————

Embrace the future of smarter travel

As AI continues to evolve, it’s clear that the way we plan, book and experience travel will never be the same. The possibilities are only beginning to emerge. While challenges like privacy concerns, accuracy and shifts in traditional travel jobs remain, the benefits of AI for travel point to a future where exploring the world is easier, more accessible and more exciting than ever.

—————

Kimberly Stroh is an Atlanta-based family travel writer and the founder of Savvy Mama Lifestyle. Since 2015, she has been sharing expert travel tips, destination guides and parenting insights tailored for modern families.

For years, January has been the unofficial start line for healthy eating. The holiday cookies disappear, the gym ads kick in and a nation collectively picks up its kale. But lately, something quieter, and more interesting, has been happening: long before the New Year’s confetti drops, people are already eating green.

For years, January has been the unofficial start line for healthy eating. The holiday cookies disappear, the gym ads kick in and a nation collectively picks up its kale. But lately, something quieter, and more interesting, has been happening: long before the New Year’s confetti drops, people are already eating green.

Grocery trends tell an unexpected story about December eating. Fresh produce sales rose 3.5% year-over-year in December 2024, even as dining-out growth slowed. It’s a sign that more Americans are turning to winter vegetables and greens in the heart of the holiday season. Nestled between frosted cookies and roast turkeys are bowls of emerald salads, pan-seared Brussels sprouts and soups tinted jade with spinach or broccoli. It seems the country is no longer waiting for January’s clean slate. The green shift has arrived early.

—————

A gentler approach to balance

Part of the appeal is simple: after years of whiplash between indulgence and austerity, people now gravitate toward balance, not in response to guilt but out of a desire to feel good right now. The December table no longer holds only roasts and sweets; it also makes room for crisp fennel salads, herb-forward grain bowls, warm sautéed greens and roasted vegetable salads brightened with citrus.

The tone has also changed. There isn’t the usual narrative of making up for holiday eating. Instead, there’s a softer recalibration. Greens appear as complements rather than corrections, incorporated naturally into meals that still feel festive and abundant.

—————

The color of renewal

Color psychology may play a subtle role in this early shift. In the darkest month of the year, green evokes life and possibility; a visual antidote to bare trees and early sunsets. Once the holiday lights dim, that splash of color on a plate feels grounding.

Greens carry symbolic weight across cultures. They signify growth, continuity and new beginnings. When cooks add them to the December dinner rotation, they don’t reject the season’s comforts, but make space for vitality alongside them.

—————

Produce that finally tastes like something

Winter greens now taste better than they used to. Improvements in indoor farming, vertical growing systems and controlled-environment agriculture mean that kale, chard, spinach and herbs reach grocery shelves crisp and flavorful even in cold months. Winter crops like Brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli are naturally at their peak in late fall and early winter.

What once felt like a compromise, like a salad in December, has become an opportunity. A nutrient-rich base, seasonal citrus, toasted nuts or a jar of homemade dressing turns an ordinary green into something worthy of the holiday table.

—————

The quiet influence of social media

Scroll TikTok or Instagram in December and you’ll see it: green content everywhere. Salads layered like art projects, bright pesto pastas, skillet green beans with sizzling garlic, soups blended into luminous shades of jade. The tone is joyful and sensory rather than performative.

This shift matters. For years, winter health content leaned heavily on restriction. Now, creators present greens as cozy and indulgent; something you eat because you want to, not because you should. Clips pair the sound of sizzling butter with handfuls of spinach or show a holiday spread confidently making room for both cookies and Brussels sprouts. The aesthetic has changed from penitence to pleasure.

—————

Older traditions reemerge

Eating green in December isn’t new. Many winter holiday tables around the world have long included vibrant vegetable dishes: stewed greens simmered with aromatics, herb-heavy sauces draped over roasted meats, cabbage braised until sweet and tender or leafy salads brightened with winter fruit.

What’s changed is our attention. Those recipes, once overshadowed by main dishes and desserts, now feel newly relevant. They offer warmth without heaviness, comfort without monotony. Home cooks are rediscovering them as bridges between celebration and nourishment.

—————

Restaurants lean into the shift

Dining out in December used to mean decadence: rich sauces, meats and desserts. But chefs have noticed diners’ appetite for balance and have responded by elevating vegetables to something worthy of the spotlight.

A crisp winter salad can open a tasting menu. Charred broccolini or roasted cabbage steaks might accompany a roast. Vegetable-forward small plates give diners room to enjoy the full spectrum of flavors without feeling overwhelmed. This isn’t minimalism; it’s intentionality. Greens bring brightness and contrast to a season that can otherwise skew heavy.

—————

Early renewal as a mindset

There’s a psychological appeal to starting early, not as a head start on resolutions, but as a release from the all-or-nothing mindset that January tends to bring. Eating green in December feels like a gentle way to stay attuned to the body’s rhythms, even amid celebration.

Researchers have long noted the power of micro-shifts, which are small habits woven into daily life rather than concentrated in sweeping resolutions. Adding greens before January aligns with this approach: realistic, sustainable and rooted in pleasure.

—————

A new kind of comfort food

Greens have also become comfort food in their own right. A bowl of creamy spinach pasta, a bubbling kale and white bean bake or roasted Brussels sprouts with a drizzle of maple or balsamic delivers coziness without leaving diners weighed down.

These dishes have a kind of quiet luxury; unfussy ingredients prepared with care that leans on texture, richness and freshness rather than excess. For many, they embody an eating habit that feels right in winter, one that’s warm, grounding and satisfying.

—————

A different kind of holiday table

The holiday table is evolving. Where greens once played a supporting role, a side dish at best, they’re now part of the main conversation. They sit comfortably next to the roasts, cookies and casseroles, creating a meal that feels well-paced and deeply seasonal.
This shift isn’t about virtue or self-improvement. It’s about embracing the fullness of the season: celebration, comfort, abundance and care. Greens just happen to deliver all of those in one bite.

—————

A new food year begins before the new calendar

When January arrives, many people won’t need a reset; they’ve already begun living the balance they want to carry forward. The new rhythm begins earlier, guided by instinct rather than resolutions.

Eating green before January isn’t a trend; it’s a new expression of how people want to feel during the most indulgent month of the year. It’s a quiet refusal to wait. A belief that renewal doesn’t need a date. And a reminder that joy, even in its simplest, greenest form, is already here.

—————

Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju is a food and travel writer and a global food systems expert based in Seattle. She has lived in or traveled extensively to over 60 countries, and shares stories and recipes inspired by those travels on Urban Farmie.

Taft Detroit partner Jonathan H. Schwartz was featured in a recent ABA Journal article, “Stolen Treasures,” which examines efforts to recover art and other property stolen from Jewish families during the Holocaust. The article highlights Schwartz’s work identifying and tracing looted cultural property through wartime Hungarian government records, in collaboration with Holocaust survivor and researcher Clara Garbon-Radnoti, who has spent decades translating and indexing the original documents.

Taft

Taft Detroit partner Jonathan H. Schwartz was featured in a recent ABA Journal article, “Stolen Treasures,” which examines efforts to recover art and other property stolen from Jewish families during the Holocaust. The article highlights Schwartz’s work identifying and tracing looted cultural property through wartime Hungarian government records, in collaboration with Holocaust survivor and researcher Clara Garbon-Radnoti, who has spent decades translating and indexing the original documents.

The ABA Journal feature also discusses Schwartz’s role as co-founder of the Holocaust Art Recovery Initiative (HARI), a project supported by the State Bar of Michigan’s Arts, Communications, Entertainment and Sports section, and the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan. HARI focuses on transforming previously inaccessible Holocaust-era records into usable evidence for historical research, restitution efforts, and public accountability.

Schwartz is a partner in Taft’s Commercial Litigation practice and works closely with many of the firm’s practice groups. He represents clients in complex and high-profile matters involving business, commercial, employment, real estate, intellectual property, First Amendment, and arts law in Michigan, across the United States, and internationally.

—————

Office of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the appointment of Arthur Jay Weiss to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards.

Weiss is the president of Arthur Jay Weiss & Associates PC. Additionally, he is the immediate past president of Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan, the current treasurer of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills.  Weiss earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School. 

Weiss will be reappointed to represent the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan for a term commencing January 1, 2026, and expiring December 31, 2029. 

The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) executes its statutory responsibility to promote public safety in Michigan by setting standards for selection, employment, licensing, license revocation, and funding in law enforcement and criminal justice, in both the public and private sectors.   

 This appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.  

—————

Fishman Stewart PLLC

Fishman Stewart PLLC is pleased to welcome Brian T. Corby as the firm’s first chief operating officer. The announcement was made by Managing Partner Michael Stewart and comes as the firm looks forward to celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026. 

Corby has 35 years of professional law firm administration experience, including litigation management and practice management. Immediately prior to joining Fishman Stewart, he spent 19 years as the chief operating officer of a Detroit-area criminal defense firm. 
He brings a results-oriented mindset to the new role, along with key skills including strategic execution and innovation, culture building and enhancement, and data driven leadership. Corby’s responsibilities at Fishman Stewart include strategic planning and implementation, operational optimization, and running the day-to-day operations of the firm.

Active in the business community, Corby is a member of Vistage Michigan. He is also a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan, where he is a member of the Law Practice Management & Legal Administrators Section, Business Law Section, and the Labor & Employment Section. Additionally, he is a member of the Eastern District of Michigan Bar Association and the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium. 

Corby earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wayne State University.