The brief interruption of access to TikTok prompted many Americans to find alternatives like RedNote, and what Americans found were images of China they had never seen before. Not surprising to me, they were shocked as to how developed the country has become - especially compared to the United States of America. Then it got me thinking, why were people so shocked? Then I realized it's because most Americans have never traveled outside the country. And in thinking further, it led me to conclude that people's lack of knowledge about countries outside their own can be directly correlated to their politics - particularly when it comes to international issues. The brief banning of TikTok got people to see that America isn't as above par compared to other counties as believed. Perhaps if Americans traveled more they would gain a different perspective about political issues and thereby change their politics. Perhaps that's why some political imps want to keep Americans from expanding their knowledge.

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and in The White House have put out statements, made comments, and put forth legislation targeting Washington, DC under the premise that the District is a failing jurisdiction. They are trying to put forth a narrative, a false notion, that the city is full of crime and has a corrupt government. The truth of the matter is Washington, DC is a vibrant, beautiful city that has its share of issues, and strives despite constantly being under attack for being vocally progressive, heavily Democratic, and rich in its Black population and culture.

On this episode of The Offshoot podcast, D.C. Councilman Zachary Parker counters the arguments made by members of the Grand Old Party. The District is doing well, especially in comparison to other jurisdictions. Are there opportunities for improvement? Yes, said Councilman Parker, and he speaks on three issues in which he is leading efforts to further the growth and prosperity of the city, its 750,000 residents and businesses. From the much talked about crime, downtown revitalization, the youth to rank-choice voting, economic activity and budgets, Councilman Parker provides insight to the workings of D.C. Government that very few people know about let alone understand.

Buying and selling a home can be a daunting task, especially when it is your first. There are so many things to know, and one individual can't expect to know it all. Now, throw in a change in politics that comes with much ambiguity and you get a lot of unknowns when it comes to buying and/or selling a home. This creates fear for some people - no matter it be their first time buying or their second or third.

To help ease the fear, three experts in the field of real estate take part in a lively conversation about the real estate market for 2025 on this episode of The Offshoot Podcast. Demond Pollard with Smart Realty, Lisa Gaton-Rapena with Homeside Financial, and Mike Brown with Rlah Real Estate share their knowledge and forecasts for the 2025 housing market. It's looking to be better than one might expect, which should ease some people's fears.

You can reach Demond Pollard at demond.pollard@gmail.com or 804-386-2172. You can reach Lisa Gaton-Rapena at lisagatonrapena@hotmeside.com or 301-437-8725. And you can reach Mike Brown at nextmovewithmichael@gmail.com or 240-244-6221. They are all on Facebook and Instagram.