Laura Walker McDonald

@techladylaura.bsky.social

543 Followers 675 Following

Principal, http://BetterLab.io; creator of BetterBox. Senior Advisor on Tech & Conflict at ICRC, but these views are my own. Feminist, migrant, mum. http://laurawalkermcdonald.com

Politico reporting in their Playbook newsletter on July 3 2025 that ‘polling and strategy firm JL Partners asked 1000 US voters if they support or oppose replacing the current president of the United States with the British monarch. The survey found 19% supported the idea, with 48% opposed and the rest on the fence.

Debbie Harry is shown looking at the camera through sunglasses, wearing a black-flecked white fur coat and black beret. Awesome.

A copy of ‘Lab Girl’ by Hope Jahren sits on a lap next to a pile of books and a child. They are curled up in a heap at a local library

A picture of a baby lying on a bed, looking at the camera and nibbling on a fat finger. Caption: today I dropped my little smooch off at daycare for the first time. I am fully cognizant of all the developmental, social, immune, and family benefits of this for her. I still want to hide under the covers with her and never come out. Feeling tearful. Facebook post from April 13, 2017.

I don’t mean to be glib. If I could press a button that made Max’s life easier by granting him everything he has been denied, I would do it in a second. But if the question is whether I would take myself back to being the genial ignoramus of two years ago, I’m much less sure. I wish this had never happened, of course. But life would feel thin without it. I understand things about myself and the world now that I can’t wish I didn’t know. All of the noise about what on earth I’m here for has melted away. I think I am a better person, if a sadder one.