Author | Lightnews

Kai Degner

@kaidegner.bsky.social

430 followers 1.3K following 270 posts

SimplerLeadership.com Localsummits.org Leadership coach | Doctoral student, dissertation underway re: listening + leadership Former elected mayor & councilmember in Harrisonburg VA | 2016 Congressional Candidate VA6 Dad, husband, Ravens/Orioles fan

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Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · 4d

After this, 150 people came together from 1-5:30 for a L.O.C.A.L. Summit on Strengthening Democracy and Supporting Vulnerable Neighbors.

We created the agenda together at the beginning, and had 18 sessions on a range of organizing topics.

Info about the model at www.localsummits.org

#openspace

L.O.C.A.L. Summits

L.O.C.A.L.: Local Organizing for COLLABORATIVE Action and Leadership L.O.C.A.L. Summits are a project of SIMPLER Leadership LLC, a social enterprise by Kai Degner.

www.localsummits.org

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Reposted by Kai Degner

Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 19d

NEW: A federal judge rules that the DOJ’s criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia may be a form of punishment against him for legally challenging his removal to El Salvador, and said he is entitled to discovery against the administration.

Judge Says DOJ May Be Vindictively Punishing Abrego Garcia for Challenging Removal to El Salvador

Read more here.

www.democracydocket.com

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Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Sep 6

College prep for 5 yrs old.

You can never start too early.

A young child playing with red solo cups, with a scooter in the foreground.

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Sep 1

Brutal way to mess up my bell curve.

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Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Aug 17

Factor in the math on nukes and proximity to Russia…

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Aug 4

I was just informed the person who played the president in the skit to blow up the moon was arrested for storming the Capitol (irl).

www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

Comedian from 'Anchorman' and 'Mr. Show' sentenced in Jan. 6 Capitol attack

Jay Johnston, who also played roles in "Arrested Development" and "Bob's Burgers," had pleaded guilty to felony offense of obstructing officers during a civil disorder.

www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Kai Degner

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · Jul 30

Motherfucking wind farms…

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Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Aug 3

His hypotheses were traffic and red lights.

We discussed possibility vs probability. It’s possible there could be escaped elephants from a zoo up ahead, but it’s not very probable.

So what’s the experiment to test our hypotheses? “Just drive and see.”

We hit traffic and lights. No elephants.

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Aug 3

Then we discussed the mile markers and our speed. I said we are going about one mile per minute and we are 80 miles away. He understood it should take 80 minutes. But I said the map says it will take 100 minutes, so something up ahead must make us go slower. My hypothesis is elephants in road.

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Aug 3

We then discussed how we can test ideas to solve problems. He imagined a scenario where a bow and arrow shot a grappling hook but it didn’t go far enough to reach a wall. The hypothesis for what went wrong is not pulling the string back far enough. The experiment is “Just pull it back further.”

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Aug 3

Why fund #PBS #NPR #CPN:

5 yo on long car ride today:
“Daddy, can you tell me about the scientific med dod?”

“The scientific method?”

“Yes. The scientific method. Can you teach me it?”

“Umm, sure. What has you thinking about that?”

“The superhero show on PBS. They use it to solve problems.”

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Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jul 27

I credit Mehdi for doing this.

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jul 18

Agreed! (Healthcare, too!)

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jul 18

Definitely tempted to see what’s going on over on X tonight…

Reposted by Kai Degner

Blue Virginia @bluevirginia.bsky.social · Jun 28

Video: Speaking to a Fired-Up Opening Night of the 2025 VA Women’s Summit, Sen. Kaine Rips Youngkin – “If you won’t stand up for [UVA], will you stand up for ANYTHING?!?”; "I sent [a text to Youngkin asking for him to help] at 6:58 am and I have not gotten a response" bluevirginia.us/2025/06/vide...

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Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jun 27

The circumstances driving the resignation of UVA President Jim Ryan are sad, infuriating, and dangerous.

He himself had no choice, given his integrity, as demonstrated in today’s email to the University community.

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Reposted by Kai Degner

Diana Degner @ddegner.bsky.social · Jun 22

When the word “peace” is being coopted & used as a mechanism of coercion to justify violence & war, is when, those who can & have the privilege to, should pause, breathe, stay grounded, find our center, & continue creating spaces where true peace can be generated.

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Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jun 7

Pfff I’m trying to stand up a dissertation w a job and two kids <6. Deep work seems impossible!

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jun 5

Self-regulation supported by social science research as a predictor of leader effectiveness and emergence.

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Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jun 4

Interesting…

www.talktothe.city

About
An open-source AI tool …. Talk to the City bridges this gap with an open-source AI platform that turns large-scale conversations into actionable insights while preserving individual perspectives—from local town halls to national policy discussions.

Talk to the City

Talk to the City helps large groups of people coordinate by understanding each other better, faster, and in more depth.

www.talktothe.city

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jun 2

Could this exercise be the secret to creating a listening culture?

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jun 2

More from Carl Rogers - getting back to the foundational texts of active listening is useful

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jun 2

From Carl Rogers' intro to Active Listening - rather on the nose about fighting authoritarianism tendencies: "People who have been listened to in this new and special way become more emotionally mature, more open to their experiences, less defensive, more democratic, and less authoritarian."

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · Jun 2

Who’s going to mess this up?

Kai Degner @kaidegner.bsky.social · May 27

Me: “Mom can do the bath tomorrow. There’s always another day.”

5yo: “Not when the sun explodes.”