Weekly Email 5/18/2026
- Anja Sophia Crooks
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
 Green River, UT Dear Restore the Balance Community, It's hard to believe that this Thursday we'll be at CMU for our fifth annual Spring Gathering! We wouldn't be here without your support, and we thank you. In recent weeks, we have been looking at various aspects of David French's career. This week, we want to share a bit of the remarkable personal journey that has helped shape his voice. Without doubt, his family paid a steep personal price for his willingness to speak hard truths. |
Topic of the Week: The Personal Cost of Principle David French and his family were active members in a conservative branch of the Presbyterian church near where they lived. Their children went to school there, and they were part of a loving and supportive church family. Until they weren't. Two things happened. The Frenches adopted a daughter from Ethiopia. It was their daughter's experiences that opened their eyes to the racism that still exists in some quarters of the United States, even among church-going believers. And then there was Donald Trump being chosen as the leader of French's Republican Party. Because French did not approve of aspects of Trump's policies and behaviors, French was shunned by some members of his church. His family was threatened. His party cancelled him. Did he choose to cancel them? What does a patriotic religious conservative do in this situation? How do we as citizens move forward in such a charged and fractured landscape? How should we think about our own commitment to fairness and tolerance? And can we place principle over party when we vote? Please join us at CMU this Thursday to hear David French's keynote address — "U.S. Elections in 2026: A Year of Decision at a Time of Division." Further reading: David French on being cancelled by his church — New York Times Join Us — Three Ways to Attend 🎟️ Grand Junction — CMU Ballroom | May 21 | 6:30–9:00 p.m. | Few seats left! 🎟️ Durango — RTB La Plata Watch Party | Fort Lewis College | May 21 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. 🎟️ Delta Watch Party — Free & open to the public, no tickets required. Delta County Library, 124 6th St, Delta, CO 81416 (Meeker St. Entrance) | Doors open: 6:00 PM Space is limited in Grand Junction and Durango. Reserve your spot early! Please forward this email to friends, family, and neighbors who may not be RTB members but who may be interested in attending the Spring Gathering and hearing from David French. |
Upcoming Events May Social Hour — Cancelled. Join us instead at our Spring Gathering on May 21! May 21 — RTB Annual Spring Gathering | 6:30–9:00 p.m. Keynote speaker: NYT columnist David French — "U.S. Elections in 2026: A Year of Decision at a Time of Division." Election Transparency — Mesa County Election Tours The Mesa County Elections Division is holding election tours ahead of the upcoming primary. A great opportunity to see the process up close and build confidence in our local elections. Tours: June 23 & June 26. Sign up here. |
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Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming! Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter? Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update. You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice. Submit your recommendations here Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together. Don't forget to vote in 2026: June primaries, November general. |