Happy New Year? Not exactly.

In this episode of Why Am I Yelling? Musings from a Middle-Aged, Menopausal Mom, Krista Rizzo kicks off 2026 not with platitudes or toxic optimism, but with honesty, grief, and righteous anger. After a year marked by unexpected personal losses, relentless illness, and a country that feels like it’s unraveling in real time, Krista dives headfirst into the news stories we cannot afford to gloss over.

At the center of this episode are the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, two 37-year-old Americans shot and killed in Minneapolis by ICE agents in broad daylight, as well as the broader pattern of deaths involving ICE custody and enforcement since mid-2025. Krista names the discomfort, disbelief, and moral injury many of us feel watching these events unfold, and challenges the official narratives that conflict with video evidence, eyewitness accounts, and family testimony.

This episode explores why these stories hurt so deeply, how our nervous systems are not built to withstand constant trauma, and why this moment feels like a breaking point between what we believe our country stands for and what we are witnessing with our own eyes.

Krista also calls out the deafening silence from people of influence who continue posting affirmations and “protect your peace” content while avoiding the hard conversations. She examines how silence from those with power is not neutral, and why speaking up, imperfectly and honestly, matters.

The episode closes with compassionate, actionable guidance for listeners who want to stay engaged without burning out. From setting boundaries with the news, honoring grief, and protecting your nervous system, to supporting families, journalists, advocacy organizations, and showing up locally, this is a roadmap for turning outrage into sustained care and action.

This is not an easy episode. It’s not meant to be.
It’s a reminder that humanity matters more than headlines, that grief and anger can coexist, and that while you can’t carry everything, you can still do something.

Stay curious. Stay human. And do what you can, when you can.

I love you.