Did you ever get to fly with the other instructor? The best instructors will put you into situations to see how you respond when nobody is with you. It takes nerve to allow a pilot (or a controller with trainee at the radar in the case of the work I used to do) to paint themselves into a corner and allow a situation to develop to a point where it makes even the instructor uncomfortable. There's no better way to learn, tho. Did you eventually solo?

I'm normally an optimistic guy but my optimism is waning lately. I think more Republicans believe the Big Lie today than did one year ago. That's not a good trend line. It's really weird when there is no bottom to what they will accept as leadership. And funny that they even call McCarthy (and the rest) leaders considering how the only thing they've shown us is a loyalty to Trump. There's been zero leadership shown.

If we think there's discourse now, wait until McCarthy has the gavel in his hands again and see what he does with his position. It's going to be a fucking shit show and likely a big money-maker for conservatives as well. Nothing will happen on voting integrity laws to make its way to Biden's desk for his signature. The playing field will be even more tilted and even less a representation of the country. Biden will be left to govern by executive orders his final two years. Republicans will do all they can to impede and make a failure of him. And Republican voters won't make the connection as to why he's a failure (in their eyes) and why nothing got done because it's a good thing they stopped those socialists from ruining our country! They vow to keep voting Republican and owning the libs! Thanks, conservative media. You've done it. Now what? Authoritarianism is knocking. In fact, I think it may already be in the house. Who really benefits here?

Like I said; it feels like a flat spin to me. I do hope I'm wrong.

Kevin g