The Monthly Digest is another way to connect with friends, both old and new. Blending the worlds of segmented friend groups, The Digest offers an opportunity to be more present in friendship. Each edition puts you in the driver’s seat, with content lovingly crafted and nursed to perfection. From the webs of elementary school where old friendships stand the test of time to the college friend groups and beyond, The Digest inspires community, collaboration, and discovery.

1st Edition

January 2026

Almost one-third of adults under 30 report feeling lonely or isolated from those around them all or most of the time. Going into 2025, half of Gen Zers wanted to quit social media as a New Year’s resolution. Growing up alongside the development of the smartphone, we have a unique perspective on how technology has impacted our relationships. Most of us would agree that social media is bad for our mental health, and that its use has skyrocketed with the widespread use of smartphones. All social media may be good for now is endless hours of entertainment, rather than connecting with our peers. When was the last time you saw a friend’s post on your timeline? When was the last time you posted on your main feed?

So I set out to build something that would help me stay connected with the people I care about most, my chosen family. That’s you. I’d been tossing around the idea of a newsletter to keep y’all in the loop, but I thought it would be selfish or self-centered to build a platform just for my voice. So behold: The Monthly Digest, a publication for friends, by friends.

Thank you for reading and contributing to this month’s edition. I hope you enjoy.

Your friend,
Catalina Andrade
Editor-in-Chief

Edited by McKenna D.

Arts & Entertainment

Artist Feature: Round Bird Print

House Sparrow

Taylor C.is a lino print artist working out of Atlanta. She's heavily inspired by the natural world for many of her works, and especially loves birds. She creates both paper prints and printed clothing, which she thrifts locally.

Pileated

You can follow Taylor's art on Instagram, @roundbirdprint

Should You Cancel Your Music Subscription?

If you’re one of Spotify’s 713 million users, you may have noticed that what once felt like a musical sanctuary has become overrun with sponsored recommendations and AI-generated tracks. Forty percent of users pay for ad-free listening, yet still have ads. Why is a platform for listening to music—a uniquely human art—full of tracks without a human touch? I recently canceled my Spotify subscription because of this, which leads me to ask: how will this change the way I listen to music? Should you ditch your music subscription?

Here are some observations over the last few days about how my listening habits have changed. One of the first things you may notice is that you’re able to think more clearly. Without the added stimulation of music, you’re able to focus. It may feel uncomfortable at first—like when there’s no music in a waiting room—but once you get over that initial discomfort, your thoughts and ideas will begin to flow. After you’ve spent some time without music, you also might find it easier to pick something to listen to. This cuts down on time wasted browsing Spotify mindlessly, wondering what you want to listen to the same way you might ponder what to wear when getting dressed in the morning. If you’ve ever exclaimed, “I have no idea what I want to listen to!” then you might benefit from taking a break from constant listening. Not only is it easier to pick a track, but you’re also being more intentional about when, how, and what you’re going to listen to. Instead of letting the Spotify algorithm dictate what you listen to, you’re making an active choice to engage with an artist or album you like. After not listening to anything for a few hours or days, your ears will also appreciate the unique experience, turning music into a whole-body experience. Your keen ears will pick up on more details, layers, and complexity, which could make you appreciate the same music you’ve had on repeat for years even more.

Photo by Catalina A.

On the downside, if you typically listen to music while cooking or cleaning, then not having music while doing those activities is miserable. I don’t go to the gym, but I would imagine working out with no music to be a negative experience. I love to cook, but it turns out that music was a key part of my enjoyment in the daily chore of serving dinner. Like many other Mexican-American kids, I grew up associating my mom’s music blasting on a weekend morning with a deep clean of the entire house. For me, music plays a central role in the completion of mundane chores like disinfecting the toilet or washing dishes, and I don’t want to do those things in silence.

But what to do without Spotify? When you wake up in the morning, a clock radio (which doubles as a no-phone alarm!). When you’re on a computer, YouTube (and you can even watch the music video). One thing that music streaming robs you of is the experience of watching a new music video for the first time. When you’re in the kitchen or cleaning your house, let your records or CDs be the soundtrack. And when you’re on the road, public radio. Or if you have an old iPod around, downloading some music and plugging in the aux is a great retro choice.

For the most part, I actually don’t miss having on-demand, ad-free music that much. I think being able to enjoy more music on a deeper level outweighs having an enormous catalog at my fingertips. I feel like my brain is less overstimulated, and I’m more inclined than ever to buy and use records and CDs. If you’ve been in a funk and feel like your music isn’t hitting the way it used to, it may be time to take a tolerance break and ditch your music subscription.

Written by Catalina A. Edited by Morgan W.

Artist Feature: Rae K.

We Do Bones, Motherfucker
An illustration inspired by the book Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir.

"As an artist, I am often inspired by fantasy and original characters from either my own mind or my friends’ minds. Character design is my passion, one could say. I also love dramatic scenes, body horror, and making older people confused by my subject matter."

ABCDelta

"Delta is a film noir anti-hero stuck in the world of colorful superheroes. No capes, those are for posers. Delta doesn’t want to be a hero, but the mission calls for it. No, you can’t have his number."

You can follow Rae's art on Instagram, @.raenettt

Politics

Why the Death of USAID Was 2025’s Forgotten Tragedy

As we enter this new year, I’ve found myself reflecting on the significant events of 2025. Last year’s headlines included numerous events that, no doubt, will be in history books. Within the world of politics, perhaps the most discussed development of 2025 was Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The first few months of the Trump administration were undoubtedly dramatic, and among its first priorities was to eliminate what the administration considered excessive spending by the federal government. The United States Agency for International Development, more commonly known as USAID, was among the most targeted government agencies. The administration’s targeting caused the agency’s primary functions to come to an end. Currently, it persists as a legal entity as the agency can only be legally dismantled by Congress. However, drastic funding cuts all but sealed the end of USAID’s existence. This was despite the agency’s many successes, such as their efforts in combating the COVID-19 Pandemic through vaccine distribution, support for healthcare workers, and continuous humanitarian aid as the pandemic took its toll. Regardless, USAID faced frequent criticism throughout its life, with many critical of its cost to the American taxpayer.

USAID was first proposed by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 in an effort to consolidate the United States’ foreign aid initiatives, and legislation establishing USAID was passed by September of that year. The agency was a formidable force of American soft power during the Cold War era, though its accomplishments extended beyond the scope of geopolitics. USAID played a critical role in the global effort to eradicate smallpox, and the agency maintained efforts to combat AIDS, malaria, and global hunger. Despite this, USAID faced frequent criticism throughout its life, with many critical of its cost to the American taxpayer. The United States provided 72 billion USD in foreign aid in 2023, with 61% of foreign aid coming from USAID, placing the United States as the world’s largest provider of foreign aid at the time. However, these figures have been taken out of context to mischaracterize US foreign aid. For example, although the US did provide the most foreign aid of all countries globally prior to USAID’s shutdown, the proportion provided was lower than that of other developed countries, such as Germany and Japan, when compared to their Gross National Income (GNI). It is also a common misconception that the United States spends a large portion of its budget on foreign aid; in actuality, the United States spent only 1% of its overall budget on foreign aid at the time USAID was dissolved. This has resulted in heavily exaggerated claims that the USAID and other forms of foreign aid are a significant strain on the American taxpayer. USAID’s impact on the world was far-reaching, and it continued to prove that the United States could promote positive change throughout the world. Despite this, USAID still fell victim to the Trump Administration and its mission to purge the government of what it considered wasteful, and its positive efforts came to a sudden end.

President Trump’s efforts to dismantle foreign aid began quickly after his return to the White House, starting with an abrupt, near-total freeze on all foreign aid in January 2025; done entirely without Congressional approval. The legally dubious manner in which the president cut back foreign aid resulted in significant controversy and numerous legal battles that still proceed into 2026. Notable Republican figures such as Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also heavily involved in the end of USAID. In February, Elon Musk stated the administration’s intention to entirely dismantle the agency, justifying the plans by claiming the agency was a “criminal organization” that was “beyond repair”. Rubio announced a plan to merge the remnants of USAID with the State Department around the same time. The abrupt demise of USAID was unprecedented, and the complete consequences of its dissolution have yet to be seen; however, some impacts of USAID’s loss were immediate. Following the gutting of USAID, Pe Kha Lau, a seventy-one-year-old refugee from Myanmar, passed away only days later after being turned away from a healthcare facility in Thailand that was dependent on USAID funding. Despite this, Elon Musk insisted that no deaths were caused by the shutdown, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio corroborated that no deaths resulted from USAID’s dissolution while testifying before Congress.

Fears that USAID’s demise would bring devastation to the developing world were voiced by some, and this pessimistic forecast is continuously being realized through current research. A study published by The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal, found that the end of USAID has the potential to result in over 14 million deaths by 2030, over 4 million of which are predicted to be children under 5 years old. The same study also concluded that the sudden cessation of USAID’s efforts to combat AIDS could lead to nearly 11 million preventable HIV infections and nearly 3 million AIDS-related deaths by 2030. USAID’s initiatives to prevent the spread of Malaria are also speculated to have saved 7.6 million lives from 2000 to 2019. However, all of these efforts have since ceased. While it will likely be years until the long-term effects of USAID’s dissolution are known, these figures predict high-scale disasters that were completely preventable.

Much like how USAID outlived the Cold War politics that created it, so too will the impact of its loss outlive the administration that destroyed it. Politics are often morally ambiguous, and so too is the American Presidency. However, the death of USAID is nothing short of a tragedy which will result in the deaths of millions. I ask then, was the purging of government “waste” worth the cost? Do we stand to gain from the end of an agency that Elon Musk deemed a “criminal organization”? Or has the United States decided that the lives of millions of people are worth sacrificing for the sake of government efficiency? Though USAID’s demise reached some headlines, it was soon drowned out by other events which define the second Trump administration’s dramatic assumption of power. Many other areas of the federal government, such as the Department of Education and Transportation Security Administration (TSA), likewise became targets for budget cuts. competed for the spotlight this year. The mass-layoff of federal employees resulting from these reforms also competed for the spotlight this year. Few Americans will remember the dissolution of USAID, and even fewer will ever understand its consequences, but the United States government has failed the rest of the world and its most vulnerable people. This failure is even more horrific due to the fact that keeping USAID would not have been a significant strain on our economy, despite the claims from the Trump administration. As we enter the second year of the Trump administration, Americans must reflect on what they want to see from their government. Are these actions by the President justified? Is this the country you want to live in? These are questions we must consider in 2026 and the years to come.

Written by Ben R. Edited by Jay E.

Hobby

Why Birding (Birdwatching) is One of the Best Hobbies

For full disclosure, I am an avid birder and bird lover. Of course, this article is biased. However, I’ve done my best to break down the reasons that birding is one of the best hobbies.

Reason one? Birding is good for your health.

It’s not just me as a birder saying this. Exposure to nature is associated with better health, especially in children, and birding specifically was shown among college students to reduce psychological distress and potentially increase psychological well-being. Birding is typically done in a setting away from the noise, hustle, and bustle of human life (though you can certainly bird in a city!). It’s a chance to see nature, hear nature, and love nature for all it has to offer.

Want another reason to get started? The process of getting into birding is relatively simple (if not a slippery slope to becoming a bird fanatic). In my opinion, birding requires two simple steps to get started:

See a bird.
Appreciate the bird.

I’m of the belief that you do not have to be able to identify every backyard bird by sight and/or sound to be a birder. You do not have to log each bird you see into online platforms or in a logbook. You do not have to get a picture of a bird. You don’t even have to tell anyone you saw a bird or share your appreciation with the world. You can simply observe a bird and love your experience, and congratulations: you’re a birder!

Photo by Taylor C.

As someone who has explored many hobbies, birding is by far the easiest I’ve ever tried to start. While certainly helpful, expensive binoculars, fancy cameras, expansive field guides, and an in-depth knowledge of birds are not requirements to do birding.

Even if you choose to pursue birding more seriously, the materials needed to bird more efficiently (binoculars, field guides, bird knowledge, etc.) are readily available (sometimes for free) in many places, especially as birding becomes a more and more popular hobby. Plus, birds are on every continent, making their observation extremely accessible!

A third reason to become a “bird nerd” is for the community. You’ll find that wherever you go birding, you’re likely to run into other birders, especially at peak birding times or in popular birding areas. In fact, there were 96 million birders in 2022 in the United States alone, with a conservative definition of a “birder”.

In addition to meeting your local birders, you can join online groups to discuss your recent finds and rare birds. There are events all around the world throughout the year to celebrate and enjoy birds, too!

The community is generally made up of people who love nature, enjoy going outdoors, and live for the thrill of seeing their next “lifer”—a term for a bird you see for the first time—and I’ve never met a birder who shied away from a conversation about their favorite species or experience.

My final reason is a personal, non-factually-backed one, but it’s one of the most important reasons why I think birding is one of the best hobbies: birding is good for the soul. I’ve found that birding has made me more grateful and appreciative of the things in life. I’m grateful I live on a planet with birds, and I’m grateful for every bird I see. I appreciate the trees in which birds live, the skies in which birds fly, and the waters in which birds hunt, and everything in between.

I’ve also found that birding allows me to slow down and connect with the world I am so grateful to be living in. I love taking in a deep breath of woodsy, mossy, cool morning air while hearing the cardinals and the wrens sing. Disconnecting from my real-world troubles and watching these fascinating creatures fly through the air is an experience I believe everyone should have.

I can’t say enough good things about birding, and I’ve done all I can to convince you—now it’s your turn. Enjoy the world of birds and see the endless wonder they have to offer. Your body, mind, and soul will thank you for it!

Written by Taylor C. Edited by Morgan W.

Astronomical Events for February

Feb 1: Snow Moon

The first day of February will also include the first full moon of the month, also known as the “snow moon”. The first full moon of February has earned its nickname because it often coincides with heavy snowfall.

Feb 2: Moon Occults Regulus

The Moon, which will be in its waning gibbous phase, will pass directly in front of the star Regulus in Leo. This event is known as an occultation and will be visible from most of the eastern US. The occultation will start shortly before 9 PM ET and Regulus will reappear on the other side of the moon an hour later.

Feb 17: New Moon

A new moon will occur and create optical stargazing conditions. The Moon can interfere with stargazing due to its brightness and often makes observing dimmer objects such as nebulae and galaxies more difficult.

Feb 19: Mercury Elongation

Mercury will reach its farthest point from the Sun in 2026, an event referred to as an "elongation". These conditions are ideal for observing the planet and it will be visible in the early evening.

Feb 28: Six Planet Alignment

Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will all be positioned to create an arc across the night sky. Though Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will be easily visible, Mercury will fall behind the horizon not long after sunset, and Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope to observe.

Written by Ben R. Edited by Catalina A.

Get Involved

Thank you to this month's contributing writers, volunteer copy editors, and readers. This wouldn't be possible without you.

Editor-in-chief: Catalina A.

Contributing writers: Catalina A., Taylor C., Ben R.

Copy editors: McKenna D., Jay E., Morgan W.

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