Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Virginia's First Muslim Lt. Governor Shares Inspiring Poems

2/2/2026

26 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Ghazala Hashmi, Virginia's new lieutenant governor and the first Muslim woman elected statewide, shared five poems that inspired her political journey.
She emphasizes art's role in navigating difficult times and the themes of the banality of evil, suffering, and hope.
Her experiences, including her relationship with her father, shape her identity and resilience by underscoring poetry's link to broader truths during the Trump administration.

1 of 1

Story summary

Ghazala Hashmi, Virginia's new lieutenant governor and the first Muslim woman elected statewide, shared five poems that inspired her political journey.
She emphasizes art's role in navigating difficult times and the themes of the banality of evil, suffering, and hope.
Her experiences, including her relationship with her father, shape her identity and resilience by underscoring poetry's link to broader truths during the Trump administration.