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Today, we offer a look at听how impeachment resonates听in a Virginia battleground district,听an interview with the Ugandan rapper听who would be president, a听change of tune听in the Arab Spring鈥檚 birthplace, a conversation between Monitor culture writers about听鈥淛oker鈥� and storytelling that鈥檚 uncomfortable, and the听decline of the hockey goon.听

First, some thoughts on finding joy amid turmoil.

As I sat in the East Room of the White House Wednesday, watching an agitated President Donald Trump battle reporters, my thoughts turned to Juan Soto. The night before, the 20-year-old outfielder for the Washington Nationals hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 8th 鈥� sparking a dramatic come-from-behind victory.听

The game started rough for the Nats, as did the season, but they persevered. Their wild-card victory advanced them to the next playoff round, a rare moment of postseason joy. The best moment came after the game, when Mr. Soto鈥檚 proud Dominican dad in celebration. Last night they lost, but it ain鈥檛 over.听

Democrats, Republicans, no matter. Washington loves its Nats, and as the city descends into the ugly business of presidential impeachment, it is unifying moments like Tuesday night that make life here tolerable. The late conservative pundit Charles Krauthammer once wrote that God created baseball as a relief from politics. He also that he could leave Fox News鈥� studios after the evening broadcast and be in his seat at Nationals Park 鈥渂y the bottom of the first, in time to see Bryce Harper鈥檚 first at-bat.鈥澨�

Mr. Harper is no longer a Nat, but the team is carrying on just fine. And so, we trust, will Washington.听