Captain’s Log

 As we enter into the final stretch of 2026, I feel as though there are things I wish all Pirates take away from everything this last year.

1.) Endorsements matter, and are not to be taken lightly.

 We endorsed a number of candidates this year, and some of them have made it to the dance come November (ie. made the ballot). Pete Karas will be on the ballot. Hunter Rand, in his race earlier this year, not only made the ballot, but also put up a hell of a fight that ended in an incredibly close 3rd place finish, missing the runoff.

 Some candidates, like Tim Grady and Blase Henry, elected to go the write-in route despite not making the ballot.

 It’s been an eventful year to say the least. Not everyone who sought our endorsement got it, and one even lost it down the line. These endorsements cannot and should not just be handed out, and I’m glad the USPP and Pirate National Committee have committed to vetting candidates moving forward and establishing a more well-rounded endorsement process with our new Vetting Committee. Not only going into Election Day 2026, but the whole 2027-2028 cycle, we must remain focused on carefully endorsing and ensuring we support the candidates we have endorsed.

 2028 is a presidential election year, and we endorsed Vermin Supreme last election. That means the floodgates are opened, and we will likely endorse a ticket in 2028. Let this year be the preparation year needed, for 2028 could shape up to be a serious moment in our history in the demand for change.

 Let us not let that moment pass us by.

2.) State building is the most important thing you can do for the U.S. Pirate Party.

 A moment of deserved recognition. State chapters of the United States Pirate Party are our lifeblood. We are a party of state parties, and the more local you get, the more localized your Pirate Party gets. The United States Pirate Party can only be so flashy and shiny and new; it is the sum of our moving parts that make us the shiniest and newest we can be.

 Massachusetts has been the standard bearer of what makes a good and functional state party. They were the first to put a Pirate into public office. They have the oldest active state chapter in the USPP, and it’s not particularly close. One has to come to understand why Massachusetts is in the position it is in, both internally and on the field: without the MAPP, there would be no USPP. Point blank.

 Other parties have stepped up in the last couple years. A special shout out needs to be made towards the Arizona, Maryland and Ohio Pirate Parties. I feel as though their efforts should be praised as they have built up their parties in a manner that shows life in their states, and thus within the USPP itself.

 Arizona, led by AZPP Capt. and USPP Vice Capt. Blase Henry, has a true-blue “built from the ground up” success story that cannot be overstated. Blase has proven himself to be a phenomenal leader and will, if I’m a gambling man, one day be the leader of the USPP itself.

 Maryland’s efforts, led by the dynamic duo of Joel and Steen Lightfoot, have led to the newest and, perhaps, the most exciting-to-watch state party. Joel brings a certain energy to the PNC and the Maryland Pirate Party that you can’t help but cheer on as he actively works to make in-person meetings happen. Like a storm in the night, Joel seemingly came out of nowhere and immediately made his presence and commitment to the Pirate movement felt. Joel even offered up Baltimore as the 2027 Pirate National Conference location with his intentions to help organize. Very rarely does someone with this much heart come into your (or any) movement, and Joel should be recognized for that.

 Finally, OHPP Capt. Mars Bale and the excellent work they have done to make the Ohio Pirate Party breathe. Mars, working to better the USPP, has dedicated his time to not only committees within the USPP, but their state party. And it shows. The life the Ohio Pirates have seen in recent weeks has been a breath of fresh air. Mars has shown a little time, effort and elbow grease can keep a state party lively, and the praise cannot be loud enough for his ability to do so.

 If you want to help the USPP, there is absolutely nothing you can do more than building a state party. It is from the state parties do we find candidates. It is from state parties that the USPP truly grows. Thank you to every single person who has put in that time; you will get your flowers eventually.

3.) Message in a Bottle is sitting idle

 We have a series on our website, entitled “Message in a Bottle,” which is meant to allow Pirate supporters to submit an op-ed or “letter” to the USPP and our supporters. The topic is free to be almost anything your heart desires, from ditching banks for credit unions to bettering relations with Liberia.

 Lately, the well has run a little dry with no submissions. I find this to be, at the very least, a shame.

 I know our supporters have plenty to say, and we provide that podium to say it. To you in the party, attendees of the Pirate National Committee meetings and state party volunteers, supporters and simple Pirate aficionados alike: don’t let this vehicle gather dust in the garage. Sometimes the Pirate Party isn’t what you close your eyes and picture it being. That doesn’t mean you can’t speak your mind, start discourse towards an idea or concept you hold dear, and hope it might land on the right Pirate’s ears. “Message in a Bottle” is your chance to have your voice heard, especially if you feel like it hasn’t been up to this point.

 If you consider yourself a Pirate, don’t stew in silence. Allow yourself the chance to be heard and let your ideas flourish.

4.) These two hour meetings gotta stop

 I don’t know who needs to hear this, but two hour Pirate National Committee meetings are a real drag.

 Members have voiced their displeasure at the ever time consuming meetings, and I happen to be in that camp. I understand the need and desire to get business done, but spending this much time at every meeting tells me business is actually stalling out, not getting done.

 I know many of you are passionate about getting down to business, and some of you might be resistant to what I’m saying, but it’s getting ridiculous: people have work on Mondays, and many are in the Eastern timezone. At some point, it becomes too much.

 Moving forward, we must learn to keep these meetings to the must-dos and learn to be more efficient in our discussions. The USPP should not be a disruptive force in the lives of our own members.

5.) Be kind to one another

 Isn’t that the golden rule?

 Don’t be nasty to one another; be it your fellow Pirates, be it people you work with, be it your loved ones. Bad energy is hitting everyone from every direction, and in this day and age it’s hard not to be impacted deeply by it.

 But you cannot control what happens to you; you can control how you respond to it.

 It takes more effort to be mean or nasty than to be the bigger person. Remember that everyone bleeds like you do, and words can be just as cutting as any action. Hell, I’m sure you can remember every shitty thing someone has said to you. Well, people remember when you say and do shitty things to them.

 People have left the party in years past due to feeling unwelcomed, and if I had my way, it would never happen here again. The fact that anyone could ever feel that way here is a tragic failure of our party itself. Our Pirates let other Pirates down by letting them feel that way. Pirates must not stoop so low.

 I ask that, if you consider yourself a Pirate, you take a look in the mirror and evaluate how you talk to and treat people, especially those you don’t take kindly to. Ask yourself: has anyone ever left the party because of something I did or said? Would I want to be treated the way I’m treating [X]?

 If you don’t like your answer, correct that.

 This isn’t a negotiable point either. If you hear this and say “that’s bullshit,” then ask yourself why kindness is too much to ask, and evaluate if this is the party for you. If you come to the USPP thinking “Pirates are rough and I can’t wait to be an ass,” then maybe this isn’t the party for you. I don’t know what would compel a person to not be driven by a kindness for their fellow Pirate, but if you cannot bring yourself to treat your crewmates with respect then I’m not sure what you hope to accomplish in the USPP.

 This is a party that looks out for our neighbors. We preach local issues matter because they are what will impact you most of all in your life. If you cannot find love for your crewmates, then how do you expect to find love for your neighbors?

 This is not directed at anyone in particular; not in the party or outside of it. It’s being said now, as a blanket statement, because it is not directed at anyone in particular. This is for everyone’s eyes. This is for anyone who has ever had even the slightest interest in being a Pirate, be it passing interest or passion so great you helped to form a state party. This is to ensure our next 20 years can indeed happen, and that no one should ever feel unwelcomed again.

People come and go all the time, but it should never be because they felt unwelcomed.

 Pirates operate on a frequency of love, and we must tune out the bad vibrations to which everyone is susceptible. Only then can we truly grow as a party, because there is a difference between getting bigger and growing up, between looking strong and building strength, and between calling ourselves successful and actually finding success.