Hey! Sam here. 

This week’s episode is all about the TikTok ban that wasn’t. Go listen and watch for more on that. But right here, in this week’s newsletter – can we just talk about partying for a while? And explain the epic photo you’re seeing above? (Yes, that’s me holding the mic, and Rick Santorum in the sweater vest)

My colleague Bennett sent along an Atlantic article from earlier this month all about partying, and it hit me so hard we devoted about a third of this week’s ep to talking about it. 

It’s by Ellen Cushing, and it’s titled “Americans Need To Party More.” I know, right? What do you mean? I’ve always identified with a certain stereotype of Americans as drunks, social butterflies, overly outgoing, way too loud – obnoxiously so. The kind of stereotypes that would have you believe we’re always partying, when not working way too much.

Not so, says Ellen. She cites data that says American partying, or “attending a hosted social event on an average weekend or holiday,” is down about a third since 2004, and that’s bad for our emotional health. She suggests we all commit to throwing at least two parties a year, per person, to remedy that. She says ten people have to be there for it to be considered a party (Fwiw, my panelists and I say even three is enough — anything over two.) 

I’d love to hear about some of your favorite party stories, or whether you yourself feel like you’re in a party deficit. And in the spirit of parties, can I leave you with the story of my greatest party of all time — and explain that Santorum photo? 

I knew you’d say yes… 

Flashback with me to December 31, 2011. I’m living in DC, Obama era, working as a news producer. Halfway out of the closet, almost bald, fully embracing a bad goatee.

My three roommates and I are throwing an epic New Year’s Eve party in the rowhouse the four of us rent in LeDroit Park, right behind Howard University Hospital. I’ve made the perfect playlist, culminating with Rihanna’s “We Found Love” right at the stroke of midnight. (What a time to be alive.) 

We’ve ordered two kegs, rented an overpriced, oversized contraption to turn the basement into a karaoke lounge, lit candles all along the front walkway, and filled the fridge with cheap prosseco for everyone to drink at midnight. 

A hundred people show up. At least. The floor is creaking before 9:30 p.m. Veronica is doing the full choreo to Beyonce’s “Run The World (Girls)” in the living room. I’m a few keg stands in. I’ve promised to never tell who I’ve seen hooking up in my bathroom. The air is thick, the floor is sticky, every room is full, and we’re all having a great time. 

But I’m a news producer at the time, and I’m also scheduled to board a plane top of the morning, January 1, 2012, to Iowa, to cover the Iowa presidential caucuses. “It’ll be fine,” I told myself when I booked the flight, “I can do both.”

At some point after midnight, some friends begin to pull me aside… “Don’t you have to like, fly for work in a few hours? Aren’t you supposed to WORK in a DIFFERENT STATE, tomorrow?” 

“Sure!” I say, keg standing more, dancing more. Maybe a little after 2 a.m., Emi pulls me aside and makes me go pack. And then the troops are summoned; about three or four friends make sure I get into a taxi, with Greg staying in the cab to get me to the airport before he heads back to suburban Virginia.

I make it to Iowa, by the grace of Rihanna, I suppose. The caucuses aren’t till the next day, so I assume this first day in Iowa will be a slow one. I’ll be able to sleep the party off. A cute dinner with colleagues. Minimal work prep before an early night. 

Nope. As soon as I touch down, I see the messages: “You’re gonna need to drive a few hours to go cover a Rick Santorum event.” Hours. For Santorum. With one of the worst hangovers I’ve ever had in my life. I rally, but I don’t look my best. And a lot of people soon find out. 

Though the former Republican U.S. Senator is now somewhat of a political afterthought (with a last name that’s become an internet dirty joke), Rick Santorum actually had a pretty good 2012. He won those caucuses I went to cover in Iowa, which meant he was on the front page of dozens, if not hundreds, of newspapers all that week. And because I am good at my job, I made sure I was holding a microphone no more than a foot away from him the entire day I trailed him, still reeling from the night before. 

And that’s how my dazed, zombie-like mug became immortalized in countless A1 photos. For the rest of my life, a little piece of Rick Santorum and I will live together online. And now you know that at least one of us in the room in that picture never let a good party get in the way of work. 

Tell me more about how you party, and if you think this country parties enough.

– Sam 

Check out the latest episodes of The Sam Sanders Show here. 

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