Hello from the Heartland. My name is Jenna, and this is Smarter News, news when it matters and why it matters.

Our Smarter series features unique people who help us think and live smarter.

Let me paint a little picture for you.

I am sitting inside my own closet right now, where I have set up our podcasting equipment

with the hopes that this will provide the best sound quality for this reporter's notebook. I had an unbelievable

opportunity to witness American history in the making over the last week. And so I wanted to do

something a little bit different for you. And I thought one way I could complement some of the coverage

that's already out there is to write a reporter's notebook. So these are my observations

attending these two historic events, which we'll get to in just a moment. But I thought it was

highly ironic that last week around this time, I was inside this closet

trying to figure out what I was going to wear to these events.

And this week, I am recording a podcast from inside the closet.

That's how things happen, though, in this new, exciting age and journalism that we're in.

So without further ado, this is a reporter's

notebook, some personal observations on a very extraordinary experience, and I hope you like it.

Butterfly wings must make this noise in silent echoy spaces where one can really listen,

I thought, as the fluttering sound of dozens of camera shutters provided a soft tempo in the background

of an otherwise quiet room with sea-blue wallpaper,

mahogany wood, and bright, cool white lights. A fluorescent pink suit worn by a woman with a string

of pearls sitting in the corner of the last balcony row caught the eye as a sea of grays and blues and blacks rippled row after row

to the floor two stories below. On the opposite side of the room, a little boy with blonde hair

sat with his elbows on a ledge where he rested his chin, hands clasped over his ears,

...