“Post-election day may have seemed like the worst time to hold a gathering of progressive state and local leaders in the nation’s capital.

After all, if one were to go strictly by MSNBC or other left-leaning media outlets of one’s choice, if you’re a Democrat of any sort right now, your hair is on fire.

But that was far from the vibe in evidence at the recent NewDEAL leaders conference at Eaton Hotel here in Washington, D.C.

Over the course of the two-day event, members of the selective national network of local leaders wore genuine smiles and resilience on their sleeves as they listened to a succession of speakers give their take on why President-elect Donald Trump is headed back to the White House and how they’ll navigate the next four years.”