Congrats to my @WhiteSox (and @Cubs) on making the playoffs! Let’s ride a hot streak all the way to the World Series.

Yesterday, we lost a cherished member of our family. We got Sunny at the start of our second term in the White House, and all of us – including our first dog, Bo – immediately fell in love. We also had trouble keeping up with her, for Sunny was a force of nature. Athletic and full of boundless energy, she leapt over the hedges on the South Lawn like they weren’t even there, chasing squirrels, birds and anything else that moved. And whereas the way to Bo’s heart usually involved a treat, Sunny was more interested in having us run around with her, roll on the floor with her, or have her belly rubbed for as long as we were willing. She loved the girls, even if they were pestering her when she was napping. She loved our team, and would often follow them around, helping them on the job. She was fiercely protective of Bo, who she rightly sensed wasn’t always as alert and attentive as she was. She had her eccentricities: other than Bo, she preferred people to dogs; she was a loud and sloppy drinker; and despite being a Portuguese Water Dog, she hated getting wet. But as far as our family was concerned, she was pretty much perfect, and for thirteen years, she would be by our side – always loyal, always sweet, always ready for adventure, still fiery and gorgeous till the very end of her days. We will miss her terribly, and imagine she’s with her big brother now, making sure he’s okay.

The right to vote is one of the most fundamental parts of our democracy. Check your voter registration at IWillVote.com and make a plan to vote early or on Election Day on November 3.

Best wishes for a sweet and happy new year on this Rosh Hashanah! President Obama has said that the High Holidays, which begin today, are days of awe — a chance to give thanks for the miracle of renewal, and an extraordinary opportunity to begin again in pursuit of justice, prosperity and peace. Shanah Tova.

In 2009, @BarackObama established this day as a National Day of Service and Remembrance by passing the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Since then, thousands upon thousands of Americans have volunteered their talents and time to transform a moment of collective grief into an act of community good. Tell us in the comments what you’re doing to make today about service and remembrance.

If you were young in 2001, or weren’t even born yet, it can be hard to imagine what 9/11 felt like. The shock of that beautiful, cloudless morning. The heartbreak of the families whose loved ones were taken with such swiftness and cruelty. The realization that the forces of malevolence and violence were closer, and the future less certain, than we knew. But in the days that followed, we felt something else, too. Pride in the rescue workers who had rushed to the scene, and the passengers who had stormed the cockpit. Admiration for the men and women who left behind lives of comfort to serve their country. A deep resolve that nothing would break the will of a truly United States of America. Today Michelle and I are remembering those we lost that day, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the wars that followed. We pray for their families. And we hope Americans everywhere remember the true lesson of 9/11: that we can survive even our darkest days as long as we move forward as one nation and one people.

Toryn Parks helped build the roof of the Obama Presidential Center buildings. "I'm a part of history now," Parks said. "As long as that building stands, we did what we were supposed to do." This Labor Day, check out her story on Obama.org/stories.

Some people put their ideas out in the world and hope they catch on. Not Gloria Steinem. Through her writing, her speeches, and her organizing, she demanded that the world pay attention to all the ways that women had been — and in some cases, still are — treated unfairly. And she helped awaken us to problems like domestic violence, the lack of affordable child care, and unfair hiring practices that had too often been ignored or overlooked. Gloria really was larger than life. Today, generations of women are walking a little taller and aiming a little higher because of what she fought for and achieved. Michelle and I are thinking of her family today, and everyone — women and men — who were inspired by her towering example.

It’s hard to imagine many people having a bigger impact than Dolly Parton. Born in a one-room cabin, she earned 11 Grammys and an Emmy, built a business empire, helped millions of kids learn to read, and — as if that wasn’t enough — helped accelerate the research that led to the Moderna COVID vaccine. What a life. Michelle and I are thinking of Dolly’s family and her many, many fans.

This summer, more than 50 young men from @ChiPubSchools attended the @MBK_Alliance-Obama Leadership Academy to get ready for high school. They earned credits toward graduation, developed important life skills, and built connections. We’re so proud of their hard work, and can’t wait to see what they do.