On this day in 1969, Mister Rogers saved public TV… On this day in 1969, Mister Rogers helped save public television — not with spectacle, but with empathy. Speaking before a skeptical Senate committee, Fred Rogers made the case that children need support to process difficult emotions like anger, frustration, and confusion. Through his now-famous song “What Do You Do with the Mad That You Feel?”, he shared a powerful message: it’s okay to feel anger — but we can choose how we respond. Whether through creativity, movement, or a moment of pause, Rogers believed in giving kids the tools to handle emotions with care and kindness. His heartfelt testimony moved Senator Pastore so deeply that it helped secure $20 million in funding for public TV. In that moment, Rogers proved that calm conviction and compassion can break through skepticism more powerfully than confrontation. In a world full of noise, his gentle wisdom still reminds us: the best way to handle conflict is with compassion, no...