During the pandemic, the PO network changed: everyone learned to deliberate online, but government legitimacy was very high, so POs took on a more communicative than deliberative role—pre‑bunking the infodemic. The MOHW PO (Peggy’s successor) became world‑famous—their Shiba Inu was the CECC’s “spokes‑dog.” Without the training wheels, we couldn’t have pivoted so quickly or effectively.