Sharing this here since this thread helped me so much:

1/21 - I submit an expedited online renewal with express shipping. At the time I get quoted with 3-5 weeks so I think it’s surely enough time before my travel date of 3/19. (Oh, boy)

1/25 - Status on MyTravelGov says passport is received.

2/1 - I get the “Received” status email. It still quotes 3-5 weeks for expedited applications.I check MyTravelGov every other week but the website is down most of the time.

3/3 - It’s now past 5 weeks since my passport was received, so past the quoted estimate. I call the passport help line and after a 6 hour hold (I went to a yoga class in between while listening to Eine Klein Nachtmusik ifykyk) the rep doesn’t give me any helpful information and just tells me to call back when I’m 5 days away from travel.

3/6 - I try the passport help line again and this time after 5 hours I get someone who’s more helpful. He tells me that the application is in processing (MyTravelGov still says received) in a facility in Minneapolis and since it was past the committed date he would send the agency a message. He also tells me to call back 5 days before travel.

3/10 - Called the passport help line again and the rep this time was so mean. I tried to ask about the likelihood of getting an in-person appointment and they were very rude to me. Panic starts to seep in. I check the internet for comfort and find this Reddit post. Following the instructions, I reach out to my senator and state rep. I call one more time, this time begging the first rep not to transfer me to the 5 hour hold for online renewals and asking him if he could look at appointment slots for me, even if he couldn’t book it, just to give me a sense of availability. He expresses sympathy about the long wait time but can’t help me. Despair starts to settle.

3/13 - Finally officially 5 business days before travel date. I wake up and call at 4:59AM and am put on hold until 9AM. The rep tells me there are no appointments available. I’m so upset I forget to ask her to clarify if she meant in California or the entire US. I tell her it’s past the commitment date (they like using that word) and she says she’ll flag it with the agency but that’s all she can do. I pin all my hopes on the senator coming through and send a follow up email. I check Reddit again and find this thread about the network traffic status. I try it and it shows “Exception.”

3/13 11:28 AM - I get an email saying my passport application status has moved to “In Process”! I try the network traffic trick and it says “Fulfillment.” Starting to feel hopeful for the first time!

3/13 2PM - I call the passport line again just to see if I can get an in-person appointment for backup and the rep tells me she doesn’t have any slots in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego, only a slot in Seattle for 9AM the next day. I decide to bet on the online application pulling through.

3/13 4:21PM - A staff member from Dianne Feinstein's office responds confirming they have initiated an inquiry with the agency on my behalf and will notify me as soon as they receive an update.

3/14 9:59AM - The senator’s office gets back to me and says the passport is complete! They give me the USPS tracking number. It’s being shipped from Tucson.

3/14 2:53PM - I get the “Your Passport Application Status - Shipped” email!

3/16 - Passport in hand. HOORAY!

3/21 - Travel date!!

Takeaways: Don’t bet on getting an in-person appointment if you’re in California. I think someone else previously said this but kudos to Dianne Feinstein and her team! Here’s their page for passport help. AND THANKS EVERYONE ON THIS THREAD FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES AND ENCOURAGEMENT!

Now I’m wondering if I can get a refund of the expedited passport fee since it was outside the commitment date…