A little more than a year ago, a slim majority of voters elected Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States. Some of those voters now find themselves experiencing buyer’s remorse. As for the rest? They’re either lying,…
MAGA is making America dizzy again
In 2015, a military training exercise called Jade Helm became the basis for a right-wing conspiracy theory which claimed that under President Barack Obama, the federal government planned to impose martial law. Conservatives went crackers over an unfounded prospect that…
Deliberately inciting rebellion: The GOP’s latest power play
Earlier this summer I wrote a piece titled “We Are in Dangerous, Uncharted Waters.” It addressed the Los Angeles ICE raids and the military deployment in response to the ensuing protests. I cautioned that the language used by the Trump…
‘Justice’ and ‘transparency’ with caveats? Epstein victims deserve better
In August 2017, author Michael Wolff conducted research for his book Fire and Fury. He spoke at considerable length with Jeffrey Epstein. On Aug. 10, 2019, the notorious sexual predator was found dead in his prison cell. Authorities ruled his…
Why Trump’s time is almost up
In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan, a celebrity Democrat turned Republican president, granted an Australian named Rupert Murdoch U.S. citizenship after being in the country for only one year. Reagan then ordered his FCC chairman to scrap the Fairness Doctrine that…
The Stepford Supporters: MAGA’s scripted response to literally everything
In most cults, having an independent opinion is discouraged and even punished. Group leaders often suppress critical thinking and skepticism, viewing them as a threat to the movement’s unity and control. Members who express doubts or disagree are often viewed…
We are in dangerous, uncharted waters
“In every age it has been the tyrant, the oppressor and the exploiter who has wrapped himself in the cloak of patriotism, or religion, or both to deceive and overawe the people.” ― Eugene Victor Debs On Saturday, June…
As the white smoke dissipates, Leo XIV isn’t exactly Francis 2.0
Catholics and non-Catholics alike are riding high on emotions over two words: Habemus papam. (We have a pope.) However, once the honeymoon is over and reality sets in, enthusiasm for Pope Leo XIV likely will subside as some supporters of…
America’s strange contentment with political extremes
Reason does not always lead to the best decisions, but it is our best hope for avoiding the worst. — Al Gore At the beginning of each new month, I receive an email from the manufacturer of my thermostat providing…
Zuckerpunched: Meta silences MAGA resistance
Editor’s note: After this column was written, historian Heather Cox Richardson reported that some of her daily posts on American history and life have mysteriously disappeared from Facebook. About a month ago, Presbyterian Outlook, the magazine of the Presbyterian Church…
The dirty chess game that motivates Trump’s yo-yo tariffs
On Sep. 27, 2024, at a rally in Michigan, Donald Trump said: “In the 1890s, our country was probably the wealthiest it ever was because it was a system of tariffs. We had a president, you know, McKinley.” Although his…
Project 2025, Elon Musk and the American coup d’état
Lately, many Americans are expressing frustration, wondering why federal judges appear incapable of stopping DOGE as Congress seems to just sit back quietly. Although the answer is somewhat complex, it can be broken down in relatively simple terms. You might…