Tomorrow, April 19, 1775, saw the first shots of the American Revolution!
This is the beginning of celebrations, which in less than 15 months, will be the celebration of the Declaration of Independence.
There is much to celebrate about the accomplishment of independence and the establishment of a democracy with a Constitution and Bill of Rights that made American a beacon for the world of what is possible when good intentions prevail!
But sadly, America faces an existential crisis, the greatest since the Civil War, the Great Depression, and World War II!
However, as tragic as those events were, America was fortunate to have two great Presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Frenklin D. Roosevelt, to follow the masterful statesmanship of George Washington to resolve these major moments of challenge to the rule of law.
But now, we have an existential crisis with the return to the Presidency of the most dangerous, unethical, and corrupt Chief Executive the nation has ever faced, and presenting massive challenge to the economic stability, the civil liberties, and the international role of America, which is being upended daily by Donald Trump, and his minions, his sycophants, who have no concern other than their own aggrandizement!
As a scholar and professor, who has just retired from the classroom, but will continue to give lectures to senior citizens and other adults, and also continue to express his views on this blog, the present and future are extremely alarming.
There is a sense of foreboding as to whether the American Republic and democracy will survive the onslaught against the basic principles enunciated 250 years ago, and reasserted 85-90 years later in the Civil War Era, and then again 70-80 years later in the Great Depression and World War II Era!
All good, decent people must be willing to speak out and challenge any attempt to stifle freedom and advocate support of totalitarian ideologies, as the present Administration is in the process of working to accomplish!
For now, Pentagon and DHS won’t recommend that Trump invoke the Insurrection Act.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/18/politics/pentagon-dhs-wont-recommend-insurrection-act/index.html
RfK Jr. axes HHS committee advising states on genetic screening for newborns. Advocates fear the U.S. could return to a patchwork system in which richer states provide more comprehensive screenings than poorer ones.
https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/rfk-hhs-eliminates-committee-newborn-health-rcna201789
Tennessee Senate wants to kick undocumented kids out of school.
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/-tennessee-bill-undocumented-students-education-supreme-court-rcna201637
Senator Chris Van Hollen was finally able to meet with Mr. Garcia.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/18/politics/chris-van-hollen-kilmar-abrego-garcia-cecot-el-salvador/index.html
Rubio says the US will drop Ukraine-Russia peace efforts if no progress within days.
https://apnews.com/article/rubio-ukraine-russia-war-trump-a90e3e49c276b75ed2542f2f0422ddd6
Trump promised to end this war in 24 hours. It was a wild lie at the time, and in hindsight…yep, it was a wild lie.
Supreme Court to hear oral arguments on whether Trump can implement birthright citizenship plan.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-hear-oral-arguments-whether-trump-can-implement-birthrig-rcna199498
Very simple: Trump’s desire to end birthright citizenship is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
U.S. intelligence contradicts Trump’s justification for mass deportations.
The intelligence product found that although there are some low-level contacts between the Maduro government and Tren de Aragua, or TdA, the gang does not operate at the direction of Venezuela’s leader. The product builds on U.S. intelligence findings in February, first reported by the New York Times, that the gang is not controlled by Venezuela.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/04/17/us-intelligence-tren-de-aragua-deportations-trump/
Experts warn of economic chaos if Trump fires Fed Chair Powell.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/18/politics/powell-trump-federal-reserve-tariffs/index.html
US Weather Analysis for 27 States Goes Dark in Funding Lapse
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-17/us-weather-analysis-for-21-states-goes-dark-after-funding-lapse
Trump Officials Weigh Earth Day Move Against Green Groups
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-18/trump-officials-weigh-earth-day-move-against-green-groups
FDA making plans to end its routine food safety inspections, sources say.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-food-safety-inspections-plans/
What?! That’s BONKERS!
Everything happening under the Trump regime is INSANE!
Trump’s First-Quarter Approval Rating Below Average, at 45%
https://news.gallup.com/poll/659534/trump-first-quarter-approval-rating-below-average.aspx
It should be zero, or at best in the 30%s…
Trump calls FSU shooting a ‘shame,’ says he’ll always protect Second Amendment.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5254657-trump-calls-fsu-shooting-a-shame-says-hell-always-protect-2nd-amendment/
Republicans will NEVER DO ANYTHING about gun violence.
SCOTUS temporarily pauses deportations under Alien Enemies Act. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/18/politics/boasberg-deportation-flights-alien-enemies-act/index.html
Trump administration ready to recognize Russian control of Crimea as part of framework to end Ukraine war, source says.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/19/europe/trump-administration-crimea-peace-talks-intl/index.html
That is wildly unacceptable.
DOGE Is Building a Master Database to Surveil and Track Immigrants
https://www.wired.com/story/doge-collecting-immigrant-data-surveil-track/
Judge blocks Trump administration from passport changes affecting some transgender Americans.
https://apnews.com/article/transgender-passports-trump-executive-order-ee211c3298f0c6f561f829cf5adca281
This is disgraceful…
‘Lab Leak,’ a flashy page on the virus’ origins, replaces government COVID sites
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/18/g-s1-61324/lab-leak-white-house-covid-origins
Video shows doctor with measles treating kids. RFK Jr later praised him as an ‘extraordinary’ healer.
https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f
That doctor should lose his license, ASAP!
Nationwide ‘50501’ protests to rally against Trump administration’s policies are planned for this weekend.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/04/19/anti-trump-protests-50501-movement-hands-off/
This is authoritarian thuggery.
Trump-Allied Prosecutor Sends Letters to Medical Journals Alleging Bias
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/health/trump-martin-us-attorney-medical-journals.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Ak8.EMaq.FgyJDGc6D7I_&smid=url-share
Trump Officials Trolling Journalists is Just the Tip of the Iceberg
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/trump-officials-trolling-journalists