News and Politics

Discussion about news and politics

Trump’s Revenge And Retribution Tour: Moving Toward Martial Law And Mass Prosecution Of “Enemies” Of Trump!

Ronald 51 Comments

Sadly and tragically, President Donald Trump is clearly on a revenge and retribution tour, moving toward what seems inevitably the declaration of martial law on the nation at some point in future months.

Already, he has sent in the National Guard to Los Angeles and now Washington, DC, and is threatening such actions in other “Blue” states and cities, including Chicago, New York, Baltimore, and Oakland, by specific statements, but likely elsewhere as well.

Trump also has the Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi promoting FBI raids and investigations on Trump critics, including those who once worked for him, but have turned against him, most notably in last couple of days, of former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

One does not have to agree with everything Bolton has done and said in his career, but the idea of “weaponizing” the FBI, CIA, and other national security agencies against domestic critics is horrifying and terrorizing for the concept of the Bill of Rights.

In only seven months, the Trump Presidency has become a “clear and present danger” to basic American traditions of preserving American democracy, the US Constitution, and the rule of law.

The speed of acceleration of authoritarianism almost seems unstoppable at this point.

Political Polarization At Worst Point In Modern American History!

Ronald 1 Comment

Political polarization is at its worst point in modern American history under the Presidency of Donald Trump.

Not only is the House of Representatives with its tightest balance in recent times, with only a few seats edge for Republicans, the precise reason for the Texas mid decade Gerrymandering promoted by Donald Trump.

It is also the reality that in the state governments across the nation, there are a total of 41 states with single party control, meaning the Governorship, and majorities in both houses of the state legislature.

26 states are under Republican control, and 15 states under Democratic control, what is termed as “trifectas”.

The only states that are not in one or the other trifecta are:

New Hampshire
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Arizona
Nevada
Alaska

The following states have Democratic Governors and Republican majority legislatures:

Pennsylvania
North Carolina
Kentucky
Wisconsin
Kansas
Arizona

The following states have Republican Governors and Democratic majority legislatures:

Nevada
Vermont
Virginia

Trump Systematically Destroying All Reforms From Progressive Era Onward!

Ronald 26 Comments

Donald Trump is systematically destroying all reforms from the Progressive Era onward, with particular attention to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts has been a willing participant in this reversal of all of the great changes that promoted equality and justice, which became about after nearly a century since the Civil War of continued violation of basic human rights to African Americans and other minorities, including women and gay and lesbian Americans.

This is a very emotional time, as Donald Trump is moving full stream ahead, to return America to the late 19th century Gilded Age, where multi millionaires dominated the economy without any government regulation, and where racial discrimination and lack of basic human rights to anyone other than white male Christians predominated.

Trump and his supporters in the most despicable and corrupt Cabinet in American history are actively destroying

the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Era reforms that he initiated, through his Square Deal and New Nationalism proposals and actions.

the reforms of Woodrow Wilson’s New Freedom legislation.

undermining the social justice reforms of the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt ;

and the Fair Deal of Harry Truman;

and the civil rights advancements of Dwight D. Eisenhower;

and the ideals of the New Frontier of John F. Kennedy;

and the overwhelming reforms in so many areas of public life of the Great Society of Lyndon B. Johnson;

and the many initiatives of Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, George H W Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden toward major reform initiatives.

Trump has declared war on common decency and humanity, and has ushered in an American Fascism, reminiscent of Benito Mussolini, Francisco Franco, Juan Peron, and other right wing dictators.

The danger that there will not be free and fair elections, and the attempt to promote midstream Texas gerrymandering to weaken an opposition Democratic Party challenge to the authoritarianism taking place, is totally horrifying and depressing!

Trump Public Opinion Ratings Rapidly Declining!

Ronald 5 Comments

Donald Trump’s Public Opinion Ratings are falling rapidly, as evidenced in the most updated Pew Research Poll.

Ratings across all ages and demographics demonstrate:

White 47 percent approve 52 percent disapprove

Black 15 percent approve 83 percent disapprove

Hispanic 27 percent approve 70 percent disapprove

Asian 31 percent approve 66 percent disapprove

Ages 18-29 33 percent approve 66 percent disapprove

Ages 30-49 34 percent approve 65 percent disapprove

Ages 50-64 45 percent approve 54 percent disapprove

Ages 65 Plus 44 percent approve 53 percent disapprove

Male 43 percent approve 56 percent disapprove

Female 35 percent approve 63 percent disapprove

High School or Less 41 percent approve 56 percent disapprove

College Grad 34 percent approve 65 percent disapprove

Post Grad 33 percent approve 66 percent disapprove

Dem or Leaning Dem 6 percent approve 93 percent disapprove

Repub or leaning R 74 percent approve 25 percent disapprove

Only Republicans, crazily, are still in his camp, while even white men and voters with high school or less education have abandoned their support of Trump.

MS NOW:The News Source That Succeeds MSNBC!

Ronald 4 Comments

The liberal and progressive cable news channel, MSNBC, in existence for 29 years since 1996, is separating from NBC in the next few months, no longer sharing journalists.

It is being renamed MS NOW, for MY SOURCE: NEWS OPINION WORLD, and it will be the premier left wing channel, as it has been under the MSNBC logo since its beginning.

Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, Joe Scarborough, Ari Melber, Lawrence O’Donnell, Nicolle Wallace, and Jacob Soboroff are among the people who will continue at MSNBC.

It will continue to be, by far, the best cable news channel for those with an open mind, far surpassing CNN!

Trump Interference With Smithsonian Museums An Attack On Historical Truth!

Ronald 36 Comments

This author, scholar, and blogger has been communicating to students and adults for more than a half century “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” about the American historical experience, along with discussion of world events and foreign policy.

To have Donald Trump and his followers set out to declare war on the truth and the facts of the American past is a challenge that cannot be allowed to be lost!

For Trump to interfere with exhibits at the various Smithsonian Institution Museums is totally beyond the pale, and must be vehemently opposed with every fiber of the being of scholars and authors!

The truth of Civil Rights Museums cannot be allowed to disappear!

The challenge to teachers and professors is to refuse to teach and spread lies and mistruths.

That is very difficult for teachers and librarians who depend on state and local governments for their livelihoods.

But the reality of the American past must not be compromised, and lawsuits and action by decent people, parents and those who care about proper education, must lead to resistance.

The American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, the American Political Science Association, and reputable news media and scholars in the nation and around the world must unite to guarantee that “the truth shall set us free!”

The Horrors Of Military Occupation Of Washington DC!

Ronald 23 Comments

In a shocking reality, the national capital of the United States, Washington DC, is now subjected to military occupation by National Guardsmen at the order of President Donald Trump.

And three Republican governors–of Ohio, West Virginia, and South Carolina–are also sending some of their National Guard troops to assist the federal government in the militarization of the center of American national government.

Locations, such as the National Mall, where many monuments and memorials are situated, and Union Station, are now populated by National Guard Troops, creating a monstrous, shocking image to the nation and the world of the militarization of American democracy.

This will undermine Washington DC tourism, where millions of Americans and foreign nationals visit all year round, but even more so in the summer months.

Imagine the shock of families and their children being confroted by troops who have the authority to stop and question them, and take them into custody and arrest without just cause or documentation, without due process.

Alaska Summit Of Trump And Putin A Win For Putin!

Ronald 20 Comments

Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin on American soil in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, and it was a total win for Putin and Russia!

Putin was greeted by a “Red Carpet”, and was permitted to drive to the location of the summit in “The Beast” Presidential Car, which is usually only allowed for allied leaders such as Great Britain and France.

But Putin got “royal treatment”, and clearly, has no interest in stopping the war against Ukraine, and not even willing to agree to a cease fire.

Clearly, Trump can easily be flattered, as he was about Putin suggesting that their next summit be in Moscow.

But no agreements were reached about ending the war against Ukraine, and no indication of any substantive agreement on anything.

Trump is not concerned about European security of NATO allies or of Ukraine, and is more concerned about the possibility of winning the Nobel Peace Prize, than saving lives and showing toughness toward Russia.

His inability to show strength and determination are likely to encourage China to make moves toward Taiwan, with the clear understanding that Trump will not do anything to repel such an aggression.

Putin, an international war criminal, gained stature from the meeting, while Trump came across as a very weak excuse for a man, one with no principles except gaining wealth and abusing power over his fellow American countrymen.

The world is less safe as a result of this disaster of a summit, which should never have taken place, as there was no planning or agreements arranged before the meeting, which is the usual nature of a high level summit!

90th Anniversary Of Social Security: Republicans Still Wish To Destroy This Landmark Legislation!

Ronald 4 Comments

Today marks the 90th Anniversary of the Social Security Act of 1935, arguably the greatest single accomplishment and legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal.

Behind major European nations (Great Britain, France, Germany) in bringing about this legislation, Social Security provided security and a safety net to elderly, widows, orphans, children, and the disabled, to insure a basic standard of living.

It was not designed to provide an entire sense of security for anyone, but an important part of protecting families and those no longer working or able to work, of a minimal coverage of protection.

From the beginning and until the present, the vast majority of Republicans have been against Social Security, and we still have in 2025 those conservatives and Republicans who term Social Security “A Ponzi Scheme”, which is totally inaccurate.

The danger, however, is that Social Security may run out of ability to provide full benefits, including cost of living adjustments by the early 2030s, unless Congress agrees to raise the amount of income that is taxed to cover the payments.

There is no reason why all income, not just wages, should not be taxed, but the Presidency of Donald Trump and the MAGA Republican mentality represents a dire threat to the long term survival of the program.

The American people need to be educated and informed of the crucial need to elect Democrats who will continue to promote this wonderful legislation that has made the lives of tens of millions of Americans more dignified, whether in retirement, or in families that have disabled members, or have lost a wage earner.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore MSNBC Jen Psaki Interview An Inspiration, Emerging As Sensational Presidential Possibility In 2028!

Ronald Leave a comment

Maryland Governor Wes Moore appeared on Jen Psaki’s evening show on MSNBC on Tuesday evening, and it was a true revelation.

Already impressed with Moore before now, this author and blogger was “blown away” by Moore’s tough stand on the issue of Donald Trump using the National Guard in Washington, DC, and calling out the President for his lies about crime statistics.

His 20 minute interview was masterful, and one sensed, whether he intends so or not, that Moore has been catapulted into the Democratic Presidential field for 2028!

There will be a multitude of potential candidates over the next few years, but Moore certainly drew attention by his assertiveness and toughness, and reminds one in many ways of former President Barack Obama.

As a Governor and with a military record one can be proud of, Moore has advantages in both areas of expertise, that even Obama did not have.

And having had one African American President, there is no reason why the nation cannot, 20 years after the election of the first African American President, have a repeat scenario once again of a man who would do the nation proud, and help to revive American democracy!