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Great for Who?

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When people say “make America great again,” the real question is: great for who? Because there were long stretches of American history when things were “great” only if you were in the right group, and not so great if you weren’t. Now let’s talk about that “again.” I gave eight years of my adult life in service to God and country. Voluntarily. No draft. No pressure. I stepped away from my place in the workforce, took up arms, and chose to serve. You don’t do that for a country you think is worthless. You do that because you believe it is worth defending. And not some gussied-up, paint-by-numbers fairy-tale version of America, either. I’m talking about the real America, the complicated America. The one that began with soaring language about liberty and equality while denying both to huge numbers of people. The one that had to be dragged, inch by inch, toward its own ideals by people who refused to accept less. Because America did not accidentally fall short of its promises...
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The Big Shoe Dance — Trump Style

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Among the stranger details to emerge from Trump’s orbit is his reported habit of gifting dress shoes to cabinet members, a small act of patronage that somehow manages to be both absurd and par for the course. Apparently, he does not even bother asking what size the recipient wears. He simply decides what each man ought to need and has the shoes sent along, as though even their feet are subject to his personal authority. One of the more revealing images making the rounds is of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the guy Republicans like to point to as the supposed adult in the room, wearing a pair of those Trump-gifted Florsheims that appear to be at least two sizes too big. It is hard to project steadiness and gravitas when you look like you borrowed your shoes from a larger, more confident man. Trump is president. He can hand out whatever tokens of favor he likes. Most presidents settle for challenge coins, signing pens, framed photographs, or the usual ceremonial keepsakes, small symb...
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Accension by Assertion

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 Trump has announced that Kristi Noem is out as Secretary of Homeland Security. First and foremost, in the words of my favorite urban poet, Fred Flintstone: Good riddance to bad rubbish. But let’s explore how utterly weird this is. We have normalized insanity so thoroughly that a president can announce on his own social-media platform that a Cabinet secretary is out, that a sitting United States senator will “assume office” on a date certain, and people react as if this is just ordinary government. It is not. Trump announced Noem’s departure on social media and said Senator Markwayne Mullin would take over on March 31. Normally, a president asks for or accepts a Cabinet secretary’s resignation and then moves through the usual nomination process for a replacement. Cabinet officers are not installed by post; they are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. And that is where this gets even stranger. Markwayne Mullin cannot simply “assume office” as Secretary of Homelan...
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The Polite Language of Political Exclusion

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 I’m so happy that Bill O’Reilly and the rest of the pearl-clutching panic caucus told us in 2008 that Obama winning meant America was now post-racial . Turns out electing one Black president did not erase racism. It just gave a lot of people an excuse to pretend it had , and pretending is so much more fun than changing. Now, nearly 20 years later, people still won’t vote for a Black woman for president, even when she runs intellectually unopposed .  In Texas, Democrats still can’t get behind a Black woman for Senate. And once again, we hear that tired little word:  unelectable . But wait—Obama was supposedly unelectable too. And then he got elected. Twice , which should’ve killed the argument if the argument were ever honest. So maybe  unelectable  doesn’t mean can’t win. Maybe it means this makes certain people uncomfortable . Uncomfortable with Black ambition. Uncomfortable with Black authority. Uncomfortable with a Black woman who doesn’t ask permission to b...
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Racism Was the Point

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Donald Trump is a lying liar who wakes up lying and lies all day. Donald Trump is a racist racist who rants about racism at every rally, rostrum, and retweet. On February 6–7, 2026, Donald Trump shared a video on Truth Social that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The post drew immediate backlash. White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt initially defended it, saying: “This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King.” In the same response, she added: “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.” As an aside, it amazes me how Donald Trump surrounds himself with so many self-described born-again Christians who will not hesitate to defend their forked-tongued mentor unapologetically at every turn … but I digress. Tim Scott posted on X: “Praying it was fake because it's the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House....
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Access Journalism Has Entered the Chat

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  The following is an interview Jake Tapper aired with Donald Trump on October 4, 2025 Tapper:  “What happens if Hamas insists on staying in power in Gaza?” Trump:  “Complete obliteration!” Tapper:  “Lindsey Graham says Hamas’ response — no disarmament, Palestinian control of Gaza, and tying hostages to negotiations — means rejection. Is he wrong?” Trump:  “We’ll find out. Only time will tell!!!” Tapper:  “When will you know if they’re serious? And is Netanyahu on board with ending the bombing and backing your peace proposal?” Trump:  “Yes on Bibi. Soon on rest!” Tapper:  “I hope your vision for peace becomes a reality.” Trump:  “I HOPE! Working hard.” Tapper:  “How do you think the government shutdown ends?” Trump:  “Good. We’re winning, cutting costs big time!” My primary issue with this “interview”? It was conducted via  SMS. What the hell? Why in the particular fuck would CNN, Jake Tapper, or anyone with a press badge think...
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‘I Don’t Even Know What That Means’: Theatrics Over Accountability

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  JD Vance’s Permission Slip for Racism Today, JD Vance stepped into the White House press room to deliver remarks. As he took questions from reporters, one asked about the AI-generated meme Donald Trump posted, showing Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer in sombreros: “Hakeem Jeffries said it was racist. Do you agree with that allegation?” Vance brushed it off, saying he “doesn’t even know what that means,” and argued it couldn’t be racist because Jeffries “isn’t Mexican.” He added that “the president is joking” and “we’re having a good time,” framing it as harmless fun rather than a serious insult. Here’s the problem: That is what racism is, poking fun at ethnic groups because, well, “you know how they are.” Vance exposed his own ignorance last summer with his grotesque “they are eating the dogs and cats” lie. What Vance is really doing here is confusing racism with stereotypes. Stereotypes are the engine of racism. Assigning a stereotype to the “wrong” group doesn’t make it harmle...
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Make Up a Date, Make Up a Deal

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 On  April 2nd  —Trump’s self-declared  Liberation Day  —he announced tariffs on over  100 countries  . According to him, this was to combat trade deficits with nations that were “ripping us off.” But even as he declared  economic war on the entire planet  , he added a  90-day delay  to give countries time to “make deals.” America, he said, was done taking it lying down—this was economic shock and awe. And sure, 90 days from April 2 is  July 2  . But as the deadline approached and the results failed to match the rhetoric, the White House  quietly moved the deadline to July 9  . No announcement. No correction. Just a new date—as if  90 days = 97 days  , and math was optional. Then, on  Monday, July 8  —one day before that stealth extension expired—Trump signed another executive order,  pushing the deadline to August 1  . This was framed as the final, tough-guy moment. The foot is do...
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Whistle While You Lie: The Subtle Art of Coded Speech

One of the so-called "reforms" to Medicaid in the Big Beautiful Bill is the addition of a work requirement. There’s no real need to argue whether this is necessary or even effective, because it’s not a policy; it’s a dog whistle. I doubt anyone reading this needs a refresher, but for the record: a dog whistle—in political or social contexts—is a phrase that sounds harmless or reasonable to the general public but sends a loaded, often divisive, message to a targeted audience. Just like a literal dog whistle, it goes unheard by most, but loud and clear to the ones it's meant for. Examples? “States’ rights” was long used to oppose civil rights while pretending it was about federalism. “Globalists” often serves as an antisemitic euphemism, dressed up to sound like economic policy. The Medicaid work requirement operates the same way. The surface-level message sounds logical: “If you want benefits, you should work.” But the subtext—the part heard by those tune...
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Who Get's to Be an American?

  On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump issued nine executive orders, all of which were either unnecessary, unwarranted, or unconstitutional. The sixth order announced— Executive Order 14160: Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship —besides being a misnomer, is the subject of this post. First off starting  (as my grandmother used to say), a constitutional amendment cannot be repealed or rewritten by executive order. Only a new constitutional amendment—requiring two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states—can change an existing amendment. That has happened only once: the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) was repealed by the 21st Amendment. The primary problem with trying to end birthright citizenship is that  98 out of every 100 Americans  can trace their lineage to someone who was not an American citizen, not born on American soil. That necessarily means that, without the concept of birthright citizenship, the onl...
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ICE Agents Are Wearing Masks — and the Public Should Be Alarmed

It has come to public attention that ICE agents are now wearing masks to conceal their identities during enforcement operations. According to ICE and DHS officials, this practice protects agents from retaliation. They cite threats of doxxing, harassment, and even physical targeting of agents and their families following immigration raids. ICE Director Todd Lyons defends the policy, claiming it shields agents from harassment and violence. But there’s a serious problem with this logic. ICE enforces civil immigration law—not criminal law—in public spaces, often without affording immigrants even a baseline concern for safety, privacy, or dignity. People are detained in front of children, coworkers, and neighbors. Families are torn apart with no warning. If safety is truly paramount, why does it only apply to those wearing badges, not to those being handcuffed and deported? And if the threat is real, use real words. Don’t hide behind internet slang like “doxxing” when lives, liberties and t...
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When Courage Ducks and Covers

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 As the U.S. Senate debates Donald Trump’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has stepped forward to voice serious concerns. Tillis delivered a sharp, substantive critique—one of the most forceful GOP floor rebukes in recent memory. He focused on real consequences for North Carolina, highlighted broken promises, and warned of fallout—all while avoiding a direct clash with Trump. While I applaud his focus and concern for his constituents, a few things need to be pointed out. Quoting Senator Tillis directly, he said: "The last time I saw a promise broken around healthcare, with respect to my friends on the other side of the aisle, is when somebody said, 'If you like your healthcare, you could keep it. If you like your doctor, you could keep it.' We found out that wasn’t true." First of all, that’s misleading. If you lost a plan you “liked” under the Affordable Care Act, it’s likely because: The plan didn’t meet minimum coverage standa...
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We Dropped the Bomb, He Wore a Hat.

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Okay… So the United States has just, in an act of war, dropped an arsenal of weapons on specified targets in Iraq. Americans are on edge. To reassure us of the awesome power of the U.S. presidency, they show us pictures of the national security team assembled in the Situation Room — a matter of all seriousness — and Donald Trump is wearing that stupid hat. WTF? Nobody else present is wearing a hat. There are generals and admirals, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines of various ranks and designations present — none of them wearing hats (primarily because it's indoors). There are other dignitaries assembled, but only one hat. So if you are the leader of the free world, and you decide to let the media take pictures of the sausage being made, and you think you need to be wearing a hat (even though no one else is), shouldn't that hat be something spectacular — like a crown (since you want to be king)? But no. You appear in that same stupid golf cap that could have been pr...
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Regime Change

First of all, that’s just not something you say out loud. That’s the kind of thing traditionally whispered in smoke-filled rooms, behind thick curtains, or under the cone of silence. It gets kicked around in backchannels and plotted out in three-letter agencies—not announced at press briefings or screamed into the void on some unhinged social media platform. It’s the kind of conversation that ends with everyone swearing it never happened. You don’t say— publicly , into a microphone—that you think it might be a good idea if a foreign leader were taken out. You don’t casually float the suggestion that maybe a world leader should be dead. And you especially don’t brag about how another head of state came to you, asked for the green light to kill someone, and you said no—but now, on second thought, maybe that wasn’t the right call. And you have the unmitigated gall to say it like it’s no big deal—like you just ordered DoorDash and now regret not double-dashing for a pint of Cherry Gar...
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Healthcare Was Never the Enemy

Okay America—Let’s talk about Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act has been the law of the land since 2010. For 15 years, it has helped Americans—yes, including you—pay for medication, get covered despite pre-existing conditions, and gain access to the kind of care that saves lives. So let’s be honest: You didn’t hate the policy. You hated the president behind it. Republicans lied to you—said it would ruin the country, kill jobs, and create death panels. None of that happened. The controversy, the heated debate, the summer of hate, and all the associated backlash had an impact. They stirred up enough fear and outrage to take back the House in 2010 in a red wave. And once in power, they had one obsession: repeal and replace . The problem? “Repeal and replace” was a catchphrase, not a plan. Repeal sounded easy. Replace never showed up. Then, in 2017, with Trump in office, they finally held a vote to gut the ACA. And in one of his last acts of defiance, John McCain gave it a d...
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