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Media Suppression and Press Freedom Under Threat
← Back to Democratic Backsliding & Authoritarian Drift The press and democracy have always been closely linked. Journalists aren’t meant to cozy up to power. Their job is to hold it accountable. But today, media suppression and press freedom are under threat. Not just from hostile rhetoric, but from coordinated efforts to intimidate, punish, and…
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The Lawlessness of the Trump Administration
← Back to Democratic Backsliding & Authoritarian Drift Trump’s presidency has been marked by brazen defiance of constitutional norms, but this lawlessness didn’t begin in the Oval Office. It’s just the latest chapter in Trump’s long, well-documented history of manipulating the legal system to further personal power, punish critics and evade accountability. Trump and his…
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Trump’s Unauthorized Strike in Venezuela: No Evidence, No Oversight
← Back to Community Engagement On September 2, 2025, Trump ordered an unauthorized military strike on a small vessel in international waters off the coast of Venezuela. The boat was allegedly carrying narcotics for the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization with roots in Venezuela’s prison system. The strike killed 11 people instantly, and…
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“I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with great common sense and a smart person.”
← Back to Democratic Backsliding & Authoritarian Drift “I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with great common sense and a smart person.” That’s what Trump said last week while defending his decision to deploy National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. Let’s be real. That statement is completely inane. Of course he’s not quite a…
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The 2026 Coup: Trump’s Assault on the Ballot Box
← Back to Democratic Backsliding & Authoritarian Drift Donald Trump is rattled. With the 2026 midterms approaching, he sees the writing on the wall. Republicans could lose the House. Maybe the Senate too. And he knows what comes next. That’s why we’re witnessing the early stages of the Trump 2026 Election Coup, a desperate attempt…
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Trump and the Nobel Peace Prize: Peacemaker or Pretender?
← Back to Democratic Backsliding & Authoritarian Drift Donald Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize. That’s certainly a notion worth pondering, preferably while trying to keep a straight face. I gave it a fair shot. Sat down at the computer, searched for a list of Americans who’ve earned that honor in recent decades. Then, with…
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Federal Justice Under Trump: This Is What Law and Order Looks Like Now
← Back to Community Engagement Selective Federal justice under Trump defines the new normal: the law that was waived for rioters who beat police at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, is now weaponized against a guy who tossed a sandwich at a federal officer. Justice, apparently, is a matter of political perspective. On August 14,…
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We the People: Our Rights Are Not Theirs to Take
← Back to Community Engagement The Constitution is not a gift from government. It’s a declaration of our authority. It is a compact among the American people, drafted by our Founders and ratified by representatives chosen to reflect our will. Local, state and federal governments were created by us; not to rule over us, but…
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Gerrymandering in Action: The Threat to Fair Representation
← Back to Democratic Backsliding & Authoritarian Drift Back in college, studying political science was one of the most energizing times of my life. I dove into everything: how the American system works, political parties, campaign finance, the Constitution, international law. I loved it. I thought for a while about going further, maybe law school.…
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Republican Party Loyalty Over Country: How Duty Was Abandoned
← Back to Community Engagement With the exception of roughly a six-month period, I’ve been an Independent. To be blunt, I don’t like political parties any more than some of our Founding Fathers did. George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson all warned against the dangers of factionalism. Today, their fears…
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I’m Proud to Be an American, But…
← Back to Moral Courage & Public Responsibility ← Back to Essays & Commentary I was raised to believe in the extraordinary promise of America, a nation forged by dreamers, fighters and visionaries who didn’t wait for permission to change the world. But Trump’s impact on American values has tested that promise, challenging the soul…
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Projection as Deflection: The Real Danger Behind Trump’s Betrayal Language
← Back to Democratic Backsliding & Authoritarian Drift Weaponizing the Word ‘Traitor’ Donald Trump’s traitor rhetoric isn’t just verbal aggression—it’s a strategic deflection. From generals and journalists to presidents and protestors, he’s turned accusations of betrayal into political weapons, repurposing patriotism as a loyalty test. But when we examine the record, from inciting insurrection to…