(Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders)

I like Bernie Sanders. He is smart, straight-forward, mostly right in his views and possibly prescient. As an avowed, self-described Democratic Socialist he has always been more left-leaning and forward-thinking than traditional Democratic party members.

As an Independent, who has caucused with the Democrats in the Senate, those attributes I just mentioned were both Bernie’s strength and his weakness.

In my 2024 analysis I wrote this:

“Bernie has always been a great ‘problem-pointer-outer.’ But he has not always been such a great ‘problem solver.’ …

So, how do we change that? How do we solve the problems that Bernie rightly and consistently identifies? How do we advance the long-held but rarely-realized agenda of the senior senator from Vermont? How do we help Bernie? …

As is his usual wont, Bernie has two action items: Tax the rich to solve economic disparity and motivate an informed voting base to adopt progressive ideals. Both are right & righteous. But, both are politically difficult to do in a dumbed-down and divided voting public.

Right now, Bernie has no immediate policies that have any chance of being passed into law in the current Congress. The numbers are simply not there in our nation’s capitol or in most of the legislative halls of this country.”

Those observations, I believe were true then. I am not so certain they are true now. There is certifiable movement in his direction.

I’ve watched a lot of Bernie’s speeches and interviews over the years. And I always had the same question: “How does Bernie get the majority of citizens and their opposing party representatives to vote for what Bernie says is the answer?” He doesn’t. And, mostly, he didn’t.

But, he always responded to that question by saying that those of like mind would have to persuade the majority of Americans over to their views. And he always said, that in time, this could and would happen. That the American public would see the light. Well, he may now be right that more and more Americans are coming over to his way of seeing, thinking, understanding & governing.

Case in point - the continuing success of the policies of the Democratic Socialist Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani. More cases in point - Democratic Socialist candidates winning in electoral primaries across the nation against traditional, more moderate, establishment Democrats. Still yet to see how they will fare in the November general elections against MAGA Republicans.

But, more importantly, I believe, and Bernie is out carrying water for this idea - Americans are suddenly equating the issues of affordability, housing costs, medical coverage, job security and worker wages & benefits as “working class issues,” not necessarily “Democrat issues.”

And citizens are hearing their concerns coming out of the mouths of Bernie (then, still, now, always) and more and more of his compatriots who have distanced themselves from the Democratic Party establishment’s agenda. They are hearing smart ideas from Democratic Socialists.

Regardless of whether you regard the potential presidential candidates I am about to name as progressive, far-left, left-leaning, liberal (remember them?) or moderate, they are touting themselves as warriors for the working class. That would be Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ro Khana, Chris Murphy, Gavin Newsom, Wes Moore, JB Pritzker, Josh Shapiro, Rahm Emmanel, Jon Ossoff, Mark Kelley, and others.

It’s important to see the trend in today’s polls for various Senate races. Democrats are leading. In Georgia, Jon Ossoff. In Texas, James Talarico. In Ohio, Sherrod Brown. In North Carolina, Roy Cooper. In Iowa, Josh Turek.

Now, they might not declare themselves as Democratic Socialists, but the policies they are espousing are pretty damned close. Bernie said the electorate would move Left. Perhaps they are. But, perhaps, not quite yet.

See, the downside of all this is that the official platform of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is scary for a lot of moderate & centrist Democrats, and ‘gettable’ Independents, who might be key to victory.

According to Google AI Gemini, these are the major points of the DSA platform:

The Democratic Socialists of America platform, titled “Workers Deserve More,” focuses on shifting political and economic power from corporations to the working class, proposing structural government changes, expanded social programs, and economic democracy.

• Abolishing the Senate: Replacing the current congressional structure with a system where the House holds primary legislative power. [1, 2]

• Reshaping Leadership: Replacing the presidency and the Supreme Court with congressional leadership or alternative democratic structures. [1, 2]

• Voting Rights: Extending full voting rights to noncitizens and individuals with criminal convictions, alongside establishing a national popular vote instead of the Electoral College. [1, 2]

• New Constitution: Drafting an entirely new constitutional framework to transition the U.S. into a democratic socialist republic.

• Medicare for All: Establishing a single-payer, universal healthcare system. [1, 2]

• Green New Deal: Implementing massive public investments to combat climate change and transition away from fossil fuels. [1, 2, 3]

• Labor and Social Welfare: Strengthening labor unions, enacting tuition-free public college, expanding affordable housing, and providing universal child care. [1]

• Public Ownership: Bringing key sectors of the economy and essential services under public control or cooperative ownership instead of private profit. [1, 2, 3]

I can’t imagine ANY progressive candidate successfully running on some of these ideas. But, if they declare themselves as Democratic Socialists they will be tarred with these policies by Trump and the Republican Right.

Of course, the Republican Right has already begun demonizing Democratic Socialists as communists, radicals, domestic terrorists, America-haters, even (God forbid) vegans. And those living in the MAGA world, too ill informed to understand the dishonest propaganda, will believe the distortions and lies.

The Republicans will say that the Democrats will destroy private ownership, castrate capitalism, ‘wokeify’ the American education system and let loose the criminal immigrant class. All of it, false, of course.

But the DSA agenda still remains frightening to many Americans. Certainly the MAGA uninformed, misinformed, ill-informed and dis-informed. But, also some in the electorate who are, in fact, informed, reasoned voters. As always, nuance is to be understood and valued.

So, we need to hope that the people who are listening to Bernie & AOC & Mandami & Ossoff & Talarico & Khana are hearing and understanding just how reasonable and workable are the policies that they are proposing. They need to see them as common sense, as sane and effective. The policies of ‘American’ Democratic Socialism need to become ‘popular.’

And some in the progressive movement, who indeed are not living in the real political and economic and social world, and who are espousing radical insanity, need to be called out and ostracized by the smart progressives who now have a serious chance at gaining power and becoming effective - becoming the mainstream view.

It looks to me that it is finally Bernie’s time. He is no longer the leader of an ineffective ideological wing of a ‘safe’ political party. He is the patron saint of a reasonable progressive movement that is gaining traction across working class America.

Listen to Bernie. I do. And by all mean, when you get to the ballot box, be smart and reasonable.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

(White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association rescheduled 2026 awards dinner.)

“President Trump, I’ve covered you for a long time, and so have many reporters in this room. When we ask questions, you push back. You give us answers, and we push back. You have always been a deal guy. Well, that’s the deal. And the First Amendment is a done deal.” - Outgoing WHCA president Weijia Jiang, Senior WH Correspondent for CBS News

It is my view that the White House press corps really stuck it to President Trump this past week. I don’t know if it was intentional, but it was brilliant. They did it in the best possible way, by honoring their colleagues who told the truth, recounting their stories, out loud, right in front of him, revealing Trump’s deceit, wrongdoing, corruption and incompetence. Trump clearly had no idea he was about to get an earful of honesty about his dishonesty.

Traditionally, at their annual awards dinner, the White House Correspondents’ Association books a comedian to roast the honored president of the United States with good-natured satirical remarks about the administration and the establishment politicians and media in the audience. The president, in turn, takes his turn at the podium and pokes fun back at those gathered. The presentations are meant to be measured and somewhat respectful, although keenly piercing.

This year the comedian was scheduled to be Amber Ruffin. But, the organization, probably believing, rightly so, that President Trump was too thin-skinned to take the heat, cancelled Ms. Ruffin’s potentially scathing remarks and booked the safe ‘mentalist’ OZ instead.

The dinner in April, as we know, was interrupted by a thwarted assassination attempt on Trump. So, the rescheduled July dinner took place last week at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington, D.C., formerly the Trump International Hotel. And it is at this second dinner with a smaller audience where the WHCA did their deed, respectfully.

The hosting duties were performed by outgoing WHCA president Weijia Jiang, Senior White House Correspondent for CBS News and incoming association president, Jacqui Heinrich, Senior White House Correspondent for Fox News.

(White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, President Donald Trump and outgoing president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Weijia Jiang, at the association’s July 2026 awards dinner.)

President Trump sat between White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and CBS News’ Jiang. I think it is obvious that he didn’t know that he was about to get skewered at the dinner. And that there was nothing he could do about it. As I’ve mentioned, I’m not sure if this was a planned and intentional undertaking or just a brilliant disguise.

Instead of listening to the insults of a comedian, Trump had to listen to the accomplishments of distinguished, truth-telling journalists. He even found himself having to shake their hands. It was a beautiful humiliation.

Presented by CNN’s veteran anchor, Wolf Blitzer, in his flat, matter-of-fact style, one by one the honorees’ honest work was lauded and Trump’s vulnerabilities exposed.

(CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer at the dinner podium.)

Trump was forced to smile sheepishly as his lack of character was calmly and convincingly revealed. All he could do to save himself from embarrassment was to throw up his hands in a “what am I to do” frustrated pose. It was marvelous to see and hear. Because he had to see and hear the people he openly insults and hates be honored for their honest work.

So much of what needs to be said can not be said by journalists themselves directly in their reporting. It would taint their required objectivity with partisanship. But, it can be said by those who judge their work. And it is those judgements, read by Wolf Blitzer, that became damning indictments of President Donald J. Trump.

So, let the awards, the revelations and the indictments begin:

JOSH DAWSEY, WALL STREET JOURNAL

“The Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House coverage, named for the late Chicago Tribune correspondent, and former Association President Aldo Beckman goes to, and let's give him a big round of applause, Josh Dawsey of the Wall Street Journal. The judges said Josh Dawsey shows us how power works inside the presidency. And over the past year, his reporting has revealed how decisions are made, who influences them, and how power is exercised at the highest levels. Josh Dawsey went far beyond the deluge of breaking news to offer invaluable insights that can only result from deeply sourced enterprise reporting. In the tradition of Aldo Beckman, he exemplifies integrity, persistence, and a steadfast commitment to holding power to account. Ladies and gentlemen, the WHCA is pleased to give the Aldo Beckman Award to Josh Dawsey.”

Winning coverage here.

(President Donald Trump and the Wall Street Journal’s Josh Dawsey.)

AAMER MADHANI & ZEKE MILLER, ASSOCIATED PRESS

“The WHCA gives out two awards for reporting under deadline pressure. One for print and one for broadcast. This year's print winner is Aamer Madhani and Zeke Miller of the Associated Press. When sources leaked that Trump administration officials were attempting to purge the National Security Council of staff deemed not sufficiently aligned with the president's agenda, Madhani and Miller quickly moved to verify the claim. They uncovered an unprecedented vetting process. NSC staffers were asked about their past political contributions, voting records, and social media posts as a gauge of loyalty to the president. Ultimately, more than 150 NSC aids were removed resulting in the loss of considerable foreign policy expertise. The story that Madhani and Miller produced is as consequential as it is revelatory. Please welcome Zeke Miller accepting the award on behalf of the team.”

Winning coverage here.

KAITLIN COLLINS, CABLE NEWS NETWORK

“Now the Broadcast Award for Excellence Under Deadline Pressure. And this year's winner is my colleague and very good friend, Kaitlin Collins of CNN. Reporting by CNN's Kaitlin Collins on a historic showdown in the Oval Office between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy launched a memorable day of nonstop insight and analysis, including her exclusive interview with the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Judges were awed by the depth of knowledge, access, and context that Kaitlin brought to coverage of a meeting that unraveled before the world's eyes. The WHCA is pleased to honor the deadline reporting of CNN's Kaitlin Collins.”

Winning coverage here.

(CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer and Kaitlin Collins.)

ANDREW HARNICK, GETTY IMAGES

“And now the award for excellence in presidential news coverage by visual journalists. This award recognizes a video or photojournalist for covering the presidency at the White House or in the field. And this year's award goes to Andrew Harnick of Getty Images. He captured the moment an Oval Office visitor collapsed during an event. And from the judges, they say this: "Through sharp timing, layered composition and visual irony, this photograph expertly documents a true split screen moment in real time. The president's orientation and posture inadvertently echoed the statue to his right while the other half of the frame is defined by movement, a truly striking image of contrast skillfully captured in a chaotic moment." Please join me in congratulating Getty Images photographer Andrew Harnick, who also represents still photographers on the WHCA board.”

(Award-winning photo by Andrew Harnick of Getty Images.)

And here’s a big one that clearly made Trump squirm in his seat.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

“And now the Katherine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability, named for the legendary Washington Post publisher. And it comes with a prize of $10,000. This year's award goes to the Wall Street Journal. The Journal's courageous reporting on President Trump's past relationship with financier Jeffrey Epstein triggered the release of the so-called Epstein files. Thousands of documents that might otherwise have remained hidden from the public. And despite the President's threat of a lawsuit, the journal published a story about a provocative letter to Epstein bearing President Trump's signature. Trump quickly filed a $20 billion lawsuit against the journal revealing reporter Khadeeja Safdar's home address. Her family had to be relocated, the Journal was kicked off of Air Force One, but the reporters continue to file revelatory stories. Please welcome the winners of the Katherine Graham Award from the Wall Street Journal. Khadeeja Safdar, Sadie Gurman, Annie Linskey, Josh Dawsey again, Alex Leary, Rebecca Ballhaus, and Ryan Barber. Their colleague, Joe Palazzolo, could not attend tonight.”

Winning coverage here.

(Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell.)

And then came the final award to New York Times correspondent Tyler Pager.

TYLER PAGER, THE NEW YORK TIMES

The Center for Integrity and News Reporting Award honors the most fair, impartial, objective news reporting by a member of the WHCA that has the courage to not fear and the discipline to not favor. It’s sponsored and administered by the Arkansas-based Center for Integrity and News Reporting and comes with a prize of $25,000. The award goes to Tyler Pager of the New York Times. The judges said that “It is coverage of the first year of President Trump’s second term. Pager demonstrates a disciplined, even-handed approach across a wide range of subjects, including supporters and donors, foreign policy, the Justice Department, and energy. The stories take readers inside consequential presidential decisions while presenting the facts. The work is deeply sourced and carefully verified, reflecting a clear dedication to getting it right without bias. Taken together, this body of work stands as a strong example of fair, impartial, and objective journalism, precisely the standard this award is intended to honor.”

Winning coverage here.

(Tyler Pager of The New York Times)

President Donald J. Trump doesn’t like Tyler Pager or Kaitlin Collins or Aamer Madhani or Zeke Miller or Weijia Jiang or, frankly, any of the legitimate members of the White House Press Corp. He likes the incoming WHCA president from FOX News, Jacqui Heinrich, and the sycophants who cover the White House from right-wing news organs and social media. He likes the ones who tell HIS truth (nay, lies.).

(President Trump and incoming WHCA President Jacqui Heinrich, Senior White House Correspondent for Fox News.)

So, then came the time for the great orator. Remember that no one on the program had said an unkind thing about the president. No snarky remarks from a host. No thinly-veiled insults from a comedian. Just talk of upholding the First Amendment.

Trump started by saying that he was going to go scorched earth back in April at the first dinner, but that now he was going to temper his remarks. Yeah. He didn’t.

• He told mean jokes that fell like lead balloons with the audience. They didn’t have a satirical edge. They were mean for the sake of meanness. And they were delivered poorly.

• He rambled, truly rambled, for over an hour.

• He stared at the ceiling, admiring the Czech glass in the chandeliers in the ballroom he formerly owned.

• He went on and on about the construction of the East Wing Ballroom

• He put on a red cap that read, “Trump 2028” and threatened a ‘fourth’ presidency.

• He lied about supposed heroics of Hegseth, Miller & Patel at the first dinner’s shooting.

• He lit into Kaitlin Collins, again insulting her reporting and admonishing her for not smiling more.

• His insult list was large, including former Presidents Joe Biden & Barack Obama, Ilhan Omar, JB Pritzker, Gavin Newsom, Adam Schiff, Chris Christie, Rosie O’Donnell, Jane Fonda, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Bette Midler.

• When he realized he was bombing bad, Trump shifted blame to someone else, as he always does, saying: “Who the hell wrote that line? … This has not been an easy evening.”

Trump looked panicked. Because he was panicked. He had just gotten his comeuppance. He made an annoyed facial gesture (below) that I have never seen before.

I hear a lot of people say that the press should “stand up” to Trump when he calls them or their colleagues “piggy, stupid, low IQ, nasty;” when he tells them that they are “dishonest;” that their real news organizations are “failing.” When he calls them “fake news.” That’s the wrong action, or, better, reaction.

The job of a journalist, especially ones covering the most important leader in the world, is to NOT make it about themselves. Not to react, but to probe. It is to ask the leader of the free world questions that the public needs to know, wants to know, deserves to know. It is to illicit information and insight.

The journalists who were honored this year by the White House Correspondents’ Association honored themselves and their professional by being dogged, determined, informed, well-sourced, unflappable, courageous, steadfast and honest.

And by the simple act of honoring their profession, they revealed a president of dishonor.

I am proud of them all. And I am proud of my career as a journalist at ABC News, Cable News Network, Time Inc. New Media, National Public Radio & MSNBC.com.

After Trump finished his embarrassing rant, the outgoing president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Weijia Jiang of CBS News, bravely looked Trump in the eyes and gave her closing remarks about the First Amendment. Consider these excerpts seriously. They are the truth.

The protections in the First Amendment, free religion, free speech, free press, free assembly, free petition. This fundamental right belongs to everyone. And that’s exactly who the founders were thinking about when they protected a free press. Everyone, all Americans. They were not thinking about reporters.

A free press is not a favor to journalists because we’re special. We are not special, but America is. No matter who you are, the freedom to criticize without fear of being destroyed, that’s not a bug in our democracy. It’s supposed to be the feature.

In 1786 writing from Paris, Thomas Jefferson told his friend back in Virginia, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost.” Five years later, that thought was enshrined in the Constitution after Jefferson urged James Madison to include a bill of rights.

Many founders couldn’t stand the press. Some things never change. But they understood if our access is restricted, it’s really the people’s access to information that is limited. If the media faces government pressure or censorship, it’s the people who end up knowing less. That was true then and it’s true now.

But having press freedom comes with a tremendous responsibility. We can’t demand accountability without practicing it. Criticism of the media can be unfair. It can also be legitimate. We get a lot right, but sometimes we get things wrong. We mistake proximity to power for understanding it. And at times we get trapped in our own bubbles.

There is a difference though, an existential difference between criticizing the press and trying to undermine it. One is healthy and it makes all of us better. The other is exactly what the founders hoped to prevent.

Around the world, press freedom is not guaranteed. In many countries, reporters who criticize the government are detained without trial. Their stories erased. In the worst cases, they never make it home. Tonight, we think about all of them and we think about the protections that set us apart as a nation.

Just 20 days ago, America turned 250 years old. The First Amendment is a big part of how she made it this far, and it falls on all of us to make sure it carries her through to the next 250 and beyond.

President Trump, I’ve covered you for a long time and so have many reporters in this room. When we ask questions, you push back, you give us answers, and we push back. You have always been a deal guy. Well, that’s the deal. And the First Amendment is a done deal.

And that’s what we toast tonight. The freedoms that brought us back together even after they were threatened. So let’s raise a glass to what makes ours a beautiful country.”

I also invite you to watch this interview with Kaitlin Collins by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show on how to properly do the job of a White House correspondent.

Lastly, many people claim that mainstream news organizations are biased. That confusion comes partly because many web pages prominently feature both ‘news’ articles and ‘opinion’ articles together. Thus, understandable doubts about veracity.

The opinion pages of The New York Times lean Left, while the opinion pages of The Wall Street Journal lean Right. But, I would argue that the news pages of both publications hew to the unbiased facts.

The reading, watching and listening public needs to do a better job of distinguishing straight news reporting from learned opinions, researched analyses, informed expertise, partisan persuasion, willful deceit and intentional dis-information.

However, it is not the fault of the news consumers that all of it is too often mushed together and indistinguishable.

So, news consumers must question sourcing, investigate motives and distinguish nuance to find the truth. It ain’t easy. But, you start with well-sourced, well-reported NEWS reports.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

(President Donald Trump speaks at 2026 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, flanked by the outgoing & incoming association presidents.)

Trump’s lies have become like gentle breezes. They just pass through the audience, even an audience of journalists, without shaking the trees or even stirring the leaves.

Trump spoke tonight at the postponed White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. The first one, in April, was interrupted by a thwarted assassination attempt on Trump.

Tonight, Trump said that when gunshots were heard at the first event, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel and Assistant WH Chief of Staff Stephen Miller all jumped on top of their tables while everyone else jumped beneath the tables.

What an outrageous and patently obvious lie. It didn’t happen. This isn’t embellishment. This is intentional weaving of a false reality.

(Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his wife at the thwarted assassination attempt on President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April, 2026.)

(Deputy WH Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and wife at the thwarted assassination attempt on President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April, 2026.)

And yet, the gigantic lie, falsely portraying his cabinet members as superheroes, went past the audience like a gentle breeze - just another unremarkable, unchallenged Trump falsehood. Expected, dismissed as his ‘normal.’ Unnoticed.

We have become inured to Trump’s common manner of not telling the truth, no matter how egregious the lie. These lies, that fall so easily & endlessly out of Trump’s mouth, now just go unnoticed, either because they are so stupid, or because they are so repetitive. But, sadly, much, if not most, of MAGA believes them, no matter how unbelievable.

I expect that tonight’s false story from Trump about the bravery of his sycophants will go unreported in tomorrow’s coverage. Ya know, just Trump being Trump. Like a gentle breeze.

I know all this may seem like a small thing, but when the truth itself no longer holds any worth, it is a very big thing.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

(Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers to the press, surrenders at the U.S. Courthouse in Boston on June 28, 1971. Credit...Donal F. Holway/The New York Times)

It was Sunday, June 13, 1971, when The New York Times published the first installment of what would become known as The Pentagon Papers. For a good history lesson on the bombshell scoop, you can read an oral history of the affair here.

At the time, I was a Navy Yeoman, working in the Naval Intelligence office at the Pentagon. My job was as a message router. Every day I would receive a grocery cart filled with secret messages that I would distribute to various people and departments, based on a code at the bottom of each message. The repetitive task was mind numbing.

I wore little rubber thimbles on my fingers to better separate the sheets of paper. Then I would slide the sheets into various cubby holes for distribution. Little did I know, at the time, that this endeavor would be the impetus of a lifelong calling.

Every day a squirrelly little man would pick up messages for the NSA. At the time I had no idea what role the National Security Agency performed. But, I did know that it was really, really hush hush. And I paid little to no attention to the messages I was shuffling.

But, the day after that Sunday front-page story in The New York times my cart of messages was overflowing - maybe three times as much as I received on a normal day. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Pentagon lost its mind over the press story. For days and days the messages doubled and tripled.

Now, I should mention that when I enlisted in the Naval Reserve to avoid going to combat in Vietnam, I expected to be assigned as a journalist. The recruiter all but assured me that that would happen. Well, it didn’t happen. So, I was already inclined to be a curious story-teller. The Pentagon Papers really opened my eyes.

I began reading the messages I was distributing. Most where too cryptic for me to decipher. But, as I read between the lines, it became quite clear that the Nixon government (which I despised) was lying to the American people about what was really going on in the Vietnam War.

It was there and then, in the halls of the Pentagon in 1971, that I decided for certain that I would become a journalist.

So, in some ways, I owe my career at ABC News, Cable News Network, Time Inc. New Media and MSNBC dot com, to the courageous whistleblower, Daniel Ellsberg.

I was also at the Pentagon when the Yippies surrounded the building in an attempt to levitate it. We were all ordered to arrive before the Yippies, in the dead of night, to take up ‘battle stations.’ We were prepared to spend our days and nights barricaded in the largest office building in the world, to protect our military from the scourge of the ‘enemies’ at our gates. Many of us were given arms. It was paranoid. It was moronic.

There is more to the story of how I went from the military into journalism which I told more fully in the Substack post “I Wasn’t Going to Kill ‘Yellow People’” for those interested. I think it’s an interesting story.

But today, on this anniversary, my deepest thanks go to Daniel Ellsberg and the Yippies. The truth will prevail.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

“To the victor belong the spoils.” - U.S. Senator William L. Marcy of New York coined the phrase in a congressional debate in 1832. Marcy used the phrase to defend President Andrew Jackson’s “spoils system,” which allowed the winner of an election to fire existing government employees and replace them with their own political supporters. - Goggle Gemini

President Donald J. Trump, the 45th and 47 president of the United States, told the nation that, under his leadership, they would become tired of winning. The fact is, that since he descended from his golden escalator at Trump Tower in New York City on June 16, 2015 to announce his candidacy for President of the United States and become the most important & powerful political figure in the world, all the winning has been his.

This fact is hard to face. It is hard to even fathom. But, it is the truth.

Trump isn’t winning. Trump has won.

The evidence is undeniable. Over and over in the past 11 years, Trump has defeated his adversaries. Over and over. Even when he lost, he played it as a win. And his cult sees all his ‘struggles’ as wins.

A short history:

Trump vanquished over a dozen Republican presidential candidates in the GOP primaries in 2016 - senators, governors, business leaders. Even the front-running Jeb Bush.

Then he vanquished the first woman to have a chance at becoming the first female president of the United States, the insanely qualified Hillary Clinton, adding the Clinton dynasty to the Bush dynasty he defeated.

In short order, Trump took control of the majority of the Supreme Court, adding Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. They, along with Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts gave Trump virtually unlimited presidential authority. That’s a pretty fucking big win.

In 2017, President Donald J. Trump controlled the trifecta of federal governmental power - the presidency, the legislatures and the judiciary - all majority MAGA (Make America Great Again). Win. Win. Win.

Then, in 2020, the winning streak stopped, abruptly. Trump lost it all to Joe Biden. But, not in his mind. Trump built a coalition of election-deniers to claim that the election was rigged and that Trump was the true victor. He even incited a riot, an insurrection, to storm the Capitol on January 6th, 2021 to prevent the certification of Biden’s victory.

Trump and his sycophants filed lawsuits, to no end, to support his Big Lie, that the Biden election was rigged. To this day, he has not conceded that he lost. Because he always wins. And he never gives up. To him, and his cult, that’s a win.

Out of office, Trump was indicted for allegedly falsifying business records, mishandling classified national defense documents, attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, defrauding the United States, conspiring to corruptly obstruct justice, conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of a state election and state charges under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO).

It would be exhausting to recount all of those legal cases.

Suffice it to say that that is a staggering amount of federal and state, criminal and civil charges. Any other politician, every other politician, would see their career end with these charges. Any other. Every other. But not Trump.

Trump endured. He denied. He delayed. And ultimately, as we know, through remarkable legal and electoral gymnastics he prevailed. Once again, he was the winner.

Through it all, he never accepted defeat. Never. His mug shots became defiant badges of honor, of resistance, of resiliency, of victory. Winning.

Then came the 2024 elections. Still seen by his MAGA followers as the one true president, the true winner in 2020, as he saw himself, he overpowered yet another competitor, yet another qualified woman, Kamala Harris.

(I firmly believe that this photo of Trump raising his fist and shouting “Fight, fight, fight” at the assassination attempt in Butler, PA won him the 2024 election. This is a ‘winner.’)

The second presidential term is when things got really good for Donald Trump. He learned from his mistakes in his first term. He would no longer give power to anyone but himself. He would no longer take counsel from anyone but himself. He would rule. He would win. And he moved fast.

Trump completely took over the administration of the Executive branch. He would embrace the Unitary Executive theory, that all ultimate power rests in the President. The Supreme Court would rubber-stamp his power, making him virtually immune from accountability. That’s a fucking ‘yuge’ win.

Trump went on a power rampage, waging and winning battles with academia, the legal profession, federal prosecutors, military jurists, agency watchdogs, non-governmental organizations, military allies, trade partners, health organizations, scientists, attorneys general, law firms, professors, journalists, news organizations and media companies.

He would call all the shots. He would beat them all. He would win.

• Trump purged the federal workforce in favor of his loyalists, controlling hiring and firing, controlling the personnel of all federal agencies.

• Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), accessing and controlling all federal databases, all federal data.

• Trump seized agency monies, which are appropriated by Congress, deciding how those agency monies would be spent. Or, more importantly, how they would not be spent.

• Trump took over the national borders.

• Trump took over international trade and treaties.

• Trump took over the institutions and cultural centers of Washington, D.C.

• Trump defunded health and science organizations, eliminating any programs he didn’t endorse.

• Trump cowed the legal profession and the mainstream media.

• Trump took over the infrastructure of the White House, the Reflecting Pool, the Kennedy Center and the parks and buildings of the nation’s Capitol.

• Trump took over the space programs of NASA.

Right now, in acts of blatant thievery that “nobody’s ever seen before,” Trump is draining The Treasury for the enrichment of his own family and their donors, supporters & sycophants.

Right now, Trump’s DOJ is declaring that it will take $1.8 billion from the Treasury to “make whole” the January 6th insurrectionists, the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys who were convicted of seditious conspiracy to overthrow the government of the United States. Those felons, along with anyone Trump deems to have been “wronged” by his political opponents.

OUR tax money. HIS pockets. As Trump promised his willfully ignorant mobs, he is their “retribution.” He is also, apparently his own “restitution.” He is, after all, a mobster. And mobsters always win. Until they don’t.

Right now, Trump’s Attorney General is declaring that there can be no investigation or prosecution of any potential financial wrongdoings of Trump, his family or his business endeavors. WIN!

And in a staggering coup of unprecedented power, Donald J. Trump now controls the entire federal investigative, prosecutorial, enforcement & punishment apparatus, not to mention the nation’s armed forces, intelligence communities and homeland security agencies.

Think about that when you ask “Why doesn’t anyone do something about all this?” Because Trump controls all the guns and all the gun-wielding enforcers. I repeat, Trump controls all the guns and all the gun-wielding enforcers. Donald Trump is the reason the founders wrote the Second Amendment.

These are the forces at the demand of the Unitary President, Donald J. Trump:

Department of Justice (DOJ)

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The principal federal investigative agency for federal crimes, counterintelligence, and terrorism.

• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): Enforces controlled substances laws and investigates drug trafficking.

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): Investigates arms trafficking, bombings, and arson.

• United States Marshals Service (USMS): Protects the federal judiciary, handles federal prisoner transport, and tracks fugitives.

• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): Manages federal correctional institutions and inmate rehabilitation.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Patrols borders, secures ports of entry, and enforces customs and immigration laws.

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Investigates transnational crime and enforces U.S. immigration laws.

• United States Secret Service (USSS): Protects national leaders, visiting dignitaries, and investigates financial and cyber crimes.

• United States Coast Guard (USCG): Provides maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and port security.

• Federal Protective Service (FPS): Protects and polices federal buildings and facilities.

Other Executive Departments

• Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) (Treasury): Investigates financial crimes, tax evasion, and money laundering.

• Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) (State): Protects U.S. diplomats, secures embassies, and investigates passport and visa fraud.

• U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) (Postal Service): Investigates federal crimes involving the mail system.

• U.S. Park Police (NPS) (Interior): Polices national parks and federal monuments.

• U.S. Capitol Police: Protects the U.S. Capitol building, grounds, and members of Congress.

• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) (Interior): Provides police services on Native American reservations.

Defense & Intelligence Agencies

• Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) (Navy): Investigates felonies and crimes within the Navy and Marine Corps.

• Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) (Defense): Handles investigations into fraud, theft, and corruption within the Department of Defense.

• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Security Protective Service: Protects CIA facilities and personnel.

Any one of these authorities, now under the command and control of Trump, can relieve you of your rights and freedoms. Even your life.

So, no, Trump isn’t winning. Trump has won.

And right now Trump is working on perhaps the most important pillar of his planned perpetual personal power - control of elections. The power of the vote, I believe, may be the very last power ‘we, the People’ possess.

So, how does Trump end? How does Trumpism end?

With either a ballot or a bullet.

It does no one any good to delude oneself with the idea that Trump is a “loser.” The facts say otherwise. He is a unique figure in my lifetime. He is indeed the “Teflon Don.”

Trump has defeated politicians, lawyers, journalists, historians, scientists, activists, theologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, clerics, doctors, researchers, strategists, experts, investigators, prosecutors and jurists with his corrupt psychopathy.

That’s The Truth. He Has Won.

For now.

For there are battles still ahead.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

(Graphic by The New York Times)

Reid J. Epstein of The New York Times has written an excellent analysis of potential 2028 presidential candidates. Readers should peruse it first, before reading my thoughts on the subject.

I believe, without a doubt, that there may indeed be at least a dozen candidates from each party seeking the Democratic & Republican nominations. My feeling on who those candidates might be is becoming increasingly strong.

One thing I know for certain, is that this race, initially, will be a battle amongst a plethora of diverse political camps, and not between the traditions cadres of the historical parties. There really is no more ‘true’ Democratic or Republican party.

So, who are the current factions?

Well. On the ‘Republican’ side you have the Trump Loyalists, the Soldiers of MAGA, the MAGA Revolters and the Traditional Moderates.

The ‘Democrats’ have the Emboldened Progressives, the Heartland Governors, the Experienced Lawmakers, and the Articulate Sensibles.

Before we talk about any Democratic candidates, we have to first talk about the so-called anti-Israeli voters. There will be any number of perfectly viable Democratic candidates who will lose those voters because they aren’t ‘perfect’ on Israel, Gaza, the Palestinians and have ties to the Israeli lobby, AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee). That is going to hurt almost every viable Democratic presidential nominee. Never mind the alternative.

So, here is my early take:

I don’t think there is any doubt that the Republican presidential ticket will be JD Vance and Marco Rubio. They are the Trump Loyalists. The are the chosen ones. They buy into MAGA without question and without conscience. I can’t see any other candidate successfully challenging their succession. After all, it is still Donald J. Trump’s Republican party.

The Vice President and the Secretary of State would have to make a pact of some kind before either announced their candidacy. And, if they ran against each other, they would have to be especially careful to not attack each other.

However, there will be lots of Republican senators trying to paint themselves as the one to carry the MAGA mantle forward, the Soldiers of MAGA. But these folks, like Tom Cotton, Josh Hawley, Tim Scott & Ted Cruz, just will not be able to wage a truthful battle against the true-red Vance & Rubio, without looking dis-loyal to Trump and the entire America First movement. They are not going to jeopardize their future power and influence.

Likewise, cabinet officials like Doug Burgum or Pete Hegseth won’t be able to make a move on the Trump-selected dynasty without risking political annihilation.

And forget about the Republican governors. Greg Abbott, Ron DeSantis and Brian Kemp don’t stand a chance of winning a place on the Republican ticket.

But, there may be a contingent of candidates who see themselves as the MAGA Revolters. They believe that America First has lost its way and that Trump is no longer true to his original movement. And, they may be ready, able and willing to take on the King. Can you say Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson or Stephen K. Bannon? What do they have to lose? Perhaps a third party move?

I doubt that any Republican Traditional Moderates, like Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger or Glenn Youngkin will enter the fray. Their party is dead and gone. Again, third party?

Finally, there is always Donald J. Trump, Jr.

The Democrats, now, are another matter altogether. It is much more difficult to suss out which faction will rise to power and which will be destroyed by the usual counter-productive Democratic in-fighting.

At this point, I think, the front-runners appear to be Kamala Harris & Gavin Newsom. Both have strong social media presence and good fund-raising potential. I don’t think either will be the victor. One is too late. One may be too early.

(Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris at 2024 debate)

Quite honestly, I think Vice President Harris had her shot and is still too closely-tied to President Joe Biden. There are simply too many excellent candidates this time around for her to prevail in the primary contests, which she didn’t have to win last time.

Newsom has made a strong showing of standing up to President Donald Trump, trolling him on social media. And he has made himself quite visible across all media. The problem, this early, is that too many one-issue voters are already swearing they will never vote for him, because he is not their pure and perfect choice. That he might not get a real chance to show his full self to all the voters is a real pity.

(Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California)

Right now, there are a lot (and I mean, a lot) of state chief executives, the Heartland Governors, who are champing at the bit to run for the presidency. Step right up and have a look at Andy Beshear, Wes Moore, Jared Polis, JB Pritzker, Josh Shapiro, Grethen Whitmer and the aforementioned Gavin Newsom. All of them, to the person, are skilled, successful, well-regarded, well-spoken political leaders. All would likely make a competent president.

It would seem well-likely, then, that one of these could and would gain the Democratic nomination for president in 2028. Maybe. Could be. But, I don’t think so. Ask yourself (and I consider you, dear readers, well-informed) how many of these do you really know? How many of you know what they have done in their states? How many do you listen to regularly? That’s a problem.

Now, I bet you know the congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She gets a lot of air time from her hearings on Capitol Hill. And she has toured with the most known Democratic Socialist, Bernie Sanders. And she is liked and respected by lots of Democrats from across the progressive spectrum. It would be foolish not to consider her a presidential contender, although she has been coy about her presidential ambitions. She is part of the stronger Emboldened Progressives in the Democratic party, making themselves known and heard. People like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. I believe they are now a political force with which to be engaged and reckoned.

Which brings me to the progressive Rep. Ro Khanna. He, too, if a familiar face to cable news viewers. And he has made a strong reputation for himself defending the victims of convicted pedophiles Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. He, like Ocasio-Cortez, is smart and articulate. If he makes a run for the nomination, he is someone to listen to carefully. Both belong to my Democratic subgroup, the Articulate Sensibles.

(Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California)

Someone who is clearly running is President Barack Obama’s former Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel. He is a former Ambassador to Japan, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and Mayor of Chicago. When he speaks of what needs to change, he makes sense. Again. Articulate. Sensible. He knows the world of politics, he knows the world of governance, and he knows the world. I see him as a strong wild card. When you have the chance, listen to Rahm.

(Rahm Emmanuel)

But, who else wants to turn this country around in the Democratic party? Who else thinks their message needs to change, has to be more bold, has to be more resonant with the voters? These I would label the Experienced Lawmakers.

Quite a few are now serving as veteran Democrats in the United States Senate. Those would include Cory Booker, Chris Murphy, Amy Klobuchar, Jon Ossiff, Elissa Slotkin, Chris Van Hollen, Raphael Warnock and Mark Kelly.

Again, that’s one hell of a great roster of thoughtful, experienced leaders. (I am particularly impressed with Chris Murphy.)

(Sen. Chris Murphy, D- Connecticutt)

I have always been a great fan of the Senate. It is our most deliberate body, besides the judiciary. Before laws are passed they are researched, debated, amended, honed. Their impact on various interest groups are measured and managed. When Congress is working properly, legislation is signed into law when it has been deemed necessary, fair and enforceable. It serves the common good.

Whenever a United States Senator is running for the presidency I take what they have to say and recount and propose very seriously.

So, having considered the present state of the electorate, the prevailing political forces blowing across the landscape, the fracturing of the philosophies of both parties, the character and experience of the possible contenders and my own reading of who might be the most likely and/or best candidates for each party, here is my prediction.

As mentioned earlier, the Republican ticket will be lead by Vice President JD Vance with Marco Rubio as his running mate.

(Vice President, JD Vance and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.)

The leading candidates to be the 2028 Democratic presidential nominees? They are both from the political camp that I would call the Articulate Sensibles.

As president, that would be former Navy jet fighter pilot, former astronaut, current Arizona Senator, Mark Kelly. And as his most viable vice-presidential running mate? Former naval officer, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, former Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg.

(Arizona Senator Mark Kelly & Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg)

I think this might be the best team which has the best chance of winning.

These are two thoughtful, young men, men of conviction and compassion These are leaders who can speak to ALL voters. Buttigieg is known for his many appearances on FOX News and right wing media, where he brilliantly articulates what those voters need to hear. Mark Kelly, for his career, has shown courage, clear-headedness and a clear-eyed view of the world.

I think this is a winning combination. There are many others that I would endorse and support. But, honestly, at this point, I think this would be the Democratic’s strongest presidential ticket in 2028. One that could win. One that could lead. One that could heal.

What say y’all?

My strong feeling is that we ALL need to start listening to ALL these candidates NOW. Not TikTok videos. Not YouTube clips. Not Facebook stories. Not posters’ misinformation. Watch the FULL media appearances of those seeking the highest office in America. Watch their FULL speeches. Give them that respect.

And don’t write them off because they don’t hew exactly to your beliefs and concerns. Give them a hearing. Give them a chance to hear YOU. Give them a chance to educate themselves when they are sincerely ignorant of your particular issue. Give them an opportunity to EARN YOUR VOTE. This MATTERS. And it matters, NOW!

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

I was one of the original Senior Producers at the launch of Cable News Network in 1980. I produced a live, two-hour program, anchored by Don Farmer and Chris Curle and directed by Guy Pepper. The show featured news segments, live interviews and feature reports. I was there for the first two years of CNN.

I have a few photo albums to share.

This first link takes you to 200 photos from the first year of CNN.

This second link has photos from my show, “Take Two” in its original incarnation.

Lastly are photos from my assignment at the launch of the second space shuttle, STS-2.

What a wild, strange trip it was.

Thanks to Ted Turner, Reese Schonfeld, George Watson & Don Farmer for the journalistic experience of a lifetime.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

I am a songwriter.

After I write a song, I make a demo of it with me singing and playing my acoustic guitar into my iPhone. The demos are true to the words and music, but they do not reflect the arrangements I hear in my head or what other song stylists might hear.

So, I fed some of those raw recordings into the artificial intelligence called Suno and gave it a one word prompt - JAZZ. Below is what I got.

The AI listened to the songs and learned them. There is a slider in the software program where you can tell the AI how much of your own ‘style’ to use or how freely it can interpret it. I set the sliders between 80% and 100%. That way, the AI doesn’t actually change or ‘write’ any of the music or the lyrics. All the words and music are mine. The arrangements, interpretations and instrumentation are ‘assembled’ by the AI.

Of course, the AI is relying on what it has ’learned’ from listening to the greatest arrangers, interpreters and instrumentalists of all time. So, in effect, my songs benefit from the cumulative stylings of say, Nelson Riddle, George Martin or Quincy Jones. And all the other musicians from which the AI learned (or copied) their musicality.

Now, to hire professional musicians, arrangers, vocalists, conductors and the like to make song demos of this quality would cost thousands of dollars. I simply don’t have thousands of dollars to make ‘professional’ demos to try to promote to current recording artists or producers. Suno costs me eight bucks a month. That makes it a useful and affordable tool.

(I have, however, contracted musicians in the past, for reasonable sums of money. Produced demos of my songs made by actual musicians can be found on my Bandcamp album, “Selected Works.” Those talented artists would be Paul Beaudry, Chris Klimecky, Matthew Emerson Brown, Colin J Nelson, James Dean Cotton, Spencer Carlson, Jason Goessl, Jeremy Serwer & Nick Nordahl.)

(Demo songs with just me singing and accompanying myself on my Taylor 512 acoustic guitar can be found on my Bandcamp album “Myself.”)

But, I digress. Back to the AI demos.

(By the way, all this is not to debate the ‘creativity’ vs ‘thievery’ of artificial intelligence. For the record, I am against feeding SUNO lyrics and having the program ‘compose’ the melody. That’s not songwriting to me.)

As I said, the words and music in these songs are MINE. However, the vocals, instrumentation, interpretations & arrangements are Suno’s. No different, arguably, from hiring musicians, who have also ‘learned’ from the greats. Although, it certainly will be legitimately argued.

There was a composer, whose name currently escapes me, who always wanted Fred Astaire to be the first to record & release his songs. That’s because Astaire would keep true to the composer’s musical vision, recording a note-for-note rendition of the song, before stylists like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald would make their own unique interpretations of the songs.

Likewise, I think the Suno AI, if told, starts with the most ‘predictable & probable’ renditions of my song demos, as long as I keep it constrained to my wishes, making my song more easily adaptable by whomever might want to make it part of their repertoires.

The fact is, I never really considered myself a musician. I certainly am a competent vocalist. While I enjoy performing and continue to do so, I don’t value myself talented enough to pursue a career as a recording artist. But, I do think I am a decent songwriter. Actually, I’m a pretty darned good songwriter. Thusly, it’s my songs that I hope can endure and be recorded by current and future song stylists.

To that end, I am thrilled with the demos I now have to share because of AI. This is how I imagined my songs to be heard.

(My biggest gripe with Suno is that it insists on tacking on intros and outros that are too long, no matter how much I prompt it to not do that. Any song publisher listening to demos, I presume, wants to get right to the words and melody. That’s not me, that’s the AI.)

So, I present to you some of David’s Jazz. If you know any jazz artists or producers, please hip them to these songs. Thanks. And please enjoy.

Warm Love © 2018 David Guilbault (BMI)

Careful of You © 1995 David Guilbault (BMI)

Something to Lose © 1971 David Guilbault (BMI)

This Time Around © 2013 David Guilbault (BMI)

Words, They Fail © 1998 David Guilbault (BMI)

You Could Be the One © 2018 David Guilbault (BMI)

Deep in Your Arms © 2018 David Guilbault (BMI)

Come Inside © 2010 David Guilbault (BMI)

Dew-Kissed Rose © 1972 David Guilbault (BMI)

I Never Thought © 2019 David Guilbault (BMI)

(Please note that I, David Guilbault, as the author of the words and music of these songs, and as a paid Pro subscriber to Suno, legally retain all music copyrights and commercial rights to these renditions.)

So, dear recording artists, song publishers, music producers and film & TV music supervisors, these are ALL demos. If they sound right for you, and you’d like to have your own way with them, please reach out. Thanks for your time and consideration. Please be safe and well.

In the near future I will be posting other songs from my 200-song catalogue, presented in different genres, particularly country, folk & rock. Thanks for your time and consideration. Please be safe and well. And stay tuned.

Together in harmony,

David

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

So, I wrote this song sometime in the early Seventies. It has lingered on an old Maxell XLII cassette tape for 5 decades. Never recorded anywhere else. Today, I fed the scratchy, hissy, low-fi demo recording with my weak vocal and acoustic guitar strumming into the music AI, SUNO. The program ‘listened’ to my recording, read my prompt that it was a rock song, and the algorithm spat back this ‘recording.’ Who says I can’t write a rock song? Even if it’s a kinda dated rock song. Anyway, here it is.

https://suno.com/song/61173626-3a99-46fd-8a63-b2dc12524e3b

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

Today, the President of the United States, the supposed leader of the ‘free world,’ threatened to annihilate an entire civilization. His “Secretary of War” has likened the Israeli/U.S. war on Iran as a crusade. The Islamic Republic of Iran, a unitary presidential theocratic republic, continues to call for the death of Israel and the death of America.

It is my belief that religious fervor causes much, if not most, of the death and suffering in the world. I wrote this song, “Nothin’ to Me,” in 2009 to express that feeling.

"NOTHIN' TO ME" by David Guilbault
"Nothin' to Me" © 2009 David Guilbault.

Who is this guy named Jesus? You hear a lot about Him.
Heard He walked on water, raised people from the dead.

Had a band of followers, grew by millions through the ages.
Died for their sins. Rose from the grave.

Some say He gives their life meaning. They want to be like Him.
They want to see Him when they go to their grave.

     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Don’t mean nothin’ to me. 
     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Nothin’ to me.

Who is this guy named Moses? I heard He parted waters. 
Seeker of the Promised Land, bringer of the Law.

Humbled at a burning bush, graced with divine inspiration. 
Led his tribes to freedom. Was buried by God Himself.

Some say He gives their life meaning, following commandments. 
Trusting in God, protector of the flock.

     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Don’t mean nothin’ to me. 
     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Nothin’ to me.

Who is this guy named Buddha? I heard He was a big man. 
He set out walking and talking, mostly to his monks.

They thought they should remember ev’rything He taught them. 
So they wrote it down. People talk about it still.

Some say He gives their life meaning. They want to be like Him. 
He lived some as a beggar. I doubt they ever will.

     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Don’t mean nothin’ to me. 
     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Nothin’ to me.

Who is this guy named Muhammad? I heard He was prophet. 
Said that God is One and all should bow to Him.

Climbed up on the mountain, heard the words of angels, 
Divine revelations on how God created man.

Some say He gives their life meaning. 
They’re ready to surrender, down on their knees, 
All prayers and alms to God.

     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Don’t mean nothin’ to me. 
     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Nothin’ to me.

Now about this guy named Buddha. We've all felt the suffering. 
He said correct understanding brings enlightenment to see.

But I don’t understand why monks have to set themselves on fire
To enlighten a world filled with hunger, hate and poverty.

Some say He gives their life meaning. They’re looking for nirvana. 
Well, if karma seals your fate, how can dharma set you free?

     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Don’t mean nothin’ to me. 
     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Nothin’ to me.

Now about this guy named Jesus. You've heard about the killings?
Christian Crusaders calling out His name.

Slaughtering the Muslims. Waging war on Pagans. 
Murdering the heretics, the Mongols, Jews and Slavs.

Some say He gives their life meaning. His plan should not be questioned.
They follow in faith, hoping for Heaven's gate.

     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Don’t mean nothin’ to me. 
     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Nothin’ to me.

Now about this guy names Moses. You've heard about Jerusalem. 
The Holiest of cities in the bloody Promised Land.

Muslims, Jews and Christians fighting through the centuries. 
Burying their dead in the hallowed ground.

Some say He gives their life meaning. They'll fight to their last breath.
Quoting ancient scriptures. Killing for their Holy Land.

     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Don’t mean nothin’ to me. 
     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Nothin’ to me.

Now about this guy Muhammad. You've heard about the jihad? 
Martyrs quick to bomb themselves to get to Heaven's door,

Get themselves some virgins, drink from golden vessels. 
Here they clothe their women to stave an earthly urge.

Some say He gives their life meaning, laws that can't be broken, 
Rules to show the way, ways to rule the world.

     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Don’t mean nothin’ to me. 
     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Nothin’ to me.

Litanies and creeds. Holy books and sacred hymns. 
Pilgrimage and prayer. Ritual and faith.

Getting down on your knees. Calling up to the Holy One. 
Intolerance and fear. Oppression in His name.

Some need to find meaning in the life that They are given. 
Seeking God in Heaven when all is said and done.

     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Don’t mean nothin’ to me. 
     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Nothin’ to me.

     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. Don’t mean nothin’ to me. 
     He don’t mean nothin’ to me. But I could be wrong.

"Nothin' to Me" © 2009 David Guilbault.
Words and by David Guilbault.  (BMI)
Demo:  Vocals and Guitar by David Guilbault.
Mastered by eMastered.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

The most telling video was taken from the sidewalk with the white car in the left of the frame from a woman in a pink parka. This is what I see:

We first see Alex Pretti in the middle of the street directing traffic and filming the ICE and Border Patrol agents.

As agents approach, Mr. Pretti moves toward the sidewalk where an agent forcefully shoves a woman to the ground. Mr. Pretti intervenes. A scrum of agents begin the tuffle and Mr. Pretti is being forced to the ground.

The shooter agent first appears entering in the foreground from the right of the screen. He is wearing blue jeans, a tan jacket and black watch hat. He takes out a chemical agent and sprays the women in front of the white car..

The shooter agent then turns his attention to Mr. Pretti, who is being muscled on the ground.

At the same time a grey-jacketed agent enters the center of the action facing the camera. He is trying to locate and grab Mr. Pretti's concealed weapon. While he is doing that, the shooter agent is bending over and spraying Mr. Pretti in the face.

When grey-jacket agent finds Pretti's gun, he pulls it and exits the scrum with the gun in his hand. Then, the shooter agent, presumably seeing Mr. Pretti’s gun, draws his weapon and shoots Mr. Pretti, who is unarmed, restrained and on his knees. As grey-jacket agent retreats, shooter agent circles the prone Mr. Pretti and shoots multiple rounds into his back.

At least one other agent joins the rapid-fire shooting of the unarmed, immobilized Mr. Pretti.

This is straight-up murder. This case must be investigated, charged, prosecuted and tried.

MPR News: Shooting video

Drop Site News: Pink Parka Lady Video

The New York Times: Videos Show Moments in Which Agents Killed a Man in Minneapolis

The New York Times: Timeline: How the Shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti Unfolded

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

If you subscribe to my newsletter, “The Well Said,” or read any of my posts, you will know that I am a former news producer for ABC News and Cable News Network. In fact, I have produced stories for network news, cable news, internet news and radio news. But, post-retirement, I have been writing and posting social commentary, my original music and personal essays. That’s all well and good.

But, there is too much happening on the streets of America for me to be commentating from the comfort of my computer desk chair. I need to get back out on those streets.

To that end, I am equipping myself with the necessary gear to go out and be a local reporter. I am about to assemble an etrike, the Lectric XP Trike2 750, to be my news vehicle. And I am awaiting delivery on the DJI Osmo Action5 Pro, with the accompanying mics, tripod, selfie stick, light & batteries. On the back of the etrike will be the Rhinowalk Fortress Camera Pack to hold the gear. I’ve even bought a MIRA Safety CM-6M gas mask and filters. I intend to cover any protests in the immediate Seattle area.

I just had a first-time conversation with ChatGPT to settle on a name for my new endeavor. At the moment, I am expecting to call my reporting “The Well Said: Street Level: Three-Wheel Dispatches.” That works, because I am all about the Truth. So I intend to report from the ‘street level’ and ‘level’ with my interview subjects and my audience.

This was the thinking of ChatGPT from my prompts and inputs, after a lengthy back-and-forth suggesting dozens of names:

The Well Said: Street Level

What it signals

• Serious journalist

• Ground truth, human vantage point

• Timeless (you could still use this if you weren’t on a trike)

• Works beautifully for social commentary, interviews, ambient footage, essays

How it feels

Mature, credible, literary, confident.

You sound like a former newsroom pro who now reports independently.

This one elevates you.

The Well Said: Three-Wheel Dispatch

What it signals

• Memorable

• Visually distinctive

• Instantly curious (“wait, what?”)

• Tied to the trike identity and your filming setup

How it feels

Clever, original, personable, very brandable.

This one elevates the concept.

The key difference

Street Level = about journalism
Three-Wheel Dispatch = about the vehicle / method

One is editorial.
One is narrative.

The move that makes this perfect

Use both — in a hierarchy.

Your series title:

The Well Said: Street Level

Your segment/tagline:

A Three-Wheel Dispatch

Example header on Substack and social:

The Well Said: Street Level
A Three-Wheel Dispatch

This is incredibly strong branding.

It says:

• I’m a serious reporter

• I’m doing it in a distinctive way

• This is a recurring, recognizable format

And you never box yourself in.

If someday you report on foot, train, or canoe — “Street Level” still works.

What this looks like in practice

Post title:

The Well Said: Street Level — A Three-Wheel Dispatch from Main Street

Video caption:

Street Level | Three-Wheel Dispatch

Bio line on socials:

Publisher of The Well Said
Reporting Street Level. Often from three wheels.

Clean. Memorable. Very you.

You said:

Yes, I am all about THE TRUTH. So, street levels resonated with me because I am ‘leveling’ with my audience, and reporting from ‘ground level.’ Thanks very much for the help.

ChatGPT said:

That makes perfect sense — and honestly, you felt your way to the right title for the right reason.

Street Level isn’t just a clever phrase for you. It’s a statement of intent:

• ground truth

• eye-to-eye with people

• no studio, no desk, no remove

• leveling with your readers

That’s very on-brand for a former journalist doing independent reporting from an e-trike with a camera. It feels earned, not cute.

So you’ve got it:

The Well Said: Street Level
A Three-Wheel Dispatch

That reads like a real column. The kind you’d see in a paper and think, I should read that.

You’re not branding a gadget.
You’re branding a point of view.

This is going to be very, very good.

I’ll probably get this up and running in early Spring. The world is changing drastically every day. I want to resume being part of its daily story. The sooner, the better.

My intent is not conceit when I tell you that each of my stories for “World News Tonight with Peter Jennings” were seen by ten-million people. That was our audience. And that audience watched the entire newscast each night.

Now news consumers learn of the world in bits and pieces, in dribs and drabs, across too many legacy media and social media platforms. Not to mention the overwhelming & intentional disinformation that spreads like a deadly virus.

My current essays on “The Well Said” Substack blog typically get around 100 views. And my music performances too often only get about 10 listeners in attendance. So, it is quite humbling to go from 10 million viewers to just 10 individual audience members.

But, telling stories, and telling them truthfully is an imperative for me - in my songwriting, my essays, my social commentary, and now, again, in my reporting.

I don’t drive anymore. And walking for long distances or for lengthy time is challenging. So, I am going to mount my new tricked-out etrike and hit the streets (and roads, bridges, pathways, alleys, trails, marches & mayhem.).

So, keep an eye out for “The Well Said: Street Level: Three-Wheel Dispatches.”

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

"ON MY FINGERTIPS" by David Guilbault
"On My Fingertips" © 2013 David Guilbault

The first time I opened your robe
My fingers found your skin,
And I found a home.
I can still feel you here - on my fingertips.

The first time I quickened your breath
And I held your hips,
And I caressed your breast.
I can still feel your release - on my fingertips.

My hands knew the curves of your body.
Felt the way it moved with mine.
They were always there
To brush away your tears.
They still feel you through time.

The first time I felt you leave,
My touch left cold,
My soul to grieve.
I can still feel your loss - on my fingertips.

My hands knew the curves of your body.
Felt the way it moved with mine.
They touched you deep
And trembled with your love.
They still know you through time.

The first time I touched your heart
And you felt it true,
And it held you through.
I can feel all of you,
I can feel all of you,
I can feel all of you
- on my fingertips.
_____________________

Words & Music by David Guilbault (BMI)
"On My Fingertips" © 2013 David Guilbault
BMI Work No: 024335796 

Produced by Jason Goessl
Released by True as Blue Music & DistroKid
ISRC:  QMPKX1733592
ISWC:  T-921.302.359-7

David Guilbault: Vocals
Jason Goessl: Baritone guitar

Recorded & Mixed by Jason Goessl, Parlour Trick Studio, Seattle
(http://parlourtrick.com/about/)

Mastered by Blake Bickel, Dynamic Sound Services, Seattle
(http://dynamicsoundservice.com/)
_________________________

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

"SCAR" by David Guilbault
"Scar" © 1997 David Guilbault

Run your fingers down my scar.
Let’s really find out just how
Far you’ll go
To want to know,
To feel the flow
Of what hurts me.

Run your thoughts right through my brain.
Let me know just when you
Feel the same,
Feel the pain,
Know the name
Of what hurts me.

I know that you’ve got your scars, too.
And I know what you have been put through,
What’s hurtin’ you.
‘Cause it’s hurtin’ me.

Wounds make us who we are.
And ev’ryone has got their
Scars to show.
They want you to know
And feel ev’ry blow
Of what hurts them.

I know that you’ve got your scars, too.
And I know what you have been put through,
What’s hurtin’ you.
‘Cause it’s hurtin’ me.
_________________________

Words & Music by David Guilbault  (BMI)
"Scar" © 1997 David Guilbault
BMI Work No: 024335794

Produced by Jason Goessl
Released by True as Blue Music & DistroKid
ISRC:  QMPKX1733587
ISWC:  T-921.302.355-3

David Guilbault: Vocals
Jason Goessl: Baritone guitar
Steve Norman: Pedal steel guitar

Recorded & Mixed by Jason Goessl, Parlour Trick Studio, Seattle
(http://parlourtrick.com/about/)
Mastered by Blake Bickel, Dynamic Sound Services, Seattle
(http://dynamicsoundservice.com/)
_________________________

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

"HERE, ALONE" by David Guilbault

Here, alone. By myself.
Here, alone. No one else.
Here, alone , you can hear the moan.
Here, alone. Feel the air.
There’s a still.
The wind moves over there.

Here, alone. Quiet night.
Here, alone. Feeling tight.
Here, alone. You can hear the sigh.
Here, alone. Mark the time.
There’s a still.
The world moves out of sight.

You can fill your space
Chock to the brim.
You can build your place
Just to wall all the loneliness in.

Here, alone. Seconds tick.
Here, alone. Gettin’ sick.
Here, alone. You can hear the cry.
Here, alone. Day to day.
There’s a still.
Life has moved away.

You can fill your space
Chock to the brim.
You can build your place
Just to wall all the loneliness in.

"Here, Alone" © 2007 David Guilbault
_________________________

Produced by David Guilbault & Nick Nordahl
Recorded & Mixed at Orbit Audio, Seattle
Mastered at Dynamic Sound Service, Seattle
ISRC: QZANL1726195
DK UPC: 192378561709
_________________________

Words & Music by David Guilbault (BMI)
"Here Alone" © 2007 David Guilbault

David Guilbault:  Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Nick Nordahl:  Lead Guitar
Jeffrey Warden:  Bass Guitar
Luca Cartner:  Drums

Supervising Producer:  Joe Reineke
Producers:  David Guilbault & Nick Nordahl
Recording Engineers:  Samantha Lynn & Robert Walh
Mixing Engineer:  Samantha Lynn
Mastering Engineer:  Blake Francis Bickel
________________________

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

"AGAINST HOPE" by David Guilbault
© 2017 David Guilbault

Eyes open.
I was hopin'
That we would see the light.

Hearts are broken.
Hurt is spoken.
Our arrows take their flight.

And I was hopin'
They'd miss their mark.
I was hopin',
Against hope.

Battles brewin'.
Lives in ruin.
No one gets out alive.

Blood is boilin'.
Fights are spoilin'.
Who won? No one survived.

And I was hopin'
That peace would come.
I was hopin'
Against hope.

And I was hopin'
For the best.
I was hopin'
Against hope.

Our war is over.
No longer lovers.
We put the others to the test.

Still it lingers.
Fingers on triggers.
When will we put this thing to rest?

And I was hopin' 
For an end.
I was hopin'
Against hope.

Yeah I was hopin' 
For an end.
I was hopin'
Against hope.

"Against Hope" © 2017 David Guilbault
_________________________

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

For all those bereft of family or friends during these holiday seasons.

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS
© 2015 David Guilbault, Seattle,
 
Twinkle lights that no one sees.
Toy train running ‘round the tree.
No children’s laughter at the sight.
All alone on Christmas night.

Another Christmas all alone.
No season’s joy inside this home.
Silent nights now fill the air.
Another Christmas, no one’s there.

Far away from family.
No relations laughing merrily.
No kisses under mistletoe.
Another Christmas, all alone.

Another Christmas by myself.
No joyful ringing of the bells.
Silent nights now fill the air.
Another Christmas, no one’s there.

The gifts are few, opened alone.
No dinner bell for me to toll.
Merry people all abound.
Lonely tears fall to the ground.

Another Christmas all alone.
No peace and joy for this sad home.
Silent nights now chill the air.
Another Christmas, no one’s there.
Another Christmas, no one’s there.
Another Christmas, no one’s there.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

The coup is nearly complete. And Donald John Trump has virtually won. He is likely to be the last American president and perhaps the first American king.

“It’s the biggest bill ever passed in the history of Congress. And I’m glad we did because we don’t need any more bills. We have everything in that one. … They put every single thing that I wanted for four years in one bill. … I call it the Great Big Beautiful Bill.”

- President Donald John Trump, October 16, 2025

Today, October 22nd, 2025, marks the 22nd day of the American government shutdown. The Republicans in Congress are trying to pass a continuing resolution that would fund the government and codify the draconian cuts to the U.S. social safety net they passed into law in the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB). The Democrats are trying to rally the country with the real tale of how millions of American citizens are going to see their health insurance coverage weakened and their health care put at risk. But, it’s all for naught.

President Trump has said he will not negotiate with or even speak with the Democrats, unless and until they agree to reopen the government and capitulate to the new rules of the BBB. That’s a lose-lose for Democrats and America.

The President and Russell Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, are gleefully using the shutdown to circumvent Congress and use unfettered Executive branch power to decimate laws & policies put in place by Democrats. With MAGA essentially in control of the entire federal government, that Democratic agenda is unlikely to ever be reengaged.

The American federal government is now almost fully controlled by the President and his hand-picked, loyal, compliant administration. That was always the goal of Russell Vought’s Project 2025, to turn the Unitary Executive Theory into actual authoritarian practice. They have all but accomplished their tyrannical plan.

Trump has purged the federal government of independent, professional, experienced, honorable investigators, watchdogs, prosecutors and attorneys general. He has eliminated the regulators from federal agencies. He has placed his own personal lawyers as the top leaders of the Justice Department. He, and he alone, without challenge, now controls the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Meanwhile, Trump has been busy building his own personal police force, in the guise of the Customs & Border Protection agency (CBP) and the Immigration Control Enforcement agency (ICE). New recruits to these agencies have been given signing bonuses, high salaries and other benefits that entice them to be loyal to their boss, the chief law enforcement official in the country, the president of the United States.

And the leaders of the aforementioned departments and agencies - Kristi Noem, Kash Patel, Pam Bondi, Todd Blanche and the like - are eager to please the big boss. They take his orders willingly and without even a twinge from their consciences.

At the White House, demolition got underway today to take down portions of the East Wing to make way for a grand ballroom twice the size of the entire current complex. This follows the paving-over of the Rose Garden to make a concrete patio and the tacky gilding of the Oval Office. As people have opined on the Internet: You don’t renovate a home you intend to leave.

(White House East Wing demolition started, October 22, 2025)

I have no doubt in my mind that, if he is healthy, the 47th president of the United States has no intentions of relinquishing his command of the country when his presidential term ends in 2028.

I don’t think Trump intends to run for a third term, which would be unconstitutional. Instead I expect he will gin up some false and phony national security emergencies that would (in his mind and the mind of his loyal cabal) justify declaring special temporary powers. I expect the Trump regime to end the American experiment in 2028 and declare that national election to be this country’s last, unless and until ‘law and order’ can be restored. Which, of course, would never happen.

Just as Putin put in a puppet as Russian president when he could no longer constitutionally serve, so too will Trump. He has plenty of sycophants to choose from, including Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s own sons. (Can you say, Uday and Qusay?)

How could that happen? Let’s look at the state of play right now. Both houses of Congress are in the control of a complicit MAGA Republican party. The Democrats have no power to hold hearings, subpoena witnesses, bring bills to the floor or stop Trump from putting an end to congressional deliberations, oversight and legislation. As he said, Trump sees his ugly Great Big Beautiful Bill as the last one needed - the last law.

The Supreme Court is compliant with a Republican right-wing majority granting the President near unlimited & unfettered power. The Democrats have no path forward to change the right-wing temperament of the highest court. The MAGA Justices are expected to continue their rulings in favor of Trump’s growing, unchallenged presidential power.

In the Executive Branch, Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) have fired thousands of federal workers. They have decimated independent watchdog and regulatory institutions and agencies. They have replaced the professional leadership across the administrative state with loyalists pledged to support Trump’s agenda, above their own agency’s policies and the constraints of the United States Constitution.

At the beginning of this essay, I quoted Trump saying no more bills will be needed after the BBB. That suggests there will be no more legislation introduced in Congress. No more debates. No more hearings. No more expert testimony. No more bills. No more compromises. No more common ground. No more laws.

So, maybe, no more Congress? Trump alone will decide what needs to be done or not done. He alone will govern. He alone will rule. He alone will control America’s resources and treasures.

President Trump is already treating America’s resources as his own property to manage or dispense. He is breaking up the country and selling it off for parts. Public lands are being sold or leased to corporations intent on stripping them of their resources. Agencies tasked with spreading good will and American aid are being defunded. Regulations to protect wildlife, indigenous populations, air, water, landscapes and natural beauty are being eliminated. How and why is he getting away with all this?

Trump has broken norms, practices, protocols, procedures, rules, traditions & standards. To no consequence. No punishment. No political damage. He has even ignored laws that simply don’t suit his desires. Only the lower courts have been able to exercise any constraints on his runaway power.

In his book, “On Tyranny,” historian Timothy Snyder warns that the first lesson for resisting authoritarianism is: “Do not obey in advance”. It’s already too late for that.

Media companies, law firms, social media networks and universities have sadly and cowardly bowed in obedience to the wanna-be king and have settled frivolous, bad faith, vexatious lawsuits Trump has brought against them. It seems every outrageous act of Trump enriches him further.

Trump has waged lawfare against journalism, academia and the legal profession itself. We’ve seen capitulations from Disney, Paramount, high-value law firms and prestigious universities. Combined, they have given him tens of millions of dollars to protect themselves from his wrath.

And, we’ve just learned from The New York Times that Trump is “demanding that the Justice Department pay him about $230 million in compensation for the federal investigations into him.” And who would make that determination? Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. And who would investigate the truth of the matter? FBI Director Kash Patel. How do we think this is gonna go?

(By the way, the settlement would be paid by the American taxpayers.)

(Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general; Attorney General Pam Bondi; and Kash Patel, the F.B.I. director, with President Trump in the Oval Office last week.Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times)

The tentacles of Trump’s tyrannical power and control have not only reached into government, academia and the halls of justice, but also into American cultural institutions. Trump is making demands about what can and can not be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution museums. And he now controls the board and the programs of the Kennedy Center.

Trump is also waging war against true American history, having a chilling say about what can be said in books, libraries, museums, universities and out of the mouths of teachers, researchers and people who know shit. So much for free speech. What Trump says is true, is true. What Trump says is false, is false. And his cult of supporters believe. In spite of the cons, the lies, the grifts, the self-dealing, the corruption, the graft, they believe.

And, all the while Trump consolidates his power over this country, its government and its institutions, his sycophants are also putting in place local laws that will suppress the votes in the next election in 2026. Gerrymandering and new oppressive election laws are being established in Republican-controlled states across the nation. Trump has every intention of stealing the midterms. That would give him a clear path to finally and completely disassemble the American constitutional republican democracy and establish a family regime.

Trump has already made nice with dictators like Putin, Xi & Kim. He has made massive self-dealing transactions with countries in the MidEast, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar & others. He has extorted European nations. He is threatening our neighbors to the South. And he is doing his best to control world trade with his tariffs.

His sons are making deals around the world for billions of dollars. This is a massive graft, as Trump would say, “like nothing that anyone has ever seen before.” These international leaders are beholden to Trump. He knows it. They know it. And they are paying through the nose to keep themselves in the U.S. president’s good graces. It is all transactional.

So, in actuality, Donald J. Trump is indeed the master of the “Art of the Deal.” He does nothing that doesn’t benefit himself, his family, his friends, his donors, his benefactors. He has taken on the ridiculous but effective mantle of the only person in the world who can bring economic prosperity and peace to nations across the globe.

That, in essence, is the definition of a charismatic leader. People don’t look to that leader for solutions. They believe that leader embodies the solutions. As Trump has said himself, “He and only he can fix it.”

So, are we on the verge of seeing the last functioning American Congress, as, under Trump, there is no need for more laws?

Will we see the Supreme Court become an advisory body to Trump, as he is, in their ruling, a law unto himself?

Is there any need for a 48th president, when Trump and his family have the power, the connections, the might, the support and the where-with-all to rule America?

This is not a hypothetical. This is happening. It is very close to being a fait accompli.

To recap: Trump has largely taken virtual control of the presidency, the Congress, the legal profession, legacy media, social media, academia, education and culture. He has a stranglehold on the electoral process. He is amassing incredible personal wealth and global influence. And he has a personal police force not afraid to do what they should not be doing to their fellow Americans.

And let’s not forget that his administration, under Elon Musk’s DOGE, has collected and collated the most personal and far-reaching data on every American. The power in the possession of that data alone, in the increasing march of artificial intelligence, is staggering. Imagine what that is worth. For all intents and purposes, Trump owns that data.

(I warned about Russell Vought and Stephen Miller until I was blue in the face. Now, I’m warning about Peter Thiel. As we approach Halloween, check out Palantir if you really want a scare. He and his minions know everything there is to know about you.)

It should be noted that most folks don’t know much about crypto currency. But the Trump family does. And most people don’t know about SPAC’s. According to Google AI, “SPAC can stand for Special Purpose Acquisition Company, a type of “blank check” company with no commercial operations that is formed to raise capital through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) to acquire or merge with an existing company.” It’s essentially a money funnel. And the Trump family is very keen on selling influence.

Indeed, the Trump family knows all about all these dicey monetary transactions. And they now have control over how crypto and spac’s and memecoins and the like are (or, are not) regulated. They stand to make billions by controlling those markets.

(Eric Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Donald J. Trump, Ivanka Trump Kushner)

So, what is next for the Trump crime family? Changing the currency of the United States to a Trump crypto currency? Controlling social media along with their billionaire buddies? Raiding the Treasury (which they are already kinda doing) for their own investments & transactions? Robbing Fort Knox? Declaring the establishment of the emergency Trump American Regime? Will we someday be living under the rule of King Barron?

(Barron Trump)

What the fuck do we do?

I know 7 million people marched this past weekend in the “No Kings” protests all across the nation. More joined around the world. And I am heartened by that enormous effort. But, Trump controls money, he controls a personal army, he controls the government. Nations dance to his whims and demands. He is indeed the most powerful human being in the world. He may be the fucking anti-Christ, for Christ’s sake.

This shit is real. America is on the cusp of becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Trump Regime.

We may be alive for the last American law and the first Trump decree.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

(President Donald Trump and Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk)

In my last essay, I warned of the dangers to this country from religious fundamentalism and Christian Nationalism. That was directed to those following radical extremists. Now I want to address all people of faith directly.

Evil forces are trying to co-opt your faith.

If you are on a path to your god, no one, including me, shall stand in your way.

You have a right to your own beliefs. I will not disparage them (even as I personally may find them delusional). In this country, you have the freedom of religion. I respect that and will defend it.

But if you are on a mission to make your god the god of our country, I will fight you every step of the way, on every front.

The United States of America is a secular nation. It worships no god. It adheres to the human rights enshrined in the Constitution. The oath of office for elected officials is to honor, defend and protect the laws and rights inscribed in that document. We are a democratic republic, a democracy.

We are not, and shall never be, a theocracy.

We are a nation where any and every god can be worshipped freely and openly. But, that is not enough for a growing number of evangelists, missionaries, zealots, adherents and proselytizers.

I understand and appreciate religions trying to increase their flock. Personal persuasion by believers to expand their congregations is all well and good.

But, when that zealotry reaches into the halls of government, it is anti-American and dangerous.

Case in point is the memorial service for the assassinated public figure, Charlie Kirk. The gathering, meant to be a celebration of life for those who loved and respected Mr. Kirk, was turned into a scary radical political rally.

The speakers included the Secretary of State, the Director of National Intelligence, the Vice President and the President of the United States. Each and every one of them used the opportunity to advance their right-wing political agenda.

JD Vance called the rally what it really was, a “revival.”

“The evil murderer who took Charlie from us expected us to have a funeral today, and instead, my friends, we have had a revival in celebration of Charlie Kirk and of his Lord Jesus Christ.” - Vice President JD Vance

Near the close of his eulogy, Mr. Vance called Mr. Kirk a hero and a martyr.

For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees. My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America and he is a martyr for the Christian faith.” - Vice President JD Vance

Conflating political heroism and religious martyrdom is a knowingly cynical step in the wrong direction. Indeed, that very conflation is the point. It is to associate right-wing zealotry with religious fervor. It is to make them one and the same. It is to advance, not a revival of faith, (which was called for by Kirk’s widow, Erika), but, rather, a campaign of political revenge and retribution.

This is one of the reasons why so many admired Charlie Kirk for his firm faith, while others reviled him for his adamant political views. They were two different Charlies, heard differently, perceived differently, accepted differently, mourned differently.

President Trump knows full well that many in his MAGA movement are deeply religious. It is why the weaponized melding of faith and family and guns and flag is so powerful. And no one has weaponized that power in a cauldron of hatred more than Stephen Miller, the Deputy Chief of Staff in the White House.

Miller gave one of the most vile speeches I have ever heard from an American government official. It was filled with angry threats and incitements. It was a call to action for so-called Christians to take up the cause of not-so-thinly-veiled white supremacy. It was reminiscent of 1930’s Germany. That is not hyperbole. That is truth. If his speech was in any way ‘Christian,’ it was a perversion of Christian thought and practice.

In one way or the other, each of the members of the Trump cabal tied the life of Charlie Kirk to the gospel, to political activism, to patriotism, to Jesus Christ himself. Each of them used the occasion of their eulogies to strike a political note. Hell, to compose an entire political symphony. And they want that melody to be sung with one voice - one Christian Nationalist voice.

And this is what worries me about you people of faith. I have no quarrel with what doctrines you hold in your hearts, what you practice in your lives, what you celebrate in your places of worship.

I have a major quarrel when you seek to bring those doctrines, practices and celebrations into the halls of government, into the realm of politics, into law and justice.

Keep your doctrines. Let go of your indoctrinations.

What stood out for me in all the seemingly cynical speeches spoken at that memorial were the heartfelt, honest and profound words of Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s wife. I encourage everyone who is reading this post to watch it in its entirety. She spoke of true Christian values. She spoke of love. She spoke of Christian family life. She spoke of the work of Jesus Christ. And in one of the most extraordinary displays of Christian kindness, she forgave the murderer of her husband.

Pause to think about that. Take a long time thinking about that. I have said repeatedly, there really can be no peace in the world until enemies are forgiven by those whom they have grievously wounded. As Jesus said on the Cross, “Forgive them, for they know not.” This, I understand to be one of the most fundamental tenets of Christianity - forgiving one’s enemy.

And then, right after Erika’s emotional expression of forgiveness, President Trump, whom MAGA cultists believe is a messenger of God, said words just the opposite of those aggrieved, but kind & forgiving words from Mrs. Kirk.

“I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them.” - President Donald Trump

Trump broke from his prepared remarks to say this out loud. He doesn’t care about godliness. He revealed his true nature, which may of us ‘non-believers’ have seen from the start. He continued to preach his campaign of revenge & retribution. The audience laughed.

So, dear people of faith. Do not believe that your particular faith is the only way. Do not believe that government should adopt your beliefs, your doctrines, your laws. Do not believe that America should be a Christian nation, or a Muslim nation, or a Jewish nation or a nation of any religious doctrine.

And do not fall for the con of Christian Nationalism. Certainly do not believe that Donald John Trump is a messenger of God. He is not a Christian. He has no faith. He has no spiritual beliefs. He worships at the altar of himself. Do not fall for his latest and greatest con. That he is leading you and the nation to God. He is leading you to tyranny.

Two-hundred and fifty-some years of separation of Church and State has kept the citizens of this country free to think for themselves, to worship as they will, to love as they wish and to live freely,

Don’t let the Stephen Miller’s and the Donald Trump’s of the world pollute your mind, politicize your family and pervert your faith for their own power and aggrandizement.

Believe. Pray. Worship.

But keep those doctrines, supplications and rituals out of the halls of government.

As always, please be safe and well.

With love, kindness, acceptance, tolerance, understanding and forgiveness,

David.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now

It's time to stop the nonsense. This nation is being destroyed by the toxic rise of Christian Nationalism.

I do not want to live in Christian America or Islamic America or Jewish America or ... I want to live in secular America, as the founders intended.

All Americans have freedom of religion and freedom of speech. So, feel free to pray in your places of worship. Feel free to practice your faith in your homes and hearts. Feel free to speak your mind in the public square. All of that is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Know that. Defend that. Honor that.

No one, absolutely no one, is jeopardizing or curtailing any American’s ability to believe whatever myths they cherish. And no one is preventing them from living their beliefs. No one. Anyone who tells you otherwise is cynically lying to you.

But, please, please do not bring your religious doctrines into public law or electoral politics. This nation has separation of Church & State for good reason. We are a democracy, not a theocracy.

I respect people of faith. Their faith is their right. But, I have no respect for religious fundamentalists and religious nationalists who want to impose their beliefs on civil governance. They are dangerous.

Christianity is not under attack in America. No religion is under attack in America. There is opposition to fundamentalist and nationalistic extremists who are attempting to radicalize public discourse and corrupt the will of the citizenry in order to co-opt American secular democracy.

That's the truth.

So, stop all this nonsense and be kind to each other, tolerant & understanding. Do unto others are you would have them do unto you.

I believe that there is only one path to peace. And that is through forgiveness. One has to be able to forgive the most violent, agregious & despicable acts and beliefs of those who have wronged you. As long as one justifies their fear and hatred of the other by continuing to find them unforgivable, there can be no peace. Only continuing grievance. And, too often, rising unforgivable violence.

Using the tenets of religion, any religion, as justification for demonizing the other is untenable. Using ‘your’ god to wage war (any kind of war) is, in my mind, the pinnacle of ungodliness.

So, when one sees the rise of religious fundamentalism in any American, or the rise of religious nationalism anywhere in America, you should worry. That is not who we are. We are a secular nation where diversity of thought is debated, honored and respected. And where the freedoms of religion, thought & speech are practiced and protected.

This nonsense has to stop. We are a majority-ruled democratic republic where minority rights are sacrosanct. Believe that.

Leave a comment

Share

Subscribe now