Anneliese and Adam first met at a conference for conflict resolution specialists convened by the U.S. Institute for Conflict Resolution in Tucson, Arizona, in 1999. Over the years, they have exchanged ideas and perspectives across the border - the proverbial “crease” for the purposes of Left, Right and Centered. Given the strained relations between these two North American nations, we feel we are well-positioned to offer thoughtful analysis and a conciliatory perspective to conversations that are often polarized - our own views from the crease, where we can each see the entire ice surface from opposite sides of the rink.

We hope you enjoy the series.

********************************************

Naming rights.

Or naming wrongs?

In this week’s game of whack-a-mole, Mr. Trump has proclaimed that henceforth, Lake Ontario shall be known as “Lake America.” In this week’s game of whack-a-mole, Mr. Trump has proclaimed that henceforth, Lake Ontario shall be known as “Lake America.” It reflects the latest of hissy fits with Prime Minister Carney of Canada and an attempt to strike back at Canada following failed negotiations on a trade agreement that would replace the one he negotiated and signed in his first term - one that he now claims to be “the worst trade deal” ever.

For those not tracking, throughout last week, President Donald Trump said he is changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” as he childishly escalates his trade war with Canada. On Thursday the Republican president signed another executive order, his 277th in this term, directing the Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the U.S. geographic naming service. Trump cannot force Canada to follow along, however.

Mr. Trump is using the name change as retaliation for his Administration’s failed talks at the same time as he announced that the U.S was prepared to impose 50% tariffs on over $20 billion worth of Canadian goods beginning in early September. Predictably, Canada responded to Trump’s import taxes this week by imposing retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion worth of American goods, including steel, dairy products, appliances and farm equipment.

The renaming of Lake Ontario is just the next in a pattern of petty and annoying threats and actions taken since his ridiculous claims that Canada is a failing nation and that it should be absorbed into the U.S. as either the 51st, 52nd or 53rd state among a troika of Canada, Greenland and Venezuela.

Domestic and foreign leaders are literally laughing at the President - and the people who elected him. Among the reactions:

Canadian Federal & Provincial Leaders

1. Mark Carney (Prime Minister of Canada): Rejected the move, emphasizing that the name derives from the Wendat word Ontari’io (”the lake is beautiful, the lake is big”) and predates both nations. He added, “Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always.”

1. Doug Ford (Premier of Ontario): Stated unequivocally on social media, “It’s Lake Ontario to Canadians and the rest of the world. Now and forever.”

2. Peter MacKay (Former Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister): Called the executive order the “height of insanity” and “ludicrous,” describing it as an attempt to provoke Canadians during serious trade discussions.

Indigenous Leadership

4. Grand Chief Pierre Picard (Wendat Nation): Expressed that members were “outraged, appalled, shocked,” criticizing the move as an attempt to overwrite Indigenous history.

5. Chief Margaret Sault (Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation): Reaffirmed that the lake is part of their traditional homeland, stating President Trump “cannot rename away our history” and that it will remain Lake Ontario despite a political executive order.

U.S. Federal & Congressional Leaders

6. Chuck Schumer (U.S. Senate Minority Leader - NY): Called the decree “sad and pathetic,” adding, “Unable to solve a single problem facing Americans, this is what Trump resorts to. Voters will respond accordingly in November.”

7. Bernie Sanders (U.S. Senator - VT): Argued that working Americans want affordable healthcare and housing rather than geographic renamings.

8. Hillary Clinton (Former U.S. Secretary of State): Offered a succinct response on social media: “It’s Lake Ontario.”

9. Joe Morelle (U.S. Representative - NY-25): Representing Rochester on the lake’s southern shore, he accused the administration of playing games: “Pretending to rename a lake is an attempted distraction from the President’s disastrous trade talks with Canada.”

10. Raphael Warnock (U.S. Senator - GA): Characterized the executive order as “a joke” while Americans face rising costs of living.

U.S. State & Local Officials

11. Kathy Hochul (Governor of New York): Through her office, made clear that the state of New York would not adopt the name, pointing out that replacing the Great Lakes acronym HOMES with “Lake America” turned it into “SHAME.”

13. Bryan Paterson (Mayor of Kingston, Ontario): Called the move “so utterly ridiculous” that the primary reaction among locals was laughter, concluding it was best to simply ignore it.

14. Rochester City Council (New York): Unanimously passed a local proclamation to retain “Lake Ontario” in all official municipal records, declaring that no government entity has the right to erase centuries of heritage by giving a nickname to a Great Lake.

Outside North America, reactions from foreign governments, international organizations, and global commentators have generally treated the executive order as a symbolic sideshow to the broader U.S.–Canada trade conflict, often blending diplomatic neutrality with amusement.

International & Multilateral Bodies

• International Hydrographic Organization (IHO): Officials quietly reaffirmed that international nautical charts and official maritime hydrophony rely on long-established international consensus and bilateral treaties for shared bodies of water. Because executive orders carry no legal jurisdiction outside U.S. borders, international mapping bodies have maintained “Lake Ontario” on standard global cartographic databases.

• European Union & UK Foreign Offices: European allies have refrained from taking an official diplomatic stance on the naming dispute, framing it strictly as a bilateral domestic affair between the U.S. and Canada. However, trade diplomats noted that unilateral geographic renamings risk undermining international diplomatic norms.

It is utterly ridiculous and yet another example of a small-minded narcissist attempting to exercise unauthorized powers to self-aggrandize his time in office. Let’s not forget other attempts to place the Trump name on buildings, organizations and institutions. During his terms in office, President Donald Trump has made extensive use of executive authority, renamings, and personal branding initiatives to attach his name, image, or preferred titles to high-profile federal institutions, landmarks, and infrastructure.

Federal Buildings & Cultural Institutions

• The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Renaming):
  Trump pushed to rebrand the landmark as “The Trump Kennedy Center”. The center’s board voted to rename it, and signage was added to the exterior in late 2025. However, a federal judge ruled in May 2026 that the board lacked legal authority to override a congressional statute designating the center as a sole memorial to JFK. Trump’s name was temporarily removed, though the board has continued pushing proposals to add his name to the façade or name the grounds “President Donald J. Trump Plaza”.

• U.S. Institute of Peace Building:
  Attempts were made to affix Trump’s name to the main headquarters of the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C.

• Banners on Cabinet Agency Headquarters:
  While not permanently renamed, several cabinet-level headquarters had multi-story banners featuring Trump’s likeness hung from their facades - including the Department of Justice, the Department of Agriculture (paired with Abraham Lincoln), and the Department of Labor (paired with Theodore Roosevelt).

Geographic Features & Bodies of Water

• Gulf of Mexico → “Gulf of America”:
  Via executive order under his “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” policy, Trump unilaterally renamed the Gulf of Mexico for official federal usage.

• Denali → Mount McKinley:
  While not adding his own name, Trump reversed the 2015 designation of North America’s highest peak back to Mount McKinley.

Capital Monuments, Infrastructure & Defense Projects

• Attempted Airport and Transit Renamings:
  Trump and his congressional allies floated proposals to rename major transportation hubs after him, most notably Washington Dulles International Airport and New York’s Penn Station.

• The National Mall Triumphal Arch:
  Trump championed plans for a massive triumphal arch on the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial. While not officially named after him, critics and planning documents highlight it as a signature presidential legacy project.

• Trump-Class Battleship & Defense Assets:
  The administration announced plans to name a proposed next-generation class of Navy surface warships the “Trump-class battleship”, alongside branding advanced aerospace initiatives like the Boeing F-47 project.

National Treasures, Passports & Government Items

• “America the Beautiful” National Park Passes:
  The Department of the Interior redesigned the annual multi-agency National Parks Pass to replace traditional landscape imagery with Trump’s portrait alongside George Washington.

• U.S. Passports:
  Directives were issued to incorporate Trump’s image and enlarged signature alongside historical founding documents (like the Declaration of Independence) in standard U.S. passport booklets.

• “Trump Accounts” & Federal Programs:
  Several federal initiatives were given explicit personal branding, such as government-backed savings initiatives (Trump Accounts) and direct-to-consumer healthcare platforms (TrumpRx)

And while he self-proclaims that his years in office as marking the greatest presidencies in American history, social scientists and historians universally decry these years a the worst in American history. Domestically and internationally, we are mocked by leaders from one corner of the globe to another - and with good reason. We have taken steps backward in almost every arena - from diplomacy to environment to economy to education to public health to… well, the list goes on and on.

But what Canadians have come to realize is that they can thrive without us. And so has the rest of the world. America has not been invited to the table to participate in discussions on defense, artificial intelligence, trade and so much more. We are no longer viewed as trusted leaders. We are maverick renegades who negotiate agreements written in pencil and are subject to change at the whim of Mr. Trump’s temper tantrums and FoxNews-fueled delusions. We are responsible for having elected a psychopath who has dismantled the world order. We are not wanted - by anyone other than Putin, Xi, Kim Jong Un and Benjamin Netanyahu.

Lake Ontario will stand. And our naming rights? They are…

Wrong.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

If you missed our prior “Views from the Crease,” my personal favorite is this one:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/views-from-the-crease-vol-1-elbows

*****************************

Changing Climate.

Changing Climate.

OK... the insanity continues. I have just seen a fifth posting that attempts to justify Mr. Trump’s ridiculously insensitive and vacuous tweets and speeches related to Texas... by saying that Mr. Obama was just as bad or worse during the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. According to these posts, Mr. Obama played golf as thousands lost everything along the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi.

First... as I have suggested before, it’s just stupid to rationalize Mr. Trump’s behavior by saying that someone who came before was worse. My goodness... didn’t we outgrow that as siblings when we pointed at a brother or sister and cried that they did something first? Wrong is wrong, people!!!! Good grief... has America so clearly lost its moral compass?

But more than that... Hurricane Katrina rolled through in 2005!!!! So who cares if Mr. Obama played golf on those fateful days... HE WAS NOT THE PRESIDENT! He was an Illinois Senator at the time!!!! Jeez...

Wake up America...

Mr. Trump’s insensitivity is... his insensitivity. The fact that he red-lined and struck out critically important flood insurance just weeks ago is on his conscience. He probably owns some of the gaps in coordination as well - his FEMA team is inexperienced and senior appointed officials are new to the game. Oh... and there is this thing about climate change that he and his minions deny. This despite what is now being termed as a 1,000-year flood (on the heals of 100 year floods caused by Sandy, Katrina, Ike, Wilma and Ivan - all in the last 15 years). Denial too, in the face of over 1,200 deaths caused by storms in Nepal and Bangladesh just this week.

I have to believe that America’s appetite for Mr. Trump’s self serving “I can’t believe this wonderful crowd” types of commentary has got to be over-stuffed to the point of puking. Rather, isn’t it time for the leader of the free world take proactive measures to protect this nation from Earth’s greatest threat - ourselves? Isn’t it time to admit that Mr. Trump is wrong for America? We need leadership in times of crisis... not self aggrandizement. We need inspired public policy - something even more than the stories of the common man filling the gaps with uncommon acts of valor, generosity and heroism. We need a President... not a rock star or reality TV show host.

Maybe the tragedy of Hurricane Harvey will give rise to sunnier days for this great land. Let’s hope for that kind of climate change.

G-dspeed, Houston... g-dspeed....

Though I am afraid nothing in this climate is…

Changing..

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/checkmate-when-the-king-is-cornered

*****************************Checkmate.

I have read with interest how the flag flying above the White House was raised and lowered more times in the last 72 hours than the curtain on a Broadway show. Now that’s entertainment, right?

Senator McCain played it masterfully, knowing full well that he had Mr. Trump by the short hairs of his long ego. He very strategically set the stage for Mr. Trump to lose the last battle.

Let me explain...

Senator McCain dedicated his entire life to America - of that there is no doubt. One may disagree with his vision for the future - and I did, often - but one cannot decry his passion or his presence. I cannot help but believe that Mr. Trump’s malice was, in part, born of a shared spotlight. For we all know that Mr. Trump shares glory with no one.

Mr. Trump fired the first salvo in 2015 when he said on video, “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured.”

Recall that Senator McCain was held and repeatedly tortured for five-and-a-half years after his plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. Senator McCain did not seek an apology for himself; rather, he asked that Mr. Trump apologize “to the families of those who have sacrificed in conflict.”

Later, however, Senator McCain did criticize those wealthy enough to avoid service in the conflict by finding doctors “that would say that they had a bone spur.”

Touché.

Soon after the GOP nominated Mr. Trump, Senator McCain offered his support to the billionaire. However, that support was withdrawn after the now-infamous recording in which Mr. Trump said that “you can do anything” to women “when you’re a star” and bragged about trying to grope and kiss them.

McCain said, “Donald Trump’s behavior makes it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy,” adding that there were “no excuses” and that “he alone bears the burden of his conduct.” He continued, “No woman should ever be victimized by this kind of inappropriate behavior.”

I can’t imagine that Mr. Trump took kindly to that kind of public rebuke.

Of course, then there was the infamous “thumbs down” on national healthcare, for which Mr. Trump has repeatedly and publicly derided the late Senator.

So... how about that last laugh?

First, by expressly requesting that Mr. Trump not attend his funeral - the second such “stay away” request by an honored American and Republican, the first being Barbara Bush. It will be interesting to note which domestic leaders, including the Clintons, and which foreign leaders will attend the service - but our own Commander in Chief will not be present.

Second, another slap in the face by inviting Mr. Obama to offer a eulogy - Mr. Trump’s secondary nemesis.

Third, knowing that the “half-staff” question would arise, Mr. McCain surely knew that Mr. Trump would either have to:

(a) humble himself and fly the flag at half-staff for far longer than the statutory minimum, swallowing hard and honoring Mr. McCain;

or

(b) be a slave to his own narcissism and take a beating in the court of public opinion for “dissing” the Senator.

Then it comes out that Mr. Trump himself rejected the publication of a press release praising Senator McCain’s lifetime of service.

Petty little man...

In the end, Mr. Trump doubled down on his losses. He let his ego make his decisions. He flew the flag at half-staff for the statutory minimum. Once restored to its full glory - barely 36 hours after the Senator’s passing - Mr. Trump was immediately hoisted on his own petard, resulting in a presidential order to once again fly the flag at half-staff for several more days.

Another day under the Big Top, right?

All that winning - for McCain - a posthumous win-win, in fact... and a lose-lose for Mr. Trump.

Check. Mate.

Subscribe now

Share

Share Left, Right and Centered

Leave a comment

In case you missed our last re-posting, click on:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/options-the-art-of-the-deal

*****************************

Options.

I mean the financial kind.

Years and years ago, Wall Street was rocked by scandal after scandal concerning “insider trading” - the purchase and sale of stocks and options based on privately held information that could, would, and did affect stock prices.

The rich and famous made billions. Little guys like me were always looking for a “tip” so that we might buy 100 shares of this or that before the market moved.

But think about this: What if you could control the market? What if you could create the conditions that made the markets gain or lose hundreds of points in a day? And what if you could trade your portfolio before those conditions shifted stock prices?

Like the President.

It is 100% clear that he has no strategy for trade negotiations. Three days ago, when China “was the enemy,” tariffs were to be raised, and the market tanked. Now - seventy-two hours later - President Xi is a great leader again, and negotiations are progressing. At least, that’s what the President says, though the Chinese claim that the phones never rang this past weekend.

Now, if one knew that these events were going to unfold as they did, one could have shorted the market with stocks or options last week and made a killing in the space of a few hours - and I am sure that there are Friends of Trump who did.

And if one “knew” in advance this week that the trade war was likely to be resolved, one might buy low… and sell high just hours later.

The volume of money that could be made or lost is staggering. Just as staggering is how much money the President could save on his own and his corporations’ debt service if the Fed lowers interest rates by even a quarter of a point - much less a whole point.

His buddies at Mar-a-Lago, too.

And no one would ever know, since he will not release his tax returns.

Funny, eh?

Makes you wonder. What are our…

Options?

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

In case you missed our last re-posting, click on:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/the-race-ism-the-maga-that-no-one

*****************************

Good luck.

Yep... that’s all Mr. Trump had to offer as a Category 4 hurricane crossed into the Republic of Texas. No empty words of thoughts or prayers. No assurance that his inexperienced FEMA team was on the ground and ready to serve. Not one word to express sympathy for the frightened millions who live between Brownsville and Houston and work to make America great.

Just what did the Commander in Chief offer? Sure, there were some tweets over the last 36 hours about what a wonderful FEMA team he had assembled and other strong statements touting his own leadership acumen. I imagine I might find that comforting if the rest of his appointments had not been such abysmal failures. I can’t imagine how I might feel if I heard such self-serving drivel while placing all of my possessions in an SUV, thinking only about abandoning my home as 135-mph winds tore through the land.

More importantly, I guess, he picked an opportune time to pardon Sheriff Arpaio. Another MAJOR decision, made in the midst of a distracted media. Cover Hurricane Harvey? Or cover Arpaio?

Now, frankly, I did not know much about this story, but I figured that if Mr. Trump was going to use this executive power earlier than ANY other president in the modern era, I might want to get smarter. Have you read about this guy?

America’s toughest sheriff, right?

Mr. Arpaio was accused of various types of police misconduct, including abuse of power, misuse of funds, failure to investigate sex crimes, improper clearance of cases, unlawful enforcement of immigration laws, and election-law violations. Innumerable accounts were told of emotional and physical torture. He forced prisoners - both those who were guilty AND those awaiting trial - to wear pink underwear and socks in order to humiliate them.

A federal court monitor was appointed to oversee his office’s operations because of complaints of racial profiling. The U.S. Department of Justice concluded that Mr. Arpaio oversaw the worst pattern of racial profiling in U.S. history and subsequently filed suit against him for unlawful discriminatory police conduct.

This guy made Ivan the Terrible look like a pussycat. Now Mr. Arpaio is a free man because, in the name of national security, it’s apparently not only OK to violate constitutional laws... but probably the Geneva Convention as well.

So what does all this mean?

Two weeks ago, it was the Jews who were called out by the white supremacists—and it was OK because there are “good people on both sides,” right? In the middle of this week, it was transgender people again—no longer allowed to serve. Yesterday, it was the Hispanic community that was pushed down because it’s apparently OK to torture another human being if they’re brown-skinned. I’m sure next week there will be some other group.

Clearly, to this president, it’s only OK to be Christian, straight, and white.

And even then... it really doesn’t matter... because the only thing left for Texas is a wish for good luck.

Frankly peeps... even beyond Texas, I think America needs it.

Good luck.

Subscribe now

Share

Share Left, Right and Centered

Leave a comment

*****************************

The Race-ism.

I’m tired. I’m tired of calling out what’s wrong. Aren’t we all?

And yet - how can Amerika stand by idly and condone the insanity that pours out of the White House on any given day?

We were conceived as a melting pot. The Great Experiment in democracy was designed that way: to bring together diversity in culture, education, perspective, and faith so the whole could be greater than the sum of its parts. Not without conflict or pain - but over time, shaped into one of the greatest societies in human history.

That was true… until someone stepped up and said, “Let’s make America great AGAIN,” as if the country had already peaked and fallen into decline. And why? Because some perceive that in the past, we were great - when led by white men and others had neither voice nor power.

The irony is that we became less when this man tried to make us more - because the “more” he envisioned was far less than what we have become.

Just a few short years ago, we were at the forefront of social policy. We aligned with those carrying the torch of freedom, not those tightening the chains of bondage. We supported the arts, education, and healthcare - imperfectly, yes, but more than we do now. The wealthy paid a fairer share, the poor were supported, and we were a compassionate society that cared for our own and for others. We welcomed those who came from less and treated them with dignity. We were closer to a balanced budget, and our economy was strong without overheating.

None of these things are true today. Not one.

I don’t hate America - not by any stretch - but I know in my heart we can do better. And we can do better through diversity of opinion and debate.

The labels suck. You can defend the President and say he’s not a racist. Label him as you wish (or don’t), but his words are offensive to many - and frankly, that’s enough for me. He is divisive and exclusive, and that is not representative of the America anyone wants to know.

The day we decide to accept this as normal or right is the day we extinguish the flames of freedom - the freedom to say, write, practice, or preach one’s own unique gospel.

So… note to self, and to all of you:

As tired as we are, we must persevere - for ourselves, our way of life, and our kids. We must continue to stand up and be counted as saying THIS MUST END. But it will not end if we frame the argument around whether “he” is a racist or “she” is an anti‑semite. It will end only when we push back and say that adult conversation is welcome - and labeling is not. It will end when we say that statesmanship is welcome. That diversity is welcome. That exclusivity is not acceptable.

Make America white again? Straight again? Of a certain faith again?

Not on my watch.

There is no rest for the weary - but we have to be smarter. More tolerant. More inclusive. More accepting. All of us. Because that is what will make America great.

Who will win the race?

Who cares!

That’s not the game.

It’s bigger than that. It’s…

Racism.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

In case you missed our last and more current posting, click on:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/semi-quintessentially-merica

*****************************

Global Insecurity?

Mr. Trump spoke in Poland today, and if you listen to him, he repeatedly thanks an “incredible” audience - a self‑selected group who chose to attend and cheer.

When we hear about “incredible crowds,” we should be a little more critical. Cameras panning today’s event show a smaller group than the rhetoric suggests. That’s not surprising, given Pew’s finding that only 23% of Poles are confident in Mr. Trump’s leadership - compared to 58% who expressed confidence in Mr. Obama just six months ago. Sure, we can debate a few percentage points, but a 35‑point drop is astounding.

Think about that - more than 75% of Poles think that President Trump simply spouts unreliable bullshit and can not be trusted. This from a key strategic partner who’s border is shared with one of the greatest threats to American democracy today: Russia.

And this is noy just a Polish phenomenon. Just two weeks ago, the highly respected Pew Research Center reported that international confidence in “the U.S. President to do the right thing regarding global affairs” has dropped sharply since the end of the Obama Administration. Not in one or two nations - but everywhere except Israel and Russia (which is, to put it mildly, unusual).

Consider this: only 11% of Russians were confident that Mr. Obama would do the right thing. Their confidence in Mr. Trump? A staggering 53% - his fourth‑highest rating behind Vietnam, Nigeria, and the Philippines.

Let’s bring this into more meaningful light.

What would we do if only 23% of our community had confidence in the police department to do the right thing? Or the fire department? Or the Mayor?

What would we do if only 23% of students believed their teacher was preparing them for the future? Or if only 23% of employees trusted they’d be paid each month?

I’ll tell you what I would do: I’d make a change. So would you - regardless of political affiliation. I’d move. I’d find a better school. I’d quit my job. Twenty‑three percent isn’t even good in baseball. You get sent down to the minors.

So we should not be surprised if our traditional allies and friends - including Poland - begin to lose confidence and distance themselves from America or as they cozy up to others, politically and economically, as this whole thing unfolds. And what will we have when they do? Stagnation. Instability. Fear. Isolation.

Global Insecurity.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

In case you missed our Independence Day features, start with:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/semi-quintessentially-merica

The Semiquincentennial. The great experiment is now 250 years old. And like any evolutionary process, change is inevitable. Each new version of a person, an organization, even a nation reflects lessons learned, adaptation, maturation, and shifts in behavior.

I remember our nation’s Bicentennial in 1976. America was divided — Nixon’s Watergate scandal, an ineffective Gerald Ford, the uncharted territory of the civil rights movement, and so much more. And yet, during the celebrations that spanned much of the year, America came together. Regardless of race, creed, color, or party affiliation, we celebrated as Americans - a melting pot of people and cultures united across fifty states, from sea to shining sea. Our national ethos was one of patriotism, a belief that individuals could come together to achieve great things. The whole was far greater than the sum of its parts.

Fifty years later, we have evolved - or maybe devolved is the better term. Leadership comes from the top, and culture follows. Somewhere along the way, we let patriotism get confused with “exceptionalism.”

But the truth is, we’re not all that exceptional. Not at all, actually.

And while a vocal minority has embraced a chest‑beating, alpha‑nation persona, I’m increasingly convinced that most Americans have not. I have three data points.

1. People are marching with their feet.

   The Semiquincentennial “festivities” in Washington, D.C. are sparsely attended. There’s no buzz. Outside the Beltway, this Independence Day feels no different than any other year. I don’t see more flags. There’s no sense of national significance. Celebrations are focused on local culture and community - well divorced from any national flair.

2. Anti‑incumbent sentiment is everywhere.

   As we head into the midterms, people are distancing themselves from anything associated with Washington or the federal government more broadly.

3. The World Cup.

   The first two are self‑explanatory. But this third one fascinates me.

   It’s widely accepted that America is largely despised on the world stage. In the eyes of many abroad, we cannot be trusted at our word. We are militant, impulsive, unpredictable. We deny science and abuse the planet. “Amerika” is seen as a bully - a loose collection of smaller governments led by corrupt individuals interested only in expanding wealth for the wealthy, at the expense of compliant lemmings who’ve been duped into believing they will prosper.

Enter… the world.

As North America hosts the World Cup, soccer fans from every corner of the globe have flocked to venues coast to coast. For many, this is their first trip to America - a chance to exchange culture, to show us who they are, and to immerse themselves in daily American life. Who hasn’t seen the Scots in kilts and bagpipes? Or the Norwegians with their synchronized “row” chants? And we’ve shared our culture with them - from iconic sites to fast food to quirky communities like Helen, Georgia.

In contrast to what they may have expected, visitors are finding Americans to be warm and welcoming. We’re embracing our guests not only in tourist hubs and big cities but also in places like Lawrence, Kansas, where the Algerian team trained for weeks at Rock Chalk Park. The common thread: people are discovering that we are all just… people.

As we head into Independence Day weekend and celebrate the first days of our own sovereignty, I find myself seeing us through their eyes - and rediscovering what truly makes America great. Left to our own devices:

• We are charitable and caring.

• We strive for representative and participatory government.

• We take pride in our teams, our heritage, our communities, and our nation.

• We believe all people are created equal and that the American Dream can be real.

These are extraordinary qualities. And I believe they reflect who we are at our core. But I also believe they do not reflect who we are on a national level - or certainly outside our borders.

Maybe that’s why this 250th birthday feels so hollow. Because who we are nationally and internationally is, quite honestly, a fucking embarrassment. And yet, because July 4th is - and should always be - a celebration of our independence, maybe that’s why it means a little more in the communities where we live, work, and play. Maybe it means more because, these days, it is only at the community level that America is truly great.

So pass me a hot dog and a local brew… and let’s offer a toast from every corner of America - literally, every corner in every community.

Here’s to another 250.

(Semi) Quintessentially, America.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

In case you missed our last piece - one very much related to this one, please click on:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/independence-day-happy-birthday-merica

People vote with their feet. If you watch them closely, they’ll show you exactly what they think - no polling required. They show up… or they don’t.

Jen Psaki, President Biden’s former White House Press Secretary, made an interesting observation this week: essentially saying that the presidency is hard. Every day brings decisions that affect millions of people, and every decision creates winners and losers. But she also said that occasionally, a President gets a softball - something so universally accepted that it should be impossible to screw up. A moment that should unite everyone.

America’s 250th birthday should be that moment. A milestone anniversary of the Declaration of Independence - a holiday Americans cherish regardless of race, creed, or color. Planning for a celebration like this should be easy. I’m old enough to remember the Bicentennial. There wasn’t an ounce of controversy.

Mr. Trump has botched a lot of public policy. A lot. But you’d think he could avoid turning a national celebration into a national embarrassment - something all Americans could embrace, regardless of politics. Instead, even this carries an unmistakable stench. And people are voting with their feet. They’re walking away from “Freedom 250.”

Let’s review the bidding.

• Patriot Games: Who could forget the real‑life version of The Hunger Games? Mr. Trump announced the Patriot Games for August 9–11, 2026 - an “unprecedented” athletic competition featuring high‑school athletes (ages 14–17). One boy and one girl from every state, territory, and tribal nation. Strictly separated divisions. Trump even promised, “There will be no men playing in women’s sports.”

  

  It is still scheduled to begin in less than 45 days. Yet no one really knows anything.

• The Great American State Fair: Billed as a once‑in‑a‑generation, World’s‑Fair‑style celebration stretching across the National Mall, the Fair has been marred by:

  

  • A disastrous kickoff rally. Trump billed it as “the Greatest Rally EVER.” His team predicted tens of thousands. Trump later claimed “at least 45,000 people.” Independent reporting tells a different story.

    • NBC News estimated “more than 1,000.”

    • The Washington Post described a “thinly covered area about the length of the National Museum of American History,” with large empty spaces and people leaving mid‑speech.

    • No independent outlet has corroborated the 45,000 figure.

  • Zero A‑list performers. Several B-list performers even pulled out citing concerns that the President was turning a national celebration into a political event. FBI Director Kash Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins - barely a warm up act with roughly 43,000 Instagram followers - is considered an event headliner.
    For comparison:

    • Keith Urban: ~3.1 million followers

    • Taylor Swift: ~283 million followers

  • States withdrawing. Several states initially pulled out, saying the event had become overly politicized and no longer reflected the nonpartisan spirit of America’s 250th birthday. The Freedom 250 organizers filled the gaps, ensuring all 50 states appear on the Mall - though not all are represented by their governments. Some pavilions are elaborate while others are bare‑bones displays run by tourism boards, nonprofits, or volunteers. Maine… is empty but for green carpet and two chairs

Attendance is paltry and not significantly different than normal foot traffic on any summer day. The construction of the displays is shoddy and many are “wrinkling” already. Food options are worthy of a food court in an old brick and mortar shopping mall.

• The Fourth of July Fireworks Show: Washington, D.C.’s fireworks are one of the most iconic Independence Day traditions in the country. This year’s display is reportedly launching nearly a million shells. It could be spectacular.

  Except…

  • It won’t start until 10:30PM (normally it begins at 9 PM), making it nearly impossible for families with children to attend. East Coast viewers outside D.C. will likely end up watching a replay the next day.

  • The best viewing area - the National Mall - is now ringed by chain‑link fencing, blocking views of the Reflecting Pool. Why? To prevent people from photographing the green slime and chipped paint that have become a global symbol of ’Merican incompetence - where just two months ago the Reflecting Pool was a shining example of American exceptionalism.

  You can’t help but just shake your head.

By comparison, America’s Bicentennial in 1976 was a moment of national renewal under President Gerald Ford - a man who was not, by any stretch, universally beloved. And yet the celebration was an extraordinary success: the Tall Ships parade in New York Harbor, massive fireworks displays nationwide, the cross‑country Freedom Train, and the restoration of major historic sites like Independence Hall and the Washington Monument. Queen Elizabeth II’s visit added international symbolism. Millions of Americans joined parades, concerts, and community events that emphasized unity after a turbulent decade.

I don’t know, friends. I just don’t know.

The celebration of America should be a national celebration. And yet I’m not sure I have it in me. ’Merica is not what it was… and it’s certainly not what I want it to be.

Sure, I’ll enjoy my three‑day weekend like everyone else. I’ll have my beer and my BBQ and my hot dogs. I’ll sit by the pool and put my toes in the sand. But my reflections will be like the green slime oozing through the center of the National Mall - thinking about what was, and how to repair the damage so that my grandchildren and great‑grandchildren have something better to celebrate in 2076.

On…

Independence Day.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

If you are even the least bit intrigued by the incompetence often cited here, visit our last piece at:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/green-slime-reflections-on-a-monumental

People around the world now know the story of the Reflecting Pool - but for anyone just tuning in, here’s the recap.

History

Designed by architect Henry Bacon and completed in 1923, the Reflecting Pool was meant to be both a literal and symbolic mirror of American ideals. Bacon positioned it to visually link the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, creating one of the most iconic sightlines in the nation.

Stretching 2,030 feet long and 167 feet wide, it is the largest reflecting pool in Washington, D.C. Despite its size, it is intentionally shallow - 18 inches at the edges, 30 inches at the center — to keep the water still enough to reflect the sky, the elms, and the monuments with near‑perfect clarity.

The original construction used an asphalt‑and‑tile bottom laid directly on soft clay, a decision that caused decades of leaks and structural problems. And while the pool was designed for quiet contemplation, it has become one of America’s most important stages for civil rights, free speech, and national assembly.

Selling the Renovation

This Administration has shown a persistent desire to leave its fingerprints on Washington’s most iconic landmarks. Mr. Trump has:

• Removed historic cherry trees and replaced lawn with limestone in the White House Rose Garden.

• Bulldozed the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom - without required approvals.

• Illegally renamed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after himself, before being ordered by the courts to restore the original name.

And most recently, he awarded a $1.7 million no‑bid contract to John J. Cafaro — a major Republican donor and Mar‑a‑Lago neighbor — to install a “Nano Bubble” ozone filtration system. He paired that with a $14.7 million no‑bid contract to Atlantic Industrial Coatings to seal the pool floor and apply a new, vivid coating branded as “American Flag Blue.”

At the outset, Mr. Trump boasted that:

• The new coating would hide the “never good” gray stone and finally give the pool “the great color people wanted.”

• The surface would create a “mirror‑like finish” that would “perfectly reflect the two Great Monuments.”

• The sealant was made of the “latest and greatest filament,” a “very sophisticated form of rubber,” guaranteeing “no leaks, no problems.”

• The resurfacing was so advanced it could “last 100 years.”

• Treating the basin “like a swimming pool” would cure it of being “filthy, dirty,” producing “a beautiful, beautiful reflecting pool… much better than it ever was.”

The Results

Let’s just say it didn’t work out that way.

Within weeks, the Reflecting Pool looked like someone liquefied the Grinch - a thick, neon green slime stretching from end to end. The pool is still leaking badly. The prized “American Flag Blue” coating is peeling off in massive sheets, floating to the surface like the skin of a giant blueberry.

It has become a tourist attraction - for all the wrong reasons - just days before America’s 250th birthday celebration, when tens of thousands gather around the pool for one of the nation’s greatest fireworks displays.

In a panic reminiscent of a first‑grader cramming the night before finals, Mr. Trump ordered:

• Hydrogen Peroxide Shock Treatment: Crews manually dumped hundreds of gallon jugs of 12% peroxide into the water. It cleared a little algae along the edges — and that’s about it.

• Heavy Chlorine Dosing: Workers added buckets of industrial‑grade chlorine used in commercial pools to blast away slime and fungal growth.

• Mechanical Skimming and Vacuuming: NPS staff used hand skimmers and underwater vacuums to remove clumped organic matter.

• The “Nanobubbler” System: Officials activated the ozone filtration system, claiming it was breaking down the bloom “from the bottom up.” Unfortunately, the bubbling disturbs the water — destroying the very reflections the pool exists to create.

None of it is working. The Reflecting Pool will have to be drained again. It is an unmitigated disaster, and millions more will be spent repairing damage that Mr. Trump created.

The Fiction… and the Facts

Predictably, Mr. Trump is playing the victim — insisting that vandals are responsible. Let’s examine that.

He claims vandals used box cutters to slice a 250‑, 300‑, or 350‑foot gash (the number seems to change daily) in the coating. That would mean someone(s) cut a football‑field‑length slit all under 18–24 inches of water, unnoticed, in one of the most heavily trafficked public spaces in America. Space that is under constant federal surveillance.

He claims the algae was caused by “chemicals poured into the pool by vandals.” The National Park Service has confirmed no chemical dumping. No evidence of sabotage has been released. Experts note that algae blooms are common in shallow, warm, slow‑moving water - especially in the Reflecting Pool, which has a long history of algae issues. Scientists say the bloom is consistent with normal biological growth, not chemical reaction.

The truth is simple:

• “American Flag Blue” absorbs heat - it doesn’t reflect it.

• The pool draws water from the Potomac River, which already contains organic material and nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen.

• Add heat, sunlight, and still water, and the pool becomes a greenhouse. Algae explodes.

And the coating? It’s not something you casually slice with a box cutter. It’s polyurea - a spray‑applied elastomer that cures in seconds into a seamless, rubber‑like membrane. It is not a liner. It is not a sheet. Installed correctly, it adheres tightly to the substrate.

Experts say the failure is due to:

• Poor surface preparation

• Improper application

• Environmental conditions

• Possible chemical interactions (including the peroxide)

The Playbook

This is pattern behavior.

The Administration launches a wild idea. Loyalists rush to execute it — often without planning. Something goes wrong. Costs rise. Problems multiply. Legal challenges appear. Failure follows.

Then comes the gaslighting. A fiction is created. Blame is assigned.

• He is blaming President Obama (who left office in 2016) for the issues having to do with the Reflecting Pool - and many other things

• He is blaming vandals - though there is zero evidence, no witnesses, and no science supporting the claim.

This is not normal. It is Donald J. Trump, however.

• He blames the “fake news’ for every little thing he is held accountable for.

• He is still blaming Joe Biden for the economy - though President Biden left office 18 months ago.

• He blames Congress for legislative failures - despite holding majorities.

• He blames judges for his legal troubles.

When do we, as individuals and as a nation, say “enough is enough?”

The incompetence is staggering, yet Mr. Trump, his family, and even his neighbors continue to amass wealth while the country pays the price.

His hands somehow remain clean, and we are all drowning in…

Green slime.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

If you missed our last posting, please click on:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/sportsmanship-respect-at-center-ice

What an incredible month this is for sports fans! Among the topline entries:

• The Stanley Cup Final

• The NBA Final

• The U.S. Open in men’s golf

• The Men’s College World Series

• And, of course, the World Cup

First, congratulations to the Carolina Hurricanes, winners of the 2026 Stanley Cup.

I love the Eastern style of hockey: physical, disciplined, forecheck-heavy. I’ve always preferred it to the more wide-open Western approach. There’s a reason that seven of the last ten Stanley Cup champions have come from the East. Playoff hockey demands structure, sacrifice, and physicality. It’s a game built on speed, skill, and brute force - open-ice hits and checks into unforgiving boards.

Congratulations as well to the New York Knicks, winners of the 2026 NBA championship. Basketball has never been my sport, but several games had even me on the edge of my seat. I can’t speak with authority about offensive schemes or defensive adjustments, but I know this: becoming a professional athlete requires extraordinary skill, grit, commitment, and desire. The men on that court are elite competitors. Respect.

It was fascinating to watch hockey one night and basketball the next.

In hockey, officials generally stay out of the way unless a penalty is obvious or unavoidable. Many calls are almost administrative - delay of game, too many men on the ice, high-sticking. For the most part, referees let the players decide the outcome, and every bodycheck matters.

Basketball, by contrast, remains a mystery to me. I often struggle to distinguish a foul from a non-foul. The officials seem deeply intertwined with the flow of the game - sometimes even influencing the outcome.

The irony is striking.

In one sport, physical contact is expected and rewarded with power plays and scoring opportunities. In the other, even minimal contact can draw a whistle. I’m not complaining; I’m simply pointing out the contrast.

Because what happened after these championships says something important.

In both cases, the visiting team won the title on the road.

As hockey tradition demands, after the on-ice celebration but before the Stanley Cup presentation, the Hurricanes and the Golden Knights lined up at opposite ends of the ice and skated toward center to shake hands.

Every player. Every coach. They exchanged handshakes, words of respect, and recognition for the battle they had just shared. That’s what makes hockey’s tradition so remarkable. Ice hockey is inherently violent, yet every playoff series ends the same way: with a handshake line. Not just the championship series—every series.

In the NFL and college football, there is no formal tradition like the NHL’s, but many players and coaches still meet at midfield after games to shake hands. Soccer may be less physical, but players routinely congratulate one another and often exchange jerseys. Golfers remove their caps, shake hands, and acknowledge one another before leaving the 18th green.

In contrast, rather than congratulate the New York Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs headed straight for the locker room.

The same is true in Major League Baseball.

That’s a shame.

I love the game of hockey, and I’m proud of its traditions - traditions that extend from youth leagues all the way to the professional level.

Other sports should take note.

There is room in every athletic pursuit for honor, respect, and, above all…

Sportsmanship.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

In case you missed it, a piece that brings sports together with our more traditional views on politics. Please click on:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/boo-yah-trump-throws-up-a-brick

*****************************

Honorable.

Remember when Mr. Trump called Kim Jong Un “honorable”?

Well, consider what the United Nations found.

In 2014, the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea concluded that the North Korean government was responsible for systemic, widespread, and gross human rights violations. Commission Chairman Michael Kirby stated that some of those acts “resembled those committed by the Nazis.”

He went on to write:

“In many instances, the violations of human rights found by the Commission constitute crimes against humanity. These are not mere excesses of the State; they are essential components of a political system that has moved far from the ideals on which it claims to be founded. The gravity, scale, and nature of these violations revealed a State that has no parallel in the contemporary world.”

Honorable?

Then there is Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines.

Mr. Trump repeatedly praised Duterte for doing an “unbelievable job” in his war on drugs and often spoke glowingly of their “great relationship.”

Yet, according to Human Rights Watch, the Philippines experienced an unprecedented level of killing by law enforcement after Duterte took office. Between July 1 and November 3, 2016, police killed an estimated 1,790 suspected drug users and dealers - a nearly twenty-fold increase over the comparable period earlier that year.

His administration also presided over policies and budget decisions that threatened access to reproductive health services for millions of lower-income Filipinos. The United Nations Population Fund criticized those actions as a threat to the fundamental rights to health care and reproductive choice.

And that barely scratches the surface of the human rights concerns associated with Duterte’s tenure.

Nice guy, huh?

Given the praise Mr. Trump lavished on the strongman, it does make one wonder about the intersection of those views with our national conversations about justice, equality, and patriotism.

Then there is Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman.

He played a central role in a war that left thousands of civilians dead and many more wounded. Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition struck markets, hospitals, schools, mosques, weddings, and funerals, bringing devastation to civilian populations.

His domestic human rights record is equally troubling.

While Saudi Arabia received positive international attention for allowing women to drive, women remained subject to the kingdom’s male guardianship system. They could not travel, obtain passports, or marry without the approval of a male relative. Activists who campaigned for those very rights were often harassed, detained, or silenced. Saudi Arabia also continues to rank among the world’s leading practitioners of capital punishment.

Yet Mr. Trump declared:

“We really have a great friendship, a great relationship.”

And don’t even get me started on Mr. Putin.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has routinely attacked the leaders of Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, France, and Germany - democratic allies with whom the United States has shared decades of partnership and common purpose.

So, as talks begin in Singapore and another authoritarian ruler is elevated onto the world stage, we should pause - regardless of party affiliation - and ask a simple question:

Are the values we claim to cherish as a nation being upheld by this President?

Are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness being advanced - or undermined - here at home and abroad?

Is Mr. Trump acting in the best interests of the United States?

And is he...

Honorable?

Subscribe now

Share

Share Left, Right and Centered

In case you missed our last piece and ESPECIALLY if you are a basketball fan, check out:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/boo-yah-trump-throws-up-a-brick

That was a favorite expression of ESPN’s Stuart Scott more than 20 years ago. It seems quite appropriate to revisit it today, 24 hours after Mr. Trump graced Madison Square Garden with his presence for Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

For context, it is important to know a few things. First, I am not a basketball fan. Second, I grew up in New York. I know firsthand that the “City That Never Sleeps” definitely does not rest when a major sports championship is within reach.

Basketball fan or not, the Big Apple is living and breathing the story of the 2026 New York Knickerbockers—a team that has not won an NBA championship since 1973, a drought stretching more than half a century. The city was vibrating with excitement heading into last night’s game. “Get-in” ticket prices peaked at more than $11,000 per seat, while courtside seats were reportedly approaching $100,000.

Further, the team had been on fire, riding an unprecedented 13-game winning streak and five straight home victories. No one ever wants to mess with a streak.

Except, perhaps, the President of the United States: Donald J. Trump. Boo! Yah?

*****************************************

When it was announced that he would be attending the game, it triggered a massive, multi-agency logistical operation.

1. Perimeter Lockdowns and “Frozen Zones”

The Radius: Starting at 4:00 p.m., a strict security perimeter was enforced from West 30th to West 35th Streets, between Sixth and Eighth Avenues.

Traffic and Pedestrian Restrictions: Vehicular traffic was shut down on Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Pedestrians were barred from entering the zone unless they could prove they had a game ticket, a commuter rail ticket for Penn Station, or credentials for a local business.

Physical Barriers: Crews erected a 10-foot anti-scale perimeter fence and vehicle-mitigation barriers surrounding the arena.

2. Strict Fan and Building Mandates

No-Bag Policy: A zero-tolerance ban on bags was instituted. Fans were prohibited from bringing backpacks, briefcases, purses, or handbags, and Madison Square Garden provided no outside storage for prohibited items.

TSA-Style Screening: To process roughly 20,000 attendees, five designated entry checkpoints were established outside the perimeter. Fans had to pass through metal detectors and TSA-style magnetometers manned directly by Secret Service agents, prompting officials to advise attendees to arrive at least two hours before tip-off.

Lockdown Maintenance: NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that the entire security grid would remain in place for the duration of the evening, regardless of whether the President left early.

3. Inside-the-Arena Modifications

Suite Security: The President watched the game from Knicks owner James Dolan’s executive suite, which was enclosed with protective security glass.

Secret Service Takeover: Federal agents commandeered the neighboring luxury suites on both sides of Dolan’s box to establish a secure buffer zone.

Media Restrictions: Even credentialed media members faced tighter security measures, including restrictions on access to team locker rooms before the game.

4. Cancellation of the Outdoor Watch Party

Perhaps the most disruptive change for local fans was the sudden cancellation of the highly popular outdoor watch party at Plaza33 directly outside the Garden. The NYPD and Secret Service jointly determined that the gathering could not be safely accommodated alongside the presidential security footprint. As a result, city officials scrambled to relocate public viewing spaces several blocks away to Bryant Park and Central Park.

All because this President wanted to attend the game. Boo! Yah?Now, mind you, there have been some legendary sports fans in the White House. Mr. Nixon loved both the Washington Redskins and the California Angels. Mr. Ford was a fan of Michigan football and the Detroit Tigers. Both Presidents Bush were devoted baseball fans—the Red Sox, Astros, and Rangers among their favorites. Mr. Obama is all Chicago: White Sox, Bears, and Bulls.

Mr. Trump?

It’s all performative—a photo op staged largely at the inconvenience of diehard fans.

Even so, one need not be a legendary sports fan to attend a game while serving as President. There are countless examples of presidents attending sporting events, dating back to Woodrow Wilson attending a World Series game in 1915. But it does not happen often.

Mr. Biden did not attend a professional sporting event while in office. Before that, the last sitting president to attend an NBA game was Mr. Obama, who watched the Washington Wizards play the Chicago Bulls in 2010.

Mr. Trump, however, has repeatedly used taxpayer-funded security and transportation resources to attend sporting events, including:

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

Trump has a deep, decades-long relationship with UFC CEO Dana White and combat sports, routinely sitting ringside at major pay-per-view cards.

• UFC 244 (2019): Attended Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz at Madison Square Garden, making history as the first sitting president to attend a UFC event.

• UFC 314 & 316 (2025): Attended events in Miami, Florida, and Newark, New Jersey, during the first year of his second term.

• UFC 327 (2026): Attended the Miami event at the Kaseya Center in April alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

• Note: He has even scheduled a six-bout UFC event on the White House South Lawn to take place on June 14, 2026, in honor of his 80th birthday and America’s 250th anniversary.

Football (NFL & College)

• College Football National Championships (2018, 2020, 2026): Attended the 2018 title game in Atlanta (Alabama vs. Georgia) and the 2020 title game in New Orleans (LSU vs. Clemson). He also made an appearance at the January 2026 National Championship.

• Army-Navy Games (2018, 2019, 2020): Attended the historic annual military rivalry game multiple times during his first term, taking part in the traditional mid-game midfield crossover.

• Super Bowl LIX (2025): Made history on February 9, 2025, by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to physically attend the Super Bowl in person.

• Washington Commanders Game (2025/2026): Attended a local NFL game in Maryland during his second term.

Professional Golf & The Ryder Cup

As a golf course developer and avid player, Mr. Trump frequently uses his own properties to host and watch major tournament play.

• U.S. Women’s Open (2017): Attended the tournament while it was being played at his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

• LIV Golf Tournaments (2022–2025): Has frequently attended and played in the pro-am portions of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf events hosted at his Doral and Bedminster courses.

• The Ryder Cup (2025): Attended the opening round of the prestigious international team tournament at Bethpage Black Golf Course in New York in September 2025.

Tennis & Major League Baseball

• MLB World Series (2019): Attended Game 5 of the World Series between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros at Nationals Park.

• New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers (2025): Attended a game at Yankee Stadium on September 11, 2025, to mark the 24th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

• U.S. Open Tennis Championships (2015, 2025): Attended as president in September 2025 to watch the Men’s Singles Final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It must be nice.

And, oh, the hypocrisy.

Mr. Trump claims to support small business. If I were a small-business owner within ten blocks of Madison Square Garden, I would have expected a banner night. With 20,000 people attending and tens of thousands more surrounding the Garden, watching on giant screens and soaking in the atmosphere, cash should have been flowing like the Hudson River.

But not under lockdown.

Small business got screwed. Boo! Yah?

Mr. Trump claims we need to spend $1 billion on a secure ballroom at the White House, yet it is apparently perfectly safe for him to mingle among 20,000 New Yorkers in a comparatively unsecured venue. Boo! Yah?

Waste, fraud and abuse? How about the cost of presidential air transport, local law-enforcement overtime, Secret Service deployment, and enough McDonald's and Diet Coke to fuel the operation? Boo! Yah?

And hey… let’s be gracious for a moment. He’s the President. He works hard. Perhaps he deserves an occasional perk. Maybe he should be allowed to enjoy one of the great fringe benefits of the office: a seat at the biggest game, with the championship hanging in the balance.

This was edge-of-your-seat stuff. The best of the best and history in the making.

The game came down to the final possessions.

Except… Mr. Trump fell asleep.

OMFG… he fell… asleep.

I don’t even like professional basketball and I watched the entire second half living and dying with every shot.

And the President… slept.

He spent all that money, deployed all those resources, inconvenienced an entire city...

... for a comfortable chair and a nap.

Boo.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

As the author of the “Art of the Deal” tries to make one in the middle east, we may want to look back in history a bit. In case you missed it, check out a re-print of a piece published in 2025. Click on:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/funny-business-trust-me-says-the

*****************************

Funny business.

So Mr. Trump pulls out of COP21, he has vowed to pull out of the Transpacific Partnership, NAFTA, etc... he has a history of not paying contractors, defaulting on obligations, defrauding students at Trump University... and on and on.

Further.. he has insulted government officials (most recently the Mayor of London hours after a horrible tragedy), nations, classes of individuals and individuals themselves.

He has vowed to “re-negotiate” these climate and trade agreements.

If an agreement is based upon trust, integrity or even personal relations... and yet the man clearly can NOT be trusted (or even liked), why on G-d’s green earth would a world leader ever even sit down with him or his agents?

Some businessman, eh?

Funny.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

*****************************

Up or down?

I am not talking about tariffs - the Administration’s all-too-transparent habit of sending the stock market on a roller coaster ride.

I am talking about the President’s post on Truth Social immediately after his conversation with Vladimir Putin. First it was up. Then, inexplicably, it was taken down.

Mr. Trump wrote:

“President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”

With what—a thank-you note? Flowers?

Of course not. Mr. Putin was saying, in not so many words, “I am now going to blow Ukraine off the face of the earth.” The bear rarely takes kindly to being punched in the face. On the phone with Mr. Trump, Mr. Putin was doing his best Ivan Drago impression:

“I must break you.”

This war - the one Mr. Trump promised during the campaign to end within 24 hours of taking office - now appears headed for further escalation. Some will say, “Well, that’s not our problem.” Except it is. Every escalation adds more sparks to a world that already resembles a powder keg.

Which brings us back to Mr. Trump’s Truth Social post. Without any additional commentary, it amounted to an acknowledgement - if not tacit approval - of Mr. Putin’s intention to unleash even greater destruction on a sovereign nation. Mr. Trump, for those keeping score, was silent. He quoted Mr. Putin and left it there.

He did not say escalation was unacceptable. He did not remind Mr. Putin of threatened sanctions. He did not speak about the human cost of war.

Instead, the silence seemed to say:

“I get it.”

And then, to add insult to injury, rather than reconsidering the post, editing it, or adding the kind of context one might expect from the leader of the free world, Mr. Trump simply deleted it.

That is not leadership. It is the political equivalent of closing one’s eyes and shutting out the sights and sounds of destruction - the images of shattered cities and innocent people dying in Ukraine.

We used to stand on the side of freedom, even when freedom was the underdog. Rocky eventually beat Ivan Drago.

But look at what Amerika has become: a nation willing to turn a blind eye to the atrocities of war.

Now we are irrelevant.

Rocky looked at Drago - and then Rocky left the ring.

We are neither

Up... nor down.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

I hope everyone had a meaningful Memorial Day. Since 1971, Americans have observed this holiday by visiting cemeteries, attending parades and ceremonies, and gathering with family. For many, it marks the beginning of summer. But at its core, Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service to this nation.

Over the last few years, I’ve come to appreciate the metaphysical and the possibility that something of us remains after we are gone. Today, I found myself wondering what those who died for our freedoms would think if they could see the devolution of Amerika in recent months.

Honestly? I think they would be horrified.

Today, the leader of the “free” world posted the following:

“”HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL, INCLUDING THE SCUM THAT SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY THROUGH WARPED RADICAL LEFT MINDS, WHO ALLOWED 21,000,000 MILLION PEOPLE TO ILLEGALLY ENTER OUR COUNTRY, MANY OF THEM BEING CRIMINALS AND THE MENTALLY INSANE, THROUGH AN OPEN BORDER THAT ONLY AN INCOMPETENT PRESIDENT WOULD APPROVE, AND THROUGH JUDGES WHO ARE ON A MISSION TO KEEP MURDERERS, DRUG DEALERS, RAPISTS, GANG MEMBERS, AND RELEASED PRISONERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, IN OUR COUNTRY SO THEY CAN ROB, MURDER, AND RAPE AGAIN — ALL PROTECTED BY THESE USA HATING JUDGES WHO SUFFER FROM AN IDEOLOGY THAT IS SICK, AND VERY DANGEROUS FOR OUR COUNTRY,”

Like... what the hell is that and where do you even begin to dissect it?

• “Happy Memorial Day?” Inappropriate and not in any way what this holiday is about.

• “Scum?” “Warped radical left minds?” I guess a message of unity for those who gave their all fell victim to an ethos of division and hate.

• 21,000,000 million: Aside from being redundant, it is at best unverifiable.

• General fear mongering? Immigrants portrayed as monsters, judges branded as traitors, fellow Americans painted as enemies. The hatred it feeds is impossible to ignore.

And on and on it went — a torrent of anger, insults, fearmongering, and division.

Did our servicemen and women die for this?

Of course not.

They died for the Great Experiment. For a pluralistic society built on liberty, equality, and the rule of law. They died defending freedoms - including those enshrined in the Bill of Rights. They died believing that democracy, however imperfect, was worth preserving.

And despite the moronic musings of Mr. Trump, today is not about him. It is about those who believed in the American ideal enough to give their lives for it.

So today, the rest of us should honor them with something better than anger, cruelty, and division.

We should honor them...

In memoriam.

We have our first player to make the Elite 8 thanks to a breaking resignation. Tulsi Gabbard retreats to the sidelines as it was just announced that she is resigning from her job as President Donald Trump's director ‌of national intelligence. She is reported to be leaving office to tend to her husband, sadly suffering from a rare form of bone cancer. I sincerely hope he recovers.

Doubters say that she was forced out and is just trying to protect her reputation.

Still… let’s face it: she was wholly unqualified for the role, stonewalled Congress to a degree that had to be personally and professionally humiliating and was grossly ineffective in advising the President in any compelling way - if she even tried. She was a longshot to get to the Final Four and so I do not expect this news to break anyone’s bracket.

So… CIA Director John Radcliffe moves beyond the Sweet Sixteen and into the Elite 8 where he will face off against Todd Blanche, Markwayne Mullen or Kash Patel as we continue our game.

****************************************************

****************************************************

Left Right And Centered Bracketology 052226

39.2KB ∙ XLSX file

Download

Download

Bracketology 052226

451KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

This is for recreational purposes only.

Please do not reproduce this material except to share with friends and family. All other uses (including those that produce financial gain) are prohibited without the expressed written permission from representatives of Left, Right and Centered.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

It’s been a minute, but if you missed our last posting, please click on:

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/taxing-maga-economics-meets-reality

Civics 101 for those of you who, even for a second, think tariff policy is a good idea.

OK class... who pays the tariff, and when?

A. The nation upon whom we impose the tariff on exports
B. The foreign manufacturer or provider when the product leaves their facility
C. The American importer at the American dock
D. None of the above

If you guessed C, congratulations — you are correct. At least until the importer recoups the cost from — yes, you guessed it — the CONSUMER. That would be you and me.

We do not invoice China, for example, for tariffs on its exports. We do not send a bill to Nippon Steel for imported steel. If we did, it would be called an export tax, not a tariff.

Here’s how it actually works.

A ship arrives, for example, at the Port of Savannah. Containers are offloaded, and U.S. Customs clears the cargo. Before the importer can leave the port with those goods, they must pay the U.S. government. Period.

Tariffs are designed to make foreign goods more expensive and less competitive because the cost is ultimately passed along to the consumer. Wood products from Canada. Avocados from Mexico. Electronics from Asia. Clothing from Vietnam. The price goes up for Americans so that more expensive but otherwise identical products made in the United States can capture greater market share.

I suppose that sounds great to the MAGA crowd chanting “Buy American.” What they have not realized — at least not yet — is that buying American often costs more.

Do you really think Walmart is going to absorb the cost of tariffs on clothing made in Vietnam? Hell no. That polyester shirt gets more expensive. That replacement iPhone suddenly costs $2,000. And that’s before the ripple effects spread through the rest of the economy.

Any economist worth their salt will tell you the same thing: tariffs are inflationary. Always. The billions supposedly flowing into the U.S. Treasury are not coming from China or Japan. They are coming straight out of your pocket.

And there’s more.

All those longshoremen and truckers working at our ports? Just last week, NPR reported that major ports up and down the West Coast are bracing for the full impact of the Trump administration’s tariffs. Container-ship traffic is expected to decline dramatically, especially in Southern California.

Do you think those workers get paid to stand around with their hands in their pockets? Do truckers make money sitting in a cab with no trailer behind them?

Hell no.

That means layoffs. Pink slips. Slowing commerce. Economic drag spreading from the ports inward.

It’s all just…

Taxing.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

In case you missed it, check out this relatively provocative piece…

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/buckle-up-thank-you-mr-trump

Do not fall out of your chair. I am about to say something so out of character that it borders on absurdity:

“Thank you, Mr. Trump.”

There. I said it.

Now excuse me while I recover from the horrific taste left in my mouth as I uttered that sentence.

Of course, this requires both a history lesson and an explanation.

The History Lesson

In his first inaugural address, George Washington described the founding of the United States as “the last great experiment for promoting human happiness.” He and the other founding fathers understood that America represented something unprecedented in human history: a nation built not through monarchy, conquest, or inherited power, but through reflection, choice, and the consent of the governed.

The more familiar phrase - “The Great Experiment” - is often associated with Alexis de Tocqueville and his 1835 work Democracy in America. At a time when Europe remained dominated by monarchies and rigid class structures, de Tocqueville viewed America as a testing ground for whether liberty and equality could coexist without society collapsing into chaos or the tyranny of the majority.

The United States was attempting something radical:

• No king.

• No state-mandated religion.

• A written Constitution that governed through law rather than tradition, bloodline, or whim.

For nearly two centuries, the experiment largely worked.

The genius of the Constitution rested in its system of checks and balances - executive, legislative, and judicial branches designed to restrain one another. The rule of law established boundaries meant to ensure that government remained of the people, by the people, and for the people.

For generations, despite wars, economic crises, and cultural upheaval, the republic endured because leaders generally valued statesmanship, compromise, and institutional stability over personal or partisan gain.

But after World War II, the foundations began to erode.

In 1956, John F. Kennedy published Profiles in Courage, warning of a growing tension inside representative democracy. Kennedy asked a fundamental question: Is an elected official merely a delegate who mirrors public opinion, or a trustee who exercises independent judgment in pursuit of the nation’s long-term interests?

Over time, the “Trustee Model” gave way to something far more partisan. Elected officials increasingly stopped governing as institutional stewards and instead became guardians of party orthodoxy. Politics became less about persuasion and compromise and more about ideological warfare.

The State of the Union

The consequences are everywhere.

Congress has become synonymous with paralyzing gridlock. Governing has too often given way to performative politics, outrage cycles, and permanent campaigning. Leaders prioritize partisan victory over national progress, and the public increasingly pays the price.

International indices such as the Social Progress Imperative and the Legatum Institute paint a complicated picture of modern America.

The United States remains an economic and technological superpower, ranking near the top globally in areas such as:

Top 10 Rankings (Global Leader)

In these areas, the U.S. typically ranks among the very best in the world, largely driven by its economic infrastructure and academic resources.

• Infrastructure & Market Access (Ranked 4th)

• Access to Advanced Education (Top 10)

• Investment Environment (High Tier)

• Economic Quality (High Tier)

• Quality of Research Universities (Top 10)

• Innovation and Patents (Top 10)

• Business Environment (High Tier)

• Household Spending Power (Top 10)

Rankings Between 11 and 50 (Competitive but Lagging)

Yet in many measures tied directly to quality of life, social cohesion, and public well-being, America ranks surprisingly low among developed nations:

• Overall Social Progress (Ranked 32nd)

• Overall Prosperity (Ranked 19th)

• Personal Freedom (Ranked 29th)

• Governance (Ranked 23rd)

• Natural Environment (Ranked 28th)

• Living Conditions (Ranked 29th)

• Personal Rights (Ranked 46th)

• Inclusiveness (Ranked 33rd)

Rankings Between 51 and 100 (Significant Challenges)

Even more troubling, the United States performs poorly in areas where a wealthy democracy should excel:.

• Personal Safety (Ranked 69th)

• Health Outcomes (Ranked 69th)

• Shelter Affordability (Lower Tier)

• Water and Sanitation Accessibility (Lower Tier)

• Equality of Political Power by Social Group (Lower Tier)

• Discrimination and Violence Against Minorities (Lower Tier)

• Life Expectancy at Birth (Lower Tier)

• Preventable Deaths (Lower Tier)

• Interpersonal Trust (Lower Tier)

• Environmental Quality (Air/Water) (Lower Tier)

Note: The United States is noted as one of only eight countries to show a decline in overall social progress over the last 15 years, moving it from a top-tier performer to a second-tier position (32nd overall).

To be clear: this decline did not begin with Donald Trump, nor can it be blamed entirely on him. But his presidency accelerated many of the nation’s deepest institutional weaknesses

Failure of the Great Experiment

The Great Experiment is failing on two levels.

First, hyper-partisanship has rendered the legislative branch increasingly dysfunctional. Congress struggles to address even urgent national challenges in a meaningful or lasting way. Republicans who break from party orthodoxy are often ostracized. Democrats frequently lack the votes or political cohesion necessary to govern effectively. Statesmanship and compromise have become political liabilities rather than virtues.

Second - and far more dangerous - the constitutional system only works if leaders respect the rule of law.

Checks and balances are not self-executing. Investigations, censures, court rulings, and even impeachments mean nothing when political actors refuse to honor institutional norms or when consequences cease to matter.

That erosion has fundamentally altered American governance.

Public trust has collapsed. Political discourse has become tribal and hostile. Institutions once viewed as stabilizing forces are increasingly dismissed as partisan weapons. The result is a nation more divided, less trusting, and more unstable than at any point in modern memory.

The end result has been graft, war and divisiveness at a level never experienced in America. Personally, I see the nation sliding backwards and more like the dystopian warnings only imagined by Margaret Atwood in “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

Conceptually, the Great Experiment succeeded. In practice, however, the modern political environment has exposed structural weaknesses the founders could never fully anticipate. And there may be no going back.

Gratitude

Which brings me back to the uncomfortable part:

“Thank you, Mr. Trump.”

Not because his leadership strengthened the republic. Quite the opposite. Rather, because the magnitude of the disruption may finally force Americans to confront the reality that the system itself is no longer functioning as intended.

Without such a profound rupture, the political pendulum likely would have continued its familiar swing: one administration advancing policy, the next dismantling it, and years spent merely restoring the status quo. Incremental progress. Incremental regression. Endless gridlock.

Welcome to modern America: “Make America Average Again.”

The deeper issue is structural.

The Constitution was written for an eighteenth-century nation of four million people, not a twenty-first-century superpower of more than 330 million citizens operating in a digital, hyper-partisan, globally interconnected world.

The existing system depends heavily on norms, restraint, and institutional good faith. When those disappear, the machinery of government becomes dangerously vulnerable.

I believe that Mr. Trump has brought us to a tipping point. The Constitution is not built for the 21st century. Mr. Trump has become a Dictator and operates without boundaries. The system of checks and balances does not work in a bi-partisan world. The price for disregarding the rule of law is zero and not a disincentive for foul play. Yet I can’t really blame him and a part of me wishes that maybe we would be a stronger nation if Mr. Obama or Mr. Biden had taken a cue from Nike and “just did it.” Gridlock in Congress halted progressive policy development and had either president used executive privilege fearlessly, we would have clean energy policies, health care, gun control, education reform, environmental protection, infrastructure and more.

So in the coming election cycles, maybe the better part of wisdom is to blow it all up - to declare the Great Experiment to be closed and for a new generation of really smart people to step up and re-invent an American Governance Structure v2.0. Maybe we need to recognize that the Trump years have been so bad and such a setback that this can never be allowed to happen again - and if it does, a refreshed system of checks and balances that is more easily employed and has such a bite that the only way to govern is through diplomacy and statesmanship on discrete policy that can be understood by legislators and executives and enacted not from bills that span hundreds and thousands of pages but are clear, focused and easily understood by policymakers, those that implement the laws and the people who the government serves.

If that is to be the case, we all had better expect a bumpy ride and…

Buckle Up.

Subscribe now

Share

Leave a comment

Have you updated your brackets? Click on:

Bracketology: Update Your Brackets!

https://leftrightandcentered.substack.com/p/bracketology-update-your-brackets

Bracketology.