Defend Democracy - 2.13.2026

I am writing to express deep concern over what has been described as a “massive cover-up” surrounding the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and alarming reports of surveillance targeting lawmakers. Recent statements by Rep. Pramila Jayapal raise serious questions about transparency, accountability, and the integrity of our justice system under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership.

The American people deserve full disclosure regarding the Epstein investigation—who was involved, what was known, and why critical information may still be withheld. Any perception that powerful individuals are being shielded from scrutiny erodes public trust and fuels cynicism about equal justice under the law.

Equally troubling are allegations of spying on members of Congress. If true, such actions represent a direct threat to democratic norms and the constitutional balance of power. Surveillance of elected officials for political purposes cannot be tolerated in a functioning democracy.

This moment demands clarity, independent oversight, and a firm commitment to the rule of law. Transparency is not optional—it is essential to restoring faith in our institutions.

Transparency and Accountability in the Epstein Investigation - 2.11.2026

The American people deserve transparency and accountability, particularly in cases involving the exploitation and trafficking of minors.

What we know so far from publicly available court records and federal proceedings is deeply troubling. Jeffrey Epstein operated a sex trafficking scheme that targeted underage girls over a period of years. He was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges and later died while in federal custody. Ghislaine Maxwell was subsequently tried, convicted in 2021 on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges, and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Court documents and investigative records have indicated that Epstein maintained associations with numerous wealthy and influential individuals. However, many documents have been heavily redacted. While the protection of victims’ identities is absolutely essential and must remain a top priority, there are ongoing public concerns about whether the names of certain powerful individuals have been withheld beyond what is necessary to safeguard victims and ensure due process.

Transparency in this matter is not about sensationalism; it is about restoring public trust in our institutions. Survivors deserve justice. The public deserves confidence that no individual—regardless of wealth, status, or political connections—is shielded from accountability.

I respectfully urge continued oversight, lawful disclosure of appropriate information, and full accountability for anyone who knowingly participated in or enabled these crimes. Protecting victims must remain paramount, but justice must be applied equally and without favoritism. 

Light Through the Fence: How We Treat the Most Vulnerable Defines Us - 2.11.2026

The recent lawsuit alleging that a toddler was returned to an ICE detention facility during a measles outbreak forces us to confront a deeper moral question: What kind of nation are we becoming?

When children are frightened during enforcement raids—awakened by armed officers, separated from parents, or confined in unsafe conditions—the damage extends far beyond a single moment. Medical and psychological experts have long warned that such trauma can shape a child’s entire life. To then place a toddler in a facility facing a contagious disease outbreak raises serious concerns about both public health responsibility and basic human decency.
This situation also begs a profound question: If the great moral and religious leaders who shaped our world—figures who preached compassion, mercy, justice, and protection of the vulnerable—arrived at our borders today as strangers, would they be welcomed? Or would they be turned away?

The central teachings of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and other faiths emphasize care for the child, the stranger, and the oppressed. These traditions remind us that how we treat the most vulnerable is a measure of our moral character. History, including the painful legacy of apartheid in South Africa, shows us the lasting harm that occurs when state power is used in ways that dehumanize families. Leaders like Nelson Mandela demonstrated that true strength lies in justice and shared humanity.

Children are not political pawns. They are human beings deserving of safety, dignity, and protection—regardless of their immigration status.

Yet, our government designates white South Africans as an oppressed minority and grants them favored status, while subjecting Black and Brown immigrants to treatment that many describe as harsh, intimidating, and deeply distressing.
I respectfully urge you to support a full investigation into this matter, ensure stronger safeguards for minors in custody, and reaffirm policies that reflect our highest moral principles rather than our deepest fears.

The question before us is not only legal—it is moral. And history will remember how we answered it.

DOOMSDAY TICKING: A WAKE UP CALL - 2.10.2026

This Sunday on Fareed Zakaria GPS we confront a sobering reality: global nuclear stability is unraveling at an alarming pace. The landmark New START treaty — which for over a decade capped U.S. and Russian deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 each and provided vital transparency measures — officially expired on February 5, 2026, leaving no binding limits on the world’s two largest arsenals for the first time in more than 50 years.

This lapse comes at a moment when great power competition is intensifying. Russia has modernized most of its strategic forces and deployed large numbers of tactical weapons outside previous limits. China’s arsenal, while smaller, is rapidly expanding and may approach parity with other powers within a decade. Efforts to bring Beijing into future arms control talks have so far stalled.

With the symbolic Doomsday Clock nearer to midnight than ever and fears of a new arms race rising, this GPS broadcast is essential viewing. The world needs urgent leadership to rebuild arms control frameworks and reduce the risk of miscalculation or catastrophe. The clock may not read “80 seconds to midnight,” but the trend is unmistakable: unchecked nuclear competition endangers us all. 

Settler Violence undermining Trump’s Peace Initiative - 2.10.2026

The Netanyahu government’s handling of the West Bank—particularly its tolerance of violent settlers—has reached a point of open recklessness. These actions not only endanger Palestinians on the ground but now openly jeopardize the Trump administration’s own stated peace initiative.

Senior figures within the Trump administration have expressed fury at continued violence against Palestinians, especially attacks by settlers that Israeli authorities fail to prevent or prosecute. Such lawlessness directly undermines any credible peace effort and exposes the initiative as unworkable so long as impunity prevails.

Encouraging or excusing settler violence does not enhance Israel’s security. It erodes the rule of law, fuels instability, and places unarmed civilians at risk. Worse, it cynically invokes Jewish identity while violating Judaism’s core moral teachings, which uphold the sanctity of life and explicitly forbid violence against the innocent.

Faith cannot be used as cover for brutality, and diplomacy cannot survive selective justice. If peace is to mean anything, it must begin with accountability, restraint, and equal protection under the law—without exception.

PBS NEWSHOUR INTERVIEW LACKED BALANCE AND RIGOR - 2.8.2026

I have long respected PBS NewsHour for thoughtful, rigorous journalism, which is why I was deeply disappointed by the recent interview conducted by co anchors Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett with U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee. The exchange presented a highly one sided narrative of the conflict in Israel and Gaza, highlighting the “victory” of rescuing trapped Israelis while entirely overlooking the catastrophic suffering of Palestinians.

Tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza have faced starvation, bombardment, and death, and Palestinians in the West Bank continue to endure violence and human rights abuses. Yet these realities went unaddressed in the interview. Allowing Ambassador Huckabee to speak without challenging critical points or exploring the broader humanitarian crisis was a failure of journalistic responsibility.

Public media must hold power to account and provide balanced, comprehensive reporting — especially on complex international conflicts. PBS NewsHour fell short in this instance, and its viewers deserve better.

AMERICA’S DEMOCRACY AT RISK - 2.6.2026

The Atlantic’s December cover story, “The Coming Election Mayhem,” highlighted on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, warns that Donald Trump reportedly plans to refuse conceding the midterm elections and may even interfere with ballot counts. This is not speculation—it is a clear threat to the integrity of our democracy.

The peaceful transfer of power is the cornerstone of our Constitution. Any attempt to subvert elections endangers every future vote and erodes public trust in our institutions.

Americans, the media, and civic leaders must act now. We must demand full transparency, robust oversight, and accountability to ensure elections are free, fair, and secure. Democracy cannot survive passively—it requires vigilance from every citizen.