King vs The People - Trump Presses on With Tariffs Despite Court - 2.22.2026

As Donald Trump continues to advance sweeping tariff policies in defiance of judicial rulings, the nation finds itself confronting a deeper constitutional question: Are we governed by laws, or by the will of one man?

Courts exist to interpret and uphold the Constitution, not to serve as advisory panels that can be ignored when inconvenient. When executive authority presses forward despite judicial constraint, it tests the structural balance the framers designed to prevent the very concentration of power Americans rejected in 1776. The issue is no longer simply tariffs. It is whether checks and balances remain meaningful.

Equally significant is the court of public opinion. Voters may ultimately decide whether economic nationalism and confrontation with the judiciary represent strength—or overreach. History suggests that when leaders appear to elevate personal authority above institutional limits, backlash can follow, particularly in midterm elections where accountability often sharpens.

America was founded in rejection of kingship. Any policy dispute that begins to resemble a struggle between centralized personal power and constitutional restraint should concern citizens across party lines.

Profits Over Children’s: LIVES? - 2.20.2026

The image of Mark Zuckerberg taking the stand in a landmark social media addiction trial should stop us all in our tracks. This is not just another corporate hearing—it is a moral reckoning.

For years, tech companies have denied, deflected, and delayed while evidence mounted that their platforms are engineered to maximize engagement at any cost. Now we are forced to confront a devastating truth: profits have been placed above the well-being of children.

What does it say about our society that we allow products designed to exploit developing minds to flourish unchecked? That algorithms—cold, calculated, and profit-driven—are shaping childhood experiences, fueling anxiety, depression, and addiction?

This trial is not just about liability. It is about responsibility. It is about whether we, as a society, are willing to draw a line and say that children’s lives are worth more than quarterly earnings.

History will judge this moment. The question is whether we will act with courage—or continue to look away.

U.S. Army plant a major source of ammo for Mexican cartels - 2.19.2026

The recent revelations that a U.S. Army–owned ammunition plant is a major source of .50-caliber rounds recovered from Mexican cartel violence should shock the conscience of every American. But more than that, it should force us to confront an uncomfortable truth: we are not merely bystanders to this violence—we are enablers.

Let us be clear. These are not ordinary bullets. These are military-grade rounds capable of tearing through vehicles, downing aircraft, and devastating human life. And yet, nearly half of the seized ammunition of this kind in Mexico traces back to production tied to our own government—ammunition that was allowed to flow into civilian markets and ultimately into the hands of organized crime.

We can hide behind technicalities and say, “the U.S. Army didn’t sell directly to cartels.” But that is a hollow defense. If a system we built, regulate, and profit from is consistently arming criminal syndicates responsible for mass murder, then that system implicates us. This is not a loophole. It is complicity.

For years, we have condemned cartel brutality while ignoring the pipeline that helps sustain it. We have exported not just weapons, but chaos, instability, and death across our southern border. The consequences are measured in lives lost—police officers, civilians, journalists—people whose only misfortune was living within reach of a system we refuse to fix.

At what point do we stop pretending this is someone else’s problem?

If we are serious about law, order, and human dignity, then we must confront this crisis with urgency and honesty. That means stricter controls, real accountability, and an end to the quiet normalization of practices that allow military-grade firepower to slip into criminal hands.

Anything less is a moral failure.

We cannot continue to condemn violence abroad while enabling it at home. History will not judge us kindly if we do.

Jesse Jackson, the World Salutes You - 2.18.2026

Jesse Jackson Fought for Justice at Home And Abroad

The recent reflection on the extraordinary life and work of Jesse Jackson serves as a powerful reminder of what principled, sustained activism can achieve.

For decades, Jackson stood at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights, economic justice, voting rights, labor rights, and peace. From his early work with Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to founding Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he built multiracial, multi-faith coalitions that reshaped American politics. His historic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988 expanded the electorate, registered millions of new voters, and gave voice to those long excluded from the political process.

Jackson’s impact extended beyond domestic policy. He championed human rights internationally, advocating for democracy and helping secure the release of political prisoners abroad. His work demonstrated that the fight for justice transcends borders and that American leadership can be rooted in moral conviction.

At a time when cynicism often overshadows public life, Jackson’s career reminds us that moral courage, coalition-building, and persistence can move a nation closer to its ideals. His legacy challenges current and future generations to continue the unfinished work of equality and justice.

ON THE BRINK: WASHINGTON AND TEHRAN PLAYING WITH FIRE - 2.18.2026

As Trita Parsi , Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute , warns, we are facing an “extremely dangerous situation.” Both the United States and Iran now have political incentives to escalate rather than de-escalate. That is a combustible formula.

When domestic pressures reward toughness and punish restraint, diplomacy becomes politically risky while confrontation becomes convenient. Miscalculation, not strategy, often lights the fuse of war. History shows how quickly tit-for-tat actions spiral beyond anyone’s control.

Leaders in Washington and Tehran must recognize that escalation may serve short-term optics but carries catastrophic long-term costs—human, economic and geopolitical. The region, and the world, cannot afford another preventable conflict.

Statesmanship requires courage: the courage to talk, to compromise and to step back from the brink. Anything less invites disaster.

Accountability at Risk: When Unconditional U.S. Support Enables Netanyahu’s Power Politics - 2.18.2026

Thomas Friedman’s latest column is not only incisive — it is urgently necessary. He lays bare what too many American leaders refuse to say plainly: Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to disregard cease-fire understandings while expecting unquestioning U.S. support, treating the United States as though we will absorb any action without consequence.

Even more troubling is the political reality driving these policies. Netanyahu’s actions increasingly appear shaped not by long-term security strategy, but by personal political survival — by a desperate effort to remain in power, avoid accountability in his ongoing corruption cases, and appease the most extreme and undemocratic members of his far-right coalition. When policy is driven by the need to stay out of jail and satisfy ideological hardliners, stability and diplomacy inevitably suffer.

The American people are not fools. We provide extraordinary military, diplomatic, and financial backing to Israel because we are told our interests and democratic values are aligned. When cease-fires are violated, when escalation replaces restraint, and when U.S. credibility is strained on the world stage, that alignment is called into serious question.

No ally should assume automatic support while undermining agreements the United States has worked to secure. Real friendship requires accountability. Real partnership requires mutual respect.

Friedman is right to warn that unconditional backing, absent consequences for violations, damages both American interests and Israel’s long-term security.

It is time for U.S. leaders to insist that American support not be taken for granted. 

The Hidden Epidemic of Social Isolation - 2.17.2026

In our hyper-connected world, it is ironic that social isolation has reached crisis levels. Experts such as Jonathan Haidt have highlighted the profound mental health consequences of prolonged isolation, including anxiety, depression, and weakened resilience. Yet, the problem extends far beyond individual behavior—it is amplified by the design of modern technology and advertising.

Much like the historical addiction to cigarettes fueled by marketing, cell phone usage has been deliberately engineered to capture attention, drawing users into endless scrolling and passive engagement. The relentless allure of notifications, personalized ads, and social media “likes” creates a cycle that keeps individuals glued to their devices at the expense of real-world connections. The result is a generation simultaneously more connected digitally yet increasingly isolated in reality.

This is not merely a social inconvenience—it is a public health concern. Addiction to these technologies undermines our ability to form meaningful relationships, exacerbates loneliness, and fosters anxiety. Society must recognize the psychological and social cost of these digital habits and take steps to encourage genuine, face-to-face human connection. Awareness, regulation, and personal accountability are crucial in mitigating the harm caused by this modern epidemic.

Social isolation is not an inevitable consequence of modern life—it is a challenge we can address before its impact becomes irreversible.

Rethinking U.S. Policy Toward Cuba - 2.17.2026

President Trump’s recent labeling of Cuba as a “failed nation” and his refusal to rule out military action is alarming. While Cuba faces hardships, it’s crucial to remember that decades of U.S. sanctions—combined with historical interference—have exacerbated suffering for ordinary Cubans. Even before the 1959 revolution, Cuba endured the brutal dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, supported by outside interests.

A constructive first step would be to lift the harsh sanctions that harm ordinary people and allow the free flow of oil from Venezuela, rather than treating Cuba as an enemy. The U.S. cannot continue acting as a global bully, isolating nations and creating hardships abroad while claiming moral authority at home. If we persist down this path, we risk becoming a pariah state ourselves.

Engagement, not threats, is the path toward genuine freedom and stability.

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.

Power Without Consequence: How Institutions Failed Epstein’s Victims - 2.5.2026

The Justice Department’s refusal to pursue new investigations into Jeffrey Epstein’s powerful co-conspirators is more than a legal failure—it is a profound moral betrayal. Representative Ro Khanna is right to demand accountability. Once again, the names and faces of victims are exposed, while those with wealth, influence, and status remain protected from jail cells and courtrooms.

Why does power still function as immunity? Why are the worst crimes imaginable—the rape and trafficking of children—treated with caution when the accused belong to elite circles? A justice system that shields the powerful while re-traumatizing survivors has lost its claim to legitimacy.

Even more disturbing is the silence of moral authorities. Where is the Pope’s voice? Where is the collective outrage of the Christian community, whose teachings demand protection of the vulnerable and justice for the abused? When churches remain quiet while predators walk free, their silence echoes louder than any sermon.

Faith without moral courage is empty. Justice without equality is a lie. Until every Epstein co-conspirator is fully investigated and prosecuted, our institutions—legal and religious alike—stand exposed as complicit in protecting the powerful at the expense of the innocent.

Israeli mass murder continues - 2.4.2026

The latest Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, which killed at least 21 Palestinians on February 4, are not an isolated tragedy—they are part of a sustained campaign of terror against a trapped civilian population. Homes, neighborhoods, and families are being erased with chilling regularity, while the world is urged to look away or accept the violence as inevitable.

There is nothing inevitable about bombing civilians. There is nothing defensive about turning Gaza into a graveyard. These strikes come after months of mass death, displacement, and starvation inflicted on Palestinians who have nowhere to flee and no protection from the skies above them. Children, the elderly, and the wounded continue to pay the highest price for political decisions made far from the rubble.

International law is clear: collective punishment and indiscriminate attacks are war crimes. Yet accountability remains absent, replaced by hollow statements of “concern” and unconditional military support. Silence, in this moment, is not neutrality—it is complicity.

If the mass killing of Palestinians is allowed to continue without consequence, the very idea of human rights becomes meaningless. Justice delayed is justice denied, and Gaza cannot survive more delays.

Democracy Under Federal Siege - 2.3.2026

Democracy in America is facing a grave and escalating threat. Fulton County’s decision to sue over the FBI’s seizure of election ballots is not just a local legal dispute—it is a national alarm. Federal power is being weaponized in a dangerous attempt to relitigate a settled election and undermine public faith in the vote.

Donald Trump, still unable to accept his 2020 defeat, is openly urging Republicans to “nationalize” elections, a move that would strip states and counties of their constitutional authority. This is not reform; it is centralization by force. It is an effort to place elections under partisan federal control after voters rejected him at the ballot box.
Even more troubling is the use of taxpayer funds to pursue this obsession. Instead of protecting election workers and strengthening democratic institutions, federal resources are being diverted to chase conspiracy theories and intimidate local officials who followed the law.

History teaches us that democracy rarely collapses overnight. It is eroded step by step—through pressure, intimidation, and the normalization of abuse of power. The events in Fulton County represent one such step.

If elections can be seized, second-guessed, or federally overruled to satisfy one man’s grievances, then no future election is truly secure. Defending democracy now is not optional—it is critical.

No ceasefire, more suffering - 2.2.2026

The partial reopening of the Rafah crossing is being presented as humanitarian progress. It is not. It is a rationed mercy imposed under occupation.

After two years of total closure, Israeli forces will allow Rafah to operate for just six hours a day, permitting only 150 Palestinians to leave Gaza and 50 to enter. This is not relief; it is triage under siege. Tens of thousands of critically ill and wounded Palestinians — many of them children — remain trapped, while Gaza health officials report that more than 1,200 people have already died waiting for medical transfer denied by this closure.

Across the border, Egypt has prepared thousands of medical staff, hundreds of hospitals, and fleets of ambulances. The capacity exists. What is missing is freedom of movement — deliberately withheld.

For families like Mohammed Mahdi’s, whose father was suddenly cleared to leave after hope had all but died, the system feels “like a dream.” But dreams rationed by force are not justice.

This cruelty is compounded by continued Israeli airstrikes that have killed at least 30 people this weekend alone, including six children, in clear violation of the ceasefire.

A humanitarian corridor that operates by quota, under bombs, is not a ceasefire. 

When Enforcement Becomes Lawlessness - 2.2.2026

Across the United States, seething anger is no longer simmering—it is erupting. More than 300 anti-ICE protests in a single day are not the work of agitators; they are the unmistakable signal of a public pushed past its limit.

What is unfolding under the banner of immigration enforcement bears the hallmarks of democratic erosion. Masked agents, unmarked vehicles, warrantless actions, and intimidation tactics have no place in a constitutional republic. When fear replaces due process, the law is no longer being enforced—it is being violated.

Chicago’s decision to order local law enforcement to investigate illegal activity by federal immigration agents is both necessary and overdue. Federal authority does not confer immunity from the law. It demands higher accountability, not exemption from it.

History is unambiguous: when the state treats communities as enemies, legitimacy collapses. Raids that terrorize families, destabilize neighborhoods, and bypass oversight do not make the country safer. They fracture trust and harden resistance.

Democracy does not survive by silence. It survives when people stand, protest, and insist that power answer to the law—not stand above it.