Trump Continues His Politics of Distraction

 By Mildred Robertson

So, Trump is at it again. Trying to distract us from the EPSTEIN FILES....

- Blowing up boats in open waters

- Kidnapping a foreign leader

- Sending troops to major sanctuary cities to war against the community

- Using babies as bait to lure immigrants to capture

- Crashing into people's cars on the streets of America as a means of apprehension

- Disbursing tear gas into neighborhoods, cars and houses

- Tear gassing people in the face

- Kidnapping American citizens and holding them unlawfully

- Killing American citizens in the streets

And now he wants to start a war with Iran for carrying out similar atrocities against its own citizens. Oh, and let's not forget that he is sending the FBI into Georgia to try to rewrite history to say he won the election against Joe Biden.

All of this deserves America's attention. But we cannot forget the Epstein files. He needs to be prosecuted for all of the above. But he, and all others who show up in the Epstein files need to be made to account for their actions and pay for any crimes they may have committed.

SHOW ME THE EPSTEIN FILES.

America Awakens to the Horrors of ICE Tactics

By Mildred Robertson

Everyone has heard of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both executed by ICE agents while peacefully protesting in Minnesota. It is horrific and sickening. It is unthinkable that those are the images I see when I turn on the morning news. Muted in the media coverage, however, are stories of black and brown people who have been abused and murdered at the hands of ICE. Extrajudicial killings of people of color is normal in America. It does not pierce the conscience of America as these killing did, though it should.

Another narrative in the media is how Renee Good and Alex Pretti were great citizens, and from all accounts they were. But that was not what made their murders wrong. No one needs to be dragged through the streets, peppered sprayed in the eyes and set upon by a hoard of jack-booted thugs and ultimately be slain.  

The brutality of this agency is unbelievable. There are at least 13 instances of immigration officers firing at or into civilian vehicles. At least eight of those resulted in gunshot wounds, with two leading to deaths. Those are just the ones we know about. And the general public does not even know their names.  Assumptions by many is that these people represent the “worst of the worse” Trump so fondly refers to in his rants about immigration.

Keith Porter, a black 43-year-old father of two was shot by an off-duty U.S. ICE agent in California on New Year’s Eve. He was not the “perfect victim” whose killing raises red flags for your average white Americans. Porter fired his gun in the air in celebration of New Year’s Eve according to his family. This tradition began in early U.S. history as a symbol of celebration and renewal, and it is occasionally still practiced in some Southern regions.  His actions were illegal but did not warrant a death sentence. And ICE agents are not police. But the media attention focused on him for a moment and then moved on.

They aimed a bright light on the murder of both Renee Good and Alex Pretti who had every right to protest. They had every right to record the violence being inflicted upon the citizens of Minneapolis. They had every right to offer a hand to a citizen violently pushed to the ground and then pepper sprayed.

Their murders were atrocious, gut wrenching, unthinkable. But so are the assaults on people who may or may not have committed a crime. So are the assaults on children, women, the elderly, the sick, many of whom have fallen victim to an overly aggressive, paramilitary force released on the streets of our cities.

No matter the circumstance, no matter what the crime, everyone residing within our borders has the right to face justice based on due process. No one deserves to be summarily executed in the streets of America, to be detained without warrant or to be expelled without adjudication of their case.

If we are going to wake up…let’s wake ALL the way up.

Stranger Things: America Living in the Upside Down

 Mildred Robertson

Every day I wake up to news of additional infractions against the constitutional rights of citizens and inhabitants in America. A nation once seen as full of promise and opportunity is now viewed as a hellscape.  

Today, America is a place where soccer moms are shot in the face and five-year-olds are used as bait to entice immigrants to surrender to masked thugs as vicious as Demogorgons; humanoid but not human. Just like these fictional monsters in the Supernatural horror series “Stranger Things,” ICE agents travel in pacts enacting the will of Trump who uses his power to manipulate, terrorize and sometimes kill his victim.  His main aim seems to be controlling the world.  

The American hellscape, just like the landscape in Stranger Things, creeps into every corner of our existence, consuming everything in its path. While ICE agents ram cars on our highways and beat and choke a 16-year-old citizen whose only mistake was travelling to school in a car driven by his immigrant father, these thugs have no respect for the rule of law. They murdered Alex Pretti, who simply attempted to protect a woman who they had viciously attacked and pepper sprayed. After the first shot, they peppered his body with up to ten shots once he was down.  It is reported that one of the agents commented their actions were just like the video game, “Call of Duty”.

This is not law enforcement, and it certainly is not a game.  This is anarchy cloaked in governmental authority. It appears that Donald Trump and his administration have unleashed a rabid group of criminals upon the streets of America, parading as law enforcement. It is alleged that many ICE agents were pulled from the ranks of the January 6^th rioters, and they seem anxious to continue their attack on the foundational rights and privileges enjoyed by Americans for well over 200 years.

They have taken to the streets kicking down doors, breaking windows dragging people from cars, beating citizens and non-citizens alike, with no regard to the constitutionality of their actions.  This administration has given them license to do as they please to those residing within our borders.

As disturbing as those actions are, it appears this administration has not seen enough violence on the streets. Trump seemingly plans to deploy the ACUTUAL military to the streets of American communities.

As new atrocities come into view daily, Congress and the courts seem stymied by the brazenness of this administration’s attacks on the rule of law. It is as though they are surprised that an elected leader of the United States would choose not to play by the rules.

Our courts and our Congress seem to be caught flat-footed in the face of an authoritarian leader whose goal is to subjugate the people and undermine the Constitution. It is amazing that they did not anticipate this upside-down world, when the Constitution itself recognized it, defined it and set up guard rails to contain it.

While our Founders clearly understood that one day someone would attempt to steal the freedoms they fought so hard to wrest from the hands of an imperialistic government, they believed that they had established a framework strong enough to repel a dictator’s rise to power. Unfortunately, those agencies empowered to balance overreach by an authoritarian administration seem to be impotent. While the courts have awarded shallow victories in this fight, our gerrymandered Congress is stymied and offers us little relief.

So, we are at a crossroad. What are American citizens to do? If our courts and our Congress cannot protect us, what are we to do? Will our world remain upside down, or will we fight to return to normalcy? It is for Americans to choose.

ICE Agents Kill American Citizen

By Mildred Robertson

On January 7, 2026 Trump’s thugs killed an American citizen in cold blood. Renee Good, a Minnesota poet and mother, is accused of intentionally trying to run over ICE officers, although video indicates she was attempting to leave the scene. ICE officer Jonathan Ross pumped three bullets into Goods car, shooting her in the head. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem then took to the airwaves to lie about it. She labeled the victim as a domestic terrorist within hours of the incident and claimed the agent is immune from prosecution. 

Since her assassination Good has been vilified by members of the Trump administration, even though her final words were "I don't hate you." Compare her character to that of the assassin who called her a f'n bitch as he shot two additional rounds into her head. Let us not forget, Good was an American citizen exercising her constitutional right to protest when she was murdered on the streets of Minneapolis, just blocks from where George Floyd had been murdered by Minneapolis police in May of 2020. 

The FBI has taken over the investigation, refusing to share case materials with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension(MBCA) that includes evidence from the scene and eyewitness testimony.  As the administration continues its public attacks on Good, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says that he fears that there will not be a fair outcome if the MBCA is not allowed access to crucial crime scene data. It appears that the MBCA will pursue a parallel investigation into the murder.

While Trump claims the ICE officer who killed Renee Good has total immunity, law seems to indicate that state prosecutors have the authority to pursue charges. The officers' qualified immunity under federal law will likely complicate the prosecution. The state is currently collecting evidence before making a decision on whether to bring charges. 

Sen. Mark Kelly Faces Death Threat

By Mildred Robertson

President Donald Trump labelled Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly and several other Democratic veterans as traitors who should be executed. Kelly and six Democrats with military or national security backgrounds appeared in an advertisement targeted to military personnel stating that they should disobey unlawful orders. The advertisement triggered a firestorm in the West Wing of the White House which caused a red-faced, white-knuckled Donald Trump to demand retribution.

It was not an outrageous thing for the Democrats to say. In fact, they simply quoted the United States Military Code of Justice which establishes the legal standards for military personnel. Under this code, military personnel are required to obey lawful orders. Likewise, military personnel HAVE a DUTY to refuse to follow unlawful orders. In fact, following such orders may expose them to criminal liability. An unlawful order is one that requires the commission of a crime, violates the Constitution, federal law or clear international law. 

It is ludicrous that Americans who use their right to free speech to voice concern over the illegal actions of this government could be threatened. We all know that those who participated in the advertisement had the right to say that soldiers DO NOT have to and SHOULD NOT follow unlawful orders. Some may even think they had the obligation to speak out. Yet this administration will spend time and the taxpayer's money to pursue this frivolous suit to detract from more pressing matters, such has the high cost of living, out of control health care costs, the destruction of our history, the dismantling of civil rights, Gestapo-styled state policing, the collapse of foreign alliances and of course, the rape of children, only to name a few.

The fact that the FBI is investigating a sitting senator for reciting the uniform code is exactly WHY we need to keep speaking up.

While Kelly is being investigated by the FBI for speaking the truth, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is accused of ordering a strike on a purported drug-smuggling vessel in international waters and then ordering a second strike to kill any survivors. As we examine the Military Code of Justice, clearly, one of these actions is not like the other.

Kelly and company exercised their right to free speech to remind military personnel of their obligation to act lawfully while carrying out their duties. Conversely, Hegseth is setting up both himself and those soldiers who carried out his orders to face war crimes and murder if he in fact issued the alleged “kill order” that resulted in the deaths of two survivors of the first strike. Trump rages about the one, and is resoundingly quiet about the other. 

Hegseth's actions have raised significant legal and ethical issues regarding the drug boat strikes. The Trump administration has carried out more than a dozen of these strikes since September 2025. More than 70 people have been killed in what may well be declared illegal operations by the American military under Hegseth’s command.

It is incredible that the FBI is investigating a sitting senator for reciting the Military Uniform Code of Justice while ignoring the highly suspect bombings in international waters that have cost the lives of these individuals without the benefit of evidence, a court or a jury. American patriots all over the country must speak up just as Kelly and his compatriots did.

We are a nation of laws. In times such as these, it is good when we are reminded.

Democrats Back Down with Compassion, Not Weakness

 By Mildred Robertson

It appears that the U.S. government shutdown is nearing an end, as Republicans continue to steadfastly oppose negotiations with Democrats. Amazingly, Democrats find themselves at this juncture, even after the overwhelming rejection of Republican candidates and their far-right politics during the November 4th elections.

It is much like the difficult decision faced by King Solomon in 1 Kings, 3: 16-28, when two women who lived together each claimed the same child as their own. It appears that one woman rolled over and killed her baby as they slept. She then switched her dead baby with the living child of her roommate.

With no witnesses and no one to identify the child’s mother, Solomon was faced with an almost impossible task to determine to whom the living child belonged. So, he did something outrageous. Since he could not determine the identity of the true mother, he ordered his soldiers to bring a sword to cut the baby in half and give half to each woman. The true mother cried out, “Please don’t kill my son…give him to her…just don’t kill him.” Solomon then discerned who the true mother was and returned the child to his true mother.

Democrats faced a similarly difficult decision as they fought to maintain healthcare for millions of Americans. The Affordable Care Act tax credits (ACA), a signature Obama program, are set to expire at the end of the year. If that occurs, Americans will face sharply higher health insurance premiums and possible loss of coverage. This program is made affordable through tax credits targeted to assist middle-class Americans who would otherwise fall outside the subsidy range. Before the enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, those participating in the ACA faced a steep premium increase, making the coverage untenable for many Americans. 

While Democrats have fought ferociously to maintain the healthcare tax credits, Republicans have been willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of federal workers to fight the Democrats' attempt to safeguard healthcare. Many federal workers have been furloughed or fired, and most have not received pay during this shutdown, although workers like soldiers and air traffic controllers are still required to work. Instead of working to solve the problems facing our country, the Republicans took more than a month “vacation” as House Speaker Mike Johnson sent them home and advised them NOT to hold town hall meetings.

Acutely aware of the pain Americans were suffering as they struggled to pay mortgages, buy groceries, or pay for a myriad of necessary expenses without the funds to do so, Democrats were much like the mother in the Bible story who chose to relent rather than have the baby cut in half.

I am unsure whether it was the right choice. Unfortunately, America is not run by Solomon-like leaders, nor do I have divine insight. I know that, just as the woman in the scriptures was hard-hearted enough to sacrifice the child rather than acknowledge the death of her own, the Republicans did not feel the people’s pain and were willing to destroy everyone if they were unable to get their way. Even in the face of a landslide election that indicates Americans think they are wrong-headed, they had no intention of negotiating to find a solution that was acceptable to all.

I am somewhat disheartened that Senate Democrats backed down, but I don’t know how to split the baby without killing it. I hope that Americans view the Democratic struggle as one of compassion, and not weakness.

The Challenge of Distinguishing Fact from Fiction in Modern Media

By Mildred Robertson

In today's media landscape, distinguishing facts from fiction has become increasingly difficult. The sheer volume of information presented to us makes it challenging to verify what is real. As a result, many people rely on the media to distill facts and provide the foundation for their beliefs. However, this reliance often means that individuals neither seek out facts themselves nor work to distill them into a coherent ideology.

News and social media have, in effect, taken away our ability to analyze facts and arrive at informed conclusions. The prevalence of propaganda further complicates our ability to tell the difference between lies and the truth. Many people now struggle to distinguish between facts and opinions, viewing information through a prism of partisan bias. This tendency leads some to distrust information simply because it originates from someone with an opposing philosophy, regardless of how factual it may be. A study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign highlights that this inclination poses a serious threat to civic discourse among U.S. citizens.

The news media, once celebrated as the “fourth estate,” were recognized for their ability to mediate the dissemination of information, enabling citizens to participate intelligently in civil discourse and self-governance. Over the years, and particularly with the rise of social media, news reporting has shifted its focus toward sensationalism. This shift has undermined the media’s role in providing citizens with the information necessary to live in and maintain a free society.

Today, many consumers of news and information simply sit in front of TV or computer screens, passively absorbing the opinions, biases, and rhetoric of talking heads. This process leads individuals to believe they have arrived at a worldview based on fact, when in reality, their perspective may be shaped more by external influences than by objective analysis.