Nothing New About Trump and his Golden Idols

 

Nothing is new in the world. That includes Donald Trump.

In the bible, Daniel 3:1-18, there is a tale of a ruler who was cruel and oppressive, considering himself to be above everything and everyone, just like our current president.

God dealt harshly with this ruler, who went mad and was cast from his kingdom, forced to graze in the grass like an animal. Before Nebuchadnezzar could be restored, he had to humble himself and acknowledge God's sovereignty.

Nebuchadnezzar was counseled to:

TURN FROM EVIL: Daniel urges King Nebuchadnezzar to "break off your sins" by stopping his cruel and oppressive ways.

PRACTICE RIGHTHEOUSNESS He is called to actively "practice righteousness," which means to act justly and do what is right, particularly in dealing with others.

SHOW MERCY TO THE OPPRESSED: Show mercy to the oppressed: show kindness and mercy to the poor and downtrodden; which demonstrates compassion.

SEEK GOD'S FAVOR: By changing his actions, the scripture says Nebuchadnezzar may delay God's judgment leading to a "lengthening of your prosperity".

A CALL TO REPENTANCE: The advice is a direct plea for repentance, urging the king to change his heart and behavior to align with God's will.

Trump has queried whether he could enter heaven. Well, this is his roadmap, if he would only choose to follow it.

Disney Cancels Kimmel - I Cancelled Disney

 By Mildred Robertson

As I watch America spiraling into an autocratic dictatorship, I am appalled at how easy it has been for various entities to cave to government overreach. This administration has attacked regulatory bodies, infringed upon civil liberties, and used government power to impose regulations that burden individuals and businesses who do not bow down to the whims of America's authoritarian leadership.  

Trump's administration has an amoeba-like predisposition to absorb the power and authority regulating state and federal governmental agencies, large businesses, and corporations. He has cowed the United States Congress into relinquishing its oversight responsibilities and has launched an attack on fundamental constitutional rights. 

In the most recent affront to American democracy, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show due to his comments regarding Charlie Kirk's shooting. The late-night show host remarked, "This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish," referring to Trump's reaction to Kirk's murder on September 10 while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University.  

While Kirk's shooting is horrific, so is the governmental response to his execution. This administration is using this tragedy, an American tragedy that affects all of us, as a rallying cry to continue Trump's vindictive attack on all who would have the courage to oppose him. 

Charlie Kirk was a purveyor of hatred who, unfortunately, died while in the throes of promoting it. I have empathy for those who loved him because all deaths are sad, and all murders are unconscionable. But to lionize this man, while ignoring the violent attacks and murders of other politicians of differing ideologies, is just a ploy to justify the governmental overreach in which this administration is already engaging. 

As I watch this administration roll away my rights and freedoms under the Constitution, I often wonder what I can do to make a difference. I write this blog. I donate to causes that support my beliefs and American ideals. And now, I cancelled my subscription to Disney, which is the parent company of ABC, which cancelled the Kimmel show based on his comments.  If we cannot have the free flow of thought in our country, WE cannot be free. 

It's not much. But it is the best I can do to say enough!

You can do it too. These businesses are following the money. Let them know that your dollars will go elsewhere if they continue to acquiesce to this authoritarian regime. 

Death in America – Lethal Politics

By Mildred Robertson

As average Americans deal with the growing violence that blights our political landscape, many search for leadership that inspires unity over conflict. It is a travesty that Charlie Kirk was gunned down in the middle of a university campus, although he was there to espouse violent, hateful ideas. He had a right to his beliefs and the right to champion them. However, it is no less a travesty that he contributed to the hate and violence Americans have come to accept as normal. Kirk defended our weak response to gun control following a school massacre by saying, "Yes, people die from gun violence. It's tragic. But that's the price of freedom. Unfortunately, it's worth it to keep the Second Amendment intact."

It appears political violence is on the rise in America.  From the 2011 Tucson shooting, where then Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot during a constituent meeting and six people were killed and 13 wounded, to the assassination of right-wing conservative Charlie Kirk, terrorists have used violence to silence ideas different from their own. While right-wing leadership calls for vengeance following the fatal shooting of radical activist Charlie Kirk, they remained silent during violent attacks on political figures with differing ideas.

While we perceive ourselves as an enlightened nation that values political freedom, our history presents a different perspective.  We are a violent country. Our turbulent history dates back to the colonies and the destruction of the indigenous population. We have romanticized the violence upon which our nation was built. We see ourselves as rugged, gun-toting individualists whose primary goal is to live free of others' opinions, wants, or needs.

 You can trace America’s appetite for violence from slavery, through the civil Rights movement, up to more recent history that includes the assassination of Medgar Evers, the slaying of Martin Luther King, Malcom X, and John and Robert Kennedy.

But we cannot stop there.  Our country has endured white terrorist attacks such as Timothy McVey’s bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma, the 13 domestic terrorists who attempted to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmore, and the home invasion on Nancy Pelosi and the physical assault on her husband.

Violence in our country is neither red nor blue, as we cite the attempted assassination of Ronald Regan, a mass shooting in 2017 that left five people injured, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, and the attempted slaying of President Donald Trump.

In June 2025, state Sen. John Hoffman survived an assassination attempt when he and his wife were shot in their Minnesota home. The attack on the Hoffmans occurred before the political assassination of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, the former House speaker, and her husband, Mark. The assassin went as far as to kill their dog. The four were on a kill list of dozens of democrats targeted for assassination.

While Trump basically ignored these recent shootings against democrats, he has ordered flags to be raised to half-staff in honor of the fallen Kirk. His administration did not formally acknowledge Hortman’s assassination or attend or send a representative to her funeral. It appears that he considers himself president of only those who support him. Whereas major statesmen who preceded him have used times such as these to bring unity, he seems to care little about uniting the nation in this time of turmoil.

As America grapples with 9,400 threats of violence against politicians in this country in 2024, we must determine whether our rugged individualism tied to the 2^nd Amendment and the right to bear arms is more important than the right to live without fear of the gun violence that has overcome us in our schools, our streets, our churches and synagogues, and even within the halls of Congress.

As we struggle with the violence that has overtaken our country, Americans have a decision to make.  Do we want to unite as one nation under God? Are we willing to live in a true democracy where all voices are heard, and ideas are put to the test at a ballot box rather than the butt of a gun? Will we relinquish our love of the violent gun culture, or will we continue to normalize the lethal politics that currently govern our lives?

Rampant gun violence. Political terrorism. Is it REALLY worth it?

I would ask Charlie Kirk how he feels about it now. But I can’t, because he is a victim of his own rhetoric and America’s lethal politics.

Trump's Revenge Tour Continues

 By Mildred Robertson

Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook, citing his administration’s allegations of mortgage fraud against her. Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the Federal Reserve Board, responded by saying that Trump has no authority to fire her and she would continue to carry out her duties. Wealthy businessman Bill Pulte, who is Trump’s Federal Housing Finance Agency Director, alleged that Cook had committed mortgage fraud. While she has not been formally prosecuted or charged, Trump made the bold, and possibly unconstitutional, decision to try to fire Cook.

And this is not a one-off. Pulte has alleged mortgage fraud against California Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom have been strong Trump adversaries. Schiff was a member of the House Select Committee charged with investigating the January 6^th attack on the United States Capitol. James successfully prosecuted Trump and his sons Eric and Don Jr., which resulted in limits on their ability to do business in New York City. A court this week dismissed the massive monetary penalty she won in this case, but the limits on their ability to do business in New York currently remain in effect.

The decision to go after Cook is likely fueled by Trump’s desire to control the Federal Reserve. To date, his primary target at the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, appears to be more difficult to take down. Powell heads a seven-member board that serves 14-year terms.  The board is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. They oversee the Federal Reserve and help set monetary policy.

Trump has come into conflict with the board because he wants interest rates down now. He has attempted to strong-arm Federal Reserve Chair Powell into lowering the rates for months now. Powell has yet to comply.  

That’s where Pulte comes in. Trump's feeble attempt to fire Powell seems stymied by  the fact that the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 states that the Federal Reserve Board of Governors can only be removed by the president “for cause.” Trump tried unsuccessfully to base dismissal for cause against Powell on cost overruns on the central bank’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation.  Having failed at that, alleging fraud against Cook, the only African American woman on the board, may allow him to achieve his desired results.

As Trump continues his revenge tour, Cook, along with James and Schiff, all deny wrongdoing, stating that the prosecutions are politically motivated. This is not hard to believe, in that Trump has vowed that his second term would be one of retribution against all who have opposed him.

California's Gavin Newsome Armed for the Fight

 By Mildred Robertson

Texas Democrats made a bold move to flee the state, denying Republicans the quorum they need to bring legislation to the floor. Already highly gerrymandered, Texas Republicans plan to pass legislation that could create as many as five new pro-Republican districts, thereby strengthening the Republican stronghold on the U.S. Congress.  

In an unprecedented show of solidarity, Texas Democrats’ weeklong quorum break has stymied the Republican majority while facing threats to either arrest them and bring them back to the chamber or declare their seats vacant due to the quorum bust. The Republicans, however, are no less aligned as they doggedly move forward to pass legislation that will guarantee continued Republican dominance in Texas and the United States Congress.

Democrats' valiant but ill-fated attempt to stop the Texas Republicans raised national awareness of the cost to democracy if Republicans are allowed to pick their voters by drawing voting districts where they are predetermined to win. Their efforts have resulted in new strategies by Democrat-run states to counter Texas’s move to redraw maps mid-decade to steal Democratic-leaning seats and maintain congressional leadership.

Most Democrats are inclined to follow political precedent, regardless of the lawless or unethical actions of the GOP.  Common thought implies that Democrats consistently bring a knife to a gun fight when dealing with Republican lawlessness. This is evidenced by the Democratic majority's hesitance to expand the Supreme Court when they were in power, although Republicans packed it with right-wingers.

Under Mitch McConnell’s leadership, the House stymied President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland eight months before an election, arguing voters should decide which presidential candidate should pick the next justice. He made an about-face when Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed during the final days of the first Trump administration, hastening the seating of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett days before the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden.

Several options were available to Democrats. Obama could have made an interim appointment to the Supreme Court, or the Democrats, who controlled Congress during Biden’s administration, could have expanded the court. Democrats chose to go with precedent. Democrats, it appears, choose to play fair, even when their opponents don’t. They generally stand unarmed against the Republicans' ruthless pursuit of power.

But California Gov. Gavin Newsom laid down the knife and picked up a gun. His nuclear strategy involves states under Democratic control drawing maps to create additional safe districts in their respective states to counteract the Republican power grab.

Good for him.

While his tactics are being compared to the Republican power grab, they are not the same. First, Newsome plans to put this proposed change on the California ballot. That means that California’s redistricting would be sanctioned by its constituents. Furthermore, the redrawn maps would only go into effect if triggered by a Republican state attempting to redraw maps that disenfranchise voters and impact the makeup of Congress.  

Having said that...it's a terrible policy. but Democrats are left with few choices.  Knife, or gun? Under the circumstances, Newsome and other Democratic-dominated states are doing the best they can with a bad situation. It is like the strategy of mutual assured destruction and nuclear annihilation. Don't drop the bomb, and nobody will die.

Trump's Misuse of the Presidential Pardon

 By Mildred Robertson

The power to pardon offers a president the opportunity to apply justice, mercy, and promote the public welfare to those who have fallen from favor with the general society. When granted to a worthy recipient, a presidential pardon can help individuals regain their lives and become productive citizens.  It removes roadblocks to acquiring gainful employment, reinstates voting rights, and reestablishes the individual as a productive member of society.

There certainly are situations where mercy is required.  It appears that most Americans approve of presidents commuting prison sentences for those extraordinary cases where continued incarceration seems unjust. There are cases where individuals were wrongly convicted. Some convictions are the outcome of prejudiced juries or prosecutors who have pursued convictions zealously despite evidence of innocence. Even some convicts have been exonerated by evidence arising from new technologies. In some instances, the sentence does not match the crime. Humans run our justice system, and sometimes we make mistakes.

A presidential pardon can be a mechanism to help bring fairness and mercy to the system.  However, there must be parameters. Our current president appears to use his pardon power to insulate himself from wrongdoing. Criminals ranging from disgraced Congressman George Santos to infamous individuals such as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Ghislaine Maxwell have sought pardons from President Trump. It appears his pardons are based upon personal relationships rather than the stipulations of the Constitution regarding presidential commutations. While the Constitution grants the President the authority to grant clemency, the presidential pardon power is not boundless, as Trump claims.  The Constitution outlines several limitations. Donald Trump's use of his pardon power exceeds the constraints found in the Constitution.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs is alleged to have sought a presidential pardon

First and foremost, the president is bound to faithfully execute the laws as prescribed by the Constitution, which requires that pardons serve the public’s interest, not for “self-dealing, self-protection, or other bad faith personal reasons. Pardons cannot be used as a form of bribery. It cannot be used to hinder a criminal investigation or to persuade a witness to withhold incriminating evidence or offer false testimony. It is not a means of self-protection for the president.
Trump’s pardon of all who participated in the January 6^th assault on the Capitol, a clearly treasonous act, flies in the face of the Constitution. Many of the pardoned individuals have been involved in criminal activities following Trump’s pardoning, some of whom have landed back in jail. Trump’s possible pardon of convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell smacks of self-dealing. It is a fact that his name is included in the Epstein files, and Maxwell may have incriminating evidence that ties Trump to the more salacious aspects of the case. While he attacks immigrants, accusing them of being rapists and murderers, he offers Maxwell sympathy and well wishes. 

While we wrestle with this unorthodox administration, we must examine the liberties Trump takes with his presidential powers. There are many reasons for the presidential pardon to exist. Using it to place oneself above the law is not among them.

Artificial Intelligence – Just Give me the Facts, Please

 

By Mildred Robertson

While artificial intelligence (AI) has improved various aspects of our lives, it also has its drawbacks. Because human beings must program it, an individual can insert their own biases into the output that we receive. Trash in, trash out.

A case in point is Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot platform.  That someone as damaged as Elon Musk has control over the AI's response to inquiries should trouble everyone who uses AI to search for facts. While we think it is just a machine compiling data, it is compiling that data based on the biases of its programmer.  So, we must tread carefully. It is human to search for data that supports our own beliefs, even when we want facts.

I don't know how to remove that fault from artificial intelligence.  Those of us who consume its output must be aware that biases exist and that we should balance the data received with that from other reputable sources.  When we engage in research, we must remain cognizant that our own biases influence our quest for truth.

Without appropriate oversight, AI can do more harm than good. Musk's use of this platform to advance his priorities and beliefs compromises the integrity of the platform.  Recently, a message was sent via Signal that copied Secretary of State Marco Rubio's voice and style to establish a connection and obtain inside information. The initiative failed, but bad actors will continue to distribute fake messages mimicking a politician or industry leaders until they are successful.  Cybersecurity is not what it should be, and the public is at the mercy of AI as it helps bad actors steal our information and fake our news.

Key ethical implications of the explosion of AI are that it can amplify the biases of its developers. Further AI may compromise privacy and data security, leaving vital privacy constraints to creators who may or may not have the public’s best interest at heart.  It is the developers who must create strict data protection methods to ensure that your data is not used without your knowledge or consent. But will they?

And then there is the question of who is accountable if AI makes a mistake?

AI presents the possibility of financial fraud through market manipulation. Political and social manipulation is already occurring as we see politicians and celebrities who have literally had words put in their mouths by deep fakes running rampant on the internet. Many deepfakes appear surprisingly authentic, causing people to share as though they were true.

As we stand on the brink of the next midterm election, we must all learn how to utilize this technology to get to the truth. We must seek reputable news sources and be mindful not to share information that we have not vetted for accuracy. Sometimes the most recent poll sounds so hopeful, or the latest opposition scandal sounds so damning that we can’t wait to share it.

Searching for the truth is no easy task. But neither is maintaining democracy. True patriots will take the time to KNOW and not just go with the flow. Be mindful of what you read and hear in the news, broadcasts, and social media. Understand the source of information and its intent. Be careful what you add to the national discourse.

The nightmare scenario where AI-driven weapons fall into the hands of a madman, or the AI itself malfunctions and acts outside its protocols, no longer seems far-fetched. What once seemed simply like science fiction is now an attainable outcome of advancing AI technology.

We want “I, Robot” to remain a science fiction movie and not become our reality. We want “The Terminator” to be the musings of a vivid imagination, and not our lived reality. We want Chat GPT to provide unbiased data so that relevant truths guide our actions.

This blog is MY opinion. My truth and that of Elon Musk are very different. I don’t want AI to base its conclusion on either; just give me the facts!

 

The Big Beautiful Bill - Ugly to the Bone

 By Mildred Robertson

It is more than ironic that on the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Americans stand to lose the battle it fought with Britain almost 250 years ago. Not to some great superpower that overtook us in war. Not from some foreign adversary that outflanked us, and launched cyber-attacks, nuclear bombs, or drone strikes, but by supposed American patriots. The "Big Beautiful Bill," fostered by a would-be dictator and supported by almost every Republican in Congress, is ugly to the bone. 

H.R. 1, the supposed Big Beautiful Bill, is not an idea or a concept. It is a reality that will affect the average American's household resources. Republicans, who fear a "Blue Wave" in 2026, crafted the bill so that the greatest impact of H.R. 1 won't be felt in the first two years of implementation. That design will stall many of the negative features of H.R. 1 until after the 2026 election. 

Ultimately, this huge transfer of funds will hit low-income Americans the hardest, decreasing or eliminating programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and Federal income tax credits. In fact, the biggest spending cuts target Medicaid and food stamps programs.  According to the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C. based think tank, of the 22.6 million families likely to lose resources, 57 percent are below the poverty line. Only 1 percent of high-income households will lose resources, while 27% of high earners will gain resources. 

Drawbacks of H.R. 1 include  

• tax cuts for the rich
• loss of vital health, nutrition, and economic resources 
• an estimated 11.8 million who will lose health insurance by 2034
• an estimated 3.3 trillion added to the national deficit over the next decade

Clearly, implementation of this bill will result in the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, despite the rhetoric being offered by Republican mouthpieces. Eventually, the unsubstantiated beauty of this bill will belie its ugly core. Over the span of its life, H.R. 1 will alter the kind of nation we have grown to be. It will blunt the vision of the Founders' "more perfect union and lessen the growth that America has experienced over the past 249 years.

As those of us who see the travesty in this bill understand how ugly it is, we can only look forward to the mid-terms with hope. Unfortunately, even if a Blue Wave occurs in 2026, hope can only do so much. The damage has been done. It will take years to undo the domestic attack on American society that this ugly-to-the-bone bill embodies.

Today, July 4, 2025, we celebrate our founding yet still yearn for liberty. 

Alligator Alcatraz – America’s Concentration Camp

 By Mildred Robertson

We knew that America's trip toward dictatorship could conclude with America copying Nazi Germany in caging “undesirables” in concentration camps. Germans sat and watched while Hitler demonized, incarcerated, and ultimately slaughtered millions of people whose only crime was to be designated as undesirable citizens. Now it seems America will follow suit. 

Florida has proposed an immigration detention facility in the Florida Everglades, referred to as “Alligator Alcatraz” by some, designed to house undocumented immigrants to facilitate their deportation. Located in a remote area of the Everglades, escapees would encounter dangerous wildlife like alligators and pythons. The facility is designed to house up to 1,000 immigrants and includes an airstrip for deportation flights.

Like Adolf Hitler, Trump has instituted aggressive domestic and international policies based upon threats, coercion, and fear. His slogan, “Make America Great Again,” mirrors Hitler’s catch phrase, “Greater German Reich”.  Trump’s attack on individuals who he says come from “shithole” countries is based primarily on race and ethnicity. He has welcomed White South Africans while demonizing Haitian immigrants.

Hundreds of thousands of Haitians fled the war-torn nation seeking safety and asylum in America. While the Trump administration claims Haiti is too dangerous for Americans to visit, they say it is safe to deport Haitian immigrants back to the war-torn nation.  Haitians who fled rampant violence in their homeland and gained protected status in the U.S. will be expelled from America unless they can qualify for asylum or a green card. The U.S. plans to revoke the immigration status of those migrants in September.

Similarly, Trump has demonized the Hispanic community, calling them rapists and murderers. While he campaigned on removing the criminal element that he says entered through a porous Southern border, he is attacking nursing mothers and even American citizens born to immigrants. Among those targeted by this administration are college students who dare to exercise their right to free speech and universities that uphold that right.

Trump has weaponized economic, military, and political power to terrorize and silence all who might oppose him. He has even flexed his seemingly unlimited political power to alienate traditional US allies like Canada, Mexico, and several other European nations. He has escalated the Middle East Crisis and abandoned well-established cooperation with agencies such as the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accord. 

While many scoff at the comparison of Trump to Adolf Hitler, there are too many comparisons to fail to consider the parallels between these two leaders. Just as few Germans and Europeans expected the horrific outcome of Hitler’s rise to power, many Americans appear to be unfazed by Donald Trump’s open hostility toward individual dignity, liberty, and justice for all those residing in the U.S.

Like Hitler, Trump encourages racism and xenophobia. He has demonized and targeted people of color residing in America. He fosters the belief among many low-achieving Americans that someone other than themselves is responsible for their failure to realize the “American Dream.” He scapegoats minorities and immigrants as targets for the resentment from those unrealized dreams. What comes next, we do not know. However, the signs of the impending collapse of the American experiment are everywhere.

We don’t have gas chambers here…yet. But we do have the military patrolling American streets. We do have masked goon squads spiriting people away in broad daylight without due process. We do have evidence of an unbridled appetite for power, expansionistic rhetoric, and inflamed oratory encouraging violence against critics.

It is not too late to limit this administration's expanding executive authority, but time is short. We don’t have gas chambers, but apparently, we will soon have a concentration camp to house immigrants before deportation.  So, what is next?

As Hitler ascended to power, the people of Germany exhibited fear, hope, and confusion.  Some thought Hitler would moderate his behavior once he ascended to power. Many Americans exhibit emotions like those of Germans during Hitler’s rise. They thought Trump would moderate. He didn’t.

We can read a roadmap.  How far will we follow a parallel track with Nazi Germany? How far can this administration go down the dictatorial path before it draws our ire? How far will this administration go before the America public speaks?  The silence of many German people allowed a travesty to occur in that country. Will America follow the same path?

Trump Manhandles American Citizens

 By Mildred Robertson

This president seems poised to wage war against American Citizens. He plans to decimate all dissent against his unconstitutional actions with military force. As Americans rise to meet this challenge, many may lament as David did in Psalm 13, "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?" As crowds of Americans gather in the streets of Los Angeles protesting immigration overreach and hundreds of thousands across the nation prepare to protest on June 14 against this administration's various unconstitutional acts, we must pray for Godly leadership that can meet this present challenge.

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

As I scan the political landscape, I see the opposition in disarray. Though seemingly simple, this man has bowed the backs of leaders on both sides of the aisle. He has gone to battle with the richest man in the world and appears to have cowed him. He has overtaken military leadership, defied the courts, and entranced Congress and the religious right. He appeals to the hearts of many Americans, and they willingly follow him.

Many are amazed at his following. This crude, unlearned, narcissistic egomaniac threatens not just America but the world as he seeks power and aggrandizement at all costs. It was not wise for politicians to survey his antics and assume that he was a buffoon. While he well may be a fool, he is a crafty one. 

Those who believe in the value of Democracy are at a crossroads today. We can continue on this 249-year journey in support of a union dedicated to principles including human liberty and the glory of God, or we can bow down to an idol. 

George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States, made a covenant with God as he took on the leadership of this newly founded democracy. In his first inaugural address Washington said, "Since we ought to be no less persuaded that propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself ordained: And since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people."

He made it clear that no nation can expect God's blessings if it forgets who the giver of blessings is. He vowed that this nation would follow God, and that if she ever broke her promise, she would lose God's blessing and protection. 

I ask you to view Trump's actions as he manhandles the American Constitution and the American people. Does it appear that he is faithfully walking in the ways of God? Does it seem that AMERICA is walking faithfully in God's ways, or have we fallen victim to worshipping an idol? 

The Word says in Chronicles 2:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Is America still in a covenant relationship with God? God has been faithful. Have we?

While it is crucial for Americans to lift their voices, finances, and if need be, their bodies in defense of this nation's heritage, it is equally important that we seek the wisdom and guidance of men and women who stand ready to defend this nation and the Word upon which it was founded. We must seek healing, and then we must stand against the military might of a tyrant.

UPDATE: Recent incidents further emphasize how this nation is slipping into an authoritarian dictatorship. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) on June 12th was forcibly handcuffed and removed from a press conference where Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was speaking in Los Angeles. Even after identifying himself as a sitting senator, Padilla was manhandled and evicted from the building.  The Senator said that he attempted to speak to Nome at the press conference because he had unsuccessfully sought an audience with her on several occasions.  If this is the way the administration chooses to handle a sitting member of Congress, what can the average American expect? Saturday protests will paint a fulsome picture of what the remainder of the presidency will be like.

Media Focused on Trump Trivia

 By: Mildred Robertson

Updated June 18, 2025

While perusing the internet, I saw several articles and videos about Donald Trump stumbling as he boarded Air Force One. I am amazed at the amount of dribble that finds its way into news, social media, and ultimately the minds of the American public.

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP vis Getty Image

Trump stumbling while boarding the plane is not a big deal. But it was not a big deal when Biden did it either. Trump’s callous destruction of the rule of law will destroy America as we know it if the American people fail to stop him. He has embarked upon numerous crusades to attack those individuals and entities he sees as his enemy. Those assaults are the issues we must focus on. And there are plenty of them.

Right now, he is creating chaos around this country as his storm troopers invade pre-school graduations, restaurants, and Home Depot parking lots to imprison suspected immigrants without a warrant and without due process. He has met the public's response to these attacks on civil liberties by usurping the authority of the Governor of California and calling out the National Guard to quell peaceful public protests. Many speculate that his actions are intended to escalate the protests, providing grounds for him to institute martial law. A state of martial law would empower him to suspend citizens' legal civil rights protections.

Trump has co-opted plans by the U.S. Army to celebrate its 250^th anniversary on June 14. Coincidentally, his 79^th (yes, 79^th) birthday was on that date. To no one’s surprise, thousands of soldiers marched down Constitution Avenue as tanks rolled down the streets and aircraft flew overhead, all to provide him with his authoritarian dream of a military parade in his honor. This parade was a last-minute addition to the 250^th anniversary plan. His previous attempt to hold such a parade in his honor was thwarted during his first presidency.  Heavy artillery and tanks weighing up to 60 tons are expected to do considerable damage to Constitution Avenue. The parade is expected to cost between $25 and $45 million.

In his second term, he has gutted all major federal agencies, created a brain-drain in scientific and academic institutions, blocked many foreign students from studying in the U.S., created chaos in the U.S. economy, deported American citizens, and accepted apparent bribes from world leaders. Courts have challenged his attempt to freeze foreign aid to struggling countries and ban transgender troops.

Republicans in Congress are trying to push through Trump’s stopgap funding bill that will slash nearly $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP), leading to people losing nutrition assistance and children losing access to school meals. A $1 trillion Medicaid cut would result in more than 13 million people losing access to health care, causing rural hospitals and community health care centers to face possible closures. And of course, the bill includes massive tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy, which will increase the federal deficit by $3.8 trillion.  The bill also restricts Pell Grant access, making college less accessible for low-income students.

Again, Trump’s stumbling while boarding the plane is not a big deal. However, many factors associated with this presidency should cause us concern.  

Being old and stumbling is not among them. 

J-6 Rioters Seek Restitution for LEGAL imprisonment

By Mildred Robertson

The release of January 6 insurrectionists appears to have flown mostly under America’s radar, until now. Myriad challenging events have flooded the news cycle since President Donald Trump pardoned January 6 insurrectionists, including those with felony charges. On the first day of his second term, he granted clemency to approximately 1500 people convicted of various charges related to the January 6 attack on the nation’s Capital. 

                                                               Photo by Newsweek

Now Enrique Tario, the leader of the Proud Boys at the time of the insurrection is seeking restitution for his trial and conviction which ended in a 22-year prison sentence for seditious conspiracy and obstruction of Congress. He and four other members of the Proud Boys allege the U.S. government violated their constitutional rights when it used illegal tactics to target and imprison J-6 participants. They accuse the government of evidence tampering, witness intimidation, violations of attorney-client privilege, and the use of spies to report on trial strategy.

Trump’s blanket pardon released violent offenders along with others convicted of lesser charges. It appears to be an attempt to rewrite history and lessen the historical significance of the most consequential insurrection in American history since the Civil War.

Trump’s pardon of the J-6 rioters came as no surprise. It was the fulfillment of a campaign promise. However, many, including those in his party, were surprised that Trump granted clemency to protestors who committed violent crimes, including violently assaulting police officers. Tarrio and other leaders found guilty of organizing the insurrection were convicted of sedition and sentenced to decades in prison.

A December 2024 survey conducted by YouGov found roughly two thirds of Americans disagreed with pardoning violent January 6 protesters.  About 44 percent supported the pardon of non-violent offenders but feared that pardoning violent offenders would encourage more of the same in the future.

While discussion of the pardon seems to have fallen from the media’s radar, this move by Tarrio will likely result in greater attention to the freed rioters. Americans now must consider the consequences of the president’s imprudent actions to free those willing to commit crimes to keep him in power following his 2020 loss to Joe Biden.

Not only is this group free to organize and prepare to support Trump in the event he attempts to run for a third term; but they are demanding that America pay them $1 million for their lawful imprisonment for crimes against the nation. Yes, citizens such as you and me will bear the cost if this band of treasonous misfits can successfully litigate against their prosecution and incarceration. Folk who caused the death and injury of law enforcement officers, who threatened Nancy Pelosi and sought to hang Mike Pence; rioters who defecated in the halls of Congress and ransacked our seat of government…those are the folks who are seeking and could possibly attain a judgement totaling in the millions.

The thought of this is outrageous. Or maybe not. Perhaps nothing is outrageous in America anymore. It seems that we have become desensitized to evil doing. Many are not surprised at the pardon, nor the lawsuit, however appalling it may be.

I ask those of you who voted for Trump, is this what you voted for? I pray not.

Wearying American Politics

 Bedazzled Airplanes, Golden Toilets, and International Isolation

By: Mildred Robertson

For those of us who religiously follow American politics, it is safe to say that we are tired, weary, and worn. I used to habitually watch MSNBC from morning to night, but I can't anymore. I have found that keeping up with current news colors my entire day. Trump's firehose of lies, distortions, and criminal acts dominates the news waves, and few remedies appear imminent. I pray daily for God's intervention. I look to the courts to rule against him and write my congressmen and women asking them to intervene on the people's behalf. I post on my blog and comment on internet articles about him and his outlandish administration. I send money to various progressive campaigns as finances allow.

But I am tired. 

I know that my forefathers who toiled in the fields of savage masters were able to persevere.  Native Americans endured the vicious slaughter of their people, and the Jews survived attempted genocide. This horrific chapter in America's history is not a novel story, but the rewrite of an age-old script that pits the weak and seemingly powerless against the monied titans whose only goal seems to be to get more stuff...more money, more oil, more bedazzled airplanes, more golden toilets, more authoritarian power, while denying the masses basic sustenance. 

So, as I tune out Trump's latest shenanigans, there is a certain shame attached to my detachment. Sitting on the sidelines is not an option in today's tumultuous political landscape. All of us must do something. We cannot just sit and watch while Trump and his minions destroy America. 

But I am tired. 

And that's the point. Trump's strategy is to keep us focused on one crisis after another, one criminal or unconstitutional act after another, one outrageous lie after another, one inept policy after another. Before we can deal with his latest transgression, he has already committed three more. As the media run helter-skelter, attempting to simply keep up, we are left to sort through the foolishness for ourselves. 

And we are tired. 

What we face in America today is more than we can manage as simple humans. The evil forces we face surpass what an individual can handle standing alone. The current administration has turned against us, all those agencies, processes, and procedures designed to keep America safe, independent, and democratic. It is not a personal problem; it is a national one. 

As a Christian, I look to the Bible when weary, weak, and worn. I find not only comfort, but inspiration from Psalms 121:1-2 which says, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help., My help cometh from the Lord."  It is believed that this Psalm was written by King David, a mighty warrior king. It was David who slew the giant threatening Israel. While he knew where his strength came from, David did the work to overcome obstacles in his life. Throughout his trials, he trusted God and gathered his men to face his adversary. We must do likewise. 

We are tired...but the giant still stands. 

We cannot be done. Our eyes must be lifted up!

 

Real ID and Government Inefficiency

 By Mildred Robertson

While the Department of Government Efficiency is a joke, government inefficiency is a very real problem. Having recently renewed my driver's license at the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles I can attest that this agency lacks the effective, efficient protocols and procedures to provide well-organized services to the citizens they are hired to assist. A rush on this agency fueled by the May 7, 2025, deadline to acquire a "REAL ID" has resulted in lines of hundreds of people wrapped around the DMV offices across the state. 

In my case, my license was set to expire in August of 2025. That coupled with the Real ID deadline prompted me to search for an appointment back in April. The search, however, turned out to be futile. There were no appointments available anywhere near me. Even when I search surrounding towns in my county, I was still unable to schedule an appointment. So, I went to the DMV and stood in line for about 30 minutes, only to be told they were taking no more walk-ins. An office worker suggested that I try coming in between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. when walk-ins take priority. 

I heeded her suggestion and arrived a little before 8 a.m. on May 6. When I arrived, there were about 75-100 people in front of me. Some had apparently been there before because they came equipped with folding chairs and umbrellas, ready for the long haul. I was not ready for the upcoming ordeal, which lasted from 8 a.m. in the morning, until after 2:00 in the afternoon. I spent 4 hours standing in the hot sun and then another hour inside the building, which at least had air conditioning, chairs and a bathroom. There were numerous times I considered giving up and trying another time. But logic told me I would just be postponing the inevitable and so I decided to stay my course. 

While some of the workers were discourteous to the patrons, there were some patrons who were pretty rude as well. My personal experience was okay, since the person who finally helped me secure my license was polite and courteous. I left feeling both accomplished and frustrated. 

There is no reason for a required government service to be so difficult to attain. I am retired, so I had a half-day to contribute toward acquiring the mandatory document. But as I stood in the line, I saw elderly and infirmed people struggling to get through the process. There were mothers with young children in tow who had to suffer through the insufferable wait as their children fidgeted. Many folks who probably had to use personal time from work languished right alongside the rest of us.  

As DOGE decimates government agencies across the country, removing essential personnel and destroying agencies needed to provide services to the citizens, perhaps it will be more well perceived if it focused on these types of service areas that clearly need reform. 

We need doctors to continue to research cancer treatments and to try to prepare for the next pandemic. America needs for well-trained generals to continue to lead the armed forces. It is imperative folks involved in world outreach continue to make America a valued world citizen by providing service to those less fortunate than us. We need the FBI, the CIA and other law enforcement entities to have well-trained staff who protect and serve us. So, DOGE (if it exists at all) needs to focus less on partisan revenge tours and instead focus on correcting true government inefficiencies. 

The moral of the story is, I should be able to vote in the future without incident. I can now board a plane or gain access to a government building. I am glad about that, but it should not be this hard. I wonder how many will be left out of significant parts of our society because they cannot get access to needed documentation. 

That is not democracy, and it is not effective governance. We need to figure out how to fix it. Our representatives in Washington D.C. need to turn away from partisan politics and focus on fixing inefficiencies which negatively affect their constituents. 

Dismantling Democracy: One Leg at a Time

By Mildred Robertson

While thousands take to the streets each week in opposition to the Trump administration and how it has run roughshod over the democratic process, there seems to be no singular entity prepared to take up the cause of democracy. Neither the Congress nor the courts appear able or willing to take up their role as the antithesis to a rogue president who freely issues executive orders instead of doing the hard work of seeking change through the Congress and courts. As the Founders designed the process, Congress makes the laws, and the courts interpret and apply them.  The executive branch is called upon to uphold laws, not enact them.

Donald J. Trump, who heads the Executive branch of government, has succeeded in undermining the power of Congress, one of the three branches designed to bring balance to our system of governance.  Congress, led by a Republican majority, has taken the knee to Trump, even when he appears to usurp their power. Trump pushed through clearly unqualified candidates to head vital government agencies.

As those agency heads stand by, Trump has allowed Elon Musk and a cadre of his assistants to run amok in those agencies, indiscriminately cutting programs and firing professionals integral to the continued efficient functions those agencies provided for the American public. Having successfully cuckolded Congress in the first 100 days of his second term, he has now turned his attention to the courts, the third leg of democratic governance upon which our freedom rests.

He has consistently defied court orders to halt deportations of immigrants and has upped the ante by deporting American citizens as well. Ignoring threats that he will be held in contempt of court, Trump and his administration continue to refuse to provide information in cases involving the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who was admittedly deported by mistake. He has also ignored court orders to halt deportation flights, using the Alien Enemies Act as his excuse. The Act is a wartime immigration law that Trump used to deport certain individuals from the U.S. to El Salvador to be detained in the country’s maximum-security prison. He alleges the U.S. is at war with the detainees due to their alleged membership in the gangs MS-13 and Tren de Aragua.  As many as 260 migrants have been deported to El Salvador as alleged gang members, on such flimsy evidence as tattoos. Further, he has deported children who are American citizens without any due process.

As he continues his power grab, Trump has ramped up his attacks on judges, this week arresting Judge Hannah Dugan on charges that she allegedly frustrated efforts of immigration officials to arrest an immigrant in her Milwaukee courtroom.  Dugan questioned the warrant the ICE officials presented because it was an administrative warrant, not an arrest warrant. She allowed the defendant to exit her courtroom, after which he was arrested in the courthouse hallway.  The arrest of Dugan appears to be designed to make other judges fearful of opposing the actions of this administration. They handcuffed and arrested her when normally she would have been served and allowed to appear. Instead, they publicly humiliated and jailed her.  Attorney General Pam Bondi threatened sitting judges, stating that others could suffer the same fate as Judge Duggan if they rule against the Administration's wishes.

So, we are witnessing the collapse of the co-equal branches of government our forefathers designed. Americans must now decide how to maintain their freedom when all the guardrails have failed to hold.

April 19, 2025. (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)

If you ever wondered what you would have done in the infancy of Nazi Germany, you no longer must wonder. You are doing it now. There is nothing that stands between America and tyranny but the people. Will you take risks for democracy, or will you watch while our nation burns, and the ashes of destroyed humanity drop from the sky like snowfall? America has no legs to stand on, but ours.

America Spiraling Under Trump's Dictatorial Rule

We, the People Can Stop the Decline

By Mildred Robertson

America is at a crossroads that many societies have faced before us. We boast a glorious past that also features, if we are truthful, particularly inglorious chapters. That being said, America has created the premier society in the modern world. Our goal to become a true democracy has been marred by as many failures as victories. Nevertheless, we lead the world order in terms of freedom, democracy, and economic and social stability. Although many would point to our shortcomings, measuring society on a curve puts America at the top of the class.

But world domination is cyclical. And America like many empires before it has fallen prey to anti-intellectualism, the sowing of disinformation, and the pitting of the masses against itself rather than the rich and powerful who exploit them. Scientists, historians, politicians, and economists are all sounding the alarm as we watch America devolve from the leader of Western civilization to a two-bit third-world nation with a despot leader determined to bend the entire country to his will.

We have always prided ourselves on our three branches of government which are designed to ensure a free and stable society. Sometimes referred to as the “three-legged stool", our system of government is structured so the executive, legislative, and judicial branches provide the checks and balances necessary for good governance, safe from dictatorial rule. Unfortunately, America’s stability is hampered by an inept legislative branch and an ineffective judicial branch that recently has taken a knee before the executive branch. Donald Trump and his 2024 electoral victory have turned our nation upside-down.

There are many reasons why Trump was able to win the presidency for the second time. Let’s be honest, his victory was rooted in our national prejudices against women and people of color. A contributor to the national temperament were some bad decisions on the part of the Democratic leadership, and an economy perceived as faltering, although data showed the nation was in an economic upturn.

Trump took our economic fears, and the racist nature of many in America and created a narrative that made him look like a savior rather than the annihilator he is. Having learned from his first term, Trump removed everyone from the administration who would stand in the way of his implementation of plans to devastate this nation socially and economically. By purging all those who could possibly block his dictatorial whims, Trump has taken control of the military and all federal agencies. Those were our bulwarks against tyranny. All guardrails have been removed because those placed in leadership are corrupt, weak, or both. Now the struggle is between the might of the federal government and the will of the people. Unfortunately, in 2024 many people supported Trump, outright, buying into his lies, supporting him by sitting at home or throwing their votes away on third-party candidates with no chance of taking the seat.

While a functioning government is the best way to ensure that America does not fall into a dictatorship, there is an opportunity in the next election for us to make it better. But we cannot be splintered in our desire to reclaim our country. We must be of one mind, to wrest power from the hands of Republicans. Note, I am not saying ONLY republicans are corrupt and weak. But they have certainly taken the gold medal in this competition in recent years. 

America has two choices, freedom or tyranny.  It's either Democrat or Republican. If you don't support Democrats with your vote, then you are supporting Republicans. 

If you truly can't choose either of the dominant parties, then build a third party from the ground up. It would be a difficult task, but not impossible. It is unrealistic to think a third-party candidate can win a national election without any infrastructure to support it.

If you are serious about walking away from both the democrat and republican parties, then you need to do the hard work. Elect third-party candidates to your city council, school board, or other local governing body. Elect state and national reps and senators. That will give you a foundation for building a party that can successfully run a presidential candidate.  Otherwise, you are wasting your vote and dooming us to Republican rule. 

If you want to stop America's downfall, then you must be prepared to act and act responsibly. It is our only hope. You must choose your path. Make it a path toward freedom and democracy for all. Otherwise, America will join great nations such as Rome who once ruled the world. We will be doomed to the rule of a tyrant, and our freedoms will only reside in a history book. 

NC Supreme Court Halts Decision Favoring Republican Supreme Court Candidate

 By: Mildred Robertson

The battle for the seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court between Justice Allison Riggs, who currently holds the seat, and her challenger NC Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin takes another turn today as the NC Supreme Court issues a stay in the case.

Judge Jefferson Griffin (Rep) - Justice Allison Riggs (Dem)

On Friday, April 4, the North Carolina State Court of Appeals ruled in a 2-1 decision that as many as 65,000 North Carolinians who thought they were eligible to vote could have their ballots thrown out. The appeals court said that the contested ballots in the state Supreme Court race should be recounted and verified. The Court of Appeals gave the challenged voters 15 days to prove eligibility.

But today, the North Carolina Supreme Court, the body to which Griffin aspires, issued a temporary stay of Friday's Court of Appeals order which directed election workers to identify and contact those voters whose ballots were challenged by Griffin. Justice Allison Riggs, who currently holds the contested seat, sought the stay. Following two recounts of the over 5.5 million ballots cast in the November, election results indicate that Riggs beat Griffin by 734 votes.

If the Appeals Court decision on Friday, April 4 is ultimately upheld, the elimination of hundreds of thousands of North Carolina voters' ballots could flip the election outcome, giving victory to Griffin. Democrat Toby Hampson, the only appeals court judge to dissent the ruling to eliminate votes, criticized Griffin's "indiscriminate efforts" to disqualify voters otherwise eligible to cast a ballot under existing state law. With the current ruling of the NC Supreme Court, the outcome of this case is unclear. The Court's findings will have a huge impact on the makeup of the North Carolina Supreme Court. 

Only absentee and early votes are among those challenged.  If you fall into those categories there are several databases, you can use to determine whether your vote was challenged.  You can go to the State Board of Elections’ website which is organized by county and the reason for the challenge. You can search https://tinyurl.com/3b826h3v, then locate the links to your home county. There you will find a list of names. You can search to see whether your vote is listed by hitting ctrl+f and then typing in your name.

Other alternatives include a searchable spreadsheet by government watchdog Bob Hall. Type https://tinyurl.com/bdf37zuy. Or you may access the Triangle Blog website at The Griffin List.

Court Rule May Jeopardize Your Vote In N.C.

 Early and Absentee Voters Should Check Status

BY Mildred Robertson

The North Carolina State Court of Appeals ruled in a 2-1 decision on Friday, April 4, 2025, that as many as 65,000 North Carolinians who thought they were eligible to vote could have their ballots thrown out. The court says that the contested ballots in the state Supreme Court race should be recounted and verified. The Court of Appeals gave the challenged voters 15 days to prove eligibility.

In this hotly contested race held in November 2024, Republican State Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin trailed incumbent Democrat Justice Allison Riggs by fewer than 1,000 votes.  Riggs and the Democratic Party declared victory months ago after all the votes had been counted. Griffin, however, challenged the validity of certain ballots for numerous reasons.

The lawsuit prevents the state elections board from certifying Riggs as the winner five months after the election. The 2-1 ruling from the North Carolina Court of Appeals came in response to Republicans’ months-long effort to overturn the results of the state Supreme Court election in November. Democrat Allison Riggs, who currently sits on the NC State Court of Appeals, defeated Appellate Judge Jefferson Griffin, a Republican, by 734 votes.

Justice Allison Riggs

After the election, Griffin filed a protest seeking to disqualify around 65,000 votes. Among those challenged are voters who did not present a photo ID and American citizens living abroad who voted but never resided in the U.S. The latter are individuals who are citizens because one or both parents are U.S. citizens.

Griffin currently sits on the North Carolina Court of Appeals – the body that issued Friday’s ruling. A panel of three of his colleagues heard the case. Court of Appeals Judge Toby, the lone registered Democrat, dissented from the decision, stating that Griffin had not identified one voter who was ineligible to vote in the November elections under the laws and rules governing elections.

Justice Riggs stated, “We will be promptly appealing this deeply misinformed decision that threatens to disenfranchise more than 65,000 lawful voters and sets a dangerous precedent, allowing disappointed politicians to thwart the will of the people.”

The state board of elections previously rejected Griffin’s request, and a superior court judge upheld their decision. Friday’s ruling from the court of appeals overturned that ruling. The Appeals Court ruling also reverses the decision of a trial judge who upheld the State Board of Elections' action in February.  

If you think you may be among those citizens whose vote has been challenged, you should have received a notice in the mail from the North Carolina Republican Party, which includes a link to protest. You can also go to the State Board of Elections’ website. It is organized by county and the reason for the challenge. You can search https://tinyurl.com/3b826h3v, then locate the links to your home county. There you will find a list of names. If your name is listed, you can find it by pressing Ctrl+F and then typing in your name.

Other alternatives include a searchable spreadsheet by government watchdog Bob Hall. Type https://tinyurl.com/bdf37zuy. Or you may access the Triangle Blog website at The Griffin List.