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.

Trump, Musk Threaten Social Security

 By Mildred Robertson

The Trump administration is threatening to shut down the Social Security Administration (SSA), a benefits program that has served American retirees for the past 90 years. As part of the New Deal enacted in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the SSA uses funds collected from workers’ paychecks to pay small monthly checks to retirees, the disabled, and other qualified recipients.  In its pledge to destroy the “deep state,” the Trump administration appears poised to ignore a court order that would stop Elon Musk’s DOGE from continuing to access sensitive Social Security data and go after SSA. This is contrary to his campaign pledge to leave SSA out of his agency-busting agenda. 

 Leland Dudek, recently selected to head this vital organization, appears to have sown chaos and destruction in the SSA during his short tenure.  Dudek has granted complete unconstrained access to American citizens’ most personal sensitive data to Elon Musk’s Department of Efficiency of the Government (DOGE).  As part of its cost-cutting plan, DOGE recently announced the closure of Social Security offices in 18 states. This initiative follows the release of a list detailing nearly 800 federal lease contracts set for cancellation. In addition, significant layoffs and financial adjustments across various federal agencies will alter the landscape of social services nationwide.  

While allegedly focusing on cost savings, federal agencies are being decimated by office closures and staff reductions that DOGE claims will result in lower operating costs. The potential challenges that staff reductions and office closures pose to beneficiaries unable to access services seem to garner little attention. Among those states currently under threat of closure of Social Security offices are New York, West Virginia, California, North Carolina, Arkansas, Ohio, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, and Nevada, among others.

In an unsubstantiated claim, DOGE alleges that millions of dead people are receiving Social Security benefits. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 101,000 centenarians live in the U.S.  It also notes that, although there are 18.9 million people aged 100 or more without death information in the agency records those deceased individuals are not receiving benefits.

Musk claims that Social Security is a “Ponzi Scheme.” However, those receiving Social Security payments have paid into the system, thereby safeguarding their retirement security. The Trump administration’s move to eliminate this retiree-funded payout will adversely impact the most vulnerable among us.  

Musk overlooks all these disadvantages and suggests that recipients who cannot access their data online may soon be required to visit their local agency to prove their identity. In-person visits will be exacerbated by downsizing and office closures. It will likely result in longer wait times and a need for recipients to travel a great distance to find an office that can service them.

This will be particularly burdensome for the low-income, the elderly, and those with disabilities. According to reports from USA TODAY, the memo estimated that between 75,000 and 85,000 more people would need to visit Social Security offices each week if phone services weren't available. The Trump administration's solution is to close offices and lay off staff.

 Is this what the American public voted for? I think not; and what about the cost of eggs?

DOGE Threatens Democracy

 

By Mildred Robertson

Let’s start this conversation by discussing what DOGE is and is not.

Trump established The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by Executive Order on January 20, 2025. It is supposed to modernize federal technology and software for maximum government efficiency. Instead, DOGE has taken a chainsaw to government agencies by decimating the workforce, shutting down offices, eliminating or reducing resources, and generally wreaking havoc throughout the federal government.

Many say an agency such as DOGE would need congressional approval. However, Trump created this entity through an Executive Order. He has no authority to allocate funds, so where does this agency get its resources? That power belongs to Congress.

While they appear not to have legal authority to do so, I don’t see it as bad that they purged the social security database of individuals no longer alive.  However, saying those people were actively being paid has been proven to be a lie. If a name is listed on a payroll account but that person is not receiving payment, then that is NOT government waste. An apt comparison would be if you found a match in a drawer as you cleaned the house, it would not mean the house is on fire. Accordingly, you cannot say you are recouping government funds when none are being spent. You are simply cleaning the database. 

That is what DOGE has done with social security. They have found some inefficiencies, but not widespread fraud or corruption. Are there individuals receiving social security payments to which they are not entitled? I am sure there are. A system as big as Social Security will likely have some discrepancies. It is good to look for and eliminate those discrepancies. But to trash the system that millions of Americans have paid into and rely on to secure their retirement is insanity. 

It also appears that DOGE has identified payees whom they claim are dead, who are alive and well, and dependent upon those payments to live. So, mistakes happen, right? Further, even if DOGE were more competent and efficient than the agencies under attack, it has no authority to shutter them.  Agencies established by Congress cannot be eliminated by the stroke of a pen. Federal workers cannot be summarily dismissed without following personnel procedures.  And, unelected officials cannot enact policies and procedures for the federal government.

At the end of the day, we will know whether our constitution is sufficient to maintain our freedom. We will see whether DOGE will be allowed to freely move forward, swinging its chainsaw throughout the federal government. We will see whether Congress and the judiciary will withstand the onslaught of a rouge administration.

If they do not, whether millions of Americans receive their unemployment benefits will be the least of our worries.

Threat of Violence Taints American Politics

 NC Senator Thom Tillis Targeted with Death Threats

By Mildred Robertson

This is despicable behavior. This is not the way politics is supposed to work. I hope that he and his family remain safe. In this hot political atmosphere, many must cope with threats on their lives and the lives of their families. There are judges, politicians, lawyers, media, and countless others who have found themselves in the crosshairs of violent individuals who feel they have the license to intimidate folks who disagree with them politically. 

While many politicians hide from their constituents behind form letters and Zoom calls, this is not the time for politicians to be cavalier in response to the voting public. However, these practices appear to be the chosen response to the constituent's concerns. Those letters likely only serve to heighten the political temperature. Constituents want to be heard.

I am a Democrat, but once the election was completed, I expected that my legislator would still want to hear from me and consider my input regardless of my party affiliation. When I contacted Tillis on legislation or political issues across the country, his response made it abundantly clear that the conversation was one-sided, and he only wanted YOU to hear his thoughts on the subject. He missed the point that he works for us.

If constituents take issue with his legislative agenda, he should take the time to truly listen and respond authentically instead of sending out form letters. I would prefer to get no response than receive the missives sent in response to my inquiries and complaints. (Tillis' responses at least attempt to imply that he hears you, unlike North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd's delayed and belittling responses.)

I reiterate, that although I disagree with almost every position Tillis holds, threats of violence should not be part of our political process. Unfortunately, our politics is inhabited by people who are either evil, unwell, or both. The mean, spiteful, and threatening discourse that leads to violence has been perfected by the man who currently sits atop American politics.

So I am sorry that Tillis and his family live under the threat of violence. He is not alone. Many progressive and conservative politicians currently experience this hateful turn in our political landscape. I wish for his safety and for others who have come under similar threats such as Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden...

While I wish for his safety; I also wish for his wisdom and strength of character. I pray that he stands on what is right and not just what is expected by his Party and the man who would be king.

Fighting for Democracy

By Mildred Robertson

For almost every living creature, there comes a seminal moment that impacts the course of our lives. It may be choosing the love of your life or the college or university where you wish to pursue your education.  It might be who you vote for in an historic election, or perhaps more aptly, what you do when that election goes horribly awry.

I was born in 1952 on the cusp of the Civil Rights movement. In 1965 in the heart of that movement, I was not in control of my actions. My desire would have been to hop on a bus and head back to Mississippi to take an active part in wresting my liberty and that of my people from the hands of hateful racists. But my father had taken great pains to move our family from the heart of Dixie so that we would not be trapped in a racist community that would clip our wings and possibly take our lives. He had not been quiet in that environment, and he knew neither would we.

I am glad that he made the move. It was a loving and protective thing to do. But I remember sitting in front of the T.V. watching the marches in Selma and Montgomery. I can recall being inspired by the words of Doctor Martin Luther King. I also recollect being in awe of those people who laid their bodies down in front of hatred and danger, choosing to sacrifice their mortal selves just to be free. I envied them. Their strength. Their courage. I fantasized about whether I would have that same strength and courage…and envisioned that I would.

I was a child then with others to decide for me. That is not to say that we were not on the battlefield in Missouri, doing what we could to make a change. My older sisters led the local NAACP Chapter and fought housing discrimination in the 60’s. I remember passing out flyers and going to rallies. I might have been subject to racism; but not bodily harm or death. Our family continued to be active in civil rights and one sister actually acquired a seat on the national board of the NAACP. Today she still fights the battle through that organization.

Our nation is under threat of tyranny. Not only are we in danger of losing all those hard-fought victories of the Civil Rights Movement, but also the laws and policies that protect the diverse amalgamation of humans, male and female, Black, Brown, Asian, and White that make up this nation. It is our diversity that makes us strong. If we allow that to be destroyed, we will destroy America as we know it.

As I look back at that history, and see the sacrifices that others made I am led to consider the sacrifices necessary today. You see now America faces that same kind of seminal moment that our forbearers faced in the South. It is a moment when we must decide what kind of country we will be. It is a moment where we must determine whether our Constitution is just words on paper, or whether they are words worth fighting and dying for. Some things are.

Back in the 60’s people across America rose up to say “This is NOT who we are.” Together, Black and White, we met the moment. Now, as we face another such moment, each of us must consider what WE are willing to do to save our country. Are you willing to make the sacrifice?

Democrats Bring a Knife to a Gunfight

 By Mildred Robertson

Quiet and non-confrontational. That is what Democratic leadership called for during Trump’s 2025 State of the Union Address. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wished for a “strong” and “dignified” presence at Trump’s speech.  However, Rep. Al Green could not hold his peace and disrupted Trump’s address. For that, he was escorted out of the Chamber and censured, even though Marjorie Taylor Green’s outburst during the Biden speech in 2024 went unpunished.

 

Several legislators walked out midway through Trump’s marathon fuss-fest, shedding their jackets to expose anti-Trump slogans. This act went mostly unnoticed as cameras didn’t bother to capture the “dignified” protest. 

But at least they did SOMETHING.

Al Green's protest resulted in censure by the chamber. Surprisingly 10 Democrats joined Republicans to censure Green.  This is in sharp contrast to the Republican response in 2024 When Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) yelled at Biden during his State of the Union address.   And let’s not forget Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) who shouted, “You Lie!” during President Obama’s 2009 speech to Congress. While Wilson received a reprimand, he was not escorted from the Chamber. Nothing happened to Taylor-Green.

 

Clearly, a dignified State of the Union is preferable to chaos. However, there was no dignity in the marathon speech Trump delivered before the Joint Chamber. It was full of lies regarding the crisis on our southern border, trade tariffs aimed at former allies, the abandonment of Ukraine in its war against Russia, and the implementation of government efficiency headed by an unelected partisan.  This administration is busy disassembling American democracy.

While it is not time to be “strong” and “dignified” it IS time to be STRONG. This nationally televised address would have been the perfect time for the Democrats to implement a unified strategy that speaks to the jeopardy our country faces. There comes a time when you need to pull off your earrings, pull your hair back in a ponytail, kick off your shoes, and invite your opposition to “meet me outside.” 

I don't know, perhaps Democrats should have invited constituents to come to Washington D.C. to hold a rally during the speech. Maybe they should have staged anti-state-of-the-union protests in all fifty states and the territories. Perhaps they should have asked constituents to donate a dollar for every lie Trump told. Maybe they should have asked their supporters to simply turn the television off during the speech. 

It seems Democrats have gotten the dignity part down. But the strength part; that seems in short supply.  You just don't bring a knife to a gunfight.