Democrats

A Ryan republican in the age of Trump

Rep. Rodney Davis got a lot of face time on national TV news last year — reciting talking points about health care and massive tax cuts on CNN and Fox News and CNBC any time they called. And every time they called, it was Paul Ryan’s talking points that Rodney…

I don’t have to imagine the courage because I’ve seen it myself

Lots of commentary about the Sinclair Broadcast Group anchors and reporters and how they’re being “forced” to broadcast these stories and read the company’s scripted propaganda. I used the word forced in my own initial…

Scared of courage, democracy, and youth all at the same time

What better conditions could there be to sell us out?

In the months after the 2016 election, it was an article of faith among Trump supporters that election interference was a ridiculous notion. Forget collusion, the prospect of Russian influence or attempted influence alone was nothing but…

A welcome mat for other petty, strange, menacing behavior

My friends spent inauguration day sharing words of hope with one another. It was nice experience on a sour day. Compassion. Vigilance. Grace. Decency. Resistance. Perseverance. Courage. Solidarity. Integrity. Wisdom. Moxie.

‘The guardrails against irresponsible political behavior were largely imagined’

At the heart of our system of government are written and unwritten ideals that we’ve tacitly agreed to work from. These democratic norms change, and they’re not all good. Many politicians…

Dangerous changes to the way some think about political violence

Whether you’re a nation or an individual, I believe there are times when the bad is so bad and the threat is so physical that violence is the only rational response. That applies to presidents, members of the military…