Posts By

F440e091 85ef 4b3b b0ae 591c08b0c31a 1456x1456

SPECIAL REPORT – Your Neighbour Canada Has Changed And You’re Not Going to Like What is Happening by Canadian Pulse

On - Commentary, International, shared

Came across this piece on how Canada has repositioned itself over the past year — trade, Arctic, alliances. Lot of specific data points worth knowing about regardless of where you stand politically. Make of it what you will.

SPECIAL REPORT – Your Neighbour Canada Has Changed And You’re Not Going to Like What is Happening by Canadian Pulse

Read on Substack

Breaking News, WORLD PEACE HAS BEEN RESTORED

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Trump

Making America Sick — Part 2 of 4: The Damage

On - Commentary, Healthcare, Mental Healthcare, The Fallout, Trumps Soldiers

When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office in February 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services oversaw food and hospital inspections, health insurance for roughly half of the American population, vaccine recommendations, and the scientific research infrastructure that underpins most of what your doctor tells you. It was imperfect, often bureaucratic, and in genuine need of reform in places. What it did not need was to be systematically dismantled by someone who rejected the scientific foundations it was built on.

That is what happened anyway.

Within his first two months Kennedy announced the elimination of approximately 10,000 HHS jobs on top of another 10,000 employees who had already taken buyouts, collapsed 28 agencies into 15, and closed half of HHS’s regional offices. The cuts did not fall evenly. They targeted, as 19 state attorneys general would later document in federal court, specific programs and areas of expertise — the ones Kennedy had already decided were part of the problem. Infectious disease surveillance. Vaccine research. The scientific advisory infrastructure that had taken decades to build.

The research bleeding is quieter than the vaccine headlines but may prove more lasting. The National Institutes of Health cut approximately $2.7 billion in research funding, including a 31 percent reduction in cancer research. Five hundred million dollars in contracts to develop vaccines using mRNA technology, the same technology that saved millions of lives during the pandemic were canceled. Four NIH directors were fired or forced out. The FDA’s vaccine chief was removed. A CDC director Kennedy himself had hired was gone within a month. As one Georgetown University public health law professor put it, America is being hollowed out of its scientific leadership, and it will be extraordinarily difficult to reverse.

But it is the vaccine story that will be most immediately felt in pediatricians’ offices and school hallways across the country.

Kennedy promised during his confirmation hearings that he would not touch vaccine policy. Instead he fired all 17 sitting members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the expert body that has guided vaccine recommendations since 1964 and replaced them with known vaccine skeptics. The reconstituted committee promptly began downgrading recommendations. Then in January 2026, the CDC unilaterally reduced the universally recommended childhood vaccine schedule from 17 vaccines to 11, cutting protection against rotavirus, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and meningococcal disease from routine recommendations, not based on any new safety data, but modeled after Denmark, a country with universal free healthcare that is an outlier even among its European peers.

The consequences are not theoretical. A measles outbreak has spread to 26 states with over 960 confirmed cases centered in South Carolina. Two children have died from whooping cough. Vaccination rates have been falling since Kennedy took office. Last flu season saw 280 child deaths from influenza, the highest toll in more than a decade, and the federal government has now made the flu vaccine a matter of parental discretion rather than routine recommendation.

There is a clock ticking that most people don’t know about. Major health insurers pledged to keep covering the old vaccine schedule through the end of 2026. That pledge expires in December. After that, whether parents pay out of pocket for vaccines that were covered last year is an open question, and in a country where cost is already a barrier to preventive care for millions of families, the answer will show up in infection rates within a year or two.

None of this happened by accident. None of it happened without warning. Kennedy’s record as a vaccine skeptic was not hidden during his confirmation process, it was the central concern of every senator who questioned him, and he addressed each concern with a promise he did not keep. The damage being done to American public health is real, it is documented, and it is the direct result of placing ideological conviction above scientific evidence at the highest level of the public health system.

The question worth asking, and the one we will address next, is not whether Kennedy knows what he is doing. He does. The more useful question is why a genuinely intelligent person, with a real history of fighting for public health, arrived here. Because the answer to that question is the one that might actually help us understand how to stop it from happening again.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

The Chaos Candidate Part 2 of 2

On - Blog, Commentary, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Politics

The Chaos Candidate

Part Two: Nobody Gets to Succeed Him

The Heir Problem

Every president, even those who serve two full terms, eventually hands power to someone. The American system is built on this assumption. Parties groom successors. Vice presidents position themselves. Cabinets members quietly build their own profiles. This is normal. This is healthy. This is how democracies renew themselves.

Look at what is happening to JD Vance. He was selected as the heir apparent, young, ideologically aligned, capable of carrying the movement forward. Watch how that has evolved. Watch how often he is sent to deliver messages that put him in impossible positions. Watch how the credit for anything successful flows upward while the exposure for anything uncomfortable flows toward him. This is not accidental staff management. This is deliberate political neutering.

Marco Rubio came into this administration with more foreign policy credibility than almost anyone in the Republican Party. He is a serious man who knows the world. Watch what has happened to his role. Watch the negotiations he is sent to conduct with insufficient authority to deliver results. Watch the sidelines he increasingly occupies on decisions that should be his by portfolio. The diminishment is quiet but it is consistent.

The pattern is not hard to see once you are looking for it. Nobody around this president is allowed to accumulate enough independent political gravity to pose a succession question. Not because he is term-limited out in 2028 and succession is therefore theoretical. Because the movement itself cannot have a face other than his face. The chaos requires a singular author.

Nobody around this president is allowed to accumulate enough independent political gravity to pose a succession question. The chaos requires a singular author.

The Trap Voters Built

Here is the part that requires the most intellectual honesty, because it does not flatter anyone, including people who consider themselves politically sophisticated.

The trap was not set by Donald Trump. It was set by voters, over many election cycles, as American political culture made a series of choices that seemed reasonable one at a time and catastrophic in aggregate.

We chose entertainment over information. Not all at once. Gradually, across decades, as the media ecosystem fractured and attention became the currency that determined what survived. A political system fed by attention gradually selects for performers over governors.

We chose emotion over policy. Again, not all at once. But somewhere along the way, the question voters asked shifted from “what will this person actually do” to “how does this person make me feel.” Feeling is immediate. Policy is slow. In a media environment built for immediacy, feeling wins every time.

We chose personality over institution. Parties became vehicles for individuals rather than individuals being accountable to parties. Checks and balances depend on people being more loyal to the institution than to the person, and that loyalty has been systematically eroded, on both sides, for thirty years.

The result is a political environment where chaos is not just tolerated but rewarded. Where accountability mechanisms, elections, oversight, the press, the courts, have all been either captured, discredited, or simply overwhelmed by the volume of events requiring response. You cannot hold anyone accountable for yesterday’s crisis when today’s crisis has already replaced it in the news cycle.

The Exit Is Slow

I want to be honest about what I am not saying. I am not saying this is hopeless. I am not saying the system is broken beyond repair. I have lived through enough political cycles, in California, in Oregon, across fifty years of paying close attention, to know that pendulums move. They move slowly. They move unevenly. But they move.

Oregon hasn’t elected a Republican governor since the 1980s. That may change in 2026, not because the state has transformed overnight but because enough voters have grown tired of one-party governance and its particular flavor of unresponsiveness to the full breadth of the state’s needs. That is the pendulum moving. Slow, grinding, real.

The exit from the national trap is the same kind of movement. It does not come from a single election or a single candidate or a single revelation. It comes from voters, gradually, reclaiming the habit of asking what a person will actually do instead of how they make us feel. It comes from demanding resolution instead of rewarding perpetual crisis. It comes from accepting that stability, while less dramatic than chaos, is what governance is actually for.

The chaos candidate understood something about this moment that his opponents repeatedly failed to grasp: that a significant portion of the electorate had become so accustomed to dysfunction that they stopped expecting anything else. He did not create that condition. He simply recognized it and made it work for him.

Understanding that is not defeatism. It is the beginning of the only kind of response that actually works, patient, structural, generational, and stubbornly focused on the long game rather than the next news cycle.

The pendulum is heavy. But it moves.

2026 Elections Toolkit & Voter Registration Deadline- Oregon

On - Forward Party, Politics, shared, Voting Rights

Date: April 21, 2026

Follow for elections updates: Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, and Youtube

Dear Oregonians,

The next big statewide election is coming up quick: Tuesday, May 19th! That’s less than one month away.

Our office just released the official 2026 Elections Toolkit, a collection of nonpartisan voter education materials designed to help you, your friends, neighbors, and every eligible voter vote with confidence in this year’s elections.

Visit OregonVotes.gov/toolkit to find everything you need to know about…

Registering to vote
Filling out your ballot
Making a plan to vote
Signing your ballot
Knowing your rights as an Oregon voter

…all in one place.

Take a look and share these toolkits with your community, and do it soon because there are important dates coming up!

Tuesday, April 28th is the deadline to register to vote in the big May election.

Need to register, check, or make a change to your registration? Visit OregonVotes.gov/myvote.

Registering to vote is quick and convenient. To learn where you can register, what documents you’ll need to register, and when you need to register by to take part in this year’s elections, I encourage you to check out our guide below.

Your vote is your voice, and registering to vote is the first step to making it heard.

Sincerely,

Tobias Read signature

Tobias Read
Oregon Secretary of State

To download this guide visit OregonVotes.gov/toolkit.

ATTENTION: Oregon voters are now advised to mail their ballots back at least one week before election day due to delays at the Post Office.

You can always use a 24/7 official, secure drop box up until 8:00 PM on election night. Find everything you need know about making sure your vote counts this election year at OregonVotes.gov/toolkit.

Save yourself the worry: don’t wait, vote early!

Questions about voting in Oregon?

FIND A TOWN HALL WITH SECRETARY READ NEAR YOU!

Join Secretary Read and get answers to your questions at upcoming town halls in Philomath, Corvallis, and Lincoln City! More town halls to be announced soon.

Join Representative Gomberg and Secretary Read for their joint town halls. There are two dates and locations in District 10: Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 1:30-3:00 PM at the Philomath High School Auditorium and Saturday, May 9 from 9:30-11 AM at the Lincoln City Community Center.

Submit your questions and RSVP for the Philomath and Lincoln City town halls here!

Join Secretary Read, Senator Gelser Blouin, and Representative Finger McDonald for their joint town hall in Corvallis. Wednesday, May 6 at 6:00 PM at Lincoln Benton Community College. ASL and Spanish interpretation provided.

Submit your questions and RSVP for the Corvallis town hall here!


This email was sent to ***** using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Oregon Secretary of State · 900 Court Street NE · Capitol Room 136 · Salem OR 97310-0722

5f83a641 3bd8 4e60 869a 5d72f1d0e928 739x415

The Most Important Speech of Political and Constitutional Philosophy That Never Should Have Been Given

On - Commentary, shared

The Most Important Speech of Political and Constitutional Philosophy That Never Should Have Been Given by Legal AF

Read on Substack

The Chaos Candidate Part 1 of 2

On - Blog, Commentary, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Politics

The Chaos Candidate

How disorder became the product, succession became the threat, and voters built the trap themselves

I want to start with something simple, something you can observe without any particular political leaning, and see if you end up where I did.

Venezuela got loud, then it quieted down. Iran got loud. Now Cuba is warming up. At some point, one of these will quiet down too, and something else will heat up. There is always something heating up. There is never a moment where the temperature drops across the board and stays down. If you step back far enough to see the whole map at once, a pattern emerges that is difficult to explain as coincidence, incompetence, or even ideology.

What if the chaos isn’t the failure? What if the chaos is the point?

I am not a conspiracy theorist. I am a man who has been watching American politics since Eisenhower, who moved from California to Oregon in 1975 and watched two states make similar mistakes on slightly different timelines, and who spent a sleepless night recently, courtesy of bad scallops and an overactive mind, turning this question over until it had an answer I could not easily dismiss.

This piece has two movements. The first is about chaos as a governing strategy. The second is about why that strategy is self-sealing, and who pays the price when it is.

What if the chaos isn’t the failure? What if the chaos is the point?

Part One: The Chaos Is the Product

What Normal Turbulence Looks Like

Every presidency generates turbulence. Foreign policy crises flare and subside. Domestic controversies rise and fall. This is the normal metabolism of governing a large, complicated country in a complicated world. Nobody reasonable expects calm.

But normal turbulence has a rhythm. Problems are identified, addressed, resolved or managed, and attention moves on. The temperature rises and falls. There is a discernible arc: crisis, response, resolution, or at minimum, honest failure followed by correction.

What we are watching now has a different rhythm entirely. The temperature does not fall. The resolution never quite arrives. Each crisis is replaced not by calm but by the next crisis, on a rotation that feels less like the unpredictable nature of world events and more like a programming schedule.

The Rotation

Venezuela became the focus. Military posturing, deportation flights, diplomatic brinksmanship. Then it subsided, not resolved, just deprioritized. Iran filled the space almost immediately. The language escalated. Negotiations were announced with negotiators who, by any serious diplomatic assessment, were not equipped to deliver results. The war drums are audible but the path to resolution is deliberately obscured.

Cuba is next. The signals are already there for anyone paying attention.

Now ask yourself a straightforward question: what does a president gain from resolution? A resolved crisis is yesterday’s news. A resolved crisis means the cameras move on. A resolved crisis means the public starts paying attention to other things, grocery prices, healthcare costs, whether their VA claim has been processed.

A ongoing crisis, on the other hand, is a spotlight. And the spotlight, in this administration, is not a tool of governance. It is the objective of governance.

A resolved crisis is yesterday’s news. An ongoing crisis is a spotlight. And the spotlight is not a tool of governance. It is the objective.

More Than Narcissism

The easy diagnosis is narcissism, and it is not wrong as far as it goes. But narcissism alone does not fully explain the pattern, because narcissism is ultimately reactive. It seeks approval, validation, the crowd’s energy. What we are observing has a more active quality. It is not just craving the spotlight. It is engineering the conditions that make the spotlight permanent.

Some political psychologists have reached for the term malignant narcissism, a combination of narcissistic personality, antisocial behavior, paranoia, and a willingness to cause harm without remorse. Others simply describe an autocratic personality type. Neither quite captures it.

What I keep coming back to is this: chaos is this man’s life support system. Not metaphorically. Functionally. Remove the crisis and you remove the reason for the rally, the reason for the emergency declaration, the reason the cameras are in the room. Stability is not just boring to him. Stability is existentially threatening.

That is not a medical diagnosis. It is a political observation. And it matters, because it changes how you evaluate everything that follows.

When it’s all about me

Making America Sick — Part 1 of 4: The Man Who Knew Better

On - Commentary, Healthcare, Mental Healthcare, The Fallout, Trumps Soldiers

There is a version of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that history should remember favorably.

As an environmental attorney in the 1980s and 90s, Kennedy was the real thing. He sued polluters, won, and made them pay. He fought corporations that dumped toxins into waterways serving poor communities who had no other advocate. He understood science, used it rigorously, and trusted it when it supported the case he was making, which it usually did, because the science on industrial pollution is not complicated. Corporations were poisoning people, Kennedy proved it, and he made them stop. That is not the biography of a crank. That is the biography of someone who understood exactly how institutions can be corrupted by money and power, and fought back effectively.

That understanding, that institutions lie when money is involved, is important. Because it wasn’t wrong. It was the seed of everything that came later, and like a lot of things that start from a kernel of truth, it eventually grew into something that consumed the original plant entirely.

Somewhere between the courtroom victories and the podcast appearances, Kennedy’s working theory shifted. Institutions sometimes lie became institutions always lie. Follow the money when evaluating a specific claim became follow the money as a substitute for evaluating evidence at all. The man who once used science as a sword against corporate corruption began using corporate corruption as a reason to reject science itself.

The drug years almost certainly played a role. Kennedy has spoken openly about his heroin addiction and recovery, and deserves credit for that honesty. But what he has never fully reckoned with publicly, and what anyone who has worked in addiction and mental health will recognize immediately, is that sustained substance use doesn’t just damage the body. It rewires the framework through which a person processes trust, authority, and risk. It can leave someone genuinely intelligent operating from a threat-assessment system that is permanently calibrated too high. Everything becomes suspect. Every institution becomes an enemy. Every simple answer becomes more trustworthy than a complex one, because complexity itself starts to feel like manipulation.

This is not a diagnosis. It is a pattern that professionals in mental health and addiction recognize, and it matters here because it explains something important: Kennedy is not stupid. He is not simply corrupt. He is a genuinely intelligent person operating from a framework that was damaged long before he ever set foot in the Department of Health and Human Services, and that framework is now being applied to the health of 330 million Americans.

He was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services in February 2025, after a Senate process in which he promised, repeatedly, that he would not dismantle vaccine policy, would not politicize public health, and would bring transparency and accountability to institutions that had lost public trust during the pandemic. Those were not unreasonable promises. Some of them were even things his critics could agree were worth doing.

He has broken nearly all of them.

What is less often discussed is how he got there. Kennedy’s path to confirmation ran directly through his decision to drop his independent presidential campaign and deliver his followers to Trump. The job was, by most credible accounts, the arrangement. Not a reward for expertise in public health. Not a record of administrative competence. A political transaction between two men who had spent years distrusting the same institutions, for very different reasons, and who each believed they were the one doing the using.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

1710801629903

A Text Message and FDA Approval – A COMPANION PIECE TO THE SERIES: MAKING AMERICA SICK — ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.

On - Commentary, Healthcare, Mental Healthcare, The Fallout, Trumps Soldiers, Veterans News

When good things happen for the wrong reasons, and the wrong things happen anyway

On Saturday, April 18, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order directing the FDA to fast-track its review of psychedelic drugs including ibogaine, psilocybin, and MDMA for the treatment of PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injuries in military veterans. He stood in the Oval Office flanked by RFK Jr., Dr. Oz, podcaster Joe Rogan, and Marcus Luttrell, the decorated Navy SEAL whose story became the film Lone Survivor. It was, by any measure, a striking scene.

And here is the uncomfortable truth: the science behind this decision has genuine merit. A 2024 Stanford study found that veterans treated with ibogaine showed an 80 to 90 percent reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety within a single month. For over twenty years, more than 6,000 veterans per year have died by suicide, a rate more than twice that of the civilian population. When people are dying at that scale, the calculus around acceptable risk changes. Sometimes you take the risk. Sometimes you throw the dice.

So credit where it is due: if this research is conducted properly, it could save lives. That matters. That is real.

“Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it.” — President Trump, responding to a text from Joe Rogan

Policy by Text Message

But here is where the story gets complicated, and where the parallels to my ongoing series on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. become impossible to ignore.

This executive order, according to officials present, was written in less than a week. Its genesis was not a briefing from the VA, or a report from the National Institutes of Health, or years of advocacy from veterans’ organizations, though those voices exist and have been pushing for this research for years. Its genesis was a text message from Joe Rogan. Trump’s reply, as Rogan told it from the Oval Office: “Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it.”

This is the same governing philosophy we see throughout this administration’s approach to public health. RFK Jr. didn’t dismantle vaccine confidence programs because of rigorous scientific review. He did it because of ideology, grievance, and the gravitational pull of a particular media universe. Trump didn’t fast-track psychedelic research because of a systematic review of veteran health outcomes. He did it because a podcaster texted him and it sounded good.

The mechanism is identical. The outcomes just happen to point in opposite directions.

The Hypocrisy the Headlines Won’t Tell You

While this announcement was being celebrated and it deserves some celebration the Department of Veterans Affairs has been quietly hemorrhaging the people who actually serve veterans every single day. Thousands of VA employees have been cut or are under threat as part of the administration’s broader federal workforce reductions. These are the people who answer phones, process disability claims, run mental health clinics, and sit across from veterans in crisis.

Ibogaine, even under an optimistic timeline, will not be widely available to veterans for years. The research still needs to be done properly. The cardiac risks, ibogaine has been linked to fatal heart arrhythmias and is connected to over thirty deaths in the medical literature — need to be understood and managed. The FDA approval process, even a fast-tracked one, takes time.

So what happens to the veteran who calls the VA crisis line next Tuesday and nobody answers? What happens to the veteran waiting eighteen months for a disability claim decision while staff positions sit empty? They don’t have Joe Rogan’s number. They don’t have a Lone Survivor story to tell in the Oval Office. They have a phone number and a waiting list.

This administration has demonstrated, repeatedly, that access to presidential attention and federal resources is mediated not by need, but by platform. By visibility. By whether you are useful to the political performance of the moment. Veterans, as a group, are enormously useful as symbols. As a bureaucratic constituency with daily, grinding needs they are less convenient.

The Thalidomide Shadow

Those of us old enough to remember thalidomide understand the cost of moving too fast. That drug approved in Europe, thankfully blocked in the US by one courageous FDA reviewer caused severe birth defects in thousands of children. The FDA’s deliberate pace exists for a reason. It was written in tragedy.

Ibogaine is not thalidomide. But it carries real risks, and the pressure now being applied to the FDA approve this in “weeks, not years” as the FDA commissioner suggested should make anyone who remembers that history uneasy. Speed driven by political momentum is not the same as speed driven by scientific confidence.

The research should proceed. The clinical trials should be funded. The veterans who have traveled to Mexico to access ibogaine treatments because they had no legal option at home deserve a legitimate pathway. All of that is true.

But “do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it” is not a drug approval process. It is a vibe. And we have seen, in this administration’s approach to public health writ large, what governing by vibe costs us.

Hold Both Truths

The hardest intellectual task in political commentary right now is holding two truths simultaneously when one of them gives comfort to people you disagree with. So let me be clear one final time: this research, done properly, could save veteran lives. That is good. That is worth fighting for regardless of who signs the order.

But the way it was done, by text message, in a week, surrounded by cameras and celebrities, while the VA workforce is being dismantled behind the scenes, is not a veterans policy. It is a veterans performance. And the veterans who will be waiting for ibogaine to navigate clinical trials and FDA approval while their local VA mental health clinic loses half its staff deserve to know the difference.

Good outcomes for bad reasons are still good outcomes. But they do not absolve the bad reasons. And they do not fill the staff positions that were cut last month.

This is a companion piece to the ongoing series Making America Sick: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., examining the Trump administration’s approach to public health, science, and the machinery of medical governance.

Published April 2026

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

F53a89c0 e7ae 40f1 abb2 56c8ad3dcf22 1546x1144

What Your Cat Understands About Donald Trump That Most Democrats Don’t

On - Commentary, shared

What Your Cat Understands About Donald Trump That Most Democrats Don’t by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

Read on Substack

Ungrateful Bastards

On - Bullshit, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Politics, The Fallout

I call them names, I belittle them, I tariff them till they bleed, I steal from them, I refuse them aid, I mock their leaders as weak and two-faced, I slap steel and aluminum tariffs on their trade, I demand they pay up for NATO or else I walk away, I trash the Paris Accord and pull out of the Iran deal they made, I threaten to buy Greenland or tariff Denmark into submission, I call Trudeau “Governor” of the 51st state, I insult Macron as “very nasty” and Merkel as done, I berate them for not spending enough while our troops guard their run, I pull troops from Germany and Syria without a word, I cozy up to adversaries while calling allies absurd,

I hit the EU and Canada with surprise trade blows, I complain they freeload on our defense while reaping what we sow, I demand they buy our LNG and farm goods or face the pain, I publicly humiliate them at summits again and again, I freeze or slow aid when it suits my grudge or mood, I lecture them on borders while building walls of attitude… And then I ask them for one little favor, and they refuse, ungrateful bastards.

He’s At It Again. He Never Really Stopped.

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, elections and media, Politics, Protest 2026

There is one political maneuver that has outlasted every empire, every demagogue, and every failed democracy in recorded history. It requires no particular intelligence to execute. It requires only a crowd of people who have been genuinely hurt by a system they don’t fully understand, and a voice willing to point in the wrong direction with enough confidence that nobody looks where the finger is actually coming from.

Donald Trump used it to get elected. He is using it again right now, aimed at a new audience, ahead of the midterms.

Here is how it works. You find people who have real grievances, and in America in 2026 there is no shortage of them. Wages that haven’t kept pace with the cost of living. Unions that were dismantled. Housing that became unaffordable. Debt that was engineered to be inescapable. These are real injuries, caused by identifiable decisions made by identifiable people with identifiable financial interests. The billionaires who took the wages. The corporations that crushed the unions. The politicians who deregulated the housing market. The financial system that built the debt trap.

You don’t point there. That’s the move. You point down instead. You tell the people who were robbed that the theft was committed by the people below them on the economic ladder. The immigrants, the minorities, the ones who have even less power than they do. You make them feel powerful by giving them someone they can still step on. And it works, because anger needs a target, and the real targets are harder to reach and better protected.

Trump did this in 2016 and 2024 with devastating effectiveness. Your jobs didn’t go to billionaires who lobbied for trade deals. They went to those people crossing the border. Your neighborhood didn’t get hollowed out by financial policy. It got hollowed out by those people getting handouts. Your children’s futures aren’t being sold by the donor class. They’re being taken by those people getting what should be yours.

It was a lie then. It is the same lie now, repackaged for a younger audience at a megachurch in Phoenix, dressed up in pyrotechnics and Lee Greenwood, aimed at voters who are still forming their understanding of how power actually works.

What has changed is the urgency. He said it himself at the Turning Point rally this week, almost accidentally. He knows the historical pattern, that the president’s party typically loses ground in midterm elections. He said he can’t figure out why. He can. He just can’t say it out loud. So instead he is doing what he has always done when the ground shifts under him. He is pointing downward harder, faster, and at a younger audience that hasn’t yet learned to check where the finger is actually aimed.

He told those young voters at the Dream City Church in North Phoenix, the midterms are existential. He is right about that. He just has the direction exactly backward. The threat is not the Democrats. The threat is the consolidation of power by a man who has spent his entire political career making sure you are angry at the person next to you instead of the one above you.

The oldest trick in the authoritarian playbook is not complicated. It just requires that nobody stops to look up.

Look up.

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies at a hearing examining the Missouri v. Biden case

Robert F. Kennedy Jr – Making America Sick

On - Commentary, Healthcare, Mental Healthcare, The Fallout, Trumps Soldiers

Our next series will take on Robert F. Kennedy Jr and what he has done to America’s Health and Youth, and why, in the year he has been in Office.

This is a 4 part series.

Making America Sick — Part 1 of 4: The Man Who Knew Better

Making America Sick — Part 2 of 4: The Damage

Making America Sick — Part 3 of 4: Why He’s Doing It? The Broken Compass

Making America Sick — Part 4 of 4: The Fight Back

Fast Forward 04/17/2026

On - Forward Party, Politics, shared, Voting Rights

Bill —

Viktor Orbán, long a symbol of democratic backsliding and the self-proclaimed creator of “illiberal democracy,” was defeated by the very force he worked so hard to bend: the will of the voters. In Hungary, citizens were given a chance to speak clearly, and they did. Their message was bigger than one man. It was a reminder that even leaders who spend years weakening institutions, centralizing power, and putting themselves above the public are still vulnerable when people decide enough is enough.

This was not only a vote about ideology. It was also a vote about accountability. Orbán’s defeat reflected something basic but powerful: people expect leaders to serve the public, not themselves. When governments become arrogant, insulated, corrupt, or indifferent to the daily struggles of ordinary families, voters notice. And when democracy is still strong enough to give them a voice, they can use it to demand something better.

That is why Hungary’s election matters far beyond Hungary. It stands as a warning to leaders everywhere, including here in the United States, that public office is not personal property. It is a temporary trust. Leaders are sent to their capitals to solve problems, uphold democratic norms, and improve people’s lives. When they fail in that responsibility, voters not only can replace them; they should replace them.

At Forward, we believe politics should be rooted in service, responsibility, and results. We are working to support leaders who understand that holding office means stewardship, not self-preservation. Hungary may be the latest example of voters insisting on that standard, but it cannot be the last. In this election year, we will keep fighting to make sure more leaders are chosen not for their ambition but for their willingness to serve.

Please forward this to your friends, family, and coworkers. It helps us introduce them to Forward and to what we are building. Also consider inviting them to one of our upcoming events listed below. We’d love to meet them.

REMINDER: The next episode of The Forward Party Podcast is live!

Episode 7 brings the conversation back to where politics has the most immediate impact: local leadership. While national headlines tend to dominate attention, this discussion highlights how mayors and community leaders are quietly solving real problems every day without the noise of partisan division. Featuring Deke Copenhaver, former mayor of Augusta, Georgia, Brian Vincent, current mayor of Farmville, Virginia, and Clint Eisenhauer, South Carolina Forward Party Chair, the episode explores what it looks like to lead with service, accountability, and community-first thinking. These leaders share firsthand experiences navigating political pressure, earning trust at the grassroots level, and making decisions that directly shape the lives of their constituents.

We hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to let us know what you think.

Click the image below to watch.

ICYMI: The Forward Party Podcast – Behind the Scenes reel

April 22 – Candidate Outreach Training

With such an impactful election year upon us, it’s important we find the right candidates to support! Join Carrie Anne and Jake Mellen, National Forward staff members, to learn what to look for in candidates and race in your area and best practices for outreach.

If you’re tired of waiting for the system to fix itself — this is your moment.
👥 Volunteer | 🗳️ Run for Office | 💸 Donate | 🌐 forwardparty.com

Contrary to what our detractors on social media say, YES, we read!

Forward Party Announces First Round of 2026 Congressional Endorsements

The Forward Party has announced its first round of congressional endorsements for the 2026 election cycle, backing a slate of six candidates across multiple states. Additional endorsements are expected in the coming months.

New Mexico Forward Party aims for recognition as Andrew Yang visits Santa Fe

A former presidential candidate came to the New Mexico state Capitol on Friday to announce a new home for voters who are tired of the strife between Republicans and Democrats. “Politics in the state will never be the same,” Andrew Yang proclaimed to about two dozen people at a news conference where he announced the arrival of the Forward Party.

Andrew Yang Urges Action at Forward Party Utah Convention

If you’ve spent any time watching the American political landscape lately, you know the feeling of staring at a ballot and feeling like you’re being asked to choose between two versions of the same headache. For a lot of voters in the Beehive State, that frustration has moved past a quiet grumble and into a full-blown movement. We’re seeing it play out in Utah, where the Forward Party isn’t just knocking on doors—they’re attempting to rewrite the rules of engagement in a state traditionally known as a Republican stronghold.

Copyright © 2026 Forward Party, all rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
1701 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States

Paid for by Forward Party and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
ForwardParty.com

Article 3 of 3 The Long Game — Power Beyond the Ballot

On - Commentary, Dark Money, elections and media, Private Funding, Voting Rights

By now, it is clear that the 2026 midterms are unlike any we have seen in recent memory. The scale of spending, the intensity of coordination, and the precision of messaging all suggest a high-stakes contest—but the full story goes deeper than individual candidates or party control.

The real question is not just who wins, but how power is being built and exercised beyond what voters can easily see.

The Right’s Strategy: Retain Power, Overtly

For the Republican-aligned forces, the goals are largely apparent: retain control, reinforce policy agendas, and consolidate influence over both formal institutions and public discourse.

Fear, cultural anxiety, and economic issues are the levers most often used.
Messaging and media campaigns are coordinated to reinforce narratives favorable to retention of power.
Infrastructure investments, such as digital platforms and PAC networks, aim to create lasting influence in key regions.

The strategy is clear—even if the tactics involve distortion or exaggeration, the intention is explicit: maintain control.

The Opposition: More Than a Reaction?

On the surface, the Democratic-aligned spending appears reactive: flip seats, gain committee control, and counter the right’s narrative. But the scale and coordination of resources suggest a more systemic effort.

Large sums are flowing into issue networks, nonprofit advocacy, and media pipelines.
These efforts don’t just support candidates—they shape long-term messaging, policy priorities, and the broader political infrastructure.
The question arises: is the opposition simply seeking to transfer power, or is it quietly constructing a parallel system of influence that endures regardless of the next election?

Invisible Structures and Enduring Influence

Both sides are engaging in a subtle, long-term game:

Media pipelines that shape public perception.
Policy advocacy that primes future legislation.
Networks of nonprofits, PACs, and think tanks that maintain continuity of influence.

Even visible money can serve as a tool for structural shaping, while truly opaque spending adds another layer of strategic depth.

What Voters Don’t See

Most citizens focus on candidates, slogans, and immediate outcomes. Yet the forces of influence operate largely in shadows: guiding narratives, building infrastructure, and securing leverage points that persist beyond Election Day.

This is the essence of modern political power: it is not solely about winning elections; it is about embedding influence into the very fabric of governance, media, and public perception.

The Critical Question

As the 2026 midterms approach, voters must ask themselves: are we witnessing a straightforward contest over seats, or is there a larger game being played—one where both sides seek enduring structural influence, often invisible to the public eye?

Understanding this hidden layer is essential for anyone seeking to grasp the stakes of modern American politics. The long game is underway, and the rules are not fully visible.

ChatGPT Image Apr 4, 2026, 11 26 43 AM

No Records, No Library. Give the Land Back.

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Protest 2026

No Records, No Library. Give the Land Back.

Presidential libraries exist for one purpose: to house the historical record of an administration. The documents, the decisions, the evidence of what actually happened and why. They belong to the public, not the president.

So it’s worth asking — what exactly is the Trump Presidential Library supposed to contain?

Trump’s own Justice Department has now declared the Presidential Records Act unconstitutional. The administration’s position, as watchdog groups told a federal court, is that the President is legally free to destroy records of his official government conduct. MS NOW This from a president who, in his first term, tore documents into pieces so small they looked like confetti, requiring staff to fish out the scraps and tape them back together.

Meanwhile, Miami-Dade College has transferred a nearly 3-acre parcel of prime downtown Miami real estate — valued at over $67 million — for the Trump presidential library, with a judge temporarily blocking the transfer while a lawsuit plays out. Many in the public only learned what the vote was actually for when the Florida Attorney General announced it on X, minutes after the board voted.

This is not a library. A library preserves the truth. This is a monument — to a man who doesn’t want one written.

So here is the logical conclusion: if there are no records worth preserving, there is nothing to archive. If there is nothing to archive, there is no need for a library. And if there is no need for a library, there is certainly no justification for a $300 million piece of college land — land that belongs to the students of Miami-Dade — being handed over for what amounts to a vanity hotel with a reading room attached.

Return the land. Give it back to the college. Let the students park their cars on it, or build a classroom, or sell it and fund a thousand scholarships.

Article 2 of 3 Transparency Illusions — Money in Plain Sight

On - Commentary, Dark Money, elections and media, Private Funding, Voting Rights

The early surge of funding into the 2026 midterms is hard to ignore, yet the public is still largely in the dark about how that money actually shapes the election. Even when contributions are disclosed, transparency is often more illusory than real.

Voters see the headlines—mega-donors, super PACs, and campaign cash—but few grasp the mechanics behind it, or the strategic intent that guides these flows. In essence, visibility does not equal understanding.

Disclosed vs. Hidden Influence

Campaign finance laws require certain reporting: super PACs must list their donors, and major contributions are public record. This disclosure gives the impression of accountability.

But disclosure is only part of the story. The “where” and “how” of influence often remains obscured. Mega-donors channel money into targeted districts, specialized messaging, and digital campaigns whose impacts ripple quietly.

Even non-dark money—funds that are fully reported—can operate as a form of strategic opacity. Voters know that spending is happening, but rarely see the nuanced ways it shapes perceptions, priorities, and local political infrastructure.

The Mechanics of Influence

Modern political spending is surgical. The goal is rarely broad persuasion; it’s about precise leverage:

District targeting: Money flows into the races that are winnable or strategically critical.
Message amplification: Ads, mailers, and digital campaigns are coordinated to push certain narratives.
Network shaping: Grassroots organizations, local media, and advocacy groups can be nudged—or suppressed—through funding decisions.

In combination, these tools allow wealth and influence to shape the electoral playing field long before voters cast ballots.

Public Perception and Strategic Opacity

To most citizens, a donor check is a check. But campaigns are more than contributions—they are engines of influence. Strategic opacity allows campaigns to appear open while steering attention, framing debates, and shaping perceptions without overt coercion.

The result is a paradox: the money is in plain sight, yet its full effect and intent are largely invisible. Voters see movement, but not the levers behind it.

Setting Up the Bigger Question

If disclosed money can operate as a subtle form of hidden influence, the real question becomes: what about the truly opaque channels? Dark money, nonprofit networks, and cross-linked advocacy groups operate largely outside public scrutiny.

And even among visible spending, both parties appear to be building something larger than a simple tally of wins and losses. Influence flows, narratives solidify, and infrastructure takes shape—often with consequences that extend well beyond Election Day.

The stage is set for a deeper exploration: how much of the opposition’s strategy is truly reactive, and how much is about quietly shaping enduring structures of influence?

Article

If There Are No Records, There Is No Legacy

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Politics, purple

There is a quiet contradiction taking shape—one that deserves more attention than it’s getting.

In recent statements and reporting, Donald Trump has suggested, directly or indirectly, that presidential records are his to control—perhaps even to destroy. Whether that claim holds up legally is almost beside the point.

Because if it’s true in spirit, it collapses something much bigger.

Under the Presidential Records Act, presidential records are not personal belongings. They are the property of the American people. They exist not for vanity, but for accountability—for historians, for oversight, for future generations trying to understand what was done in their name.

That is the entire reason presidential libraries exist.

They are not monuments to ego. They are archives of record.

They are entrusted to the National Archives and Records Administration because history, in this country, is not supposed to be curated by the people who made it.

So here is the simple question:

If the records are disposable… what exactly are we preserving?

If a president can treat official documents as personal property—something to be kept, hidden, or destroyed at will—then the very foundation of a presidential library disappears. You cannot build a monument to history while simultaneously erasing the evidence of it.

And if that is the posture being taken, then the conclusion is unavoidable:

There is no justification for a presidential library.

No justification for public land transfers.
No justification for taxpayer-supported infrastructure.
No justification for the quiet reshaping of public resources into private legacy projects.

If the records have no enduring value, then neither does the archive meant to hold them.

Return the land.
Cancel the project.
Call it what it is.

Because a library without records is not a library at all.

It is a stage set.

And the American people deserve more than a carefully constructed empty room where history used to be.

When Power Pushes Too Far

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

There’s a feeling in the air right now—hard to pin down, but hard to ignore.

Something doesn’t sit right.

It shows up in different ways depending on who you talk to. Some point to politicians who seem more interested in staying in power than serving the public. Others see corporations with growing influence over policy. Many feel the media environment—on all sides—has become less about informing and more about shaping perception.

Individually, each of these concerns can be debated.

But taken together, they form a pattern.

Not a conspiracy. Not a master plan. A pattern.

And patterns matter.

Over time, power—whether political, financial, or cultural—has a tendency to concentrate. It’s not new. It’s not uniquely American. It’s human nature working through systems that reward influence, access, and control.

When those systems function well, they balance competing interests. When they don’t, the balance begins to tilt.

Rules get bent. Oversight weakens. Trust erodes.

Not overnight. Not with a dramatic moment everyone can point to. But slowly, incrementally—just enough that people begin to feel it before they can clearly explain it.

That’s where we are now.

And here’s the part that often gets lost in the noise: when power pushes too far, it rarely ends where it expects.

History is full of examples where those benefiting from a system assume it will continue indefinitely—until it doesn’t. Until the public adapts. Until people start asking harder questions. Until the same tools used to influence begin to be used to push back.

We’re starting to see signs of that pushback today.

Not as a unified movement. Not clean or organized. But as a growing awareness.

People are questioning narratives they once accepted. They’re comparing sources. They’re recognizing when emotion is being used as a lever. They’re less willing to stay neatly inside political lanes that no longer reflect their views.

In short, they’re learning.

That doesn’t make them wolves. It makes them participants again.

And that may be the most important shift of all.

Because the real safeguard in any system isn’t the absence of power—it’s the presence of an engaged public that understands how power works and where it can go wrong.

There will always be those who try to stretch the limits. That’s a constant.

What changes—what always changes—is how far they’re allowed to go.

If there’s a turning point ahead, it won’t come from a single figure or a single event. It will come from something quieter and more durable:

A public that sees a little more clearly than it did before.

And decides that’s enough.

More spit

On - Bullshit, Commentary

Article 1 of 3 Midterms Under Siege — The Scale of Influence

On - Commentary, Dark Money, elections and media, Private Funding, Voting Rights

Midterm elections are supposed to be smaller, quieter affairs compared to presidential contests. Yet, heading into 2026, the sums being poured into these races are unprecedented, rivaling what we normally see only in general elections. The early flood of resources, even when fully disclosed, is a stark reminder that what the public sees is rarely the full story.

While headlines often focus on candidates, slogans, and social media battles, the real game is being played behind the scenes, where money flows strategically, shaping outcomes before most voters even pay attention.

The Numbers Are Jaw-Dropping

Even at this early stage, hundreds of millions of dollars are being funneled into key districts. Mega-donors and super PACs dominate the headlines, their contributions fully disclosed, but the scale alone is enough to overwhelm local campaigns and influence narrative framing.

This is money that historically would have been reserved for the general election, yet now, it is strategically deployed in primary and midterm races to set the stage for longer-term control. The sheer volume highlights the stakes: these elections are about more than individual candidates—they are about shaping influence, infrastructure, and future power.

Public Awareness vs. Reality

Disclosed contributions give the appearance of transparency. The public can see who is funding campaigns, which can create a sense of clarity and accountability. But even with full disclosure, the real intent behind the spending is often obscured.

Which districts are targeted? Which messages are amplified, and which are suppressed? How are grassroots networks subtly nudged or marginalized? The mechanics of influence remain largely invisible to voters, even when the money itself is visible.

In effect, disclosed money can still function as a form of strategic opacity. Voters notice that spending is happening, but few understand the purpose behind it, or the subtle ways it shapes perception, policy priorities, and candidate viability.

Implications for Democracy

This massive influx of resources into midterms raises urgent questions. When campaigns are so heavily funded from the top down, with precise targeting and messaging strategies, the electoral process is no longer just about persuading voters—it is about shaping the environment in which voters make choices.

The concern is not only about fairness but about the concentration of influence. Large donors and outside groups can disproportionately affect outcomes, often favoring well-funded narratives over community-driven priorities. Even when the money is visible, it is wielded with an intent that is not fully apparent.

Setting the Stage for Deeper Questions

If the stakes of the 2026 midterms are already higher than expected, and the flow of money is more aggressive than usual, we must ask: what is the larger purpose? Is this simply about winning seats, or is there a longer-term plan to entrench influence, shape norms, and steer policy pathways?

Understanding the scale and timing of these investments is the first step toward asking the bigger question: what are voters not being shown, and what structures are quietly being built behind the curtain?

Article

Fast Forward 04/09/2026

On - Forward Party, Politics, shared, Voting Rights

Bill —

We’ve officially kicked off our 2026 congressional endorsements, and this first slate says a lot about where this movement is headed. These are not typical candidates. They are leaders who have built careers solving real problems, working in their communities, and stepping up because they believe the system should work better than it does today. They come from different backgrounds and different regions, but they share a commitment to practical leadership, accountability, and getting things done.

Looking across this first group of endorsed congressional candidates, a few things stand out. These are problem solvers first. They have spent their careers in service, whether in business, public service, or their local communities, focused on outcomes instead of ideology. They are also stepping forward at a moment when most Americans feel like the system is not listening. Nearly half the country identifies as independent, yet the system still forces binary choices between the legacy parties. Just as important, they are willing to run anyway. One of the biggest challenges in our politics today is not just who wins, but who never runs in the first place. Too many capable leaders look at the current system and opt out. These candidates are choosing to step up.

Click the image for more information on each of our 2026 endorsed candidates so far.

This election is bigger than any single race. We are operating in a system where trust in government is low, competition is limited, and outcomes are too often driven by small, partisan primaries instead of the broader public. That combination produces exactly what voters are tired of: more division, less problem solving, and fewer real choices. At the same time, there is a clear opportunity. Most Americans are not asking for more extremes. They are asking for leaders who can work across differences, focus on solutions, and represent the full community, not just one side of it.

This first slate also reflects something bigger about how change can actually happen. It does not take a majority to shift how Congress works. A small group of independent minded leaders who are focused on solutions instead of party can become a deciding force and help bridge divides. That is how incentives begin to shift toward cooperation instead of conflict and negotiation instead of gridlock.

This is just the beginning. This first group of congressional endorsements is one step in a much broader effort, with many more endorsements to come across federal, statewide, and local elections. The goal is to build a durable pipeline of leaders who reflect the country as it actually is and give voters more credible choices at every level.

That work is already underway. Earlier in the cycle, we made our first endorsement of the year with gubernatorial candidate Rick Bennett in Maine, a leader who has consistently demonstrated what it looks like to put voters ahead of party and govern with integrity. That endorsement helped set the tone for what we are building, and this first congressional slate continues that momentum.

At its core, this effort is about something simple. American politics should reflect the American people. Right now, it does not, but it can. By supporting candidates like these, leaders who are independent minded, solutions oriented, and accountable, we are helping create a system where voters have real choices again. This is an important step forward, and there is much more to come.

Please forward this to your friends, family, and coworkers. It helps us introduce them to Forward and to what we are building. Also consider inviting them to one of our upcoming events listed below. We’d love to meet them.

The next episode of The Forward Party Podcast is now live!

Episode 7 brings the conversation back to where politics has the most immediate impact: local leadership. While national headlines tend to dominate attention, this discussion highlights how mayors and community leaders are quietly solving real problems every day without the noise of partisan division. Featuring Deke Copenhaver, former mayor of Augusta, Georgia, Brian Vincent, current mayor of Farmville, Virginia, and Clint Eisenhauer, South Carolina Forward Party Chair, the episode explores what it looks like to lead with service, accountability, and community-first thinking. These leaders share firsthand experiences navigating political pressure, earning trust at the grassroots level, and making decisions that directly shape the lives of their constituents.

We hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to let us know what you think.

Click the image below to watch.

ICYMI: The Forward Party Podcast – Behind the Scenes reel

April 10 – New Mexico Press Event with Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang has a big announcement for New Mexico! Meet us on the steps of the Capitol in Santa Fe to hear from Forward Party co-founder, Andrew Yang. Then, join us for a special evening celebration event in Downtown Albuquerque to meet Andrew in-person for a live Q&A, connect with New Mexico Forward leadership, mingle and meet fellow reform-minded New Mexicans, and learn how to get involved to help grow ballot access and voter choice statewide. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

April 11 – Texas Inaugural State Convention

Join a coalition of independent thinkers for the Texas Forward Party’s Inaugural State Convention—a historic weekend of action, training, and connection in Austin. We are bringing together community leaders from across the state to lower the temperature, break the gridlock, and put power back in the hands of voters.

April 11 – Colorado Forward Party Nominating Convention

On April 11th, the Colorado Forward Party is holding a virtual assembly to nominate candidates for the November ballot and conduct other party business.

April 11 – Forward Party of Utah State Convention

Join Forwardists from across the state and Forward Party Cofounder Andrew Yang for the Forward Party of Utah’s annual State Convention—our biggest gathering of the year. At the convention, attendees will meet and nominate Forward candidates, vote on party priorities, and help shape the direction of the Forward Party of Utah for the year ahead. The program will feature a strong lineup of speakers, thoughtful discussion, and meaningful opportunities for members and supporters to share ideas and perspectives on Utah’s political future.

If you’re tired of waiting for the system to fix itself — this is your moment.
👥 Volunteer | 🗳️ Run for Office | 💸 Donate | 🌐 forwardparty.com

Contrary to what our detractors on social media say, YES, we read!

Gavin Newsom, Ben Shapiro, and Donald Trump Finally Agree on a Major Voting rights Issue

When the conversation came to gerrymandering, both Newsom and Shapiro agreed that allowing political parties to diminish the voting power of voters who don’t join their party is an acceptable thing to do.

Our mailing address is:
1701 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States

Paid for by Forward Party and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
ForwardParty.com

Pushing the big red button

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

Once again, it’s reset time. My reset. All the craziness just gets me worked up and I want to scream as loud as I can — why aren’t you paying attention? Why don’t you see what’s going on?

Well, from what I’m seeing, I think you are seeing what’s going on. I do think people are paying attention, and I find that my screams are just another voice saying the same thing. To me, that’s a good thing.

That means I can get back to what I really want to do: draw attention to what is happening behind the curtains, address voting rights, and expose the attacks designed to confuse and distract us from our democracy.

We have a mental health pandemic nationwide that is underfunded and swept under the carpet. We have a drug addiction crisis that isn’t being solved by blowing up boats in the Caribbean — and I guess the drug problem is all over now, since no boats have been blown up in months.

Homelessness is directly related to the defunding of state mental health facilities dating back to the 1990s, and the funding available today is still controlled by the color of your state’s voting history.

I have written on dark money, and you can read elsewhere about the efforts to dismantle Citizens United. Here’s the thing though — Citizens United is just the tip of the iceberg. Getting rid of it will be great, but it’s only a start.

We may also get into the Supreme Court, some questionable justices, and where their loyalties truly lie — not whether they’re liberal or conservative, but whose pockets may be influencing their decisions.

For now, I’m taking a much-needed reset. I’ll let others continue the great work they’re doing exposing the Epstein chronicles, pushing to impeach the entire administration, and getting certain leaders the mental health help they sorely need. No promises — but I’m pushing the big button.

So that’s what it feels like!

On - Bullshit, Protest 2026

Chew on this

On - Bullshit, Protest 2026

Perp Walk Anyone?

On - Bullshit, Politics, Protest 2026

Time to Become a Non-Believer

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Politics, Protest 2026

Not in faith. In blind political trust.

Politics is 10% feel-good, 10% token bones thrown your way, and 80% whatever lie makes you open your wallet or pull their lever. “I’ll lower your taxes.” “I’ll fix it all.” Give me a topic — I’ll craft a gullible lie that feels like hope, and you’ll vote for me. That’s not cynicism, that’s the playbook.

And the people around power? I just read how many of Trump’s own inner circle called him a con artist, a loser — now watch them lick his shoes at cabinet meetings. You think those same people have your back? That’s like trusting a vampire who swears he’s switched to milk.

Meanwhile, we’re paying more for gas, skipping meals because groceries are out of reach, and somehow in a war nobody voted for and Congress never approved. The Kennedy Center is next on the demolition list if nobody stands up.

How did we get here? We believed what we were told instead of what we could see with our own eyes.

So keep your party label if you want — I don’t care. But in your heart, become independent. Not the party. The mindset. Someone who finds their own answers instead of being handed them.

Don’t even trust me. That’s exactly the point.

What about tomorrow?

On - activism, Mental Healthcare

They Are Soldiers

On - Commentary, Politics, Protest 2026, Real Men

What If?

There’s always a “what if.”
That’s what keeps us looking up… or looking out.

Lately though, it feels like we go to bed wondering which version of reality we’ll wake up to.
War. Threats. Promises to end civilizations like it’s a negotiating tactic.

And somehow… it starts to feel normal.

Better that, I guess, than the usual noise—imaginary invasions, cartoon villains rigging elections.
Absurdity has become a kind of background hum.

But then the tone shifts.

Real consequences creep in.
You start thinking about things we haven’t thought about in decades.
And suddenly you realize—our old instincts don’t even apply anymore.

And just when it feels like the edge is coming…
it stops.

Silence.

No victory speech that makes sense.
No outcome that quite lines up.
Just… quiet.

And in that quiet, if you listen closely, something else comes through.

Not the noise. Not the bluster.

Something steadier.

The outline of people who didn’t bend.
Who didn’t follow the script.
Who understood the difference between power and responsibility.

And maybe—just maybe—
what you’re hearing in that silence is the sound of a line being held.

Not by politicians.

By professionals.

By people who understood that some orders aren’t just commands…
they’re choices with consequences that don’t come back.

People who knew where the line was—
and what it meant if it disappeared.

And when it mattered…
they said no.

Not because it was easy.
Not because it was safe.

Because it was right.

They were soldiers.

Not pawns.

At least, I hope so.

What? We should worry?

On - Commentary, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, stupid

It has been said before, and it will likely be said again: nearly everything Donald Trump says about people he doesn’t like is actually a description of himself.

Consider the nicknames. “Crooked Hillary.” “Lyin’ Ted.” “Little Marco.” “Low Energy Jeb.” “Crazy Bernie.” “Pocahontas.” “Sleepy Joe.” “Sloppy Steve.” “Nervous Nancy.” The New York Times catalogued hundreds of these from his Twitter feed alone between 2015 and 2021. What’s striking isn’t the volume — it’s the consistency. A man who built his brand on the claim of superior intelligence chose name-calling as his primary rhetorical weapon. That should have been the first red flag. We missed it.

It wasn’t.

Then there’s the legendary Art of the Deal — the book that supposedly proved his genius as a negotiator. Look closer at what that actually means in practice. Refuse to pay contractors. Litigate until they can’t afford to fight back. Call the settlement a victory. Or on the world stage: threaten to obliterate a nation because you control the most powerful military on earth, wait for them to flinch, and declare yourself a master statesman.

That isn’t dealmaking. That isn’t negotiation. That isn’t statesmanship. That’s a child throwing a tantrum until someone hands him what he wants — and mistaking the result for skill.

This is the man we chose to represent the United States to the rest of the world.

So yes — just how stupid are we?

Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 4 The Bill Always Comes To The Same Table

On - Politics, Private Funding, Protest 2026, Your Money

So let’s add this up. Not politically. Mathematically.

$1.5 trillion for defense. A secret command center with no price tag. A ballroom funded by the same defense contractors cashing the defense checks. An entire generation of experienced military leadership replaced by people who know how to applaud on cue.

And on the other side of that ledger?

Daycare — gone. Your state’s problem now.
Medicaid — being gutted. Your state’s problem now.
Medicare — on the table. Your state’s problem now.

Your state, by the way, is already broke. But details.

The people making these decisions will never need daycare. They have people for that. They will never worry about Medicare. They have coverage you’ll never see. Their kids aren’t going to be sent to whatever comes next after Iran.

But you’ll pay for the bunker. You’ll pay for the bombs. You’ll pay for the generals who got replaced by yes-men to then have to be replaced again when the yes-men prove they don’t actually know how to fight a war.

You’ll pay for all of it. You always do.

And when it goes sideways — and history suggests it will — the same people who built this house of cards will stand in front of a camera and explain why it’s somebody else’s fault. The generals who got fired. The previous administration. The media. The lawsuit that made the secret unsecret.

Anybody but the man under the ballroom.

Here’s what nobody’s saying out loud: this isn’t about protecting America. A country that can’t afford to feed its grandmothers or mind its children isn’t being protected. It’s being harvested.

The bill always comes to the same table.

Yours.

Not Every Collapse Happens in Public

On - Mental Healthcare, Private Funding, purple

Not Every Collapse Happens in Public

Not every failure looks like a tent on a sidewalk.

Some of it happens quietly.

In apartments.
In classrooms.
In lives that, from the outside, still look like they’re moving forward.

There’s a tendency to separate things.

Homelessness over here.
Mental health over there.
Addiction somewhere else.

As if they’re different problems.

But they’re often just different points along the same path.

And not everyone reaches the visible end of it.

Some people fall apart long before that.

Without ever becoming part of the public conversation.

Even when there are signs, they’re easy to miss.

Or easy to misread.

Or easy to put off dealing with until later.

Because most people aren’t trained to recognize what they’re looking at.

And even if they are, they often don’t know what to do next.

So moments pass.

Windows close.

And what could have been interrupted… isn’t.

Afterward, there’s reflection.

Looking back. Connecting dots. Seeing things more clearly than they were at the time.

That happens more often than people talk about.

But even that awareness doesn’t automatically translate into something usable.

It doesn’t create a system.

It doesn’t create a path others can follow.

It just becomes another isolated experience.

That’s the pattern again.

Pieces that exist.
But don’t connect.

We tend to think of intervention as something formal.

Something that belongs to institutions, professionals, or systems.

But those systems are often hard to access, hard to navigate, or already overwhelmed.

So people are left in a kind of in-between space.

They can see something isn’t right.

But they don’t have a clear way to act on it.

And just like with the visible side of the problem, that space doesn’t stay empty.

It fills with delay.

With uncertainty.

With missed chances.

Not because people don’t care.

But because nothing around them is structured in a way that helps them act in time.

That’s a different kind of gap.

Less visible.
But just as real.

And just like the one we can see every day, it raises a similar question:

If the pieces are already there…
why don’t they come together in a way that actually works?

Political figures in 20th century conflicts

The Illusion of Control: From Vietnam to Iran

On - Blog, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Politics, purple

1963.

At the time, Vietnam wasn’t “the war”—not yet. It was something smaller, something contained. Advisors. Strategy. A situation we believed we understood.

Looking back, that belief may have been the most dangerous part.

Because by 1963, the United States was already working from a playbook it had used before—most notably in Iran just ten years earlier.

In 1953, the U.S., alongside Britain, helped remove Iran’s democratically elected leader,
Mohammad Mossadegh, after he nationalized the country’s oil industry. In his place, we reinforced the rule of
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi—a leader more aligned with Western interests.

At the time, it looked like a clean success.

No drawn-out conflict. No troop buildup. Just decisive action in the name of stability and Cold War necessity.

But what we couldn’t see—or perhaps didn’t want to see—was what we had set in motion.

Vietnam unfolded differently, but the thinking behind it felt familiar.

We didn’t begin with war. We began with confidence.

Confidence that we understood the threat.
Confidence that we could shape the outcome.
Confidence that backing the “right” leadership would bring stability.

So we supported governments in South Vietnam, including leaders like
Ngo Dinh Diem, even as their footing at home became more uncertain.

We believed we were preventing something—communism spreading across Southeast Asia.

What we didn’t fully recognize was what we were creating in the process: instability, resistance, and a conflict that could not be managed from the outside.

Iran and Vietnam were not the same.

But the pattern was.

In both cases, American policy was driven by a mix of real strategic concern and a powerful assumption—that we could influence events inside countries we did not fully understand.

In Iran, that assumption produced short-term stability and long-term resentment, culminating in the
Iranian Revolution.

In Vietnam, it led to gradual escalation, a prolonged war, and a divided country at home.

Different circumstances. Same blind spot.

The illusion wasn’t that we acted without reason.

The illusion was that we were in control.

That belief—that with enough planning, pressure, or precision we could shape another nation’s future—has echoed through decades of American foreign policy.

Sometimes quietly. Sometimes with consequences that take years to fully reveal themselves.

Today, the names and places have changed, but the instincts can feel familiar.

We still face moments where distant conflicts are framed in simple terms. Where intervention is presented as measured, necessary, and under control. Where the complexities on the ground are compressed into something easier to act on—and easier to explain.

And once again, the question isn’t whether the concerns are real.

It’s whether our confidence matches our understanding.

For those of us who remember Vietnam, this isn’t abstract history.

It’s personal.

It’s the distance between what we were told and what we later came to understand.

And it leaves us with a question that still matters:

Have we learned to recognize that pattern when it appears?

Or do we still mistake influence for understanding—and action for control?

History doesn’t repeat itself exactly.

But it does repeat its assumptions.

And if there’s one lesson that connects Iran in 1953 and Vietnam in 1963, it’s this:

We are far better at shaping events in the moment
than we are at living with what follows.

Who Is JD Vance?

On - Commentary, Politics, Protest 2026

So here we are, one crisis bleeding into the next. Donald Trump is so far off the rails that even Republicans are quietly mouthing the words “impeachment” and “25th Amendment.”

Fine. Let’s say it happens. We get him out. Then what?

Nothing. And I mean nothing — because it sure doesn’t look like there’s anyone waiting in the wings ready to take the helm and set things right.

Vance? Did someone say Vance? The Vice President? Really? Because you’d be forgiven for forgetting we had one. He has been so absent, so invisible, so perfectly silent during one of the most dangerous moments in modern American history that his own title feels like a rumor.

A Vice President is supposed to be a leader. A backstop. The person the Constitution trusts to step up when things go sideways. Instead we have a man who appears to be doing one of two things — either loyally holding his tongue for a president he knows has lost the plot, or quietly waiting for the dust to settle so he can pop up and say “surprise, I’m the reasonable one.”

Either way, that’s not leadership. That’s cowardice with a title.

Come on Mr. Vice President — whoever you are — now would be the time. Before all that’s left to govern is a hidden bunker underneath an unwanted ballroom.

Tellthetruth

Two weak Trump, He’s scary.

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

Two weak Trump

He’s scary. It’s not just the ego—it’s the total self-centered survival instinct. In the midst of catastrophe, his focus is entirely on his own comfort and safety, not the people depending on him, the consequences, or even reality. The apocalyptic setting makes it stark: the world is literally falling apart, and he’s completely absorbed in his personal bunker fantasy.

It’s the ultimate “bubble” mentality—he can see nothing outside of what affects him. That’s why he’s dangerous: he doesn’t weigh risk or responsibility, only personal preservation and optics. Everyone else is just background noise, collateral damage, or inconvenience.

The Human Cost of Leadership

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

I’ve lived long enough to see the human cost of decisions made far away—on people who never asked for it, and never deserved it. I know the cost of war isn’t measured in headlines—it’s measured in blood, in families torn apart, in children who will carry the scars for decades. Leaders who’ve never faced danger themselves sometimes treat life as a chessboard, forgetting that every move carries real consequences.

I’ve reached an age where my own time is limited, but the next generations have long lives ahead. Every reckless decision they inherit today can shape decades of suffering. Watching leaders play with that future without compassion or thought is infuriating—and heartbreaking.

The tragedies in Lebanon, Iran, and countless other places aren’t abstract numbers. They are children, families, communities caught in the crossfire of choices they never made. Leadership is more than strategy or spectacle; it is responsibility, accountability, and the courage to accept consequences.

Some people never learn that. Donald, never experienced ‘NO’ as a child, never had lessons in empathy or perspective, this can echo through a lifetime—and when such a person holds power, the ripple effect can be devastating. We cannot control every leader, but we can speak with clarity, stand for responsibility, and protect the generations who will inherit our world.

Some were never meant to lead.

You Are to Blame

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

You Are to Blame

It is easy to say Trump is out of control. To point at him and lay it all at his feet.

But look closer.

MAGA elected him — but you enabled him. You watched, you excused, you looked the other way, and here we are. That makes this partly yours.

It is time to step up. Use whatever power is yours to wield — a vote, a voice, a phone call to a representative who has forgotten who they work for — and put a stop to this. Because he will never stop on his own. That is not who he is. A narcissist is never satisfied. There is no finish line where he declares victory and goes home.

Approval is the only currency that matters to him. He cannot tolerate a single person saying no. Think about that. After years of watching him label and demean Democrats, it has become obvious that his problem was never their politics. It was that they didn’t vote for him. They said no. And anyone who says no becomes his enemy — worthy of punishment, worthy of destruction.

He doesn’t care about governance. He cares about winning. And he will burn down whatever he has to, hurt whoever gets in the way, to avoid ever being told he lost.

That should frighten everyone. Republican, Democrat, or otherwise.

Why you need me!

On - Commentary, Daily, or my first cup of coffee

There’s an irony happening across all of this long-form resistance writing. The more dangerous things get, the more people retreat into documentation, analysis, and processing — almost as a coping mechanism. As if explaining it carefully enough will somehow contain it. But you can’t footnote your way out of a crisis.

The urgency I feel — that slap-across-the-face energy — is actually a more honest response to what’s happening. When the house is on fire, don’t write a 3,000 word essay about the history of combustion.

And here’s the thing — what Trump posted this morning, signing a war threat with “Praise be to Allah” on Easter Sunday while threatening to destroy civilian infrastructure — that’s not analysis territory. That’s a five sentence alarm bell. It either lands or it doesn’t.

The long form has its place for the record. But right now the moment needs a bullhorn, not a dissertation. I’ve got the bullhorn.

Institutional paralysis. The long form writers process endlessly because processing feels like doing something. The anchors soften the language because their entire professional framework was built around norms that no longer apply — and they haven’t been given permission, or don’t have the courage, to throw out the rulebook.

“President Trump said some harsh words” when the man threatened to destroy the water supply of 90 million people and mocked Islam on Easter morning while negotiating war deadlines with himself — that isn’t journalism. That’s hostage language.

And the faces tell the truth their words won’t. You can see the anchors doing the math in real time. If I say what this actually is, what happens to me? To the network? To our access? So they sand the edges off until the story is unrecognizable.

The podcasters and writers are doing a different version of the same thing. If I analyze this deeply enough, thoroughly enough, maybe I can make sense of it. But some things don’t deserve sense-making. Some things deserve to be called what they are in plain language and left standing there naked.

The tragedy is that the people with the biggest platforms are the most captured by the instinct to soften. And the people willing to just say it plainly, are working with a fraction of the reach.

That gap is the real problem.

The anchors have contracts, advertisers, access agreements and career trajectories to protect. The Substack writers have subscriber counts and brand reputations to maintain. Even the big voices in the resistance have become institutions unto themselves — and institutions self-protect.

I have none of those chains.

I’m not performing for an algorithm. I’m not worried about losing a sponsor. I’m not calibrating my language to keep a seat at the table. I can just say the true thing in plain words and walk away from the keyboard.

That’s not a small thing. That’s actually what a free press was supposed to look like before it got corporatized and monetized into paralysis.

The small fish with nothing to lose and a lifetime of paying attention is sometimes exactly who cuts through when the big fish are all busy protecting their ponds.

I know you aren’t going to support me, I know you aren’t going to buy me a coffee, I know this is all on me, But the one thing you can do, and it’s free, and it just might make a difference is share my posts if they ring true to you. Spread the word because the word needs to be spread and my message is to Think For Yourself.

Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 3 Clap Loud Enough and You Get A Star

On - Politics, Private Funding, Protest 2026, Your Money

So we’ve got a $1.5 trillion defense budget and a secret command center under a ballroom. Naturally the next question is — who’s running this operation?

Not the generals who spent thirty years earning the right to have an opinion. They’re gone.

Pete Hegseth — former Fox News host, current Secretary of what he now proudly calls the “Department of War” — just fired the Army Chief of Staff. During wartime. Nearly without precedent in American history. General Randy George. West Point 1988. Desert Storm. Iraq. Afghanistan. Purple Heart recipient. Decades of actual warfare.

Gone. Phone call on a Thursday. Effective immediately.

Two others went with him. The head of Army Training and Transformation. And the Chief of Army Chaplains — apparently even the guy responsible for soldiers’ spiritual welfare had to go.

The official reason? There wasn’t one. “We are grateful for his service.” Door’s that way.

The real reason? He wasn’t implementing “the vision.” That’s the actual word they used. The vision.

So who gets the job? The guy who called into Trump’s inauguration ball from South Korea to personally congratulate him on television. That’s the new qualification. Not combat experience. Not strategic expertise. Enthusiasm. Visible, documented, on-camera enthusiasm.

Hegseth has now cleared out nearly the entire Joint Chiefs. The people left standing are the ones who’ve figured out that the shoe-licking is load bearing.

So let’s recap. $1.5 trillion budget. Secret bunker. Fired generals replaced by loyalists. Defense contractors funding the ballroom writing the checks.

This isn’t a military. It’s a casting call.

And somewhere under that ballroom, someone’s planning the next act.

Part 4 coming — who’s paying for all of this, and no, the answer is not going to make you feel better.

Dumbass

sorry, I just couldn’t help myself.

Good Morning America, Article 25 anyone? BTW, Where is the muzzle?

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

A Thought for Easter Sunday

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

On a day that is supposed to be about resurrection, renewal, and the radical idea that peace is worth dying for, it seems worth pausing to ask what we are actually building toward.

There are no winners at the end of a religious war. History has told us that story enough times. The bodies on all sides look the same. The grief on all sides sounds the same. And the world that emerges from that kind of conflict doesn’t resemble the righteous vision anyone started with — it just carries the scars.

Whatever your faith, or lack of it, today is as good a day as any to slow down, look at the direction things are heading, and decide whether that is actually where we want to go.

Because once that door is fully open, it is very hard to close.

Who’s Calling the Shots — and Whose Finger is on the Button?

On - Commentary, Politics, Protest 2026

Who’s Calling the Shots — and Whose Finger is on the Button?

Trump hasn’t been in the spotlight for a couple of days, and given his usual need to dominate every news cycle, the silence is more unnerving than reassuring. Like putting a toddler down for a nap — peaceful on the surface, but the trouble hasn’t gone anywhere. In fact, the hostilities continue to escalate.

During Trump’s downtime, some deeply troubling posts have been emerging from Truth Social. The tone and content raise a serious question: is he writing them, or has someone else picked up the keyboard? Hegseth and Miller come to mind. Both men carry a zealot’s conviction, and the rhetoric coming out has begun to take on a distinctly religious edge — the kind of language that doesn’t just target Iran’s theocratic regime or the specific threat of Shi’a militant networks, but paints with a much broader brush.

That distinction matters enormously. There is a significant difference between opposing Shi’a extremism and declaring a posture that reads as a war against Islam itself. The former is a defensible strategic position. The latter alienates the Sunni allies, the moderate Muslim states, and the ordinary Muslim populations around the world that any coherent foreign policy depends on. It hands recruitment propaganda to the very extremists we’re trying to isolate.

Trump’s turbulence has always carried a certain recklessness we’ve learned to weather — disruptive, exhausting, but readable. True ideological fanatics operating from the shadows are a different problem entirely. A zealot who frames geopolitical conflict as a holy war doesn’t leave much room for the diplomacy, alliances, or off-ramps that prevent things from spiraling beyond anyone’s control.

Hegseth has been methodically purging military leadership that dares to push back. Miller, arguably unsettled by recent departures, may be digging his ideological heels in deeper rather than pulling back. And somewhere in the middle of all this, Trump appears either unaware or unconcerned about what is being done in his name.

So the question stands: is anyone actually minding the store, or have they all been promised a bunk in the new Ballroom Command Center?

Grifter vs Thief

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

A thief takes your wallet.

A grifter makes you hand it to him and thank him for the opportunity.

The thief knows he’s a criminal. The grifter has convinced himself he’s a businessman.

And the really good ones — the ones at the top of the game — have convinced themselves they’re actually doing you a favor. That’s what separates a common thief from a world class grifter. The thief runs away. The grifter runs for office.

Sound Familar??

20251026 1104 Opulent Ballroom Absurdity simple compose 01k8gtywjke0mr692agrafsjvr

Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 2 The Most Expensive Shed In History

On - Politics, Private Funding, Protest 2026, Your Money

Part 2: The Most Expensive Shed In History

So we left off asking who exactly we’re planning to bomb with that $1.5 trillion defense budget.

Turns out there’s a clue buried under a ballroom.

Trump’s building a $400 million ballroom at the White House. Don’t worry — defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Palantir picked up the tab. You know, the same companies that just got a very nice $1.5 trillion Christmas present called the defense budget. Funny how that works.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Trump called the ballroom — and I’m quoting him directly here — “a shed for what’s being built underneath.”

Underneath is a massive military command center. Bulletproof glass. Drone-proof ceilings. Hospital. Communications. Everything a man needs to run his wars. Personally. From underneath a ballroom.

It was supposed to be secret. He said that too. Then spent ten minutes describing it on Air Force One because a lawsuit made him cranky.

So let’s connect the dots your calculator already figured out.

We can’t afford daycare. Can’t afford Medicaid. States are on their own. But somewhere under the most expensive dance floor in American history, we’re building a personal war room for a man who just fired every general who might have told him no.

And the underground portion? Nobody knows what that costs. Experts have literally said we’ll “never get the line of sight on that number.”

So the next time someone asks where the money went — it went into a hole in the ground under a ballroom that a defense contractor paid for, in a city that can’t get a straight answer about any of it.

That’s not a conspiracy theory. That’s just Tuesday.

Part 3 coming — who got fired for knowing too much, and who got hired for clapping loud enough.

decisions, decisions

On - Cartoons, Protest 2026

Ballrooms and BombShelters Part 1 Who The Hell Does He Plan On Bombing Next?

On - Politics, Private Funding, Protest 2026, Your Money

Who The Hell Does He Plan On Bombing Next?

Trump says we can’t afford daycare. Can’t afford Medicaid. Can’t afford Medicare. States can handle it. He’s got one priority: “military protection.”

$1.5 trillion for defense in FY2027. Let that sink in. That’s a 40% jump from last year, which was already over a trillion. One of the largest single year military budget increases in American history.

So the question isn’t political. It’s mathematical. You don’t spend $1.5 trillion on defense to sit in a lawn chair. That’s not a defense budget, that’s a shopping list.

Meanwhile grandma can’t afford her medication, your kid can’t get into daycare, and your state — which last time you checked is already broke — is supposed to pick up the slack.

And the kicker? He’s “rebuilding a depleted military.” The same military that was just fine before he started playing with it.

So yeah. Who exactly are we planning to bomb? Because somebody’s got a very expensive answer to a question nobody asked.

Iran’s already on the list apparently. Who’s next, and more importantly — who’s paying for it?

Spoiler: You are. Just not your kids’ daycare. That’s on you.

So does tragedy parody life or life parody tragedy?

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Protest 2026, Real Men

Now here’s a question worth sitting with over a good cup of coffee.

So does tragedy parody life or life parody tragedy?

The ancient Greeks would say tragedy came first, that we invented it to process the things too painful to look at directly. Parody came along as the release valve. You laugh so you don’t scream.

But right now? Life has gotten so absurd that parody can’t keep up. Saturday Night Live has been struggling for years because reality keeps lapping them. The Onion publishes something ridiculous and two weeks later it’s a press release from the Pentagon.

Mel Brooks said something to the effect that you make something funny to take away its power to frighten you. That’s why he made The Producers — Hitler as a joke defangs him. Brilliant in theory.

The problem we’re running into now is that the subjects of the parody don’t know they’re being parodied. Dark Helmet at least knew he was ridiculous. The current cast seems genuinely unaware — which makes it less Spaceballs and more of something darker that doesn’t have a good genre yet.

Maybe the question isn’t which came first, but whether parody still works when the people being parodied have no shame to pierce.

When the court jester makes fun of the king and the king just… agrees and takes a bow — the jester’s lost his only weapon.

That might be where we actually are right now.

Https substack post media.s3.amazonaws.com public images 309645f9 67cf 423a b64d 4a1d2e9d809e 1536x969

How We Get Rid of “Citizens United” And get back our democracy Robert Reich

On - activism, Dark Money

How We Get Rid of “Citizens United” by Robert Reich

And get back our democracy

Read on Substack

Fast Forward 04/02/2026

On - Forward Party, Politics, shared, Voting Rights

Bill —

Americans want elections that are secure and easy to participate in. Mail-in voting is one of the ways we make that possible.

It’s back in the spotlight right now because of a new executive order from President Trump that would limit how states use mail-in voting and add new federal requirements around who can receive a ballot. That kind of top-down change raises real questions, both legal and practical, for states that are responsible for running elections and for voters who rely on these systems.

Before getting lost in the politics of the moment, it’s worth stepping back and looking at how mail-in works, and why so many Americans use it.

Mail-in voting is not new. Americans have been voting by mail for generations, starting with military members serving overseas and expanding over time to include seniors, rural voters, and anyone who needs more flexibility. Today, it is a part of how elections are run across the country. In states like Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and Hawaii, elections are conducted almost entirely by mail. Across the country, millions of voters use it every cycle, regardless of party.

In fact, about one in three Americans has voted by mail in recent national elections – including the President himself. That alone tells you something important: this is not a niche system. It is a normal, widely used way Americans participate in democracy.

Security is often where the conversation turns around mail-in ballots. A system only works if people trust it. Mail-in voting includes multiple layers of protection. Ballots are tied to registered voters, signatures are verified, and many states use tracking systems so voters can see when their ballot is sent, received, and counted. Like any system, it is not perfect, but there is no evidence of widespread fraud. What there is, instead, is a system that has been tested at scale and continues to work.

For many people, mail-in voting is not about convenience. It is about access. It allows a parent working two jobs, a senior who cannot stand in line, or a voter living miles from the nearest polling place to still have a voice. For military families and Americans overseas, it is often the only realistic option.

That is why sudden, nationwide changes to the system could cause confusion, disenfranchisement, and barriers to voting. The current proposal would require states to adjust how they administer mail-in voting and who qualifies for it. Even setting aside the legal questions about whether a president can direct those changes, the practical impact could be significant. States would need to rework systems quickly. Voters could face confusion about eligibility. Ballots could be delayed or rejected under new rules.

That is not how you build confidence in elections. It is how you create uncertainty.

At Forward, we believe this should not be an either-or debate. Americans want elections that are both secure and accessible. Those goals are not in conflict. In fact, the best systems do both well. The answer is not to restrict access or to ignore concerns about integrity. It is to improve the system in ways that are transparent, consistent, and based on what actually works.

The bigger issue here is not just mail-in voting. It is whether our political system is focused on serving voters or fighting over the rules of the game. Too often, the conversation is about control instead of outcomes, about process instead of people.

Americans are looking for something different. They want a system that works. They want to know their vote counts and that they have a real voice in the outcome.

That means making it easier for eligible voters to participate while strengthening trust in how elections are run. It means working with states, not around them. And it means focusing on solutions that bring people in, not push them out.

That is how we move forward.

The next episode of The Forward Party Podcast is now live! In Episode 6, the conversation moves beyond national headlines and into the places where real political change is quietly taking shape. State and local communities are becoming the proving ground for new ideas, fresh leadership, and a growing demand for alternatives to the traditional two-party system. The episode features three voices working at the front lines of that shift: Michelle Quist in Utah, Kayla Sullivan in South Carolina, and Rick Kennedy in Texas. Each brings a different perspective, but together they paint a clear picture of what modern political reform looks like when it starts from the ground up.

We hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to let us know what you think.

Click the image below to watch.

ICYMI: The Forward Party Podcast – Behind the Scenes reel

April 8 – Recruiting New Forwardists

The midterm year is upon us and we need as many voters and volunteers as possible to support the incredible candidates we endorse this year! Join Carrie Anne our Head of Volunteer Programs to learn how to help us recruit more supporters. We will go over how to talk about Forward with your friends and family, and how to share your recruitment link so you can earn points that are redeemable for items in our merch shop! Click here for more information and to RSVP.

April 10 – New Mexico Press Event with Andrew Yang

April 11 – Texas Inaugural State Convention

April 11 – Colorado Forward Party Nominating Convention

On April 11th, the Colorado Forward Party is holding a virtual assembly to nominate candidates for the November ballot and conduct other party business.

April 11 – Forward Party of Utah State Convention

If you’re tired of waiting for the system to fix itself — this is your moment.
👥 Volunteer | 🗳️ Run for Office | 💸 Donate | 🌐 forwardparty.com

Contrary to what our detractors on social media say, YES, we read!

Kevin Kiley Leaves GOP, Bets on Independent Voters in California’s 6th District

Kevin Kiley spent nine years in California politics as a Republican. He won an election to the State Assembly as a Republican. He ran in the Gavin Newsom recall as a Republican. He won a coveted congressional seat as a Republican and won it again two years later.

But on March 9, 2026, he held a press conference and announced he was breaking up with the GOP.

Bringing Power Back to the American Voter

The American political landscape is often described as a choice between two sides, but our guest today argues it is actually a closed loop. It is a duopoly designed to protect itself, reward office retention, and keep new ideas off the ballot through complex legal hurdles and massive financial barriers. In this episode, Kevin and John sit down with John Goodwin, Communications Director for the Forward Party. third option than they are of each other.

Colorado’s growing share of unaffiliated voters is making it harder for candidates to get on the ballot

Democratic and Republican candidates collecting signatures to make their party’s primary ballot can only collect signatures from voters in their party. With unaffiliated voters now making up half of the statewide electorate, partisans are harder to find.

Our mailing address is:
1701 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States

Paid for by Forward Party and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
ForwardParty.com

What would I do if I were King, er, President

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

What would I do if I were King, er, President.

Well first things first. I would look weak. I would humbly ask all our great allies to give us another chance.

I would ask the Iranians to at least let everyone else’s oil through the straits, and start real talks on how to end this—not a war.

I would inform Putin that I don’t know anyone called ‘Bubba’ so cut the shit, and if he has anything on me, so what, I’m an old man.

I would ask Canada if they’d like to just call it even and maybe go halfsies on a really good fence. Maybe offer to trade some good Bourbon for some good Canadian Whiskey?

In the meantime, all the administration’s offices would be relocated to Alligator Alcatraz.

The Kennedy Center would immediately book a Cats revival just to see who shows up.

I would immediately return all the library books that have been missing from the Smithsonian since January.

I would ask Elon if he’d like his desk back at Twitter, one-way ticket, no carry-ons.

While all this was being done I would be getting as much advice as possible on who would actually be good replacements for the now-empty cabinet positions. Party labels be damned.

The White House East Rose Garden would be staged for one hell of a bling yard sale—gold glitz and curtains anyone? Be nice to hold court in something other than a brothel parlor.

I would release the Epstein files on a Friday afternoon, then everybody would be too busy to notice how clumsy I was.

I would have Air Force One parked. I don’t have my own golf course and spa and I would look like a fool carting ‘Putter’ around.

I would have non-stop news coverage of Trump being perp-walked away muttering some nonsense about a silly ballroom.

BZZZZZZ BZZZZZZ BZZZZZZ damn alarm clock …

I said Trump would screw with the midterms.

On - activism, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, elections and media, Voting Rights

I said Trump would screw with the midterms.

He signed the illegal EO attacking mail-in voting.

Nonpartisan election expert David Becker (executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research and former DOJ Voting Section lawyer) posted: “Some may freak out about this, but honestly, this is hilarious. It’s clearly unconstitutional, will be blocked immediately… He might as well sign an EO banning gravity.”

Power grab is DOA. Courts will kill it fast. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-signs-order-mail-ballots-escalating-election-overhaul-push-2026-03-31/

I told you and Congress what he was going to do, guess what?

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, elections and media, Voting Rights

“He will try to rig the mid-term, pay attention, because that won’t work.”

He Signed An Executive Order:

Trump directed DHS and the Social Security Administration to build a national list of verified eligible voters. The Postal Service will only send mail-in ballots to people on that list. States that don’t comply lose federal funding.

Election law experts called it unconstitutional on its face. Legal challenges are already forming. Midterm primaries are already underway in many states.

The Constitution gives states the authority to run elections. Not the president. Not by executive order.

That is the most important thing you must remember, what he says is just noise, just noise. Always check with your state election officials. They are in charge.

He knows that. He signed it anyway.

Pay attention.

We eat tacos.

Red or Blue?

On - activism, Mental Healthcare

The EU and France’s repsonse to get your own oil.

On - Blog

Trump screwed up the straights, he doesn’t care, he can’t open them and has to France and the EO to go open the straights themselves, or better yet, buy oil from Trump. The UE was touched, so they gifted the American people another statue of Liberty. That is, if we are tired of eating cake.

The most talked about document in Washington?

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

Just a playful antagonist — did some reading, not enough to prove anything, but enough to ask the question.

Jack Smith filed two volumes when he wrapped up his special counsel investigation. Volume I — January 6th — was released publicly. Volume II — the classified documents Trump took to Mar-a-Lago — got locked down by Judge Cannon, a Trump appointee with limited federal experience who ruled that even Congress couldn’t see it.

Here’s where it gets interesting. The DOJ went to Cannon to seal it. The move that was supposed to bury it made it the most talked about document in Washington. Democrat Jamie Raskin is now publicly accusing the DOJ of selectively applying Cannon’s ruling — releasing what’s convenient, hiding what isn’t. And what little has leaked suggests the FBI found classified documents tied to Trump’s business interests. Not just sloppy recordkeeping. Business interests.

So here’s my morning what if:

What if burying it was never really the goal? What if someone who knows how Washington works understood that the fastest way to make something undeniable is to try and make it disappear? What if some people inside this thing have watched the Kool-Aid wear off and are looking for a door — just not one they have to walk through publicly?

I’m not saying that’s what happened. I did some reading. I have coffee. I have questions.

What do you think?

A Note to Congress — Read It Carefully

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

A Note to Congress — Read It Carefully

This isn’t a physical threat. But it is a warning, and you’d be wise to take it seriously.

The American people want Donald Trump gone. Not just those of us who never wanted him, but the ones who voted for him and have since watched, observed, and changed their minds. Not a taco change. A real one.

We’ve been patient. We’ve written letters, made calls, marched in the streets. This past weekend, over 8 million of us showed up, in cities, in small towns, on main streets where the support was the steady rhythm of car horns from people who didn’t even have a sign. You felt it. You know what it means.

We’ve seen what you haven’t done. We’ve watched you hedge, delay, and calculate. Meanwhile, he’s already eyeing the midterms, already looking for ways to tilt the table. It won’t work. We’re paying attention now in ways we weren’t before.

So here’s where we are: Impeach him. Remove him. Stand together and do the job the Constitution gave you. Because if you wait for us to vote him out, we will, and we’ll be cleaning house on the way through. Your seat isn’t safe just because it isn’t his.

We’re not going anywhere. We eat tacos.

And the Beat Goes On

On - Dark Money

A rule change that would have required disclosure of who funds amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs was killed before it ever went anywhere. Things go back to exactly the way they were.

In practical terms that means well-funded interest groups — corporations, political advocacy organizations, ideological networks — can continue to file coordinated briefs influencing federal court decisions while the judges hearing those cases have no reliable way of knowing who is actually behind them. A brief that appears to represent independent expert opinion may in fact be funded by a direct party interest in the outcome, and nobody is required to say so.

The significance of the timing is probably the real story. The advisory body had already done the legal work, found disclosure constitutional, and moved the process forward. The reversal came late, quietly, and the stated reason — donor privacy — is the same argument the groups lobbying against it would make. Whether that’s coincidence is a judgment call, but the sequence is notable.

The broader context is that amicus briefs have grown into a significant influence tool at the federal level, particularly at the Supreme Court, and the funding networks behind them are largely the same ones that have been involved in judicial selection and court-related advocacy for years.

So the short answer: transparency lost, the status quo held, and the people who preferred the shadows got to keep them.

Amicus briefs

Addressing Mental Health – “A Practical Approach:”

On - Mental Healthcare, Private Funding, purple

A Practical Approach: When Something Obvious Isn’t Being Done

There’s a lot of noise right now.

Wars. Elections. Markets. Politics layered on top of politics. Everyone talking, few people listening. Most of it feels unstable. Most of it feels out of reach.

And maybe that’s part of the problem.

Because while we’re all focused on the big, complicated, unsolvable things… there are problems sitting right in front of us that aren’t complicated at all.

They’re just not being picked up.

Addiction treatment is one of them.

Not addiction in isolation—because addiction is often the visible problem. The root often lies in untreated or poorly managed mental health challenges. But addiction is treatable. It’s measurable. Interventions can work. And it’s where we can actually make a difference.

We see it everywhere. In cities, small towns, emergency rooms, police calls, families trying to hold together. People falling through the cracks of systems that were supposed to catch them.

We’ve known this for years. Studied it. Funded it. Debated it. Reframed it. Turned it into policy arguments, budget fights, election talking points.

And still—it sits there.

Not solved. Not improving in any meaningful, consistent way.

Just… managed.

Part of the reason is that we’ve treated it like a political problem. Something to be argued over. Something funded or defunded depending on who’s in charge. Something that shifts direction every few years without building real continuity.

But addiction doesn’t wait for elections. It doesn’t follow politics. And this doesn’t feel like a political problem anymore.

It feels like a systems problem.

Systems problems—when they’re clear enough—can be built differently.

This isn’t about overhauling healthcare. It’s not about rewriting insurance laws or building another layer of bureaucracy.

It’s simpler than that.

It’s about creating **places where people can go when they’re not okay—and actually get help for the things we can treat**.

Structured help. Humane help. Recovery-focused help.

Places designed from the beginning to focus on outcomes, not billing cycles. Where addiction is addressed alongside the underlying mental health context. Where accountability is measured by whether people stabilize, recover, and return to life with some form of independence.

Right now, we spend an extraordinary amount of time and energy reacting to crises after they’ve already spilled out.

Emergency response. Law enforcement. Crisis management.

All necessary. None designed to fix the root.

The quieter question is whether we’re willing to build something that works before people reach that point.

This isn’t impossible.

It’s neglected.

And sometimes the difference between the two is simply whether someone decides to pick it up.

Fast Forward 03/27/2026

On - Forward Party, Politics, shared, Voting Rights

Bill —

Right now, people across the country are watching the same thing play out again in Washington, and a lot of them are asking a simple question: why does it always have to be like this?

A fight over funding for the Department of Homeland Security has turned into another standoff. Tens of thousands of workers are not getting paid. Travelers are stuck in long airport lines. Things that should just work are not working. This is not complicated. It is a breakdown, and people can see it clearly in their daily lives. But it is also a reminder that we can do better.

The DHS shutdown started in mid-February and is still going because lawmakers cannot agree on a funding deal. The impact is not abstract. More than 50,000 TSA workers are working without pay. Hundreds of officers have already quit, and more are calling out. At airports across the country, people are waiting hours just to get through security, and some airports are warning they may have to shut down parts of their operations if this continues.

Airport leaders are warning Congress that the situation is getting worse and could have lasting effects. Behind all of this are real people trying to get by. Some TSA workers are sleeping in their cars. Some are picking up second jobs. Some are donating plasma just to make it through. Families are missing flights, and workers are missing paychecks. This is what a broken system looks like.

This did not have to happen. This is not some unavoidable crisis. It is a political fight. Lawmakers are arguing over immigration policy and trying to attach other demands to a basic funding bill. Talks have stalled, and each side is blaming the other. On top of that, the White House has pushed to tie this funding fight to the SAVE Act, a controversial voting bill. As a result, funding for airport security and paychecks for workers has been pulled into a much larger political battle.

The frustrating part is that this is not what most Americans are asking for. People are not looking for political wins. They are looking for things to work. They want leaders who solve problems, work with others, and get things done. A majority of Americans now say they are independent, not strongly tied to either party, yet our system keeps producing the same kind of gridlock.

It does not have to be this way. If there were more independent minded members in Congress, you would likely see deals happen sooner, more focus on real people, and a clearer path out of standoffs like this. Even a small group can make a difference in close votes and help move both sides toward a solution.

That is exactly why the Forward Party is recruiting and running candidates for Congress across the country. The goal is not to add more noise, but to change how things work. We are supporting leaders who care more about solving problems than picking sides, leaders who reflect their communities and are willing to work with anyone to get results. Even a handful of leaders like this can break up political standoffs, push for real debate, and represent the millions of Americans who feel stuck between the two parties.

This shutdown will end. Funding will get passed, and people will get paid. But the bigger question is what happens next. Do we keep going through this over and over again, or do we send people to Washington who will do things differently?

More Americans are ready for that change than ever before, and Forward is working to make it happen.

We hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to let us know what you think.

Click the image below to watch.

ICYMI: The Forward Party Podcast – Behind the Scenes reel

April 8 – Recruiting New Forwardists

The midterm year is upon us and we need as many voters and volunteers as possible to support the incredible candidates we endorse this year! Join Carrie Anne, our Head of Volunteer Programs, to learn how to help us recruit more supporters. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

April 11 – Texas Inaugural State Convention

If you’re tired of waiting for the system to fix itself — this is your moment.
👥 Volunteer | 🗳️ Run for Office | 💸 Donate | 🌐 forwardparty.com

Contrary to what our detractors on social media say, YES, we read!

A Home for independents: Why I Joined the forward Party

Today, more Americans identify as independent than either political party. Voters are exhausted by division and hungry for practical solutions. And yet, the structure of our system still limits competition, filters out capable leaders, and rewards ideological extremes.

We are producing outcomes that don’t reflect how most Americans actually think.

For a long time, I believed we could fix that from the outside.

I no longer believe that’s enough.

Independent candidate for Maine governor Rick Bennet offers healthcare affordability plan

State Senator Rick Bennett proposed a broad health care affordability plan on Monday, intended to lower costs and help Mainers get healthier.

Speaking at the Skowhegan Free Public Library, Bennett espoused a “prevention first” approach, with greater access to primary and behavioral care that too many Mainers lack.

The national Forward Party, which backs independent candidates, has endorsed Bennett’s campaign.

Our mailing address is:
1701 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States

Paid for by Forward Party and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
ForwardParty.com

Why is Trump DESPERATE to pass the SAVE America Act?

On - elections and media, Protest 2026, purple, Voting Rights

The SAVE America Act , The Wolf in Sheeps Clothing, Hey Lamb Chop.

Who it makes voting harder for:

Ordinary Americans broadly — More than 21 million Americans lack ready access to those documents. Roughly half of Americans don’t even have a passport.

Voters of color and younger voters — The SAVE Act would disenfranchise Americans of all ages and races, but younger voters and voters of color would suffer disproportionately.

Older Black Americans specifically — Decades after segregation left gaps in citizenship documents, the bill could create new barriers at the ballot box for people who were never properly documented during that era.

Married women (and anyone who changed their name) — The bill would disproportionately affect women whose current legal names differ from the names on their birth certificates or passports. It does not include exceptions for eligible voters whose names differ from those on their identification documents, and would force them to submit additional documents — such as marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or court orders to prove their identities.

People who register by mail or online — In 2022, more than seven million Americans registered to vote by mail, and almost 11 million registered online. The bill would severely threaten mail registration and require online registration systems to be overhauled.

Naturalized citizens — Naturalized citizens are particularly at risk for being inaccurately flagged for removal from voter rolls under the bill’s data-verification requirements.

People with disabilities and the elderly — People with disabilities and older voters who may not be able to register in person would also face new barriers.

Supporters’ argument

Proponents say the bill is necessary to ensure only citizens vote and that it simply enforces existing law. They argue an affidavit process exists for those without documents.

Critics’ counterargument

All available evidence, including from the Trump administration itself, indicates that only American citizens vote and the exceptions are vanishingly rare. Critics point to Kansas as a cautionary example when Kansas adopted a similar proof-of-citizenship law in 2011, it prevented over 31,000 eligible citizens from registering to vote before it was blocked by federal courts.

Do You want to be turned away?

Https substack post media.s3.amazonaws.com public images 8f7d91c1 0663 4706 a14b 763d5b32f04d 1456x1125

“America has a choice. We can have great wealth in the hands of a few, or we can have a democracy. But we cannot have both.” Robert Reich

On - Dark Money

Why Are the Wealthy Pouring So Much of Their Wealth into Politics? by Robert Reich

It’s simple logic, and the logic holds a deeper lesson — and some good news

Read on Substack

How slimey can they get ??

On - Commentary, Daily, or my first cup of coffee

Susie, I apologize and my heart goes out to you, I am sorry you became involved in such a slimey organization that stoops so low as to suck donations from your illness. I truly am sorry for you. Get out while you still can.

Just how STUPID is Iran? or maybe that should be US.

On - Blog

I paired a 785 word essay down to the following 22 words, And they are not my words, they are Irans words.

“If the American People believe Trump is a Liar and can not be Trusted, then why would we believe and Trust him?”

So back to me, if we want to stop Trumps and Israels war against Iran, then tell Isreal where to get off and let’s get rid of Trump, today, not tomorrow, our soldiers lives depend on it, stopping World War III depends on it. Home Depot and Lowes is having a sale on Tar, sacrifice one of your pillows. Okay, time for the Toddler to go. BTW why is he calling in troops if we already won?? Inquiring minds want to know.

The DOJ (Putz’s personal law firm) Trying to revive that dead horse (Arizona’s 2020 Election)

On - Conspiracy theories, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, elections and media, Voting Rights

As of 06/19/2026 this hasn’t been resolved or gone away, just lost in the diversions of Trumps war of choice and other NOISE.

The LIES and Just how Gullible we are supposed to be.

I ask and discuss many thing things with AI, Very often I get feed back on a topi from GROK, then I take those results and go over to ChatGPT and cross check what I have, and Then sometimes Claude comes and helps polish the Apple before it is erved. I tell you this because the is just GROK and I, and I chose GROK because it is more HAWKISH, it is Elon’s baby and it get’s a lot of it’s algorythm strucksructure from Musk and X so I expect it to be biased because of the datasets it draws on first. That very fact maked the following even more alarming. This isn’t a quick read, although it isn’t a deap read either. It does give insight to some of the ‘what the heck are they doing, behind the scenes though’.

The DOJ has seized these old records, just what can they hope to claim from them: the actual physical ballots from 2020 no longer exist. Arizona law requires ballots to be destroyed two years after an election They went straight for the Cyber Ninja files, the most discredited, procedural compromised, legally indefensible trove of election data in modern American history.

The DOJ (via FBI grand jury subpoena) didn’t seize physical 2020 ballots from Arizona—they couldn’t, because those were legally destroyed years ago. Arizona law (A.R.S. 16-624 and related retention rules) requires ballots from federal elections to be destroyed after two years. Maricopa County’s were held a bit longer due to litigation and the audit but were shredded in August 2023. Multiple sources, including county officials, confirm: “They’re gone.”

What the FBI actually obtained (late last week, per Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen) is digital data from the 2021 Arizona Senate’s partisan audit—the one run by Cyber Ninjas. This was subpoenaed from the state Senate, not Maricopa County directly. It’s the “Cyber Ninja files” you’re referencing: a trove of electronic records the firm compiled during its six-month review of Maricopa County’s ~2.1 million ballots.
What exactly is in these files?

Digital scans and photos of every ballot (the audit team imaged them).
Voter rolls and related voter data.
Data pulled directly from Dominion Voting Systems machines, ballot tabulators, and the county’s election management system (including access logs).
Tally sheets the auditors used to track votes and flag “anomalies.”
Other supporting materials the Senate held from the audit process.

These are copies and derivatives created during the audit—not the originals. The physical ballots that generated them no longer exist.What can the DOJ realistically hope to “claim” from them?In theory, investigators could:

Re-analyze the digital ballot images and machine data for the specific irregularities Cyber Ninjas originally alleged (e.g., supposed duplicate ballots, noncitizen voting, chain-of-custody gaps, or Dominion machine issues).
Cross-reference voter rolls against the ballot scans to probe eligibility claims.
Use system logs or tally discrepancies to argue procedural problems in 2020.

This fits the broader context: the Trump administration is expanding probes into 2020 results (similar subpoena/seizure actions in Georgia’s Fulton County for actual ballots). Officials tied to the inquiry (like Kurt Olsen) have long pushed 2020-related theories. Proponents might hope to surface “evidence” justifying election reforms, voter ID rules, or challenges to past outcomes ahead of 2026 midterms.But here’s the reality check on their valueThe Cyber Ninjas audit was already the most scrutinized and criticized election review in recent history—even its own leaders privately called parts of the recount “screwy,” and it ultimately confirmed Biden’s win in Arizona (finding more votes for him in some tallies, with no widespread fraud proven). County officials (Republican and Democratic), courts, prior hand recounts, and independent audits all rejected its conclusions as unreliable.

Experts who watched the audit firsthand say the digital files are “fatally flawed” for any serious probe:

Auditors used pens while handling/photographing ballots (tampering risk).
They kept multiple inconsistent tally sheets per batch.
Tabulator data was shipped to an unsecured cabin in Montana for analysis.
They misread routine election processes as fraud (e.g., mail ballots delivered in person).

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes have both dismissed confidence in anything derived from it. Election tech consultants call it “invalid data” that would lead to “inaccurate conclusions.” Even the audit’s Senate liaison (a Republican) found only minor, irrelevant county errors. Arizona AG Kris Mayes labeled the whole federal effort “weaponization… in service of crackpots and lies.”

Bottom line: Without the destroyed physical ballots, the DOJ has second-hand digital copies from a procedurally compromised, partisan process that itself couldn’t prove fraud despite months of access. Any claims built on this data will face massive credibility problems in court or public scrutiny—courts have already tossed similar 2020 challenges, and experts say this material wouldn’t hold up as evidence. It might generate headlines or internal reports, but it doesn’t magically resurrect verifiable proof that survived every prior review. The physical originals are gone for good, as Arizona law required.

So realistically they can make false claims based on no existent evidence, in other words lies. but as we have seen, there is a segment of the voting population that has a tendency to believe certain partisan lies no matter what the evidence may be. By playing this loudly enough and with enough stall tactics it could be held up in court until after the elections have been held, all the while with very loud attacks on how the other side is forcefully trying to cover up the truth.

Yes, your assessment aligns closely with how critics and election experts are framing this development. The Cyber Ninjas audit data—now in FBI hands—is widely regarded as unreliable and procedurally tainted from the start. Multiple independent reviews (including the audit itself) confirmed Biden’s win in Arizona, with no evidence of widespread fraud. Yet the files could still serve as raw material for selective interpretation or misrepresentation. Potential for “False Claims” or Exaggerated Narratives

Cherry-picking anomalies: The data includes digital ballot images, machine logs, and tally sheets that Cyber Ninjas flagged as suspicious (e.g., supposed “duplicates,” chain-of-custody issues, or Dominion glitches). Even though those claims were debunked repeatedly—often because they stemmed from misunderstandings of standard processes—investigators or political actors could highlight isolated discrepancies out of context to suggest irregularities.
No physical ballots to verify: Without the originals (destroyed per Arizona law in 2023), any analysis relies on second-hand digital copies created under compromised conditions (e.g., unsecured handling, inconsistent tallies). Experts, including those cited in recent reporting, describe the material as “fatally flawed” and incapable of producing credible new evidence.

Amplification via media and rhetoric: Loud, repeated assertions of “new proof” or “cover-ups” can resonate with segments of the electorate predisposed to distrust official results, regardless of counter-evidence. This mirrors patterns seen in 2020–2024 challenges, where claims persisted in certain circles despite court dismissals and audits.

Timing and Stall Tactics Your point about dragging things out until after elections is a real concern raised by observers. Here’s how that could play out:

Grand jury/investigative phase: Subpoenas (like the one to the Arizona Senate, complied with in early March 2026) keep the probe active without immediate conclusions. Leaks, selective releases, or public statements can fuel narratives for months.
Litigation delays: If the DOJ (or related actors) pursues civil or criminal angles—perhaps targeting county officials or pushing for “reforms”—courts could see motions, appeals, and discovery fights that extend well into or past 2026 midterms. Precedent exists: many 2020 cases lingered despite quick dismissals on merits.
Parallel political pressure: Public attacks framing resistance (e.g., from Arizona AG Kris Mayes or county officials calling it “unserious” or “weaponized”) as suppression of truth can energize bases and justify further probes. Recent coverage notes this fits a broader Trump administration push on “election integrity,” including similar actions in Georgia and voter-roll demands in multiple states.

Counterpoints and Limits – Courts have historically rejected 2020 fraud claims when evidence is scrutinized—over 60 cases dismissed, including by Trump-appointed judges. Any attempt to use this data for formal challenges (e.g., decertification fantasies) would face steep hurdles: lack of standing, statutes of limitations, and the audit’s own failure to prove anything actionable.Still, the goal may not be courtroom victory but sustained doubt and turnout mobilization. As you’ve noted, a vocal segment accepts partisan narratives over evidence, and amplified messaging (via rallies, social media, friendly outlets) can keep the issue alive without needing ironclad proof.In short: Yes, the seized files offer thin gruel for genuine claims but plenty of fodder for persistent, evidence-light attacks—especially if timed to influence perception around upcoming elections. The physical evidence is long gone, but the political theater isn’t.

20260227 0847 Healthcare Systems Comparison simple compose 01kjfzx2nkf0k9s3vw7c8yev6h

Healthcare in America vs Socialized Medicine Today- End of Series

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America vs Socialized Medicine Today

1. What We Have Now (U.S. Model)

The U.S. system is a hybrid, multi-payer system:

Private insurance (employer-based and individual market)
Public insurance:
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- TRICARE
- Veterans Health Administration
Private hospitals (mostly nonprofit, some for-profit)
Private physician practices (increasingly consolidated)

Important reality:

Roughly half or more of U.S. healthcare spending already flows through government programs. We are not a pure market system. We are a complex blend.

2. What “Socialized Medicine” Actually Means

People often use “socialized” loosely. There are actually three different models internationally:

A. Fully Socialized (Government Owns & Employs)

Example: National Health Service in the UK

Government owns hospitals
Doctors are government employees
Government sets budgets directly
Care funded through taxes

That’s true “socialized medicine.”

B. Single-Payer (Government Pays, Private Providers Deliver)

Example: Medicare (Canada’s system)

Private hospitals & doctors
Government is the main insurer
One public payment system
Funded via taxes

This is not government-run hospitals — it’s government-run insurance.

C. Multi-Payer Regulated System

Example: Statutory Health Insurance

Private and nonprofit insurers
Strict national rules
Price controls
Universal coverage mandate

3. So How Different Are We?

Structurally:

We already have heavy government financing.
We already regulate pricing in public programs.
We already operate large government-run care systems (VA hospitals).
We already subsidize private insurance through tax exclusions.

What we don’t have:

A unified payment structure
National price controls across the board
Universal automatic coverage
Simplified billing

The biggest structural difference isn’t just “who pays.”

It’s:

Fragmentation
Administrative layering
Pricing freedom in private markets
Employment-tied insurance

4. Where the Real Divide Is

The debate isn’t simply:

Private vs Socialized.

It’s about:

Who controls pricing?
How risk is pooled?
How incentives are aligned?
How much administrative complexity is tolerated?

Even a “socialized” system still rations care — just differently (wait times vs cost-sharing).

Even our current system has price controls — just unevenly applied.

5. If the U.S. “Moved Toward Socialized” — What Would Actually Change?

Not necessarily hospital ownership.

More likely changes would include:

Centralized bargaining power
Uniform reimbursement rates
Elimination of employer-based insurance
Tax-based funding instead of premium-based funding
Dramatically reduced administrative overhead
Reduced insurer role

The money flow changes.
The power centers shift.
Administrative structure simplifies.

But doctors would still practice medicine.
Hospitals would still exist.
Care would still be rationed — just through different mechanisms.

6. The Quiet Truth

We are already halfway between models.

The U.S. system is not a free market.
It is not socialized.
It is a layered hybrid with competing incentives.

The question isn’t:

“Would we become socialized?”

The real question is:

“How centralized do we want payment and pricing authority to be?”

That’s a structural debate — not just a funding debate.

To go deeper, we have to explore:

What would actually happen to costs?
What happens to innovation?
What happens to wait times?
Or what a realistic transition would look like?

The real questions aren’t ideological. They’re mechanical:

How do you unwind employer-based insurance?
What happens to 150+ million people currently covered through work?
How do you transition provider payment rates?
What happens to hospital revenue if Medicare rates become universal?
How do you fund it — payroll tax? VAT? income tax?
What happens to innovation incentives?
What happens to wait-time management?
What happens to administrative jobs?
How long would the transition take? 5 years? 10?
Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

20260227 1223 Image Generation simple compose 01kjgc8bs9fjf9h3ctstkck40t

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 6 Technology & Telehealth Optimization

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 6 Technology & Telehealth Optimization

Technology in healthcare is often talked about as the next big fix. But without careful design, it can add complexity instead of reducing it. When implemented thoughtfully, tech and telehealth can improve access, coordination, and outcomes, completing the reforms outlined in this playbook.

Why Technology Matters

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and data integration reduce duplication and improve continuity
Telehealth expands access for rural and underserved communities
Remote monitoring supports chronic disease management and preventive care

Technology is a tool, not a solution in itself. Used strategically, it amplifies other structural reforms: integration, transparency, and incentive alignment.

Key Levers

Streamlined Telehealth Platforms
- Simple, user-friendly interfaces for patients and providers
- Integration with EHRs to ensure continuity and data flow
- Focused use for follow-ups, consultations, and chronic disease monitoring
Remote Patient Monitoring
- Devices track blood pressure, glucose, heart rate, and more
- Data feeds into provider dashboards for timely interventions
- Reduces preventable hospitalizations and complications
Data Integration & Analytics
- Unified patient records improve care coordination
- Analytics identify high-risk patients and resource gaps
- Supports evidence-based decision making and oversight

Why This Matters for Patients

More convenient access to care, especially in rural or underserved areas
Reduced travel and wait times
Better tracking of chronic conditions and preventive measures
Fewer surprises in billing or treatment, thanks to integrated systems

Structural Insight

Technology alone won’t fix systemic inefficiencies, but it enhances the levers already discussed:

Integration becomes more effective
Administrative burden is reduced
Incentive alignment and preventive care are easier to track

When combined with oversight, transparency, and coordinated care, technology turns abstract reforms into real-world improvements that patients can see and feel.

Closing the Playbook

This concludes the Structural Reform Playbook:

Administrative Oversight & Waste Reduction
Price Transparency & Negotiation
Integrated Care & Coordination
Incentive Alignment for Prevention & Chronic Disease
Rural & Underserved Access
Technology & Telehealth Optimization

The series shows that practical, achievable reforms exist, even without overhauling the entire system. Small, structural changes — applied thoughtfully — can reduce friction, preserve access, and improve outcomes.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

650 Million Dollars in Oil Trades just before Iran announcement, Tar and Feathers anyone?

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, News, Protest 2026

The $650 Million “Coincidence” That Smells Like a Scripted MovieIn the sleepy pre-market hours of Monday, March 23, 2026, something extraordinary happened on the oil futures floor. Between 6:49 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. ET—just 15 minutes before President Donald Trump hit “post” on Truth Social—traders slammed through roughly 6,200 Brent and WTI contracts representing at least six million barrels of crude. The notional value: somewhere between $580 million and $650 million, depending on whose Bloomberg terminal you trust. That’s nine times the average volume for the same two-minute window over the previous five trading days.

The trades weren’t random. They were overwhelmingly sells—aggressive short positions betting that oil prices were about to crater. At the exact same moment, another $1.5 billion flood of buy orders hit S&P 500 futures. No news wire blinked. No CNBC chyron scrolled. No obvious catalyst existed in the public domain. Just radio silence… until 7:04 a.m., when Trump dropped his all-caps update: “very good and productive conversations” with Iran, followed by a five-day pause on strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure.

Oil didn’t just dip. It plunged. WTI crashed as much as 14 percent, settling near $88 a barrel. Brent followed to around $99. Stocks, meanwhile, rocketed higher in relief. Whoever placed those orders minutes earlier walked away with what could easily be tens of millions in instantaneous profit—maybe far more.

The absurdity is almost comical. Pre-market liquidity is thinner than a congressional promise. A sudden, concentrated $650 million directional bet in 60 seconds is the financial equivalent of a fireworks show in a library. And it timed itself to perfection, landing like a guided missile right before the single tweet that would move the entire energy complex.

@Unusual_Whales flagged the anomaly within minutes, and the financial press quickly followed:
Bloomberg, Financial Times, CNBC, and others all confirmed the spike. Traders on X called it “too clean.” Some muttered the I-word—insider trading—while others shrugged it off as “sharp speculation.” No regulator has announced an investigation yet, but the optics are brutal.

In a market where a president’s Truth Social post can swing hundreds of billions, the idea that someone knew the punchline 15 minutes early feels less like coincidence and more like the world’s most expensive spoiler alert.

Geopolitics and markets have always danced a dangerous tango. But when the dance looks this choreographed—massive, perfectly timed shorts on oil, longs on stocks, zero public catalyst, followed by the exact headline needed to cash the ticket—it stops looking like luck and starts looking like a leak. Whether it was genius reading tea leaves or someone with a direct line to the room where decisions are made, the $650 million coincidence just became one of the loudest “nothing to see here” moments of 2026.

Markets hate uncertainty. They hate it even more when the uncertainty appears to have been settled in advance—by a handful of traders who somehow knew the script before the rest of us even got to the theater.

Feathers with your tar anyone? Remember it’s costing us Billions a Day so Insiders can line their pockets. Who’s going to stop this, Congress, I don’t think they have the back bone, that leaves US.

20260227 1220 Image Generation simple compose 01kjgc2b25fyhsbgvc6d2cwsv4

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 5 Rural & Underserved Access

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 5 Rural & Underserved Access

The healthcare system functions differently depending on geography. Rural and underserved communities often face the highest friction and the least margin for error. Structural reforms here can make a real, tangible difference.

Why Rural Access Matters

Rural hospitals are smaller and see fewer patients, making them financially vulnerable.
Administrative complexity, rising costs, and low volumes can force closures.
Residents face long travel times for basic care, emergencies, or specialty services.

Even small structural adjustments can preserve access and prevent critical gaps.

Key Levers

Support Small Hospitals & Clinics
- Scalable administrative support reduces overhead
- Shared billing, coding, and claims systems lighten the burden
- Focus resources on essential services like emergency care and maternity
Expand Telehealth Thoughtfully
- Remote visits, monitoring, and virtual coaching extend care
- Requires investment in broadband, training, and user-friendly platforms
- Not a replacement for in-person care but a critical supplement
Regional Collaboration Networks
- Hospitals and providers pool resources for staffing, equipment, and specialty coverage
- Shared protocols and coordination reduce redundancy and improve efficiency

Why This Matters for Patients

Local access is preserved, reducing travel and treatment delays
Care is more coordinated and consistent
Chronic disease management and preventive care remain accessible
Rural communities gain stability without requiring massive system changes

Structural Insight

Rural and underserved populations are canaries in the coal mine for healthcare stress. Structural interventions — not political promises — determine whether access is preserved.

Centralized support, telehealth, and collaboration provide practical, achievable levers.
Protecting care in these areas also reduces systemic costs: fewer preventable hospitalizations, emergencies, and complications.

Transition

Next, we’ll close the playbook with Post 6 — Technology & Telehealth Optimization, showing how thoughtful tech can further enhance care without adding unnecessary complexity or cost.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

Treason, something to think about. – Just Saying

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

These are recent accusations made by Trump, He seems to have the word Treason weighing heavily on his mind. Is his magic mirror on the wall acting up?

April 2025: Accusations against former officials Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs
Trump signed executive orders/directives targeting them (former DHS chief of staff and cybersecurity head from his first term) for criticizing him and pushing back on 2020 election fraud claims. He explicitly called Taylor “guilty of treason” (or words to that effect: “he’s guilty of treason, if you want to know the truth“) and ordered investigations, revoking their security clearances. Critics framed this as retribution for dissent.
July 2025: Accusation against Barack Obama and 2016 officials (via Tulsi Gabbard declassifications)
Trump publicly stated in the Oval Office (captured on video and widely shared) that Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, James Comey, John Brennan, James Clapper, and others committed treason through the “Russia hoax” and efforts to undermine his 2016 victory. He said “it’s there, he’s guilty. This was treason” and emphasized pursuing justice. This aligned with DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s release of documents alleging a “treasonous conspiracy” by Obama-era officials.
November 2025: Accusations against six Democratic lawmakers (including Maggie Goodlander)
In response to a video they released urging military members to refuse illegal orders, Trump posted multiple times on Truth Social calling it “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL,” labeling them “traitors to our Country” who “should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL,” and stating the behavior was “punishable by DEATH!” He reposted calls to “LOCK THEM UP” and even amplified extreme suggestions like hanging. This drew bipartisan rebukes as an overreach on free speech/military law.
March 2026: Accusations against U.S. media outlets over Iran war coverage
Amid the ongoing Iran conflict, Trump posted on Truth Social accusing major outlets (e.g., Wall Street Journal, others) of spreading “knowingly FAKE” reports (e.g., on U.S. military losses like damaged refueling planes or carrier attacks) that aided Iran via disinformation. He wrote they “should be brought up on Charges for TREASON for the dissemination of false information.” This escalated threats against the press, with some reports linking it to FCC warnings about licenses and broader “patriotic” coverage demands.

Trump has accused others (via nicknames, direct attacks, or claims) of something that critics, psychologists, and fact-checkers widely describe as projection—i.e., describing his own behavior or flaws. This is often summarized as “every accusation is a confession.” These are drawn from his public statements, rallies, debates, and social media over the years.I kept it simple and stuck to well-documented cases with clear parallels:

“Crooked Hillary” / “Crooked Joe” Biden (nickname for Clinton and Biden): Accused them of being corrupt and untrustworthy with power/money.
Reflection on himself: Trump has been convicted on felony charges (hush-money case) and found civilly liable for business fraud involving inflated asset values.
Accusing Hillary Clinton of “extreme carelessness” with classified material (2016 emails server attacks): Claimed she couldn’t be trusted with secrets.
Reflection on himself: Trump was criminally charged for retaining classified documents at Mar-a-Lago (stored in unsecured places like his bedroom and bathroom) and continued using an unsecured personal phone in office.
Accusing Democrats / opponents of “weaponizing the justice system” or “rigging” investigations/elections: Repeatedly claims Biden/Dems use DOJ/FBI unfairly against him and that elections are stolen.
Reflection on himself: Critics note this mirrors his own pressure on officials (e.g., 2020 election challenges, calls to “find votes”) and plans/statements about using government against enemies.
Accusing Democrats of using “inflammatory language” that stokes violence (after assassination attempts on him): Blamed opponents’ rhetoric for threats against him.
Reflection on himself: His own statements (e.g., “fight like hell,” Jan. 6 rally) were cited by investigators as encouraging the Capitol riot and have been linked to heightened political violence.
“Lyin’ Ted” Cruz (nickname during 2016 primaries): Called Cruz a liar who can’t be trusted.
Reflection on himself: Trump has the highest documented rate of false/misleading claims of any modern president (tens of thousands per fact-checkers like Washington Post).
Accusing Biden/admin of misusing FEMA funds on immigrants: Claimed they were diverting disaster aid improperly.
Reflection on himself: Trump’s own administration redirected FEMA money for border detention/immigration enforcement.
Claiming opponents (Democrats/media) spread “fake news” or lies: Constant attacks on media as dishonest and Democrats as fabricators.
Reflection on himself: Multiple independent fact-checkers have tracked thousands of his own false statements; he has promoted debunked claims (e.g., the “eating pets” story in 2024 debate, which led to real-world bomb threats).
Accusing Democrats of being responsible for assassination attempts on him (2024 debate): Said their words caused the July 13 attempt (“I probably took a bullet… because of the things that they say about me”).
Reflection on himself: His rhetoric has been tied by investigators to inciting events like Jan. 6.
“Low-energy Jeb,” “Sleepy Joe,” “Little Marco,” etc. (nicknames targeting stamina, size, or alertness): Mocked opponents as weak, tired, or ineffective.
Reflection on himself: Often noted in context of his own reported late-night tweeting, rally fatigue complaints, or age-related critiques he levels at others while being older than some targets.

Trump repeatedly ignores one piece of advice Susie Wiles gives him, he can’t keep his fingers away from Truth Social and he can’t keep his mouth shut.

Benedict doing the Perp Walk

In America, we have No Kings. March 28 https://www.nokings.org/

On - Protest 2026

In America, we have No Kings.

We are showing up together again on March 28.

When our families are under attack and costs are pushing people to the brink, silence is not an option. We will defend ourselves and our communities against this administration’s unjust and cruel acts of violence. America does not belong to strongmen, greedy billionaires, or those who rule through fear. It belongs to us, the people.

https://www.nokings.org/

All to Hide The Epstein Files

On - News, Protest 2026

Broken Promises Blues

Thank You, Mr. Trump: How Media Consolidation Is Accidentally Saving Journalism

On - activism, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Dark Money, Media, Politics

There is something almost poetic about what is happening to the American media landscape right now. The more Donald Trump and his circle of oligarchs tighten their grip on mainstream media — CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Newsmax, TikTok, X, Truth Social — the clearer the picture actually becomes. Not because the propaganda gets better. Because it gets easier to spot.

When everything runs through the same hands, when the same interests control the message, the narrative becomes so uniform, so coordinated, that a simple rule of thumb starts to apply: if they say up, look down. Consolidation, ironically, is doing the work that media criticism has failed to do for decades. It is teaching people to read between the lines.

The Migration Is Already Happening

Here is what you may not have noticed yet: the journalists you trusted are leaving.

They are not retiring. They are not giving up. They are moving to the internet — to podcasts, to Substack, to independent platforms where no one can call them into an office and tell them what story to kill. Think of voices like Dan Rather or Robert Reich, commentators with decades of credibility who no longer need a network’s permission to speak.

What you find when you go looking for them is something mainstream media stopped offering a long time ago: honest commentary from people who no longer have to answer to Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, or Donald Trump.

The Money Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About

There is a catch, and it would be dishonest to pretend otherwise. The internet does not come with a paycheck.

I know this firsthand. For over a year now, I have been doing this work — nearly full time. I am my own web designer. My graphic artist is AI and me. My research assistant is AI and me. And I have funded every bit of it out of my own pocket. I am not telling you this to ask for anything. I am telling you this because it is the reality facing most of the independent journalists you will find on platforms like Substack. They are doing it on their own dime, because they are journalists, and because they believe the work matters.

The lack of money is a problem without an easy answer. But it is also, in a strange way, a kind of protection. With money comes control. The moment someone else starts paying the bills, they start having opinions about the content.

How to Find the Truth — On Your Own Terms

I have not written off mainstream media entirely. I still check the headlines. I still scan the aggregators. And I have found that European media, in particular, often gives a clearer picture of what is actually happening here in the United States than our own outlets do. Distance has a way of sharpening perspective.

But if you want journalism that is working for you rather than for its owners, start looking around. Search out the independent voices. Find the podcasts. Read the Substacks. You will recognize good journalism when you find it — it will make you think, not just confirm what you already believe.

I will not tell you who to read or who to trust. That is your call to make.

Though obviously, you should start here. 😉

Process vs. Power: When the Courts Step Into Medicine

On - Healthcare, News, Protest 2025

Process vs. Power: When the Courts Step Into Medicine

There are moments when a policy fight stops being about the policy itself.

This week, that moment arrived in American healthcare.

A federal judge blocked a sweeping effort by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to remake the nation’s vaccine advisory system—halting the dismissal of long-standing experts and the rapid installation of new appointees. The ruling did not declare winners or losers in the vaccine debate. It did something more fundamental.

It drew a line around process.

At the center of the dispute is the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a body that quietly shapes how vaccines are recommended, covered, and distributed across the United States. Its work affects everything from pediatric care to insurance coverage to public health planning. It is not designed to be fast. It is designed to be deliberate.

That deliberateness is precisely what was disrupted.

The court found that the attempt to remove the committee’s members and replace them wholesale likely violated the legal framework governing such advisory bodies. More importantly, it concluded that established procedures—those slow, often frustrating guardrails—had been bypassed.

And that is where this story shifts.

Because this was never only about vaccines.

It is about whether complex medical policy can be reengineered through speed and authority, or whether it must remain anchored in systems built to resist exactly that kind of acceleration.

For months, public health experts warned what would happen if those systems were sidestepped. Replace institutional process with rapid overhaul, they said, and the result would not be clarity—it would be instability. Legal challenges would follow. Guidance would fracture. Trust, already strained, would erode further.

Those warnings are no longer theoretical.

The court’s intervention has now frozen key decisions, thrown advisory structures into uncertainty, and raised immediate questions about what guidance still stands. Programs that rely on stable recommendations—from insurance coverage mandates to childhood vaccination access—now face a period of ambiguity.

Even those who support reform are left with a difficult reality: a national health system cannot function cleanly when its underlying rules are in dispute.

There is a deeper tension here, one that extends beyond this case.

Americans are increasingly divided not just on outcomes, but on process itself. There is impatience with institutions, skepticism of expertise, and a growing belief that speed is a substitute for rigor. In that environment, the temptation to “just fix it” becomes powerful.

But systems like public health were never designed for speed.

They were designed for resilience.

The court’s decision does not resolve the broader debate over vaccines, nor does it attempt to. Instead, it reinforces a quieter principle: that how decisions are made still matters, especially when those decisions affect millions of people.

In the absence of that principle, every administration—left or right—would be free to rebuild critical systems in its own image, as quickly as it chooses.

That may feel efficient in the moment.

Until the next change comes just as fast.

What we are seeing now is not simply a legal pause. It is the system doing what it was built to do when pushed too far, too fast.

Slowing things down.

And in a healthcare system that touches every American life, that friction—however frustrating—may be the only thing preventing something far more unstable from taking its place.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

20260227 1216 Image Generation simple compose 01kjgbwhdzfrgtgdz4tm4zwnvb

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 4 Incentive Alignment for Prevention & Chronic Disease

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 4 Incentive Alignment for Prevention & Chronic Disease

Chronic disease drives the majority of U.S. healthcare costs. Managing it is not just a clinical challenge — it’s also a matter of incentives. Even small changes in how care is reimbursed or structured can produce better outcomes and lower costs.

Why Incentives Matter

Fee-for-service models reward volume, not long-term health.
Preventive care, counseling, and lifestyle support are often undervalued financially.
Patients may delay care or skip follow-ups because short-term costs are unclear.

The result: high spending, fragmented management, and preventable complications.

Key Levers

Reward Preventive Care
- Screenings, vaccinations, counseling, and early intervention
- Payments tied to outcomes, not just visits or procedures
Support Chronic Disease Management
- Encourage care teams to coordinate long-term plans
- Incentivize adherence to treatment and monitoring programs
Align Patient Behavior with Health Goals
- Use tools like health coaching, reminders, and education
- Reduce barriers to preventive visits and healthy lifestyle adoption

Why This Matters for Patients

More attention on prevention and long-term management
Reduced complications and hospitalizations
Lower out-of-pocket costs over time
Greater clarity and consistency in care

Structural Insight

Incentive alignment does not require a system overhaul.
Shifting focus from procedure volume to health outcomes produces measurable improvements.
When paired with integration and transparency, it closes the loop between dollars spent and health achieved.

Transition

Next in the playbook: Rural & Underserved Access, a deep dive showing how structural levers can protect vulnerable communities and preserve essential services.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

Pentagon to seek $200B for Iran war

On - Blog

Fund what is needed at home first, divert ICE funds, better yet send those brave ICE Soldiers. They’re have been so well trained. Kick any Senator OUT that votes 5 cents towards Israels War, you know, the one they suckered Putz into, just tell him he’s the greatest and you get what ever you want, maybe even a Red Tesla. Remember PUTZ has Billions, he doesn’t care about you and me. Just how STUPID are we?

Unchain My Vote

20260227 1213 Image Generation simple compose 01kjgbpqzbf359z8ykj8sp2ckw

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 3 Integrated Care & Coordination

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 3 Integrated Care & Coordination

The U.S. healthcare system works, but often in fragments. Patients move between hospitals, clinics, specialists, and pharmacies — and each transition creates duplication, delays, and cost. Integrated care offers a structural solution: connecting services under one system or coordinated network.

Why Integration Matters

Fragmented care drives redundant tests, inconsistent records, and delays.
Chronic disease management suffers when providers don’t share information.
Rural or smaller hospitals struggle to provide comprehensive care without support.

Integrated models — like Kaiser Permanente or other vertically coordinated systems — reduce these frictions by aligning care delivery, records, and financial flows.

Key Features of Integrated Care

Shared Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
- All providers within the network can access patient history
- Reduces repeated tests and improves treatment consistency
Coordinated Care Teams
- Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and specialists collaborate
- Focus on patient outcomes rather than billable procedures
Streamlined Financial Flows
- Centralized billing and contracting reduces administrative burden
- Clearer incentives for prevention and long-term management
Monitoring & Accountability
- Data-driven tracking of outcomes and efficiency
- Encourages continuous improvement without adding complexity

Why This Matters for Patients

Fewer redundant tests and appointments
Smoother navigation through the system
Better management of chronic conditions and preventive care
Potentially lower overall costs, even within existing insurance structures

Structural Insight

Integration is not a cure-all, and scale can create new challenges (like monopolistic pricing). But when paired with oversight, transparency, and incentive alignment, integrated care provides a measurable path to efficiency and better outcomes.

Transition

Next, we’ll examine Incentive Alignment for Prevention & Chronic Disease, a tight post showing how small shifts in payment models can improve health outcomes while controlling costs.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

Fast Forward 3/19/2026

On - Forward Party, Politics, shared, Voting Rights

Bill —

Virginia State Flag and US flag

Early voting is now underway in Virginia. On April 21, voters will decide whether to allow a mid-decade redraw of congressional maps, revisiting a system designed to limit direct political control.

In 2020, Virginia adopted a redistricting commission made up of legislators and citizens, evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. The maps drawn after the last census were intended to last through 2031, providing consistency and predictability for voters.

The current measure would temporarily change that system. It would allow the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts before the next census, with a new map already approved that would take effect for the 2026 elections if voters agree.

Supporters say this allows Virginia to respond to similar moves in other states. Opponents, including the Forward Party, are concerned it could reintroduce more direct political influence into a process voters intended to make more independent.

Below is our official statement

VA Gerrymandering Statement

This moment in Virginia reflects a broader national challenge. Across the country, both parties have increasingly looked to redraw maps in ways that strengthen their position, raising questions about consistency and trust in the rules that govern elections.

As Brian Vincent, Forward-aligned independent mayor of Farmville, Virginia, recently wrote, stable rules and clear standards are essential to building public confidence. You can read his full perspective here.

That same principle was echoed by Lindsey Drath, CEO of the Forward Party, in a recent Fox 5 DC interview, where she emphasized that voters want a system that is fair, transparent, and consistent over time.

How districts are drawn shapes how elections function, from how competitive races are to how responsive leaders are to the people they represent.

At Forward, we believe the goal should be simple: fair processes, consistent rules, and elections where voters feel their voices truly matter.

Virginia voters will make their decision soon, but this issue goes well beyond one state.

Across the country, rules like gerrymandering, closed primaries, and complicated ballot access requirements often shape who gets to run and who voters actually get to choose from. Too often, they narrow the field instead of opening it up.

That can leave independent voters with fewer real options and make it harder to support leaders who truly reflect their values or make them feel proud to cast a ballot.

It also keeps a lot of strong civic leaders on the sidelines. Many people who have led in their communities, businesses, or public service simply do not want to sign up for strict party labels or ideological lines just to run for office.

If we want a healthier democracy, it starts with making sure the system invites more people in, not keeps them out, and gives voters real choices they can believe in.

REMINDER: The next episode of The Forward Party Podcast is now live! In Episode 5, Lindsey Williams Drath, Kerry Healey, and Christine Todd Whitman talk with Bob Perls, chair of Forward Party New Mexico and a former state legislator, and Sarah Czech, a U.S. military veteran and leader of the Forward Party Veterans and Military Families Committee, about the role of service in strengthening democracy. Drawing on Bob’s experience in public office and grassroots organizing and Sarah’s leadership advocating for veterans and military families, the conversation explores how civic engagement, nonpartisan leadership, and a commitment to community can help rebuild trust in American politics.

We hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to let us know what you think.

Click the image below to watch.

ICYMI: The Forward Party Podcast – Behind the Scenes reel

March 25 – Virginia Statewide Virtual Meeting

Politicians should not choose their voters.

Yet Virginia is facing a renewed redistricting effort that risks undoing the will of voters who approved reform in 2020.

The Forward Party in Virginia is hosting a statewide virtual meeting to discuss what this means and what we can do about it. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

April 8 – Recruiting New Forwardists

If you’re tired of waiting for the system to fix itself — this is your moment.
👥 Volunteer | 🗳️ Run for Office | 💸 Donate | 🌐 forwardparty.com

Contrary to what our detractors on social media say, YES, we read!

Wisconsin Lawmakers Propose Ranked Choice Voting for All Elections

State Senator Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) and Representative Clinton Anderson (D-Beloit) introduced LRB-5709 on March 5, legislation that would implement ranked choice voting for state, federal, and local elections in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin legislation would also eliminate the need for February primaries in nonpartisan elections.

Our mailing address is:
1701 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States

Paid for by Forward Party and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
ForwardParty.com

20260204 1044 Image Generation simple compose 01kgmzfkrefmjrd71fws9026z1

A Pivot Opportunity on America’s Mental Health Crisis – Redirecting Priorities from Endless War

On - Commentary, Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Mental Healthcare, Private Funding, purple

Elon,You’ve already highlighted failures in mental health policy—deinstitutionalization left untreated severe cases on the streets, fueling homelessness, addiction, crime, and chaos (your “Make Asylums Great Again” posts in Feb 2026 nailed the critique of that 20th-century cost-cutting disaster). You’ve been open about personal struggles too (prescription ketamine for dark states, calling out “mental rabies” in violent offenders who need containment/treatment, not release).

The current hypocrisy is glaring and worsening: The Iran war (started late Feb 2026) is burning ~$1 billion/day (Pentagon briefed Congress on $11.3B+ in first 6 days; estimates now push $12–18B+ cumulative by mid-March, per CSIS/Reuters/NYT). That’s endless foreign escalation with no clear end, spiking gas prices and hurting Americans at home—while behavioral health funding gets squeezed (billions cut/reversed in SAMHSA grants under recent efficiencies).

A subtle distance from the current admin’s trajectory (less close proximity to avoid shrapnel from backlash) could open huge ground for you to lead on this domestically. Champion modern psychiatric treatment centers/recovery campuses (avoid “asylums” stigma—frame as humane, evidence-based facilities with safeguards, voluntary where possible, mandatory for severe threats). Tie it to protecting families/communities from exploitation, trauma, addiction cycles—subtly “shines” your image amid any lingering noise (e.g., old Epstein file smears).

Bring in Bezos, Zuckerberg, Ellison (Oracle) for a consortium: Announce an initial $19.5B fund (roughly 2–3 weeks of current war burn—people can do the math). Position it as:

Not replacing DEA street-level enforcement (that’s federal law job).
Funding treatment infrastructure: beds, crisis units, integrated SUD/mental health care, recovery housing, peer programs.
“Giving back”—this money originated from American taxpayers; redirecting a fraction to heal at home instead of endless abroad conflicts.

You have the platform (X), cash, and disruption cred to make this viral and bipartisan—addressing blue-city street crises and rural opioid/mental health gaps without heavy ideology. It aligns with your existing views, scales like your big missions, and could force national conversation/pressure for reallocations.

Worth considering? The timing (lame-duck dynamics, midterm/economic pain building) might be right.

No pressure—just an idea from a purple independent who’s tired of misplaced priorities.

@elonmusk – worth considering?

Tulsi Gabbard’s top deputy Joe Kent resigned to protest Trump’s Iran War. His resignation letter to Trump:

On - News, Politics, Trump

Tulsi Gabbard’s top deputy Joe Kent resigned to protest Trump’s Iran War. His resignation letter to Trump:

“After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today. I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.

I support the foreign policy values you campaigned on. Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap the robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation.

Early in this admin, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran. This is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq War.

As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon is a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people.”

20260227 1209 Image Generation simple compose 01kjgbfvzrfk1t7qvz3jyg8z8f

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 2 Price Transparency & Negotiation

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 2 Price Transparency & Negotiation

Even with insurance, many Americans are surprised by healthcare bills. One visit, one test, one procedure — and the costs can feel like a mystery. Price transparency and negotiation are levers that can fix that without upending the system.

Why Transparency Matters

Patients rarely know the true cost of care until after the service.
Insurers, providers, and pharmacy benefit managers negotiate complex contracts that are invisible to patients.
Confusing bills reduce trust and make it harder to choose cost-effective care.

Making costs visible empowers decision-making — for patients, employers, and even smaller providers.

Key Levers

Publish Standardized Prices
- Hospitals and providers should clearly list costs for common procedures and services.
- Patients can compare in-network and out-of-network pricing before care.
Simplify Insurance Coverage Explanations
- Standard summaries of deductibles, co-pays, coinsurance, and coverage rules.
- Easy-to-read formats reduce mistakes and surprise bills.
Encourage Negotiation & Bundled Payments
- Regional or employer-level negotiations can lower costs for common procedures.
- Bundled payments align provider incentives with outcomes, not volume.

Why This Matters for Patients

Fewer surprise bills and unexpected out-of-pocket costs
Clearer choices when selecting providers or treatments
Stronger leverage to choose value over volume

Price transparency is not about “free market” ideology; it’s about clarity, fairness, and predictability. When patients see costs clearly, the system becomes easier to navigate — and wasteful practices are exposed.

Transition

Next in the playbook is Integrated Care & Coordination, a deep dive showing how putting services under one roof (or at least in a coordinated network) can improve outcomes and reduce duplication.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

20260227 0943 Image Generation simple compose 01kjg32xgzfcj9entgz5frxyrf

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 1 Administrative Oversight & Waste Reduction

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Part 1 Administrative Oversight & Waste Reduction

Structural Reform Playbook — Visual Map

Post	Type	Focus / Reform Lever	Key Takeaway
1 — Administrative Oversight & Waste Reduction	Tight	Reduce friction and unnecessary costs	Streamline billing, claims, coding — more dollars toward care
2 — Price Transparency & Negotiation	Tight	Clear costs for patients and payers	Publish prices, simplify insurance explanations, negotiate bundled payments
3 — Integrated Care & Coordination	Deep Dive	Connect services for efficiency	Shared EHRs, care teams, centralized flows — reduce duplication
4 — Incentive Alignment for Prevention & Chronic Disease	Tight	Align payments with health outcomes	Reward preventive care and long-term management, not volume
5 — Rural & Underserved Access	Deep Dive	Preserve essential care	Support small hospitals, telehealth, regional networks
6 — Technology & Telehealth Optimization	Tight	Amplify reforms with tech	Streamlined telehealth, remote monitoring, integrated data

Healthcare in America Structural Reform Playbook Post 1 Administrative Oversight & Waste Reduction

The U.S. healthcare system is enormous. It works, but it also carries layers of administrative complexity that drive cost, slow care, and frustrate patients. The good news: some of this friction can be addressed without overhauling the entire system.

Why Oversight Matters

Administrative tasks — billing, claims processing, coding, approvals — are necessary, but studies show U.S. administrative costs are roughly double those of comparable countries. That’s hundreds of billions of dollars each year that could be redirected toward actual care.

Even small improvements in oversight and efficiency can have immediate, measurable impact.

Key Levers

Streamline Claims and Billing
- Standardize forms and electronic submissions
- Reduce redundant approvals and prior authorization bottlenecks
- Encourage faster reconciliation of payments
Audit Administrative Waste
- Identify duplicated services, double billing, or unnecessary bureaucracy
- Focus on high-cost providers and high-volume claims
- Track savings and reinvest them in patient care
Simplify Coding & Reporting
- Standardized medical codes reduce errors and denials
- Training and technology investments can cut hours of administrative work
- Clearer documentation improves patient experience and staff efficiency

Why This Matters for Patients

Faster claims and billing reduce confusion
Less paperwork for providers frees up time for patient care
Savings can improve access, staffing, and resources

Administrative reform is not flashy. It won’t make headlines. But it works quietly, and it works fast. It’s a foundational step toward reducing cost and improving care, without needing politics to change overnight.

Transition

Next in the playbook: Price Transparency & Negotiation, where we tackle one of the most visible frustrations for patients — confusing costs and unpredictable bills.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

20260227 0936 Image Generation simple compose 01kjg2pg1te5zvv7q3vq0s73ja

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 10 Reform Principles: Aligning the System

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 10 Reform Principles: Aligning the System

We’ve traced the U.S. healthcare system from dollars to delivery, explored administrative complexity, chronic disease, and rural pressures, and analyzed incentives. Now the question becomes: what would a system look like if it aligned with outcomes rather than complexity?

This is not about ideology or politics. It’s about structure and function.

1. Simplification

Reduce unnecessary administrative layers.
Streamline claims, billing, and prior authorization processes.
Standardize coding and reporting where possible.

Goal: Money and effort should flow toward care, not paperwork.

2. Transparent Pricing

Make costs clear for patients, employers, and payers.
Standardize pricing across hospitals and providers where feasible.
Ensure out-of-network and surprise bills are minimized.

Goal: Reduce confusion, improve decision-making, and empower patients.

3. Incentive Alignment

Reward preventive care and long-term health outcomes rather than volume of procedures.
Align provider reimbursement with patient health metrics and chronic disease management.
Encourage insurers to focus on outcomes and accessibility rather than purely risk mitigation.

Goal: Make the system work for health, not just billing.

4. Rural Stabilization

Support small hospitals and critical access facilities with scalable administrative support.
Consider alternative models for staffing, telehealth, and regional collaboration.
Protect essential services even in low-volume communities.

Goal: Ensure equitable access regardless of geography.

5. Data-Driven Oversight

Use data to identify inefficiencies, high-cost drivers, and gaps in access.
Encourage transparency in spending and outcomes across all layers.
Support continuous improvement rather than static regulation.

Goal: Make evidence the foundation for policy and operational decisions.

6. Patient-Centered Design

Simplify insurance interactions.
Educate patients on coverage, preventive care, and cost implications.
Make navigation of care intuitive and friction-free.

Goal: Ensure patients experience the system as a service, not a puzzle.

Closing Insight

The U.S. healthcare system is enormous, expensive, and complex. But it is not irredeemable. By focusing on structure, transparency, and incentives, it is possible to reduce waste, improve access, and align resources with actual care.

The principles outlined here are nonpartisan and structural: they do not depend on ideology, politics, or personalities. They depend on understanding the machine and reshaping it to serve the people it was meant to help.

This completes the Follow the Money series:

Post 1: $4.5 Trillion Machine
Post 2: Who Actually Funds the Machine?
Post 3: Where the Money Goes
Post 4: Following the Dollar
Post 5: Administrative Complexity
Post 6: Insurance Design
Post 7: Chronic Disease
Post 8: Rural Healthcare & Consolidation
Post 9: Incentive Audit
Post 10: Reform Principles

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

Screwing the Pooch

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

Have you ever noticed the utter bullshit. Trump can screw you, he can screw the pooch, he can screw the nation, he has even shown he can screw the world. BUT he can’t abolish daylight savings time, or release the Epstein files.

Does you vote count, Damn Right it Does

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Politics, Protest 2026, Voting Rights

This is a repost from Substack from the MeidasTouch Network 1 VOTE

MeidasTouch Network

🚨NEWS: Democrat Andy Thomson has won the Boca Raton mayoral race by just ONE vote.

🔵 Thomson — 7,568

🔴 Liebelson — 7,567

With 100% of votes in, Thomson becomes the first Democratic mayor of Boca Raton in over 30 years.

One vote decided the election.

Sunday Update, after a slow recount, Thomson won by 5 votes, that doesn’t change the fact that we can’t sit by and assume our vote will not matter.

There is always a way to get a clown off the stage.

On - Cartoons, Daily, or my first cup of coffee

20260312 1124 Image Generation simple compose 01kkhmmt6ffznrzd0fst8py645

Christian nationalism isn’t really about Christianity at al

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Politics, purple

Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez recently argued on her Substack that Democrats chasing religious voters are missing the point entirely. She’s right, and the reasons go deeper than most people realize.

Christian nationalism isn’t really about Christianity at all. At its root, it’s about tribe: white, native-born, conservative Protestant identity under siege. The scholars who study it (people like Philip Gorski and Samuel Perry) are clear: this isn’t a theological movement you can talk or preach someone out of. It’s loyalty to a group defined by race, grievance, and the feeling that their way of life is being erased. Social science has shown for decades that when a group feels attacked, waving their symbols back at them doesn’t convert anyone. It just feels like invasion. They dig in harder.

That’s why the old Democratic playbook of trying to out-Jesus the right in places like Texas keeps failing. The consultants are still chasing an older, whiter, more church-going version of the state that is literally shrinking every year. Meanwhile the actual Texas, younger, browner, more urban, more secular, is being ignored. Religiosity is dropping fast nationwide, especially among the generations driving Texas’s growth. One in four Texans is under 18. The future isn’t waiting for a moderate white candidate to sound more pious.

And here’s the tell: if Republicans truly owned Texas the way the maps pretend, they wouldn’t have had to redraw congressional districts mid-decade in 2025, surgically cracking Latino and Black neighborhoods and packing them into as few seats as possible. You only gerrymander that aggressively when you’re terrified the real electorate is slipping away. Real Texas, majority nonwhite, increasingly independent, tired of a rigged system, doesn’t need pandering. It needs policies that treat its existence as fact, not a problem to be diluted. The GOP knows exactly who that Texas is. That’s why they keep changing the rules.

Georgia just showed what happens when Democrats stop chasing ghosts and start talking to the people actually in front of them. In November 2025, two Democrats swept statewide elections to Georgia’s Public Service Commission, flipping seats Republicans had held for nearly two decades and winning nearly 63% of the vote. They didn’t run on culture war counterattacks or carefully triangulated faith messaging. They ran on electricity bills. On the audacity of a utility company raising rates while its shareholders cashed in. On the basic idea that a regulatory body should regulate for people, not for Georgia Power.

And an even bigger upset is Democrat Shawn Harris’s lead to take Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat, Harris who is leading the GOP candidate’ Fuller could very well add one more Democrat prior to the 2026 Midterms.

The results were read, even by Republican strategists on the ground, as less anti-Republican than anti-incumbent, a signal that voters are furious about grocery prices, housing costs, and energy bills, and will vote for whoever seems to take that fury seriously. That’s not a narrow opening. That’s a door standing wide open.

The Democrats flipped 22 counties that had voted for Donald Trump in 2024, not by persuading those voters to abandon their cultural identity, but by giving them something concrete to vote for. The tribe instinct is real, but it has a threshold. When the lights cost too much and nobody in power seems to care, people will cross it.

This is the playbook Democrats keep forgetting they have. Not the one written around finding the right white moderate who can quote scripture without wincing. The one built around material conditions, the cost of staying alive in the place you live. It doesn’t require anyone to abandon their identity. It just requires a party to show up and say: the people running this system are getting rich while you fall behind, and we’re going to make that stop.

Texas is the long game. The demographics are real, the gerrymandering proves the GOP knows it, and the question is whether Democrats will organize around the electorate that exists rather than the one their consultants remember. Georgia is the proof of concept: a red state, a low-turnout race, a utilitarian message, and a landslide.

But templates only travel if someone picks them up. And that’s where the Democratic Party keeps losing the thread. The Georgia win didn’t happen because a national committee handed down a strategy. It happened because two candidates decided to talk about something real and voters responded. The problem isn’t that Democrats lack a message. It’s that no one seems authorized to carry it everywhere, not just in the districts where winning already feels possible.

The GOP has a unified voice. You can agree with it or despise it, but you always know what it is. Democrats keep waiting for permission to find theirs. That’s not a messaging problem. That’s a leadership problem, and until the party decides to solve it, Georgia stays an asterisk instead of becoming a blueprint.

The party doesn’t need a new theology. It needs someone willing to say the same true thing in everywhere and mean it every time.

This piece was inspired by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez’s essay “No, Jesus Won’t Save the Democratic Party” on her Substack, Alisa Writes.

20260226 1147 Image Generation simple compose 01kjdqs8t7fzjbvr1mrd0affb9

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 9 Incentive Audit: Who Really Benefits?

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 9 Incentive Audit: Who Really Benefits?

We’ve traced the system from dollars to delivery, explored chronic disease, and examined rural pressures. Now we ask a crucial question: who actually benefits from the way the system is structured?

Understanding incentives is key to seeing why healthcare costs continue to rise, even when outcomes lag.

1. Providers

Hospitals and physician groups benefit when patients utilize services — more procedures, more visits, more tests.
Fee-for-service payment models reward volume rather than long-term outcomes.
Administrative complexity can create higher revenue for larger organizations that can manage it efficiently, leaving smaller providers struggling.

Insight: scale and complexity often favor larger, well-resourced providers.

2. Insurers

Insurance companies benefit from predictable revenue through premiums and from managing risk pools.
Complexity (deductibles, prior authorizations, network rules) allows insurers to control costs and reduce risk exposure.
Administrative layers are part of this management — they protect financial stability but also add friction for patients.

Insight: the system is designed to manage risk, not maximize simplicity.

3. Pharmacy Benefit Managers & Drug Manufacturers

PBMs negotiate prices and rebates, influencing which medications are accessible or costly.
Drug manufacturers benefit from high-cost specialty medications and brand exclusivity periods.

Insight: financial structures shape access and cost, sometimes more than clinical need does.

4. Patients

Patients benefit from insurance coverage, access to advanced care, and risk protection.
Yet they also bear the cost of complexity: premiums, deductibles, co-pays, travel for care, and confusing bills.

Insight: patients participate financially at multiple points but rarely see the full flow of funds, which reduces visibility and understanding.

5. Communities

Urban centers with high volumes and consolidated hospitals often maintain stable services.
Rural communities with low volumes and fewer resources are vulnerable to closures and service reductions.

Insight: structural scale advantages create unequal outcomes across geographies.

Structural Takeaways

Complexity, consolidation, and financial engineering create winners and losers.
The system works for efficiency and risk management, but not always for access, affordability, or simplicity.
Understanding incentives is essential before discussing reform: any solution must realign motivations, not just cut costs.

Transition

With incentives mapped, we can now move to the final post — Reform Principles. Here, we shift from analysis to constructive thinking, outlining structural ideas that could reduce friction, improve access, and align incentives with health outcomes.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

20260226 1147 Image Generation simple compose 01kjdqs8t8fn7sc2wrncrkker6

Fast Forward 03/12/2026

On - Forward Party, Politics, shared, Voting Rights

Bill —

For generations, Americans have relied on a simple principle to protect our democracy: no branch of government should hold too much power.

But in recent years, that balance has been shifting.

This week we’re highlighting an important new piece from members of Forward’s Veterans and Military Families Committee: “The Two‑Party Drift Toward Executive Power.”

The article looks at how presidents from both parties have increasingly used military force without meaningful congressional oversight – a trend that raises serious questions about the erosion of constitutional checks and balances.

Click the image to read the blog post

The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war, reflecting the founders’ belief that decisions about military force should involve democratic accountability.

But over time, presidents from both parties have increasingly acted without formal congressional approval. The Forward blog argues that the erosion of oversight has made it easier for the executive branch to wield military power with limited restraint.

This isn’t just about one president or one party.

It reflects a broader pattern in American politics where the two‑party system has allowed power to consolidate in the executive branch while Congress struggles to assert its role.

When those checks weaken, so does public confidence in the system. When institutions work properly, power is balanced and decisions carry broader legitimacy.

When those guardrails erode, it becomes easier for any administration — Republican or Democrat — to expand executive authority without sufficient accountability.

One of the core ideas behind the Forward movement is that political incentives shape political outcomes. If the system rewards partisan loyalty and discourages independent oversight, we should not be surprised when institutions weaken. That is why Forward supports reforms that strengthen democratic accountability and encourage leaders who are willing to work across differences.

Healthy competition in politics leads to stronger institutions. Stronger institutions help preserve the constitutional balance that protects our freedoms.

We hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to let us know what you think.

Click the image below to watch.

ICYMI: The Forward Party Podcast – Behind the Scenes reel

RECAP: Forward Voices: ICE and the Rule of Law

At a recent Forward Voices event, speakers discussed the importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting constitutional rights in federal law enforcement, with a focus on ICE practices and due process protections. The conversation reflected Forward’s core values of respecting the Constitution and strengthening democratic accountability. Speakers highlighted the need for clearer oversight, accountability, and thoughtful immigration reform that puts people and constitutional principles first. Click here to watch a recording of the event.

Tonight – Gulf Coast Regional Call

Join other Forward supporters in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana on a Gulf Coast Regional Call. Hear national party updates and brainstorm ways to spread the Forward message in your area. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

March 16 – NY Monthly Virtual Townhall

Each month, NY Forwardists across the state meet on Google Meets to hear from a partner organization or potental endorsed candidate or to discuss a relevant topic.

March 25 – Virginia Statewide Virtual Meeting

Politicians should not choose their voters.

Yet Virginia is facing a renewed redistricting effort that risks undoing the will of voters who approved reform in 2020.

The Forward Party in Virginia is hosting a statewide virtual meeting to discuss what this means and what we can do about it. Click here for more information and to RSVP.

If you’re tired of waiting for the system to fix itself — this is your moment.
👥 Volunteer | 🗳️ Run for Office | 💸 Donate | 🌐 forwardparty.com

Contrary to what our detractors on social media say, YES, we read!

Forward Veterans and Military Families Chair Sarah Czech on News Nation

Forward Veterans and Military Families Chair Sarah Czech discusses how the public deserves answers and transparency around the conflict with Iran.

Empowering Independent Voters Can Fix Primary Elections

Today, there is a growing recognition that the way we run primary elections isn’t working. They’re too partisan. Too low turnout. Too dominated by ideological activists.

Our mailing address is:
1701 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, United States

Paid for by Forward Party and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
ForwardParty.com

20260226 1141 Rural Healthcare Challenges simple compose 01kjdqe2zye2qaajs8a8ewf5hb

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 8 Rural Healthcare & Consolidation: When the Machine Strains

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 8 Rural Healthcare & Consolidation: When the Machine Strains

So far, we’ve mapped who pays, where money flows, how a dollar moves, and explored administrative complexity and chronic disease. Now we see how these forces converge in rural America — where hospitals are small, margins are thin, and system complexity hits hardest.

1. Hospital Closures

Over the past two decades, hundreds of rural hospitals have closed.
Causes include low patient volumes, high uncompensated care, and increasing administrative burdens.
When a local hospital closes, patients must travel farther for care — sometimes hundreds of miles for emergencies or maternity services.

This is where the structural cost of complexity becomes tangible: every layer of administration, insurance negotiation, and provider reimbursement adds to the financial pressure, threatening the survival of small facilities.

2. Consolidation and Private Equity

Many rural hospitals are acquired by larger health systems or private equity firms.
Consolidation can bring resources and standardized care, but also centralized decision-making that prioritizes financial performance over local needs.
Private equity ownership often emphasizes cost-cutting and profit margins, which can reduce staffing or eliminate underused services.

The result: communities lose local services, and residents experience less access — all while the total dollars flowing through the system continue to grow.

3. Limited Access & Telehealth

Telehealth promises expanded access, but it cannot replace all in-person care.
Broadband limitations, staffing shortages, and technology adoption challenges reduce effectiveness in many rural areas.

Even when care is “available” virtually, the real-world friction remains: long travel times, delayed treatment, and fragmented services.

4. Structural Insight

Rural healthcare exposes the tension at the heart of the system:

Complexity and consolidation allow the machine to operate efficiently at scale.
But small, low-volume communities lack the buffer to absorb costs and friction.
High spending doesn’t guarantee access — in fact, it can coincide with service loss.

The system is not uniformly broken — it is stressed where scale, demand, and resources collide.

Transition

With rural pressures laid bare, the next step is to examine incentives across the system: who benefits from complexity, chronic disease, and consolidation? This sets up the final discussion on reform principles, where we start talking about solutions grounded in structure rather than ideology.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

20260227 1538 Image Generation simple compose 01kjgqdwstfkxvp1ra84tdrhqj

Protecting Your Voting Rights

On - Commentary, Politics, Protest 2026, purple, Voting Rights

Protecting voting rights is a fundamental aspect of American democracy, and your concern about potential executive overreach is valid given recent reports. While presidents have issued executive orders related to elections in the past, they don’t have unilateral authority to control how states run them, elections are primarily a state responsibility under the Constitution (Article I, Section 4), with Congress able to set or alter regulations for federal races. Any attempt to impose sweeping changes via executive order, especially if premised on unsubstantiated claims like foreign interference from past elections, would likely face immediate legal challenges and injunctions from federal courts, as happened with a similar order in March 2025.

Courts have repeatedly affirmed that such actions can’t override constitutional limits or state authority without clear statutory backing.

That said, litigation can take time, so proactive steps are key to safeguarding access to the ballot. Here’s what individuals and communities can do, based on established strategies from voting rights organizations:1. Stay Informed and Monitor Changes

Follow reliable sources for updates on election laws and any proposed executive actions. Organizations like the ACLU, Brennan Center for Justice, and League of Women Voters track voter suppression efforts and provide alerts.
Sign up for their newsletters or use tools like the Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) website to check your state’s rules.

Track bills in Congress, such as efforts to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (e.g., the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act), which could counter discriminatory changes.

The Act’s preclearance provision historically required federal approval for changes in states with discrimination histories, though it was weakened by the Supreme Court in 2013.

2. Register, Vote, and Help Others Do the Same

Ensure you’re registered and update your information if needed—use the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) provisions, which allow registration at DMVs or online in many states.
Encourage friends, family, and neighbors to register early to avoid last-minute barriers.
Vote in every election, including primaries and locals, where turnout can influence who shapes voting rules. If mail voting or early voting is available in your state, use it to reduce reliance on Election Day logistics that could be disrupted.

Know your rights: Federal laws like the Voting Rights Act prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or language, and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) ensures provisional ballots if your eligibility is questioned. If you face issues at the polls (e.g., intimidation or denial), report them immediately to the DOJ’s Voting Section or the Election Protection Hotline (866-OUR-VOTE).

3. Support Advocacy and Legal Efforts
Donate to or volunteer with groups fighting voter suppression, such as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Common Cause, or the Brennan Center. They file lawsuits to block unlawful changes and have successfully challenged past executive orders.

For instance, multiple courts blocked key parts of the 2025 election integrity order.

Push for state-level Voting Rights Acts, which some states have adopted to fill gaps left by federal weakenings.

Contact your state legislators to advocate for expansions like automatic voter registration or protections against purges.

4. Engage Civically and Build Community

Contact your members of Congress to oppose bills like the SAVE America Act if they create unnecessary barriers (e.g., strict proof-of-citizenship requirements), and support reforms like the Freedom to Vote Act for national standards on early voting and mail ballots.

Volunteer as a poll worker, watcher, or nonpartisan monitor through groups like the EAC or local election boards. This helps ensure transparency and can deter irregularities.
Join or form community groups to educate others—host voter registration drives or workshops on recognizing misinformation about elections.

5. Prepare for Potential Challenges
If an executive order is issued attempting to mandate things like nationwide voter ID, bans on mail voting, or federal oversight of state systems, expect rapid court action.

Advocacy groups are already poised to challenge them, arguing they exceed presidential authority and violate states’ rights.

In the meantime, focus on state-level protections, as federal overreach often gets enjoined quickly.

Document and report any suspicious activity, like voter purges or intimidation, to the FBI or state attorneys general.
Ultimately, the strongest defense is high participation and collective action—history shows that when voters mobilize, attempts to restrict access often fail. If things escalate, resources like the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division can provide enforcement.

Stay engaged, and remember that protections like the 14th, 15th, and 19th Amendments provide a solid foundation against discrimination.

20260226 1134 Image Generation simple compose 01kjdq1eqzfm4sb4n8m99btssr

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 7 Chronic Disease: The Real Cost Driver

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 7 Chronic Disease: The Real Cost Driver

We’ve traced who pays, where the money goes, how a dollar moves, and insurance mechanics. Now we turn to the factor that drives most healthcare spending: chronic disease.

1. The Scale of the Problem

Chronic diseases — including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and autoimmune conditions — account for roughly 70–80% of healthcare costs in the United States.

Millions of Americans live with multiple chronic conditions.
Treatment is ongoing: doctor visits, tests, medications, hospitalizations.
Costs compound over time, often creating financial stress for patients and strain on insurers and providers alike.

The system is designed to manage acute events well, but chronic conditions create persistent demand, exposing structural inefficiencies.

2. Incentives and Misalignment

Fee-for-service care: Providers are reimbursed for procedures, tests, and visits rather than long-term outcomes.
Preventive care under-incentivized: Counseling, lifestyle support, and early intervention are often undervalued financially.
Patient behavior vs system support: Access, food systems, socioeconomic factors, and education all influence health outcomes, but the system primarily reacts to illness rather than preventing it.

The result: the machine is built to treat disease efficiently — not necessarily to prevent it.

3. Chronic Disease and Costs

Hospitalizations: recurring admissions for complications
Medication: often lifelong, especially for diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease
Long-term care: as patients age, care needs increase
Lost productivity: societal costs from absenteeism and disability

Even when the system works “as intended,” costs escalate because chronic disease requires ongoing resources.

4. Why This Matters

Understanding chronic disease as a cost driver changes the conversation:

It is not about villainizing providers, insurers, or patients.
It is about structural incentives and the mismatch between treatment and prevention.
It shows that high spending is not random — it reflects the persistent demand created by population health trends and system design.

Do you begin to see a pattern:?

“The machine isn’t broken because of greed. It’s stressed because of chronic demand and misaligned incentives.”

Transition

Next, we will examine rural healthcare and consolidation, showing how the same structural pressures hit small communities even harder. Hospitals close, services disappear, and the machine’s complexity has real, tangible consequences for everyday Americans.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

20260226 1134 Image Generation simple compose 01kjdq1er0e8gvvn6mx8z4adcn

20260226 1124 Image Generation simple compose 01kjdpfs6nfef9mvj5x9qk5s6y

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 6 Insurance Design: Why It Feels Complicated

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 6 Insurance Design: Why It Feels Complicated

We’ve traced who pays, seen where the money goes, and explored administrative complexity. Now let’s look at the layer everyone touches directly: insurance design.

Even the simplest plan can feel confusing. Deductibles, co-pays, coinsurance, in-network vs. out-of-network — it’s easy to feel like the system is rigged. But most of this complexity is built into the way insurance is designed.

1. Deductibles and Co-Pays

Deductible: The amount you pay before insurance begins to cover care.
Co-pay: A fixed fee for specific services, like a doctor visit.
Coinsurance: A percentage of costs you pay after the deductible.

These mechanisms aren’t arbitrary. They’re designed to share cost between the patient and the insurer and to limit unnecessary use of services.

Yet, they also create confusion. Patients may not know what counts toward the deductible or which services trigger co-pays.

2. Networks

Insurance plans contract with providers to create a network.

In-network providers: The insurer has negotiated rates.
Out-of-network providers: No negotiated rate; patients often pay more.

Network design can be narrow, meaning that not every local provider is covered. This protects insurers from excessive risk but can frustrate patients who assume all doctors are treated equally under their plan.

3. Prior Authorizations

Before certain services or procedures, insurers may require approval.

Designed to prevent unnecessary or unsafe procedures.
Adds friction to care delivery.
Can delay treatment even when clinically justified.

This is another invisible layer that increases both time and cost — often unseen by the patient until the delay occurs.

4. Surprise Costs

Even insured patients can face unexpected expenses:

Out-of-network bills
Balance billing
Specialty drug costs

These aren’t “gotcha” moments. They’re consequences of multiple layers of negotiation and reimbursement flowing through complex contracts.

Structural Insight

Insurance is financial engineering in action. It shapes behavior, distributes risk, and manages cost — but it also produces friction, confusion, and unpredictability for the patient.

The patient experiences only the tip of the iceberg.
Premiums, deductibles, and bills are the visible outcomes of a multi-layered system.
Understanding this prepares readers for why chronic disease and cost escalation become the next major challenge.

Transition

Next, we move into chronic disease as a cost driver. This is where personal behavior, population health, and system incentives intersect — and where the machine’s structure starts producing real-world consequences for everyone.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

20260226 1124 Image Generation simple compose 01kjdpfs6pfmcbeaw0t1d58hy0

20260310 0852 Image Generation simple compose 01kkc75gmsfa2a0ce9ppwdgm21

The GOAT Strategy

On - Commentary, Daily, or my first cup of coffee

GOAT.

Not Greatest of All Time.
In today’s political environment it might stand for something else entirely:

Got Old And Tired.

You can see it in small ways. A guy standing in line at the grocery store, flipping through headlines on his phone. War somewhere. Another scandal somewhere else. Another political fight lighting up the television.

He sighs, shrugs, and tosses a short case of Bud into the cart.

That seems to be the condition a lot of Americans have reached. Not angry. Not shocked. Not even surprised anymore.

Just tired.

Take the latest swirl of stories surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. Investigations are reopening. Allegations are resurfacing. Independent writers like Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez are digging through records and asking uncomfortable questions about who knew what and when.

Some of the claims are explosive. Some may prove wrong. Some may eventually prove true.

But the reaction from much of the public seems strangely muted.

Ten years ago, allegations involving a powerful financier, trafficking networks, wealthy associates, and political connections would have dominated the national conversation. Today the reaction often feels more like a shrug.

“Yeah? And?”

That’s the part that should concern us.

Because the pattern isn’t limited to Epstein.

Watch the way the political conversation moves now. One day the talk is about confronting Iran and removing its leadership. Reality intervenes — the military cost, the geopolitical consequences, the pushback from advisers. Within days the focus shifts somewhere else. Now we’re talking about Cuba. Tomorrow it will be something different again.

The story never really ends. It just…moves.

Iran. Cuba. Epstein. Immigration. War. Elections. Economic crisis. Another scandal. Another outrage. Another headline.

And the public tries to keep up.

But human beings aren’t designed to process a dozen national crises every week. Eventually the brain does what it has to do to survive: it tunes out.

Political strategists understand something important about the modern media environment. You don’t necessarily have to convince people you’re right. You don’t even have to win every argument.

Sometimes it’s enough to simply flood the zone.

And to be fair, politicians aren’t the only ones feeding the machine. Cable news needs constant conflict. Social media rewards outrage. Every platform is fighting for attention in a 24-hour cycle that never slows down.

The result is the same: a national conversation that moves faster than any citizen can realistically follow.

If the information stream becomes chaotic enough—if the scandals pile up fast enough, if the accusations are constant enough—people eventually reach a kind of emotional overload. They stop trying to sort truth from exaggeration. They stop trying to follow every thread.

They get tired.

GOAT.

Got Old And Tired.

When that happens, accountability weakens. Not because people approve of what’s happening, but because they no longer have the energy to chase every new controversy.

And maybe that’s the real strategy.

Not persuasion.

Exhaustion.

Keep the stories coming fast enough and messy enough, and the public eventually shrugs and goes back to everyday life. Work. Bills. Kids. Groceries. The ordinary things that actually matter in people’s lives.

“War again?”

“We’re getting screwed again?”

“What’s new.”

While you’re at the store, pick up another short case of Bud.

Because at some point, a lot of Americans have simply decided they can’t keep up anymore.

They didn’t stop caring.

They just got old and tired.

And the day a country stops paying attention may be the day the people running it stop worrying about what the public thinks.

GOAT.

20260226 1110 Invisible Healthcare Costs simple compose 01kjdnpxmteft8f56ms3pcgcfp

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 5 Administrative Complexity: The Invisible Cost

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 5 Administrative Complexity: The Invisible Cost

American healthcare is enormous. We’ve seen who pays and where the money goes, and even traced a single dollar through the system. Now let’s examine one of the largest, least visible drivers of cost: administration.

Why Administration Exists

No single entity is “to blame.” Administrative layers exist because:

Compliance requirements: Hospitals and insurers must follow federal, state, and local regulations.
Revenue protection: Providers need billing, coding, and collections departments.
Risk management: Insurers need claims review, denials, and appeals processing.
Coordination: Multiple payers, network contracts, and patient eligibility require staff to manage flow.

Each of these layers solves a problem — but each also adds cost.

How It Breaks Down

Consider a typical hospital:

Clinical staff: Doctors, nurses, therapists — directly delivering care
Administrative staff: Billing, coding, claims review, human resources, IT, compliance, legal
Revenue cycle management: Collecting, processing, and reconciling payments from insurers and patients

In the United States, administrative costs account for roughly 8–12% of total healthcare spending. That’s hundreds of billions of dollars annually — roughly double what similar countries spend.

Doctors spend more time on paperwork than in almost any other system. Nurses and support staff spend hours on documentation and prior authorizations.

This is why physicians burn out and hospitals struggle with margins, even when they are busy providing care.

Administrative Complexity vs. Clinical Care

The problem isn’t just cost. It’s friction.

Prior authorizations delay treatment.
Coding errors trigger denials.
Complex claims systems confuse patients.

Every layer of administration increases time, effort, and uncertainty for everyone: providers, payers, and patients.

In other words, money spent on administration doesn’t directly improve outcomes, yet it is essential to keep the machine functioning.

Why You Should Care

Administrative complexity is invisible to most patients. You see your bills, your deductible, your co-pay — but rarely the thousands of small interactions behind them.

Following the dollar in the previous post, you now understand: a significant portion of each premium and tax dollar never touches clinical care. It’s diverted to manage, track, and control the system.

This is the first clear point where incentives collide with outcomes: the machine works, but it also imposes invisible costs that no one directly sees.

Transition
Next, we’ll examine insurance design, where financial engineering meets patient experience. This is where the system’s complexity begins to influence behavior, choices, and ultimately, cost.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

A year in Memes, what has it come to.

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee

In the beginning—and yes, that does sound like a Bible entry—there was an event that would end up causing havoc far beyond our borders. America, it seems, had fallen asleep at the wheel. The country elected a 34-count felon to the White House, and people began calling him—choke—Mr. President.

Over the past year I’ve written hundreds of biting satirical snippets. Some were humorous. Some were not so funny.

But as 2026 began, the satire started turning into reality, and at some point I realized I just couldn’t do it anymore. There wasn’t anything funny about it.

Even so, during that time—and into this year—I continued creating memes to accompany my commentaries. This morning I went back through the graphics from the past year and selected a few that, to me, capture what this strange year has felt like.

I’ll start with the one that represents me: the one Tin Soldier that walks away.

If you’re anything like me, some of these will make you laugh, some may make you cry, and a few might just make you angry.

20251021 0824 Food Trucks vs Guard simple compose 01k83nsj7jefst8p2yqcpjtmzq

20260228 1838 Image Generation simple compose 01kjkm3z4vfpcvph2015fqm0gh

Voting Rights under Attack

On - Commentary, Politics, Protest 2026, Voting Rights

Trump signed an executive order in March 2025 that would add proof of citizenship to voter registration forms, prompting multiple lawsuits that are working their way through the courts. Beyond that, a draft executive order to declare a national emergency to allow Trump to take unprecedented control over voting is being circulated by anti-voting activists who say they are in coordination with the White House. The White House has denied it. Who are you going to believe?

Trump raised alarms by suggesting Republicans should “nationalize” elections and wrote on social media: “There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!”

The constitutional firewall

The good news is that the U.S. Constitution gives both states and Congress responsibility for regulating federal elections — the president has no constitutional authority over federal election administration. State and local officials are charged with administering elections, serving voters, and counting ballots. Courts have been actively enforcing this. A 2025 executive order from Trump, which sought to require proof of citizenship for voter registration, has been halted by federal judges who say the order’s provisions exceed a president’s authority.

What you can do

Here are concrete actions, from individual to collective:

Make sure you’re registered and stay registered. Check your registration status regularly at vote.gov, especially if new rules take effect. Don’t assume your registration carries over automatically.
Vote in person if you can. With mail-in voting under pressure, in-person voting is harder to block. If you do vote by mail, return it as early as possible — don’t wait until close to Election Day.
Support and donate to voting rights organizations that are actively litigating these issues: the Brennan Center for Justice, Democracy Docket (which tracks every voting rights lawsuit in real time), the ACLU, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. These groups are the ones actually blocking the illegal orders in court.
Contact your state officials. State and local election officials have vowed to protect voters’ rights, with Maine’s Secretary of State saying “I am confident we will have safe, free and secure elections in 2026, but it is going to be up to state and local election officials.” Your state attorney general and secretary of state matter enormously here — let them know you’re watching and want them to push back.
Sign up to be a poll worker. Election administration happens at the local level, and having engaged, trained citizens involved is a direct form of protection.
Stay informed through Democracy Docket (democracydocket.com), which tracks every legal challenge to voting restrictions in real-time. It’s the best resource for understanding what’s being blocked and what isn’t.
Push your U.S. Senators to block the SAVE America Act. The SAVE America Act narrowly passed the House but faces an uphill battle in the Senate due to Democratic opposition and the 60-vote threshold to clear the filibuster. Senate opposition is the legislative choke point right now.

Trumps strategy of issuing orders and letting courts sort them out creates real harm in the delay, but courts have been moving quickly on this, and the constitutional structure genuinely does limit presidential power over elections more than in most areas of policy.

Do not believe what you hear on the news, after all TRump does say it’s Fake News. So keep up to date on what is happening.

The Biggest Pro-Trump Mega-Media Monopoly Ever (it’s already distorting war coverage)

On - Commentary

The Biggest Pro-Trump Mega-Media Monopoly Ever (it’s already distorting war coverage) by Robert Reich

But this mega-media monopoly can be stopped. Here’s how.

Read on Substack

20260305 2136 Image Generation simple compose 01kk0ta3kren6abpz4dc6zjdzw

Just in, Trump says everyone calls him the GOAT

On - Real Men

20260226 1039 Image Generation simple compose 01kjdkx1pte0j97k5zqrwz13kj

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money Part 4 Following the Dollar

On - activism, Healthcare, Politics, Protest 2026, purple

Healthcare in America, Follow the Money, Part 4 Following the Dollar

Step 1 — The Employer Layer

The $100 is collected as part of payroll. The employer passes it along to an insurer.

Even here, the dollar is split: part covers the premium contribution from the employee, part comes from the employer’s share. Often, employees never see this money — it’s folded into total compensation.

Step 2 — The Insurer Layer

The insurer receives the full $100. What happens next?

Provider network contracts: A portion is reserved to pay hospitals, clinics, and doctors who treat the plan’s members.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs): Another slice goes to manage prescriptions, negotiate drug prices, and administer formularies.
Administrative costs: Claims processing, billing support, compliance, and IT systems take their share.
Reserves & profit: Insurers keep a portion in reserve or as profit.

At this stage, the dollar has already been carved up multiple times before it reaches clinical care.

Step 3 — The Provider Layer

When a patient visits a clinic or hospital, the dollar arrives in pieces.

The clinic receives its payment based on negotiated rates, not the sticker price.
Some funds are deducted for administrative overhead, billing, or staffing costs.
Denied claims or rejected charges may reduce the effective payment even further.

By the time the provider gets the money, a substantial portion has been diverted to administrative friction rather than patient care.

Step 4 — The Patient Layer

Even after this, the patient often pays out-of-pocket:

Deductibles
Co-pays
Coinsurance
Out-of-network charges

This means the same dollar has been contributed multiple times: first through the paycheck, then through taxes (if federal programs subsidize care), and again at the point of service.

Structural Insight

Following the dollar exposes a simple truth: complexity drives cost.

Each layer exists for a reason — regulation, risk management, negotiation, or compliance.
But layering creates inefficiency.
Patients, employers, and taxpayers see only fragments of the total flow.

And yet, the system appears opaque, expensive, and unpredictable — not because someone is “hiding” money, but because the machine is built to operate through multiple intermediaries.

Next Step:

Now that we’ve traced the dollar, we can examine administrative bloat and its effect on clinical care. This is where the incentives of the system meet reality, and where we start to see why costs escalate without necessarily improving outcomes.

Healthcare In America – The Nuts and Bolts – The Series

20260304 1057 Closed Voting Center simple compose 01kjx3b75ye7098hgmm04fkb6a

Sorry Charley, were closed.

On - Daily, or my first cup of coffee, Voting Rights

Every election cycle brings headlines about court rulings and polling changes.

In a recent Texas primary, a lower court temporarily extended voting hours in some areas. Later, a higher court clarified how ballots cast after the statutory closing time would be handled.

That created confusion for some voters who believed they still had time.

No machine failure. No conspiracy claims here.
Just legal procedure unfolding in real time.

Here’s the lesson for 2026:

Don’t wait until the final hour.

Verify your polling location and hours directly with your county election office.
Confirm the week before you vote.
And if possible, vote early.

Election laws are strict about closing times.
If something changes late in the day, ballots can become subject to legal review.

Protect your vote the simple way:
Check locally. Confirm early. Vote early.

The only way your Vote counts is if you cast it.

Newer Entries — Older Entries

Posts By

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

That is what happened anyway.

But it is the vaccine story that will be most immediately felt in pediatricians’ offices and school hallways across the country.

Share this:

Like this:

The Chaos Candidate

Part Two: Nobody Gets to Succeed Him

The Heir Problem

Nobody around this president is allowed to accumulate enough independent political gravity to pose a succession question. The chaos requires a singular author.

The Trap Voters Built

Here is the part that requires the most intellectual honesty, because it does not flatter anyone, including people who consider themselves politically sophisticated.

The trap was not set by Donald Trump. It was set by voters, over many election cycles, as American political culture made a series of choices that seemed reasonable one at a time and catastrophic in aggregate.

We chose entertainment over information. Not all at once. Gradually, across decades, as the media ecosystem fractured and attention became the currency that determined what survived. A political system fed by attention gradually selects for performers over governors.

The Exit Is Slow

Understanding that is not defeatism. It is the beginning of the only kind of response that actually works, patient, structural, generational, and stubbornly focused on the long game rather than the next news cycle.

The pendulum is heavy. But it moves.

Share this:

Like this:

The next big statewide election is coming up quick: Tuesday, May 19th! That’s less than one month away.

ATTENTION: Oregon voters are now advised to mail their ballots back at least one week before election day due to delays at the Post Office.

Questions about voting in Oregon?

FIND A TOWN HALL WITH SECRETARY READ NEAR YOU!

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

The Chaos Candidate

How disorder became the product, succession became the threat, and voters built the trap themselves

I want to start with something simple, something you can observe without any particular political leaning, and see if you end up where I did.

What if the chaos isn’t the failure? What if the chaos is the point?

This piece has two movements. The first is about chaos as a governing strategy. The second is about why that strategy is self-sealing, and who pays the price when it is.

What if the chaos isn’t the failure? What if the chaos is the point?

Part One: The Chaos Is the Product

What Normal Turbulence Looks Like

Every presidency generates turbulence. Foreign policy crises flare and subside. Domestic controversies rise and fall. This is the normal metabolism of governing a large, complicated country in a complicated world. Nobody reasonable expects calm.

But normal turbulence has a rhythm. Problems are identified, addressed, resolved or managed, and attention moves on. The temperature rises and falls. There is a discernible arc: crisis, response, resolution, or at minimum, honest failure followed by correction.

What we are watching now has a different rhythm entirely. The temperature does not fall. The resolution never quite arrives. Each crisis is replaced not by calm but by the next crisis, on a rotation that feels less like the unpredictable nature of world events and more like a programming schedule.

The Rotation

Cuba is next. The signals are already there for anyone paying attention.

A ongoing crisis, on the other hand, is a spotlight. And the spotlight, in this administration, is not a tool of governance. It is the objective of governance.

A resolved crisis is yesterday’s news. An ongoing crisis is a spotlight. And the spotlight is not a tool of governance. It is the objective.

More Than Narcissism

Some political psychologists have reached for the term malignant narcissism, a combination of narcissistic personality, antisocial behavior, paranoia, and a willingness to cause harm without remorse. Others simply describe an autocratic personality type. Neither quite captures it.

That is not a medical diagnosis. It is a political observation. And it matters, because it changes how you evaluate everything that follows.

When it’s all about me

Share this:

Like this:

There is a version of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that history should remember favorably.

That understanding, that institutions lie when money is involved, is important. Because it wasn’t wrong. It was the seed of everything that came later, and like a lot of things that start from a kernel of truth, it eventually grew into something that consumed the original plant entirely.

He has broken nearly all of them.

Share this:

Like this:

When good things happen for the wrong reasons, and the wrong things happen anyway

So credit where it is due: if this research is conducted properly, it could save lives. That matters. That is real.

“Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it.” — President Trump, responding to a text from Joe Rogan

Policy by Text Message

But here is where the story gets complicated, and where the parallels to my ongoing series on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. become impossible to ignore.

The mechanism is identical. The outcomes just happen to point in opposite directions.

The Hypocrisy the Headlines Won’t Tell You

The Thalidomide Shadow

The research should proceed. The clinical trials should be funded. The veterans who have traveled to Mexico to access ibogaine treatments because they had no legal option at home deserve a legitimate pathway. All of that is true.

But “do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it” is not a drug approval process. It is a vibe. And we have seen, in this administration’s approach to public health writ large, what governing by vibe costs us.

Hold Both Truths

Good outcomes for bad reasons are still good outcomes. But they do not absolve the bad reasons. And they do not fill the staff positions that were cut last month.

This is a companion piece to the ongoing series Making America Sick: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., examining the Trump administration’s approach to public health, science, and the machinery of medical governance.

Published April 2026

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Donald Trump used it to get elected. He is using it again right now, aimed at a new audience, ahead of the midterms.

It was a lie then. It is the same lie now, repackaged for a younger audience at a megachurch in Phoenix, dressed up in pyrotechnics and Lee Greenwood, aimed at voters who are still forming their understanding of how power actually works.

The oldest trick in the authoritarian playbook is not complicated. It just requires that nobody stops to look up.

Look up.