donald-trump

September 15, 2026

Stop Undermining The Kennedy Center, Living Memorial To Slain President

Every day we have ample reasons to disagree with Donald Trump and his administration. From the quagmire of his making in the Middle East, to his attempt at election manipulation via the postal service, to (and please forgive me for writing this fact) the FBI updating its hiring guidelines to remove juvenile bestiality-related conduct as… Continue reading

donald-trump, ethics, history, President John Kennedy, Social Commentary, Society

donald-trump, ethics, history, jfk, Kennedy Center, news, politics
September 13, 2026

Let Us Talk About Maine Lobsters, And Trump’s Trade Wars

On Saturday, part of the running portion of the half Ironman competition took place on our street on Madison’s isthmus. To greet the runners, we flew a lobster flag. We had taken down the Canadian flag we had been flying in sympathy with our northern friends. But both the Maple leaf and the lobster underscore… Continue reading

Business, donald-trump, food, maine, tariffs

Canada, economy, lobsters, maine, politics, tariffs, trade-war, trump
September 3, 2026

Worrying About Brown People In Our Community

The angst I felt over the past few weeks as the UPS truck rumbled by our home and down the street is the reason I write this column tonight. It is a small thing in life. A truck with boxes, sometimes for me, is something I like to see. But in recent weeks, the truck… Continue reading

donald-trump, madison, Racism, Social Commentary, Society

brown-people, family, ICE, life, Racism, Society, xenophobia
September 1, 2026

Yosemite: The Line We Will Not Let Donald Trump Cross

I suspect anyone who has visited Yosemite National Park knows that, when you leave, a part of you stays behind. The place pockets a piece of your heart. Yosemite is one of those rare American places where the scale of the land makes you feel minuscule in comparison. The beauty is something that no picture… Continue reading

donald-trump, ethics, Social Commentary, Society, Uncategorized

ethics, national-parks, nature, travel, trump, yosemite
August 31, 2026

Data Centers Are Coming, Let’s Plan Smartly

Donald Trump isn’t totally wrong about his views on data centers. Let me quickly dart away from any metal in my den that may draw the bolts of lightning, and I’ll be back with you in a minute. Ok, I survived that. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say that Trump wasn’t totally… Continue reading

Data Centers, donald-trump, Economics, politics, Social Commentary, Society, wisconsin, Wisconsin Politics

ai, artificial-intelligence, Data Centers, sustainability, technology
August 26, 2026

Dolly’s Open Hand vs. Trump’s Closed Grifting Fist

A lesson in genuinely meaningful ethics. Two very different American stories are in focus this week: rich people and what they do with their wealth. One belongs to Dolly Parton, an iconic superstar who lived a life that treated success like a resource to be shared. The other belongs to Donald Trump, who treats financial… Continue reading

dolly-parton, donald-trump, ethics, Social Commentary, Society, Uncategorized

dolly-parton, donald-trump, ethics, life, news, politics, Society
August 23, 2026

A Prime Minister With a Spine, And A Tariff War Wisconsin Didn’t Ask For

I noticed a few Canadian flags flying in Madison this weekend. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one relishing watching Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney take on Donald Trump by saying, essentially, “No.” to his demands in trade talks. Many Americans are tired of heads of state who tiptoe around the bombast and bluster from this… Continue reading

Canada, donald-trump, Economics, wisconsin, Wisconsin Politics

Canada, donald-trump, Economics, mark-carney, politics, tariffs, wisconsin
August 21, 2026

Caffeinated Politics Podcast: Politics, Power, And Public Trust

Trump’s Conduct and the Collapse of Norms A Historic Wave at the Governor’s Mansion Law, Stewardship, and the Long Arc of Accountability Continue reading

2026 Midterm Elections, Books, donald-trump, Elections, Law, politics, Social Commentary, Society

Books, history, Law, news, politics, trump
August 17, 2026

Presidential Bully Pulpit Is Not A Public Barstool

Last week we witnessed two examples of tin-ear politics when Donald Trump commented on sailors aboard the U.S.S. Lincoln and the pain of higher gas prices in America. When he was asked about being concerned about the crew’s mental health after being at sea for over 260 days and whether it was too long for… Continue reading

donald-trump, history, iran-war, military, Words

defense, donald-trump, history, Iran, navy, politics, u-s-s-lincoln, Words
August 15, 2026

Ethics, Professionalism, Common Sense Tossed Away In Donald Trump White House

“These young beautiful girls, these young beautiful girls, these young beautiful girls in the White House, they come in. Now I’m not supposed to say beautiful, but what the hell. These young, these gorgeous, beautiful girls, they want to be safe and they come say Mr. President, thank you, sir.” There’s a particular creepy chill… Continue reading

donald-trump, ethics, iran-war, Jeffrey Epstein, military

donald-trump, Iran, Jeffrey Epstein, military, navy, news, politics, trump

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My book is about a rural family, finding a way through the years of being bullied, and the suicide of my best friend. Many recollections about the days in broadcasting, the state legislature, and coming out as a gay man.