Iran
-
Senator Ron Johnson Makes Us Stop And Think
The Wisconsin State Journal wrote this weekend in an editorial that, “When (Wisconsin Senator Ron) Johnson, a fan of conspiracy theories, is the voice of reason, you know things are bad. Some found that sentence all too true, given the absurdity that has been unleashed by Donald Trump’s Iran war; others surely laughed. I have… Continue reading
-
Iran’s New Strength, Trump’s Weakness: “Please, Please. It’s Too Much Winning. We Can’t Take It Anymore”
My first favorite author was Allen Drury, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Advise and Consent. As a teenager, I ate his books up, thrilled by their political and international stories with a continuous batch of colorful characters. But nothing…I mean nothing…that Drury could make up in his brilliant writing comes close to a plot line… Continue reading
-
The Weight Of A President’s Words
Not for the first time, I strongly criticize the coarse language coming from Donald Trump, who sits in the Oval Office. Over the years, I have repeatedly stated there is an entire dictionary of words to use rather than the F word and other foul choices. In a deranged social media post on Easter Sunday… Continue reading
-
Farmers Take Hit As Trump’s Iran War Increases Financial Obstacles
Farmers have taken it on the chin since Donald Trump was sworn into office in January 2025. First, it was the tariffs, which are the economic equivalent of applying leeches to a sick patient. Now the escalating war against Iran, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz, is spreading troubling economic consequences, ranging from increased… Continue reading
-
Why USAID’s Role Matters More Than Ever As Trump’s Iran War Escalates
The severe consequences of Donald Trump’s callous disregard for sound governance are front and center. Every day in multiple ways. One of the international efforts he destroyed was the U.S. Agency for International Development, commonly referred to as USAID. It was the primary U.S. government agency leading international development and humanitarian aid, aimed at ending… Continue reading
-
Humphrey History Minute: Mirza Saleh, A Persian With The Love Of Learning
If you want an uplifting, quick slice of history, here it is. I encountered this story today, and must share it with others. Continue reading
-
When Critical Thinking Breaks Down, Democracy Feels the Strain
I overheard a conversation that made me aware (again) that we should not make an effort to overhear what others are saying. One person was trying to make the argument that the war Donald Trump started in Iran had to take place as it was brewing for 47 years. It was expressed that Trump had… Continue reading
-
Laughter In The Midst Of Trump’s Iran War, ‘Can You Help Me Lift The Couch?’
Donald Trump spent the weekend pleading with other countries, including China, to help him out of the mess he created in the Strait of Hormuz with his erratic and needless war with Iran. Perhaps my upbeat mood today is because of the blizzard that socked in much of our state and brought calm to many… Continue reading
-
This Is What Happens When An Autocrat Is Not Checked By Congress
Congress’s abdication of its constitutional responsibilities has rarely been as conspicuous as in the recent escalation toward armed conflict with Iran. The War Powers Clause was designed as a deliberate constraint, a structural safeguard meant to prevent unilateral martial adventurism by any president. Yet the latest round of strikes—undertaken without deliberation, authorization, or even meaningful… Continue reading
-
The United States Should Try Catching Up To Iran
Today, while watching the Saturday Night Live skit at the Defense Department, I had to laugh at the American swagger. I was not aware Colin Jost got up that early on a weekday. If one listened to the current Defense Secretary, one might conclude there has been little time for reading between swigs of whiskey.… Continue reading
Caffeinated Politics 