politics
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Local Teenager Facing Financial Nightmare Of Gun Violence
Gut-wrenching is the best word I can find to describe what it felt like to read the Wisconsin State Journal story about Samuel “Samy” Garduno-Martinez. He was one of six students shot at Abundant Life Christian School in December of 2024. Today, that young man has been hospitalized for over nine months, requiring ongoing specialized… Continue reading
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Witnessing A Betrayal Of American Ideals With Trump’s Military On City Streets
One of my favorite reads, The Glory And The Dream by William Manchester, was first read when in high school. (The two-volume treasured hardcover set is on bookshelves above where I now type this column.) The first 20 pages tells the gripping story of President Herbert Hoover ordering the U.S. Army, led by General Douglas MacArthur, to… Continue reading
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MAGA Racism: Bad Bunny, NFL Super Bowl Show Becomes Latest Culture War
Longtime readers know that if sports is mentioned on Caffeinated Politics something truly important has happened that warrants the column. News that Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny will be the star of the Super Bowl halftime show has confirmed that the most racist element in our nation simply does not know how foolish and disgusting… Continue reading
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Trump Needs To Understand Noncitizens Have “Same Free Speech Rights As The Rest Of Us”
This past week was like every other one since Inauguration Day, in that the most absurd actions and dangerous attacks on democracy continued from the Donald Trump Administration. In the midst of headlines about the ludicrous gathering of our top military brass for a dressings down by clown-like figures behind a podium at Marine Corps… Continue reading
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Cruelty Is The Purpose In Trump White House
A Bluesky posting from Adam Kinzinger caught my attention this week. The thing that bothers me so much is not the “we have to enforce our borders and laws.” We do. It’s the giddy joy and celebration they have at the misery of people far less fortunate. Always punching down Since Inauguration Day, there has… Continue reading
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Farmers Finding Out About Tariffs The Hard Way
Farmers were duped in the 2024 presidential election. They gave away their votes for Republican promises and culture war talking points only to end up paying the price for their short-sightedness with economic losses. As it was reported last week, those rural voters who fawned over Donald Trump now will be hit by the administration’s… Continue reading
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Toxic Hyper-Masculinity Made For Deadly, Absurd Weekend
This was an awful weekend with unleashed violence across the nation and the most boorish behavior on parade. To top it off, Sunday evening the nation watched a 60 Minutes segment that underscored what is happening in the nation and how we got to the place we now find ourselves. I was truly surprised that… Continue reading
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Illinois Prepared To Aid Wisconsin Women Needing Abortion Services After October 1
Once again, women in Wisconsin are being denied full control of their reproductive health care decisions. Once again, Illinois is preparing to offer services for the abortion procedure. How we arrived at this politically driven and overly partisan roadblock can be found in this year’s massive congressional bill that passed with all Republicans in the… Continue reading
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America Was Warned In 2024 About Donald Trump’s Autocratic Desires, James Comey Indictment Proves The Point
As Morning Joe said this morning, “We have crossed the Rubicon”. Last evening the nation learned of the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. It is a chilling moment in American history, one that echoes the darkest instincts of executive power and threatens the institutional integrity of our democracy. The charges of making a… Continue reading
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Evangelicals Accept Donald Trump’s Behavior
In the fall of 1976, Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter’s interview in Playboy created a rush of news stories and political commentary. There were many in the conservative religious wing of the Republican Party who were truly upset that a presidential nominee would give an interview to a publication that was viewed as pornography. President… Continue reading
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