When Will We Return to Normal?
On December 22, 2001, a radicalized British citizen named Richard Reid boarded American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami wearing a shoe packed with explosives. Twenty years later, removing shoes to get through airport security remains a standard procedure.
GameStop Stops
The Reddit-fueled hype cycle around GameStop (GME) has moved at such a rapid pace that it’s difficult to write about the phenomenon. Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last week, you know the basics of what happened.
Republicans' Chance
Among the traditions of our uniquely American peaceful transition of power is the introspection of the outgoing political party. Just as Democrats wrung their hands four years ago and analyzed why they lost and how they could win again, Republicans are doing the same after Joe Biden’s inauguration today — even more so after the events of January 6.
Confronting Disinformation
Last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol laid bare the root of our political dysfunction that has escalated to unimaginable heights: we have a disinformation problem. From the most peaceful protestors to the most aggressively violent rioters, everyone who turned out in support of Trump on January 6 shares one thing in common -- they believe they are right.
Has the Line Finally Been Crossed?
The last five years have been a continuous downward spiral in our politics and civility. Every step of the way, as Trump and his supporters have pushed an increasingly extreme, vindictive and paranoid alternate reality, every Republican has had to decide: what is the line I will not cross?
Governing from the Precarious Middle
With the initial results of the Georgia run-off elections for U.S. Senate coming in today, it appears Democrats are on the verge of taking control of Congress. If the result holds, what I hope does not happen next is a surge of left-leaning policies.
The Darkest Day of the Darkest Year
Today is the winter solstice. The day in the Northern Hemisphere that is literally the shortest, and, therefore, the darkest of the year. It also feels, symbolically, that it may be the nadir in what has been a tremendously challenging year.
Even Mitch Says It’s Over. Is It?
With the certification of states’ election counts, the unanimous rejection by a heavily Trump-appointed Supreme Court of Texas's spurious attempt to invalidate other states’ election results, and the official tally of the Electoral College, even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had to begrudgingly admit, Joe Biden is the President-Elect.
The Vicious Conservative Media Cycle
The weeks since the election have fully revealed the vicious cycle that has pushed right-wing media further and further into extremist territory. This phenomenon is not new.
Viruses Don't Get Bored
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m done with this pandemic. I’m sick of shelter-in-place, work-from-home and distance learning. I’ve had it with purple, red and orange tiers. I want to put all my masks and bottles of hand sanitizer in a dumpster and burn them. I don’t want any more lock-downs or curfews or social distancing.
The Result We Needed
The headline of this article probably sounds counter-intuitive at first. Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, the still-contested election of 2020 doesn’t seem like an entirely satisfying result.
Advancing Democracy
The trappings of Patriotism have long held stronger appeal to those on the right of the political spectrum. While conservatives may be more apt to display the American flag, I believe the more authentic measure of Patriotism is not such overt displays but how authentically you abide by America’s values.
The Projection Election
When someone accuses another person of something that they themselves are guilty of, psychologists refer to it as “Projection.” The behavior, particularly prevalent among people with Narcissistic disorders, is recognizable to anyone who has or has been around children.
Democrats, Republicans and Narcissists
The 2020 presidential election is now only two weeks away. This time every four years is already politically fraught, but all the more so in the midst of a global pandemic, economic depression and widespread civil unrest.
Trump Acts Decisively to Thwart Voter Fraud
President Trump today enacted one of the most widespread and comprehensive measures to stem the systemic voter fraud he, and only he, expects to take place this November.
The Summer of Seltzer
With the fall equinox, summer is officially over. And this particular summer, besides a global pandemic, devastating wildfires and widespread social unrest, will be known as the summer of hard seltzers.
Remembering Leadership
Today is the nineteenth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Just as previous generations asked each other “where were you when Kennedy was shot?” or “where were you on D-Day?”
Back to Zchool
Like much of America, my kids went back to school last week. Of course, by “back to school,” I actually mean back to a series of Zoom calls and asynchronous distance learning. And, by “distance learning,” I mean very little actual learning.
When the End Becomes a Beginning
There is something very powerful and inspiring in the adage that every ending is a new beginning. Whether the concept is applied to a story, a company, a political movement, or a life, it serves to reframe a situation that may otherwise be sad, somber or overwhelming, instead providing inspiration, perseverance and hope.
