Republicans have made a habit out of sabotaging government from the inside. Whenever they hold power, they seem less interested in governing than in proving their own cynical point that government “doesn’t work.” And how do they do it? By breaking it themselves. By throwing tantrums, grinding everything to a halt, and leaving ordinary Americans to pay the price.
And so, here we are again. Another government shutdown. Another round of reckless brinkmanship, all because Republicans can’t get their way. They strut and posture about “fiscal responsibility” while happily holding the economy hostage for their own greed and petty vendettas.
Let’s be honest: this isn’t about saving money. It’s never about saving money. If it were, Republicans wouldn’t pass tax cuts for billionaires like candy at Halloween. This is about power, cruelty, and pure, unfiltered hate. Hate for programs that help working families. Hate for policies that protect the vulnerable. Hate for anyone who doesn’t fit their warped vision of America.
And don’t forget — Republicans have been pushing this kind of shutdown nonsense for years. The last one wasn’t decades ago, it was just in 2018–2019, when Donald Trump was president and Republicans controlled both the House and the Senate. That 35-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, was over Trump’s obsession with a useless border wall. Republicans owned every lever of power, and they still managed to grind the government to a halt.
The irony is almost laughable if it weren’t so damn destructive. They shut down the government, brag about how they’re fighting “wasteful spending,” and then cash their paychecks while federal employees are left scrambling to pay rent and buy groceries. National parks close. Small businesses that rely on government contracts grind to a halt. Soldiers, law enforcement officers, and border agents are expected to keep working without pay. But the Republicans? They’ll stand in front of Fox News cameras pretending to be heroes.
This is governance by tantrum. A toddler breaks his toy, cries, and then blames everyone else. The difference is that these toddlers wear suits, sit in Congress, and can tank the economy while patting themselves on the back.
The truth is simple: Republicans don’t want government to work. They want to break it, sabotage it, and then campaign on how broken it is. It’s cynical, it’s cruel, and it’s exhausting. And once again, it’s the American people who are caught in the crossfire.
So the next time Republicans whine about “big government,” remember this: they’re not trying to fix it. They’re just throwing matches into the house and blaming the smoke on everyone else.
I’m not going to dwell on politics or my health today—just two quick statements on both.
First, politics. I don’t think political violence should ever happen in the United States or anywhere else. Sadly, it happens far too often as it is, though thankfully, more often than not, it’s unsuccessful (and sometimes staged—ears just don’t grow back). The United States is gripped with a political fervor that seems rooted in hate, violence, cruelty, and greed. What’s most troubling is that most of the political violence, both successful and unsuccessful, has been against those who themselves have not been calling for it. Infer what you want from what I’ve said.
While I’m not going to change what I wrote above, I think it came off as more offensive than it should have. I do not meant to blame a victim for what happened, but I firmly believe that rhetoric from the far left and the far right have caused this extreme polarization that is tearing apart our democracy. Charlie Kirk, no matter how awful the things he might have said were, he did not deserve to be murdered. Also, the conspiracy theory part, while it is my belief that it was at least portrayed much worse than it was for political gain, whatever else was behind it is not known.
Second, health. My Botox seemed to go really well yesterday. I liked the new provider I saw. We talked about how the treatment usually wears off for me around week ten of the twelve-week cycle. She’s going to try to convince my insurance to allow for treatments every ten weeks instead of every twelve. The woman who does scheduling for the Headache Clinic even set up my next two appointments with dates for both possibilities—ten weeks if it’s approved, twelve weeks if it’s not. That way I’ll have an appointment either way. Like my previous provider, she said if there’s ever a problem getting me in on time, to have them talk to her and she’ll adjust things to make sure it happens.
So, those weren’t exactly “two quick statements,” but I’ve said what I wanted to say on both topics.
On this day especially, I want to pause in remembrance of September 11. I think nearly all of us—maybe even all of us—remember where we were when we first heard the news. The confusion, and then the horrifying realization of what had actually happened, is something we’ll never forget. It’s been more than two decades, yet the memory of that morning—the shock, the grief, the uncertainty—still lingers deeply for so many of us. We remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost, the countless families forever changed, and the first responders who ran toward danger with courage and selflessness. We remember too how, in the days that followed, communities came together in ways that reminded us of our shared humanity and resilience. And it’s that spirit of unity, compassion, and strength that we especially need in today’s world.
May we all carry that spirit with us, today and always.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
—Mark 8:36
In this fraught time in our nation’s life, it is impossible to ignore the unsettling reality: a large portion of American politicians, and many ordinary citizens who call themselves Christians, have thrown their full support behind a man whose words and deeds contradict the teachings of Christ at nearly every turn. They defend cruelty, deceit, and corruption, often excusing it as political necessity. And it is heartbreaking to witness beloved family members — even parents who once taught us values of kindness and humility — swept up in a movement built on pride, division, and hatred.
How can this be? How can those who profess Christ justify following a leader who “calls evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20), who mocks the poor, exploits fear, and sows hatred for neighbor? Jesus Himself warned us of this kind of moral compromise in Mark 8:36: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”
This is a piercing question for our time. It exposes the heart of the problem: many have chosen political power, wealth, or cultural dominance over the integrity of their own souls. They believe that by aligning themselves with worldly success — even if it requires abandoning truth, compassion, and decency — they will come out on top. But Jesus teaches otherwise: such a bargain leads only to ruin.
The Apostle Paul reminds us plainly in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” While “money” here may mean literal wealth, it also points to the hunger for worldly power and influence. Many today justify their allegiance to a man who elevates himself above others and calls it “winning,” but Jesus warned that “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
Even more alarming is the distortion of Christianity itself. Some declare that this man is “chosen by God,” despite his public mockery of Christian faith, his encouragement of violence, and his utter disregard for the teachings of Jesus, who preached love, mercy, and peace. Yet Scripture is clear: “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 John 4:16). Can one truly abide in Christ while supporting hate, division, cruelty, and lies?
Jesus said plainly: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35). Not by tribal loyalty. Not by political identity. By love.
When those who claim to follow Christ align themselves with what is unloving, unjust, or cruel, they reveal that they have forgotten His way. In doing so, they risk their very souls — not in the sense of a simple transactional punishment, but because they are being formed in the image of what they worship. If you worship power, you become hardened. If you worship hatred, you grow bitter. If you excuse lies, you become unable to see truth.
Mark 8:36 compels us to ask: What is worth more — temporary worldly gains, or the health and wholeness of the soul? If we win the world but lose compassion, if we gain influence but forfeit integrity, what have we truly won? Nothing. We have traded away what matters most.
In this moment, each of us must choose — not just once, but daily — whether we will abide in the love of Christ or follow the siren call of power and division. “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Will we cling to Christ, who is Love, who is Truth, who is the Prince of Peace? Or will we give ourselves over to what is false and fleeting?
As you consider the words of Jesus — “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” — ask yourself: Where in my life am I tempted to trade integrity for comfort, truth for approval, or love for power? Do the leaders and causes I support reflect the heart of Christ — or the ambitions of the world? How can I more fully embody Jesus’ command to love one another, even when it is difficult or unpopular? May we each seek daily to choose love, truth, and the way of Christ, no matter the cost.The soul of the Church in America — and the soul of every individual — is at stake.
Today is the Fourth of July — a day that is supposed to celebrate independence, liberty, and the birth of a nation “conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” But I don’t feel much like celebrating.
How do we celebrate when the ideals at the heart of this country are being trampled?
We live under a Republican Party that has become openly fascist, hellbent on dismantling every shred of decency and fairness left in our democracy. With Project 2025 as their roadmap, they now dominate all three branches of government, mocking the Constitution even as they pretend to worship it. They speak of “liberty,” but only for the wealthy and powerful — only for those who fit into their narrow, hateful vision of America.
The Preamble to the Constitution speaks of forming “a more perfect Union,” establishing justice, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity. These are not just lofty words — they are a promise. A promise this government is betraying at every turn.
We are told this is the “land of the free,” yet immigrants are vilified and rounded up like criminals. We are a “melting pot,” yet the party in power wages a war on diversity, erasing the stories, cultures, and dignity of anyone who does not fit their mold. The Statue of Liberty, with her lamp lifted high, still whispers:
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…
But the current administration would rather snuff out that lamp entirely.
We are told all men are created equal, yet inequality deepens every day. We have tax cuts for billionaires while cutting food assistance and closing hospitals. We are watching, in real time, a government that would rather people starve and die than risk denting the fortunes of the ultra-rich.
On this day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, spoke of a nation “conceived in liberty” and warned that we were being tested as to whether such a nation “can long endure.” Today, we are failing that test. The Republican Party has made it clear: they believe only rich white men are equal, and everyone else must fall in line or be crushed.
This country has stumbled before. It has made grievous mistakes and committed unforgivable sins — yet it has also found ways to right itself, at least partially, each time. But never before have we been so actively beaten down by our own government, so gleefully dismantled from within.
And the Democrats? They have grown so complacent, so timid, that they too allow this to happen. We desperately need something new — a party with courage and compassion. A party that fights for justice instead of just tweeting about it. A party that remembers that government exists for all of us, not just for Wall Street and country clubs.
If we recover from this, it will take decades. But recovery is not impossible. It starts when we remember what we shouldbe fighting for: dignity, equality, justice.
For now, though? I find myself ashamed of this country.
If Vermont decided tomorrow to secede, I’d gladly wave goodbye to this so-called union and either stand proudly as the Republic of Vermont or join Canada. (And yes, if Canada absorbed Vermont, they’d gain a monopoly on maple syrup — since Vermont and Quebec together already produce 90% of the world’s supply. At least someone would benefit.)
What it boils down to — and yes, you boil down sap to make maple syrup; I couldn’t resist — is that America has never truly been great when it comes to humanity. But it could be. It still could be. If only we chose to live up to the words we pretend to celebrate today:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…
This Independence Day, I don’t feel like celebrating — but I do feel like fighting.
Because it’s long past time we made those truths a reality.
Like many of you, I am alarmed — and honestly, frightened — at the news that Trump has ordered the bombing of Iran. It’s hard to shake the feeling that we may be standing on the edge of a true global crisis. If Iran retaliates — which they very well may — we could soon find ourselves plunged into a conflict that might spiral far beyond anything we’ve seen in decades.
In blunt terms: this is a provocation of war. And Iran would be within its rights to formally declare war on the U.S. in response. The prospect of World War III no longer feels like the stuff of history books or far-flung hypotheticals — it’s something we are suddenly forced to consider, right here and now.
I also can’t help thinking of my friends who live in or near major cities, military bases, and other strategic targets. While living here in Vermont provides a small sense of safety — we are, after all, far from those centers of power — there’s always that unsettling thought: will this administration stoop so low as to create a domestic target? Vermont is a liberal stronghold. Could a false flag attack be used to further sow fear and division? The paranoia is starting to feel not so paranoid.
What makes this even more terrifying is how unprepared we are. Most military analysts have long said that the likeliest form of nuclear attack would not be traditional bombs, but dirty bombs — radioactive material dispersed in populated areas. Yet the very departments tasked with detecting and responding to these kinds of attacks have been gutted in recent months.
It’s hard to sleep at night when it feels like the world is careening toward disaster — and yet here we are. I just needed to say this out loud tonight. I imagine many of you are feeling the same dread and uncertainty. I don’t know where this will lead, but I do know that in times like these, we need to stay informed, stay connected, and keep speaking out.
Stay safe. Stay aware. And if you’re feeling anxious — you’re not alone. ❤️
“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president.”— Theodore Roosevelt
Out of all the cruel, calculated, and heartless things the Trump administration has done over the years, I honestly think this one might be the lowest. And it makes me the angriest. I’m talking about their decision — part of the Republican budget plan from the start — to end an LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline by cutting federal support for it.
And let’s be clear: this wasn’t accidental. The Trevor Project, one of the most important and effective crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ youth, was deliberately targeted in this budget process. The decision to defund this life-saving hotline wasn’t about fiscal responsibility — it was about ideology. About sending a message that these kids don’t matter, don’t deserve support, and should simply disappear from public life.
The timing wasn’t accidental either. It’s one more in a long string of attacks on the LGBTQ+ community that the Trump administration has launched just since the beginning of June. Pride Month — when queer and trans people are supposed to celebrate visibility, survival, and progress — has instead been marked by this administration using every opportunity to roll back protections, erase visibility, and push hateful rhetoric. This move to kill the hotline is cold and calculating — a deliberate choice to cause harm and inflict fear on a vulnerable community during a month meant to honor their dignity.
And for all the Republican talk of being so-called “pro-life”? This is just one more example of how hollow — and frankly how deadly — that slogan really is. They take away social welfare programs that leave children hungry. They gut protections for working families. And now they strip away suicide prevention services for the LGBTQ+ youth most at risk. Let’s be clear: “pro-life” means nothing to them. Their actions reveal the truth — they are pro-death when it comes to the most vulnerable. They are doing everything in their power to remove support and safety nets for those who need them most.
There is also a strong argument that this decision is not only morally and ethically indefensible — it may well violate civil rights laws and open the door to future legal challenges. When the government deliberately strips away access to life-saving services from a marginalized group — one that faces disproportionate rates of harassment, discrimination, and suicide — that can amount to deliberate indifference under civil rights standards. It can also create a chilling effect, reinforcing a climate of exclusion and hostility. Federal agencies are supposed to administer their programs without discrimination, and courts have recognized that targeting specific groups in ways that increase harm may violate constitutional protections under the Equal Protection Clause — or even Title VI or Title IX in certain contexts. This is not just political cruelty — it could, and should, be the subject of serious legal scrutiny.
Let that sink in for a moment. A hotline dedicated to saving lives — to answering desperate calls from LGBTQ+ youth in crisis — is being deliberately shut down. Not because of lack of need. Not because it wasn’t effective. But because this administration is ideologically hostile to those kids’ very existence.
And I do mean kids. Many of the young people who reach out to The Trevor Project and similar hotlines are teenagers — sometimes as young as 11 or 12 — grappling with feelings of isolation, rejection, bullying, abuse. They turn to these hotlines because they have nowhere else to go. And for the government of the United States to turn its back on them — to deliberately erase the “TQ” from its language, to send the message that they don’t exist or don’t matter — is unconscionable.
This isn’t “just politics.” This isn’t about religious differences. This is literally about life and death. Children will die because of this decision. That’s not hyperbole. The statistics on suicide among LGBTQ+ youth are heartbreaking — and undeniable. Cutting off a lifeline will only make it worse.
As someone who grew up in a deeply conservative and homophobic family, I know firsthand how much something like The Trevor Project could have meant. Back in 1994, as a scared teenager who had been taught that my feelings for other boys were sinful — that they would send me to hell — I didn’t understand my own sexuality. I was still in denial, confused, and terrified. But those around me had already convinced me that what I was feeling was evil.
One night, overwhelmed, I swallowed a handful of pills. Thankfully, all they did was make me sick — but at the time, I had no one to turn to. There was no hotline, no safe space, no adult I trusted enough to confide in. I survived, but many don’t. And I can’t help but think how different things might have been if I’d had a resource like The Trevor Project back then. I wish I could do more.
And even if you don’t personally “agree” with LGBTQ+ identity — even if you’re unsure or uncomfortable — how can anyone with a shred of compassion justify abandoning children in crisis? You don’t have to understand every aspect of someone’s identity to care whether they live or die. You don’t have to condone or celebrate LGBTQ+ lives to believe that kids deserve help and hope when they reach out.
I find myself asking: What God do these people believe in? Because it sure as hell isn’t the Christian God I was taught about. The God I believe in calls us to love our neighbor, to comfort the brokenhearted, to bind up the wounded — not to throw them away.
This news honestly makes me want to cry. Not in a performative way. In a gut-wrenching, soul-heavy way. Because I know the reality: young queer kids will be sitting in their rooms, alone, afraid, maybe thinking about ending their lives — and now they’ll have one less place to turn.
How could anyone do this? How could anyone look at a struggling 14-year-old trans kid, or a scared gay teen in a conservative household, and say: We are going to take away your helpline. We are going to pretend you don’t exist. We are going to make it harder for you to survive.
And how can Christians in good conscience support this? Jesus didn’t teach us to abandon vulnerable kids. He taught us to welcome them, to love them, to protect them.
Out of everything this administration has done — all the lies, the corruption, the cruelty — this hits me the hardest. Because these are children. And they deserve better.
And if it makes you angry too — good. Let it. But don’t let it stop there. Speak out. Write. Donate. Support the hotlines that do still exist. Vote.
Most importantly: You can help The Trevor Project continue its life-saving work by donating here: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/donate/. Without government support, they will rely even more on our generosity to keep the hotline going for those who need it most.
Because lives are on the line. And I, for one, refuse to look away.
This week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Navy will be renaming the USNS Harvey Milk. Let that sink in. During Pride Month—a time when we reflect on the courage and contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals—he chose to strip Harvey Milk’s name from a Navy ship. It’s hard to see this as anything but a deliberate and deeply cynical move.
For those who don’t know, Harvey Milk wasn’t just a gay icon—he was a Navy veteran. He served this country. He wore the uniform. And after being discharged during an era when being openly gay meant exile or worse, he went on to become the first openly gay elected official in California. He fought for equality with both passion and integrity, and ultimately gave his life for the cause of justice and representation.
When the USNS Harvey Milk was christened, it felt like a small but meaningful step toward acknowledging that queer Americans have always served—often in silence, often in danger, always with dignity. That ship’s name stood for something more than just metal and machinery. It honored visibility, service, and sacrifice.
To remove that name—during Pride Month, no less—isn’t just tone-deaf. It’s cruel. It’s shameful. It’s part of a larger effort we’re seeing to roll back the clock on diversity, inclusion, and basic decency. This isn’t about strengthening the military. It’s about erasing queer people from the story of America. It’s about rewriting history in a way that suits a narrow, regressive agenda.
We’re told this has something to do with restoring “warrior ethos” and “core values.” But here’s what I know: real strength includes empathy. Real warriors fight for all people, not just the ones who look or love like them. Real leadership doesn’t cower behind performative patriotism—it uplifts the truth, even when that truth makes some people uncomfortable.
Secretary Hegseth’s record already includes a DUI arrest and a long list of questionable decisions. But this one? This feels personal. This feels targeted. This feels like a slap in the face to every queer person who has ever served this country and to everyone who continues to fight for equality and recognition today.
Harvey Milk once said, “Hope will never be silent.” And neither should we.
So no, we’re not going to sit quietly while our heroes are erased. We’re not going to accept Pride Month as a time for symbolic gestures and empty rainbows while the actual legacy of LGBTQ+ people is being dismantled. We’re going to keep remembering. We’re going to keep speaking. And we’re going to make damn sure that the name Harvey Milk is never forgotten.
Disclaimer: this is not my usual type of post, but as a historian, it is something I feel very passionate about. I hate when people try to rewrite history to suit their own political agenda.Republicans do it constantly, and it is a typical fascist ploy to gain support from the ignorant.(As I have always said, ignorance isn’t stupidity, though they can go hand in hand, ignorance is the disdain for learning.
In recent years, attempts have been made—most prominently by Trump and his allies—to narrow the scope of the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause by asserting that it was intended only to apply to formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. This interpretation, if adopted, would dramatically alter the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship by excluding the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants or non-citizen parents. On January 20, 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14160, titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” aiming to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to non-citizen parents, including undocumented immigrants and those on temporary visas. The executive order asserts that the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause does not apply to these children, challenging longstanding interpretations of the Constitution.
Trump’s reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment is not only legally unsound, but it also contradicts the very principles of originalism—a judicial philosophy espoused by several current members of the United States Supreme Court, including Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh. Originalism holds that the Constitution should be interpreted according to its original public meaning at the time of its ratification. An honest application of this methodology to the 14th Amendment—adopted in 1868—reveals that the framers and ratifiers understood birthright citizenship to extend far beyond the formerly enslaved. The original debates, statutory context, and legislative intent make clear that the amendment was designed to establish a broad and enduring principle of jus soli (citizenship by place of birth), not a narrow race- or status-specific remedy.
The first sentence of the 14th Amendment reads:
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
This language, while triggered by the injustices of slavery and the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision (1857), was not restricted to formerly enslaved persons. Rather, it established a general rule of national citizenship. As Senator Jacob Howard (1805-1871), who introduced the Citizenship Clause in the Senate, explained during the 1866 debates, it would “include every class of persons” born in the United States, with only narrow exceptions—notably, the children of foreign diplomats and tribal members under, sovereign jurisdiction.
Representative John Bingham (1815-1900), the principal framer of Section 1, likewise affirmed that the amendment was meant to secure the rights of “every human being born within the jurisdiction of the United States of parents not owing allegiance to any foreign sovereignty.” This phrasing did not exclude immigrants; rather, it excluded only those legally insulated from U.S. law, such as ambassadors and ministers. Immigrants, whether legally or illegally present, are subject to U.S. jurisdiction in every meaningful legal sense.
Thus, under originalist principles, the public understanding of the 14th Amendment in 1868 included birthright citizenship for all those born on American soil and subject to its laws, regardless of their parents’ status.
The broader context of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, passed shortly before the 14th Amendment, further undermines any restrictive reading. That law declared:
“All persons born in the United States and not subject to any foreign power… are hereby declared to be citizens.”
This clause formed the legislative basis for the 14th Amendment and demonstrates that Congress deliberately created a universal standard, not one limited to the formerly enslaved. While the Amendment’s ratification followed the Civil War and was motivated in part by the need to secure citizenship for freedmen, its framers understood that equal citizenship was a universal principle, not a racially contingent one.
This understanding has been upheld repeatedly by the Supreme Court, most notably in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), which affirmed that a child born in the United States to Chinese parents—who were not U.S. citizens and were barred from naturalization—was nonetheless a U.S. citizen under the 14th Amendment. That decision relied heavily on both the text and historical intent of the Amendment, and it is directly contrary to the Trump-era argument that children of non-citizens are not constitutionally entitled to citizenship.
For originalists, the legitimacy of constitutional interpretation rests on fidelity to the Founders’ and ratifiers’ understanding. The attempt to redefine the 14th Amendment’s reach based on a selective, ahistorical reading that imagines it applied only to freed slaves is inconsistent with the actual record. It distorts the original public meaning by conflating historical motivation with constitutional scope. The motivation for an amendment may be rooted in a particular crisis—like the abolition of slavery—but its language and application must be understood in light of the general principles it enshrines.
Moreover, originalism demands that courts avoid imposing modern policy preferences or political pressures onto the Constitution. The Trump administration’s push to reinterpret the Citizenship Clause is a modern political maneuver, not a historically grounded legal argument. To accept such a revisionist reading would be to violate the very core of originalist jurisprudence. The legality of Executive Order 14160 is currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court in the consolidated case Trump v. CASA. The framers of the amendment wrote in broad, inclusive terms—and debated and defended those terms publicly. They did not write a clause about race or lineage; they wrote one about the universal promise of citizenship to anyone born on American soil and subject to its laws.
Originalists on the Supreme Court, therefore, have a duty to honor that promise—not just as a matter of precedent or policy, but as a matter of fidelity to the constitutional text and its original meaning. Therefore, from an originalist perspective, the executive order contradicts the original understanding and judicial interpretation of the 14th Amendment. Originalist justices should uphold the Constitution’s text and historical intent by rejecting the executive order’s attempt to redefine birthright citizenship. And, while Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson do not identify as originalists, they would likely rule against Trump for the reinterpretation of a long standing understanding of the 14thAmendment. That leaves only Justice Alito, who occasionally employing originalist arguments, so whatever side of the fence he falls on this issue. Trump v. CASA will ultimately come down to the judicial consistency and moral integrity of their originalist ideology, though we know the most conservative Supreme Court justices, particularly Thomas and Alito, have no moral integrity or judicial consistency and are inherently political in their rulings.
All of that being said, after yesterday’s hearings, it should be a unanimous summary judgement in favor of CASA. Sadly, I have little faith that this will be the case, especially with the current politicized nature of the U.S. Supreme Court.
I haven’t said much about the current state of American politics, and in this case I mean all of North America because Canada and Mexico ore at least resisting the bullying of the current administration. While the current US government is dominated by conservative, idiotic asshole fascists! They have attacked every major institutions in the government. They are attacking anything that they perceive as a threat or even the most minor opposition to their hateful ideology. They are following the blueprint for totalitarianism and fascism that Mussolini created and put into practice in Italy in 1922, and Hitler expanded in Germany in 1933.
Each day, I think when will it end. When will someone in the government go on the offensive. But the Democrats are sitting back and watching the destruction hoping that it will backfire on the Republicans in the 2026 election. But if the current government is allowed to continue pursuing their agenda, they will either not allow elections or they will fix them in their favor, probably with the help of Putin in Russia.
So, why did I decide to talk about this today when I haven’t said much before? They are attacking the Smithsonian Institution. My university has dealings with the Department of Defense and, as a university, the Department of Education, two departments that have been gutted. That being said, I work with the Smithsonian on a regular basis. The administration is trying to politicize the Smithsonian, an institution that has always remained apolitical. When I bring in curators from the Smithsonian, they are expressly prohibited from broaching politics in even the slightest statements. However, the current administration of clowns and goons wants to turn it into a political pawn in their ideology.
When will somebody say, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”? I have a hard time watching the news because it makes me despondent. Every time I turn on the news it’s more disastrous than the day before.
Just as a side note, this post is late because I had a severe migraine last night, which is marginally better this morning, but it still means I’ve been a bit slow moving so far today.
I apologize for such a downer post, but I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend! It’s going to be a weekend of snow and ice for us here in Vermont. Hopefully, the weather is better where you are.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
—Galatians 6:2
After hearing how Trump and Vance treated Zelinsky on Friday, I have been horrified, embarrassed, mortified, and depressed. No president ever in the history of the United States has decided to turn against democracy to buddy up with our greatest enemy. Seeing what went on was like witnessing a bully who wants your lunch money in exchange for making the other bullies leave you alone, except this was on an international scale. I could use a prison analogy too, but this is a Sunday post, and I don’t want to be crude. I knew they were hateful people, but what they did Friday was disgraceful. I do not see how anyone who supports this president can call themselves a Christian. It goes against every Christian principle in the Bible.
Living in a country that often prioritizes self-interest, God calls us to live differently. He commands us to love, serve, and give generously, rejecting greed and selfishness. One of the clearest ways we can live out our faith is by helping those in need—especially those suffering from war, displacement, and hardship. The people of Ukraine, enduring the devastation of conflict, offer us a powerful opportunity to put our faith into action. Scripture repeatedly teaches that our lives should not be driven by greed but by a heart of generosity. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If we focus only on accumulating wealth and possessions, we risk missing out on God’s eternal purposes. Instead, He calls us to invest in things that last—acts of love, justice, and mercy. One of the greatest ways to do this is by helping those who are suffering.
Jesus also made it very clear that loving others is central to our faith. In Mark 12:31, Jesus commanded us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The people of Ukraine have faced unimaginable hardship—families torn apart, homes destroyed, and lives upended by war. Many have fled to other countries as refugees, while others remain in dangerous conditions. As followers of Christ, we are called to respond with love. One of the most well-known parables in the Bible, the “Parable of the Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37), illustrates this perfectly. A man was left beaten and helpless on the side of the road. Two religious leaders passed by without helping, but a Samaritan—a person from a group often despised by Jews—stopped, cared for the wounded man, and provided for his needs. Jesus tells us to “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). Are we willing to be like the Good Samaritan? Will we stop, see the pain of the Ukrainian people, and respond with action? I know that I am likely preaching to the choir, but if there are those who are Trump supporters that read this blog, I hope you will take this to heart. We may not be able to do much until the midterm elections, but we can resist as much as possible.
One of the biggest barriers to helping others is greed—clinging to what we have out of fear or selfishness. This is seen all to clearly in the executive branch of the United States federal government. But the Bible warns against this mindset in Proverbs 21:13, “Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.” Instead of hoarding wealth, God calls us to be generous. In 1 Timothy 6:17-18, Paul reminds us, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” We may not all consider ourselves rich, but compared to those who have lost everything, we have much to give. Whether through financial support, prayer, advocacy, or welcoming refugees, we can use what God has given us to bless others. James 5:6 tells us that we should, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” We should pray for peace, for those affected by war, and for leaders to seek justice and wisdom. Proverbs 19-17 tells us, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” We can support humanitarian organizations providing food, medical aid, and shelter. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. If you live in a community with Ukrainian refugees, offer friendship, support, or resources. Finally, Isaiah 1:17 tells us to “Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” We must speak out against injustice and support policies that help those affected by war
In James 2:15-17, James reminds us that faith without works is dead, “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Let us not be passive in the face of suffering. Instead, let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing love to those in desperate need. By helping the Ukrainian people—or anyone in crisis—we reflect God’s love and live out the Gospel. May we answer God’s call with open hearts, rejecting greed and embracing a life of generosity.
How is God calling you to help today?
*The Photograph Above
The photographer Liam Campbell is the editor of Elska Magazine, a project centered on traveling around the world, meeting a selection of everyday local guys, and introducing their city and their lives to readers through honest photography and personal stories. The ‘Elska Lviv’ issue of Elska Magazine was dedicated to the men of Ukraine. The model above was named Marko, and Campbell had this to say about him:
Marko was one of the men we photographed toward the beginning of the war. While editing, I became a bit uneasy about the impression we would leave. Would people see Marko standing amongst the detritus of destroyed buildings and feel like we were somehow glamorizing the war? Perhaps some would, but the reality is that we shot these scenes on the site of a former Soviet industrial complex.
In this context, there was a clear message that the Soviet Union was well and truly over. There Marko was walking proudly over the rubble, asserting a new Ukrainian future. This is a message I absolutely had to share, but at the same time, I can’t help but feel immense sadness when I imagine how much of Ukraine now lies in ruins, at the hands of a campaign to bring back Soviet-style ‘glory’ and [Russian] supremacy.
Joe
The Closet Professor 