Rick Stengel

If Mr. Moran worked for me, I would have had a private conversation with him about crossing a line into too much subjectivity—I would not have suspended him. I suspect if he had said the same exact words on air, nothing would have happened. Journalists have free speech rights too.

We’re seeing one of the hallmarks of authoritarianism: the criminalization of dissent and its suppression by violence.

Autocrats turn ordinary situations into emergencies so they can wield extraordinary power.

He said the meeting with Xi was a 12 on a 1-10 scale. Let's say at the start of his presidency, the relationship with China was a 5 on a 1-10 scale. His erratic non-strategic tariffs and behavior took it back to a 1. Now he's managed to eke out a 3. So, yes, it's a 12 on a 1-30 scale.

He only has a few moves. One of which, per Roy Cohn, is when someone punches you, punch back harder. That's why he is threatening to resume nuclear testing in response to Putin's previous announcement. Scholars called this escalation dominance. But it ain't diplomacy. It's just dangerous.

"At long last, we have peace in the Middle East." —President Trump, October 13, 2025, in Egypt.

1. There is no evidence that Venezuela produces fentanyl. 2. The UN drug office says it is not a cocaine-producing country. 3. Most illegal drugs come here in container ships, not small boats with outboard motors. 4. The admin has produced no evidence to justify these extra-judicial killings.

Media note. If you thoroughly screw up trade negotiations with another country, say China:) please don’t call it a “win” when you manage to get it roughly back to where it was before you started.

I'm all for the troops getting paid, but this is a dangerous step on the road to autocratic rule. Autocrats always seek to turn national militaries into private militias. Our troops take an oath to defend the Constitution not one man.

The destruction of the East Wing is more than a metaphor—it's a living example of disdain and ignorance for history, order, legacy, transparency, humility, and even constitutional checks and balances. Shameful.

The admin's possible $40 billion rescue of Argentina is more than what they cut in USAID funding. Which would you rather do, spend billions to prop-up an economy that has needed rescuing time and again or save 1000s of lives with AIDS medicine & prevent diseases like Ebola from coming to America?

Trump demanding $230 million from his own Justice Dept shows that he sees himself more as an outlaw than head of state, that he doesn't represent the American people but himself, and that he will never ever turn down an opportunity to make money.

For decades, courts gave the gov't a "presumption of regularity," which is the idea that federal officials were doing their duty, following the rules, and being honest. But in 9 months, this admin has forfeited this presumption for many judges because of failing to follow the rules and be truthful.