Stephen Gottlieb

Those who wrote and ratified the Constitution sometimes called its protections “parchment barriers” – meaning the paper and words on it couldn’t do much unless people supported it.

Some people like to fly the flag claiming we are no. 1, the greatest. But nations, like companies, are what they do, not what they were. I’ve traveled in many places that cherish memories of dominance, from the Persian to the Aztec empires, and now hang on by their toenails and the forbearance of others.

A fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon burned down the Grand Canyon Lodge, the visitor station, the Ranger station, their housing, and part of the forest. Years ago, before we had children, my wife and I vacationed there. We watched out the dining room windows at a thunderstorm.

The Trump Administration has been undoing efforts of previous Administrations to stop worsening global warming with greenhouse gasses. I’m reminded of the Jonestown massacre in which Jim Jones led an American religious cult through mass murder and suicide in Guyana. Dismantling our efforts to stave off global warming is both mass murder and mass suicide. Scientists describe it as the next mass extinction – of us.

Trump is crippling Congress, agencies and departments that could restrain him. No one knows how far this will go. Some Americans think dictatorship wouldn’t be a bad idea and that Trump would be a fine dictator. I’d like to explain why they’re kidding themselves.

Texas wants to gerrymander its congressional districts. What should we do about it? Gov. Hochul wants to maximize Democratic congressional districts to match what Texas Republicans are trying to do there. Some in New York complain that’s improper gerrymandering.

The Constitution’s 8th Amendment says “Excessive bail shall not be required.” American law gives us the opportunity to have a judge to determine the conditions of detention.

I intended to talk about the Trump Administration’s efforts to dismantle programs to stop global warming. Then I read an article in the Sunday Times about “A Clash Over a Promotion Put[ting Secretary of Defense] Hegseth at Odds With His Generals.” It describes:

I'm going to put off several commentaries I’ve prepared because of what just happened to the public broadcasting budget.