Robert Mueller, the former FBI director and special counsel in the Russia investigation, has died.1 Just a day after Mueller’s family announced his passing, President Trump decided to celebrate his death.2 The display of crass hatred is part of a larger pattern of reckless and cruel conduct that would damage most presidents’ careers, but this is who Donald Trump is. This is who leads us now.

What Did He Say?

On his platform, Truth Social, Donald Trump announced Mueller’s death in the most absurd way possible, posting: “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!” Celebrating a person’s death is unacceptable, especially when the death is so fresh in the minds of family members and loved ones who have just lost someone dear to them.

Despite this, the President of the United States openly and publicly mocked Mueller with no condolences for his family. There was no attempt at human empathy, no display of concern or care for what this death meant to the Muellers or the country.

This is not the rhetoric of a President— or even a responsible citizen. It is the rhetoric of a petty, reckless man who sees any opposition—no matter how minor that opposition is—as inherently illegitimate and undesirable. It is that same zero-sum thinking that has been guiding Trump, both in his first term and in his current administration.

Cruelty is the Point

Since Donald Trump first came down the escalator in 2015, his politics have been unabashedly dehumanizing. He started his campaign by saying, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best…They’re not sending you…They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”3

The dehumanization of people, regardless of accuracy, was always part of the Trump brand. It’s why he insists on pointing to critics of ICE raids as threats and criminals.4 It is why he calls Democrats and Americans on the left “the greatest enemy America has…” This is dangerous.

That rhetoric is not healthy for a republic, and it only further incentivizes violence. There can be disagreements among partisan actors, differences of opinion on the Mueller report, but when someone’s very existence is seen as illegitimate, peaceful discourse becomes harder to maintain. If America is to heal and to grow beyond this authoritarian era, this kind of rhetoric must be rejected entirely.

Democrats and Americans across the board must force every Republican politician to answer for this rhetoric. Our country deserves better than this. We deserve better than this. Anything less is a failure.

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In the face of the overwhelming corruption plaguing our nation and in the face of the unmitigated authoritarianism of the current administration, it can feel as though our nation is going down a path with no way out. That feeling, while understandable, especially after the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, must never overtake us. This is why protests against the Trump administration matter.

Background

On Saturday, I attended a weekly protest outside a Tesla dealership, calling for the end of the ICE raids, Elon Musk’s right-wing agenda, and, of course, the end of Trump’s horrendously corrupt and racist presidency. I have previously attended such protests and was at the ‘No Kings’ Rally in my hometown last year.

However, while most of the responses we received at today’s protest were largely positive, my hometown is increasingly opposed to the administration, and some gave the usual responses to peaceful protest. Phrases like “get a job” were yelled at us, along with the expected middle fingers, while the perpetrators ignored the importance of civil disobedience and the fact that it was a Saturday.

That response and the fact that some continue to feel the protests are pointless annoyances are precisely why I went.

Protest is a right and a resource

As I mentioned before, many Americans feel they have no means to make their voices heard or to organize, but while I was outside, I met numerous people who not only shared their experiences and motivations for opposing the administration, but also organized within their local community. One gentleman even handed me a series of cards with useful responses for dealing with ICE in the event of a confrontation. These ‘know your rights’ cards are part of a larger movement in my area called Immigrant Solidarity DuPage, which seeks to “Educate, organize, and mobilize DuPage County around the rights and collective struggles of the Latino community.”

It is through these kinds of connections that people can help protect themselves, should they ever need to, but also to protect their community. Learning about new resources by networking within your local community is not only necessary but central to being able to assist others who may need help in turn.

It is one thing to look for a big, national movement —and those pushes are important—but it is also important to look for the smaller, more personal elements of resistance. Helping spread information, ensuring everyone knows their rights, and making sure the attention on threats to the local scene are critical to ensuring that this administration doesn’t get away with its current policies.

Staying connected

I started this article focusing on the danger of fear and apathy, the feeling of helplessness that can consume us in the face of the horrors of this administration, but protesting, especially with people who are just as angry and frustrated as you are, serves as a reminder that we are not alone in this fight. We are not fighting this administration as singular, isolated individuals. We are fighting this as a community and as a nation.

More Americans oppose this administration than support it, and that matters not only for our nation’s conscience but also for the long-term trajectory of this fight. Come November, the Trump administration will likely be forced into lame duck status, and there will almost certainly be investigations into the crimes committed by ICE. However, that requires each of us to get involved and make our voices heard before they can silence us.

If you want to get involved, please consider joining your local Indivisible group and finding new events in your area. You can find out if you have an Indivisible chapter here. The American experiment isn’t going anywhere so long as there are Americans willing to fight for it.

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The United States has violated international law and captured Venezuelan head of state Nicholás Maduro. The attack, which took place on Saturday, January 3^rd, is not only risky and will likely undermine regional stability, but it is also a complete and total violation of Constitutional law. Backed by his cabinet of yes-men and imperialist authoritarians, Donald Trump has instigated a conflict that serves only corporate interests and not the interests of the United States or the Venezuelan people.

What Happened?

In the early hours of Saturday morning, Venezuelans woke up to explosions in Caracas, with American aircraft over their heads. American forces attacked strategic airbases and defenses. Within less than three hours, Donald Trump announced that Maduro and his wife had been captured and were being taken to the United States for trial. The attack killed 40 people, including civilians. Maduro was subsequently brought to New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where he is facing charges of narcoterrorism conspiracy, cocaine trafficking conspiracy, and weapons charges, according to NPR and an unsealed indictment.

In that indictment, Maduro is accused of trafficking “thousands of tons of cocaine to the United States.” The indictment further alleges that Maduro had been involved in drug operations in Venezuela since as early as 1999 and that Maduro, through one of his subordinates, had been commissioning state-backed criminal organizations to hold onto power by “kidnappings, beatings, and murders against those who owed them drug money or otherwise undermined their drug trafficking operation, including ordering the murder of a local drug boss in Caracas, Venezuela.”

Maduro denies the charges, although it is worth noting that Maduro was already facing an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity and torture, among other charges. However, Maduro was unlikely to face any repercussions in Venezuela, as the country’s National Assembly voted to withdraw from the Rome Statute, thereby removing the ICC’s jurisdiction over Venezuela. Last Month, a report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner showed that Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) was implicated in a “decade-long pattern of killings, arbitrary detentions, torture and sexual violence targeting protesters and opponents of President Nicolás Maduro.”

You can read the report summary here.

Why This Matters

It is important to remember that Maduro’s regime was undeniably corrupt and engaged in human rights abuses. Maduro lost the 2024 election and used the police against protesters to stay in power, despite the blatant illegality of his actions. However, it is equally important, if not more important, to recognize that the Trump administration has no concern whatsoever for human rights.

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President Trump blatantly stated that his goal is to secure oil that he believes, without evidence, was stolen from the United States, and has unequivocally stated that America will “run” Venezuela. Even attempts by the Secretary of State Marco Rubio to downplay Trump’s comments about running Venezuela have demonstrated the true intention of the administration: to exploit the resources of Venezuela and its people.

Trump’s Imperialism Continues

The goal, as Secretary Rubio made clear in a recent press conference, is to seize Venezuelan oil for American companies, even if it gets innocent people killed. Since September 2^nd, the President has authorized 35 attacks on boats off the coast of Venezuela, illegally executing 115 people with little regard for their right to due process or regard for the Geneva Conventions’ prohibition against killing civilians.

We needn’t downplay Maduro’s alleged crimes to denounce the horrendous criminality of the President. We needn’t pretend that this was about the people of Venezuela or protecting Americans from drugs, because President Trump has already pardoned the former President of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison for flooding the United States with cocaine.

And it might not even be the end of Trump’s interventionism. Trump is already suggesting future military action against Colombia, Mexico, and Cuba, telling reporters that Colombia’s President should “watch his ass.” Just as I was writing this article, Reuters reported that Trump has just suggested that a second strike against Venezuela could occur.

All of this is yet another sign of Trump’s own belligerent criminality and imperialistic agenda. He is usurping Congress’s constitutionally enumerated power to declare war and is pursuing a reckless policy of subjugation that flies in the face of human rights, self-determination, and the laws of the United States. This can only lead to a worse situation in Venezuela, both for the United States and for Venezuelans. If this continues, Trump must be impeached.

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References

Board, The Editorial. 2026. “Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise.” Opinion. The New York Times, January 3. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/opinion/venezuela-attack-trump-us.html.

CBS News. 2024. “Independent Experts Legitimize Tally Sheets Proving Maduro Lost Presidential Election - CBS Miami.” News. October 2. https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/experts-legitimize-tally-sheets-venezuelas-election/.

Earle, Geoff. n.d. “Trump Issues Thinly Veiled Warning to Mexico, Slams Cuba, Colombia after US Strikes Venezuela, Arrests Maduro.” News. The New York Post. Accessed January 4, 2026. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-issues-thinly-veiled-warning-to-mexico-slams-cuba-colombia-after-us-strikes-venezuela-arrests-maduro/ar-AA1TvU0S.

Gamio, Lazaro, Carol Rosenberg, and Charlie Savage. 2025. “Tracking U.S. Military Killings in Boat Attacks.” U.S. The New York Times, October 30. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/29/us/us-caribbean-pacific-boat-strikes.html.

Griner, Allison. 2025. “Venezuela Seeks Withdrawal from International Criminal Court’s Rome Statute.” Al Jazeera, December 12. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/12/venezuela-seeks-withdrawal-from-international-criminal-courts-rome-statute.

Kurmanaev, Anatoly, and Tyler Pager. 2026. “Maduro Arrives in N.Y.; Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Run’ Venezuela.” World. The New York Times, January 3. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/03/world/trump-maduro-venezuela-us-strikes.

Lucas, Ryan. 2026. “What Are the Charges against Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro?” Venezuela and U.S. Relations. NPR, January 3. https://www.npr.org/2026/01/03/nx-s1-5665617/venezuela-nicolas-maduro-charges.

United States of America v. Nicolás Maduro Moros et al., Sealed Superseding Indictment, S4 11 Cr. 205 (AKH) (U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2025). https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1422326/dl.

OHCHR. 2025. “Venezuela: Bolivarian National Guard Responsible for Systematic Violations and Crimes against Humanity, UN Fact-Finding Mission Says.” United Nations. December 11. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/12/venezuela-bolivarian-national-guard-responsible-systematic-violations-and.

Otis, John. 2024. “Venezuela’s President Faces Criminal Prosecution If He Loses Reelection in July.” NPR, May 26. https://www.npr.org/2024/05/26/nx-s1-4970778/venezuelas-president-faces-criminal-prosecution-if-he-loses-reelection-in-july.

Pager, Tyler. 2026. “Trump Celebrates Capture of Nicolas Maduro in New York Times Phone Interview.” World. The New York Times, January 3. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/world/americas/trump-venezuela-maduro-capture-interview.html.

Ramsey, Michael, and Stephen Vladeck. n.d. “Interpretation: Declare War Clause | Constitution Center.” Education. National Constitution Center – Constitutioncenter.Org. Accessed January 4, 2026. https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-i/clauses/753.

Reuters. 2026. “Trump Says Second Venezuela Strike Possible If Government Does Not Cooperate.” United States. January 5. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/venezuelas-maduro-custody-trump-says-us-will-run-country-2026-01-04/.

Singh, Rimjhim. 2026. “After Venezuela, Donald Trump Hints at Military Action against Colombia.” News. Business Standard, January 4. https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/trump-colombia-us-military-action-drug-trafficking-venezuela-maduro-arrest-126010500100_1.html.

UN News. 2025. “Venezuela’s National Guard Linked to Killings, Torture and Repression, UN Probe Finds | UN News.” News. December 11. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166565.

Vogel, William K., Rashbaum, Maggie Haberman, Kenneth P., and Jonah E. Bromwich. 2025. “Former President of Honduras Is Freed From Prison After Trump Pardon.” U.S. The New York Times, December 2. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/us/politics/hernandez-honduras-trump.html.

Wong, Edward, Julian E. BarnesThe reporters have covered President Trump’s military operations, and pressure campaign against Venezuela throughout the year. 2025. “Venezuela’s Oil Is a Focus of Trump’s Campaign Against Maduro.” U.S. The New York Times, December 16. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/us/politics/trump-maduro-venezuela-oil-tanker.html.

Russia is not interested in peace, and it is time the current administration acts like it. On Saturday, Russian forces attacked Kyiv, killing two and wounding thirty-two people. The attacks, which come amid negotiations between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia, are yet another sign that Russia is not interested in a long-term peace with Ukraine. The Trump administration must come to terms with this painfully obvious fact.

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Russian Aggression and War Crimes Against Ukraine

From its initial invasion in 2022, Russia has repeatedly demonstrated that it seeks to conquer Ukraine. In 2022, Putin gave a speech attempting to justify the invasion of Ukraine—an invasion he said would never happen—arguing that Ukraine was “historically Russian land.” Putin further argued that Ukraine only exists because Vladimir Lenin allowed the country to form in the 1920s. It is worth noting that one reason Lenin recognized the Ukrainian Soviet Republic was the already-established Ukrainian national identity. Putin went further, casting the Ukrainian government as illegitimate, saying, “There is no legitimate executive authority in Ukraine. “ As historian Timothy Snyder put it at the time, “This kind of language, that another nation doesn’t exist, is something we need to pay attention to because it usually precedes atrocious actions...”

NOTE BY AUTHOR: THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS CONTAIN GRAPHIC DISCUSSIONS OF ABUSE AND WAR CRIMES. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Since the initial speech by Putin and the invasion that would follow it, Russia has continued to make claims on territory it doesn’t control and commit war crimes against the people of Ukraine. In 2022, United Nations experts determined that Russian soldiers had raped and tortured children. That same panel found that the victims of Russian sexual abuse were between the ages of four and eighty-two years old. Another report conducted by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner found that Russian forces accounted for “the vast majority of the violations identified.” In that report, investigators pointed to one incident involving a four-year-old girl who was forced to commit sexual acts on a Russian soldier after her mother and father were also sexually abused and raped.

In addition to sexual violence, the Russian Federation is responsible for indiscriminate bombings and killings of civilians. Describing the crimes allegedly committed, the report explained that:

“The relentless use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas has killed and injured scores of civilians and devastated entire neighbourhoods. The Commission documented indiscriminate attacks using cluster munitions, unguided rockets, and air strikes in the context of attempts by Russian armed forces to capture towns and smaller settlements. These weapon systems are highly likely to have indiscriminate effects and cause significant harm to civilians. Indeed, most of the verified deaths since the outset of the hostilities have been caused by these weapons.”

It is worth noting that these alleged crimes, which have been documented repeatedly by international observers, occurred in just the first year of the war. The reports I have cited thus far don’t include any of the alleged crimes committed by Russian forces from 2023 onward. Nor do they address the warrant by the International Criminal Court that was issued for Vladimir Putin’s arrest for his unlawful deportation and kidnapping of Ukrainian children. Russia started its war with atrocities and continues to follow through with even more monstrous acts.

Pointless Negotiations with a War Criminal

As it stands, Putin is an alleged war criminal who has continued to demand that the Ukrainians surrender their territory in Donetsk and Luhansk, even as the Russians fail to secure the territory totally. Even as the war in Ukraine has cost Russia nearly a million of its soldiers and 30 percent of its oil and gas revenue, Russia continues to push along in its foolish war of aggression. However, it is unlikely that the Russians can sustain this kind of fighting, though they will never admit it.

In a piece for the Washington Post, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Mitch McConnell rightly pointed out that Russia is not operating in a strong position. They rightly note that roughly a quarter of Russian companies are bankrupt or facing bankruptcy. Russia has also been forced to sell gold to keep its finances out of the red, and its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, has been out of commission since 2017. A Newsweek report from earlier this year went so far as to suggest that Russia may scrap the carrier due to its many performance issues.

With all these factors and more, Senators Shaheen and McConnell warn that “Putin may be playing for time, but he is not dragging out this conflict because it is his preferred tactic. He is dragging it out because he cannot achieve a decisive victory. He’s hoping that slow, grinding attrition will divide the West.”

Despite this, the Trump administration has attempted to appease Russia. At one point, the administration proposed that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the Donbas region. It is worth noting that Russia doesn’t control all of the Donbas region, and the United Nations Charter prohibits annexation of territory in wars of aggression. Article 2, section 4 of the UN Charter states, “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”

As such, Russia’s annexation of territory in Crimea in 2014 and its current attempts to gain more territory are not only horrific in their humanitarian implications but are blatantly illegal under international law. The Trump administration’s proposed peace plan, when it comes to the Donbas, is nothing short of victim-blaming and appeasement, and even then, Russia still has not committed to any peace plan.

The reality remains the same as it was in 2022. Ukraine must get the support it needs to defend itself from Russian aggression. So long as Russia can continue its blatant criminal acts, it will continue to push for more. If there is to be any international standard of justice, stopping Russian aggression must be America’s highest priority. Anything less is a strategic and moral failure.

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Two people were killed at Brown University last Saturday. The shooting, which comes amid a flurry of conspiracy theories and claims of political persecution, left two dead and nine wounded, with the unidentified gunman remaining at large. Amid this tragedy and death, it is tempting to claim motives and to fill in the blanks with speculation. However, if there is to be an end to the suffering that we face, claims of political targeting and conspiracy theories must be rejected.

What We Know

On Saturday at around 4 PM, an unidentified gunman entered an economics study group of about 60 students and began firing, killing Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, two students. The shooter, a masked man, then fled the scene on foot. A person of interest, not necessarily a suspect, was later taken into custody, something that FBI Director Kash Patel boasted about on Twitter. It was later revealed that the person of interest was not the shooter, but a bystander, and was subsequently released.

The shooter remains at large.

Filling the Gaps

While the motives for the shooting remain unknown, claims of supposed political targeting quickly spread online, with the President of the College Republicans, William Donahue, claiming on Monday that he was “told” that Ella Cook, one of the victims and the Vice President of Brown’s College Republicans, was targeted for her conservatism. The hastily organized post seemingly ignored that another victim, Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, was also killed in the attack and had yet to have any political connections.

In his post, Donahue wrote:

“I am filled with rage and sadness to learn that our Brown College Republicans VP, Ella Cook, has been identified as one of the victims from the attack. I’m told she was allegedly targeted for her conservative beliefs, hunted, and killed in cold blood. Losing Charlie three months ago rocked our worlds. The entire College Republicans community is weeping this evening, learning of the news. This was an attack on our family.”

In a subsequent post, Donahue further noted that he was relying on reports from “students immediately after the news broke…” and that he was waiting for the official police report and receiving updates from the chapter. “Though he has continued to repost claims that she was targeted despite police not yet prescribing a motive.

Nor was he alone in this. Vice President Vance seized upon Cook’s death, pointing to Brown as a “left-wing campus,” in an apparent nod to the theory that Cook was targeted for her politics. On Sunday, the chairman of the Ohio College Republicans Federation, Gabe Guidarini, wrote, “They have martyred one of our own. Pray for every College Republican leader and member.”

All of this is to say that some Republican operatives have continued to spread this idea of martyrdom and assassination, especially with the murder of Charlie Kirk hanging over the conservative media sphere, even though the police have yet to release a motive.

Why This Matters

While it is certainly possible that the shooting was motivated by politics, the reality remains, as of writing, that we are operating on very little information. Responsible actors, meaning advocates who actually want to address this horrid tragedy, would not immediately take the suffering of victims for their own ends.

While one can argue policy over how to prevent such shootings in the future, something I firmly believe is fair, presupposing political violence without evidence is not only dishonest, but it also incentivizes more violence. If we are to have a more peaceful and just country, then we should wait for more information before making pronouncements about the motive behind this horrific attack.

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References

Ahn, Katherine RosmanAshley, and Jenna Russell. 2025. “A Brown University Instructor Hid From Gunfire With His Students.” U.S. The New York Times, December 14. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/us/brown-shooting-classroom-victims.html.

“Authorities Will Release Person Detained in Brown University Shooting | AP News.” n.d. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-suspect-search-1da03b12b2eac2b530172667d3df30c4.

FBI Director Kash Patel [@FBIDirectorKash]. 2025. “An update on the @FBI response at Brown University: @FBIBoston established a command post to intake, develop and analyze leads, and run them to ground. We activated the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team, to provide critical geolocation capabilities. As a result, early https://t.co/KONDEbrduR.” Tweet. Twitter, December 14. https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2000244040667676940.

Gabe Guidarini [@GabeGuidarini]. 2025b. “They have martyred one of our own. Pray for every College Republican leader and member.” Tweet. Twitter, December 15. https://x.com/GabeGuidarini/status/2000405404933816650.

González-Ramírez, Andrea. 2025. “MAGA Is Already Spreading Misinformation About the Brown Shooting.” The Cut, December 15. https://www.thecut.com/article/maga-is-spreading-misinformation-brown-university-shooting.html.

Hernandez, Joe. 2025. “Brown University Shooting Victims Identified as Gunman Remains at Large.” National. NPR, December 15. https://www.npr.org/2025/12/14/nx-s1-5644153/brown-university-shooting-man-identified.

JD Vance [@JDVance]. 2025. “This beautiful young girl was one of the murdered students at Brown University. It takes special courage to lead an organization of conservatives on a left wing campus, and I am very sorry our country has lost one of its bright young stars. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.” Tweet. Twitter, December 15. https://x.com/JDVance/status/2000610342951399864.

Olmstead, Edith. 2025. “MAGA Spreads Dangerous Conspiracy About Brown University Shooter.” The New Republic, December 15. https://newrepublic.com/post/204429/maga-conspiracy-brown-shooter-targeted-republicans.

“Roommate of Brown University Shooting Victim Says He Was Intelligent and Studying Neuroscience - CBS Boston.” n.d. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/video/roommate-of-brown-university-shooting-victim-says-he-was-intelligent-and-studying-neuroscience/.

William Branson Donahue [@realwilldonahue]. 2025. “I am filled with rage and sadness to learn that our Brown College Republicans VP, Ella Cook, has been identified as one of the victims from the attack. I’m told she was allegedly targeted for her conservative beliefs, hunted, and killed in cold blood. Losing Charlie three months https://t.co/Efwo1wpfFY.” Tweet. Twitter, December 15. https://x.com/realwilldonahue/status/2000402459135779277.

The GOP is in danger, and a victory in a Tennessee special election serves as a major warning about why. Despite currently holding a trifecta in government and winning a key special election, Republicans are facing a disturbing reality: they will likely lose the midterms, and it won’t be pretty.

What’s Happening in Tennessee?

On Tuesday, the Republican candidate, Matt Van Epps, defeated the Democratic candidate, Aftyn Behn, in the last congressional special election of this cycle. The election in the 7th congressional district should be a good sign for Republicans, as it is another seat they have secured. However, the mere act of winning an election doesn’t necessarily mean a strong showing for a party more generally. Rather, the degree to which a party’s candidate wins an election can indicate electoral vulnerability for the party at large.

What Does This Mean?

Looking at the 7th district race, it is increasingly clear that the GOP underperformed. Van Epps beat Behn by an estimated 9 percentage points, a single-digit victory that is especially shocking given Trump won this district by 22 points in 2024. Trump’s margin of victory in the state write large was even larger, with the President securing 64.2 percent of the state’s vote. The New York Times’ analysis shows that all the counties in the district have shifted toward Democrats, with the two most populous counties, Davidson and Montgomery, shifting by 10 and 20 points, respectively.

As it stands, the issues that Republicans have been attempting to focus on, crime and immigration, have increasingly been overtaken by the economy and cost of living, issues that Trump ran on in 2024. In addition, President Trump’s approval rating has begun to decline significantly. The New York Times polling average has him at 41 percent approval, one of the lowest levels since January. A recent Gallup poll found that Trump’s approval dropped to 36 percent, with 60 percent of Americans disapproving of his job performance as President. Among independents, who approved of Trump by 46 percent in January, Trump currently has a low 25 percent approval rating. That is an abysmal decrease so early in his presidency.

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While not a guarantee of Republican electoral failure in 2026, or even a sign of Democratic success, Republicans can’t afford to alienate independents. If they are unable to improve public opinion among independents, the GOP’s chances of holding onto the House, the Senate, or both decrease significantly. Any decrease in Trump’s approval is a warning sign to the GOP, not only because they have tied themselves so thoroughly to Trump, but also because his presence as the de facto head of the Republican Party means any negative feelings directed towards him could and likely will be applied to other GOP candidates.

While it remains to be seen, the current landscape is not looking promising for the GOP, and they only have themselves to blame.

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References

Cappelletti, Joey, and Meg Kinnard. 2025. “Republicans Emerge Victorious and Anxious after Tennessee Special Election.” The Associated Press. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-brace-for-tough-midterms-after-tennessee-special-election/ar-AA1RDQtR?ocid=BingNewsSerp (December 3, 2025).

Daniel, Annie, Jon Huang, Ruth Igielnik, Jasmine C. Lee, Alex Lemonides, Jonah Smith, Albert Sun, and Rumsey Taylor. 2025. “President Trump’s Approval Rating: Latest Polls.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/donald-trump-approval-rating-polls.html (December 3, 2025).

Goldmacher, Shane. 2025a. “Elections Show Trump’s Edge on the Economy Slipping.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/us/politics/trump-elections-economy-inflation.html (December 3, 2025).

Goldmacher, Shane. 2025b. “What Tennessee Revealed About the G.O.P.’s Trump Trap in the Midterms.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/us/politics/tennessee-special-election-trump-midterms.html (December 3, 2025).

Shepard, Steve. 2025. “Tennessee Election Results 2024: Live Map - Races by County - POLITICO.” https://www.politico.comundefined (December 3, 2025).

“Tennessee Seventh Congressional District Special Election Results 2025: Behn vs. Van Epps.” 2025. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/12/02/us/elections/results-tennessee-us-house-7-special.html (December 3, 2025).

Thomson-Deveaux, Amelia, Josh Boak, and Linley Sanders. 2025. “Economy Dominated Other Issues in 2025 Elections, Poll Finds | AP News.” The Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/economy-issues-exit-poll-election-2025-ccd2cab49e6f7d6b310173d70ce570f8 (December 3, 2025).

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the infamous right-wing conspiracy theorist turned Congresswoman, is resigning. In a shock announcement on Twitter, the Georgia congresswoman said she would not run for reelection and would leave office on January 5th, 2025. The move by Greene represents a stark departure from the Trumpist camp she once aligned with and could be another sign of growing discontent and division within the Republican Party.

Conspiratorial Congresswoman

Rep. Greene first came to prominence in 2020 after winning an election in Georgia’s 14th district. Her opponent dropped out of the race in September of that year due to personal reasons and marriage troubles. Greene went on to be one of the most controversial and openly bigoted members of Congress in modern history. She endorsed Islamophobic and antisemitic conspiracies, including the idea that George Soros, a Jewish philanthropist and Holocaust survivor, collaborated with the Nazis. It is worth noting that Soros was 14 when World War 2 ended. Greene’s conspiracy mongering went further than that, endorsing the QAnon conspiracy that a satanic cabal of pedophiles controls the government, which heavily influenced her approach to the Epstein files.

Despite this, Greene was elected for a second term in 2022, winning over 65 percent of the vote. Green was one of the most influential figures within the GOP, raising an estimated $2.17 million in October of last year. It is worth noting that around that same time, Rep. Greene had bizarre statements claiming that an unidentified group controlled the weather. Such a claim was not only offensive because of the nebulous “they” that Rep. Greene was referencing, but also because she made these comments amid Hurricane Helene’s devastating rampage that killed over 200 people. Needless to say, Congresswoman Greene has been a source of immense tension and controversy.

The Trumpist Schism

With recent revelations regarding Trump and Epstein, including the revelation that Trump sent Epstein a lewd letter, more Americans have pushed for the release of the files. Despite intense pressure to release the files, Trump had opposed their release until recently, signing the resolution compelling the DOJ to release the files they have on Epstein. During her time in Congress, Greene has consistently pushed for the release of the files, as she mentioned in her statement.

In her bid to release the Epstein files, Greene opened herself to repeated insults from the President, who referred to her as Marjorie Taylor “Brown,” an apparent reference to dying grass, and called her “wacky.” On Friday, President Trump announced he would support a primary challenge to Greene, effectively guaranteeing Greene would be ostracized by the party at large. The result of such separation from the party is clear. There was no place left for her in Trump’s movement.

Conclusion

Greene, despite being willing and ready to spread lies, conspiracy theories, and propaganda for Trump, but the moment she stepped out of line, she was forced out. It didn’t matter that she stood by him even after his lies led to an attack on the Capitol; she stepped out of line.

This doesn’t make Greene a martyr, and it certainly doesn’t make her moral. She is directly responsible for normalizing some of the worst propaganda and conspiracism this nation has faced over the years, as I have noted repeatedly, but she couldn’t ignore Epstein, and that was too much for Trump. If there is any justice in the world, Greene will not be rehabilitated and will instead be remembered as the fringe figure and propagandist she is. She got swallowed by the faux revolution she helped start, and she should be remembered as such.

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References

Bluestein, Greg. 2020. “Why Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Opponent Quit the House Race.” Political Insider (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/why-marjorie-taylor-greenes-opponent-quit-the-house-race/E3TYSMAAPRDUPPB6F3BBQAFCME/.

Emery, David. 2016. “No, George Soros Was Not a Nazi or Nazi Collaborator During World War II.” Snopes. https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/george-soros-ss-nazi-germany/ (November 21, 2025).

Fowler, Stephen. 2025a. “A Record Number of Congressional Lawmakers Aren’t Running for Reelection in 2026. Here’s the List.” NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/09/15/nx-s1-5534254/house-senate-retirement-tracker-2026 (November 21, 2025).

Fowler, Stephen. 2025b. “After Break with Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene Will Resign.” NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/11/21/nx-s1-5617227/marjorie-taylor-greene-resignation-trump (November 21, 2025).

Fowler, Stephen. 2025c. “After Break with Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene Will Resign.” NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/11/21/nx-s1-5617227/marjorie-taylor-greene-resignation-trump (November 21, 2025).

“Here Are the Members of Congress Not Running for Reelection in 2026 : NPR.” https://www.npr.org/2025/09/15/nx-s1-5534254/house-senate-retirement-tracker-2026 (November 21, 2025).

Gooding, Dan. 2024. “Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Raising More Money than Ever.” Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-georgia-election-campaign-funding-1968927 (November 21, 2025).

“How Marjorie Taylor Greene Took on Trump and Stayed True to Her Base.” https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/how-marjorie-taylor-greene-took-on-trump-and-stayed-true-to-her-base/ar-AA1QTIgd?ocid=BingNewsSerp (November 21, 2025).

Karni, Annie. 2025. “Marjorie Taylor Greene Says She Plans to Resign in January.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/us/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-resigns.html (November 21, 2025).

Levin, Sam. 2020. “QAnon Supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene Wins Seat in US House.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/03/qanon-marjorie-taylor-greene-wins-congress (November 21, 2025).

Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 [@mtgreenee]. “My Official Statement. Https://T.Co/x48zEugmPV.” Twitter. https://x.com/mtgreenee/status/1992037226415554642/photo/2 (November 21, 2025).

“Marjorie Taylor Greene Doubles down on Weather Comments after Backlash.” 2024. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-doubles-down-weather-comments-after-backlash-1964508 (November 21, 2025).

Marjorie Taylor Greene Full Interview with CNN. 2025.

(November 21, 2025).

Min Kim, Seung. 2025. “Fighting It for Months, Trump Signs Bill to Release Jeffrey Epstein Case Files | PBS News.” PBS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fighting-it-for-months-trump-signs-bill-to-release-jeffrey-epstein-case-files (November 21, 2025).

Nadler | AP, Ben. 2020. “Challenger to QAnon Supporter Bows out of Race in Georgia.” The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/democratic-opponent-to-qanon-supporter-drops-out-of-race/2020/09/11/59d7066e-f465-11ea-8025-5d3489768ac8_story.html (November 21, 2025).

“QAnon Supporter Denounced for Racism Wins Georgia Republican Primary.” 2020. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/11/georgia-republican-primary-marjorie-taylor-greene (November 21, 2025).

“Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Former Trump Loyalist, Says She Is Resigning from Congress.” 2025. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-green-congress-resigns-trump-maga-5f42d4893343babc8e87da1491a0de2b (November 21, 2025).

In a blatant display of authoritarian sword-rattling, President Donald Trump has publicly accused several prominent Democrats of sedition and called for their execution. The posts in question, which appeared on Truth Social, the President’s social media site, are not only another sign of his authoritarian streak, but are also a demonstration of Trump’s willingness to use the most extreme measures possible to suppress dissent. Simply put, must be removed from office.

Unacceptable Threats and Lies

On Tuesday, several Democratic Senators released a video on Facebook directed at military personnel, encouraging them to disobey what the Senators called “illegal orders.” The video’s description read: “We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community. The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution. Don’t give up the ship.” It was a clear and direct warning against unlawful actions by the American military.

The video comes amid a larger fight over the administration’s use of military force against alleged drug boats in Venezuela, as well as the administration’s continued attempts to weaponize ICE against American cities. Previously, President Trump faced criticism for an overtly partisan speech aimed at the Pentagon’s top officials.

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In reaction to the speech, Trump raged on Truth Social, saying, “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand...SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???” In another post, the President made his intentions clear, writing simply “ SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”

It is worth noting that military personnel are not only allowed but also obligated to refuse illegal orders, and merely pointing out that basic fact is not sedition. It is protected speech under the First Amendment.

Military personnel swear an oath to the Constitution and to the United States, not the President. Despite Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s claim that every order given by this administration “is lawful,” the reality is far more complicated. If the President were to say, order the capture and assault of a political opponent by military personnel, that order would be undeniably illegal, regardless of who gave the order.

Numerous regulations restrict how military personnel react to orders. Under the UCMJ’s Article 134, military members are prohibited from engaging in any conduct that could be construed as “disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, and crimes and offenses not capital.” International law also doesn’t accept the “just following orders” defense as valid if the person following the orders knew they were unlawful. Just following orders is an excuse that is not acceptable.

The Denial

Donald Trump’s allies may argue that the President was not encouraging violence against his political opponents. That he was, in fact, criticizing what he sees as a usurpation of lawful executive authority. Never mind that Trump has repeatedly demonstrated a cavalier attitude toward the law and its value. Trump’s own social media demonstrates the flimsiness and absurdity of this argument. For one, Trump reposted another user’s statement, saying, “HANG THEM LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!”

That alone is enough to demonstrate his meaning when he brings up the death penalty, but even if we discard such posts, the President’s unprompted decision to mention the death penalty at all makes clear what he had in mind.

You don’t casually bring up the potential execution of your political opponents unless you are attempting to suggest that those executions should occur, especially in the political environment we are facing now. This is a direct call for the state to take unacceptable steps towards the Presidency’s enemies.

Get Him Out

Donald Trump knows exactly what he is doing, and he is doing it intentionally. He is willing, ready, and able to use the full force of the executive to undermine the rule of law. He can’t be trusted to ensure the law remains impartial or without cruelty. Trump is cruelty incarnate and expects blind obedience to his viciousness. Such a person is not fit for the highest office in the land. Donald Trump must be removed from office. Whether it is by the 25th or by impeachment, Donald Trump is a threat to America’s survival as a republic. He must go, and his departure must be immediate.

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References

“(8) Video | Facebook.” https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2558895077819811 (November 20, 2025).

Bendery, Jennifer. 2025. “‘HANG THEM’: Trump Boosts Message Calling For Executing Democrats In Congress.” The Huffington Post. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/hang-them-trump-boosts-message-calling-for-executing-democrats-in-congress/ar-AA1QPwap?ocid=BingNewsSerp (November 20, 2025).

Cole, Brendan. 2025. “Pete Hegseth Reacts as Six Democrats Urge ’Refuse Illegal Orders’ - Newsweek.” Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/pete-hegseth-reacts-six-democrats-urge-refuse-illegal-orders-11072941 (November 20, 2025).

“Defence of Superior Orders.” https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/customary-ihl/v1/rule155 (November 20, 2025).

“Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump).” Truth Social. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115582703277798715 (November 20, 2025a).

“Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump).” Truth Social. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115582451169685243 (November 20, 2025b).

Eric Michael Garcia [@EricMGarcia]. 2025. “Mike Johnson Responds to My Question about Trump Saying Members of Congress Committed Treason Punishable by Death. Https://T.Co/V6Dxj8nV9N.” Twitter. https://x.com/EricMGarcia/status/1991555069574279273 (November 20, 2025).

Gooding, Dan. 2025. “Democrats React to Donald Trump’s ‘Punishable by Death’ Remark.” Newsweek. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-react-to-donald-trump-s-punishable-by-death-remark/ar-AA1QPGtp?ocid=BingNewsSerp (November 20, 2025).

McCreesh, Shawn. 2025. “Trump Calls Democrats’ Military Video ‘Seditious Behavior, Punishable by Death.’” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/us/politics/trump-democrats-sedition-death-punishment.html (November 20, 2025).

Pereira, Ivan. “What the Military Oath of Enlistment Says about Legal and Illegal Orders.” ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/military-oath-enlistment-legal-illegal-orders/story?id=127725085 (November 20, 2025).

“U.S. Constitution - First Amendment | Resources | Constitution Annotated | Congress.Gov | Library of Congress.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/ (November 20, 2025).

In a display of the right’s growing disdain for the press, a North Carolina Republican official tried to bury a negative story by threatening a reporter. It is yet another example of the authoritarian spirit overtaking the Republican Party.

Threats and Defensiveness

The reporter, ProPublica’s Doug Bock Clark, was writing a piece about North Carolina Chief Justice Paul Newby. Clark had made repeated attempts to reach out to the Chief Justice and was even escorted out of a judicial conference where he attempted to ask the Chief Justice questions about his increasingly partisan influence on North Carolina’s highest court.

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Despite repeated attempts to ask for comment, Republicans refused to answer questions for the piece, but Clark was still able to interview “…over 70 people who know him professionally or personally, including former North Carolina justices and judges, lawmakers, longtime friends and family members.”

However, when Clark attempted to reach out to Chief Justice Newby’s daughter, who is currently listed as the party’s finance director, the communications director for the North Carolina Republicans, Matt Mercer threatened Clark in an email, writing, “I’m sure you’re aware of our connections with the Trump Administration and I’m sure they would be interested in this matter… I would strongly suggest dropping this story.” It is worth noting that Mercer’s Muck Rack account currently lists him as the Editor in Chief of the North State Journal, the “…only statewide newspaper in North Carolina,” per the outlet’s about page. A journalist and political advocate threatening a fellow journalist with the power of the presidency is certainly a choice.

Attacking and Denigrating the Free Press

While the administration has yet to indicate that it would support such a move against ProPublica, the idea of a major official in a state party threatening the press like this is beyond the pale, but it is part of a larger pattern among Republicans.

In one incident, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insulted Huffington Post reporter Shirish Dáte after he asked who recommended Budapest for a meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin. Budapest was previously the site of an agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Russia, now known as the Budapest Memorandum. In response to this seemingly straightforward question, Leavitt responded with “your mom did.”

In addition, Dáte also received hostile texts from White House communications director Steven Cheung, who was attempting to dissuade Dáte from reaching out to Stephen Miller directly. In those messages, Cheung said Dáte was being “a little fucking bitch.” Dáte subsequently posted a screenshot of the text exchange, which is available to read below.

It isn’t merely explicative-laden texts or mockery that the press has faced. The administration has repeatedly targeted reporters and media organizations it dislikes. President Trump has threatened to revoke the broadcast license of outlets he dislikes, celebrated the temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, permitted Hegseth to replace the Press Corps with outlets favorable to him, and has referred to the press as the “enemy of the people.” The administration’s hostility to the press has become so well-documented that PBS NewsHour asked whether Trump was following the playbook of Hungary’s dictator, Viktor Orbán.

These are dangerous times, and Mercer’s decision to try to weaponize such dangerous decisions reflects not only an authoritarian streak on his part but on the Republican Party as a whole. It threatens the very free nature of our society. As Thomas Jefferson once explained:

“The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”- Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 16 January 1787.

If we are to have a free and fair society, we must have a free press unbridled by the power of a hostile administration. So far, the GOP seems to be heading in the opposite direction.

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References

“About | The North State Journal.” 2017. The North State Journal. https://nsjonline.com/about/ (October 30, 2025).

Bauder, David. 2025. “After Others Departed, Pentagon Announces ‘new’ Press Corps Filled with Conservative News Outlets.” The Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-media-rules-new-press-corps-b14b8cef6ba63cdac17c8ffac375e615 (October 31, 2025).

“Budapest Memorandum | National Security Archive.” https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/32106-1-budapest-memorandum (October 31, 2025).

Burris, Sarah. 2025. “GOP Aide Threatened to Sic Trump on Journalist If Story Wasn’t Killed: Report - Raw Story.” RawStory. https://www.rawstory.com/trump-media-2674251104/ (October 30, 2025).

Clark, Doug Bock. 2025. “‘Biblical Justice, Equal Justice, for All’: How North Carolina’s Chief Justice Transformed His State and America.” ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/paul-newby-north-carolina-supreme-court (October 30, 2025).

Danielle Battaglia [@dani__battaglia]. 2025. “Also Notable from the Article. #ncpol.” Twitter. https://x.com/dani__battaglia/status/1983902062388900190 (October 30, 2025).

“DOUG BOCK CLARK - Home.” Dougbockclark.com. https://www.dougbockclark.com/ (October 31, 2025).

“Doug Bock Clark on X: ‘“I’m Sure You’re Aware of Our Connections with the Trump Administration and I’m Sure They Would Be Interested in This Matter,” the NC GOP Comms Director Wrote. “I Would Strongly Suggest Dropping This Story.” He Bolded and Underlined “Strongly,” in Case We Missed His Point.’ / X.” https://x.com/DougBockClark/status/1983882945447522781 (October 30, 2025).

“‘Enemies of the People’: Trump Remark Echoes History’s Worst Tyrants.” 2017. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39015559 (October 31, 2025).

Jefferson, Thomas. 1787. “Founders Online: Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 16 January 1787.” http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-11-02-0047 (October 31, 2025).

Kang, Cecila. 2025. “Trump Has Threatened Broadcast Licenses. Here’s How They Work. - The New York Times.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/us/politics/trump-broadcast-licenses-fcc.html (October 31, 2025).

Mastrangelo, Dominick. 2025. “Donald Trump Praises ABC for Suspending Jimmy Kimmel over Charlie Remarks.” The Hill. https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5509204-trump-celebrates-kimmel-suspension/ (October 31, 2025).

Matt Mercer [@mattmercer]. 2025. “Feed ProPublica to the USAID Wood Chipper.” Twitter. https://x.com/mattmercer/status/1983917084007436311 (October 30, 2025).

“Muck Rack | For Journalists and Public Relations.” Muck Rack. https://muckrack.com/matt-mercer/bio (October 30, 2025).

“Sarah Newby at North Carolina Republican Party.” North Carolina Republican Party. https://www.nc.gop/sarah_newby (October 30, 2025).

Spike, Justice, and Nicholas Ricardi. 2025. “Trump’s Moves against Media Outlets Mirror Authoritarian Approaches to Silencing Dissent.” PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trumps-moves-against-media-outlets-mirror-authoritarian-approaches-to-silencing-dissent (October 30, 2025).

S.V. Dáte [@svdate]. 2025. “Here Is the Exchange, in Context: Https://T.Co/T4DqJULWP1.” Twitter. https://x.com/svdate/status/1983648322352263192 (October 30, 2025).

Wemple, Erik. 2025. “When This Reporter Comes Calling, the White House Insults Go Flying.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/business/media/shirish-date-white-house-journalist-huffpost.html (October 30, 2025).

The former officer who shot and killed Sonya Massey, Sean Grayson, was found guilty of second-degree murder on Wednesday, October 29^th, 2025. The judgment, which the Massey family called “some measure” of justice for Sonya, is yet another flashpoint of police brutality in America. While it is good to see that Grayson has been found guilty, the fact remains that police brutality and racism are far too common in America’s police force.

What Happened?

On the morning of July 6, 2024, Sonya Massey, a resident of Springfield, Illinois, called police to report a prowler on her property. Officers Sean Grayson and Dawson Farley arrived on the scene and searched the property for any intruders. Finding nobody there, the officers then knocked on Massey’s door and informed her that they had not found the intruder. Massey then invited the two officers in to discuss the alleged intruder.

While inside, the officers asked for Massey’s identification, which she searched for before asking one of the officers to give her her Bible, prompting another search. About a minute later, Massey went to move a pot of boiling water she had on the stove, prompting the officers to back away. Massey asked the officers why they were backing away, and then Officer Grayson explained that they were trying to get away from the boiling water. Massey then replied, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” and raised the pot of hot water over her head. Grayson then threatened Massey, saying, “You better fucking not. I swear to God I’ll fucking shoot you right in your fucking face.” In reply, Massey apologized and dropped down behind her counter with her hands up. Grayson then shot her three times, hitting Massey in the head. Grayson’s deputy, Dawson Farley, didn’t fire his weapon. Not once.

Grayson was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. The Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office later noted that Grayson had not been justified in his use of force. Subsequently, Sangamon County entered into an agreement with the Department of Justice, agreeing to improve crisis-intervention and mental-health response training, which prompted the DOJ to terminate its investigation into the county’s law enforcement practices.

How We Got Here

While the ruling is now final, and Grayson is officially a convict, how we arrived at this point remains a critical component of understanding this horrific case. Firstly, it is worth noting that Sonya Massey was going through a mental health crisis. Her mother, Donna Massey, had called 911 the day before she was shot to report that Massey was having a mental health breakdown.

According to CNN, her mother told dispatchers that Massey was suffering but was not dangerous, saying, “I don’t want you guys to hurt her. Please.” She further warned that “When she gets upset, then she thinks everybody’s after her – like paranoid schizophrenic.” However, she also told dispatchers not to send “any combative policemen who are prejudiced, please.” That plea seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Additionally, Grayson had a checkered history with other police departments and organizations. Grayson was kicked out of the army after he was convicted twice for drunk driving. Grayson had also illegally possessed a firearm and driven on a suspended license. Previous personnel records showed that supervisors had warned that Grayson “did not demonstrate good officer safety skills.” Chief Dave Campbell at the Auburn Police Department had also warned that Grayson “needs more training.” In a psychological evaluation, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office also noted that Grayson was aware that he sometimes needed to slow down to see things clearly. Despite this history, Grayson was hired and put in a position where he would be facing people suffering mental health crises. This was avoidable.

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Negligence and Tragedy

The painful reality of this entire situation lies not only in its preventability but also in the possibility of Sonya Massey’s survival. Sangamon County forensic pathologist Dr. Nathaniel Patterson had testified that Massey could have survived her injuries, explaining that Massey “bled out from a carotid artery that had been cut in half.” According to Dr. Patterson, if Massey had received treatment to control her bleeding, Massey may have survived. The bullet, according to Patterson, had not reached Massey’s brain, and thus she could have survived. However, body camera footage shows Officer Grayson seemingly discouraging his deputy from getting his medical kit on Massey, saying, “... She’s done. You can go get it, but that’s a headshot.”

Conclusion

While it is unclear what the sentence for Grayson will be, the sad reality remains that the Massey family has lost a loved one in a shooting that should have never happened. Sean Grayson’s decisions that night needlessly escalated a tense situation, and the fact that he was the only officer who fired his weapon demonstrates that tragic fact. Grayson should never have been hired, especially after his own evaluation revealed that he sometimes tended to jump to conclusions. While the conviction is a step in the right direction, America has a long way to go if it is expecting the people to trust the police to handle such mental health episodes responsibly and safely.

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References

“First and Foremost, My Heart... - Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office | Facebook.” https://www.facebook.com/sangamoncountysheriff/posts/pfbid0RjenqZrSL9gbL4qbZtaJbbtJccDYXM5uLc5tpEKtrrA8H1KNVTpM3Fi1Tu8LcX2hl (October 30, 2025).

Caldwell, Brandon. 2025. “Who Is Sean Grayson? Ex-Cop Had Lengthy Disciplinary Record before Sonya Massey Killing.” TheGrio. https://thegrio.com/2025/10/29/who-is-sean-grayson-ex-cop-had-lengthy-disciplinary-record-before-sonya-massey-killing/ (October 30, 2025).

“Charges Filed against Illinois Deputy in Death of Sonya Massey.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/charges-filed-illinois-deputy-death-sonya-massey-rcna162456 (October 30, 2025).

“Cop’s Testimony, Judge’s Instructions Influenced Outcome of Sonya Massey Murder Case.” 2025. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/sonya-massey-police-officer-convicted-a3df3e34bae4b667dcb3efa182deac56 (October 30, 2025).

Glawe, Justin. 2025. “Body-Cam Video Shows Illinois Officer Fatally Shooting Black Woman in Face | Illinois | The Guardian.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/22/sonya-massey-illinois-shooting-video (October 30, 2025).

Helmore, Edward. 2024. “Biden Calls for Justice after Footage Released of Police Killing Black Woman.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/22/biden-sonya-massey-police-killing-video (October 30, 2025).

Hudnal, Hannah, Steven Spearie, and Jenny Tilley. “Expert Says Sonya Massey Died from Blood Loss. See Recap of Testimony on Day 2.” USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/courts/2025/10/24/what-happened-to-sonya-massey-sean-grayson-murder-shooting-pot-boiling-water-oct-23-2025/86853974007/ (October 30, 2025).

“Illinois Deputy Found Guilty of Murder in the Shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black Woman Who Called 911 Asking for Help | CNN.” 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/29/us/sonya-massey-verdict-deputy-guilty (October 30, 2025).

Jiménez, Jesus. 2024. “Illinois State Police Release Footage of Deputy Fatally Shooting Woman.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/22/us/illinois-sonya-massey-body-cam-footage.html (October 30, 2025).

Mordowanec, Nick. 2024. “Sean Grayson Drove Drunk with Gun, Suspended License: Records.” Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/sean-grayson-sonya-massey-guns-shooting-dui-1932302 (October 30, 2025).

Negussie, Tesfaye. “Sonya Massey Murder Trial: Sheriff Deputy’s Partner Said He Wants to ‘do Right’ by Her.” ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/murder-trial-begins-former-sheriffs-deputy-sean-grayson/story?id=126759093 (October 30, 2025).

O’Connor, John, and Ed White. 2025. “Judge’s Instructions Gave Jury Another Option in Cop’s Trial in Sonya Massey Shooting | AP News.” The Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/sonya-massey-police-officer-convicted-a3df3e34bae4b667dcb3efa182deac56 (October 30, 2025).

“Sangamon County Enters Agreement to End DOJ Investigation into Sonya Massey’s Killing.” 2025. ABC7 Chicago. https://abc7chicago.com/post/sonya-massey-death-sangamon-county-enters-agreement-end-doj-investigation-former-deputy-sean-graysons-fatal-shooting/15812237/ (October 30, 2025).

Spearie, Steven. 2025. “Deputy: Grayson Said He Didn’t Want to ‘waste’ His Med Kit on Sonya Massey.” The State Journal-Register. https://www.sj-r.com/live-story/news/courts/2025/10/22/sean-grayson-trial-sonya-massey-shooting-updates-charges-live-updates-peoria-illinois/86828034007/ (October 30, 2025).

Spearie, Steven, and Thao Nguyen. 2024. “Body Camera Video Shows Illinois Deputy Fatally Shooting Sonya Massey inside Her Home.” USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/22/sonya-massey-body-camera-footage/74504223007/ (October 30, 2025).

Sykes, Jillian, and Emma Tucker. “Sonya Massey’s Mom Called 911 to Report Her Daughter Was Having a Mental Breakdown the Day before She Was Killed | CNN.” CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/01/us/sonya-massey-mental-health-911-calls/ (October 30, 2025).

The country is in crisis, former President Biden said on Sunday. In a speech in Boston, the former President warned that the current administration’s attacks on Freedom of Speech and its expansion of the executive branch’s power had put the nation into a state of “dark days.” Biden’s remarks are not only a warning but also a reminder that the state of our nation is dire.

What Happened?

Former President Biden was in Boston on Sunday to receive the lifetime achievement award from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute. The award ceremony, meant to commemorate Biden’s public service as Senator, Vice-President, and eventual President, was one of the first times that the former President stood before the nation since he completed his first round of treatment for prostate cancer. Despite all of the things he could have discussed, warning the nation about the Trump administration was the thrust of his speech.

During his speech, Biden warned that democracy was not a fragile thing and that the current administration was dangerous to the body politic. Explaining his concerns, Biden said:

“In over 50 years of public life, this is one of the worst I’ve seen. Our very democracy is at stake in my view...It’s no time to give up. It’s time to get up. Get up now!”

Why This Matters

It is not the first time Biden has warned about the threat that Trump poses to the country. During his bid for a second term, then-President Biden argued that Trump would be an existential threat to the country and that he was “the election-denier-in-chief.” Such proclamations have come to fruition, and we now see those warnings alive and well in our day-to-day lives.

Across the nation, the Trump administration has thrown the rule of law out the window—asserting judges can’t evaluate or determine the legality of his policies. In Trump v. State of Illinois and City of Chicago (2025), the administration’s lawyers have asserted that the President’s claim to have the power to deploy the National Guard can’t be challenged by the courts.

In his argument for the administration, Solicitor General D. John Sauer asserted that the judiciary consistently “countermands the exercise of the President’s Commander-in-Chief authority and projects its own authority into the military chain of command.” In other words, the courts have subjected the President to judicial review, much to the administration’s chagrin. Said review is a fundamental component of American constitutional law.

Sauer continues, arguing that the President’s authority over affairs that he deems necessary, in this case, deploying the national guard, is beyond the power of the courts and that in the cases where such courts have ruled against him, those courts were “mistaken to conclude that a federal court may review the President’s judgment at all.” These are not the words of a man who believes that he his required to uphold the Constitution—these are the arguments of a man who thinks he is above it.

Such arguments reek of despotism. At a time when the President is seemingly pursuing a war with Venezuela, he has previously mused about killing Venezuelans without Congressional approval and has already done so several times, checks on the power of the President become all the more necessary.

From the very beginning of our republic, no official was without limitations on their power. As the Supreme Court ruled in Marbury v. Madison (1803):

“It is emphatically the duty of the Judicial Department to say what the law is. Those who apply the rule to particular cases must, of necessity, expound and interpret the rule. If two laws conflict with each other, the Court must decide on the operation of each.”

The presidency, by its very nature under the Constitution, must be checked by the judiciary to ensure that the Constitution is upheld. It is through the Constitution that the executive gets its power, and it is through the Constitution that its power is restricted. Former President Biden’s warning about dark days is yet another reminder that the current Commander-in-Chief has rejected that very principle and that he must be opposed.

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References

Biden Calls on Americans to Challenge Trump Administration as He Receives Award in Boston. 2025. YouTube. (October 28, 2025).

“BREAKING: A Defiant Biden Just Returned To Wake America Up.” 2025. Democratic Wins Media. Substack. (October 27, 2025).

Cathey, Libby, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, and Lalee Ibssa. “Biden Argues Trump Is an Existential Threat to America; Trump Tries to Point Finger Back at Biden.” ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-argues-trump-existential-threat-america-trump-point/story?id=105401847 (October 28, 2025).

Daniels, Cheyanne. 2025. “Biden Says the Nation Is Facing ‘Dark Days’ under Trump.” Politico. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/biden-says-the-nation-is-facing-dark-days-under-trump/ar-AA1Ph2Jh?ocid=BingNewsSerp (October 27, 2025).

Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, et al. v. State of Illinois and City of Chicago. 2025. Supreme Court of the United States. https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25a443.html?utm_source.

Gomez Licon, Adriana. 2025. “Biden Warns of Dark Days for the Country as He Urges Americans to Stay Optimistic.” AP News. https://apnews.com/article/biden-award-trump-kennedy-8dfd83ee2a6bee6e2efc87e1fb5d7c1f (October 27, 2025).

“Judicial Review.” LII / Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/judicial_review (October 28, 2025).

“Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803).” 1803. Justia Law. https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/5/137/ (October 27, 2025).

O’Keefe, Ed. 2025. “Biden Completes Round of Radiation Therapy to Treat Aggressive Prostate Cancer.” CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-completes-round-of-radiation-therapy-aggressive-prostate-cancer/.

Rourke, Riley. 2025. “Former President Joe Biden Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Kennedy Institute in Boston.” CBS Boston. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/former-president-joe-biden-receives-lifetime-achievement-award-at-kennedy-institute-in-boston/ar-AA1PeW3i?ocid=BingNewsSerp (October 28, 2025).

Savage, Charlie. 2025. “The Peril of a White House That Flaunts Its Indifference to the Law.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/us/politics/white-house-boats-law.html (October 27, 2025).

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I hope you are doing well. As some of you may know, I have been away from publishing as of late and haven’t produced a lot of content this month. This is for two reasons:

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Good afternoon everyone,

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