The questions about a civil war are, sadly, no longer off limits. History is a great teacher, and Erik Larson’s superb book The Demon of Unrest is an important place to start that civil war lesson in this week of Lincoln’s birth. It is an important and enthralling book. The Demon of Unrest, published in 2024, tells […]
“Sticks and Stones may Break your bones, but words will never hurt you.” That mantra of my youth seems as quaint as buggy whips and fax machines in 2025. Yet, it is that very principle that Charlie Kirk’s death now poses. For those of us who were pilloried in recent years for our work on
“It’s been another quiet week in Lake Wobegon.” So goes the start of what was one of my all-time favorite radio shows–on public radio no less–by later to become so woke it broke Garrison Keillor. It told the story of an idyllic town “[W]here all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and
Are the past 100 days simply the second round, or are they something more? One thing is certain–100 days does not a presidency make! One must remember that as the torrent of news, crisis on crisis, caterwauling and general mayhem continues. The beginning is just that, a beginning. It is not an ending. While it
Forgive this foreigner (defined as anyone not from Arkansas) for making a few observations as he prepares to head back to the North where it is decidedly ‘purple’, not the joyous ‘red’ of this Natural State. It has been a marvelous winter in our Arkansas paradise (though 8″ of snow one weekend was a bit
What in the world happened in Wisconsin this week? The Republicans spent more than $50 million, turned out the largest number of voters in the history of Spring Elections and they still lost by 10 percentage points to a far left radical in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Crawford beats Schimel in nation’s most expensive
“I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr. Paine. All you people don’t know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for.” (Jefferson Smith, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) I’ve been gone this past week on a trip to Washington, D.C. Though I’ve been going
“A government big enough to give you everything, can take everything away.” Apocryphal words by a not very memorable President, Gerald Ford. But, seriously, don’t those words ring true! There seems to be a worldwide recognition today of just how prescient the Michigan Congressman, turned accidental President, was. Consider Gaza–oh dear can’t we just forget
Lent, the most important Christian season of the year, officially began yesterday. With all the tumult and all the elation (depending on what side one may fall) it’s a good time to reflect on what is important in this world and the next. A bit of important background–I am a Catholic. My mother was Irish
Each morning my day begins with a bit of website bingo—searching about for interesting takes on daily events. The winner often surprises me. We all seem to do this, don’t we? Neighbors, friends and political sorts often ask what websites I go. So, I thought, today I would list and explain a few and I
In a surreal moment, diplomacy evaporated and a new, and yet very old, reality was born at the White House. It was not just a dressing down of an arrogant (also brave) hubris driven leader, Zelensky, it was a signal to the world that America First has real consequences. By now virtually everyone has seen
Put two billionaires in a room and what do you get? Right, you get MONEY! Trump and Musk did not become billionaires by “spending” money because money is the real deal for them. And the ‘golden chainsaw’ given to Musk by the President of Argentina this week represented not merely his and President Trump’s
Negative 3 degrees! Seriously? In Arkansas? I left my ice fishing gear in Wisconsin. As that great sage Randy Travis observed, “Old men will talk about the weather” (Forever and Ever Amen) and so I will. You have got to be kidding, I come to Arkansas to escape the frozen tundra of Wisconsin and what
There is something odd about celebrating Presidents Day—as if we are to celebrate all Presidents without regard to merit. There was a time, very recently, when a celebration meant something, but alas, like a participation trophy, greatness has been set aside. February was the birth month of three truly exceptional Presidents, Lincoln, Washington and Reagan,
Bob Dylan wrote “Times they are A-Changin’” in the 1960’s. And he was right about those years.This past week he could have written those again with equal parts fact and prophecy. Consider just two events: J.D. Vance, the Vice President, on Artificial Intelligence in France and Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, on a new reality in
by Judge James Troupis, Retired Circuit Court Judge How can the lowest Court in the Federal Court system enter an Order against the President of the United States without even hearing from the President? On Friday evening that is precisely what happened in the back hallways of a New
As President Trump’s lawyer I could expect a call at any hour—the man never sleeps. So, as I sat with my wife of nearly 50 years (high school sweetheart and all that other sappy stuff), surrounded by very loud grandchildren at our Wisconsin home, he called to ensure I understood him clearly, “You’ll win, right.”
