Author: Mitchell A. Sobieski

United We Stood: What the Great Depression taught Americans that was forgotten during COVID-19

If Americans could time-travel back to the early 1930s, they might catch a glimpse of neighbors swapping homegrown vegetables, congregations organizing community meals, and families opening their doors to share whatever they had. That display of mutual support emerged during what is more accurately called the Great Republican Depression, a time when the country was reeling from massive unemployment, widespread economic collapse, and mounting desperation as a result of Republican political policies. Yet in that moment of national crisis, there was a palpable sense of togetherness, perhaps fueled by necessity, but certainly strengthened by a shared commitment to help...

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When a sad “Clown King” does not pull the trigger but supplies the ammunition for mass suffering and death

Donald Trump’s record on public health, environmental protection, and social policy has been the subject of heated debate since he seized the presidency in 2016. Yet one aspect stands out for its sheer magnitude: the number of American lives that may have been lost, directly or indirectly, due to the decisions made during his administration. While assigning full responsibility to any single leader for a broad range of deaths is complicated, estimates from public health experts, policy analysts, and reputable publications suggest a significant toll. These numbers, although partly speculative, offer a sobering window into how policy and rhetoric...

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Trump’s criticism of Ukraine’s Jewish president raises new concerns about his antisemitic undertones

Donald Trump has repeatedly made headlines for his unpredictable alliances and frequent criticism of those who oppose him. One figure who has found himself in Trump’s crosshairs was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Observers have pointed to a range of reasons for Trump’s animosity toward President Zelenskyy, including a deep admiration for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, whose authoritarian style Trump often praises. Yet there is a troubling possibility that antisemitism also plays a role in Trump’s attacks on President Zelenskyy, who is Jewish and embodies values that seem to clash with Trump’s approach to power. LONGSTANDING NEGATIVE POSTURE Trump’s contentious...

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From Juche to MAGA: How Trump’s personality cult reflects the North Korean playbook for oppression

North Korea’s long history of oppressive governance, stringent control over information, and idolization of its leaders have raised alarm bells for global observers for decades. Under the successive regimes of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un, the reclusive nation has embodied the perils of a single-minded authoritarian ideology. Experts now warn that convicted felon and occupant of the White House – Donald Trump, along with his radical MAGA base and billionaire oligarchs like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, are mimicking elements of North Korea’s strategy to consolidate power and mold America’s future. Their documented approach...

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The Screwtape Letters: Applying what C.S. Lewis said about absolute power to Milwaukee’s moral landscape

It is often said that great literature transcends its era. The classic work by C.S. Lewis that was published in 1942, “The Screwtape Letters,” is a striking example. Initially intended as a satirical commentary on Christian faith and the subtle ways evil can tempt humanity, the short novel by Lewis remains eerily relevant. Though it was written amid the tumult of World War II, its insight into the human condition and the spiritual dimension of life resonates with contemporary readers. With the shocking return of President Donald Trump to the White House for a second term, residents of Milwaukee...

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From White Hoods to Red Hats: How MAGA revives the ideological legacy of the Klan in Trump’s America

In the years since Donald Trump ascended to the forefront of American politics, the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement has transformed into a potent cultural and political force. Beneath its veneer of patriotism and populist rhetoric lies a troubling truth: the MAGA movement is at its core the ideological and rhetorical heir to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). While the MAGA movement lacks the overt violence and explicit racial terror of the Klan, its methods, symbolism, and goals echo a chillingly familiar story of White Supremacy rebranded for the modern era. The comparison is not hyperbolic, it is...

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