Author: Mitchell A. Sobieski

The path to tyranny: Evaluating when a functional autocrat qualifies as a full-fledged dictator

The path to tyranny: Evaluating when a functional autocrat qualifies as a full-fledged dictator

Posted by | Mar 15, 2025

In today’s political reality, the term “dictator” often evokes images of leaders who have absolute power, quash all dissent, and rule with an iron fist. However, modern autocrats rarely fit this stereotypical mold. Instead, they operate in the gray areas of democracy, pushing boundaries, distorting rules, and exploiting legal loopholes. The actions of convicted felon and the current occupant of the White House, Donald Trump, have led many observers to question whether he qualifies already as a functional dictator under a more realistic, contemporary definition. This editorial review explores how Trump’s behavior aligns with six key authoritarian markers, which...

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Trump’s Arctic land grab: What Milwaukee’s role in a U.S. military invasion of Greenland would look like

Trump’s Arctic land grab: What Milwaukee’s role in a U.S. military invasion of Greenland would look like

Posted by | Mar 14, 2025

The reelection of Donald Trump signaled an unmistakable pivot in global geopolitics, one that has seismic ramifications for the United States, the Arctic, and the world at large. In light of Trump’s historical interest in Greenland, it is not hard to imagine how his second term could mark the beginning of an aggressive American military and diplomatic campaign to seize control of the island. That scenario is no longer a far-off hypothetical. It is a distinct possibility that demands serious consideration. Greenland’s strategic importance, its vast natural resources, and its proximity to critical military sites make it an essential...

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

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

Posted by | Mar 8, 2025

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

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

Posted by | Feb 28, 2025

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

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

Posted by | Feb 25, 2025

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

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

Posted by | Feb 23, 2025

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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