In the 1939 Frank Capra film, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” letters from citizens to Congress play a pivotal role in the story — they symbolize the voices of young people crying out for honest representation and government for the greater good. The letters arrive in stark contrast to a media campaign manufactured by a … Continue reading Writing letters to Congress: If you want to get their attention, go old school.
Two essays: Dreading the juveniles in Trump’s government, saluting an actual adult who stood up for decency
Essays in contrast: One dreads the juvenility of the Trump regime, the other salutes a true adult who took a stand for decency.
Love America Rallies: No Kings Day, October 2025
The MAGA Republican response to the second No Kings protest has been a combination of laughably extreme invective and childish hissy fit. Republican after Republican issued over-the-top criticism of the organized demonstrations against the Trump regime, calling them Soros-sponsored antifa gatherings. House Speaker Mike Johnson called them “hate America” rallies. White House press secretary Karoline … Continue reading Love America Rallies: No Kings Day, October 2025
The ‘moral stoplight’ that Trump and Vance blow through
Michael Davis, a former Evening Sun and Sun colleague, wrote in response to my Substack post on J.D. Vance's demonization of the homeless of Washington, D.C. A Baltimore rabbi and friend once told me that the homeless present a "moral stoplight." When you are in their presence, he said, you need to stop and acknowledge … Continue reading The ‘moral stoplight’ that Trump and Vance blow through
On days like this, the reality of Trump seems especially stark
“It goes without saying.” . . . People use that phrase when they’re about to state something everyone within earshot knows. Or they might start a sentence with, “Needless to say,” which bears the same meaning. Usually, one word will do: “Clearly,” for instance, is a common starter. “Obviously” is the most direct way of … Continue reading On days like this, the reality of Trump seems especially stark
“You know better, Marco Rubio”
In preparing today’s Substack column on Secretary of State Marco Rubio, I got to thinking about a phrase all of use at one time or another, in one form or another: “You know better. . . . He knows better. . . . She knows better. . . . You should know better.” It might … Continue reading “You know better, Marco Rubio”
Noted passing: A Baltimore native who wrote the book, now banned by Trump, on white nationalists
More than 30 years ago, when the Skinheads were a thing and one of them established headquarters at a house in Baltimore, Leonard Zeskind was the expert we turned to for the full story. Who were these guys handing out leaflets in Hampden? What was their movement all about? Where did such openly racist young … Continue reading Noted passing: A Baltimore native who wrote the book, now banned by Trump, on white nationalists
Trumpy Harris confident ‘we will win the trade war’ and defeat the ‘globalists.’
It will come as no surprise to anyone in Maryland that Rep. Andy Harris, the 1st District Republican and Total Trumpy, defends Trump’s tariffs and says, “We will win the trade war, there’s no question about that.” Economists might believe Trump’s tariffs will lead to inflation and crater the U.S. economy. The Economist might characterize … Continue reading Trumpy Harris confident ‘we will win the trade war’ and defeat the ‘globalists.’
A constituent appeals to Republicans: Do you really agree with everything Trump has done?
Arnold "Skip" Isaacs, veteran journalist formerly of The Baltimore Sun, watched the Trump-Musk sabotage of government unfold in Washington, then decided to write to Republicans to ask if they agreed with Trump's draconian executive orders and Musk's unprecedented access to government data. I post this here today because I admired Skip's approach -- indeed, his … Continue reading A constituent appeals to Republicans: Do you really agree with everything Trump has done?
Who’s the most dangerous man in Washington?
Update from The New York Times: Employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were instructed to cease “all supervision and examination activity” and “all stakeholder engagement,” effectively stopping the agency’s operations, in an email from the director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought, on Saturday evening. Who's the most dangerous man in … Continue reading Who’s the most dangerous man in Washington?
Dan Rodricks 