Progressive Thinking

From Senator Murkowski’s candid admission of internal fear to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s aggressive stance on social services, the GOP’s actions reveal a party more committed to power than to the people it serves.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - The Republican Party isn’t just broken. It’s dangerous. And if you had any lingering doubts, this past week ripped the mask off once and for all.

While Americans mourned yet another tragedy, struggled with skyrocketing costs, and watched chaos unfold at our borders, what did Republicans do? They pandered to fear. They protected corruption. They actively made life worse for the people they claim to serve.

Let’s break it down:

Afraid of Their Own Shadow

Even Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski admitted it: the GOP is paralyzed by fear. Not fear of the people they were elected to represent — fear of Donald Trump. Fear of mean tweets. Fear of losing their cushy jobs. Instead of standing for the Constitution, instead of protecting democracy, they cower at the feet of a man who demands loyalty oaths like a two-bit dictator. Their fear is so profound that they allow injustice to flourish simply to protect their own political skins. Cowards. Every last one of them.

Gutting Social Services Under the Banner of “Efficiency”

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the face of today’s Republican Party, hosted a town hall this week where she pushed for the expansion of government offices designed to slash “waste” — and by “waste,” she meant things like Social Security and Medicaid. You know, the programs millions of Americans rely on to survive. When constituents protested, police were called. Arrests were made. Greene didn’t back down — she doubled down, sneering at the very people who would suffer most from her proposals. The cruelty isn’t accidental. It’s the point.

Lawlessness on Full Display

The Trump administration showed exactly how much respect they have for the law — none. Despite a Supreme Court order, they continued deporting immigrants under the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act. They are literally ignoring the highest court in the land because they believe rules are for other people, not for them. What do Republicans in Congress have to say about this blatant lawlessness? Nothing. Silence. Complicity. They don’t care about the rule of law. They care about using the law as a weapon against the powerless.

The Most Out-of-Touch Priorities Possible

While real Americans bled in the streets and struggled to pay their bills, Donald Trump — the leader of the Republican Party — decided his big rallying cry this week would be… ending daylight saving time. Kids are dying. Families are starving. Veterans are sleeping in the streets. And Trump is mad about changing the clocks. You cannot make this shit up.

Militarizing the Border While America Falls Apart

And just to round out the week, House Republicans unveiled plans to dump even more taxpayer dollars into border militarization and mass deportations — an obsession so extreme that it consumes every ounce of their focus while the rest of the country crumbles. No solutions for inflation. No real plans for healthcare. No answers on gun violence. Just cruelty. Just fear. Just punishment.

Trump's cabinet meetings have become a nauseating, overly rehearsed spectacle of flattery and ego-stroking. We need leaders, not loyalists.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - I watched the cabinet meeting hoping for leadership. What I got looked more like a loyalty pledge than a government function. If I wanted to see a staged round of applause for a dictator, I’d turn on North Korean state TV. But this was our government—and it made me sick.

I honestly don’t know what I was expecting when I turned on the cabinet meeting this week. Maybe some straight talk about what’s really going on in this country. A little leadership, a little honesty, a little concern for the people who are out here struggling every day to keep their heads above water.

What I got instead? A nauseating, overly rehearsed spectacle of flattery and ego-stroking.

It wasn’t a meeting. It was a mutual admiration society in full swing. And Trump? He was soaking it in like a man getting a standing ovation for doing absolutely nothing.

Every cabinet member, one after the other, stood up and offered praise so scripted it felt like I was watching a school play. Not one person spoke off the cuff. Not one addressed the hard truths we’re facing. Every word was carefully chosen, clearly rehearsed, and aimed straight at the President’s overinflated ego.

It was like watching a bad episode of The Apprentice crossed with North Korean state media. The only thing missing was a military parade and some choreographed clapping.

And while they were busy patting each other on the back and showering Trump with compliments about his “vision” and “wisdom,” the rest of us?
We’re out here living in a mess.

- Groceries cost more than some people’s paychecks.
- Seniors are skipping medication because they can’t afford it.
- Families are watching their retirement accounts vanish.
- And basic public services are being gutted while billionaires hoard even more.

But sure, let’s all applaud the President for “unifying leadership” while the country crumbles.

The worst part? It was obvious they thought this performance would convince us everything is fine. That we wouldn’t notice the cracks showing. That we’d fall for the act.

I hate to break it to them, but some of us are paying very close attention.

We see the pandering.
We hear the lies.
And we feel the consequences every single day.

This wasn’t a cabinet meeting. It was a performance for an audience of one. And the rest of us were just supposed to smile and nod along like fools.

Well, I’m not smiling.
And I sure as hell am not nodding.

This kind of behavior isn’t normal. It’s not democratic. It’s not governing.
It’s authoritarian cosplay, and it should terrify every single one of us.

We need leaders, not loyalists.
We need truth, not theatrics.
We need accountability, not applause.

And no amount of staged praise is going to change that.

Governing Like a Chef Who Doesn’t Know How to Cook

LAKE GENEVA, WI - Imagine a chef who doesn’t bother with recipes, measurements, or even basic kitchen safety. He just hurls spaghetti at the wall and watches to see what sticks. That’s Donald Trump’s idea of running the American economy—impulsive, chaotic, and absolutely disastrous for the people stuck eating whatever mess he makes.

Trump’s latest experiment? A sweeping wave of tariffs slapped on everything in sight. In true “spaghetti chef” fashion, he didn’t bother explaining the plan, the goal, or the possible consequences. He just threw it out there—10% on all imports, 34% on Chinese goods, 20% on the EU—and waited to see what stuck. The result? The stock market recoiled in horror. The Dow plunged over 1,300 points, the S&P dropped more than 3%, and investors panicked like someone just pulled the fire alarm in the kitchen.

This isn’t strategy. It’s not leadership. It’s reckless trial-and-error policymaking that punishes the very people Trump claims to protect. Every time he starts swinging tariffs around like a frying pan in a food fight, everyday Americans are the ones getting burned.

Let’s talk about China for a second. Americans rely on Chinese imports for everything from smartphones to sneakers to parts that keep American factories running. Slapping massive tariffs on those goods doesn’t punish China—it jacks up prices for U.S. consumers and businesses. It strangles supply chains. It sparks inflation. It costs jobs. It’s the economic equivalent of burning dinner and blaming the stove.

And while the stock market has stabilized slightly in the past few days, it’s not because things are getting better—it’s because the absolute worst-case scenarios have temporarily been taken off the burner. Investors aren’t breathing easy—they’re holding their breath, praying Trump doesn’t barge into the kitchen again with a can of gasoline.

Experts are sounding the alarm. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers is warning that these tariffs could push us into a recession, with 2 million jobs lost and a $5,000 hit to the average household. Vanguard just cut its economic outlook. Consumer confidence is rattled. Business investment is stalling. But Trump, ever the chef without a clue, just keeps tossing more spaghetti at the wall and calling it bold leadership.

This is not how you run a country. Governing isn’t a guessing game, and economic policy isn’t supposed to be a reality show where you improvise every episode. It takes planning, consistency, and responsibility—three things Trump has shown zero interest in. His erratic, shoot-from-the-hip style might make for dramatic headlines, but it leaves Americans footing the bill while he stirs the pot.

The sad truth is, we’re all stuck in this kitchen while Trump plays chef, tossing out half-baked ideas with no recipe, no direction, and no care for the mess he’s making. And if we let him keep running things like this, it won’t just be our dinner ruined—it’ll be the whole damn house up in flames.

Summary

Donald Trump is back in the economic kitchen—hurling tariffs like spaghetti at the wall and calling it leadership. But this kind of reckless trial-and-error policymaking isn’t bold, it’s destructive. With markets tanking, prices rising, and recession fears growing, Americans are left cleaning up the mess from a chef who clearly doesn’t follow recipes—or care about the consequences.

Laura Kiefert breaks down how the Court’s latest rulings - on mass deportations and mass firings - prove that what’s “legal” isn’t always what’s right.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - When I was growing up, we were taught the Supreme Court was the last line of defense for justice in this country. That when all else failed, this group of robed constitutional guardians would rise above politics and protect the rights of the people. But that ideal died a slow death—and its last gasps have become painfully obvious with the Court’s recent rulings favoring the Trump administration.

Let’s be clear: this Court is no longer functioning as a fair referee. It’s playing defense for a man who has made a career of bulldozing norms, ducking accountability, and weaponizing government against anyone who dares stand in his way.

Take the decision to greenlight Trump’s use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act—yes, 1798, back when we were still powdered wigs and muskets—to deport Venezuelan migrants he claims are gang members. The Court’s conservative majority brushed past any real scrutiny of due process, pretending this centuries-old law somehow gives the executive branch sweeping power to make deportation decisions without meaningful oversight. Justice Sotomayor, in dissent, warned of the “grave consequences” for people swept up in this vague, unchecked dragnet—but her voice, once again, was drowned out by a majority more interested in empowering Trump than defending civil liberties.

And if that wasn’t chilling enough, let’s talk about federal workers. The Court just blocked an order that would’ve reinstated over 16,000 employees fired in one of the Trump administration’s so-called “efficiency” purges. No hearings. No process. Just pink slips. Two justices—Sotomayor and Jackson—had the guts to call it out for what it is: government overreach, trampling on the livelihoods of people who’ve served their country. But again, the majority showed where its loyalty lies.

It’s not with working people. It’s not with fairness. It’s not with the Constitution.

It’s with Trump.

This is the part that enrages me most: The same Court that micromanaged student loan forgiveness, that handcuffed the EPA, that nitpicked over the tiniest interpretations of federal authority, now turns around and gives Trump a blank check to fire thousands and deport people under a 200-year-old law.

And we’re supposed to believe this isn’t political?

The Court has become a place where morality goes to die under the weight of legal technicalities. Where cruelty is sanitized with precedent. Where silence in the face of injustice is disguised as restraint.

I’m not a lawyer. I’m not a scholar. I’m just someone who believes in fairness. But I can tell you this: just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s right. And what this Court is doing—again and again—is using legality as a shield for injustice.

They are enabling the rise of authoritarianism, not by bold declarations, but by a slow erosion of protections, a dismissal of norms, and a refusal to act when it matters most. They are telling Trump, “Go ahead. Fire who you want. Deport who you want. Delay justice as long as you want. We’ve got your back.”

SUMMARY

The Supreme Court was meant to be the last defense against authoritarian overreach. Instead, it’s acting like Trump’s personal legal team. In this editorial, I break down how the Court’s latest rulings—on mass deportations and mass firings—prove that what’s “legal” isn’t always what’s right. And how their silence in the face of injustice is anything but impartial.

Trump’s Cruel Plan to Gut Essential Care

LAKE GENEVA, WI - Let me say this loud and clear:

If you still think Donald Trump cares about seniors, the sick, or the vulnerable—wake up. This man isn’t just threatening democracy with his strongman rhetoric—he’s actively coming after Medicare, and he doesn’t care who he hurts along the way.

The Trump team’s decision to block Medicare coverage for anti-obesity medications is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s cruel, shortsighted, and dangerous. And if we let it slide, millions of people will pay the price—not with dollars, but with their health.

Slamming the Door on Life-Changing Obesity Medications

Trump’s latest move? Rejecting a proposal that would have allowed Medicare to cover new, effective anti-obesity medications like Wegovy and Zepbound. These aren’t vanity pills—they’re treatments for a serious, chronic disease that affects more than 42% of American adults.

Obesity contributes to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Denying coverage for these medications means more hospital stays, more suffering, and more lives cut short. Seniors are already more vulnerable—and under Trump’s policy, they’re being told to suffer in silence while their health declines.

It’s not only heartless—it’s fiscally stupid. Treating obesity early and effectively saves the system money down the road. But Trump never cared much for math if it didn’t benefit him personally

Cuts to Medicaid, Attacks on the Disabled, and a War on Public Healt

But the attack on Medicare is part of a much bigger plan. Trump’s proposed cuts to Medicaid would gut access to care for children, people with disabilities, and low-income seniors. In states like Texas, experts are warning that hospital closures and massive service losses are on the horizon if these cuts go through.

And what’s Trump doing while healthcare experts sound the alarm? Appointing unqualified loyalists to lead agencies like Medicare and Medicaid, turning them into political playgrounds rather than institutions of public service.

He’s not just chipping away at the system—he’s hacking it to pieces. Eliminating government-funded obesity drugs. Threatening cuts to preventive care. Undermining access to mental health services. All while wrapping himself in a flag and screaming “America First.”

If You’re Not Outraged, You’re Not Paying Attention

This isn’t policy. This is sabotage.

Trump isn’t just trying to take away programs—he’s trying to dismantle the very idea that government should protect and support its citizens. If you’re elderly, disabled, sick, or poor, he’s telling you to fend for yourself.

Well, I’m not okay with that. And you shouldn’t be either.