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Faith Office is not a good look

Last week, President Trump announced the establishment of a White House Faith Office. Its purpose, as described in a White House announcement, is to “...empower faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship to better serve families and communities.” Don’t they already have access to a higher power? There is no question that Christians, especially, but also Jews and Muslims have been targets of discrimination and bias. Some have been violent as we’ve seen at several universities that have tolerated, and in some cases encouraged antisemitism. Civil rights ...

Tariff target on roses makes no sense

May is usually the best month for florists, Mother’s Day being a big reason. But Donald Trump’s tariff war is raining pain on their bestselling season. Pierson’s Flower Shop and Greenhouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, expects customers to dial back on purchases because of higher prices forced by tariffs. “We ship a lot from Europe, we ship a lot from down south, South America,” shop owner Al Pierson told KCRG, a local television station. “Everything’s being affected.” It’s not like mass rose production can be brought to the U.S. Nearly 80% of cut flowers sold here must ...

Immigration policy built on lies

The White House lawn was festooned for the past week with mug shots of supposed illegal immigrant criminals the administration has arrested or deported. It formed a backdrop for “Border Czar” Tom Homan’s threats from the briefing room warning that every illegal immigrant within our borders needs to register immediately with the Department of Homeland Security and carry documentation at all times. If they fail to comply, he advised, that itself will be treated as a criminal offense. Homan is, to put it politely, winging it. This isn’t Russia yet. The “czar” cannot simply ...

America gets grifted by swamp king

Addressing Congress in 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt warned Americans about being lulled into unconsciousness by those who pooh-poohed the dark clouds over Europe created by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. “I hope that we shall have fewer American ostriches in our midst,” said FDR. “It is not good for the ultimate health of ostriches to bury their heads in the sand.” There’s no gainsaying that when it comes to capitalizing on many Americans’ willingness to be bamboozled by hucksters, Donald Trump is pure gold. The slogan “Make America Great Again” isn’t ...

Around Trump world in 100 days

I’m not Catholic, but the pope’s death hit hard, compared to a living president. Pope Francis, a champion for peace and the poor who crossed borders in his inclusion, showed how it’s done, winning hearts all over the world. Donald Trump showed up at the Vatican funeral wearing a bright blue suit amid a sea of black. The least of his sins. As the world wept, hopes that the president would learn a lesson in kind leadership — for his 100-day mark — faded fast. Trump is remarkably unchanged, all his days. He believed in tariffs 50 years ago and now. Greed, power and a mouth ...

Deportations without due process

If Joe Biden effectuated his immigration policy without due process, why can’t Donald Trump do the same with his? That’s the question raised by Joe Biden’s effortlessly permitting millions of people to enter the country illegally and Donald Trump’s having to go through extensive exertions to remove (or keep removed) one illegal immigrant, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Abrego Garcia shouldn’t have been deported to El Salvador, but the point still stands — illegal immigrants can be imported by the millions, with nothing more than a notice to appear and a bus ticket to their ...