Can somebody who knows JD Vance please read this essay to him? Vance is a Roman Catholic convert who needs a spiritual refresh

You can tell a lot about someone by what they leave behind.
Echo essay published by Katy McGrady in Substack.

Underlining the Parable of the Good Samaritan
The Ulma Family of Poland are saints for our time.

What family photos were framed on the wall❓

What items were left on a nightstand❓ What stories do people tell about them❓ What passages are highlighted in their Bible❓ 

Wictoria and Jozef Ulman had a single word written in the margins of their family Bible, in the Gospel of Luke, right beside the parable of the Good Samaritan, which they had underlined: Yes❗

That tells us almost everything we need to know about the Ulmas, and what legacy they left behind: the Gospel was real to them.

This Polish farm family, with six children and one on the way, knew the Gospel mandate to care for the tossed down, cast aside, and hurt was not just an abstract idea for preachers at the pulpit. They knew they were called to care for the marginalized themselves, in their real life circumstances, and so when the Szali and Goldman families came to find shelter as the Nazis were rounding up the Jews in 1942, the Ulmas opened their home. 

Their farm became a shelter, and for nearly two years, this Polish Catholic family and these Eastern European Jews lived and worked together, living the parable of the Good Samaritan.

It would’ve been very easy for the Ulmas to say, “we have little kids, we can’t hide you here.” It would’ve been entirely understandable for the Ulmas to say, “we can’t afford to feed you” or “we don’t want to die too.” I’m not sure anyone would’ve blamed Jozef or Wictoria for being fearful or cautious in the face of the evils of the day.

But,  they did not cower. They did not hesitate.

In an interview with Paulina Guzic for OSV, (Our Sunday Visitor) the postulator of the Ulma canonization cause said this:

“It is sometimes said that they behaved downright irresponsibly by taking in all these Jews. After all, they risked their lives, the lives of their children. And Wiktoria was soon expecting the birth of this next, seventh child. Well, it’s precisely the opposite. In their lives you can see a deep desire to live. They very much wanted to live … constantly discovering the Lord God, the beauty of everyday life, the beauty of life.”

They were eventually sold out by a policeman who knew their whereabouts, bringing the German police to their front door, leading to their brutal execution in the front yard. 17 people total, including the six Ulma children, were shot and killed in a matter of minutes, all so the Nazis could make an example of them. 

Eyewitness accounts include the horrific details that as the adults were shot and killed, the children stood by screaming and crying. 

Not knowing what to do with these children in the aftermath, the police decided to shoot and kill them too. When asked about it later, Eilert Dieken, the German commander, responded: So that you would not have any problems with them.

The Ulmas, in the face of unspeakable evil, believed the mandate of the Gospel: they were moved with compassion, they attended to their neighbor, they treated others with mercy, and were killed for it.

The Ulma family was beatified together in 2023. This is the first time an entire family, including a child who was being born at the time of his mother’s martyrdom, were all raised to the altars together.

A monument to their heroism and sanctity stands in Markowa with these words:

Saving the lives of others they laid down their own lives. Hiding eight elder brothers in faith, they were killed with them. May their sacrifice be a call for respect and love to every human being! They were the sons and daughters of this land; they will remain in our hearts.

In light of everything happening in our country and world, in the face of remarkable injustice, visible violence, horrific destruction, and deep division, I can’t help but ask the Ulma family for their intercession.
Can I too say “Yes❗” to the command of the parable of the Good Samaritan? Am I willing to help those who have been tossed down, cast aside, and rounded up?

At the heart of the Good Samaritan parable is someone beaten down, and someone passing by sees the injustice, hurt, pain, and suffering, and decides to help.

As videos of the shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24, 2026, circulated, what happened mere moments before his death is notable: he was trying to help a woman tossed down on the ice.

Political commentary and vastly varied opinions about what’s happening with immigration enforcement and protesting aside, it’s evident that a man was killed — after a confusing scrum and in the midst of a tense situation — after his last earthly act was to try and help someone stand back up.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s statement after yet another tragedy in his Archdiocese is poignant:

“Following January 24, 2026, Saturday’s tragic shooting in Minneapolis, I ask all people of good will to join me today in prayer for Alex Jeffrey Pretti, for his parents, and for his loved ones.

The loss of another life amidst the tensions that have gripped Minnesota should prompt all of us to ask what we can do to restore the Lord’s peace. While we rightly thirst for God’s justice and hunger for his peace, this will be not be achieved until we are able to rid our hearts of the hatreds and prejudices that prevent us from seeing each other as brothers and sisters created in the image and likeness of God. That is as true for our undocumented neighbors as it is for our elected officials and for the men and women who have the unenviable responsibility of enforcing our laws. They all need our humble prayers.”

Perhaps the only way to see the image and likeness of God in another is to first and foremost remember we’re all called to be a good samaritan: to help others up when they’ve been pushed down, to offer shelter when we have room, and to see the goodness of God in even the most heartbreaking moments.

As Archbishop Coakley, president of the USCCB said in his statement:

“As a nation we must come together in dialogue, turning away from dehumanizing rhetoric and acts which threaten human life. In this spirit, in unity with Pope Leo, it is important to proclaim, ‘Peace is built on respect for people!’”

A priest I know and respect in the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, who is also a chaplain in the Minnesota National Guard, gave a very short and powerful homily yesterday. It’s worth watching in full.

Yesterday, at the Angelus address at noon above St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo spoke about the timing and place of Jesus’s mission. When John the Baptist was arrested, he could’ve perhaps been tempted to think “not the right time.” As his cousin is imprisoned, he could’ve perhaps assumed “not the right place.”

And yet… “it was precisely in this dark situation that Jesus began to bring the light of the Good News: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near’.”

If these moments seems like they are heavy, or dark, or hopeless, or terrifying, the courage of the Ulmas can remind us that the Gospel is real, and the Gospel, proclaimed by you, is needed most, right now.

“In our lives, both individually and as a Church, interior struggles or circumstances we deem unfavorable can lead us to believe that it is not the right time to proclaim the Gospel, to make a decision, to make a choice, or to change a situation. 

In this way, however, we risk becoming paralyzed by indecision or imprisoned by excessive prudence, whereas the Gospel calls us to dare to trust. God is at work at all times; every moment is “God’s time,” even when we do not feel ready or when the situation seems unfavorable.”

We must dare to trust. In justice and healing, in mercy and forgiveness. We must dare to hope, that God is not (nor will he ever be) finished. We must dare to believe, that God is working, even still, even when it’d be far easier to close the door, ignore the news, or try and pretend it’s all just going to be fine.

 

And as Pope Leo said, our God is one who “…enters fully into the complexity of human situations and relationships.”

This is not a moment for ceaseless news commentary. It’s not just a moment for video analysis or hand wringing. It’s a moment for Gospel proclamation, because only then can the Gospel serve “…as a leaven of fraternity and peace among all individuals, cultures, religions and peoples.”

And what does the Gospel proclaim❓ What should we write Yes❗ to in the margins of our Bible❓

He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. -Luke 10:34

Republicans and maga Republicans must listen to Americans' growing opposition against ICE terrorism

Echo editorial published in The Columbian newspaper, in Vancouver Washington state. Immigration actions: Ends don’t justify means.

When it comes to immigration enforcement, the ends do not justify the means. Federal efforts to identify and detain undocumented immigrants under Donald Trump have too often violated the law, decorum and common sense, creating conflict rather than efficient implementation.

Supporters point out that Trump was elected for a second time largely because of his proposals for immigration policy, claiming that he is carrying out the will of the American public. But, a sober analysis reveals that he is not living up to his campaign promises.

The Trump administration does not release details to support its “official” deportation statistics, making direct comparisons difficult. But the Deportation Data Project at UCLA shows approximately 350,000 deportations in the first year of Trump’s return to office. By comparison, the Obama administration deported 962,000 people in fiscal year 2009; during the final fiscal year of the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security deported 778,000 people.

The  evilTrump administration claims that the president’s high-profile crackdown has led to fewer encounters at the southern border and to more undocumented immigrants voluntarily leaving the country — claims that are believable but are not backed up with proof from the opaque administration. But, it seems that Trump’s efforts are focused on an illusion of strength rather than effectiveness.

That illusion reportedly includes the use of deceptive tactics in Clark County, in Washington state. 

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (evil ICE) agents have worn uniforms designed to look local law enforcement or labels identifying them as a “corrections officer.” In the Portland, Oregon area, federal agents reportedly have worn vests that make them appear to be utility workers and have used subterfuge to lure residents outside.

“In these times, clear communication and trust are more important than ever,” Vancouver Police Chief Troy Price said in a December video. “I want to ensure every member of our community can easily identify officers from the Vancouver Police Department.”

Such deception can make it more difficult for local law enforcement officers to do their job while also diminishing public trust.

The Vancouver Washington City Council this week formally condemned the tactics of federal agents, saying that enforcement “has caused demonstrable harm and destabilization.” That such a statement is necessary would be inconceivable under an ethical administration.

While it is necessary to enforce immigration law, the administration appears disinterested in following established legal norms. That includes the recent revelation of an ICE memo insisting that agents have the power to forcibly enter homes without a court warrant — a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment. It also includes the administration’s campaign to void thousands of asylum cases from people who have attempted to follow the process for legal residency.

Such policies give license for enforcement agents to ignore the law in carrying out the will of Donald Trump, who is more interested in political theater than effective enforcement. 

And those policies imply that the ends — the unlawful deportation of undocumented immigrants — justify the means, regardless of the level of callousness, or deception or secrecy. It is a wholly un-American position and one that should give pause to all Americans. (Maine Writer:  Any American risks being labeled as a  "domestic terrorist"❗)

In fact, the Vancouver City Council this week formally condemned the tactics of federal agents, saying that enforcement “has caused demonstrable harm and destabilization.” That such a statement is necessary would be inconceivable under an ethical administration.

While it is necessary to enforce immigration law, the administration appears disinterested in following established legal norms. That includes the recent revelation of an ICE memo insisting that agents have the power to forcibly enter homes without a court warrant — a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment. 

It also includes the administration’s campaign to void thousands of asylum cases from people who have attempted to follow the process for legal residency.😒😞

Such policies give license for enforcement agents to ignore the law in carrying out the will of a president who is more interested in political theater than effective enforcement. And those policies imply that the ends — the deportation of undocumented immigrants — justify the means, regardless of the level of callousness or deception or secrecy. It is a wholly un-American position and one that should give pause to all Americans.

“Our priority is our community and the safety of our community, no matter who is in it,” Camas police Officer Ward Kruse told The Columbian. “All of the officers are there to serve.”

Donald Trump and maga Republicans must hear the truth over and over about how spreading Trumpzi evil is getting worse

Echo opinion letter published in The Columbian: What Donald Trump and his evil cohorts are saying and doing is ruining the America we know. 

It is time for everyone to stand up, face the facts and fight this takeover. We need to educate his cult believers that what he is doing is not OK and not helping them; Donald Trump is a total fraud, not caring for anyone but himself.  (He only cares about "me, myself and I....)

We need to educate his believers that what he is doing is not OK and not helping them; he’s a total fraud, not caring for anyone but himself. He has appealed to some Americans because he supports their key beefs (abortion, transgender rights, border, etc...racism) and they give him a pass on all the horrible things he is doing. 

We need to keep spreading the truth to enlighten these folks and others. (Maine Writer postscript:  This is precisely the reason why opinion letters to newspapers and other media are essential....truth must be documented.)

From Walter George in Vancouver Washington, published in The Columbian newspaper.

 

Donald Trump and maga Republicans are in denial: Trump's mental decline and petty obsessions are not normal

An echo opinion published in the Baltimore Sun by Bobby Zirkin:

Can someone in the White House who knows how to read please recite this following opinion to Donald Trump❓

White House CRIES After Trump's Nobel Peace Prize Nightmare Comes True

It gives me no pleasure at all to say that this last week (January 2026) in the White House has been an unmitigated disaster for Trump. 

My wife and I are currently re-watching “The West Wing” (one of the greatest shows ever), and it was hard not to think that Donald Trump could use a Josh Lyman, Toby Ziegler or Sam Seaborn this week. This truly was, paraphrasing the 2014, Steve Carell film, a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week for the Donald Trump.

Let’s start with the Nobel Peace Prize, of all things❗ 

Whether Trump deserves to win it or not is — well — who really cares❓ Donald Trump definitely has more pressing things to worry about than this, because he’s — you know — supposed to be the president. Whether someone gives him an award or not is kind of a minuscule thing. Just out of curiosity, I researched who has won the prize over the years and found some doozies. Here is one. Yasser Arafat won despite being an international terrorist. And there are countless deserving individuals who never won, so I will highlight one to make the point. Winston Churchill never won the award despite essentially saving Europe and the world from Adolf Hitler. Pretty sure Churchill never gave speeches whining that he didn’t get the award. Not that this isn’t a great trophy for someone, but receiving the prize shouldn’t be something on Donald Trump's deteriorating mind, deserving or not. (Maine Writer: Somebody must tell Donald Trump that his obsession with the Nobel Peace Prize is not normal❗)

María Machado offered to give Trump her peace prize for her work promoting democracy in Venezuela (and, unbelievable, he actually took it). He took someone else’s Nobel Peace Prize. 

To cap the week, Donald Trump sent a text to the Norwegian prime minister that read, “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace.” 

So, let’s be clear. This is not OK, whatever your political persuasion. When Donald Trump throws a tantrum over not receiving a trophy, it doesn’t look great. And it obviously shouldn’t impact public policy.

Next, Greenland. Greenland❓ Donald Trump is demanding that the United States own Greenland. The stated rationale is for national security, but that’s not a serious argument. The United States can do anything militarily in Greenland, including placing troops and building bases, under an already-existing treaty with the owner, Denmark. The president has said we will own Greenland “one way or the other,” which seems like a threat. To Denmark. Our close ally. Our fellow member of NATO. Over Greenland. Get the picture❓ This obsession is threatening the transatlantic alliance and is a gift to adversaries in Moscow and Beijing. They are publicly rejoicing at the rift, and it lends credibility to the ridiculous rationale used by Russia to invade Ukraine and the one floated by China related to Taiwan. Over Greenland! Cooler heads in the administration need to pull back from the abyss. By all means, beef up military presence there, but again, we can already do that. The fear is that the damage will last long past this insanity.

Next, there is Iran. This is a bit more complex, and I am holding out hope that we will do the right thing. 

The use of B-2 bombers in June to target nuclear facilities was the absolute right thing to do. Can you imagine nuclear weapons in the hands of the religious fanatics who chant “Death to America” like it’s a pop song on the Top 40❓ (Maine Writer: But, wait❗ Was the mission all bravado❓ because there is no definitive proof about the targeted site being completely destroyed.) 

But declaring the conflict over and the onset of peace the day after was, frankly, premature. In these last weeks, the world witnessed the full depravity of the Iranian regime as they mowed down their own people in the streets (perhaps as many as 20,000 murdered) just for demanding freedom. Donald Trump deserves credit for being vocally supportive of the protesters while many on the left and in the mainstream media disappeared from their increasing momentum with peaceful marches and protests. 

Donald Trump went further, posting on social media that Iranians should continue to protest, that help was on the way, and that the Iranian regime would pay the price for killing its own citizens. Iranians protested, no help came and the regime murdered thousands with no repercussions. One hopes that the administration is just biding time, but for now, we have done nothing. Regime change was within reach in June, and it is within reach now. A world without those responsible for exporting international terrorism would be a game-changer, and the Iranian people need our help.

Guess what❓ That was just one week. Obviously, the administration needs to get its act together. The world needs America’s steady leadership, and this has been anything but. I am rooting for them to get this straightened out and to succeed. Don Bacon, a Republican congressman from Nebraska, called the president’s ramblings this week “very embarrassing conduct,” and he is right. I have spent considerable time defending some of this administration’s policies, but this week is inexplicable. In the movie “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” they eventually got it together, and all was well in the end. Here’s hoping.

Bobby Zirkin is a columnist at The Baltimore Sun.  He represented Baltimore County in the General Assemby for 21 years as a Democratic state senator and delegate. He can be reached at bz@zandslaw.com.

Donald Trump and maga Republicans must call for the 25th Amendment to remove evil from our nation's executive branch

Echo opinion published in the Houston Chronicle:  

American citizen, unarmed Renée Good’s death at the hands (murder❗) of an U.S. Customs and Immigration (ICE) agent, in Minneapolis, is another flashpoint in America’s polarized society, with no shortage of commentary about the incident: who was at fault, implications for immigration policy, and how this fits into broader issues regarding federalism and the 

executive power overreach by Donald Trump.

Nevertheless, among such broader political discussions, a counter-narrative has arisen that Good’s death resulted from her “disrespect” for law enforcement. (This is a sinful assertion- assuming this blog is being read by people who claim to be ✝️Christians.)

Donald Trump himself claimed that she was “very, very disrespectful to law enforcement.”

Even as stories of ICE agents’ alleged misconduct continue to emerge, the implied conclusion is that if you just “respect” law enforcement — including ICE — nothing bad will happen to you.

This narrative, advanced from Reddit commenters to the White House, reflects a specific dynamic with implications for both law enforcement and our broader society: honor culture.
Honor culture is a belief system whose central tenet is that reputation is 1) granted by others and 2) always under threat.

When disrespected, retaliation — even to the point of lethal violence — is often the only way to assert one’s status and self-worth.

These beliefs are not abstract or symbolic. Honor regions, such as the American South, have observably higher rates of argument-related homicide, domestic abuse, and gun violence. This is because honor culture not only drives the occurrence of violence, but also how such violence is perceived and interpreted by others — thereby shaping violence before it happens.

Law enforcement is no exception. In my own research, we found not only that more honor-endorsing regions of the country have higher rates of police shootings, but also that individuals’ personal belief in honor norms drove them to perceive law enforcements’ use of brutality as more acceptable if framed as a response to an insult.

This dynamic defines many current discussions of (evil❗) ICE — and it makes future violence more likely. Justifying law enforcement officers’ misconduct in the light of honor norms creates expectations and preemptively excuses misconduct. It tells officers that feeling personally insulted is more important than the professional standards and laws guiding their use of force. It places the burden of protecting officers’ self-worth on the public, rather than on officers themselves.

This is dangerous, not only because it makes future violence more likely, but because it represents a broader failure of responsible citizenship: the duty to be good followers.

Whatever one’s personal political beliefs, the fact is that law enforcement officers — including the evil ICE agents — occupy positions of civic leadership and public trust.

But obviously, leaders do not operate in a vacuum. 

Leadership is co-created by interactions between leaders and followers, whose beliefs, values, and expectations shape leaders’ behavior. Beliefs about leadership flow upward as much as authority flows downward, making good leadership impossible without good followership.

There is no law enforcement agency in the United States that officially permits use of force in response to personal insult — a rationale some law enforcement experts call “contempt of cop.” However, when we signal that officers are entitled to blind obedience and emotional deference, we actively encourage them to become worse at their jobs. 

By granting them carte blanche to act as if they were in a barroom brawl or 18th century duel, we undermine officers’ obligation as civic leaders and agents of the law to the highest levels of self-control and public accountability.


This isn’t an argument about immigration policy. President Barack Obama deported over 3 million people, and ICE misconduct wasn’t widespread or publicly justified at the time. What we are seeing now isn’t a matter of enforcing the law, but of elevating honor norms over the rule of law.

Holding law enforcement — including ICE agents — to a standard beyond honor norms is not anti-police. Rather, it is pro-professionalism.

Even if you’re 100% pro-ICE, 🤢you should still reject honor-based narratives about the agents’ conduct. You should want ICE agents to be excellent at their jobs: disciplined, restrained and effective, not pepper-spraying or pointing guns at peaceful protestors, let alone calling someone a “f______ b____” after a shooting. You should want them supported by clear standards and strong training, not encouraged to indulge their worst impulses.

Encouraging honor norms does the opposite: It makes effective law enforcement harder, thereby eroding legitimacy, increasing the likelihood of escalation, and making tragedies like Good’s death more likely to occur in the future.

There are certainly other important conversations to have about immigration and law enforcement. Statistically, however, most of us

will never attend an anti- or pro-ICE rally. Most of us will, hopefully, never be in a situation like Good’s. But all of us will talk. And those conversations — over coffee or a beer — help shape the cultural narratives that guide our civic leaders.

When we justify violence as a response to “disrespect,” we incentivize leaders to value personal honor over public duty — abandoning our responsibility as good citizens and making our communities less safe.

Aaron Pomerantz is a research psychologist and serves as the assistant director of research and evaluation at Rice University’s Doerr Institute for New Leaders.

Donald Trump and maga Republicans in denail about failed executive leadership

Where is Republican Senator Susan Collins💢❓❓

White House fiascos: Regarding “Europe warns of 'dangerous downward spiral' after Trump threatens tariffs over Greenland,” (Jan. 18): Maine Writer preface here.....Donald Trump is a serial criminal and a constant liar.  He never testifies about anything "under oath".  Europeans know Donald Trump is crazy, so are his cult followers....as per this opinion published in the Houston Chronicle.

Donald Trump informed Norway’s prime minister

Jonas Gahr Støre in a text — that because he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, he plans to seize Greenland❓ Without a doubt, it is obvious that the golden escalator does not go to the top floor.  Donald Trump has lost his freaking mind. Every news organization in America should be screaming about this❗😱

At this point, Trump could bite the head off a live rat, and it might earn a page 10 mention in major metro papers. As pundits debate the strategic significance of rat eating, MSNBC would run live coverage with commentary. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz would appear on Fox News, decrying the radical left conspiracy to advance its woke, pro-rat agenda. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt would praise the selfless courage of Trump confronting the rat head-on and, much like Jesus, eating it for our sins. Rats 🐀would be, like, “These guys are nuts. Just sit tight for a few months, and we’ll be running the place.”

This isn’t about eating rats. It’s not even about Greenland. Rather, it’s about the elephant in the room: We are in a Freddy Krueger-level national nightmare, and it’s time to wake up. The Cabinet needs to invoke Section 4 of the 25th Amendment. The House needs to impeach. The Senate must to convict❗

From Robert Campbell, in Katy Texas

Donald Trump had his ass handed to him by Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney in an excellent speech given in Davos

 

's

Prime Minister Mark Carney Is the Crisis Manager Canada Needs

By Stephen Maher published in Macleans Magazine. 

 Over the last few months, Mark Carney seemed to drop his elbows. He gave up on counter-tariffs, expressed regret over Doug Ford’s pro-trade commercial and kidded around about sports in the Oval Office. For a while, it seemed like his strategy for dealing with Trump was a performative bromance.

But something changed. Trump’s musing about annexing Greenland maybe❓ Or a surge of confidence from Canada’s new deal with China❓ In any case, Mr. Carney’s speech at Davos was a historic one, positioning Canada as the leader of a middle-power alliance. “If we’re not at the table,” he said in an instantly famous line, “we’re on the menu.” 

Stephen Maher, who wrote a profile about Carney for Maclean’s last year, calls Carney’s speech “a masterful piece of persuasion, calm and carefully reasoned.”

Maher says: “At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr. Carney showed backbone at a time when the Europeans were being forced to demonstrate that they have spines. The impact was without precedent in Canadian history.”

The speech, which Mr. Carney apparently wrote himself, was a masterful piece of persuasion, calm and carefully reasoned. 

He started with an anecdote from a 1978, essay by Václav Havel—then a Czech dissident, later the first post-communist leader of the Czech Republic—about a grocer hanging a sign in his shop window reading “Workers of the world unite.” This sign in the window, in all the windows, meant that Czechs were “living within a lie.” Carney connected the horrors of Soviet communism with current American imperialism—a message that landed with great force in a room full of Europeans astonished and frightened by the bizarre demands of the American president.

As the central banker for Canada and then the United Kingdom, Carney became comfortable giving speeches at the World Economic Forum and wherever else Davos people gathered.

While I was writing my profile, I made myself watch his speeches and panel appearances—which I found dull, since they mostly had to do with the important but dreary world of bank regulation. It was striking, though, that the other economists, bankers and financial journalists were not bored when he spoke. They hung on every word. Carney was for years the most interesting person in every room at Davos, because he was the smartest person in every room, with deeper insight into the world financial system than literally anyone else alive.

When he entered politics—a demanding career shift to take at 60—I wasn’t certain that those skills would be transferable. Could he connect with people? Could he hide his arrogance? In other circumstances, it might not have worked, but in the fearful atmosphere that prevailed after the second election of Donald Trump, Carney was the calm and experienced crisis manager that Canadians needed.

In a way, Carney has been preparing for that moment for his whole life. Since he was a nerdy, hockey-loving Edmonton teenager hitting the books, he’s had his nose to the grindstone, mastering numbers but also, eventually, communications and power dynamics.

When he entered politics—a demanding career shift to take at 60—I wasn’t certain that those skills would be transferable. Could he connect with people❓Could he hide his arrogance❓ In other circumstances, it might not have worked, but in the fearful atmosphere that prevailed after the second election of Donald Trump, Carney was the calm and experienced crisis manager that Canadians needed.

At Davos, Mr. Carney warned the rest of the world against the “performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination,” showed backbone at a time when the Europeans were being forced to demonstrate that they have spines. The impact was without precedent in Canadian history, says Raymond Blake, author of Canada’s Prime Ministers and the Shaping of a National Identity. “I cannot think of a speech from any other prime minister that had such an impact,” he told me on Wednesday. “Those are rare opportunities to capture international attention, and Carney knew that. He did not disappoint.”

But, apparently, he did disappoint Donald Trump, who responded afterward by saying, with typical imperial narcissism, that “Canada lives because of the United States.” Canadians may come to regret Carney’s leadership if Trump rips up CUSMA (the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement) and destroys our economy, but do we want to live on our knees❓💥🤢

Yet, for the near future, Carney can expect a political boost, which will likely translate, after (right wing) Pierre Poilievre survives his leadership review, in a few more floor crossings, giving him the majority he wants. Poilievre, who has been jammed ever since Trump was re-elected, is struggling to keep the pro-Trump and anti-Trump wings of his base happy, which is a problem he will be dealing with so long as Trump is in office.

In the long run, the triumphant speech will not ensure Carney will be a successful prime minister. Lester Pearson, who filled Canadian hearts with pride when he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957, eventually found that laurels on the world stage did not translate to long-term political success. Everything depends on whether Carney can produce economic results for Canadians. For the moment, it still seems clear that he’s the best-placed person to try.

Maine Writer postscript- Given Mr. Carney's economic experience and international respect, I foresee him filling the leadership void created by the failed Donald Trump corrupt American administration. Merci! Thank you Mr. Carney. 

Concerned Americans are Bearings Witness to ICE cruelty and their peaceful advocacy must put an end to the Trump reign of terror

Echo opinion letter published in the Boston Globe - sad 😟

On January 7, 2026, my husband and I joined others who traveled by bus, car, or bike in the freezing rain to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Burlington. 

We came as part of Bearing Witness (to observe firsthand), a weekly peaceful protest calling for an end to the kidnapping and detention of our immigrant neighbors. The nondescript ICE facility sits amid suburban America — a drab office building used for hearings and detentions, in plain sight of the Burlington Mall and the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center. Those detained endure harsh conditions. Those who attend their scheduled hearings risk detention and deportation. Those who do not appear risk losing their immigration status.

Part of the reason we protest ICE is our daughter. In June she joined a protest outside the ICE facility in another city where there has been active resistance against ICE. An officer tackled her, yanked her arm behind her back, and broke her humerus with a snap. We are relieved she has healed. We are proud of her activism. We cannot be silent.

While we waved our signs in front of the Burlington ICE facility, we watched in horror as car transport trailers delivered a fleet of white Ford Broncos to the parking lot behind the facility. It appears that detentions may be about to ramp up in our region. Once we returned home, we were shocked to learn that Renee Nicole Good was killed that morning by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.

The time has come. I urge people to speak out against the cruelty and oppression of this administration and to find ways to peacefully protest. I wish protesters and immigrants alike safety from harm.

From Janet Fritz in Carlisle, Massachusetts 

Donald Trump embarrassing America by threatening NATO he is crazy must be removed- Senator Collins where are you?

An echo opinion letter was published  in Lancaster Online:

😱😯😰

The awful (stupid-childish) text message from Donald Trump to the prime minister of Norway  can be described in one word: ❗ CRAZY😖😠

In more words, I believe that it is lunacy for a sitting U.S. president to threaten our NATO allies in yet another late-night temper tantrum from a toddler in chief because he didn’t get his participation trophy.

Does Trump have nothing better to do❓ Who in their right mind would look at that tirade and believe that this is the very picture of stability and mental fitness❓

Nothing about it makes sense to me, from Trump’s (fake❗) claim to “having stopped 8 Wars PLUS” to his assertion that the world would be secure only with Greenland in U.S. control.

The results have included the killing of the unarmed American citizen, Renee Good, in Minneapolis.

Is that how we make America great again❓ By waging war against the very foundations this country was built on❓ OMG❗ Come on now❗

This is not normal. It is weird and profoundly deplorable.

From Edgar Pantojas,  in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Donald Trump and maga Republicans continue to allow evil ICE to use authoritarian cruelty against American citizens

Regarding “Houston protests over deadly ICE shooting will continue Friday,” (January 9, 2026) An unarmed American citizen, a mother, was shot four times and murdered. Her name is Renee Good.

In her death by an ICE agent, when her van was driving away from the shooter, America was shot in the heart by the cruelty, hate and evil congressional support of an authoritarian Donald Trump, who failed to support and uphold the Constitution and our citizens' right to peacefully protest.

Echo opinion letter published in the Houston Chronicle:
What will our elected representatives do❓

Like Senator Ted Cruz (who was born in Canada) they are more afraid of an elderly man who is obviously unhinged. They are afraid of losing their job where they are paid to pledge unconstitutional loyalty to the leader they fear.

When faced with the evidence of this murder, our Republican leaders try to rationalize it with flat-out lies. Are we going to continue to go along with this lying until someone we love is shot and killed by an untrained, unnecessary member of the "immigration militia❓”

What are we willing to do to preserve our democracy❓ Even people in Poland, Iran and Russia were willing to stand up for their rights.

If we don't wake up, our democracy will be put to death, and it will not rise again. Not for me, you, our children or grandchildren.

I am very afraid that we are like the frog that is being slowly boiled to death in a heated lab beaker. (Let's just call it what it is. The evil Trump administration declared war on innocent U.S. citizens.)

From Patricia Garris, in Spring, Texas (Harris County) 

Donald Trump tarnishes every brand he is associated with including Evangelical Christians now stereotyped as maga cult followers.

Donald Trump has tarnished the image of Christianity, and now he’s dragging down the police. Echo opinion published in the Los Angeles Times by Matt K. Lewis.

Donald Trump must be impeached❗ Where is Senator Susan Collins❓

For an old man who grifted millions by slapping his name on buildings and various junk products, including his own version of the Bible, Donald  Trump has a special knack for tarnishing iconic American brands- even the Bible.

It goes like this: He grabs some broadly respected institution, rebrands it in his own image, and then hands it back smelling faintly of burnt hair and regret. (Like his hideous Trump Bible.)

Trump’s style of politics doesn’t just polarize Americans — it damages the reputations of major institutions. One repugnant casualty has been American Christianity. (Evangelical Christians are now stereotyped as being a group of maga cult followers. This ugly branding is damaging to all of✝️⛪ Christianity.)

As Axios recently noted, “Nearly three in 10 American adults today identify as religiously unaffiliated — a 33% jump since 2013, according to the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).”

To be sure, Americans have been drifting away from organized religion for years. But as Christianity Today observed in 2023, Trump’s first presidency “accelerated the decline,” particularly among moderate and left-leaning evangelicals — people who once thought church was about Jesus, turning the other cheek and helping widows, orphans and immigrants. You know, “woke” stuff.

Which brings me to my latest worry: that support for law enforcement may be headed down the same path.

“You don’t want militarized people in the streets just roaming around, snatching up people, many of which turn out to be U.S. citizens that just don’t have their papers on them,” podcaster Joe Rogan recently lamented. “Are we really gonna be the Gestapo, ‘Where’s your papers?’ Is that what we’ve come to❓”

Apparently so. And Rogan’s sentiment isn’t purely anecdotal. According to a new Economist/YouGov poll, the approval rating for Immigration and Customs Enforcement has collapsed from roughly +16 to -14 in less than a year, with 52% of Americans saying they disapproved of how ICE was handling its job.

That is a dramatic erosion for a federal agency tasked with enforcing immigration law. And what are the odds that erosion stays neatly confined to ICE❓

Federal immigration agents — the ones confronting protesters, shooting civilians and taking people into custody without warrants — are often wearing bulletproof vests labeled “POLICE.” And then when local police officers start dressing like “warrior cops” themselves — and explicitly cooperate with ICE — the line between immigration enforcement and everyday policing blurs dangerously.

The public’s trust in police is already fragile. Confidence in law enforcement hit a record low in 2023, with just 43% of Americans saying they had a great deal of trust in police. That rebounded to 51% in 2024, which sounds encouraging until you remember that “just over half” is not the kind of number that inspires spontaneous chants of “U.S.A.! U.S.A.❗”

It’s not crazy to think that ICE raids featuring masked officers dressed like they’re about to invade Fallujah, all while harassing U.S. citizens, will send those numbers right back into the basement.

How could they not? They’re detaining U.S. citizens. They shot and killed a mom, Renee Good.😞😢 They’re hassling Uber drivers. They’re targeting Target workers.

I say all this as someone raised to respect law enforcement. My dad was a correctional officer for 30 years and served in the National Guard, including being called to Baltimore, Md., during the riots of 1968.

I grew up on “The Andy Griffith Show,” where Sheriff Andy Taylor enforced the law with folksy wisdom and the knowledge that Deputy Barney Fife would shoot himself if given more than one bullet.

I later married the daughter of a law enforcement officer.

In short, reverence for the “boys in blue” was baked in.

And yet, even as a boring middle-aged white dude who is not committing crimes (at least not felonies), I get a little nervous these days when I see police lights in my rearview mirror, even when I’m not speeding.

I suspect I’m not alone. White America is beginning to experience — or at least glimpse — what people of color have known for generations: that encounters with law enforcement can be unpredictable and sometimes deadly.

For me, it was a video of a police shooting about a decade ago that really changed my perception.

One problem that results from the erosion in trust for police is that people are less likely to report crimes or cooperate with investigations — which is counterproductive if your goal is, say, preventing or solving crimes.

It’s one thing for Trump’s style and behavior to undermine support for his presidency (they are), while boosting Democratic electoral chances. But what about all the institutions — such as ICE, the National Park Service and the Department of Health and Human Services — he’s tarnishing along the way?

Reputations are fragile things. So are symbols. Once a paradigm shifts, it may never return.

Here’s a weird example: For more than a century, smokestacks symbolized progress and prosperity. Today, they signal toxic sludge and class-action lawsuits. The context changed. The meaning followed.

I get the sense something similar is happening when people see a badge with the words “to protect and serve” — or flashing blue-and-red lights.

Trump won’t last forever. But where do our institutions go to get their reputations back❓

Matt K. Lewis is the author of “Filthy Rich Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”