A psychiatrist's point of view about Donald Trump and his crazy "fake news" media ban

Donald Trump’s explanation for barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House is telling. He complains that the news media ​is writing “purposely negative stories,” which he equates with “fake news.” Bad news is “fake news.”❓

He is incapable of tolerating reality, especially when it reflects poorly on him. Consider that the most powerful person on the planet is so mentally compromised that the problem he wishes to solve is the media rather than the news itself. This is a form of insanity.

Many of Donald Trump’s maga cult supporters, including self-serving Republican politicians, have been in a state of denial regarding his unfitness to serve.

Over time, his enablers will have to carry the burden of their complicity in the debacle that is Donald Trump.

From Larry S. Sandberg M.D., in New York
New York
The writer is a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Donald Trump and maga Republicans continue to ignore administrative incompetence

Echo opinion letters published in The New York Times:

Dear Editor:  A day does not pass when Donald Trump’s glaring unfitness and authoritarianism are not on full display.

The firing of the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, is just the latest outrageous example: shooting the messenger in an effort to deny reality.

Republican members of Congress, with rare exceptions, have been silent. Their complicity and compliance must be attacked by a public that refuses to accept this as normal. Many of these individuals know better and choose — either out of fear or self-interest — to turn a blind eye to the catastrophe befalling our country.

From Larry S. Sandberg in New York. a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Dear Editor: Donald Trump’s firing of Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for weak labor market numbers is like terminating the weather forecaster because it rains on your picnic.

In my 95 years on this earth, I have never seen such childish tactics from a person in high office, let alone a president. He should pick up his toys and go home.

From Helene Comm Fuchs in Fort Myers, Florida

Republicans cruel attacks on the President's son Hunter Biden have backfired!

 Echo opinion letters published in the New York Times

Republicans created a wrong minded brouhaha about Hunter Biden who is recovering from addiction illness and not running for- and never has run for- any political office.

Dear Editor:  President Biden lost his first wife and daughter in a car accident. He lost his son Beau to brain cancer. Hunter Biden, his other son, has just been found guilty of felony charges involving gun possession related to his addiction illness and he is in recovery.

We live in a painfully polarized time. But I would argue that, regardless of party affiliation, compassion and empathy are warranted in acknowledging our shared humanity. While pundits will no doubt turn their focus to political fallout, we should not lose sight of the big picture: These are real people, with real lives, and real suffering.

From Larry S. Sandberg, New York The writer is a psychiatrist.

Dear Editor:  Addiction is a disease, and neither intelligence, education or great family support can prevent it. Such things also do not prevent cancer, mental illness, Parkinson’s or any other disease.

Hunter Biden fell prey to addiction, and as a result made bad choices that got him into trouble and have troubled his loving family to this day, even though he has been sober for a while. 

Hopefully Hunter Biden will continue to be recovering— although prison is not a good environment for an addict trying to stay sober!

If Hunter Biden weren’t the president’s son, he likely would not have even been on trial for something he did that thousands of addicts do in our gun-loving society, and get away with.

From Manuela Bonnet-Buxton, in Cornelius, Oregon