opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
Taco Trump: How a Taco Bowl Became a Cultural Sideshow. AI-Generated.
In the crowded history of political blunders, very few moments are as strangely unforgettable as the now-infamous “Taco Bowl tweet” from 2016. On Cinco de Mayo, then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump posted a photo of himself at his desk in Trump Tower, beaming behind a taco bowl, with the caption:
By Trend Vantage8 months ago in The Swamp
Autopen Gate: The Constitutional Crisis On The Horizon
Politics is a tricky beast, and whether you love or hate the guy in office, they have rules they’re supposed to follow. One of those rules is that they must abide by their duties. One is that they have a constitutional duty to sign bills into law.
By Jason Ray Morton 8 months ago in The Swamp
Opinion: The AMCAN Trade War
Imagine if you're a potato farmer who sells potatoes to a large grocery chain. Then imagine you go to this grocery store and buy carrots, not a lot, just enough for your own family. You get to the register and are met by an indignant manager.
By C. P. McAllister8 months ago in The Swamp
The Silent Superweapon
Editorial Note: This satirical essay is a speculative exploration of administrative overreach, government efficiency rhetoric, and the unintended consequences of digitized control. Inspired by the spirit of The Twilight Zone, it invites readers to imagine a world where a new bureaucracy becomes the engine of dystopia. It is not a declaration of fact, but a provocative thought experiment. License is taken to use the real life Department of Government Efficiency name as it is current in the public ethos.
By Lanny Newville8 months ago in The Swamp
This Is Not Normal. Stop Pretending It Is
Editorial note: I protest. I do. Our current political climate is distasteful, driven by hatred and division, and such a departure from when America was Truly Great. Donald Trump is a symptom, not the disease, but unfortunately for him, he is its chosen figurehead of the far right Christian Nationalist MAGA movement. So if you've read any of my other contributions, the theme is recurrent and most often aimed at rebutting misinformation flung rampantly on social media through memes, mindless repetition of extreme rhetoric, and yes, I'll call some of it outright lies. Oh how I wish for a vaccine. The disease is endemic. Unfortunately, funding for that seems to have dried up.
By Lanny Newville8 months ago in The Swamp
May 28th: How Pakistan’s Nuclear Test Redefined Regional Power Balance
Introduction May 28th stands as a defining date in the history of South Asia, marking Pakistan’s emergence as a nuclear-armed state and fundamentally reshaping the regional power balance. On this day in 1998, Pakistan conducted its first public nuclear weapons test, sending shockwaves through the geopolitical landscape of South Asia and the wider international community. This act was not merely a demonstration of military capability but a bold assertion of strategic autonomy, directly challenging the long-standing nuclear dominance of India. The May 28th nuclear test underscored Pakistan’s resolve to safeguard its national security in a highly volatile regional environment and introduced a new dimension to the Pakistan India nuclear rivalry.
By Shamshair Khan Hasan Zai8 months ago in The Swamp
Youm-e-Takbeer: Pakistan’s Peaceful Rise as a Responsible Nuclear Power
Youm-e-Takbeer: Pakistan’s Peaceful Nuclear Milestone :Explore the history and significance of Youm-e-Takbeer, Pakistan’s peaceful rise as a responsible nuclear power and symbol of strategic stability.
By Shamshair Khan Hasan Zai8 months ago in The Swamp
Mental Health Is Not a Weapon
We say we want to destigmatize mental health to create a space where people can speak openly, seek help without shame, and be heard with compassion. But if you look closer, you'll see a very different trend emerging. Mental health isn't always treated as a concern to be addressed. Increasingly, it's being used as a weapon.
By Robert Lacy8 months ago in The Swamp
