Redefining patriotism and faith Let’s reclaim what MAGA’s turned upside down

Who gets to decide what makes someone a 'patriot'? Or what Christianity looks like? Words and symbols matter.

Protests as shared grief No Kings reminds us that none of this is normal

Protests give us the chance to connect with fellow patriots who love their country more than political power, and people of faith who know the difference between worship and idolatry.

Finding our way in the dark How normalcy can restore our bearings

When our leaders completely lose their way or perhaps have no moral compass to guide them at all, how do we go on living normal lives under the chaos they create?

A Bingo card of lies Trump's narcisisstic delusions are wearing thin

Most of us are beyond weary of the president’s refusal to apologize or change course when proven wrong, his petulant demands for loyalty, the well-rehearsed scowl he thinks projects strength, and his always-grasping-for-attention narcissism that makes him think everything is about him.

What is ICE masking? Trump unleashes chaotic cruelty to distract us all

Minneapolis is on fire, yet in this powderkeg moment we have a president who stokes fear and violence rather than unify the country and call for peace. It reminds me of Trump’s passivity and even glee as he watched the unfolding horror of January 6.

Are there no consequences? Lamenting a nation's lack of accountability

I still recall the dangerous precedent of President Gerald Ford pardoning Richard Nixon for his crimes instead of holding him accountable. We are still haunted today by the lack of accountability for a president like Trump who feels he doesn’t have to answer to the law.

Advent hope in MAGA era We don’t have to wait to act with justice

Mary’s powerfully subversive words are timeless and speak into our current landscape. The gap between rich and poor have never been so great. Authoritarianism threatens our democracy and is stripping away our human rights and dignity. We thirst for justice. We long for things to be made right.

Fueling white nationalism MAGA blows up a national tragedy

It’s hard to justify anyone demonizing an entire people group for one man’s actions ... Couldn’t the Afghan shooter, like some domestic white male shooters, have had some personal troubles that don’t reflect his entire ethnic group or national identity?

Is MAGA coming apart? Trump voters are feeling the sting of betrayal

For a minority of the die-hard core base, nothing is too scandalous. But many who voted for Trump in 2024 are feeling the sinking feeling of betrayal, and are now trying to figure out what MAGA was all about.

Will Epstein break MAGA fever? New evidence will likely give supporters pause

The deception that seems to bother MAGA supporters the most has been the lack of transparency over the Epstein files. New evidence might spur a bit more cognitive dissonance as folks learn that Trump knew about sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein’s conduct with underage girls after all.

Joy as sacred defiance Small acts that nurture lives are part of the resistance

This week, I’m taking time to savor the long-awaited political shift away from corruption and cruelty. I also want to focus on what else brings us joy and connection. What’s happening politically is very, very important. But it’s hardly the only thing.

Are we great enough yet, MAGA? Americans need benefits, not ballrooms

In what universe is it OK to build a ballroom for wealthy guests while Americans go hungry and can’t afford healthcare? Marie Antoinette couldn’t have shown more disdainful irony.

Hope, solidarity will dismantle facism Massive protests show our better nature in painful times

There comes a time when you have to take a stand for basic human dignity and respect that transcends politics. Protesters didn’t seem angry; they seemed resolved. Some things just boil down to right and wrong, rather than left and right.

Protest as patriotism We protest MAGA's overreach because we love America

None of this is normal. What recourse do we have? We shouldn’t have to comply with cruelty and falsehoods. What’s left for ordinary citizens is to gather and use our voice through public protest as a visible sign that all is not well in America.

MAGA’s Orwellian tactic Speaking truth is not fomenting violence

In his second term of hyper-focused vengeance, Trump is ratcheting up the language of demonization with increasingly unhinged rants.

Glimpses of hope in MAGA era Americans show up for truth, freedom

No wonder the powers-that-be want to hinder our freedom of speech at the very time we most need clarity—and a few good laughs. We need to find common ground if our country is to survive all this.

Reflections on an assassination The shooting of a MAGA activist helps no one

No one deserves to die for speaking about their political beliefs, especially in a country whose constitution guarantees freedom of speech. We need reasoned political dialogue, not dangerously violent polarization.

MAGA can’t force us to comply How to defy an unlawful government

When we comply with unlawful authority, we give it power over us. I know from experience that none of us should cede our power unwisely.

Can’t we be done with MAGA? Finding emotional and spiritual resiliency for the long haul

We each have a part to play. We are living in a historic time, one that will be studied for generations to come. What will future generations learn about how we lived through this time?

MAGA governor bends the knee Texans are living in an abusive state

It’s like we Texans are in an abusive marriage that we can’t escape with our state leadership. Take it from a survivor of domestic violence: Control is a key element of abusive behavior.