PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ONE YEAR EVALUATION

The contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

President Trump rode into office with a decisive mandate. He garnered 312 Electoral College votes to Harris’ 226, won the popular vote with a plurality of 49.8%, the first Republican to do so since George W. Bush in 2004, and carried all seven swing states.

However, the hopes and expectations of the electorate were formidable. He was expected to, among other things, (1) secure the border, (2) deport the millions of illegals that had infiltrated our country under the Biden Administration, (3) protect us from terrorist attacks, both internal and external, (4) eliminate (or at least mitigate) the flow of drugs into the US and the power and influence of the drug cartels, (5) restore respect (and fear) of the USA viz a vis both our allies and our enemies, (6) eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities, (6) settle various conflicts and wars such as those in Gaza and Ukraine, (7) restore us to energy independence, (8) reduce inflation and (9) rehabilitate the economy. Furthermore, he was expected to accomplish all of the above while dealing with a hostile Dem Party and mainstream media that continually sought to undermine him at every turn. No problem, right?

So, after one year, to what extent has he fulfilled his mandate? Has he accomplished some, all, or none of the above goals? I’m sure you all have your own opinions and analyses. If nothing else, Trump is controversial. Read on for mine.

  1. Within the first few days of his tenure Trump executed hundreds of Executive Orders, many of which countermanded EOs that had been issued by former president Biden, to get the ball rolling. For example, one EO designated eight drug cartels and transnational organizations responsible for violent attacks as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations.” Those designations gave law enforcement officers wide latitude to combat these organizations.
  2. He focused on the cartels that had been disseminating cocaine, fentanyl and other deadly drugs throughout the US. Trump averred these cartels “functionally control[ling] — through a campaign of assassination, terror, rape and brute force — nearly all illegal traffic across the southern border of the United States.” Solutions have included increased border seizures, tougher prison sentences, offering rewards for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of narcotics traffickers, and blowing up “cigar boats’ on the open seas loaded with drugs.
  3. Through his “drill baby, drill” policy he reversed Biden-era drilling restrictions, approving nearly 6,000 applications for permits to drill for oil and gas even on federal and Native American land — a 55% increase from the same time period in 2024-2025.
  4. For years the Dems had insisted that the huge influx of illegal immigrants across our southern border could not be controlled without Congress’ passing new laws. Trump closed the border in a few weeks by applying EXISTING laws, which were not being enforced. His immigration policies as enforced by DHS, the DOJ and ICE have largely restored control over immigration for the first time in decades. They have reduced illegal border crossings to their lowest level since the 1970s, facilitated the removal of in excess of 2.6 million illegal aliens from the United States through arrests, detentions and deportations, both forcibly and voluntarily, prioritizing the “worst of the worst” – murders, rapists, gang members, and repeat offenders, led to negative net migration in 2025 for the first time in some 50 years, and reduced the trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs at the southern border by some 56%.
  5. He formed a new department, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) headed up by Elon Musk, to ferret out and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. According to the Office of Personnel Management by November 2025 DOGE had reduced the number of federal employees by some 317,000 through mass buyouts, terminations, and early retirements.
  6. In a remarkable display of military might and efficiency U.S. forces succeeded in capturing Venezuelan President Maduro without any loss of life and transporting him to the US to face justice for his crimes. The action was a military necessity since Maduro had been cozying up to China, Russia and Cuba, terrorizing his own people and through his socialist policies had been ruining the country’s economy. Trump declared that the U.S. would be taking control of Venezuela’s oil infrastructure temporarily and selling the oil for the benefit of Venezuelans, Americans and U.S. oil companies. Also, we sent a not-so-subtle message to the rest of the world that we were reinstituting the precepts of the Monroe Doctrine and had the military power to do so. Although the operation was a military success it will only be a political success if Venezuela manages to form a stable government to fill the current void in leadership.
  7. Trump promulgated an audacious tariff policy to reshape our international trade relations with other countries. He maintained that our trading partners had been ripping us off for decades by levying excessive tariffs on our products thereby hindering our exports. He made it clear that the US would no longer tolerate this practice. He negotiated more beneficial tariffs with virtually all of our trading partners.
  8. This policy has been controversial. It has raised some $300 billion for the country and stimulated foreign investment and construction of manufacturing plants in the US. On the other hand, critics claim that ultimately consumers will pay higher prices for some products. This opinion is consistent with survey results that three out of four Americans claim Trump isn’t focusing enough on lowering prices. Moreover, three out of four Americans complain that their income isn’t keeping up with inflation. More on this issue below. 
  9. He has been negotiating deals with certain pharmaceutical companies to bring down the prices of drugs for Americans.
  10. The financial markets have been climbing substantially. For example, the Dow Industrial Index has increased from 42,392 when Trump took office to 49,098 currently, an increase of 13%. This bodes well for the economy in 2026 and beyond since the financial markets are a leading economic indicator.
  11. His policies with respect to crime have resulted in the largest one-year decline in homicides in U.S. history. These policies focused on federal crime crackdowns, terminated the Biden Administration’s soft on crime policies, and reversed the nationwide violent crime surge of recent years. Rapes, robberies, and aggravated assaults have declined by 6%, 19%, and 10%, respectively. In addition, the FBI has captured a record number of criminals on its Most Wanted List. In one year it exceeded the total of Biden’s all four years.
  12. All of the foregoing accomplishments are fine, but when people cast their votes on Election Day the paramount issue is always the economy. Voters are more concerned with how they will be able to provide for their family than the other issues I have discussed above. Trump is cognizant of this, and he has promulgated many policies to boost the economy.
  13. For example, he has reduced the price of gas at the pump to its lowest in five years. According to AAA the average price of a gallon of regular gas nationally is $2.89. Prices vary by region, with highs up to $4.50 in CA and lows of under $2.40 in the Gulf Coast area. 
  14. He has reduced inflation to a multiyear low chiefly by enforcing fiscal restraint and reversing the runaway spending that had characterized the Biden Presidency. Inflation peaked at 8% in 2022. The current level is 2.7%.
  15. He reduced mortgage rates to around 6%, which is the lowest in three years by stabilizing the mortgage-backed securities markets, reducing the Prime Rate, and expanding liquidity thus rendering buying a house affordable to more people.
  16. He passed the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which will, among other things, provide a substantial boost to the economy through various tax cuts, the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, tax reductions for seniors and other measures.
  17. He created “Trump Accounts” that will encourage families to establish tax-advantaged savings accounts for newborns.

Conclusion

Trump’s mantra has consistently been “America First,” and all of his actions have been aimed at that goal. As I said above some of his policies are controversial, and you may not agree with all of them. I, myself, have doubts about a few of them. I have discussed most of them in detail in previous blogs.

Overall, I maintain that Trump’s first year in office has been very successful. He inherited a chaotic situation, especially with respect to the economy. I say give him a chance to clean it up. The Big Beautiful Bill has many elements, particularly the tax cuts and rebates, that I feel will boost the economy. In my lifetime every set of tax cuts and rebates has done so. They just need a few months to work.

The 2026 off-year elections are looming. We all know that typically the president’s party loses congressional seats, sometimes a myriad of them. Trump still has much work to do to clean up the aforementioned mess that he inherited. If the Dems were to gain control of one or both Houses of Congress, it will be most unfortunate for the country. The Dems will likely block all of Trump’s initiatives and probably impeach him and others. Nothing of substance would be accomplished for the next two years.

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INSURRECTION IN MINNEAPOLIS

This blog is a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

Where is that bold, aggressive, daring president we elected? One of the major reasons he was elected was to locate, collect and deport the millions of illegal aliens that had infested the US during the Biden Administration. These people broke federal laws just by sneaking into the country. Many of them have been living quietly under the radar, but too many of them have committed heinous crimes in the US, such as rape and murder, and against children no less. Some are repeated offenders. Others have been soaking up social services meant for Americans such as Medicaid and hospital services. Most of the country is fed up and wants action.

Yes, his administration has deployed ICE personnel to roust illegals in various venues with much success, however, he has been strangely reluctant to deal decisively with the blatant insurrection in Minneapolis. In my opinion, this is completely out of character. It’s as if he went to sleep as one night as Donald Trump and woke up the next morning as Joe Biden (reminiscent of the movie, Big in which a 10-year-old boy wakes up one morning as Tom Hanks).

In recent years the country has become increasingly divided over the issue of illegal immigration. In particular ICE’s activities have become a major flashpoint among some people and in some areas of the country. Some states and cities have offered sanctuary to these illegals. Law enforcement officials have not been turning them over to ICE as the law requires. Instead, when they are detained, they simply release them. In addition, they actually inhibit ICE’s efforts to find them. Make no mistake. Granting sanctuary to illegals is contrary to federal law, and, as we know federal law supersedes state and local law. Otherwise, we have anarchy.

In Minneapolis the pro-illegal immigrant crowd has proceeded to a new level of resistance. They have gone way beyond mere peaceful demonstrations. They appear to be well-organized and well-funded. Many of them appear to be “professional agitators” who are paid to show up to protest any and all causes. Some may even be illegal aliens. Law enforcement officials need to follow the money and ascertain the identity of those who have been organizing and funding these protests.

They have taunted, physically attacked and doxed ICE personnel. They have destroyed federal property and even stolen sensitive federal documents and information. Yesterday, some even invaded at least one church and disrupted services. While doxing isn’t always a crime per se it becomes illegal when it becomes conjoined with criminal acts, such as stalking, harassment, threats, or incitement to violence, It is particularly insidious and dangerous in the current situation because the perpetrators have been employing it to disclose private information with “malicious intent to cause harm or fear” with respect to some ICE agents and their families.

Matters were exacerbated even further following the fatal shooting of a protester named Renee Good by an ICE official after she had hit him with her car. While no one wants to see a fatality, the empirical evidence indicates she was the instigator. Of course, each side has blamed the other.

Rather than trying to calm the situation MN Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, aided and abetted by much of the mainstream media, have, by their words and actions, openly incited more violence. They have caused local police to stand down and have left ICE personnel alone to deal with the protesters. They have stated repeatedly that they do not recognize ICE’s authority, and they want them expelled from their city and state. Clearly, their words and deeds are contraventions of federal law and are irresponsible and unconscionable. I see their actions as a direct challenge to federal authority not unlike the actions of the segregationist South before the Civil War and in the 1950s and 1960s.

This is classic insurrection. These people need to be put in their place NOW before other sanctuary areas become emboldened to follow suit.

The Insurrection Act dates back to 1807. It authorizes the president to deploy federal military troops inside the country to restore order and enforce the law if he determines that unrest or rebellion makes it impossible to enforce the law through the regular courts and police. According to most legal experts the Insurrection Act is only meant to be invoked in extreme situations, when normal law enforcement has broken down. In my view, the current situation in Minneapolis fits those parameters. The law does not clearly define what counts as an “insurrection” or “rebellion,” however, in 1827 the US Supreme Court opined that the president alone has the authority to decide when the law applies.

Trump haters may strenuously object to his use of the Act, but according to the Brennan Center for Justice it has been invoked 30 times in US history in response to various situations, including to enforce school desegregation in the 1950s and 1960s and during the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the acquittal of police officers who had severely beaten Rodney King.

Conclusion

These riots have obscured the other massive story emanating from Minnesota, the missing $19 billion Medicaid funds due to alleged fraud. It has been alleged that the perpetrators were mostly Somalis, both citizens and illegals. It is obvious that Governor Walz, US Representative Ilhan Omar and other officials either aided and abetted these crimes or ignored them for political reasons.

This is related to another disturbing story regarding Omar, namely how she went from being virtually broke one year ago to being worth an estimated $30 million presently. The financial dealings of both her and her husband are shrouded in mystery. The House Oversight Committee is investigating and has subpoenaed her spouse to testify. In the words of the late Desi Arnaz, “they have some ‘splaining to do.”

These are very serious allegations with potentially far-reaching consequences. I have blogged about this matter in more detail previously. We may be on the cusp of uncovering a new level of fraud, deceit and greed with respect to elected officials.

Once again, the Dems find themselves on the wrong side of an 80-20 issue. They are violating federal law by defending illegal aliens who have committed crimes against law-abiding Americans, in some cases children, rather than assisting federal officials who are performing their legal duties to protect us. You notice that these Dem politicians never mention the names of those citizens who have been victimized, but they are quick to defend the illegals. Good luck with that issue in the 2026 elections.

I hope that Trump makes the right decision and cleans up the mess in Minneapolis expeditiously.

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I HAVE A DREAM

Tomorrow, Monday, January 19, we will celebrate the birthday of, in my mind, the greatest civil rights leader in American history.  Of course, I am referring to Martin Luther King, Jr.  MLK Day is a national holiday, and as is the case with many of our holidays, we celebrate it on a Monday, in this instance the third one in January, rather than on the actual day of MLK’s birth (January 15). MLK Day has been recognized in all 50 states since the early 2000s, however, some states, such as Alabama and Mississippi, have combined it with “Robert E. Lee Day” to honor the birthday of the commanding general of the Confederacy who was born on January 19.

This year will mark the 58th anniversary of his untimely assassination on April 4, 1968.  Like the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the assassination of President JFK on November 22, 1963, and the terror attack on 9/11/2001 most of us will always remember where we were when we heard the horrible news.

For some people, the holiday holds no special meaning; it is just a day off from work, a day to spend with family or friends, part of a long three-day weekend.  For many of us, however, particularly those of us who were alive in the 1950s and 1960s, it is much, much more.

MLK was born on January 15, 1929.  MLK was more than just a pastor.  He believed that more advancement in civil rights could be achieved by civil disobedience and non-violence rather than by violence.  He preached peaceful disobedience such as sit-ins, marches and demonstrations, often in the face of wanton violence and cruelty by the police and others, rather than by rioting and violence.  In this regard, he was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.  In turn, he inspired many others such as Nelson Mandela and the Black Civil Rights movement in South Africa.

He also recognized the power of the press to bring attention to his cause and influence public opinion. For example, as many as 70 million people around the world witnessed the police brutality inflicted on the peaceful black and white marchers in Selma, Alabama, in March of 1965, including women and children as well as men.  Those images, broadcast live on TV and radio, appalled and disgusted many people and provided an immeasurable boost to the public awareness of the injustices being visited upon blacks in the South. These events were captured dramatically and realistically in the 2014 movie, “Selma,” which featured David Oyelowo as MLK.  If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it.

Unlike any other African American leaders before or since, he had the ability to unite, rather than divide.  Although he was criticized by some of the more militant civil rights leaders of the time, such as Stokely Carmichael, he commanded the support and respect of a large majority of blacks and many whites as well. In that regard, he was similar to Mandela.

After his death, despite the urgings of some civil rights leaders who wanted to continue MLK’s philosophy, more militant African American leaders, such as Mr. Carmichael, came into prominence. There was rioting in over 100 US cities, and a slew of violent incidents at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago in front of the national press and millions of Americans, which many believe swung the 1968 presidential election to Richard Nixon. 

MLK came into prominence in 1955 when he led a bus boycott, peacefully, in Montgomery, Alabama.  The boycott had been fueled by the famous Rosa Parks incident in which she had refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white person.  She was arrested on December 1. (Most people don’t know that earlier that year in March a similar incident had occurred, also in Montgomery, involving Claudette Colvin, a black girl who had also refused to give up her seat to a white man.  However, that case did not receive the same notoriety.  Civil rights lawyers declined to pursue it because Colvin was 15, unmarried and pregnant. They chose to wait for a case with a more favorable fact pattern, and they were proven to be right.)

Later, MLK became the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and remained so until his death. He applied his non-violence philosophy to protests in Selma, Ala., St. Augustine, FL, and the March on Washington, D. C., among others. He made it a policy never to endorse a particular political party or candidate. He believed he could be more effective if he were neutral and not beholden to anyone.  Furthermore, in his view, neither party was all bad, and neither one was perfect.  In his words, “[t]hey both have weaknesses.”

Perhaps, MLK’s signature moment occurred during the famous March on Washington in August 1963.  Ironically, MLK was not the primary organizer of the March.  That was Bayard Rustin, a colleague.  The primary purpose of the March was to dramatize the plight of blacks in the South.  Civil rights leaders, including Roy Wilkins, NAACP, Whitney Young, National Urban League, A. Philip Randolph, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, John Lewis, SNCC, James Farmer CORE, and MLK, wanted to bring awareness of these issues right to the seat of the Federal government.  More than 250,000 people of all ethnicities and colors attended.  MLK was one of several speakers, and he only spoke for 17 minutes.  But, his “I Have a Dream” speech became one of the most famous speeches ever.  The March, in general, and MLK’s speech, in particular, are credited with bringing civil rights to the political forefront and facilitating the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Some little-known facts about MLK:

1. His birth name was Michael King, Jr., after his father.  In 1931 his father changed his own name to Martin Luther King, after the German theologian, Martin Luther, whom he admired.  At the same time, he changed his son’s name.

2. In 1958 MLK was stabbed in the chest after a speech by a woman who had been stalking him, and he nearly died.

3. The FBI began tapping MLK’s telephone as early as 1963.  Robert Kennedy, who was Attorney General at the time and who is viewed as a staunch supporter of civil rights, in general, and MLK, in particular, authorized the tapping.

4. MLK won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at the age of 35, the youngest age ever at the time.

5. MLK won a Grammy Award in 1971, posthumously.  It should be noted that he won it, not because he displayed a great singing voice, but for a “Spoken Word Album,” “Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam.”  In addition, he won countless other awards and was awarded some 50 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities.

6. Even though MLK was one of the great public speakers of his time, inexplicably, he got a “C” in a public speaking course at the seminary.  (Kind of like a baseball scout saying Babe Ruth can hit “a little bit.”)

7. MLK is one of three individuals and the only native-born American to have a holiday named after him.  In case you’re wondering, the others are George Washington (born in the COLONY of Virginia), and Christopher Columbus.

Some MLK quotes to ponder:

1. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
2. “The time is always right to do what is right.”
3. “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
4. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
5. “Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”
6. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

In recent years there has been much division among African Americans as well as their leaders.  Some are moderate and want to work within the system; others are more militant.  In my view, many of these militants are no more than “race hustlers,” have their own agendas and look for any excuse to foment distrust and discord.  They do more harm than good. If you doubt me, just randomly turn on CNN or MSNBC and listen to some of the news coverage. The coverage and commentary of some of the guest commentators (and a few of the news anchors as well) are ignorant, subjective and divisive.

Most often, crimes are viewed through the lens of race rather than the facts, and the media will very often jump to conclusions without regard of the facts. Later, when the facts become known if, as is often the case they are change the narrative, they are ignored or downplayed. “White on black” crimes get extensive coverage while “black on black” crimes, which are far more numerous, are largely ignored.

I firmly believe that MLK would have been appalled by the violent, arbitrary and senseless rioting and sharp uptick in crime of the past several years that have been instigated, financed, aided, and abetted by BLM, ANTIFA, professional agitators, many Dem political leaders and much of the media. Certain people of color (we all know who are) love to play the “race card” to justify their actions. (In my opinion this is a sure sign that they have no real argument.) Moreover, I find this to be senseless and ironic since most of the victims are themselves poor minorities. How is that helping the civil rights movement?  That is not what MLK stood for.  Furthermore, in my view, he would not have been an exponent of the extreme “cancel culture,” “critical race theory,” DEI, and “political correctness” movements of recent years that many see as divisive.

One can speculate whether and to what extent MLK’s assassination changed the course of history.  In my opinion, had MLK lived, the Civil Rights Movement would have been considerably different over the last 50 years, more peaceful and less divisive, with better results.  Furthermore, his assassination had a significant impact, not only on the history of the civil rights movement, but also on the overall history of the country, itself.  I hope and believe that eventually a moderate leader will emerge and bridge the gap as MLK did half a century ago.

CONCLUSION

In my opinion, we have made much progress in the area of civil rights.  For example, we have elected an African American president (twice) and vice president; African Americans have been elected to Congress and been appointed to the Supreme Court; and African Americans hold and have held positions of prominence in every field of endeavor, including business, entertainment, sports, and the military.  But it is still a work in progress.  We can do more.

So, as you enjoy the holiday in whatever manner you choose, I ask you to reflect for a moment on where we are as a nation regarding civil rights, where we want to go and how we get there.

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THIS MONTH IN HISTORY – JANUARY

According to Wikipedia, January 1, New Years Day, is the most celebrated holiday worldwide. Many historically-significant events have occurred on this date as well as on other dates during the month. Please see below.

1/1/1502 – Portuguese explorers, led by Pedro Alvarez Cabral, landed in present-day Brazil. They named the location Rio de Janeiro (River of January).

1/1/1660 – Samuel Pepys commenced his famous diary, which was to become a definitive chronicle of life in late 17th century London. Famous events described in it include The Great Plague of 1664-1665, which wiped out roughly one-fourth of London’s population, and the Great Fire of 1666, which destroyed much of the city.

1/1/1776 – George Washington unveiled the first national flag, aka the Grand Union Flag.

1/1/1863 – President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves in the Confederacy.

1/1/1892 – Ellis Island opened. Over 20 million immigrants were processed there between 1892 and 1954 when it closed.

1/1/1901 – The British Commonwealth of Australia was founded.

1/1/1959 – Fidel Castro seized control of Cuba.

1/1/1999 – The currency, the Euro, was born.

1/3/1924 – Howard Carter, British Egyptologist, discovered the burial site of Egyptian King Tut.

1/3/1959 – Alaska became the 49th state of the US.

1/7/1714 – British inventor, Henry Mill, received a patent for the typewriter.

1/8/1815 – The Battle of New Orleans, which many historians consider among the most significant in US history, commenced. The outnumbered and outgunned Americans, under the command of Andrew Jackson, defeated the British. Ironically, unbeknownst to the participants the treaty ending the War of 1812 had already been signed so the battle was unnecessary.

1/10/1863 – The first underground railroad, appropriately called “The Underground,” commenced operation in London.

1/10/1920 – The League of Nations was born. It was doomed to failure because the US never joined.

1/10/1946 – The first meeting of the United Nations took place in London.

1/11/1964 – The US Surgeon General issued the controversial report stating that smoking cigarettes may be hazardous to one’s health.

1/12/1932 – Hattie Caraway of Arkansas became the first female US Senator, filling the remainder of her late husband’s term.

1/15/1870 – The first use of a donkey to symbolize the Democratic Party appeared as a cartoon in Harpers Weekly.

1/19/1966 – Indira Gandhi became the first female Prime Minister of India. Later, she was assassinated by one of her own bodyguards.

1/19/1983 – Klaus Barbie, aka the “Butcher of Lyon,” was arrested in Bolivia. Eventually, he was extradited to France. He was tried and convicted of war crimes and died in prison.

1/21/1793 – Following the French Revolution King Louis XVI was guillotined.

1/22/1901 – England’s Queen Victoria died after a 64-year reign, the longest in British history at the time.

1/22/1973 – Abortion became legal in the US.

1/24/1965 – Winston Churchill, arguably England’s greatest prime minister ever, died.

1/24/1972 – A WWII Japanese soldier, who had been hiding on Guam not realizing the war was long since over, was discovered.

1/27/1945 – The Russian Army liberated Auschwitz.

1/27/1973 – Representatives of the US and North Vietnam signed a treaty ending the Vietnam War.

1/28/1935 – Iceland became the first country to legalize abortion.

1/28/1986 – The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, killing all aboard, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher, who has been slated to be the first “ordinary” citizen in space.

1/29/1919 – Prohibition was ratified. The unintended consequence of this ill-advised constitutional amendment was the substantial growth of organized crime, which was only too happy to provide illegal alcoholic beverages to a thirsty populace. The amendment was repealed on December 5, 1933.

1/31/1943 – The German Army surrendered at Stalingrad in what was generally considered to be the turning point in the European Theatre of WWII.

Birthdays: Paul Revere, 1/1/1735; Betsy Ross, 1/1/1752; Louis Braille, invented the reading system for blind people, 1/4/1809; Joan of Arc, 1/6/1412; Millard Fillmore, 13th President, 1/7/1800; Elvis Presley, 1/8/1935; Richard Nixon, 37th President, 1/9/1913; Alexander Hamilton, 1/11/1755; John Hancock, 1/12/1737; Benedict Arnold, 1/14/1741; Albert Schweitzer, 1/14/1875; Martin Luther King, 1/15/1929; Andre Michelin, pioneered the use of pneumatic tires on cars, 1/16/1853; Benjamin Franklyn, 1/17/1706; Muhammad Ali, 1/17/1942; Robert E. Lee, 1/19/1807; Edgar Allen Poe,1/19/1809; Ethan Allen, 1/21/1738; Douglas MacArthur, 1/26/1880; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1/27/1756; William McKinley, 25th President, 1/29/1843; Franklyn Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President, 1/30/1882; Jackie Robinson, 1/31/1919.

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ICE OFFICER KILLS PROTESTER IN MINNEAPOLIS

This blog is a compendium of various media accounts supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

It was just a matter of time. It was bound to happen sooner or later. On one side there were DHS and ICE officials determined to seek and detain illegal migrants in accordance with federal law; on the other side, in close proximity, were pro-migrant protesters fueled by irresponsible and inaccurate rhetoric from left-wing politicians, civic leaders, and media outlets. It was like placing a lit match next to a stick of dynamite. In reality, I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.

In my view the incident was a tragedy. No one wants to see a person killed in that manner. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to Renee Nicole Good’s family and friends.

That said, I have to ask, what was she thinking? Like most of you I have viewed the footage of the incident multiple times from different vantage points. Good was in a maroon SUV that was clearly blocking the street impeding law enforcement vehicles. A crowd of protesters was gathered in the vicinity. ICE agents pulled up to said vehicle, exited their vehicle and appeared to tell the woman behind the wheel to exit her vehicle. At that point, most people would comply. The idea is to recognize you are in a tense situation, and rather than exacerbate it you should try to calm it down. She appeared to ignore the order.

One of the agents moved to open the driver’s door. Another agent was positioned near the front of the vehicle. Suddenly, Good backed up then caused the car to lurch forward toward the officer. She appeared to hit the officer as she drove off. Reflexively, the officer fired twice killing the woman. Subsequently, the SUV lost control and crashed into a nearby parked vehicle. Incidentally, back in June the officer had been seriously injured when he was attacked and dragged by another vehicle, so one can understand that he would be wary of a recurrence.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and other federal officials characterized the incident as a “domestic terrorist attack.” At a press conference later in the day she informed reporters that Good had been “stalking and impeding” immigration agents “throughout the day.” She added that the DHS has commenced an investigation.

One has to wonder what in the world was Ms. Good thinking. What would cause a seemingly normal wife and mother to brazenly stalk, impede and disobey federal officers in the legal performance of their duties? What did she think was going to happen? I’ll offer my opinion below.

Predictably, various Dem politicians and “experts” in the media have felt compelled to comment. Never mind that the incident is still under investigation. These bloviators have already tried and convicted the officer, DHS and, of course, President Trump. As they should know, in the US one is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We don’t jump to conclusions based on incomplete or inaccurate information.

For example, Comrade Zoh characterized the incident as “murder.” To my knowledge Zoh does not possess a law degree and does not have the foggiest notion of the legal definition of “murder.” MN Governor Tim Walz (the “buffoon”) and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued expletive-laced tirades directed at DHS and Trump that ICE has no right to be in MN, and they don’t want them nor need them there. I beg to differ. The history and current empirical evidence say otherwise. Along those lines Fox News commentator Lawrence Jones opined, “what is Jacob Frey thinking? Does he want his city to burn again?” I believe the buffoon sees the incident as a welcome distraction from the massive fraud in MN currently under investigation.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump commented that an ICE officer was “viciously” run over. “It is hard to believe he is alive, but [he] is now recovering.” To be fair, I think “viciously” was an exaggeration.

Conclusion

The real tragedy is that the entire incident was unnecessary and preventable. Let’s be clear. In my opinion the “root cause” of the problem was the Biden Administration’s open border policies that enabled untold millions of illegal migrants to gain access to the US. As one would expect a goodly portion of them settled in sanctuary jurisdictions like MN. Under federal law DHS has not only the authority, but also the responsibility to ferret out these persons, detain them, and have them expelled from the country. In all instances federal law supersedes state and local laws such as sanctuary to illegal migrants.

Anyone who impedes the federal officers in their performance of those duties is in contravention of federal law and should be prosecuted. That includes not those who interfered physically, but also those who continually spew out inciteful language. Such language is very damaging as it encourages certain easily influenced persons like Ms. Good to violence. These aiders and abettors should be prosecuted as well.

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MADURO IS “GONE-ZO”

 This blog is a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my opinion, where indicated.

They came in the dead of night. They attacked with massive, overwhelming force, yet with surgical precision. Just like that, Maduro and his wife were captured and whisked away to NYC where they will be prosecuted for narco-terrorism and other illegal activities.

By all accounts “Operation Absolute Resolve,” as it has been dubbed, was not a spontaneous event. It was a well thought-out, meticulously planned operation. As early as August, the CIA surreptitiously deployed a small unit into Venezuela with the goal of providing “extraordinary insight” into Maduro’s movements and habits including where he slept, what he ate, and when and where he traveled. Their research was so thorough that, as Dan “Raizin” Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a post-raid press conference, “even [the names of] his pets were known.”

Elite troops had been training for months “practicing” on a replica of the presidential compound similar to the way the troops who killed Osama bin Laden in 2011 had prepared. They were ready for any conceivable unforeseen contingency. President Trump said they were even equipped with “massive blowtorches” in case they had to cut through the steel walls of Maduro’s safe room. At the same time, an exclusive Trump Administration team had worked privately on the project for months, holding regular meetings and phone calls and briefing Trump periodically. Security was unbelievably tight. The operation was so secret that details weren’t shared with most of the people in the Pentagon nor with Congressional leaders.

At first inclement weather forced a few days’ delay, however, Friday brought a full moon and the wind and cloud cover dissipated sufficiently to proceed. Militarily, the operation was a rousing success. No American lives were lost, and even a helicopter that had sustained some damage was able to return safely. With Maduro gone ordinary Venezuelans will now have the best chance for a decent life in decades. But, as discussed below, the operation’s ultimate success will depend in no small part on what happens next in Venezuela.

Prior to green lighting the raid President Donald Trump gave Maduro one last chance to step down. In a private phone call about a week ago, Trump had told him that he had to step down. “You got to surrender,” he warned. Brazenly, Maduro refused. Trump said Maduro “came close to giving in but stayed put.” He took “the gamble of his life” … and lost.

That act of defiance set in motion the final phase of the secret and risky plan to capture Maduro by force. At 10:46 p.m. ET Friday, Trump gave the final order to proceed.

Trump characterized Maduro’s lair as “a heavily fortified military fortress,” but that did not deter our military from success. Early Saturday morning U.S. warplanes filled the skies above Caracas while Delta Force commandos swooped in on the ground. At least 150 aircraft flew toward Caracas from 20 different locations on both land and sea. The fleet included bombers, fighters and craft that specialized in intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance. The attack was so swift, efficient and precise that Maduro and his wife didn’t even have time to escape into what Trump described as a steel safe room. They were taken “completely by surprise” and whisked away expeditiously. By 3:30 a.m. all U.S. forces were safely out of Venezuelan airspace, and by nightfall the Maduros were in NYC being processed for narcotrafficking and other charges.

The Maduros were expected to be arraigned today, Monday, and be indicted for a scheme in which over the last 14 years a “cycle of narcotics-based corruption line[d] the pockets of Venezuelan officials and their families while also benefiting violent narco-terrorists who had been allowed to operate with impunity on Venezuelan soil and who had helped produce, protect, and transport tons of cocaine to the United States.” Some of this cocaine was laced with fentanyl. According to the CDC there were approximately 76,000 overdose fatalities in just one recent 12-month period. A goodly portion of these fatalities were from drugs that had emanated from Venezuela. During this period Maduro’s brutal socialist dictatorship was so horrific that some eight million Venezuelans fled the country.

The U.S. Department of Justice indicted Maduro and others for:

  1. Narco-terrorism, i. e. leading a vast drug trafficking network that facilitated the systemic transport of cocaine, fentanyl and other deadly drugs to the U.S.
  2. Allegedly enriching his family and certain political and military supporters through narcotics and other illegal schemes.
  3. Rampant corruption including massive embezzlement, bribery, money laundering, and theft of gold from Venezuela’s Central Bank. 

 Maduro’s treatment of his own people was horrendous. For example, he manipulated elections, imprisoned political opponents, dismantled democratic institutions, used food distribution as a means for social control, arbitrarily imprisoned civic, military, and political leaders that opposed him, and freely committed human rights violations.  Moreover, he grossly mismanaged the country’s economy, which resulted in the collapse of its oil industry and an 80% decline in GDP from 2013 – 2020, and his policies created and sustained severe shortages of medicine, food, and other basic necessities and led to a mass exodus of millions of citizens. The result was that a once wealthy country with a thriving economy based on a plethora of oil descended into chaos and ruin.

In addition, Maduro was instigating distress and anxiety throughout the region due to his affiliations with Russia, China, Cuba and Iran. Among other things, Venezuela was the primary source of oil for those countries. In particular, Russia needs the oil to supply its war machine in Ukraine. Depriving them of it was an ancillary benefit.

Also, Maduro had threatened to invade Guyana at some point. The rulers of his neighboring countries might not say it publicly, but I suspect they will not miss him.

Some geopolitical analysts have expressed concern over the ramifications of a regime change. The major ones are internal rather than external. Currently, there is a significant power vacuum, which is an invitation for chaos and anarchy. In that event the current drug and refugee problems would be exacerbated with dire consequences for the security of the region. Trump acknowledged this danger by remarking that “we have a group of people running [the country] until such a time it can be put back on track.”

Delcey Rodriguez, the former vice president and now acting president, has long been a supporter of Maduro’s (although Trump has warned her “if she didn’t cooperate, she would suffer the same fate as Maduro, or worse.”) Furthermore, at the moment, there does not appear to be an opposition leader strong enough to govern the country effectively. Establishing a legitimate governing authority quickly is critical for the long-term success of Operation Absolute Resolve.

Predictably, the usual suspects, both internal (Dem politicians, Trump-haters, and most of the mainstream media) and external (countries such as Brazil, China, Colombia, Mexico, Russia and Iran) have condemned the action. The common criticisms were to characterize it as an unwarranted attack on the sovereignty of another nation, a violation of international law, and a move to gain control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. The first two are overly simplistic and patently false. With respect to the oil reserves American companies were developing it originally. Maduro seized them unlawfully, and better we should have control over the oil than Russia, China and Iran.

Many Dems also complained that they weren’t consulted beforehand, and some opined that such an action required prior congressional approval, although some privately admitted they were happy to see Maduro deposed. To me, these criticisms are disingenuous to say the least. Where were these critics when Muslim terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, or when Russia annexed Crimea and invaded Ukraine?

To me, a legitimate case can be made that Maduro was an illegitimate president. Let’s not forget that he seized the office on January 10, 2019 after declaring himself the winner of what was widely condemned as a rigged election.

Conclusion

In my view despite the criticism in some quarters Trump did the right thing. Once again, the Dems are positioning themselves to be on the wrong side of an 80-20 issue. The perception will be that they are defending a heinous narco-trafficker who abused his people and ruined a once-thriving state. Good luck with that.

Venezuela was, in essence, a failed state that was increasingly falling under the influence of Russia, China, Iran and other bad actors. We couldn’t allow that to stand under any circumstances. The security of the US was at stake. The US has a long history of protecting the Americas from foreign powers’ exerting any influence or establishing any control in the region. It has been a cornerstone of our foreign policy since the Monroe Doctrine was articulated in 1823. Trump’s decisive action debilitated Russia’s, China’s and Iran’s influence in Venezuela, which has been growing, and also served as a warning to other wayward countries in the region that they could be next.

A note of caution: removing Maduro was merely the first step. To ensure success of Operation Absolute Resolve it will be critical to establish a legitimate democratic government in Venezuela without the US getting bogged down. Otherwise, we will be no better off than we were last week. 

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NEW YEAR’S EVE 2025

Wow, another year has gone by! That was fast. As we all know, the older one gets, the more time seems to speed up. In my view, NYE is increasingly a night-out reserved for younger people, while people of a certain age, like my friends and I, prefer a quiet night at home with a few friends.

Tonight, people around the world will celebrate New Year’s Eve. Although the specifics of the celebration may differ in various countries, it is generally a time of social gatherings, parties, eating, drinking, merriment, and reflection.

The Pacific island nations of Kiribati (aka Christmas Island), which is nothing more than a coral atoll in the Central Pacific, Tonga, which is a Polynesian kingdom consisting of some170 tiny islands, and Samoa, which is the western-most of the Samoan Islands, will be the first to celebrate; American Samoa, which includes seven tiny islands and atolls in the eastern part of the Samoan Islands, and Baker and Howland Islands, which are uninhabited atolls some 3,100 km southwest of Honolulu, will be the last.

New Year’s Day has been celebrated on January 1 since 45 B. C. That year, Julius Caesar decreed that the Roman Calendar, under which the new year occurred in March, be replaced by the Julian calendar. It has been celebrated on January 1 ever since.

According to multiple media reports approximately one million persons are expected to brave the elements and inconveniences to attend the festivities at Times Square. Furthermore, approximately one billion persons are expected to watch worldwide on live TV and various streaming services. A myriad of famous entertainers will be performing live both in person and at various venues around the world. Live entertainment has long been a traditional part of the NYE celebration. Some of you may recall, with nostalgia, the most famous and enduring NYE entertainer of them all, Guy Lombardo. From 1928 until his death in 1977 he entertained us from the ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria, first on radio, then on TV. 

Many other cities and towns will present their own celebrations. Traditionally, NYE is the busiest day at Disneyland and Disney World, which feature Disney-character shows and fireworks. They will be open and will likely present an array of entertainment and fireworks.

Security at Times Square on NYE has always been tight, and NYC officials have denoted that to date there have been no credible threats to the celebration. Nevertheless, they announced that this year there will be certain enhancements to the normal security for the event. For instance, for the first time police will conduct a second layer of security screening. Beyond the usual screenings at access points to the event, “mobile screening teams” will patrol the viewing area. Police will also be utilizing drones and snipers.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters at yesterday’s press briefing that “the secondary screening is something that is net-new this year. It’s based on what we’ve learned over the past year and what we’ve seen throughout the world in the terrorism space. If we see anything that looks suspicious, we will have teams in place to do appropriate screening.” She added, that reports from the FBI have indicated the biggest threats are” lone offenders and small groups.” Mayor Adams added that “while we acknowledge that the city will respect and protect people’s right to protest, there will be zero tolerance for interfering with the celebration or other disorderly behavior across the city.

Depending on your point of view those people who venture to Times Square to view the festivities are either, brave, hardy or crazy. They are willing to stand squeezed in for several hours in the cold without food, water or use of a restroom just to be a part of the action. Depends, anyone? This year, spectators are advised to bundle up. Various local meteorologists are forecasting the coldest temperature in many years with wind and the likelihood of snow at Times Square.

If you plan on attending the celebration, please be advised that for safety reasons you cannot bring certain items into the contained area, such as large items that can obstruct spectators’ views, backpacks, large bags, large coolers, picnic blankets, chairs, alcohol, drugs, laser pens, and umbrellas.

As always, the NYE celebration in Times Square will be broadcast on all the major networks with free, commercial-free live streaming online. TV will present a myriad of entertainment options ranging from live entertainment to old movies. My personal favorite is Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, which will be televised for the 54th consecutive year. Another popular choice will be Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen that will air live on CNN from New York City’s Time Square beginning at 8 p.m. Additionally, live entertainment from various other venues will likely be featured. For sports fans there will be the CFP quarterfinal football game between Ohio State and Miami University, which will air on ESPN at 7:30 pm and the NY Knicks at San Antonio basketball game, which will air on MSG at 7:00 pm. If none of those offerings “floats your boat” you can escape with the Honeymooners marathon on WPIX, featuring Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph, which is offered every year but never gets stale.

It is estimated that in excess of a ton of confetti and other trash will be strewn in and around the area. I wouldn’t want to be on cleanup duty tomorrow.

Many of the hotels in the area typically offer “ball drop” packages, which enable one to view the festivities in comfort protected from the elements and the crowds. Of course, this comes at a steep price. As the saying goes, if you have to ask the price you probably can’t afford it.

Traditionally, NYE celebrations have been punctuated by fireworks. In NYC probably the best venue will be Prospect Park, which will offer a free, family-friendly show at midnight. Alternatively, you could pony up some money for cruise around Manhattan. Many other cities in the US and around the world will have their own fireworks displays as well.

As mentioned above, the most extensive celebration will be in Times Square in NYC. Since 1907 people have been gathering in there to watch the “Ball Drop.” The “Ball Drop” has been held annually every year since, except for 1942 and 1943 when it was canceled due to the wartime blackout.

According to the NYT website the original “ball” was constructed from wood and iron by an immigrant metalsmith named Jacob Starr. It was lit with 100 incandescent bulbs. Over the years, it has gone through eight iterations. The current iteration, making its debut tonight, is the “Constellation Ball.” It weighs 12,350 pounds, measures 12 1/2 feet across, and is decorated with 5,280 crystals.  This year, to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary there will be a “double drop.” At midnight the ball will drop as usual and spray the usual confetti. However, then the ball will be raised again; the colors of its lights will change to red, white and blue; and it will drop again spraying red, white, and blue confetti, perhaps accompanied by snowflakes.

Times Square has been the focal point of NYE celebrations in the US since 1904. That year, the first organized NYE celebration, consisting of an all-day street festival culminating in a huge fireworks display, was held there. It was reported that at midnight the celebratory noise could be heard as far away as Croton-on-Hudson, some 30 miles away. The celebration was organized by the New York Times owner, Adolph Ochs, to commemorate the opening of the Times’ new headquarters located in the tiny triangle at the intersection of 42nd Street, Broadway and 7th Avenue. The city renamed the area Times Square in honor of the venerable publication.

Quiz questions:

1) What other historically significant event occurred in NYC in 1904?

2) What was Times Square’s name prior to 1904? See below for the answers.

Two years later NYC banned the fireworks display. Ochs’ response was to replace it with the “Ball Drop.” The details of this “Ball Drop” have evolved over the years, especially technologically.

At the stroke of midnight it is traditional to sing “Auld Lang Syne.” I have always been curious as to the derivation of this nostalgic song and why it is sung at New Year’s. The origin is murky, but it has generally been attributed to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. He wrote it in 1788, but it is likely that some of the words were derived from other older Scottish poems and ballads.

“Auld Lang Syne” literally translates into English as “long, long ago,” “old times,” or “days gone by.” Thus, at the stroke of midnight we bid farewell to the past year and, at the same time, wish to remember the good times. In some areas the song is also sung at funerals, graduations and any other event that marks a “farewell” or “ending.” Sometimes the singers gather in a circle and hold hands.

As with any other holiday traveling is fraught with complications and dangers. The TSA advises to avoid traveling on NYE and NYD. They are among the most expensive and most crowded days. One should anticipate delays and cancellations. As always during the winter the weather will be a factor. This year frigid weather, wind and light snow is forecast for NYC, but it will probably not deter most of the partygoers.  

CONCLUSION

Whatever your NYE plans may be and however you may celebrate, I urge you to be careful, and if driving do so safely and defensively. In particular, watch out for the “other guy,” and don’t you be the “other guy.”

This is one night where too many people celebrate excessively and drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. These people should not be on the road, but, nevertheless, they are, and they are dangerous both to you and themselves.  For this reason, Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s long-time sidekick on the Tonight Show and a noted partygoer, used to refer to New Year’s Eve derisively as “amateur night.” New Year’s Day is the second most deadly holiday for drivers. (Thanksgiving is #1.) Moreover, a whopping 42% of the driving fatalities on NYD are the result of DUI.

If you are planning to go to Times Square be advised that despite the abovementioned security enhancements, there is always a risk. Terrorists are very ingenious and very motivated, and thanks to the previous administration’s open border policy there are millions of illegal migrants loose in the country. We don’t know who they are, how many there are, where they are, nor their intentions. Times Square on NYE is an attractive target. If you are planning to attend, be vigilant. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Answers to quiz questions:

1) NYC’s first subway line opened in 1904.

2) Longacre Square.

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TRUMP’S PLAN TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY KICKING IN

The content of this blog is a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where noted.

In his first year in office President Trump has accomplished a great deal, arguably as much as any president ever. I have described these accomplishments in previous blogs, and in the interest of brevity I see no need to repeat them now. However, various economic issues still need to be addressed. I believe the ramifications of Trump’s economic policies will be extremely positive They are just starting to kick in, but their major impact will not be felt until 2026. More on this below.

A variety of recent polls has disclosed that economic concerns have permeated the public’s opinion of Trump’s presidency and the public’s view of politicians general. According to a survey by Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) reported by The Hill Trump’s approval rating, which had declined to a second-term low of 41% last month in the midst of the record-breaking government shutdown, has since returned to his second term average of approximately 45%. This not great, but it far exceeds the 24% approval rating for congressional Democrats and the 29% for congressional Republicans.

According to these polls the president’s economic approval ratings are low primarily due to his tariff policy, continued inflation, and the cost of healthcare.  47% of respondents opined that current economic conditions are “poor;” only 31% characterized them as “fair.” Moreover, overall, only 24% of Americans are satisfied with the current state of affairs in the country, whereas 74% are dissatisfied. This suggests that the president has his work cut out for him if he wants to buck the historical trend of the party in power losing congressional seats in the off-year elections. It is critical for Trump to maintain control of both Houses in order to continue with his agenda.

As we know, historically, absent any critical foreign issues such as a war when it comes to elections it’s always about the economy. Generally, voters follow what is happening overseas, and some may have some concern, however, everyone’s primary concern is providing for their family. Overseas issues tend to fade into the background, however, the prices of things such as food, rent, gas at the pump, affording a home, and medical insurance are omnipresent.

In my view the principal measurements of economic health are inflation, food prices, energy costs, unemployment and healthcare costs. Let’s review the current status of each.

Inflation – In my opinion it is unfair for the electorate to blame Trump for inflation and high costs of fuel and healthcare since he inherited those conditions from the Biden Administration. Nevertheless, voters are focused on the present, not the recent past. (Many of them have forgotten how bad it really was.) As always, the Dems and the mainstream media are piling on with lies and exaggerations.

Due to the Biden Administration’s excessive spending the rate of Inflation has been very damaging. It peaked at around 8% in 2022. When Trump was sworn in it was around 3%. At the time, many economists were forecasting that we could be headed for a recession and/or that the Trump administration’s high tariffs could reignite runaway inflation. They were wrong. Neither has occurred nor is likely to occur in the near future. Furthermore, under Trump’s watch the financial markets have surged to new highs. I’m sure that the 60% of Americans that own 401ks or IRAs are very happy. As Oxford Economics Chief U.S. economist Michael Pearce told CBS News “this has been another year of resilience for the economy. [It] has grown at a pretty steady pace.”

Trump’s tariff policy has been very controversial. I discussed this in a previous blog. The negative is that in the short term, it has resulted in price increases in some areas. On the plus side it has generated some $17 trillion in promised foreign investments, which will yield substantial benefits to our economy over the long haul, and rectified some huge trade imbalances.

Food prices – Food prices in 2025 can be interpreted two ways. Dems and their allies in the media have been fond of denoting that prices have continued to increase. They cite as examples Trump’s tariff policy and the prices of products like eggs and meat. That may be true, but this is one area in which Trump inherited a real mess. The rate of price increases is now in line with historical averages. Incidentally, do you remember the various supply chain interruptions when consumers could not find certain essentials? Furthermore, if you have been to a grocery store recently you would notice that a myriad of goods is on sale.

Housing – All indications are that the housing market is in dire straits. According to the National Association of Realtors home prices, in general, are at or near all-time highs and mortgage rates are around 6.3%. Erego, many younger Americans and first-time buyers are unable to afford a house. Indeed, in 2025 the median age of first-homebuyers hit a record high of 40. Buying a first home is still an important symbolic achievement for most people, a fulfillment of the “American Dream.”  According to Na Zhao, a principal economist at the National Association of Homebuyers where she is responsible for analyzing the local economic impact of home building and housing and industry data, “this situation that we’re in right now, where [housing] affordability has gotten to be the worst it’s really ever been in recent memory and significantly worse than before the pandemic is really unfortunate for the younger generation.” In addition, according to Brookings, a prominent, nonpartisan think tank, in 160 U.S. cities surveyed at least one-fifth of middle-class residents can’t afford to live in that area, after factoring in local income levels and price differences. Finally, indications are that the Fed will cut interest rates shortly, perhaps more than once. This would make it easier for homebuyers to obtain a mortgage and thus loosen up the housing market.

Energy – Energy prices, particularly for electricity, have continued to rise in 2025 compared to 2024 due to increased demand (especially from data centers), grid upgrades, and natural gas costs. Average rates for residences have increased around 6-7% nationally. Conversely, the national average price of gas at the pump was lower in 2025 than 2024 and trending downward, with prices in several locales currently at less than $3.00 per gallon.

Unemployment – Unemployment remains unacceptably high. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2025 due to a reduction in hiring the unemployment rate has increased from 4.1% to 4.6%, which is the highest level in four years.

Healthcare – The final and most problematic piece is healthcare. We can all agree that costs for insurance and prescription medicines are out of control. The question is what do we do about it? Trump has been working with the major pharmaceutical companies to reduce the cost of prescription medicines. Regarding health insurance the Dems’ solution is to extend the Obamacare subsidies indefinitely. The GOP is opposed to this because to do so would provide illegal aliens access to free healthcare at the taxpayers’ expense. This thorny issue was the primary cause of the last government shutdown, and it may cause another one in a couple of months. Each side is hurling accusations at the other. Congress will have to resolve this issue, which does not augur well.

The Good News

  1. GDP grew at a robust 4.3% annualized rate in the third quarter of 2025 compared to 3.8% in the previous quarter. The increase was fueled by consumer spending (which contradicted concerns regarding “affordability” that have been promoted by Dems and the media), exports, and government spending. This growth rate surprised many economists who had forecast a slower growth rate and a higher rate of inflation.
  2. Business investment grew 5.4% primarily due to investments in equipment and AI.
  3. Average wages grew 3.5% in the third quarter exceeding the 2.7% increase in inflation.
  4. The trade deficits are at a five-year low.
  5. Despite the relatively high unemployment rate of 4.6%, which was primarily attributable to DOGE reductions in the public sector, employment in the private sector has risen. In fact, for the quarter the private sector economy grew five times faster than the public sector.
  6. Trump’s tariff policy has not resulted in the widespread increase in inflation that many had predicted. In the short term some products such as coffee and meat have risen, but others such as airline tickets, eggs and cell phones have actually declined. In addition, there will be long-term benefits as I explain below.
  7. As I mentioned above, Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” policy has driven down the price of gas at the pump substantially, and signs are that those decreases will continue. Our fossil fuels output is at an all-time high.
  8. The financial markets have continued to soar. As I write this, the Dow is at 48,406, and the S&P is at 6,891. This is a positive portent for 2026, as the financial markets have always been “leading indicators.”
  9. As I mentioned above, as a direct result of Trump’s tariff policy it is predicted that trillions of dollars will be pouring in from foreign sources. That will translate into more high-paying jobs for Americans.
  10. All of the foregoing does not take into account the positive effect of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which was passed last July 4th. Although many of the key provisions became effective on January 1, 2025 their impact will not be felt until 2026, hopefully prior to election day. The BBB will benefit virtually all taxpayers to varying extents. Below please find a brief summary of its main features:

a. Permanently increase the standard deduction for seniors, commencing with the 2025 tax year, to $6,000 for single filers and $12,000 for married couples.

b. Increase the SALT deduction from $10,000 to $40,000 (with a phase-out for taxpayers whose income exceeds $500,000.

c. Eliminate taxes on tips up to $25,000 for individuals in traditionally and customarily tipped industries, with an income limit. Expires December 31, 2028.

d. Eliminate taxes on overtime up to a $12,500 deduction for individuals with an income limit. Expires December 31, 2028.

e. Up to a $10,000 deduction for auto loan interest for vehicles with final assembly in the United States, with an income limit. Expires December 31, 2028.

f. Increases the additional senior standard deduction from $2,000 to $6,000 for seniors whose gross income does not exceed $75,000, or $150,000 in the case of a joint return. Expires December 31, 2028.

g. A one-time $1,000 contribution from the federal government to fund a so-called “Trump account” for children born from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028 whose parents are citizens.

h. A new Social Security tax deduction for seniors of up to $6,000 for single filers and $12,000 for married couples with a phase-out.

i. An Increase of the child tax credit to from $2,000 to $2,200.

Conclusion

The Dems and their allies in the mainstream media claim that Trump’s policies have not improved the economy. Rather, they claim he has exacerbated the situation, particularly the rate of inflation. Yet they do not offer any specific remedies, just wandering, meaningless generalities. Let us not forget that the far-left Biden Administration was the one which created the current mess in the first place with their wild, inflationary spending. Why would we trust them to fix the problem that they created?

It is not reasonable to expect Trump to fix in one year what it took the Dems four years to create. I maintain that the changes offered in the BBB will kick in throughout 2026 and give a substantial boost to the economy (hopefully, before the midterm elections). Every tax cut implemented in my lifetime has done just that. In my opinion, voters should give Trump’s policies time to work before passing judgment.

 

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BOXING DAY

Tomorrow, December 26, many countries, notably the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, will celebrate a holiday known as Boxing Day.  Many of those who are unfamiliar with this traditional holiday erroneously assume it is associated with pugilism. That is not the case.

In most countries that celebrate it, BD is considered a secular holiday; however, some countries celebrate a religious holiday on December 26.  For example, Germany, The Netherlands and Poland, celebrate the day as a “Second Christmas Day.”  In the Catalonia region of Spain, the day is celebrated as “St. Stephen’s Day.”

BD’s origins are murky.  There are various theories.  Based on my research it appears that the holiday can be traced at least to medieval England where it was customary for the aristocracy to allow their servants to spend the day after Christmas with their families.  After all, the servants were obligated to serve their masters on Christmas Day rather than spend the holiday with their own families.  Each servant would receive a “box” containing food, clothing, and/or other gifts to bring home to his or her family.

Over time, this practice was extended to tradesmen and others who performed services for the aristocrats.  Perhaps, this was a forerunner to the present-day custom in many parts of the world, including the US, of giving Christmas gifts to various persons who perform services for us on a regular basis, such as mail carriers, doormen, manicurists, and hairstylists.

The earliest mention of the term “Christmas box” was in Samuel Pepys’ diary in 1663. (Pepys was a member of Parliament during the 17th century who was famous for keeping a diary.)  Others believe the day’s roots go back to Roman times when it was customary to place a metal box, aka the Alms Box, outside the church during the “Feast of St. Stephen” to collect donations for the poor.

BD celebrations vary from country to country.  For instance:

1. In the UK it is a bank holiday.  If it falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, it is celebrated on the following Monday.
2. In Ireland it is celebrated on December 26, regardless of the day of the week, as St. Stephens Day.
3. In Australia it is a federal holiday.  In the state of South Australia it is celebrated as “Proclamation Day,” which commemorates the establishment of South Australia as a British province in 1834.  Supposedly, the proclamation was promulgated at “The Old Gum Tree” in what is presently the suburb of Glenelg North in SA.  Originally, December 28 was designated as BD, but, at some point, it was changed to the first business day after Christmas (probably to accommodate those who wanted to create an extended holiday period).
4. In Canada and New Zealand BD is celebrated as a statutory holiday; that is, it is celebrated on December 26 regardless of the day of the week.
5. In Nigeria BD is celebrated on December 26 as a public holiday for workers and students.  If it falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday.
6. In some countries, notably Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand BD is a huge shopping day, akin to “Black Friday” in the US.  Retailers have extended hours and hold sales.  Shoppers line up early just like on “Black Friday.” Much like in the US, retailers have expanded the Christmas shopping season in order to generate additional revenue. Some retailers in those countries have expanded the period of observation to “Boxing Week.” 
7. In addition, normally all of the aforementioned countries hold a variety of sporting events to mark the day (soccer, rugby, cricket, horse racing, ice hockey, even boxing).

CONCLUSION

Like many holidays, the original significance of BD has been lost, and it has become commercialized excessively.  Such is the way of the modern world.

For most Americans, some years December 26 is merely a day to extend the Christmas holiday and, in some cases, to “recuperate” from it.  This year, with Christmas being on a Thursday, BD will be a normal working day for most of us, although some may choose to use it as a travel day hopefully to avoid or mitigate the Christmas crush. As always, travelling any distance from home during the holiday period will be fraught with delays, cancellations, adverse weather, and other complications and frustrations, so many people will choose to stay local or even at home.  

Regardless of how you choose to spend the day I hope you enjoy it and stay safe. If you’re driving, watch out for the “other guy,” and don’t be the “other guy.”

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SOCIAL SERVICES GREED, FRAUD AND CORRUPTION IN MINNESOTA

The contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where noted.

The capacity for greed and corruption of some people never ceases to amaze me. The greed, fraud and corruption recently uncovered in Minnesota is an illustrative example. As I write this, various federal agencies are investigating this colossal theft and misappropriation of public money. Moreover, there are indications that it may extend to other locales besides MN.

MN has the largest Somali population in the U.S. Estimates vary, but a 2023 Pew Research analysis put the number at around 130,000, most of whom live in the Twin Cities. Around 95% of Somalis in Minnesota are U.S. citizens. In my view most of them are law abiding citizens. Unfortunately, the misdeeds of a few will likely cast aspersions on all of them.

MN is virtually drowning in fraud. Federal prosecutors are investigating what they describe as “staggering, industrial-scale” fraud in the state’s social services programs involving numerous individuals and shell companies that allegedly stole and misappropriated federal and state funds intended for vulnerable persons, such as special needs children, disabled adults and the elderly, with potential losses that could exceed $9 billion.

According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson that would amount to approximately one-half of the roughly $18 billion in federal funds that have supported various Minnesota-run programs since 2018. Fraud was found in programs earmarked for child nutrition, housing services and autism, among others. “I’m sure everyone is wondering how much of this $18 billion was fraud,” Thompson said. “That’s the $18 billion question.”

According to federal prosecutors members of the Somali diaspora, a group with growing political power, were largely responsible. More than 90 individuals, approximately 82 of which are Somali Americans have been charged so far, with over 60 convictions. They expect more charges in the ongoing investigations prospectively. MN Department of Human Services has identified 14 state-run programs as “high risk” for fraud because of program vulnerabilities, evidence of fraudulent activity and/or suspicious billing patterns. Thompson reported that they are seeing more red flags than legitimate claims, and many suspects created entities that billed multiple programs at once.

The New York Times was the first media outlet to disclose the shocking and disturbing details. The total [fraud] is more than Minnesota spends annually to run its Department of Corrections,” the Times reported. According to various law enforcement officials the fraud originated in “pockets of Minnesota’s Somali diaspora.” “Scores of these persons made small fortunes by setting up companies that billed state agencies for millions of dollars’ worth of social services that were never provided.

It appears that the genesis of these frauds was around 2002 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The perpetrators exploited MN’s sanctuary state laws and policies. Typically, they created shell companies that would then bill state agencies for services that were never provided. Instead, the money was used for luxury items such as purchasing real estate (namely properties in Kenya and Dubai), cars, and travel.

One major perpetrator was identified as Feeding Our Future, which is nothing more than a phony charity run by Somali nationals. It was given a $250 million grant under the Federal Child Nutrition Program. It was supposed to use this grant money to provide some 125 million meals to needy children. Federal counterterrorism sources have confirmed that millions of dollars were stolen and diverted to Somalia where it was used by various criminal enterprises including Somali terrorists such as Al-Shabaab. In the words of one confidential source “the largest funder of Al-Shabaab is the Minnesota taxpayer.”

Investigators claim there are many more examples not only of fraud perpetrated by those in the Somali community, but also of a concerted effort by government officials to cover it up. Last Thursday, Peter Schweizer, the President of the Government Accountability Institute, in an interview with The National News Desk characterized the evidence as “overwhelming.” He averred “the corruption went on and on and on for years because there was this climate of fear of wanting to raise these issues they’re concerned about, you know, maybe being called racist or bigoted.”

This week House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. sent written notice to Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison demanding information about why state regulators, especially those in the Democrat-led administration, were “reluctant” to take action in with respect to allegations involving the Somali community.” Some people, including me, suspect that they allowed it to continue so as not to offend the Somali population, which votes overwhelmingly Democrat. Comer has also requested documents and information related to accusations that the MN Department of Human Services “deleted data to cover up the rampant fraud.” In a related matter on Thursday, December 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota disclosed that Abdinajib Hassan Yussuf, the owner of Star Autism Center in St. Cloud, MN was charged with one count of wire fraud.

In addition:

  1. Dems are playing the racism card claiming that federal investigators are targeting Somalis unfairly. I stipulate that the overwhelming majority of Somalis are honest, hardworking people, but at the same time I would like to denote that most of the perpetrators are Somalis.
  2. Republicans have been criticizing Governor Tim Walz’s administration as well as other MN state officials for a lack of oversight and slow response.
  3. Far left Democrat House Representative Ilhan Omar, who represents the district in Congress and who derives much of her political support from the Somali community, was asked by CNN how the fraud got so out of control. She deflected responsibility claiming, “when you have these kind[s] of new programs that are designed to help people, you’re oftentimes relying on third parties to be able to facilitate.” Given her position and pro-Somali/anti-American history it strains credulity that she would not be cognizant of the scheme or perhaps approved it. I believe she was involved “up to her eyeballs.”
  4. Of course, most of the mainstream media has been downplaying the scandal.
  5. In response to the investigations, in October MN Governor Tim Walz ordered a third-party audit and paused payments to some 14 programs for 90 days. One program has since been shut down entirely.
  6. Walz says the state aggressively increased resources for fraud detection and prevention and recently appointed a statewide director of program integrity to oversee those efforts. This was a classic case of “locking the barn door after the horse has escaped.” Regarding the fraud, he maintained “I am the one that will fix it.” I doubt that.
  7. Republicans have blamed Walz’s administration, with Trump calling MN under the Democratic governor a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity.”
  8. Stephen Miller, in his typical combative manner, opined, we shouldn’t be shocked by the MN fraud case considering Somalia’s primary occupation is ‘pirate.’
  9. According to Linda Miller, president and co-founder of the Program Integrity Alliance, a nonprofit focused on fraud prevention in the public sector and a former assistant director with the GAO, attempts to scam government programs have been rare but are likely becoming more common nationwide. Fraudsters have seen how easy it was during the pandemic “to just submit these fake invoices and get paid millions of dollars.” She added, the risk of fraud increases when programs expand quickly without sufficient staffing, modern technology or robust data verification systems. There are very likely people attempting to defraud these programs all over the country.” We should all take heed.

Conclusion

This scandal has become a major political and criminal issue. Under this administration it will not be swept under the rug. People are being prosecuted with more to come. MN state politicians and other officials responsible may very well see their careers ended. It is unconscionable that criminal elements were basically able to steal billions of dollars meant for Americans and funnel it to themselves and terrorist organizations.

Everyone is claiming they were unaware. I don’t know what’s worse, that or that they were complicit. I believe that the person in charge has the ultimate responsibility for any wrongdoing. As governor, Waltz, in the words of the late Desi Arnaz, has some ‘splaining’ to do. And to think, this buffoon was almost elected VP.

The blame game is already in full force, and it could get ugly when all is said and done particularly with the all-important midterm elections looming. In the meantime, politicians are doing what they do best, deflecting blame from themselves and onto others.

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