A Man of the People

Happy New Year. It’s almost the end of January, and I’m still not ready to face 2025. Denial has been my primary mode of existence since Nov. 5th. Those who know me know how I’m feeling. Many of you have shared your own need to stop watching the news, to stop talking about politics with another human being, to pretend everything’s fine. La la la. We’re trying to hope for the best, despite knowing how well it turned out last time.

Please donate to WCK, which
sent food to L.A. wildfire victims

The candidate who ran on lowering the prices of gas and groceries decided, in one of his first official acts, to rename the Gulf of Mexico. It’s all so ridiculous. He bragged about firing Chef José Andrés from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. This is a good and decent man whose organization, World Central Kitchen (WCK), has served more than 450 million meals to victims of humanitarian and natural disasters. Chef José had already resigned at the end of his term two weeks ago. Petty. Childish. How are we supposed to sleep at night, knowing that the guy in charge of the nuclear codes has the impulse control of a six-year-old?

Give him a chance, people keep saying. He was changed by his assassination attempt. Really? What changes, exactly, has he manifested? How did he react when Bishop Mariann Budde appealed to him in a prayer service: “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives.” She added that “the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.”

His response? Did her words move him to humility or concern? Of course not. He called her “nasty” and “not compelling or smart.” He demanded an apology from her and the church. The sheer effrontery of a woman of God, asking the new leader of our country to show compassion.

How many of the billionaires preening on his inauguration dais would be brave enough to speak up to their new idol?

The voters have high hopes for this administration, and believe me, so do I. I love this country and want it to survive. Who could have imagined FDR selling timeshares at Hyde Park? Or Ronald Reagan hawking limited edition cowboy hats? That’s what we’ve come to. Instead of working on policies to fix “a nation in disrepair,” as he called it, Trump was busy endorsing his new meme coins, a move worth $9.36 billion. A man of the people. It’s estimated that he only netted $1.6 billion during his last 4-year term. He’s already broken that record in his first three days. For anyone who wants to tell me he returned to office to help the American people, I have a bridge to sell you.

But again, let’s be positive. The richest among us will soon get a tax cut. The rest, according to Elon Musk, head of the new made-up Dept. of Government Efficiency, must brace for “the hardship” of spending cuts. Buckle up. It’s not like nobody warned us.