United We Prevail

Staying Strong, Vigilant, and Courageous in the Face of Adversity

I wish this were a good news post. Truly, I do. Lately, I've begun to question whether my words help bring clarity or simply contribute to a collective sense of despair. But I've made a commitment—to be honest with you. This post is a continuation of that commitment. The truth is, the situation is grim, and MAGA hasn't fully taken control yet. I'm warning you: this path will not end well if we don't take a stand.

This week kicked off with the profoundly disappointing Senate hearing involving Pete Hegseth, the weekend morning show personality turned far-right political figure. The Republicans on the panel made it painfully clear from the outset that they were there not for constitutional oversight but to shield Hegseth and amplify Donald Trump's agenda. Their questioning wasn't about accountability—it was about currying favor with someone they believe could soon control the Department of Defense. The message was unmistakable: stay on Pete's good side, and your district might just get that new fighter jet or upgraded training facility.

Unfortunately, the Democratic response fell short of what the moment demanded. While there were some solid moments and good questions raised, too much time was spent focusing on Hegseth's controversial statements about women in the military. Don't get me wrong—I fully support women serving in our armed forces, and Hegseth deserves scrutiny for his past remarks. But when his position on the issue shifted recently, the line of questioning should have pivoted: What changed, and why? Instead, it seemed more about getting soundbites than achieving clarity.

More troubling still was the missed opportunity to press Hegseth on the core principles of military ethics. He wasn't asked whether he would refuse an illegal order until the very end—and when the question finally came, he dodged it. The only acceptable answer in our defense establishment is a resounding "absolutely." Yet, the questioning concluded without holding him to that standard, a failure I can only describe as oversight malpractice.

We must be clear-eyed about what this hearing represents: a test case. There are far more alarming nominations on the horizon. Tulsi Gabbard, a known Assad apologist and pro-Putin figure, is being considered to lead the coordination of all intelligence agencies. Rumors suggest Trump may nominate Joe Kent, a far-right extremist rejected even by MAGA voters, to head the National Counterterrorism Center—the agency responsible for identifying domestic and international threats. Imagine the implications of someone linked to extremist groups overseeing domestic terror assessments.

And it doesn't stop there. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal vaccine skeptic and proponent of conspiracy theories, could be tapped to lead Health and Human Services. His views on public health are not just controversial—they're dangerous, particularly for a position requiring sound scientific judgment.

I don't share this to spread despair. I share it to ignite a sense of urgency and action. This is not the time for resignation. This is the time for unyielding resistance. History reminds us that battles can feel lost just before victory emerges. During the Battle of the Bulge, the situation seemed utterly hopeless for the Allied troops, yet mere months later, they were in the heart of a defeated enemy's capital. The tide turned because they refused to give up.

This isn’t the time to obsess about difference in our coalition. The Brits and American’s fought together despite their past wars, and different governments. Yes there were Egos leading the armies, and those people sometimes clashed. But they never forgot the mission. We are in Act Three of this political struggle. The forces of extremism and authoritarianism want us demoralized. But we still have power. We still have voices. And most importantly, we still have each other. If we stand together, stay vigilant, and fight with clarity and courage, we can turn the tide. This battle is far from over—and together, we can win. It will take time (hopefully just four years) but when we look back in a decade, it will seem like a blink of time, and a victory well earned, as we stand in OUR capitol restoring Democracy to it’s pure form, “with malice towards none and charity for all.”