Category Archives: Politics and Society

Kitten Karma

Posted on September 19, 2026 by 34orion

My wife is a cat person. I am a dog guy. Somehow, three kittens, one airport encounter, and a little “kitten karma” turned that difference into a lesson in love, politics, and keeping your blood pressure under control. Continue reading →

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Not America’s Mayor

Posted on September 7, 2026 by 34orion

Rudy Giuliani was once called “America’s Mayor.”

It was a fine title. Grand, flattering, patriotic—and, as it turned out, issued before anyone bothered to read the fine print.

On September 11, 2001, he was my mayor, and in that terrible moment he gave New Yorkers something we desperately needed: steadiness, visibility and hope.

Twenty-five years later, history has had time to clear the smoke.

My latest: Not America’s Mayor. Continue reading →

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Dolly Would

Posted on August 29, 2026 by 34orion

A long layover, a Dolly Parton rabbit hole, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young, and one uncomfortable question: how much of our happiness are we willing to hand over to politics?

Dolly had a pretty good answer Continue reading →

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The Ted Lasso Way

Posted on August 9, 2026 by 34orion

Six years ago, when everything felt broken, a fictional football coach showed up with a yellow sign that said BELIEVE.

This week, watching Washington turn grievance into theater yet again, I found myself thinking about Ted Lasso, Anthony Fauci, optimism, and one line that feels especially useful right now:

“Don’t fight back. Fight forward.”

New piece: The Ted Lasso Way Continue reading →

Posted in covid, Humor / satire, opinion, personal essay, Politics and Society, Trump cuts, Trump Opposition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cheeto Dust Cup

Posted on July 20, 2026 by 34orion

The World Cup final had a 90-minute ceremony, a Tom Cruise monologue, and confiscated protest signs. Also, somewhere in there, a soccer match — Argentina didn’t manage a single shot on goal.

New: The Cheeto Dust Cup Continue reading →

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The Marquee Mood Ring

Posted on July 11, 2026 by 34orion

Summer movies used to be an escape. This year, they’re a mirror. 🎬
Jaws taught us to fear the water. Jackass, Minions & Monsters, and Animal Farm are teaching us something else entirely — a pretty unflattering portrait of where we are as a country right now.
New on Tomahawk and Crown: what this summer’s blockbusters (and one very ancient odyssey) reveal about the nation we’ve become — and the one we might still get back to.
Read it here: [link] 🍿 Continue reading →

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The Trump Stability Index

Posted on June 26, 2026 by 34orion

A weekly composite of ten objective measures, each scored 1–10 and oriented the same way — 10 = steadiest, 1 = most chaotic. Every component is scored against his own trailing 8-week baseline. Version 1.0. Continue reading →

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It Could Have Been a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

Posted on June 20, 2026 by 34orion

The week gave us screwworms, algae, and a Qatari Air Force One. Thursday gave us something the Grifter-in-Chief will never have Continue reading →

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The Department of His Justice

Posted on June 2, 2026 by 34orion

The Department of His Justice” — a cheerful little tour through weaponized prosecutions, loyalty payouts, and what happens when norms meet a narcissist with subpoena power. Continue reading →

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Six Years Ago, Today

Posted on June 2, 2026 by 34orion

Six years ago I flew home from pandemic lockdown in Brazil believing America still knew the difference between leadership and a late-stage infomercial host with a persecution complex.

I was wrong.

A little jet lag, a little heartbreak, a little rage, and just enough dark humor to survive reading the headlines. If you’ve ever looked at the news and thought “how did we get HERE?” — this one’s for you. 🇺🇸🔥

Read before they replace the Statue of Liberty with a gold-plated grievance monument. Continue reading →

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