Vermonters…rank 2nd in the U.S. for engaging with neighbors in frequent discussions about political,
social, or local issues. Vermont [also] ranks 2nd in the country for working with neighbors to do something positive for the neighborhood or community [and] 2nd in the county for donations to political organizations.— 2025 Vermont Civic Health Index, an initiative sponsored by Vermont’s Secretary of State
Just as Trump and Musk are refusing to submit their plans to a Congress that their party controls, they are at least toying with the notion of ignoring orders by a court they have shaped. The Supreme Court, which has final word on all constitutional disputes, has a two-to-one majority of Republican appointees. When Vance floated the idea of defying the courts in 2021, he was anticipating his party taking actions so indisputably illegal that not even friendly justices would swallow them. They are prepared to smash a system they control, simply because it won’t move at the frantic pace they demand.
Will Trump actually go as far as he, Vance, and Musk have suggested? The notion that they would so early in their term escalate to the highest level of constitutional crisis short of canceling elections seems difficult to believe. Quite possibly, cooler heads will prevail.
The trouble is that the Republican Party’s cooler heads have been on a losing streak since November.
— “Trump Signals He Might Ignore the Courts,” The Atlantic
Google has removed its long-standing prohibition against using AI for weapons and surveillance systems…The change, quietly implemented this week, eliminates key portions of Google’s AI Principles that explicitly banned the company from developing AI for weapons or surveillance. These principles, established in 2018, had served as an industry benchmark for responsible AI development.
— “Google drops AI weapons ban—what it means for the future of artificial intelligence,” VentureBeat
Opinions may differ on exactly what is happening, but I’m convinced that New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie is correct in saying, “Donald Trump is waging war on the American system of government.”
If you believe this is true, there’s no room for accommodation. Ending democratic governance leaves no room for the kind of higher education that has made the U.S. the envy of the world.
You’ve got to resist, all of it, actively, with as much countering force as possible. An administration that without notice “pauses” NIH and NSF activities, that even stops disbursement through the Office of Management and Budget, is not merely reorienting the government around the new president’s priorities. It seems clear they either intend to destroy or hobble higher education to make it a vassal state.
— “You’ve Got to Fight,” by John Warner, Inside Higher Ed
Bottom line: as we enter the new Trump presidency, we have got to remain focused. We can’t panic. No matter how many executive orders he signs and statements he issues, our goal remains the same. We have got to educate. We have got to organize. We have got to bring people together around an agenda that works for all, not just the few.
Now more than ever, we have to fight to create an America based on economic, social and environmental justice. Let’s get to work.
— “What Trump Didn’t Say In His Inauguration Speech,” by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), The Guardian
[With calls for the takeover of Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal] Mr. Trump’s fumbling around for a rallying cry becomes dangerous, for in treating international politics as if it were a game of Risk, he’s signaling that the world is governed by new rules, which are really old rules: The powerful do what they will; the weak suffer what they must.
— “Trump Dreams of a New American Empire,” Prof. Greg Grandin in The New York Times
An list of everything President Trump has done (based on what I could find, anyway). [Updated on Feb 10, 2025]
My 2024 reading marathon included my favorite genres of fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi, a smattering of religious history, and several audiobooks and graphic novels. This year, I broke the list down into my favorite books of the year, plus the runners up, followed by the whole list with highlights on my recommendations. I hope you find at least a couple that you can add to next year’s list!
This year, I added 214 albums to my library, spanning nearly a century of music. After much listening, I’ve chosen my ten favorite albums released in 2024. From ambient masterpieces to electrifying jazz, these picks showcase the year’s best. Thank you for following along—here’s to another great year of music!
This month’s musical discoveries take us from Leyla McCalla’s Sun Without the Heat, my favorite album of November, to Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical powerhouse GNX, and everything in between. Explore the joy-filled jams of Goose, the haunting melodies of Beth Gibbons, and the Afrobeat grooves of Kokoroko in this eclectic roundup of November’s best music.
Discover the soundscape of October, from nostalgic concept albums to international flavors and emotional post-rock. Explore my top picks and hidden gems in this month’s musical adventure.
I’m disappointed in you, America. You gave Trump a decisive win, prioritizing short-term economic pain over long-term democratic stability. Now, it’s up to the rest of us to fight for our future.
Democrats and Never-Trump Republicans argue that Donald Trump’s potential return to the presidency poses a dire threat to American democracy. Some advocate drastic measures to prevent it, but true democracy demands nonviolent persuasion, even in the face of fear and uncertainty.
“You don’t stop being a fascist because you don’t get everything you want in your first term because you’re surrounded by people who aren’t fascists. They’re right-wing Republicans, they’re craven, but they’re not going along with fascism. You don’t get to do full fascism until you’re surrounded by fascists.”
“There is no comparison between Donald Trump and any previous president…in terms of selling access to him, his family, and of course, his administration, and selling out American policy in the process. If he wins again in November, if he’s back in the White House, everything in terms of American foreign policy will be for sale to the highest bidder.”
This month’s playlist includes both new sounds and old favorites. From the groove-heavy jazz to the bluesy nostalgia, there’s something in September for everyone.