I was recently interviewed on the Dr Bee Well Podcast. It was a great experience. Covering everything from Gymnastics, Fitness, Politics, Economy.
Something for everyone! Enjoy!
Month: July 2025
The Moral Imperative: Leaders and Accountability. Let’s See the Epstein Files.
Trump’s Wild Claims and Deflections
Trump’s recent rhetoric—blaming everyone from pharmaceutical companies to the deep state, and now claiming he’ll reduce drug prices by 1000%—isn’t just exaggerated. It’s mathematically and logically impossible. A 1000% reduction would mean you’re being paid to take medicine, which sounds more like a parody than a policy.
This kind of grandstanding isn’t new for him. When cornered or criticized, Trump often doubles down with wild promises, scapegoating, and blame. But now, as legal pressure mounts—from indictments to civil trials—he appears to be flailing, not leading.
The Epstein Connection: What Matters and What Doesn’t
Yes, Trump’s name appears in association with Jeffrey Epstein—he’s in flight logs, was photographed with Epstein, and spoke positively of him in the past. But here’s the nuance that must be acknowledged:
- Being in the files or logs doesn’t automatically make someone guilty of a crime. Many powerful people, including politicians, academics, and celebrities, crossed paths with Epstein. That alone proves nothing.
However…
- If any person—Trump or anyone else—is documented as having paid for or engaged in sex with minors, that crosses a bright, unforgivable line. That person must be investigated, charged, and prosecuted.
No exceptions. No excuses.
That’s not a political take. That’s a moral imperative. We cannot have anyone, let alone someone seeking or holding the highest office in the land, credibly implicated in crimes against children without full transparency and legal scrutiny.
What Kind of Leaders Do We Want?
This goes beyond Trump. If any leader—left, right, or center—is tied to Epstein’s abuse in a criminal way, the public has a right to know, and that person has no business in public life. Period.
The U.S. cannot move forward if it continues to look the other way when elite individuals are accused of the most heinous crimes. Whether it’s Trump, Clinton, Gates, or anyone else, the standard must be the same:
- Were they involved in criminal acts?
- Were they complicit in human trafficking?
- Did they protect or fund this abuse?
If yes—they must go. No fanfare, no martyrdom. Just justice.
Final Thought
This isn’t about cancel culture. It’s about not allowing child abusers to walk among us with impunity because they have money, influence, or a loyal voter base.
It’s not just about Trump’s flailing. It’s about a system that too often protects the powerful. The Epstein files are a test—not just of our justice system, but of our collective moral backbone.
Will we look away? Or will we finally, fully demand the truth?
From Business to Council: My Journey in Dover
Since 1986, Dover has been my home. I’ve raised a family here, built a business here, and worked hard to serve this community on the City Council for the past two years. Today, I’m proud to announce that I’m running for re-election—because I believe in Dover, and I want to keep fighting for the people who make it such a special place to live and work.
Public service isn’t new to me—it’s simply an extension of what I’ve been doing my entire adult life. In 1994, my wife and I opened Atlantic Gymnastics with fewer than 100 students. Today, we serve over 1,500 students across two locations and employ a staff of 40. It’s been a journey of passion, perseverance, and growth. I’ve also been fortunate to build a reputation as a respected gymnastics coach on the world stage. But the most important lesson I’ve learned through all of it has nothing to do with winning competitions—it’s about showing up and doing the hard work, every single day. In business, in coaching, and in public service, that’s what it takes to make a difference.
On the City Council, I’ve brought that same work ethic. I’ve helped residents with both everyday concerns and larger issues like Dover’s budget. I’ve worked to make sure city decisions reflect the voices of our people—balancing affordability, economic growth, and the character of our community. I’ve fought for transparency, fairness, and smart investment. And while I haven’t won every fight, I’ve shown up for all of them—because that’s what Dover deserves.
Dover should be a place for all—a place where families can afford to live, where workers can thrive, and where seniors can stay. That’s the kind of city I want to continue building together.
This campaign is not about politics—it’s about action. It’s about service. It’s about continuing the work. I’m asking for your support, your ideas, and your vote to keep showing up, working hard, and fighting for Dover.
The Real Reason Birth Rates Are Falling in the U.S.: It’s the Economy, Plain and Simple
“How can anyone but the top 10% even afford a child?”
I was listening to NPR the other day, and they were diving into the mystery of America’s declining birth rate. Experts offered a wide range of possible explanations—shifting cultural norms, delayed marriages, more women in the workforce, climate anxiety, even a rise in individualism. All interesting ideas, but I couldn’t help thinking: aren’t we ignoring the obvious reason?
When you strip away the sociological theory and high-concept analysis, the reason so many Americans are choosing not to have children—or to have fewer of them—is simple: it’s just too expensive.
Let’s talk about the basics.
Giving Birth Is a Financial Burden
Even giving birth in the U.S. is a luxury many can’t afford. The average cost of childbirth with insurance is around $3,000 out of pocket. Without insurance, it can balloon up to $15,000 or more. And that’s just for the delivery—never mind prenatal care, time off work, or complications.
Compare this to countries where childbirth is covered by universal healthcare, and it’s no wonder families in the U.S. are thinking twice.
It’s just too expensive to have a kid in the United States.
This isn’t some abstract cultural shift. It’s economics. Let’s look at the data.
🏥 1. The Cost of Giving Birth in the U.S.
Average Cost of Childbirth (2023):
| Delivery Type | With Insurance | Without Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Vaginal Delivery | ~$3,000 | ~$10,000–$15,000 |
| C-Section | ~$5,000 | ~$15,000–$20,000 |
Source: Health Care Cost Institute, 2023
👶 2. No Paid Parental Leave
Only 24% of U.S. workers have access to any paid parental leave.
Source: OECD; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023
🧒 3. Childcare Costs More Than College
- Massachusetts: $21,000/year (childcare) vs $14,000/year (college)
- California: $17,000/year vs $11,000/year
- National Avg: ~$15,000/year
Source: Economic Policy Institute, 2023
🏠 4. Housing Is Out of Reach
- Median home price (2024): $420,000+
- Median household income: $75,000
Source: Zillow; U.S. Census Bureau, 2024
📚 5. Public School Funding Gaps
If families manage to overcome the cost of birth, childcare, and housing, they’re rewarded with another financial stress: underfunded schools. For those who want quality education, private school tuition or expensive neighborhood buy-ins become the next hurdle.
And the list goes on: healthcare, college savings, groceries, transportation, extracurriculars. Every line item adds up, and most families are doing the math—and opting out.
- Rich districts: $20,000+ per student
- Poor districts: $8,000–$12,000 per student
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2023
🧮 It’s Just Math
Here’s the simple equation most working- and middle-class Americans are doing in their heads:
Cost of childbirth + no leave + $20k/year childcare + unaffordable housing + uncertain education = maybe no kids.
- 2007: 2.12 children per woman
- 2023: 1.62 children per woman (record low)
Source: CDC, 2024
🎯 It’s Not About Culture—It’s About Affordability
So while experts continue to theorize why Americans aren’t having kids, maybe the better question is this:
How can anyone but the top 10% even afford to?
This isn’t about people not wanting children. It’s about people being realistic. In a country where basic support systems are missing and the cost of living rises faster than wages, choosing to have children can feel like stepping off a cliff—financially and emotionally.
Until we address the economic reality of family life in America, the birth rate will keep falling. Not because people are selfish or scared or lazy—but because the math just doesn’t work.Until we create a society where average families can afford to raise children without risking economic ruin, the birth rate will keep falling. Not because people are selfish or lazy—but because they’re rational.
The Real Cost of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill in New Hampshire
As Donald Trump and the MAGA-controlled GOP roll out their so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” New Hampshire stands to lose more than it gains—much more. Behind the flashy slogans and hollow promises lies a policy agenda that will leave thousands of Granite Staters uninsured, hungry, and worse off, while the ultra-wealthy reap billions in tax breaks. This isn’t just bad policy—it’s a direct threat to the well-being of our state.
A Party Lost to MAGA
Once a party that prided itself on fiscal conservatism and integrity, today’s Republican Party is a hollowed-out shell, wholly captured by the MAGA wing. Traditional Republicans who once warned against deficits, reckless spending, or abandoning working families now sit quietly by, parroting whatever talking points come down from Trump’s team.
- They claim this bill won’t increase the deficit. It will.
- They say it won’t kick people off Medicare and Medicaid. It does.
- They swear the tax cuts for the rich will “pay for themselves.” They never have.
Zombie Economics, Alive and Well
This isn’t a new con. It’s a repackaging of trickle-down economics—the idea that if we cut taxes at the top, prosperity will “trickle down” to everyone else.
But it’s never worked. Not in the 1920s. Not in the 1980s. Not under George W. Bush. Not under Trump.
“The idea that cutting taxes on the wealthy will lead to faster economic growth is a zombie idea — it just keeps shambling along, no matter how many times it has been killed by evidence.”
— Paul Krugman, Nobel Laureate Economist, from Arguing with Zombies
These policies have led to record inequality, ballooning deficits, and fragile economies. The MAGA GOP doesn’t care. They’ve revived a dead idea and dressed it up as a miracle cure.
Trickle-down economics isn’t an economic strategy—it’s a proven failure. Over and over, we’ve been told that giving more money to the wealthy and big corporations will eventually benefit everyone. Yet the data shows otherwise.
“There is no empirical evidence that tax cuts for the rich lead to economic growth. What they do lead to is more inequality,” says Gabriel Zucman, economist at the University of California, Berkeley.
The concept didn’t work in the 1980s, when Reagan’s massive tax cuts exploded the deficit and widened the wealth gap. It didn’t work under George W. Bush, whose tax cuts were a major driver of the Great Recession. And it certainly didn’t work under Trump in 2017, when his corporate tax cuts boosted stock buybacks—not wages.
In fact, the roots of trickle-down theory trace back to the 1920s, helping lead us into the Great Depression of the 1930s. And yet, MAGA Republicans are serving it up again, now with more venom, less oversight, and even fewer facts.
The Human Cost in New Hampshire
Let’s get specific about what this bill will do to real people in New Hampshire:
🏥 Medicaid Cuts
- 20,000 Granite Staters are projected to lose Medicaid coverage.
- These cuts disproportionately affect rural areas and low-income working families who gained access through Medicaid expansion.
- Hospitals—especially community and rural clinics—will absorb more uncompensated care, threatening their ability to stay open.
🍎 School Meals & SNAP Cuts
- SNAP cuts require NH to spend $38 million in state funds just to maintain current benefits.
- Nearly 76,000 people, including over 26,000 children, rely on SNAP in New Hampshire.
- Federal changes will reduce direct certification for free and reduced school lunches, potentially affecting thousands of students.
- Nationally, 7.5 million children could lose access to free meals, and 16 million more could lose eligibility for school meal programs.
📚 Public School Funding
- Cuts to Medicaid and nutrition programs will gut school support services, including mental health counselors, school nurses, and speech therapists.
- Medicaid is one of the largest sources of federal support for school-based services in NH.
They Don’t Care About the Truth
The scariest part of all this? MAGA Republicans know these claims are false—and they don’t care. This isn’t a debate over numbers or projections; it’s a coordinated effort to mislead the public for political gain.
Their “truth” is whatever Trump says. If he says the bill will balance the budget, they repeat it. If he claims it won’t hurt seniors, they nod. This isn’t governance—it’s obedience. And it’s costing us dearly.
Hold Them Accountable
We are at the beginning of a critical local election year, with statewide elections just around the corner in 2026. Candidates are already positioning themselves. Every Republican on the ballot needs to be asked, loudly and publicly:
“Do you support Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill?”
And if they refuse to answer—or worse, fall in line—they need to be held accountable.
Silence is complicity.
This isn’t just about politics—it’s about survival for thousands of New Hampshire families. It’s about children getting fed, seniors accessing medication, and workers keeping their health care. If our leaders won’t defend us, we need to replace them with ones who will.
Bottom Line: Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is a lie wrapped in propaganda. It will balloon the deficit, shred our safety net, and serve only the wealthiest Americans—at the expense of everyday people in New Hampshire.