Category: Elections

Watergate vs. Today’s Political Climate

On By TonyIn Belief, Elections, History, PoliticsLeave a comment

When Watergate Looks Cute

Yesterday I flew back from a work trip in Iceland.

One of the interesting things about traveling internationally is that people inevitably ask questions about America. They ask about our politics, our economy, our culture, and increasingly, Donald Trump. This wasn’t the first time I’ve found myself trying to explain the Trump administration to people overseas, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

The question is usually some variation of the same thing:

“How can Americans allow this to happen?”

It’s a fair question.

The uncomfortable answer is that many Americans aren’t allowing it. Millions of us have voted against it repeatedly. Millions more have protested it, written about it, organized against it, and warned about it. But our system was designed with checks and balances that require institutions to do their jobs.

Right now, Congress largely isn’t.

The founders envisioned Congress as a co-equal branch of government capable of checking presidential power. Instead, it has become increasingly polarized, increasingly dysfunctional, and increasingly unwilling to challenge presidents from its own party.

The growth of executive power didn’t start with Donald Trump. Every administration since Reagan has expanded the authority of the presidency in one way or another. Democrats did it. Republicans did it. Congress often stood by and watched.

Trump simply took that trend and put it on steroids. Like everything he does, he turned it up to 11.

On the flight home, I was looking for something to have on as background noise while finishing some work on my laptop. I settled on All the President’s Men, the classic film about the Watergate scandal.

Movie poster for 'All The President's Men' featuring two men in suits looking serious, with a background of newspaper text.

I hadn’t seen it in more than a decade. As the movie played, I found myself thinking something I never expected to think: Watergate almost looked cute.

Not because it wasn’t serious. It was. Nixon’s operatives infiltrated the Democratic Party, engaged in political espionage, and attempted to manipulate an election. The cover-up ultimately brought down a president.

At the time, Americans were horrified.

Republicans and Democrats alike eventually concluded that what Nixon had done was unacceptable. Members of his own party confronted him. The institutions worked. The rule of law prevailed.

Front page of The Washington Post from June 19, 1972, featuring headlines about the Watergate scandal, including 'GOP Security Aide Among 5 Arrested In Bugging Affair' and 'FBI Finds Nixon Aides Sabotaged Democrats'.

Now compare that to where we are today.

A sitting president lost an election and spent months spreading lies about voter fraud. Those lies culminated in a violent attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. A mob assaulted police officers, smashed windows, hunted elected officials, and attempted to stop the peaceful transfer of power that has defined American democracy for nearly 250 years.

A large crowd of protesters gathering outside a building, some holding flags, while smoke fills the air and police are present on the upper levels.
FILE PHOTO: Police release tear gas into a crowd of pro-Trump protesters during clashes at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

Think about that for a moment.

Watergate involved burglars breaking into an office building. January 6 involved thousands of people attacking the Capitol itself!

Yet somehow, in today’s political environment, the latter is treated by many as a partisan disagreement rather than an assault on democracy.

Many participants were investigated, prosecuted, and convicted. Then Trump returned to office and pardoned them! That is INSANE! Not just because I do not agree with it. BUT A SITTING PRESIDENT WHO TALKED ABOUT LAND AND ORDER PARDONED PEOPLE WHO ASSAULTED POLICE OFFICERS. Now Trump and his allies have even discussed mechanisms to compensate participants for what they describe as unjust prosecutions.

You can’t justify that to your neighbor here. Can you imagine explaining that to someone in Iceland? How can the generation who lived through Watergate explain it to themselves?

The alarming reality is that the scandal that brought down Nixon would barely survive a single news cycle today. I find that terrifying.

The corruption isn’t just the actions themselves. It is the normalization of behavior that previous generations would have found unthinkable.

  • Conflicts of interest that would have triggered investigations are now shrugged off.
  • Attempts to pressure institutions are dismissed as politics.
  • Open attacks on judges, prosecutors, journalists, and civil servants have become routine.
  • The outrage has been exhausted.
  • The public has become numb.

That may be Trump’s greatest achievement—not convincing Americans that corruption is acceptable, but convincing many that it is inevitable.

I don’t believe that. I cannot accept that.

I still believe most Americans, regardless of party, want honest government. I still believe most Americans value the Constitution more than any politician. I still believe most Americans understand that loyalty to a country must always come before loyalty to a leader.

But belief isn’t enough.

The institutions that protect democracy only work when the people inside them have the courage to defend them.

Congress was designed to be one of those institutions.

Right now, it is failing that test. And until it finds the courage to act like a co-equal branch of government again, Americans will continue finding themselves overseas, trying to explain the unexplainable.

Trying to answer a question that becomes harder every day:

How did we get to the point where Watergate looks small?

More importantly, what are we going to do about it?

Congress must start acting like an independent branch of government again, not a cheering section for whichever party happens to hold power. Lawmakers of both parties need to remember that their oath is to the Constitution, not to a president, a party leader, or a political movement. Oversight is not optional. Accountability is not partisan. Defending democratic institutions is the job they were elected to do.

And for the rest of us, the responsibility is just as real.

We cannot afford to reward cowardice. We cannot keep sending politicians back to Washington who remain silent when principles are tested. Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or something else entirely, demand more from the people who ask for your vote.

Vote for people with the backbone to tell their own side when it is wrong. Vote for people who will defend the rule of law even when it is politically inconvenient. Vote for people who put country before party and Constitution before career.

Because if enough Americans do that, then maybe someday the question people ask overseas will change.

Instead of asking how Americans allowed this to happen, they might ask how Americans found the courage to stop it.

The growing concentration of power in the presidency will not be solved by the White House alone—it requires Congress to step up and fulfill its constitutional responsibilities. This fall, voters have an opportunity to demand that change. If you are unhappy with the direction of the country, make your voice heard at the ballot box. As I travel, I find myself increasingly frustrated trying to explain the state of American politics. I remember when conversations about the United States centered on its innovation, opportunity, and democratic ideals. Today, too often, those discussions are overshadowed by concerns about political dysfunction, corruption, and a government that seems unable or unwilling to address the challenges facing the nation.

And – NO. I am not running for anything.

Smiling man in a blue blazer and white shirt seated, with a dark background.

Citizenship Requires More Than Blind Loyalty

On By TonyIn Belief, economy, Education, Elections, PoliticsLeave a comment

Maybe It’s Not Trump Derangement Syndrome After All

Every time I criticize Donald Trump, someone inevitably tells me I suffer from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

The accusation usually goes something like this: “Why can’t you acknowledge the good things he’s done?”

Fair question.

As a business owner for more than three decades, a coach who has spent a lifetime teaching accountability, and a city councilor responsible for spending taxpayer dollars wisely, I believe in giving credit where credit is due. If someone does something well, I will say so. If a policy works, I will acknowledge it.

But leadership isn’t judged by a handful of talking points. It is judged by character, integrity, competence, and whether the person in charge is working for the people or for themselves.

That’s where my concerns begin.

Supporters often point to immigration enforcement, NATO spending, tariffs, or cultural issues as evidence of Trump’s success. We can have legitimate policy debates about any of those topics. Reasonable people can disagree.

What troubles me is something deeper.

It is the corruption.

It is the constant blurring of the line between public service and personal profit.

As a city councilor, if I voted on matters that directly enriched my business interests, people would rightly demand answers. If city contracts consistently benefited my friends, family, or financial partners, residents would be outraged. They should be.

The same standard should apply to the President of the United States.

Yet we have become numb to behavior that would be unacceptable from virtually any other elected official.

The Trump family has expanded its business interests while Trump occupies the Oval Office. Cryptocurrency ventures, real estate projects, private fundraising efforts, and relationships with wealthy donors all seem to intersect with public policy decisions in ways that should concern anyone who believes government should serve the public first.

This isn’t a Republican issue or a Democratic issue.

It’s an ethics issue.

It’s a leadership issue.

It’s an accountability issue.

What concerns me even more is the growing use of government power against perceived enemies. In America, we are supposed to settle political disagreements at the ballot box, not through investigations designed to intimidate critics or punish opponents.

One of the great strengths of our democracy has always been that no one is above the law—but equally important, no one should be beneath its protection.

The machinery of government should never become a personal weapon.

As a coach, I often tell athletes that character is revealed when nobody is watching.

As a businessman, I’ve learned that trust takes years to build and moments to destroy.

As a city councilor, I’ve learned that public confidence is fragile and must be earned every day.

Those same principles apply to presidents.

I understand why many Americans voted for Donald Trump. They were frustrated by rising costs, worried about immigration, concerned about national security, and convinced Washington wasn’t listening.

Those concerns are real.

But voting for someone to solve problems does not require blind loyalty.

In fact, patriotism demands the opposite.

We should expect results.

We should demand honesty.

We should insist on transparency.

And we should be willing to call out misconduct regardless of whether it comes from our political opponents or from people we supported.

That’s not Trump Derangement Syndrome.

That’s citizenship.

The real question isn’t why some of us continue to criticize Donald Trump.

The real question is why so many people have stopped holding him to the same standards they would apply to anyone else.

Last night, I attended the Dover High School graduation as a city councilor. As I watched those young men and women cross the stage, I found myself thinking less about today’s political battles and more about the world we are leaving them.

These graduates are entering adulthood at a time of declining trust in institutions, growing political division, and leaders too often focused on winning arguments instead of solving problems. Yet I left hopeful. Every generation inherits challenges. Mine inherited the Cold War, economic uncertainty, and environmental concerns. Today’s graduates face different problems, but they possess the same capacity for innovation, courage, and change.

What struck me most was that the future belongs to them, not the politicians dominating today’s headlines. They will be the entrepreneurs creating jobs, the teachers inspiring children, the healthcare workers saving lives, the public servants strengthening communities, and the citizens shaping America’s future.

That reality places a responsibility on us. We should model integrity, accountability, and respect for democratic institutions. We should show that public service is about serving others, not ourselves, and leave behind examples worth following.

Someday these graduates will sit in city council chambers, state legislatures, corporate boardrooms, and perhaps even the halls of Congress. The question is whether we are giving them a model of leadership worth inheriting.

Trump and the GOP: The Truth Behind the Government Shutdown

On By TonyIn economy, ElectionsLeave a comment

The government shut down will affect all of us. In big ways and small. We all know that Trump will cave because that is what he does. We also must acknowledge that Trump and the GOP who effectively control all branches of government are 100% to blame.

BUT WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN? In short, we had to shut it down to keep a functioning government open.

While searching to explain it I came across this Substack from Robert Reich. Professor, writer and former Secretary of Labor.

I’ve been directly involved in government shutdowns, one when I was secretary of labor. It’s hard for me to describe the fear, frustration, and chaos that ensued. I recall spending the first day consoling employees — many in tears as they headed out the door.

In some ways, this shutdown is similar to others. Agencies and departments designed to protect consumers, workers, and investors are now officially closed, as are national parks and museums.
Most federal workers are not being paid — as many as 750,000 could be furloughed — including those who are required to remain on the job, like air-traffic controllers or members of the U.S. military.
So-called “mandatory” spending, including Social Security and Medicare payments, are continuing, although checks could be delayed. (Trump has made sure that construction of his new White House ballroom won’t be affected.)

There have been eight shutdowns since 1990. Trump has now presided over four.
But this shutdown — the one that began yesterday morning — is radically different.
For one thing, it’s the consequence of a decision made in July by Trump and Senate Republicans to pass Trump’s gigantic “big beautiful bill” (I prefer to call it “big ugly bill”) without any Democratic votes.
They could do that because of an arcane Senate procedure called “reconciliation,” which allowed the big ugly to get through the Senate with just 51 votes rather than the normal 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster.

The final tally was a squeaker. All Senate Democrats opposed the legislation. When three Senate Republicans joined them, Vice President JD Vance was called in to break a tie. Some Republicans bragged that they didn’t need a single Democrat.

The big ugly fundamentally altered the priorities of the United States government. It cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act — with the result that health insurance premiums for tens of millions of Americans will soar starting in January.

The big ugly also cut nutrition assistance and environmental protection, while bulking up immigration enforcement and cutting the taxes of wealthy Americans and big corporations.
Trump and Senate Republicans didn’t need a single Democrat then. But this time, Republicans couldn’t use the arcane reconciliation process to pass a bill to keep the governing going.
Now they needed Senate Democratic votes.

Yet keeping the government going meant keeping all the priorities included in the big ugly bill that all Senate Democrats opposed.

Which is why Senate Democrats refused to sign on unless most of the big ugly’s cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act were restored, so health insurance premiums won’t soar next year.

Even if Senate Democrats had gotten that concession, the Republican bill to keep the government going would retain all the tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations contained in the big ugly, along with all the cuts in nutrition assistance, and all the increased funding for immigration enforcement.

There’s a deeper irony here.

As a practical matter, the U.S. government has been “shut down” for over eight months, since Trump took office a second time.

Trump and the sycophants surrounding him — such as Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and, before him, Elon Musk and his DOGE — have had no compunctions about shutting down parts of the government they don’t like — such as USAID.

They’ve also fired, laid off, furloughed, or extended buyouts to hundreds of thousands of federal employees doing work they don’t value, such as at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. (The federal government is already expected to employ 300,000 fewer workers by December than it did last January.)

They’ve impounded appropriations from Congress for activities they oppose, ranging across the entire federal government.

Yesterday, on the first day of the shutdown, Vought announced that the administration was freezing some $26 billion in funds Congress had appropriated — including $18 billion for New York City infrastructure (home to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries) and $8 billion for environmental projects in 16 states, mostly led by Democrats.

All of this is illegal — it violates the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 — but it seems unlikely that courts will act soon enough to prevent the regime from harming vast numbers of Americans.
Vought is also initiating another round of mass layoffs targeting, in his words, “a lot” of government workers.

This is being described by Republicans as “payback” for the Democrats not voting to keep the government going, but evidently nothing stopped Vought from doing mass layoffs and freezing Congress’s appropriations before the shutdown.

In fact, the eagerness of Trump and his lapdogs over the last eight months to disregard the will of Congress and close whatever they want of the government offers another reason why Democrats shouldn’t cave in.

Were Democrats to vote to keep the government going, what guarantee do they have that Trump will in fact keep the government going?
Democrats finally have some bargaining leverage. They should use it.

If tens of millions of Americans lose their health insurance starting in January because they can no longer afford to pay sky-high premiums, Trump and his Republicans will be blamed. Months before the midterms.

It would be Trump’s and his Republicans’ fault anyway — it’s part of their big ugly bill — but this way, in the fight over whether to reopen the government, Americans will have a chance to see Democrats standing up for them.

The Recklessness of Leadership: A Call for Accountability

On By TonyIn economy, Elections, PoliticsLeave a comment

Sometimes I have to stop and ask myself: does anyone else see how insane this all is? Or are we just supposed to pretend that this is normal?

The President of the United States casually tosses out an unsubstantiated claim that there’s a link between Tylenol and autism. No research cited. No scientific consensus. Just words, and yet words from the President carry enormous weight. Families across the country are left in fear and confusion, while actual scientists scramble to clean up the mess. This is not leadership—it’s recklessness.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court—the very institution designed to uphold checks and balances—abandons its responsibility. By allowing Trump to fire officials who were appointed with congressional approval, they have effectively erased a critical guardrail of our democracy. What’s the point of having a system of checks and balances if one branch simply abdicates its role when it becomes politically inconvenient?

And while all this chaos unfolds, every single GOP senator voted against releasing the Epstein files. Let that sink in. We’re told over and over that transparency is a pillar of democracy, yet here is a bipartisan scandal begging for sunlight, and they slam the door shut. What exactly are they protecting? Whom are they protecting?

Then, as if that weren’t enough, Russia brazenly invades NATO airspace. An act that should send shivers down the spine of any world leader. But what do we do? Nothing. What do we say? Nothing. Silence where there should be strength. Passivity where there should be resolve.

Now add to this the alarming pattern of weaponizing the justice system for political ends. President Trump has publicly called on Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice to prosecute his political opponents—an explicit invitation to turn law enforcement into a tool of retribution. When the head of the executive branch pressures prosecutors to pursue cases against rivals without transparent evidence or due process, it corrodes the rule of law. Prosecutors hold immense discretionary power; when that power is wielded for political vengeance, it chills dissent, undermines fair trials, and transforms accountability into persecution. This isn’t just partisan politics—it’s a direct threat to the impartial institutions that keep democracy functioning. We cannot normalize demands that the justice system be used as a political cudgel.

It’s all happening in real time, right in front of us. Dangerous lies. Broken checks and balances. Willful secrecy. Silence in the face of foreign aggression. The politicization of our legal institutions. And we just keep moving along, as though this is business as usual.

It is not normal. It should never be normal. And if we don’t recognize that now—if we don’t demand accountability—we risk losing not just credibility, but the very foundations of democracy itself.

So I ask again: does anyone else see how crazy this is?

Dover’s Future: A Commitment to Progress

On By TonyIn Elections1 Comment

Staying the Course for Dover’s Future

When I first answered the call to serve on Dover’s City Council, it wasn’t for fanfare, recognition, or awards. It was—and continues to be—about getting things done. About making Dover a community where families want to live, where businesses want to grow, and where people feel proud to call home.

I have been a proud resident of Dover since the 1980s and have owned and operated Atlantic Gymnastics with two locations for more than 30 years. My roots here run deep, and my commitment to our city has only grown stronger. Over the past term, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside my colleagues, city staff, and the residents of Ward 3 to accomplish a great deal. We’ve made Dover safer, kept our budget responsible—successfully passing a budget under the tax cap—and started important initiatives that are already shaping the future of our city.

But much of our work is still ahead of us.

Infrastructure and Housing

We’ve begun critical infrastructure projects to modernize Dover’s roads, utilities, and public spaces. These are not abstract plans—they are investments that will directly improve daily life for residents. We’ve also laid the groundwork for housing initiatives to address one of Dover’s greatest challenges: providing opportunities for families, seniors, and young professionals to find affordable and sustainable places to live.

Athletic Fields and Community Resources

We’ve put in motion plans to expand and improve athletic facilities, including the sports complex at Dover High School. These spaces are about more than recreation—they foster community, teamwork, and provide vital opportunities for our young people to grow and thrive.

Work Left to Do

While I am proud of what we’ve accomplished, the reality is that we are only partway through this journey. Many projects require steady leadership, experience, and a clear understanding of both our progress and what remains. It’s not the time to change course or start over.

Why I Am Running for Reelection

I am running for reelection in Ward 3 because Dover deserves follow-through. We cannot afford to have half-finished projects or lose momentum on issues that directly impact our quality of life. My pledge is to continue the work we’ve started—responsibly, transparently, and with Dover’s long-term success always at the forefront.

Public service, to me, is not about personal ambition or political stepping stones. It’s about doing the hard work necessary to ensure Dover remains one of the best places in New Hampshire to live, work, and raise a family.

With your support, I will continue to provide steady leadership, community-focused decision-making, and the persistence needed to see these projects through. Ward 3 deserves consistency. Dover deserves progress. And together, we will get the job done.

Thank you for your trust and support.

— Tony Retrosi

Real Strength Is Community, Not Cruelty

On By TonyIn Belief, economy, Elections, HopeLeave a comment

The current state of the MAGA party is not about prosperity, or security, or even policy. It is about cruelty.

If you can be shown images of suffering—children in Gaza denied medical care, migrants detained by masked men, families deported without explanation—you are supposed to forget how far your own quality of life has slipped.

The State Department has halted “medical-humanitarian” visas for people from Gaza. If you see others denied life-saving care, you don’t focus on the millions of Americans who can’t afford health insurance. You forget about our broken healthcare system.

When masked men scoop people off the streets and deport them to who knows where, you don’t focus on the fact that millions of Americans are priced out of safe, affordable housing. You forget that in one of the richest countries on earth, we have children who go to bed hungry.

Donald Trump deploys the National Guard into American cities. Not because crime is surging—it isn’t. Crime rates are at historic lows. The point is to create fear. To remind you what could happen to you if you step out of line.

This isn’t about law and order. It’s not about national security. It’s about cruelty.

And cruelty is a distraction. If you’re focused on the pain of others, you’re not asking the real questions:

  • Why are wages stagnant while corporate profits soar?
  • Why does healthcare bankrupt American families?
  • Why do we have more empty homes than unhoused people?

The sign of a functioning government is a social safety net. A society where people do not live in fear. Where illness does not mean bankruptcy, where housing is a right, not a luxury, where safety is measured not by soldiers on a corner but by stability in people’s lives.

Cruelty is not strength. Cruelty is weakness disguised as power.

Here in Dover, on the Seacoast, we know what community looks like. We see it every day—in neighbors helping neighbors, in volunteers who staff our food pantries, in people who step up when someone stumbles. That is real strength.

The politics of cruelty only works if we accept it. We don’t have to. We can build a Dover, a Seacoast, and a New Hampshire that shows what compassion, fairness, and responsibility look like. That is our task, and it’s one worth doing.

The Real Cost of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill in New Hampshire

On By TonyIn economy, ElectionsLeave a comment

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.
Image displaying a chart showing the number of people likely to lose health care in each state, with New Hampshire highlighted at 46,388 individuals affected.

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.

The Economic Impact of Leadership Decisions. Demanding Better Leadership in America

On By TonyIn Belief, economy, Elections, PoliticsLeave a comment

Leadership is, at its core, a moral endeavor. A good leader doesn’t just pass laws or cut deals—they set a tone, a standard. They challenge us to rise to the moment, to be better citizens, neighbors, and people. The best leaders inspire confidence, compassion, and cooperation. They elevate the national character.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, brings out the worst in America.

His political brand is not built on unity or progress, but on grievance and division. Instead of drawing upon America’s strength, generosity, and resilience, Trump taps into resentment, paranoia, and selfishness. His rhetoric isn’t about what we can build together—it’s about who to blame.

Economic Gaslighting

Despite inheriting one of the strongest post-COVID economic recoveries in the world, Trump continues to insist the U.S. economy is a burning wreck in need of saving. It’s not just dishonest; it’s deeply cynical. And his proposed “solution”? The same failed, chaotic economic nationalism that marked his first term.

Trump’s obsession with trade imbalances reveals either a profound ignorance of basic economics—or something worse. According to him, any country that sells more to us than it buys is “taking advantage.” That logic, applied globally, would demand that every country run a trade surplus simultaneously—an economic impossibility. It’s nonsense. But it’s dangerous nonsense, dressed up in patriotic bluster.

His proposed tariffs—broad, punitive, and economically suicidal—aren’t just bad policy; they’re theatrical madness. So much so that it becomes tempting to hope it’s all a con. Maybe the rumors are true: maybe these tariffs were a hustle, designed to enrich allies and donors through insider schemes. That would be criminal, yes—but at least it would be rational. Because the alternative—that Trump truly believes this—is far more terrifying.

Even House Speaker Mike Johnson, in a moment of accidental honesty, defended Trump’s shady cryptocurrency promotion by essentially saying, “At least he does his corruption in the open.” That isn’t a defense—it’s an indictment. When open corruption becomes a selling point, we’ve crossed a dangerous line. We’re no longer arguing over policy; we’re debating whether accountability still matters at all.

And that’s the deeper damage Trump has done—not just to institutions, but to our expectations. He’s lowered the bar so far that basic decency, transparency, and truthfulness feel like exceptional qualities instead of minimum requirements. His administration didn’t just tolerate racism, sexism, and religious bigotry—it amplified them. What once disqualified someone from public service now earns a standing ovation at political rallies.

This has real consequences.

The Cost of Chaos

Everyday Americans are paying the price for this dysfunction. Trump’s tariff wars and isolationist rhetoric have driven up the cost of goods. Inflation, while a global issue, has been worsened by policies that disrupt supply chains and alienate our trading partners. Meanwhile, allies abroad are increasingly distancing themselves from the U.S.—not out of opposition to our values, but because they no longer trust our leadership to uphold them.

We are watching the slow erosion of America’s global standing, and it won’t be easy to rebuild. Trust lost is not easily regained. Partnerships neglected don’t quickly recover. When the world begins to see America as erratic and self-absorbed, the long-term effects are economic, diplomatic, and moral.

We Deserve Better

America can’t afford more elected officials like Donald Trump. It would mean more decline disguised as greatness, more failure rebranded as strength, and more selfishness masquerading as patriotism. We need leaders who actually believe in America—and in Americans. Leaders who build instead of blame. Leaders who lift us up instead of dragging us down.

We’ve seen what Trump brings out in people. We know the cost. It’s time we demand better from our leaders—and from ourselves. New Hampshire deserves better. Dover deserves better. America deserves better.

And the good news? A better future is possible. Across this country, new leaders are stepping up—people grounded in principle, driven by service, and committed to healing, not dividing. The path forward won’t be easy, but it is ours to choose. Hope isn’t naive. It’s necessary. And it starts with choosing leadership that brings out the best in us all.

GOP Accountability: Why Economic Health Depends on It

On By TonyIn economy, Elections, PoliticsLeave a comment

Let’s not mince words: the Republican Party — at every level of government — needs to be held accountable for the economic mess we’re in. They’ve sold out working people. They’ve sold out seniors. They’ve sold out the country. And they’ve done it all in broad daylight.

Look around. Inflation remains painfully high. The dollar is weak. Our economy is teetering, and our reputation on the world stage has taken a beating. And what’s the GOP’s response? More of the same greed-driven policies that got us here in the first place.

This didn’t happen in a vacuum. Donald Trump didn’t just bungle leadership — he installed some of the most unqualified, corrupt, and outright dangerous people into positions of power. And the GOP-controlled Senate? They confirmed every single one of them. They clapped along. They cheered. They rubber-stamped the destruction.

Now, Trump and his enablers are preaching “belt-tightening” to the rest of us. They say we need to prepare for economic “hardship.” But who is really feeling the pain? Not the billionaire class. Not Trump’s inner circle. They’re getting richer, hoarding wealth while everyday Americans are forced to make impossible choices — between rent and medicine, between groceries and gas.

And what’s the GOP’s solution? More tax cuts for the rich. More deregulation. More gutting of programs that help actual people survive. You think Medicare and Medicaid are safe? Think again. They’ve made it clear: these programs are next on the chopping block. Social Security? They don’t want to strengthen it — they want to privatize it. Turn your hard-earned retirement into Wall Street’s latest jackpot.

Let’s be clear: this is not mismanagement. This is intentional. This is class warfare. This is a party that has embraced cruelty, corruption, and corporate greed as governing principles. They talk about patriotism, but their policies betray the very people they claim to serve.

The GOP owns this. Every bit of it. And we have to call it out. Loudly. Relentlessly. Because if we don’t, they’ll keep pretending this is someone else’s fault. They’ll keep distracting. They’ll keep blaming immigrants, or “wokeness,” or whatever culture war nonsense they’re peddling this week.

But here’s the thing: this country can’t afford silence anymore. Especially not from those who still call themselves Republicans and believe in something better.

“Restoring responsibility and accountability is essential to the economic and fiscal health of our nation.”
— Carl Levin

To every patriotic Republican out there — this is your moment. You know this isn’t the party you once believed in. You know this isn’t conservatism — it’s chaos in service of the wealthy and well-connected. If you still believe in integrity, in democracy, in putting country before party, then you need to speak up. Loudly. Publicly. Bravely.

Call out the lies. Reject the corruption. Demand better. Because your voice matters. And if enough of you stand up, you can help stop this runaway train before it crashes into the very foundations of our democracy.

Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson, which argues that:

“Those at the very top of the economic ladder have developed and used political muscle to dramatically cut their taxes, deregulate the financial industry, and keep corporate governance lax and labor unions hamstrung.”

The time for quiet discomfort has passed. Now is the time for action.

Democratic Strategies: Education, Healthcare, and Economy Focus

On By TonyIn Belief, economy, Education, Elections, PoliticsLeave a comment

I’ve just spent a few weeks in Italy for work, and conversations with European friends and colleagues left me both humbled and a little haunted. The most common, almost automatic question they asked was: “How could America do this again?” (Meaning, elect Trump.)

Having to answer that—over and over—really made me reflect. Why could this happen again? And what’s our part in preventing it?

I had time to think (and research, thanks to fast and free WiFi on high-speed trains—Italy gets that part right!). What hit me hardest was this: We, as Democrats, are trying to be everything to everyone, and in doing so, we risk becoming nothing to anyone. From education and healthcare to the environment and housing, we fight for it all—but from the outside, we look scattered, unfocused, and reactive.

In places like Dover, we might feel “safe,” but that complacency is dangerous. “Vote for us—we’re not them” only worked once. It’s not a winning message anymore.

I run my businesses. If I don’t focus, I fail. In politics, it’s no different.

To win the statehouse, the NH House and Senate, as well as local races, we need simple, bold, results-driven messages that answer two clear questions:

  1. Why does the current leadership need to go?
  2. Why is our candidate the better hire?

Here are three core issues that cut through the noise: EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, and the ECONOMY.

🎓 EDUCATION

The NH GOP has systematically weakened our schools. Underfunded, inefficient, and inequitable. Public dollars are helping millionaires send their kids to private schools while our classrooms lack supplies and teachers live on the edge.

Our Message:
We’ll target education funds to families and schools that need it most. No gimmicks—just real investment in our public schools.

🏥 HEALTHCARE

In rural NH, access to maternal care is evaporating. Policies that limit access and increase cost hurt real families. Governor Ayotte has kept those in place.

Our Message:
We’ll work with local hospitals and clinics to restore essential healthcare access across the state. Starting a family should not require a two-hour drive to the nearest birthing center.

💼 THE ECONOMY

While the GOP fearmongers about “illegals” on the northern border, let’s talk about our real borders—with Massachusetts and the seacoast. We have opportunity right in front of us.

Our Message:
Let’s make NH a destination for business and talent. Invest in infrastructure—rail, roads, ports—to connect us better to the region. Build partnerships like the Dover Riverfront Project that boost jobs, tourism, and sustainability. Protect the industries that matter—like fishing and clean water.

The great thing about infrastructure is that it is literally a 2 way street. Better roads allow us to get NH made products to market and people to work but also ease the difficulties getting products and people into NH   

We ALL pay taxes. Let’s show people what they actually get for it.

We must stop being afraid to stand for something. Stop whispering in corners and start speaking up—in public, in the press, and yes, at protests. Before every time we are holding signs on a downtown corner or when we are at a gathering before we head out to pick up garbage at a Don’t Trash Dover event- someone needs to speak. It shouldn’t be a huge speech. Just a statement with a quotable sound bite  

Where are our voices? Where’s our boldness?

Trump fills arenas. Bernie and AOC speak to packed halls. Why? Because they speak to real kitchen-table issues. Populists and reformers win. The “status quo” candidates don’t. Look at history: Carter, Bush Sr., Biden/ Harris. We need passion. We need presence.

We should be flooding YouTube and social media with clear, 15-second spots on our core issues. That’s how you get a message out in 2025. We don’t have time to wait for someone else to do it.

Let’s be the party that offers people something to believe in—not just something to fear.

Yes, I’m just a guy with time to think on a train in Italy. But I’m also a citizen who because of my work knows what leadership, focus, and action looks like.

We need to tie every member of the NH GOP with Trump and MAGA policies.  These policies that are hugely unpopular.  Cynically, there is no downside.  They want to prove they are NOT a MAGA loyalist and come up with some policies that actually help NH citizens- great! That is good for all of us.  I just don’t think they have the backbone to do it   

Let’s show NH—and the country—what it looks like when we actually deliver.