Commentary by Jerry Lanson

I’m a Democrat, and a liberal to boot.  But I bet we can agree on some things: That our country needs a stable economy. That it needs decent medical care and coverage.  That we need to treat our veterans with respect. And that we need at least enough of a government to keep us safe, warn us of approaching storms, and help care for our kids and aging parents.

There’s mounting evidence the Trump Administration is breaking down safeguards in all these areas – and fast. So I’m writing to ask for help in convincing your GOP representatives to tap the brakes even as they (and you) press forward with the perceived need to shake things up.

Let me ask some questions to make my point:

• 1) Do you believe tariffs are going to lower prices?

The Trump administration this week imposed and then lifted 25% tariffs on most products arriving from our two strongest trading partners, Mexico and Canada. At least for four weeks.  These chaotic actions have caused a stock market rollercoaster ride that’s mostly pointed sharply downhill. Here’s why. First, after the big three American auto manufacturers warned that car prices would quickly spike thousands of dollars, the administration ordered a 30-day hold on tariffs for cars and trucks. Then, the administration must have realized food and energy prices would continue to climb. It postponed most tariffs until April 2, first on Mexico and then later for Canada. 

This helter-skelter approach has done little to bolster consumer or business confidence. 

Consumers are spending less of their discretionary money. They see inflation continue to tick up at 3% or more annually. Gas prices climbed about 20 cents a gallon this week in my Cape Cod town. And the price of eggs? They are high and keep going up. 

Wrote The Economist magazine: “Trump’s tariff turbulence is worse than anyone imagined.”

• 2) Do veterans deserve to be singled out for hurt by government cuts?

It may not be intentional, but they have been. About 30% of the federal government’s more than 3 million employees are veterans. And tens of thousands of federal workers already have been fired. Half live outside Washington, D.C.

Now, the Veterans Affairs Administration is planning for deep cuts in serving our veterans.  An internal memo, sent this Tuesday to top officials and obtained by CBS News, says that by August, “The department’s goal is to …  cut more than 70,000 workers.”  

That’s one hell of a thank you to the men and women who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. They deserve our help with physical and psychological health issues, jobs and more.

•  3) Do you want to know when the next big storm is going to hit?

Big storms are a given. Hurricanes slammed Florida and the Carolinas this season, floods and tornados pummeled the South, and fires, whipped by high winds, tore through parts of the West Coast.

Predicting big storms is the work of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Its information is essential in preparing for storms. NOAA forecasts, issued in the billions each year, reach 96% of US households, The Associated Press reports.

The Trump Administration’s job cuts are crippling this weather forecasting.

In the latest round of cuts Monday, it fired 1,300 NOAA employees, the AP reported. AP noted that the American Meteorological Society is warning these cuts have put the country at greater risk. 

“The consequences to the American people will be large and wide-ranging, including increased vulnerability to hazardous weather,” the meteorological society wrote in a statement.

Rallies across the country were scheduled for Friday, March 7 in support of science and against deep cuts to this and other agencies.

• 4) Do you think government spending cuts are being carried out with planning and care?

They aren’t.

President Trump says he’s proud of Elon Musk’s DOGE boys for getting rid of waste.  But the cuts Musk is making don’t reflect worker performance reviews or the importance of particular jobs. They’ve been deep, arbitrary, and often as chaotic as the on-off tariffs.   

For example, Musk cut the medical detectives in the Centers for Disease Control just as scientists were saying bird flu could jump from birds to humans.  On Thursday, 180 CDC workers fired two weeks ago received emails asking them to return immediately, the AP reports. 

It's not clear where they worked.  But we know DOGE’s cuts have focused disproportionately on so-called “probationary employees,” a anyone who has been hired, changed jobs or been promoted in the last year or two.  Musk’s team fired just about all probationary workers because they have fewer protections.

The CDC situation is no aberration either. The New York Times noted as much in an article titled, “Fired, then Rehired by the Trump Administration.”

“Even as the Trump Administration continues to slash federal jobs, a number of federal agencies have begun to reverse course – reinstating some workers and pausing plans to dismiss others,” the authors wrote.

On February 13, the Administration laid off more than 300 employees of the National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains and secures the country’s nuclear warheads. A day later, it recalled some. It fired and then rehired workers who review food safety, respond to the bird flu and protect forests. DOGE, it seems, operates a little like a drunken driver weaving back and forth over a double-yellow line.

• 5) What’s next?

By Thursday, President Trump had issued 117 executive orders. Soon, he will eliminate the Department of Education, which dispenses grants to college students from less affluent families and supports K-12 programs for kids with a wide range of disabilities. Deep cuts in Medicaid could drive many thousands of elderly from nursing homes. In April, the administration plans to deport 240,000 Ukrainians who were given temporary legal status under the Biden administration..

Only pushback from the Congress, the Supreme Court or “we, the people” -- including you, the president’s supporters – can slow or limit these actions.

If anything I’ve touched on bothers you, speak up. Don’t leave it to libs like me.  The Republican National Committee has told Republican members of Congress to stop holding public forums. But they still have voicemail and email. Please consider using both.

Lanson writes From the Grassroots at Substack.

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SAT-SUN 3/8-9/25

Commentary by Rich Corbett

On March 4, 2025, President Donald J. Trump stood before Congress and the American people to deliver a forceful, unapologetic vision for America’s future. Unwavering in his commitment to economic prosperity, national security, and restoring law and order, the President laid out a blueprint for a stronger and more prosperous nation — despite the predictable and ever-present resistance from the Democratic side of the aisle.

One of the most striking moments of the evening came when President Trump openly addressed the partisan divide that continues to define Washington D.C. “Once again, I look at the Democrats in front of me and I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud,” he stated. “I could find a cure to the most devastating disease, announce the greatest economy in history, or bring crime to the lowest levels ever recorded, and these people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They won’t do it no matter what.” His words resonated with millions of Americans who have witnessed firsthand the political obstruction and unwillingness of his opponents to acknowledge progress.

The speech was not without drama. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was removed from the chamber, a symbol of the deep-seated opposition Trump continues to face. Yet, despite the partisan theatrics, the president pressed forward with his ambitious agenda.

At the heart of Trump’s speech was a robust economic plan designed to put more money back into the pockets of American citizens. He announced sweeping tax cuts for all Americans, emphasizing a pro-worker, pro-business agenda that includes making these tax reductions permanent. Among the key components:

• No taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits.
• Tax-deductible interest on American-made car loans.
• Retroactive expensing for businesses, ensuring companies can reinvest and grow.

Additionally, President Trump highlighted the importance of fair trade, pointing out that for decades, other nations have imposed tariffs on American goods while enjoying free access to US markets. “Other countries have used tariffs against us for years, it’s very unfair. Some countries don’t even permit US products in their markets.” He announced that, beginning April 2nd, the US will implement reciprocal tariffs —whatever foreign nations tax us, we will tax them.

Trump also recognized companies that are investing in US manufacturing, reinforcing his “America First” economic policies.

In response to the rising crime epidemic in many American cities, President Trump vowed to bring back law and order, reinforcing his commitment to protecting law enforcement officers. One of his most significant proposals was a mandatory death penalty for anyone who kills a police officer, a policy aimed at ensuring the safety and respect that law enforcement officers deserve.

Addressing illegal immigration, President Trump celebrated his administration’s sweeping border crackdown, which has already resulted in the lowest number of illegal crossings in recent history. “The media and our friends in the Democrat Party kept saying we needed new legislation, we must have legislation to secure the border. But it turned out that all we really needed was a new president.”

A poignant moment in the speech came when Trump recognized the family of Laken Riley, whose tragic story became a rallying cry for stronger immigration enforcement. Even Democrats, often reluctant to acknowledge the consequences of their open-border policies, were seen clapping politely as Trump highlighted the Laken Riley Act.

President Trump took a moment to honor foster families, calling them “heroes” and recognizing their selfless contributions to society. He also reiterated his commitment to shipbuilding in the United States and reclaiming America’s influence over the Panama Canal, emphasizing the need for strategic economic and military independence.

As expected, after the speech an old-school media personality, Brit Hume of Fox News, pointed out that the speech was “partisan.”  However, former Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN), provided a more measured response, acknowledging that Democrats “need to win on ideas,” that they are resisting without offering policy alternatives. 

President Trump’s speech made one thing clear: He remains steadfast in his mission to restore prosperity, security, and fairness to the American people. With bold economic policies, a firm stance on law and order, and a commitment to putting America first, he is proving that leadership isn’t about appeasement — it’s about action. While his opponents may refuse to acknowledge his achievements, millions of Americans are standing with him as he fights to reclaim the greatness of the United States.

Corbett is a contributing pundit, who writes about a variety of subjects at My Desultory Blog.

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SAT-SUN 3/8-9/25

Comment on ‘He’s Going to Make You Pay’ by Pundit-at-Large Stephen Macaulay (Wednesday, March 5):

Is there anyone in the current – can we call it an “administration?” – with a spreadsheet? Not that Billy Bone Spurs can understand an analytical approach to an issue. Or wants to.

--Kate McLeod

Via Substack

_____________________________________________

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Contributors for our right column include Pundit-at-Large Stephen Macaulay, a never-Trumper conservative, and Rich Corbett, a pro-MAGA conservative. Macaulay’s comments may align much more often with left-column contributors like Sharon Lintner and Hugh Hansen, but that’s what The Hustings is all about and it is why we ask you to list your political leanings in the subject line for comments via email. We want to post your comments in the column with which you regularly identify; not necessarily the column that aligns with your comments on a single, particular subject. Help us grow into a news & commentary site that exposes readers to a variety of political thought and ideas. 

For more civil political news and discussion, please be sure to visit our Substack page.

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THURSDAY 3/6/25

Commentary by Stephen Macaulay

In 2018 Donald Trump reportedly said he didn’t want to make a visit to the Marne American Cemetery in France, where American service people are buried, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers."

While he denied saying that, he can’t deny saying of honorable military veteran John McCain, "He's not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."

He said that out loud at a campaign rally in Iowa in 2015.

Trump, of course, didn’t serve. Four deferments because he was going to school. Another because of bone spurs in his heels.

What has and continues to make America great are the brave men and women — yes, Hegseth, women — who put their lives on the line to defend this country.

This has been the case since the late 18^th century.

On June 15, 1775, George Washington was named commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He resigned, at war’s end, in 1783. He served without compensation.

During his March 4 speech Trump said, “In fact, it has been stated by many that the first month of our presidency, it's our presidency, is the most successful in the history of our nation. By many. And what makes it even more impressive, is that you know who number two is? George Washington.”

It is not a fact. It is [fill in your favorite word here].

Washington was a hero who helped build this country. Trump is busy tearing it down and going to economic war with our allies while giving political support to our enemies.

The country has a compact with our military veterans.

They support us 365/24/7.

We support them after their service.

On July 21, 1930, President Herbert Hoover established the Veterans Administration. It was created by Executive Order.

And now Trump is reportedly planning on cutting some 80,000 employees, 15% of the staff, at the VA.

The reporting comes from the Associated Press, whose people saw an internal memo about it. The AP, the stalwart organization that is doing its reporting without compromising its journalistic ethics.

The AP reports:

“Michael Missal, who was the VA’s inspector general for nine years until he was fired last month as part of Trump’s sweeping dismissal of independent oversight officials at government agencies, told the AP that the VA is already suffering from a lack of “expertise” as top-level officials either leave or are shuffled around under the president’s plans.

“What’s going to happen is VA’s not going to perform as well for veterans, and veterans are going to get harmed,” said Missal.

The AP also reports this:

“White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement that the president ‘refuses to accept the VA bureaucracy and bloat that has hindered veterans’ ability to receive timely and quality care.’ She added that the changes would ‘ensure greater efficiency and transparency’ at the VA.”

Really? More efficiency? What systems are they putting in place to accomplish that?

How is it that possible with fewer people to answer the calls and to schedule the appointments and to help with the paperwork and to support our vets.

Adding insult to injury: Some 25% of the VA employees are vets.

Macaulay is pundit-at-large for The Hustings.

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THURSDAY 3/6/25

Submit your comments to editors@thehustings.news and please indicate your political leanings in the subject line, so we post said comments in the appropriate (right or left) column.

Comments on Trump’s Joint-Session Address, from our contributing pundits …

Must Be Stopped

Apparently, DJT will never, ever get over the fact that Joe Biden beat him fair and square in the 2020 election, by more than 8 million popular votes and a huge margin in Electoral College votes. He will never, ever stop berating the Biden administration and Joe Biden personally because Trump is the worst kind of sore loser. And, besides that, the most consistently absurd liar in the history of American politics. It was sickening to watch the smirking faces of (Vice President JD) Vance and (Speaker Mike) Johnson seated behind His Majesty, soon to be up for a Nobel Peace prize for screwing Ukraine. This has to be stopped.

--Jim McCraw

•••

Racial Slur

"Pocahontas?" Did I hear that correctly?

During a speech in front of the world, the president of this United States just called Senator Elizabeth Warren "Pocahontas."

Who, in their right mind, is okay with that? Who is okay with the Republican laughter that followed that racial slur? Vance actually laughed out loud. 

Those with sense in their head will say this behavior is childish, elementary, unbecoming of a President, but it is far beyond that. We have a real problem, this man is dangerous.

What do we do? Where do we go from here? The only place is down, if we allow this to continue. Congress, the writing is on the wall. 

--Sharon Lintner 

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WEDNESDAY 3/5/25

Commentary by Stephen Macaulay

Trump seems to think if he says something often enough it is true. And apparently there are a lot of people who are won over by his — I would say “tissue of,” but it is more like a thick tarpaulin of — lies. And even though some of them undoubtedly know better, they clap and nod and cheer.

Until the lies are exposed to a harsh reality. Yes, there is a difference between truth and lies.

But then there is a diversion to something equally outrageous.

So let’s consider parts of his presentation last night and put it into context with something that is going to be felt by all Americans, whether they believe him and voted for him or not.

Trump seems very proud of the 312 votes he won in the Electoral College, as though the number is unprecedented.

• Ronald Reagan (1984):      525
• George HW Bush:   426
• Bill Clinton:           370 and 379

Heck, the man he complained about more than Biden:

• Barack Obama:      365 and 332

Somehow that 312 isn’t especially mandate-like.

More important than Trump’s patting himself on the back was Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s response to the presentation that was like a reality show (which, of course, isn’t particularly real in any sense).

The Michigan Democrat said:

“He’s on the hunt to find trillions of dollars to pass along to the wealthiest in America, and to do that, he’s going to make you pay in every part of your life. Grocery and home prices are going up, not down, and he hasn’t laid out a credible plan to deal with either of those. His tariffs on allies like Canada will raise prices on energy, lumber and cars and start a trade war that will hurt manufacturing and farmers.”

First of all, the hunt for trillions being conducted by DOGE. Trump pointed out several instances where there seems to be what is silly spending. But do we know that the spending was superfluous or just something that makes for good television?

If you’ve ever run a business or even managed people you know that there are invariably some people who aren’t doing what they should be and perhaps once upon a time stole paper (does anyone print at home anymore?). 

But you knew who the good ones are.

Or let’s say you have a budget that pays for various functions. That wasn’t created by throwing darts at a board and then using the numbers.

Knowing what and how much can be cut takes serious forensic accounting.

Yet evidently in the “hunt for trillions” they are not deploying solid practices but hacking away.

We’ve seen them have to hire people back that had been let go. While these people are probably happy they’ve got a job, how committed do you think they’re going to be knowing that they’ve been treated like tissue paper?

“Every day my administration is fighting to deliver the change America needs to bring a future that America deserves, and we’re doing it.”

What are they doing?

To quote him:

• An immediate freeze on all federal hiring.
• A freeze on all new federal regulations.
• A freeze on all foreign aid.

And how does that help? That isn’t creating policy.

He “brought back free speech in America. It’s back.”

Is this why he sues and bans news organizations?

“Grocery and home prices are going up, not down, and he hasn’t laid out a credible plan to deal with either of those.”

He had claimed that he was going to deal with grocery prices on day one.

That’s hard to do. And he hasn’t done it.

Who is to blame for high egg prices?

Obama.

“Joe Biden especially let the price of eggs get out of control.” Yes, blame it on someone 

else. But wasn’t he hired by the American people to address this?

He continued: “The egg prices, out of control. And we’re working hard to get it back down.”

How are they working to get the price down? Perhaps cutting people at the Food Safety and Inspection Service? 

Trump says he will get the price of eggs down by. . .drilling for oil.

He says “A major focus of our fight to defeat inflation is rapidly reducing the price of energy.”

Yes, energy is an input to food costs.

An input.

And while energy costs rose 1% year over year in January, housing prices in 2024 rose 4.7% and food prices by 1.6%. Seems like addressing those two categories would be beneficial. But it is easier to say “It’s called drill, baby, drill.”

The day of his speech he put 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico. 

So sticking to the grocery aspect of things, consider this, from the US Department of Agriculture (assuming that it is still open):

“Imports play an increasingly important role in ensuring that fresh fruit and vegetables are available year-round in the United States .... In 2023, Mexico and Canada supplied 51% and 2%, respectively, of U.S. fresh fruit imports, and 69% and 20%, respectively, of US fresh vegetable imports in terms of value.”

Oh, who needs that?

“Our new trade policy will also be great for the American farmer — I love the farmer — who will now be selling into our home market, the USA, because nobody is going to be able to compete with you.”

Think about that for a minute. What keeps prices of goods and services in check? Competition. But here is the Republican president saying that he is going to eliminate competition in the market. Whatever happened to free-markets, Republicans?

And those farmers had better hope that they’re able to increase prices by selling domestically because other countries will retaliate. During the first Trump administration, when he put tariffs on China, that country (surprise, surprise) retaliated, such that Trump had to provide aid to US farmers on the order of $61 billion.

As the Council on Foreign Relations put it of that situation:

“payouts to farmers battered by Chinese retaliation have eaten up over 92% of the trade-war tax proceeds.

“The president is therefore right when he says farmers ‘got’ his tariff money. That money came not from China, however, but from taxes he imposed on Americans.”

For someone who is so keen on reducing taxes, the taxes that we’ll be paying directly for tariffs seems counter to what he claims.

And Slotkin noted the prices of housing.

Here’s something from The Wall Street Journal on Monday:

“Lumber futures Monday rose to their highest point since August 2022, when wood prices were plunging from their pandemic peak, in a sign that it could get a lot more expensive to build a house or a deck if the Canadian tariffs stick.”

Slotkin is right: “he’s going to make you pay.”

Macaulay is pundit-at-large for The Hustings.

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WEDNESDAY 3/5/25

‘Pathetic’

It is now imaginable that the leader of what is still the Free World could act in such a manner in a public meeting toward anyone who is a guest at the White House. Kinda says it all. Two men with way too much money acting like adolescents. Pathetic.

--Kate McLeod

Via Substack

Remove Trump

I watched this happen on live TV and I simply could not believe my eyes and ears. No president has ever, ever behaved like that with another head of state in the 236 years since the Constitution has been in force. No president has ever betrayed the trust of the American people the way Donald Trump did Friday. If he can’t be removed via the 25^th Amendment, then he needs to be impeached, tried, convicted and removed so that his lapdog can take over. At least Vance has an education.

--Jim McCraw

‘Definition of Arrogance’

Friday, I was filled with rage, but held myself back from writing so as not to regret my choice of words.

Trump and Vance are the definition of arrogance. Their performance in the oval office yesterday took our country to the lowest point that I could have ever thought possible. They have no respect for the office they hold. 

Those who voted for this pathetic pair will continue to support them and see this as take-charge, tough talk. They will refuse to see it for what it is, demeaning to our country and disrespecting a world leader who was an invited guest to the White House. I fear those voters as much as I fear Trump and Vance. 

How does the United States recover from such an asinine act? 

Trump told President Zelensky that he was 'Gambling with World War III,' when in reality Trump is doing just that. I never thought I'd live to see World War III, but now I fear what the coming days may bring. 

--Sharon Lintner

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MONDAY 3/3/25

Commentary By Stephen Macaulay

“And as you know, we’re in for, probably, $350 billion and Europe is in for $100 billion. And that’s a big difference. So, we’re in for, probably, three times as much. And yet, it’s very important to everybody, but Europe is very close. We have a big ocean separating us. So, it’s very important for Europe. And they, hopefully, will step up and do maybe more than they’re doing and maybe a lot more.” — Donald Trump, February 26, 2025, prior to the first meeting of his Cabinet

Let’s break this down.

“As you know, we’re in for, probably, $350 billion and Europe is in for $100 billion.”

Although we are supposed to know (“As you know”), Trump is admitting that he doesn’t know (“probably”).

Isn’t this a bit concerning that the President of the United States, speaking to his freshly minted Cabinet, doesn’t know whether or not the United States is “in for” $350 billion?

“In for”? Sounds like a term that would be heard at a gambling table at a casino, not a Cabinet meeting.

Here’s something about Trump that doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

While it is not a truism but true that in the gaming industry “the house always wins,” seems that Trump is the exception that proves the rule.

He owned three casinos in Atlantic City.

• Trump Taj Mahal filed for bankruptcy in 1991
• Trump Plaza filed in 1992
• Trump Hotels & Casino in 2004

Perhaps, as you know, he thought he had $350 billion in the bank.

But there is that number, $350 billion.

You would think there would be someone on his staff who would tell him the actual number so that he wouldn’t have to have a number that may or may not be true.

I had Google tell me that if I went to a page on the US Department of State website I would find a "fact sheet" titled “U.S. Security Cooperation with Ukraine.”

And there I would find this passage:

“To date, we have provided $65.9 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its premeditated, unprovoked, and brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and approximately $69.2 billion in military assistance since Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014. We have now used the emergency Presidential Drawdown Authority on 55 occasions since August 2021 to provide Ukraine military assistance totaling approximately $27.688 billion from DoD stockpiles.”

Even though that goes back to 2014, adding up all those numbers comes nowhere close to $350 billion: Rather, it is $162.788 billion — less than half of $350 billion. And again, this is accounting for aide prior to 2022, so if we were looking at the provisions after that date, it would be less.

(And Cabinet member Marco Rubio might want to edit that “premediated, unprovoked, and brutal full-scale invasion” before his boss finds out.)

While Trump says the difference between $350 billion and $100 billion (another number that seems to have come from nowhere), is “a big difference,” so is the difference between $350 billion and his own State Department’s $162.788 billion.

And this is the Administration that has empowered Elon Musk to cut costs?

As for the $100 billion from Europe, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy:

“Europe has allocated EUR 70 billion in financial and humanitarian aid as well as EUR 62 billion in military aid. This compares to EUR 64 billion in military aid from the US as well as EUR 50 billion in financial and humanitarian allocations.”

While some might sniff at those figures because Kiel is based in Germany, the organization is critical of European support. As in pointing out:

“Even small domestic policy priorities are many times more expensive than what is being done for Ukraine. For example, Germany’s tax subsidies for diesel fuel (‘diesel privilege’) cost taxpayers three times more per year than Germany’s military aid for Ukraine.”

Clearly, Kiel isn’t all that happy with diesel subsidies.

Still, the numbers that organization calculates is probably more accurate than Trump’s ballparking, which goes to:

“So, we’re in for, probably, three times as much.”

Again, the “probably.”

But how has it gone from $350 billion to $300 billion in three sentences?

Let’s put his math skills aside and move to this:

“… but Europe is very close.  We have a big ocean separating us.  So, it’s very important for Europe.”

Yes, Europe is very close to Ukraine. Because Ukraine is in Europe.

And then there’s 

“We have a big ocean separating us.”

This beggars belief. Does he think that if the US was to be attacked from Europe the troops would come over on a cruise ship traveling 20 knots, thereby allowing our troops to set up countermeasures?

An ICBM travels at about 15,000 mph. The distance between Washington D.C. and Continental Europe is about 4,400 miles. And the distance between a nuclear-powered attack submarine in the Atlantic is even closer.

That “big ocean” isn’t so big.

Probably.

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MONDAY 3/3/25

Commentary by Stephen Macaulay

From “Remarks by President Trump Before Cabinet Meeting” February 26, 2025:

• “The previous administration put us in a very bad position, but we’ve been able to make a deal where we’re going to get our money back and we’re going to get a lot of money in the future.” [On Ukraine]
• “And I think that, very importantly, we’re going to be able to make a deal.” [On Ukraine and Russia]
• “Most importantly, by far, we’re going to make a deal with Russia and Ukraine to stop killing people.”
• “So, the deal we’re making gets us — it brings us great wealth.” [On an agreement with Ukraine]
• “And we’ll be able to make a deal.  And again, President Zelenskyy is coming to sign the deal.  And it’s a great thing.  It’s a great deal for Ukraine, too, because they get us over there, and we’re going to be working over there.”
• “Now, when COVID came in, that was a different deal.” [On China]
• “When I got elected, we spoke, and I think we’re going to have a deal.  I can’t guarantee you that.  You know, a deal is a deal.  Lots of crazy things happen in deals, right?  But I think we’re going to have a deal.” [On Putin]
• “It’s making the deal that’s very tough.” [His assessment of what is more difficult: peacekeeping in Ukraine or that.]
• “No, I want to see if we make a deal first.” [On whether there might be sanctions on Russia regarding Ukraine.]
• “We’re going to do the best we can to make the best deal we can for both sides.  But for Ukraine, we’re going to try very hard to make a good deal so that they can get as much back as possible.”

On the cover of The Art of the Deal, originally published in 1989, there is a picture of a 43-year-old Donald Trump. The credit line reads: “Donald J. Trump with Tony Schwartz.” Schwartz has claimed he is the person who put the words down on paper. 

That, of course, is disputed by Trump.

But that doesn’t much matter because Trump “owns” the word “deal.”

Back in that period of time there was a commercial for a vocabulary-building instructional program, Verbal Advantage, that included the phrase, “People judge you by the words you use.”

Which makes me wonder about Trump’s use of the word “deal.”

Historically we would hear government officials talk about “agreements,” “understandings,” “accords,” “pacts” or the like.

But not Trump. For him it is about “deals.”

As he fancies himself the preeminent dealmaker — after all, he wrote the book on it, didn’t he? — implicit in his use of the word is that the other guy is going to get the raw deal.

This is in no way something that is in any way mutually beneficial. Screwing the other guy is just fine: clearly the other person isn’t as good a dealmaker.

While some might argue that this is just a case of not using euphemisms, that no matter what you call it, a deal is a deal, it seems as though there’s a lot of fast talk and little substance. 

You can imagine Vladimir Putin breaking just the slightest of smiles when he hears Trump talk about making deals while he is playing four-dimensional chess. Sure the deal may be made by Trump, but it is what happens afterwards that matters.

Consider Trump’s talk about putting tariffs on our allies unless they make a deal with him about trade. As there are not conditions that would call for a deal, for them it is probably not about making a deal but of deflecting, to the extent they can, the negative effects on their economies. But in the long term, what is the position of these countries vis-à-vis the US?

Most recently, Trump told Volodymyr Zelensky that he needs to make a deal with Russia. 

When a reporter asked Trump what would happen if the Russians broke the ceasefire agreement — a.k.a., “the deal” — Trump blustered a response that included everything from the possibility of a bomb falling on the reporter’s head to Hunter Biden’s laptop, even including Hillary Clinton. He had no answer.

Yes, Trump holds, as he put it “the cards” as the US has sent money and resources in the defense of Ukraine.

Clearly, helping keep a democracy free is not a good deal so far as Trump is concerned.

And if it is all and only about dealmaking, then the world is going to be a sadder place for everyone. 

Macaulay is pundit-at-large for The Hustings, self-identifying as a Never-Trumper conservative, who mostly writes for the right column. His comments here appear opposite our pro-MAGA conservative right contributor.

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SATURDAY-SUNDAY 3/1-2/25

Commentary by Rich Corbett

On Friday, the Oval Office hosted a fiery showdown that laid bare the stakes of America’s role in the Ukraine-Russia war. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and what unfolded was a blunt, no-nonsense exchange that reaffirmed a core truth: the United States must prioritize its own interests and demand accountability from those it supports. The discussion, which erupted into a shouting match, showcased Trump and Vance’s resolve to steer US foreign policy toward pragmatism over endless handouts — a stance that’s long overdue.

The crux of America’s position came through loud and clear: After pouring billions into Ukraine’s fight against Russia, the US has every right to expect gratitude and cooperation. Trump, raising his voice, drove this home, telling Zelenskyy, “You’re not really in a good position right now,” and urging him to “make a deal or we’re out.” Vance echoed this, calling out Zelenskyy’s public pushback as “disrespectful” in the Oval Office, especially given America’s sacrifices. They’re not wrong. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, the US has funneled over $174 billion in aid to Ukraine — more than any other nation — while American taxpayers foot the bill. A simple “thank you” isn’t too much to ask.

Zelenskyy’s response — questioning Vance’s diplomatic vision and pointing to Russia’s broken promises — missed the point. Trump and Vance aren’t here to relitigate Putin’s track record; they’re focused on ending a war that’s drained US resources and risked broader escalation. Trump’s insistence that Zelenskyy is “gambling with World War III” reflects a sobering reality: Ukraine’s stubbornness could drag America into a conflict it doesn’t want. The president’s push for a negotiated peace isn’t weakness — it’s strength, a refusal to let Ukraine dictate terms while leaning on US support. Vance nailed it when he said diplomacy, not chest-thumping, is the path to peace — a sharp break from the Biden era’s posturing that got us nowhere.

From the US perspective, this isn’t about abandoning an ally; it’s about results. Trump made it clear: “If we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it will be pretty.” That’s not a threat — it’s a fact. Ukraine’s manpower shortages and battlefield losses show it can’t win without America, yet Zelenskyy balked at the idea of compromise. The US has leverage — military aid, economic support, and global clout — and it’s time to use it. Trump’s vision of a minerals deal with Ukraine, tying aid to tangible returns like rare-earth resources, is a smart play. Why should America keep giving without getting something back?

The Oval Office clash laid bare Zelenskyy’s miscalculation. He walked into America’s house, challenged its leaders in front of cameras, and expected unwavering support to continue. Trump and Vance rightly pushed back, reminding him that our generosity isn’t a blank check. “Have you said, ‘thank you’ once?” Vance asked — a fair question after years of American blood and treasure spent on Ukraine’s behalf. This isn’t about ego; it’s about respect for the nation that’s kept Ukraine afloat.

America’s stance today is a return to putting its own interests first. Trump and Vance aren’t caving to Putin — they’re forcing Zelenskyy to face reality and negotiate from a position of strength backed by US might. The United States has carried the load long enough; it’s time for Ukraine to step up or step aside. As Trump said, “We’re trying to solve a problem.” That’s leadership — unapologetic, practical, and American to the core.

Corbett is writer and publisher of My Desultory Blog.

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SATURDAY-SUNDAY 3/1-2/25