How Trump’s FBI Purge Saved Lindsey Graham and James Clyburn From a Bribery Investigation On March 3, 2020, Sen. Lindsey Graham walked into a private dining room at Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington, D.C. Graham’s time was expensive. He was meeting with two executives and a lobbyist from a Hawaiian naval defense contractor called Navatek. And he had required them to commit to … [Read more...] about How Trump’s FBI Purge Saved Lindsey Graham and James Clyburn From a Bribery Investigation
Donald Trump is Vladimir Putin’s ventriloquist dummy
The classic musical “Damn Yankees” featured the song “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets.” Today it would be “Whatever Putin Wants, Putin Gets,” and the fellow delivering the goods is Donald Trump. In recent weeks, Trump has taken a series of actions that benefit Russia and Vladimir Putin at Ukraine’s expense. He may insist he’s trying to end the war. But his version of peace … [Read more...] about Donald Trump is Vladimir Putin’s ventriloquist dummy
How social media and AI changed bullying
by Tom Purcell Technology has enabled a new breed of bullying, and it’s nastier than ever. Bullying transformation In 1972, when I was 10, Franky Leper busted my handmade go-cart into pieces, then shoved me into the mud. Leper was in his teens, then — a big, fat, man-sized kid — and I stood no chance. But my older sister, Kris — then 5 feet tall and 90 pounds — … [Read more...] about How social media and AI changed bullying
Trump is only running his toilet mouth in red states. Guess why.
Five decades ago on “Saturday Night Live,” John Belushi played a character called “The Thing That Wouldn’t Leave,” a slobbering uninvited houseguest who crashed on the couch, littered the living room, and refused to go despite his host’s persistent pleas. Who does that sound like? About two weeks before the most crucial midterm elections in living memory, Donald Trump is … [Read more...] about Trump is only running his toilet mouth in red states. Guess why.
STABBING ZELENSKY IN THE BACK
As French protests escalate into riots, they may prove a gift for Marine Le Pen’s right-wing party
Embed from Getty Images Peter McPhee, The University of Melbourne Mass protests in France have spiralled into riots, with between 500,000 and 800,000 demonstrators in cities and towns across the country, most of them students. More than 100 police and many more protesters have been injured and up to 2,000 people have so far been arrested. Major public buildings – … [Read more...] about As French protests escalate into riots, they may prove a gift for Marine Le Pen’s right-wing party
Halloween Humor
The Moderate Voice would not be complete without some Halloween humor during the month of October, especially with U.S. elections coming up. Plenty of Americans are on pins and needles while they wait for those elections to be over with. So, this blogger will, in the words of comedian Pete Davidson, "... try to be funny. Remember, I said 'Try'." To start, let's see what … [Read more...] about Halloween Humor
Blonde Cabbage
Will Trump’s new press secretary outlast a head of cabbage, and is she smarter? What is it with Donald Trump hiring so many unqualified people? It's like we should not take them seriously because he keeps hiring non-serious people, but then again, we better take this seriously because he's hired so many non-serious people. Kash Patel and Pete Hegseth are dangerous. Trump … [Read more...] about Blonde Cabbage
I’ve been studying election integrity for 26 years, and here’s why I expect a normal election this November instead of chaos
Concern about election interference by the Trump administration sparked this rally in Washington, D.C., on Sept, 15, 2026. Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for People's Action Institute Justin Levitt, Loyola Law School Los Angeles Fear of federal interference in the 2026 midterms, from intimidation stoked by armed officials at the polls to seizure … [Read more...] about I’ve been studying election integrity for 26 years, and here’s why I expect a normal election this November instead of chaos
Age and Political Orientation
Recently, within our two major political parties there has been conflict and divergent views between younger and older members. In the Democratic party, the so-called progressive wing which leans more to the left is generally younger than the establishment faction. The progressives include younger elected officials aside from a few like Senators Bernie Sanders age 85 and … [Read more...] about Age and Political Orientation
TRUMP’S NEW PRESS SECRETARY BOMBS BIGELY
How bad was new White House Press Secertary Katie Zacharia's first abbreviated, abandon ship 14 minute press briefing? She made the nuclear bomb seem like a firecracker. She was so bad she made the Hindenburg disaster look like a routine landing. She made the Titanic look like a successful Caribbean cruise. She made the 1985 New Coke rollout look like a marketing triumph. … [Read more...] about TRUMP’S NEW PRESS SECRETARY BOMBS BIGELY
Could Public Executions Become a Circus?
Nearly 17 years after the Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people and wounded 32 others, the planned execution of former Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan has sparked a new debate over whether executions may be televised and viewed by the public. Hasan, who was convicted of carrying out the November 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, is scheduled to be executed by firing squad … [Read more...] about Could Public Executions Become a Circus?
Meet the ‘independent voters’ who will likely decide which party triumphs in the 2026 midterm elections
Independent voter turnout in midterm elections usually lags behind that of Republicans and Democrats. adamkaz/Getty Images Julio Borquez, University of Michigan-Dearborn As midterm elections near, Democrats enjoy advantages in national “generic ballot” polling, suggesting they may secure majorities in the House of Representative or Senate, … [Read more...] about Meet the ‘independent voters’ who will likely decide which party triumphs in the 2026 midterm elections
HE WHO PULLS DONALD TRUMP’S STRING
I've said it before. With Donald Trump, the unthinkable is indeed thinkable and can well quickly morph into reality. But Donald Trump is predictable. As many columnists and social media types have pointed out, it seems one of the few people Donald Trump will never say a bad word about is Russia's Vladimir Putin. But, then Putin would never say a bad word about Vladimir … [Read more...] about HE WHO PULLS DONALD TRUMP’S STRING
PENTAGON’S PLAN TO LIVESTREAM EXECUTION: ANOTHER STEP BACK FROM AMERICAN NORMS
It continues to be amazing how easily American norms can be shattered. All it took was for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to advocate live streaming the upcoming death-by-firing-squad execution of the Army officer convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting and the Pentagon announced it, then Donald Trump said Me, too. Suggest it and who cares if it's at odds the vast majority … [Read more...] about PENTAGON’S PLAN TO LIVESTREAM EXECUTION: ANOTHER STEP BACK FROM AMERICAN NORMS
Does Tarzan have a real-life sister?
Does Tarzan have a real-life sister? If a story published by The Mirror is to be believed, then the answer to that question is "Yes". That story begins like this: "A woman who was raised by monkeys experienced terror upon seeing her reflection for the first time." The story doesn't say if the woman can yell like Tarzan. Then again, the woman isn't Carol Burnett. … [Read more...] about Does Tarzan have a real-life sister?
‘Almost All of Those Efforts Are Illegal’: Watchdogs Raise Alarm About Trump Election Threats
by Brad Reed Common Dreams With just four weeks to go until the 2026 midterm elections, democracy watchdogs are warning that President Donald Trump is breaking the law in a desperate bid to retain Republican control of the US Congress. A Monday report in USA Today highlighted the unprecedented steps that Trump is taking to rig the midterms for the GOP, ranging from his … [Read more...] about ‘Almost All of Those Efforts Are Illegal’: Watchdogs Raise Alarm About Trump Election Threats
Brazil elections 2026: First-round victories demand a commitment to democracy by the far-right that has not yet been made
Débora Thomé, Instituto Brasileiro de Ensino, Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa (IDP) ; Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV); Associação Brasileira de Ciência Política (ABCP) The first round of Brazil’s 2026 elections held this Sunday ended with a resounding victory for the far-right Liberal Party (PL). Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of the jailed former president, Jair Bolsonaro, came out … [Read more...] about Brazil elections 2026: First-round victories demand a commitment to democracy by the far-right that has not yet been made
How Housing Decisions Become More Complicated Once Children Reach School Age
A family can live happily in a two-bedroom rental for years, then watch the math change the spring before kindergarten registration. Suddenly, the address decides which public school a child attends, how long the morning drive takes, and whether a parent still gets to work on time. That shift explains why housing decisions become more complicated once children reach school age. … [Read more...] about How Housing Decisions Become More Complicated Once Children Reach School Age
What Happened to the EPA?
The initials EPA stand for Environmental Protection Agency. The Agency is supposed to protect the environment and the American population from harmful substances. Under the Trump administration, however, the EPA is not doing its job. The EPA headed by Lee Zelden ruled in February 2026 that climate change did not endanger public health despite scientific evidence to the … [Read more...] about What Happened to the EPA?