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“It never hit me that it was possible for the rights of gay people to marry to take steps BACKWARDS.”

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Valentine’s Day Readers’ Stories

Editor’s note: This is one of five stories written by our readers, in honor of Valentine’s Day.

22 years ago I moved to the Bay Area of California.  I came from a mountain west area of the country, but had been raised with an open mind on most things and taught to be fair.  When I arrived in California, the first work situation I found myself in my boss was a lesbian woman.  This was not something I had been exposed to, and I soon found my understanding and empathy of this situation in question.

Immediately after this, while struggling with my fiancee to figure out how to finance our first home purchase, her best friend from college came to visit.  He was a gay man from St. Louis who travelled to SF every year for Pride.  Without hesitation he loaned us the money we were short to close on our house.  In addition, he took us to the City for Pride and introduced me to many of his friends.  I was learning quickly 2 things; 1) these gay people were nothing like the demons they had been made out to be in my early years and 2) I had not really been raised to be fair or open minded.

Soon I found myself involved in numerous friendships with gay and lesbian people from work, sports, mutual acquaintances, etc. and over a short time it started to lose it’s relevancy… whether any given person was gay.  I was heavily involved in sports, and was coaching a collegiate team at the time at Stanford.  We were very successful, winning 3 national championships in 4 years.  There were at least a couple guys on the team that were gay, but it never really occurred to me that it might be important to anyone.  By no intention, I never discussed their preferences or lifestyles with them.

Years later, as we all gathered together at events or connected on FaceBook, it became evident which members of the team were gay.  Some introduced me to their partners, others simply allowed me a window into their world and friendships.

My life has been enriched in so many ways through my interaction with the gay community. Obviously the initial financial boost helped get over a major hurdle, but so much more importantly, I have had a multitude of experiences that have added to the fabric of my life. What is astonishing to me is this;  I cannot imagine that politicians living in DC have not had similar experiences……. yet there are so many willing to treat an entire segment of humanity like some lesser form of life.  It never hit me until the most recent election in California, that it was possible for the rights of gay people to marry to take steps BACKWARDS.  I had assumed that there was an irresistible march forward and in time full rights were inevitable.

Like I found 22 years ago, I was wrong.

Unless straight people are willing to stand side by side to combat the ignorance of these homo-phobic zealots, the gay community cannot expect to be “granted” what they rightfully should already have; the right to love who they wish and have that love appropriately recognized and celebrated by society.

To Mark and Keith and others that face this every day, I want to say thank you for all you do, I couldn’t be happier with who you are, and you can count on my help wherever possible.

Dave Juszczyk

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‘Mad King’: Trump Teases ‘Fourth’ Term to U.S. Troops Overseas

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15 hours ago

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May 15, 2025

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During a rally-style appearance before uniformed U.S. troops in Qatar on Thursday, President Donald Trump—serving as their Commander-in-Chief—floated the idea of a “fourth” term and falsely claimed victory in the 2020 election he lost. The appearance drew swift criticism for blurring the line between military service and political theater.

“As you know, we won three elections, okay?” Trump told the largely silent troops (video below). “And some people want us to do a fourth. I don’t know—I’ll have to think about that.”

“You saw the new, the new hat. The hottest hat is, it says, ‘Trump 2028: We’re driving the left crazy.'”

“When you see that. We didn’t need that hat, but, uh, it was it’s been an amazing period of time,” he concluded.

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Noting that Trump was speaking “at the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East,” CNN reported that the President “thanked the U.S. troops for political support.”

“There’s – nobody been stronger than the military in terms of backing us, nobody,” Trump said. “So, I just want to thank you all very much. Great honor. Thank you very much.”

CBS News national security coordinating producer Jim LaPorta, who has reported extensively on the military, wrote: “If this was a rally, the president’s remarks would be fine. But in front of service members who are expected to be apolitical, many Defense Department officials would find these remarks inappropriate.”

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The Bulwark’s Sam Stein observed: “Treating the troops like they’re at a campaign rally and sowing doubt about the past and future of American elections — all in one soundbite.”

Democratic pollster and strategist Luke Martin called it “especially jarring to see Trump flirting with blowing a hole in the Constitution in front of an entire crowd of people who literally swore an oath to protect it with their life.”

Independent journalist Mike Rothschild noted: “Making a statement like this in front of active duty troops would have generated months of scandal, hearings, and resignations in years gone by. Now it’s just another Thursday with the Mad King.”

Watch the video below or at this link.

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Image via Reuters

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‘Significant Damage’: Walmart’s ‘Magnitude’ Warning to Consumers Spurs Trump Tariff Critics

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19 hours ago

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May 15, 2025

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Walmart has issued a stark warning about the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, cautioning that their “magnitude” will directly lead to higher prices for consumers. The nation’s largest retailer made clear it will have no choice but to pass on the increased costs. President Trump, by contrast, recently claimed that Chinese manufacturers—key suppliers for Walmart and many other retailers—would probably “eat” the tariffs.

“We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible, but given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins,” Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in a press release, according to Yahoo Finance.

Walmart CFO John David Rainey told CNBC, “we’re wired to keep prices low for customers, but the level of tariffs that have been proposed is pretty challenging for all retailers, for suppliers, and certainly our concern is that consumers are going to feel some of that.”

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“We’ve not seen a period where you’ve had prices go up this high, this quickly,” he continued (video below). “We’re well equipped and experienced in dealing with elasticities or price increases that are going up 2 or 3 percent, but not 30 percent.”

Critics took the opportunity to blast President Trump’s tariffs.

Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Walmart’s warning a “canary in the coal mine for the devastation Trump’s tariffs will have on Main Street,” according to The Washington Post.

“If a retailer as big as Walmart can’t escape the pain of tariffs, what chance [do] small businesses have?” he asked.

Leader Schumer called on retailers to post how much tariffs increase the cost of each product.

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“Walmart’s announcement is a glaring reminder that even after supposedly backtracking on some of his tariffs, significant damage will not go away,” he added in a floor speech. “The chaos unleashed is eating away at retail, restaurants, small businesses, and middle class families wallets. It is still estimated these tariffs will cost thousands of dollars for each family each year.”

Cato Institute Vice President of General Economics Scott Lincicome served up this warning: “Buckle up.”

Watch the video below or at this link.

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Image via Reuters

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‘Deeply Fascist’: Massive Banner of Trump on Government Building Sparks ‘North Korea’ Vibes

Published

21 hours ago

on

May 15, 2025

By

A massive banner of President Donald Trump is now hanging from the outside of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s building in Washington, D.C., opposite a banner of President Abraham Lincoln. Several critics are suggesting the hanging is fascist or authoritarian, with some saying it is giving off North Korea vibes.

“Looming down from the pillared front of the neo-classical facade is an enormous, brooding picture of President Donald Trump, adapted from his official presidential portrait,” The Independent reported. “The picture of Trump is reminiscent of portraits of leaders hanging from public buildings, often seen in dictatorships, monarchies, and in descriptions in George Orwell’s 1984 of ‘Big Brother.'”

Progressive nonprofit People For the American Way posted a photo of the USDA building with the Trump banner, also saying it is “echoing authoritarian dictatorships.”

“This is deeply fascist,” observed Democracy advocate, Army combat vet, and podcaster Fred Wellman.

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“Trump is spending $92 million on a birthday military parade and plastering his face on the sides of government buildings. Washington, DC is becoming Pyongyang, North Korea,” podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen noted.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins posted photos of the banners being installed, while suggesting that President Trump’s policies have been good for farmers — a controversial opinion given his tariff and trade wars, and program cuts.

The Bulwark’s Tim Miller wrote: “Its interesting that these freedom loving MAGA alpha males want to institute this deeply creepy 3rd world culture where we have a national daddy that must be obeyed.”

Political analyst Rachel Bitecofer warned Trump is “going to go full Putin.”

“Welcome to North America’s North Korea!” exclaimed Russell Drew, a self-described amateur historian and political junkie.

See the social media posts above or at this link.

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Image: Public Domain photo via Wikimedia

 

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