Politics
Commentary Upon Commentary
Against the addiction of daily political punditry.
This approach centers the MAGA unreality, accepting it as the preexisting truth through which we should try and understand and engage with the world. I think that's pretty dumb.
Obviously, I have written about Donald Trump and have contextualized certain news items through his existence. Notably, though, I don't do it every single day, 24/7, by screaming in your face, attempting to scare you. My general approach is to say my peace and move on. That's why I wrote a handful of serious observations from 2022-2024 during the same period of time the mainstream media and Democratic establishment was mostly focused on Joe Biden's age instead of the former president who incited a lynch mob in pursuit of his own Vice President after attempting an administrative coup. I also released three podcast episodes alongside my sometimes co-host, Adam Thorne, from the end of 2023 and into the beginning of 2024 that contained my thoughts on the then-upcoming presidential election. Once I said what I had to say, I moved on.
Scroll through any Democratic Party-affiliated social media feed and you will see SIGNIFICANTLY more clips of Donald Trump and his far right supporters than you'll see of, well, Democrats! I'd say the ratio is at least 5:1, five clips/quotes of Trump for every one original thought.
The best critique I have seen of this approach came from Pope Leo in an off-the-cuff remark, when he was being interviewed on his papal plane about a Trump Truth. Here's what the Pope said in April 2026:
A certain narrative has taken hold—one that is not entirely accurate—due to the political situation that arose when, on the first day of the trip, the President of the United States made certain statements regarding me…. Much of what has been written since then is nothing more than commentary upon commentary, in an attempt to interpret what was said. An example is the important address delivered at the Prayer Meeting for Peace on April 16. That speech had been prepared two weeks earlier—well before the President commented on me and on the message of peace I am promoting. And yet, it was interpreted as if I were attempting to engage in a renewed debate with the President—something that is not in my interest at all.
Indeed, the Pope doesn't need Donald Trump to exist to talk about peace. In fact, to try and contextualize his remarks through the lens of Donald Trump -- rather than through the lens of Jesus Christ -- is absurd and insane and, at the same time, an unfortunate reflection of our time.
The Pope's first message to the world, delivered from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, was a message of peace. His first words uttered as pope, in fact, reflected this simple message: "Peace be with all of you!"
Pope Leo went on to use the word "peace" eleven times during his brief inaugural remarks.
His calls for peace have continued throughout his pontificate, sharing Jesus' teachings in March 2026:
Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. [Christ] does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood” (Is 1:15). As we set our gaze upon him who was crucified for us, we can see a crucified humanity. In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today. In his last cry to the Father, we hear the weeping of those who are crushed, who have no hope, who are sick and who are alone. Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war. Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters!
With that, I send you on your way.
If you're interested in reading more of my thoughts on this topic, you can read my piece from December 2022: Combatting news fatigue and the importance of building community.
