Author: John Muryell

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Tariffs Aren’t a Lifeline. They’re a Landmine.

John Muryell

In a Newsweek opinion piece dated September 11, 2024, tariffs were branded a “lifeline for the middle class.” But this wasn’t economic analysis—it was political spin. The claim came from Kenneth Rapoza, a trade lobbyist writing under Newsweek’s opinion banner, not its editorial board. His framing ignored overwhelming evidence of consumer harm, job losses, and supply-chain disruption. By presenting tariffs as salvation, the piece misled readers and distorted the economic reality facing millions of American families. Tariffs didn’t rescue the middle class—they drained it.This is economic gaslighting. When U.S. businesses import goods, they pay tariffs—but they don’t absorb those costs. … Continue reading Tariffs Aren’t a Lifeline. They’re a Landmine.

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Redistricting Rebellion: The People’s Path to Ending Gerrymandering

John Muryell

In the face of calculated suppression and partisan manipulation, a new movement is rising—one rooted in courage, compassion, and the unwavering belief that democracy belongs to the people. Across the country, Democratic strategists, voting rights advocates, and everyday citizens are rallying around a powerful truth: gerrymandering can be defeated—and we are the ones who will do it. From Texas to Ohio, Republican lawmakers have redrawn congressional maps to entrench power, silence dissent, and rig the rules in their favor. But the tide is turning. These maps—engineered to suppress—are beginning to crack under the pressure of public resistance and strategic organizing. … Continue reading Redistricting Rebellion: The People’s Path to Ending Gerrymandering

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From McCarthyism to Trumpism: How Fear Became a Political Weapon

John Muryell

Across the country, a quiet revolution is underway. In states long considered Republican strongholds—Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York—voters are choosing a different path. They’re not just casting ballots. They’re taking a stand. They’re declaring: we will not be ruled by fear. The Trumpist movement, once dominant, is unraveling. And if history is any guide, we’ve seen this kind of reckoning before. In the 1950s, Senator Joseph McCarthy built his power on fear. He accused Americans of being traitors, communists, infiltrators. Careers were destroyed. Families torn apart. Institutions hollowed out. But eventually, the public saw through it. Televised hearings exposed … Continue reading From McCarthyism to Trumpism: How Fear Became a Political Weapon

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SNAP Crisis Exposes GOP Blueprint for Authoritarian Rule — Resistance Builds Nationwide

John Muryell

In a deeply troubling legal maneuver, the Trump administration appealed a federal judge’s order requiring full funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown, arguing that the federal government would suffer “greater harm” than low-income Americans who may go hungry. The appeal, filed in response to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan’s ruling, claimed that complying with the court’s mandate would cause “significant and irreparable harm to the government,” outweighing the injury to millions of Americans who rely on food assistance to survive. Judge Chutkan had ordered the administration to use available funds to ensure uninterrupted SNAP … Continue reading SNAP Crisis Exposes GOP Blueprint for Authoritarian Rule — Resistance Builds Nationwide

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White House Claims Trump Has Improved Affordability; Critics Question the Data

John Muryell

This week, the White House declared that “Despite Democrat lies, President Trump has excelled in improving affordability in his first nine months.” The statement, posted on the official @WhiteHouse account, highlights falling gas prices, reduced costs for select consumer goods, and recent pharmaceutical pricing deals. But for millions of Americans, the reality behind those numbers tells a deeper story—one of quiet resilience, economic strain, and the daily pursuit of dignity. Grocery prices have increased by 2.7% over the past year, and utility bills have risen by 12% nationwide. While some Thanksgiving food baskets have dropped in price, many contain fewer … Continue reading White House Claims Trump Has Improved Affordability; Critics Question the Data

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Dr. Oz’s Medicaid Post Shows a Clear Pattern of Political Targeting

John Muryell

Dr. Mehmet Oz’s October 31 post on X didn’t just raise concerns about Medicaid—it launched a calculated partisan attack. By naming only Democrat-led jurisdictions and portraying routine audits as evidence of lawbreaking, Oz weaponized a technical review to stoke political outrage. His post alleged that California, Illinois, Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and the District of Columbia misused $1.3 billion in federal Medicaid funds to cover undocumented immigrants, claiming CMS had already clawed back $300 million. Notably, no Republican-led states were mentioned, despite the fact that emergency Medicaid reimbursements occur nationwide. The language was unmistakably political: phrases like “terrifying reality,” “Democrats violating … Continue reading Dr. Oz’s Medicaid Post Shows a Clear Pattern of Political Targeting

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Democrats Ride Economic Discontent and Anti-Trump Backlash to 2025 Sweep

John Muryell

In a sweeping off-year victory, Democrats surged across key states in what many are calling a referendum on economic hardship and President Trump’s leadership. From Virginia to California, voters delivered a resounding message—driven by frustration over affordability, civic mobilization, and a growing rejection of authoritarian politics. Democrats flipped legislative chambers, expanded suburban strongholds, and passed progressive ballot measures that reshaped the political map. In Virginia and New Jersey, they reclaimed districts lost in the 2024 election. In New York City, progressive Zohran Mamdani unseated Trump-endorsed Andrew Cuomo in a stunning mayoral upset. And in California, Proposition 50—designed to block Trump-aligned … Continue reading Democrats Ride Economic Discontent and Anti-Trump Backlash to 2025 Sweep

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Trump’s Copyright Power Grab Sparks Constitutional Showdown.Supreme Court May Decide Whether Congress Still Controls Copyright Law

John Muryell

Trump’s Copyright Power Grab Sparks Constitutional ShowdownSupreme Court May Decide Whether Congress Still Controls Copyright Law A high-stakes legal battle is unfolding over the future of U.S. copyright protections—one that could determine whether creators retain the rights to their own work or whether those rights are seized by executive power. President Donald Trump’s attempt to remove Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights, has ignited a constitutional crisis now advancing toward the Supreme Court. For artists, authors, musicians, and filmmakers, the stakes are not theoretical—they are existential. Perlmutter was dismissed just weeks after releasing a report that questioned the legality of … Continue reading Trump’s Copyright Power Grab Sparks Constitutional Showdown.Supreme Court May Decide Whether Congress Still Controls Copyright Law

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A Plate for Every Person: The Rise of Programmable Food

John Muryell

From Pixels to Plates: The Rise of 3D-Printed Food in 2025 In Star Trek, the replicator wasn’t just a machine—it was a promise. A simple voice command, a shimmer of light, and suddenly a steak dinner, a cup of Earl Grey, or even a violin appeared. No cooking. No farming. No waiting. Just nourishment, instantly. Today, in 2025, that vision is no longer confined to science fiction. While we haven’t mastered teleportation or quantum conjuring, we’ve taken a bold step forward: meals crafted from data, printed layer by layer using real ingredients. Welcome to the world of 3D-printed food—a realm … Continue reading A Plate for Every Person: The Rise of Programmable Food

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The Map That Mutes Us: Gerrymandering and the War on Voters

John Muryell

Across the country, a quiet crisis is unfolding—one that threatens the foundation of American democracy. Republican lawmakers in multiple states are redrawing congressional maps mid-decade, not to reflect population changes, but to rig outcomes. From North Carolina to Texas, GOP-controlled legislatures are targeting swing districts and communities of color in what voting rights advocates are calling a “national theft of the vote.” In North Carolina, Republican leaders are preparing to redraw the state’s congressional map to flip a single swing seat—NC-1—without changing a single vote. The move follows a directive from President Donald Trump urging GOP-led states to “take back … Continue reading The Map That Mutes Us: Gerrymandering and the War on Voters