Sunday Comment Section Open 1/18/26
January 18, 2026
This short note opens the Sunday Comment section. Although I usually do not comment on the news on Sunday, the monumental idiocy of Trump’s threat to impose a 10% tariff on eight European nations that do not support his bid to conquer Greenland cannot go unremarked.
Foreign nations do not pay tariffs on goods imported into the US. Tariffs are paid by US companies that import goods into the US. Those companies pass their costs onto US consumers.
The effect of Trump’s threat is that he will increase consumer prices in the US to “punish” eight European companies for not supporting the US effort to conquer Greenland.
That not only makes no sense, but it is also the height of stupidity.
Enough said.
The Civics Center
As part of my ongoing series of interviews with leaders of organizations that are working to preserve our democracy, I interviewed Laura Brill of the Civics Center. Laura is the Founder and CEO of the Civics Center.
The Civics Center promotes student-led voter registration drives of high school students. Each year, 4 million high school students become eligible to register to vote. Unfortunately, registration rates are. But if high school students register, they vote at roughly the same rate as the general population.
If you are looking for a worthy cause that is working on long-term solutions to our current democratic crisis, please listen to my interview with Laura Brill.
Learn more about or donate to the Civics Center here: The Civics Center - Empowering the Youth Vote in America through High School Voter Registration
Pro-democracy protest photos
Richmond, Virginia
Downtown Suffolk
Middletown CT
Hyannis Airport Rotary, Cape Cod, MA, protest today- 1/17/26
Louisville, KY
Peterborough, NH
Farmington ME
Suttons Bay MI
Westbrook Maine,
Suffolk, VA
MN. The pictures are outside, across the street and on a sidewalk, of the Federal Whipple detention center.
Edina, Minnesota pedestrian bridge over Highway 62
Tempe overpass
Refuse Fascism Fridays in a community called Mill Creek, just north of Seattle
Great Neck, NY.
Brattleboro, Vt
Daily Dose of Perspective
Galaxy NGC 7331 is located about 44 million light-years from Earth. It is notable because its galactic core rotates in the opposite direction to the galaxy's spiral arms.
The smaller galaxies in the background are located between 300–350 million light years from Earth.
Robert, I send out Jess Craven's Sunday Edition of Extra Extra weekly to many of my family and friends. This week I will also invite each of these folks to subscribe to your Today's Edition Newsletter. I read your writing every day and consider it a must read. I am happy to promote the good work that you are doing. I want you to know I appreciate the commitment you have made to keep us all well informed and moving forward in these most challenging times.
I so enjoy seeing the photos of protesters Robert. Please keep sharing them. The photo of (what i presume are) ICE standing in full gear made my heart sink. I was present with the Farmington Maine protesters yesterday. We were nearly 200 strong in spite of cold temps and snow. We largely get lots of supportive honks and waves. While there are some negative responses (this area of Maine has many republican voters) i am hopeful that seeing our presence makes them at least consider their support for this regime. Our protests make me feel upbeat and less lonely here in my rural red county. Folks drive great distances to gather. Our strength in numbers and positive support of one another is key to my sanity right now.