Bulletproofing Democracy

August 27, 2026

Presidential pardons need some serious reform. Before he even completed his first full day in office of his second term, Trump signed a proclamation granting about 1,500 people full pardons. This wasn’t just any group of people. These were American citizens participating (and mostly convicted) of misdemeanors and felonies associated with the January 6th attack on Congress. Later, Trump commuted the sentences of 14 other defendants who were involved with the Oath Keepers or Proud Boys.

July 16, 2026

Dark money floods campaigns. Billionaires buy elections. Legislators trade on inside information. Corporations spend millions greasing the wheels for government contracts. Supreme Court justices vacation on the yachts of wealthy benefactors. The president’s family pockets billions from foreign business dealings. All of it may be technically legal. None of it is good for democracy.