Introduction: An American Study.

February 19, 2025. 

On March 22, 2019, Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted his “Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election.” The controversial report did not find conclusive evidence of collusion between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia. It did find that Russian disinformation was widespread. Mueller later stated that his investigation's findings of Russian interference "deserves the attention of every American."

On charges of obstruction of justice, Mueller had been advised that a sitting president is immune from criminal prosecution. As such, he would only say that “while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.

Between his election in November 2024 and inauguration in January 2025,  Trump’s behavior seemed unusual and bewildering. He coveted our allies' territories, nominated candidates with questionable qualifications and ethics for cabinet posts, dined with a parade of billionaires and tech titans at Mar a Lago – which he dubbed the “center of the universe” – and began spending lots and lots of time with his new best bud, Elon Musk.

The media, old and new, was abuzz as they tried to make sense of it all. I thought their reports were far too small and missed the mark by a long shot. They parsed every outrageous quote and explored the history of Panama, but time and again failed to report larger implications. 

With almost every comment and action Donald Trump was trumpeting that he had no intention of playing by the old rules. As I watched, I was, as the kids say, losing my shit. I don’t normally wear tin foil hats. I generally dismiss conspiracy theories. But I could not help thinking back to Barr's report and other signs of what Trump II would bring. Could the President of the United States really be in Putin's pocket? Was he really going to implement Project 2025, a plan he claimed to have never read? I hoped I would quickly be proven wrong.

And then came inauguration day. From day one Trump unleashed a torrent of executive orders and shocking statements. He obliterated DEI programs and banned the word gender from the Federal vocabulary. He unleashed Elon to strip the Federal bureaucracy for parts. He suggested Palestinians leave Gaza so he could build a nice resort. He attacked our neighbors, threatened tariffs, and doubled down on making Canada our 51^st state. He quietly dispatched a senior diplomat to call on Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko, who had aided the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He dispatched Vice President JD Vance to scold Europe, threaten NATO, and warn that immigrants are Europe’s real “enemies from within.” And then he placed a call to an old friend, Vladimir Putin. 

I was introduced to historian Heather Cox Richardson's brilliant "Letters from America," with her January 24 newsletter on the anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in WWII. Inspired, a few days later I started journaling as an outlet for my bottled-up feelings and frustrations. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, I have followed Richardson’s style of matching current commentary to relevant historic references when I can. 

I was also bedridden with back pain and medicated. Writing helped me focus and fight through the fuzziness in my head. On more than one occasion I wrote witty and inspired entries that turned out to be absolute gibberish on reread. On February 17, I started writing a long entry on my phone while prepped and waiting for surgery. That one has still not been finished.

I am not sure what this herky-jerky collection of passages will turn out to be, perhaps journal, blog, or simply a fever dream. I’m not sure where it goes next. The entries are not written or ordered chronologically. They do not follow an orderly outline. Events unfolded so quickly that I jumped ahead and circled back as time allowed – history, and Donald Trump, wait for no man. As for style and format, I hope my teachers and professors forgive me. 

As entries piled up, I realized that I, too, was underestimating what’s happening in this second Trump presidency. Collusion, obstruction of justice and Project 2025 are just the start. I believe what's going on is much bigger than that.