Take all that toxic smoke from those Canadian wildfires, add temperatures we don’t see all that often in these parts, and you can concoct the stew of misery we’ve been fed for the last few days. But now, it’s Saturday afternoon and it looks like the worst is over, but you never know these days, do you? The temperature has finally begun to drop like it saw a hidden cop with a radar gun, and tomorrow’s report is for sunnier skies, but first, there is a tornado watch to get through, a swath of thunder storms headed our way along with some leftover Fourth of July fireworks.
For the past few days, it was hard to breath. Go outside and your eyes itched, your nose was clogged, and your lungs felt like they needed laundering. Inside, it wasn’t much better, but at least there was the World Cup to remind us that life goes on. But even that became tainted when Mr. Trump inserted himself into the dubious inner workings of Gianni Infantino’s FIFA and rendered us either sore losers or bullies or probably both. The American team acquitted itself well, but it’s too bad they weren’t able to maintain their dignity, albeit through no fault of their own.
As I write this, the sky is getting darker, the storm is coming closer. As it so happens, my wife and I are tending four of our grandkids this weekend while their parents are away— at the World Cup, no less. The goodness and inherent joy of this quartet have helped provide some healthy perspective and, hopefully, to mitigate the worst of all the bad weather and lousy air quality that have been loosed upon us. The kids do their chores, they laugh and play, and come nightfall, they sleep peacefully.
I didn’t watch Mr. Trump’s speech the other night. I’ve heard it all before and the day-after exegesis suggested there was nothing he said that hasn’t already been said: no proof of any election wrongdoing, no evidence to suggest that what happened six years ago was anything but a repudiation of a failed Presidency. That he has returned with such a vengeance is head-scratching, mind-numbing, and downright dangerous. The self-evident truths most of us have held dearly for the past 250 years are perilously close to crumbling, and there’s no telling if the upcoming midterm elections will be, in fact, upcoming, or if the shadow of hubris and fascism will creep deeper across the land. There’s no reliable radar for that kind of storm.
Toxicity is a measure of how poisonous a substance is and how it can affect living organisms. It is determined both by dosage and the specific interaction between a toxic substance and a biological system. We tend to think of it chemically, but lately, I can’t help but consider its diabolic political qualities. There are medicines and antidotes for chemical toxicity, but what remedies and cures are there for the pall of unhealthy miasma that is smothering our nation beyond anything those Canadian wildfires can inflect on us?
Paul Simon once sang that he could gather all the news he needed on the weather report. How I wish it were that simple! The storm is on top of us, the wind is blowing, the lightning is flashing, and the thunder is rolling. The lights are flickering.
Hold on.
I’ll be right back.
Jamie Kirkpatrick is a writer and photographer who lives with his wife Kat Conley on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay. His editorials and reviews have appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Washington College Alumni Magazine, and American Cowboy Magazine. His most recent novel, “The People Game,” is available in bookstores and on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other reader platforms. His website is musingjamie.net.
6 Responses
Thank you for your succinct analysis.
And the photograph, incredible: Who, Where and When ??
The only threatening storm that I see is the insidious threat to our Democratic Republic by so called Democratic Socialists who have hijacked the Democratic Party. You are wasting your precious time fight ing Trump when you should be protecting the integrity of our Country set forth by The Forefathers of America.Trumps actions are not retribution. It is reversal of the downward spiral of our Country under Bidens policy.. much work to be done… addressing inflation created by Bidens 1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that caused inflation not seen in four decades/ addressing massive illegal immigration under Biden creating stress on security. education,healthcare,housing. The threat to America is not smoke that will blow away but the threat to our American culture by these socialists who develop a stronghold in isolated diaspora , who have no interest in assimilation to the American way. Such things as no borders/ no police/ no prisons/ are on their agenda. They look to destroy our country as they did the country they came from. I have not heard one good legitimate reason why democrats are against voter registration( heck you have to register to use Mandami free grocery stores). It is ironic most of these illegals are coming from socialist countries. It wont be long before NYC goes down the tubes. The erudite guy that you are should be able to see this. This attack on our society is as insidious as cancer and just as deadly… so less focus on Trump and more focus on our Constitutional Republic
Ed note, per reseaarch: Reuters — “Trump’s campaign of retribution: At least 470 targets and counting”
Published November 26, 2025, by Peter Eisler, Ned Parker, Linda So and Joseph Tanfani. Reuters examined hundreds of official orders, directives and public records and contacted the people and institutions involved. It concluded that at least 470 people, organizations and institutions had been targeted for retribution since Trump returned to office. (Reuters)
Reuters broke that down further: at least 247 individuals and entities were specifically singled out by name, while another 224 people were caught in broader retaliatory actions. The actions included firings, suspensions, investigations, revoked security clearances, threats of penalties and funding freezes. (Reuters)
The White House was given a chance to respond and disputed Reuters’ premise, saying the actions represented legitimate implementation of Trump’s electoral mandate rather than retribution. So the article includes both the evidence Reuters assembled and the administration’s defense of its actions. (Reuters)
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Any targeting has been directed at individuals who had been his enemies AND committed crimes eg. Comey, Bolton and James to name a few. His other “targets” have been the “woke” influencers and DEI proponents weakening our society. He also targets crazed judges letting criminals go free including the one last week who released a criminal illegal with multiple previous arrests and murdered someone the next day. Even when legitimate charges are brought against criminals and bad actors the liberal judiciary blows them off as “not enough evidence”There are numerous incidents of DA in sanctuary cities protecting criminals from ICE and law and order. So yes he targets these crazies to make us safe and reversing the crap brought on by woke DEI policies to make America great again.The FBI has had criminal coverups in case you didnt know…yes they are targeted.Yeah targets universities who dont protect their students and corrupt there minds with anti American rhetoric.Do you think the issue with Fauci is retribution? He allowed the development and funded the production of a man made virus that killed millions, hurt the economy/ destroyed businesses, made our kids stupid and then lied about it lavishing in his celebrity. Many still suffer from long covid.. yes it is real…. ask your local mitochondria. Any institutional take over has systemic purges… why cant Trump.Its not retribution to root out fraud and corruption.. its good business . Its funny speaking of corruption…the Democrats in Wisconsin say ” there is something fishy” about the recent primary and missing USB. Oh and btw Reuters has the general consensus of leaning left.
Sources for your Reuters claim?
Reuters has a slight” Lean Left bias”according to April 2024 Blind Bias Survey