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It didn’t start with gas chambers.
It started with one party controlling the media and thus the message.
One party controlling the justice system.
One party deciding what is truth and silencing and censoring the opposition. Lying.
One party dividing citizens into us and them and calling on their supporters to harass them.
It started when good people turned a blind eye and let it happen. Carol Vidal Newport
Scientists – You’re Fired.
President Trump, Elon Musk, and silent Congressional Republicans are creating a record of dizzying decisions and flippant attitudes that surely don’t represent the voters who value federal workers. Those workers perform vital public services in healthcare, environmental protection, air safety, weather research, natural resource stewardship, military protection and myriad others. Federal workers are neighbors who attend our churches, and volunteer their time at local charities, rural fire departments, or search and rescue groups. If they own real estate, they pay property taxes for public schools, libraries, and hospitals.
So why were they treated as anonymous widgets? Thousands of recently terminated scientists are from the departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Interior, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs. The approach was not a scalpel analytically wielded by agency supervisors having empathy and job experience.
Termination notices for Department of Agriculture researchers cited performance issues as justification. Notices from the White House’s Office of Personnel Management read: “The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.”
Termination notices to employees at Interior and HHS read: “Unfortunately, the Agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge, and skills do not fit the Agency’s current needs, and your performance has not been adequate to justify further employment.”
Employees might have a viable case for civil slander against agency officials who wrote those words if the employee can prove otherwise from prior evaluations. The President, of course, has no worries because the Supreme Court granted him immunity from crimes during official acts.
Because of supposed “performance issues,” an employee might omit their federal employment as a reference for another job. But having a gap in their employment history also invites questions from potential employers. Ed Styskel Newport
Federal government being reduced to a shell
The USA has been fighting a proxy war with Russia for three years. We have been sending military and other aid to Ukraine so that Ukraine’s soldiers die fighting Russia on our behalf. Now Trump is ending our support for Ukraine and is siding with Russia. Our Vice President told NATO that America would not honor Article 5 of the alliance if Russia attacked NATO peacekeeping troops stationed in Ukraine. America has fought two World Wars in Europe and a third war is now likely. This means our kids and grandkids will be dying and suffering in huge numbers like their soldier relatives did before them. The difference is that Trump will have us fighting with Russia and against NATO. Putin will cut a deal with Trump giving him all of North America and Greenland while Russia gets Europe. That’s what will happen when war is fought like running a business. The difference is that bombs and shells will crush the competitors.
The question for this community is are you willing to send your kids and grandkids to die on the frozen soil of Europe? This time we will be on the wrong side. Trump is ending our international relationships and alliances. America will withdraw from the UN, NATO and all our trade agreements and treaties. Our national federal government is being reduced to a shell without the capability to prevent or react to any natural or manmade crisis.
You voted for this and now it’s time to get ready for the consequences your vote has brought. Put on your red hats and send your offspring off to be killed in a war or die of a plague or natural disaster. Social, economic and political hardships are coming from our failure to learn from historical events.
Pete Scobby Newport
Here’s my five things
Dear Elon As requested, I am providing five things I accomplished this week. I am sure they were more productive than the harm you caused this week. Therefore, my five things.
1] Assisted in library project 2] Contacted Congressman Baumgartner to express my dissatisfaction with his support for the budget resolution.
3] Sent out factual information on the GOP proposed budget [think Project 2025].
4] After reading the MAGA supporter letters in The Miner, used for wood fire starter.
5] Gave my cat some TLC. More than was provided by DOGE to local federal employees.
My work performance is excellent. I am not asking to be fired, terminated or accept voluntary resignation. Since I am self-employed/ semi-retired I am taking your memo and placing it in the “round file.”
Robert W. Schutte Newport
Why shouldn’t government be audited?
A shout out to Lorraine Kirkpatrick on birthright citizenship (2/26)! What was written and its intent. Well said!
For those that may not know, the posts referring to Trump as ‘king’ were AI generated. The HUD employee who created them has since been fired and removed from the building. There is also a video of Don Jr. speaking. Also AI generated. Don’t be gullible enough to believe everything you see or hear. Verify.
Moderate Republicans and Democrats, in the end, don’t we want most of the same things? Yes, there are extremists in both parties but I am speaking of the left or right of center. The polls show most Americans want secure borders. Most Americans agree that illegals need to be sent back to the country of their origin. The disagreement seems to come from how that happens.
Most Americans agree with DOGE auditing our government. The company that I work for takes some federal money. We are required to have a third party audit every year. What are they looking for? To make sure that we spent the money as we said we would spend it. Why shouldn’t the Government have the same requirement?
Our Founding Fathers would be rolling in their graves if they saw how big and bloated our Federal Government has become. It needs to be audited and downsized. Certain people will get laid off. Those committing fraud will get fired and maybe prosecuted.
Our Founders saw a small Federal Government with limited power. What we have is well beyond their intentions. You may not agree with how Trump is accomplishing this, but he is getting it done. With the billions in ‘non- mission’ spending they are finding, could we lower the amount of tax we pay?
Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick
International Women’s Day celebrated in Newport
Saturday, March 8, is International Women’s Day. Since 1911, this day has celebrated women’s accomplishments and, today more than ever, is focused on respect for women’s rights. When I hear the slogan of ‘down with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’, I know that women’s rights are among those being trampled. From authority over one’s own body to equal pay for equal work, women have been seeking justice for a long, long time.
International Women’s Day is being celebrated in Newport at the Big wheel on March 8, from 2 to 3 p.m. Whoever you are, if you believe that all people should have the same rights then you may want to join the Pend Oreille County Democrats and wave signs on March 8. You can show your local community that women are important by standing with others of like mind. Make a sign or wave one of ours. Join in a public celebration of women and be a champion for women’s rights.
Martha Nichols Newport
You’re right Glen,
There are three branches of government, however your letter from February 19 seems to say that they are each siloed. This is not the case. As you may remember from school, each branch provides checks and balances to the others, thereby entwinning the three branches. As for your comment regarding judicial overreach, this deference to agencies no longer exists according to the Supreme Court. Between 1984-2024, courts used the twopart Chevron test to determine whether they should step into an agency’s policy dispute. With the fall of Chevron deference in 2024 through the Loper Bright Enterprises v Raimondo decision, the Roberts Court granted itself and lower courts the opportunity, duty prerogative, choose your word, to reach into agencies and interpret whether agency actions are lawful, and then order changes as they courts see fit. As we’ve seen, judges of all stripes are involved in agency oversight now. Congratulations, you agree with Justice Elena Kagan on this one.
Secondly, the birthright citizenship question is not “complicated.” I invite you to simply read Section 1 of the 14th Amendment. Additionally some people misunderstand or misrepresent the word “ jurisdiction.” The writers or the 14th Amendment were simply acknowledging foreign diplomats who fell under the jurisdiction of their home country and the peoples of sovereign tribal governments. The context for the 14th Amendment and the caselaw supporting it since 1868 make it nearly impossible for any textualist or originalist Supreme Court justice to contrive a different meaning from the plain language.
Paul Moore Newport
America being destroyed by rogue presidency
Wake up America, you reputation as leader of the free world is being destroyed by a rogue presidency. A group of billionaires led by Trum and Musk are sub- stantially destroying our democracy. By firing Inspector Generals, they’re eliminating oversight to hide what they’re doing. They are firing top and mid-level government employees, including the military, and replacing them with people loyal to Trump rather than the Constitution.
The constant lying has become normalized and with the “new people” in charge of Justice, the FBI and National Intelligence, we now have legalized corruption as long as you are a Trump loyalist.
Trum pardoned all of the Jan. 6 defendants who brutally assaulted police officer, then fired all the FBI people and prosecutors who worked to bring accountability for the actions of the Jan. 6 perpetrators.
The U.S. voted against the U.N. resolution condemning Putin for invading Ukraine, thereby siding with Russia, China and North Korea and other authoritarian countries.
Trump was impeached twice in his first term and both times Republican senators acquitted him. A conviction would have banned him from seeking office again.
Republican senators have made a mockery of the confirmation process for judges and cabinet heads by confirming many individuals who were clearly unqualified. Pleasing Trump was more important to them than protecting the best interest of the American people.
Americans, I plead with you to stand up and speak out against those who want to squander all the sacrifices past generations have made to make us the greatest country in the world.
Larry Liberty Oldtown
You said nothing
So I’ve been completely amused by Republicans now saying, “I didn’t vote for this!” Let me set the record straight: 1st. You let the rich tell your Presidents who to put on the U.S. Supreme Court...And You Said nothing!
2nd. That Supreme Court was bought by the rich and overturned citizens rights...And You Said Nothing!
3rd. Then the rich bought a TV network that day one lied to everyone in the US... And You Said Nothing!
4th. The rich bought your entire political party and elected racists, rapists, Russian assets, child molesters... And You Said Nothing!
5th You elected a moron that promised to take away all the safety nets that decent politicians spent decades building to save you...And You Said Nothing!
6th. You watched as a South African billionaire illegally paid people to vote, as the billionaire promised to rid the US of waste and fraud...And You Said Nothing!
I’m not a genius, but I can clearly see you Republicans saw this all along! You did Nothing! This is all on you!
Jeannie Hutchins Newport
German citizens stood by as Hitler MGGA
February 21 five pentagon generals found out by watching CNN they’d been fired. One, wearing battle-fatigues in a war-zone at the time, has served the Army for 33 years with tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and Ukraine. Supporting Ukraine made him “Woke.” I know him personally. A devout Christian, he said had he not been fired he would have resigned. He couldn’t continue without compromising his morals and ethics. He may not get a pension. Will he be dishonorably discharged? Trump just fired 1,200 Veteran Administration workers.
My family has veterans from the Revolutionary, Civil, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan wars or conflicts. How can any veteran or veteran’s families support Trump who paid a doctor who exempted him from the draft when my father was shipping out for a three-year tour starting with Vietnam, leaving my mom and five kids behind? Trump is removing all military personnel who oppose him so he can take over the U.S. military like so many evil totalitarian dictators who he admits to admire have. If you think this is OK, you are brainless idiots. German citizens stood by as Hitler convinced them he was going to MGGA.
Betty Gardner Priest River
Astroturf Democracy?
To get clarity, I researched “astroturfing,” which I learned references techniques that allow the billion-dollar smear industry to influence in disguise. When successful, it prevents people from ever knowing who is behind an effort to manipulate public opinion. Astroturfing operatives are hired to manufacture support for a cause by using lies and deceit: in a word, propaganda. This is accomplished by conveying the impression that there is widespread support for or against an agenda where none exists. Astroturfing manipulates us by making us feel like isolated “outliers” for having our opinion when we’re actually the majority.
Astroturf firms have specialized software and data collection tools, guided by a strategic planner for hire. The primary tool is fake social media accounts that covertly inundate and eventually dominate social media streams. This started out as a means for the NFL to monitor the behavior of its players on Facebook. They would never accept a “friend” request from their boss – but a pretty girl? Sure! Ironically, the fact that we don’t believe we can easily be fooled on social media makes us easier to fool. Journalists have exposed how the owners of social media platforms use these same tactics to sway public opinion – and therefore votes.
Speaking of votes, the “opinion polls” continually published and updated during presidential elections will typically show the candidates as being “neck-in-neck” for the popular vote. First one candidate is slightly ahead, then the other. Despite their reputation for being inaccurate, polls nevertheless plant seeds of doubt in our minds. Would-be voters of one candidate might vote for the other if shown to have only 30% of the vote. Alternatively, would-be voters for a candidate polling at 60% might not bother to vote if it looks like a landslide.
Doesn’t such deceitful manipulation undermine our “democracy? ” Kamori Cattadoris Newport
