Rick Stengel
@rickstengel.bsky.social
Former Under Secretary of State in Obama admin & Editor of TIME. Author of “Information Wars: How We Lost the Battle Against Disinformation” & the audiobook, “Mandela: The Lost Tapes.” Analyst @MSNOW
We weren't perfect by any means, but America was the foundation of the rules-based order that existed since WWII. This admin's illegal action against a sovereign nation is the biggest violation of that order since, well, Putin invaded Ukraine, and it undermines our ability to hold Russia accountable
January 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM
We weren't perfect by any means, but America was the foundation of the rules-based order that existed since WWII. This admin's illegal action against a sovereign nation is the biggest violation of that order since, well, Putin invaded Ukraine, and it undermines our ability to hold Russia accountable
Can you imagine being so insecure that you have to say you’re in charge even when it’s in your best interest not to be?
January 5, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Can you imagine being so insecure that you have to say you’re in charge even when it’s in your best interest not to be?
Put aside for the moment the illegality of it all. But is nation-building, boots on the ground, foreign wars, and help for Big Oil, what the American people voted for? No, but that's what we have now.
January 4, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Put aside for the moment the illegality of it all. But is nation-building, boots on the ground, foreign wars, and help for Big Oil, what the American people voted for? No, but that's what we have now.
Hmm, how is Making Venezuela Great Again America First?
January 3, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Hmm, how is Making Venezuela Great Again America First?
Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Venezuela.
January 3, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Venezuela.
‘America goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.’ —John Quincy Adams
January 3, 2026 at 4:21 PM
‘America goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.’ —John Quincy Adams
1. Maduro is not a good guy by any stretch of the imagination.
2. But capturing him through an extra-legal action that violates international law undermines any US credibility with Russia in Ukraine and China with Taiwan.
3. We have a terrible history with topping leaders without a post-war plan.
2. But capturing him through an extra-legal action that violates international law undermines any US credibility with Russia in Ukraine and China with Taiwan.
3. We have a terrible history with topping leaders without a post-war plan.
January 3, 2026 at 1:40 PM
1. Maduro is not a good guy by any stretch of the imagination.
2. But capturing him through an extra-legal action that violates international law undermines any US credibility with Russia in Ukraine and China with Taiwan.
3. We have a terrible history with topping leaders without a post-war plan.
2. But capturing him through an extra-legal action that violates international law undermines any US credibility with Russia in Ukraine and China with Taiwan.
3. We have a terrible history with topping leaders without a post-war plan.
And I would be remiss not to mention his citation of Mandela for the answer to who NYC belongs to: "We can look to Madiba and the South African Freedom Charter: New York 'belongs to all who live in it.'" Madiba would be proud.
"An agenda of safety, affordability, and abundance" could be the slogan in 2026 for all Democrats. And then governing "expansively and audaciously." That's the recipe.
Mamdani Lays Out Agenda of ‘Affordability and Abundance’ on First Day in Office
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:38 PM
And I would be remiss not to mention his citation of Mandela for the answer to who NYC belongs to: "We can look to Madiba and the South African Freedom Charter: New York 'belongs to all who live in it.'" Madiba would be proud.
"An agenda of safety, affordability, and abundance" could be the slogan in 2026 for all Democrats. And then governing "expansively and audaciously." That's the recipe.
Mamdani Lays Out Agenda of ‘Affordability and Abundance’ on First Day in Office
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:36 PM
"An agenda of safety, affordability, and abundance" could be the slogan in 2026 for all Democrats. And then governing "expansively and audaciously." That's the recipe.
Reposted by Rick Stengel
Alabama’s homicide rate is more than double New York City’s. Remember that the next time Tommy Tuberville criticizes NYC’s “crime and migrants.”
A remarkable trend that will come as a shock to you if your only info about NYC is from this Fox News.
Homicides in NYC...
1990: 2,262
1993: 1,927
1998: 629
2001: 649
2013: 335
2019: 320
2021: 488
2024: 382
2025 (as of 12/28): 302
Homicides in NYC...
1990: 2,262
1993: 1,927
1998: 629
2001: 649
2013: 335
2019: 320
2021: 488
2024: 382
2025 (as of 12/28): 302
January 1, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Alabama’s homicide rate is more than double New York City’s. Remember that the next time Tommy Tuberville criticizes NYC’s “crime and migrants.”
“Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power." —Jack Smith testifying to Congress under oath
In Hearing Transcript, Jack Smith Defends Decision to Indict Trump
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:43 PM
“Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power." —Jack Smith testifying to Congress under oath
Plenty of American presidents used their time in office to enrich themselves after their presidency. Trump is the only one who has ever done it during his presidency.
December 29, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Plenty of American presidents used their time in office to enrich themselves after their presidency. Trump is the only one who has ever done it during his presidency.
Bankruptcies in the manufacturing and construction sector are higher than any time since the recession of 2007-9. Why? Inflation, uncertainty, and the Trump tariffs. Trump's trade war is hurting working Americans.
Bankruptcies soar as companies grapple with inflation, tariffs
Businesses in vulnerable sectors found themselves caught between rising tariffs and beleaguered consumers.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Bankruptcies in the manufacturing and construction sector are higher than any time since the recession of 2007-9. Why? Inflation, uncertainty, and the Trump tariffs. Trump's trade war is hurting working Americans.
So many right-wing free speech "absolutists" transitioned into Trump speech-suppressors because they were only championing the First Amendment because they believed their speech was being repressed. They have no problem trying to suppress speech that criticizes them or when the gov't bans books.
Cancel Culture’s Boomerang Effect
How we got to a place where free speech means whatever conservatives want to say
www.theatlantic.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:58 PM
So many right-wing free speech "absolutists" transitioned into Trump speech-suppressors because they were only championing the First Amendment because they believed their speech was being repressed. They have no problem trying to suppress speech that criticizes them or when the gov't bans books.
The State Department inflicting a travel ban on people affiliated with private European organizations that monitor disinformation and hate speech is itself a form of government censorship.
December 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
The State Department inflicting a travel ban on people affiliated with private European organizations that monitor disinformation and hate speech is itself a form of government censorship.
The president's powers are defined in Article II because the most important branch to the framers was Congress, which is Article I. They deliberately created an executive restrained by Congress and the Courts because they explicitly did not want a king. They were conservatives about executive power
Trump Takes America’s ‘Imperial Presidency’ to a New Level
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The president's powers are defined in Article II because the most important branch to the framers was Congress, which is Article I. They deliberately created an executive restrained by Congress and the Courts because they explicitly did not want a king. They were conservatives about executive power
If you put his name in gold in front of the Lincoln Memorial, it would never ever be the Trump Lincoln Memorial.
Trump Administration Live Updates: Kennedy Center Adds Trump’s Name to Facade
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:50 PM
If you put his name in gold in front of the Lincoln Memorial, it would never ever be the Trump Lincoln Memorial.
The nations that supposedly face “civilizational erasure” (whatever that is) are spending $100 billion to prevent the erasure of their neighbor by an aggressor who is being coddled by the US.
Europe to Lend $105 Billion to Ukraine, Without Touching Russian Funds
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
The nations that supposedly face “civilizational erasure” (whatever that is) are spending $100 billion to prevent the erasure of their neighbor by an aggressor who is being coddled by the US.
Denaturalization is an unnatural process. The Supreme Court has long said it should not be done lightly, much less as an arbitrary scare tactic. It is literally UnAmerican.
The U.S. Seeks to Increase Denaturalizations
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Denaturalization is an unnatural process. The Supreme Court has long said it should not be done lightly, much less as an arbitrary scare tactic. It is literally UnAmerican.
"Government either serves the productive, patriotic, hardworking American citizen—or it serves those who break the laws, cheat the system, and seek power and profit at the expense of our nation." He's talking about himself here. He is— and always has been—the king of projection.
Full Transcript of President Trump’s Speech on the Economy
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:37 AM
"Government either serves the productive, patriotic, hardworking American citizen—or it serves those who break the laws, cheat the system, and seek power and profit at the expense of our nation." He's talking about himself here. He is— and always has been—the king of projection.
We knew he was bad at math, but this is ridiculous. The entire amount of all our imports was $3.3 trillion, so he's saying we collected six times that amount in tariffs on those goods! Grade: F.
Trump Says Tariffs Have Brought in $18 Trillion. That's Impossible.
The tariffs have generated less than $300 billion in new tax revenue, and other claimed investments don't come close to the president's tally.
www.yahoo.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:27 AM
We knew he was bad at math, but this is ridiculous. The entire amount of all our imports was $3.3 trillion, so he's saying we collected six times that amount in tariffs on those goods! Grade: F.
The "president of peace" commits an act of war against a non-belligerent without Congressional authorization, which will increase oil prices and inflation, cause greater immigration, and do nothing about the drug trade. www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Trump orders 'blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers leaving, entering Venezuela
This is Washington's latest move to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government, targeting its main source of income.
www.reuters.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The "president of peace" commits an act of war against a non-belligerent without Congressional authorization, which will increase oil prices and inflation, cause greater immigration, and do nothing about the drug trade. www.reuters.com/world/americ...
The struggle for civil rights and women’s suffrage are not “wokeness,” but core to the idea of creating a more perfect union and expanding the circle of freedom. They should be celebrated not ignored.
The War on ‘Wokeness’ Comes to the U.S. Mint
www.nytimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The struggle for civil rights and women’s suffrage are not “wokeness,” but core to the idea of creating a more perfect union and expanding the circle of freedom. They should be celebrated not ignored.
I suppose the president could be described as a realist, if realism was mixed with Mafia diplomacy and ethno-nationalism. And even though he claims to despise neo-conservatiism, that's exactly his policy with Venezuela. www.ms.now/katy-tur/wat...
Russia welcome Trump's new security strategy to 'Make Europe Great Again'
Is President Trump fundamentally trying to change the world order? Last week, Trump unveiled a new national security strategy where he appears to criticize Europe and no longer see Russia as a threat....
www.ms.now
December 12, 2025 at 12:47 PM
I suppose the president could be described as a realist, if realism was mixed with Mafia diplomacy and ethno-nationalism. And even though he claims to despise neo-conservatiism, that's exactly his policy with Venezuela. www.ms.now/katy-tur/wat...
There’s never been an administration so afraid of speech.
U.S. Plans to Scrutinize Foreign Tourists’ Social Media History
www.nytimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:41 PM
There’s never been an administration so afraid of speech.