A former Kennedy Democrat turned Trump Populist. Fiscally conservative. Socially responsible.
Trumps 2025 Accomplishments (It’s a lot!)
A president unlike any other in modern history — delivering more in a single year than most do in an entire term. A leader who doesn’t rest, doesn’t retreat, and refuses to stop fighting for the American people. And this chapter isn’t closing. 2026 is shaping up to be a turning point as his policies take full effect. THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
Pam Bondi’s Lost Year: How the U.S. Attorney General Became the Most Ineffective Figure in Washington (2025)
Pam Bondi entered 2025 with a promise: restore integrity, transparency, and equal justice to the Department of Justice. What followed instead was a year defined by paralysis, controversy, and a stunning collapse of public trust. If the Attorney General is supposed to be the nation’s chief law‑enforcement officer, Bondi spent 2025 proving how little that title can mean when leadership fails.
Her tenure has been dominated by one issue: the mishandling of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Congress set a clear deadline. The public expected clarity. Survivors expected closure. Bondi delivered none of it. The DOJ missed the deadline, released only partial and heavily redacted documents, and ignited a political firestorm that swallowed the entire department. What should have been a moment of long‑overdue transparency became a symbol of institutional hesitation and political self‑protection.
Instead of restoring trust, Bondi’s actions deepened suspicion. Instead of providing answers, she created more questions. And instead of demonstrating courage, she projected caution at the very moment the country needed decisiveness.
What makes the failure even more glaring is the vacuum surrounding it. Beyond the Epstein debacle, 2025 produced no major prosecutions, no landmark reforms, no visible victories against crime, corruption, or public‑safety threats. The Attorney General of the United States — normally one of the most active and consequential figures in government — spent the year reacting, deflecting, and defending. Leadership was replaced by press conferences. Action was replaced by rhetoric.
Bondi’s early initiative, the so‑called “Weaponization Working Group,” generated headlines but no meaningful outcomes. Her involvement in reviewing major corporate mergers sparked recusal demands rather than confidence. And through it all, the DOJ drifted — leaderless, distracted, and increasingly distrusted.
By the end of the year, Bondi’s credibility had eroded across the political spectrum. Survivors felt betrayed. Lawmakers felt stonewalled. The public felt misled. And the Justice Department, an institution that depends on trust to function, found itself weakened at the top.
Pam Bondi promised a new era of integrity. Instead, 2025 will be remembered as the year the Attorney General became the least effective figure in Washington — not because the job is impossible, but because she failed to meet the moment. The tragedy is not just her ineffectiveness. It’s the message it sends to the people who waited for justice and received excuses instead.
And they’ve waited long enough.
Trump’s First 11 Months: Successes, Patience, and the Reality of Policy Timing
Comparing to the Last Four Years
After four years of economic turbulence under Biden—falling real wages, stubborn inflation, and rising household costs—many Americans are impatient for immediate relief. But that’s not how policy works. It takes time for new legislation and executive actions to ripple through the economy. Eleven months into Trump’s return to office, the early signs are visible, but the full impact won’t be felt until the April filing season.
—————
Early Successes
• Gas & Oil Prices: National gas prices have dropped below $3 per gallon, and oil prices hover around $57 per barrel—relief compared to the higher averages of recent years.
• Trade Deficit: Down nearly 60%, signaling stronger export balance and reduced reliance on imports.
• GDP Growth: Running at 4.3%, a robust expansion that outpaces much of the post‑pandemic recovery.
• Food Prices: Staples like eggs are down, with Trump promising to expand supply chains to bring other food costs lower.
• Medication Costs: Deals with manufacturers are underway to reduce prescription drug prices.
• Housing: Trump has signaled that tackling the housing shortage will be a priority in the new year.
• Tariffs: Contrary to media claims, tariffs did not cause inflation. Instead, revenues from tariffs became an integral part of GDP and government funding, offering a chance to lessen the burden on tax payers.
—————
The Patience Factor
Many households want instant results. But tax changes, wage adjustments, and supply‑side expansions take months to show up in paychecks, refunds, and store shelves. By April, when filing season arrives, households should begin to see the improvement more clearly.
—————
The Caveat for Singles
It’s important to note the cruel reality: single tax filers remain disadvantaged. While the “big beautiful bill” removes taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security income—benefiting many lower‑ and middle‑income households—singles will still feel the shaft. Gas prices may be the most universal relief, but tax benefits are uneven.
—————
Inflation and Prices: Clearing the Confusion
Media and pundits often mislead people into thinking that “lower inflation” means prices return to what they were five years ago. That’s not true. Lowering inflation reduces the rate at which prices rise, not the absolute price level. Eggs may drop because supply increased, but most goods remain higher than years past. The only way to truly lower prices is to expand supply—more housing, more food production, more energy output.
—————
Looking Ahead
Trump himself has said there is more to do. Eleven months in, the groundwork is being laid: cheaper gas, lower trade deficit, stronger GDP, early steps on food and medication costs, and tariff revenues strengthening government finances. But patience is required. Policy is not instant—it’s cumulative. By spring, households will begin to feel the difference more tangibly.
The Illusion of Strength: When Optics Outshine Reality
In moments of national crisis, leaders often face a tension between perception and reality. The public sees uniforms, troops, and dramatic deployments as proof of strength. Yet behind the optics lies a quieter truth: the federal government already possesses a vast arsenal of agencies capable of enforcing law and order without exposing the military or National Guard.
This tension is best understood through the lens of chess. In chess, the queen is the most powerful piece—dramatic, sweeping, and capable of dominating the board. But wise players know that exposing the queen too early can be reckless. Pawns, knights, and bishops, though less glamorous, often secure victory by covering the board with discipline and precision.
So it is with federal power. The National Guard is the queen: visible, symbolic, and politically dramatic. But the federal agencies—ICE, FBI, Marshals, FPS, DEA, ATF—are the pawns, knights, and bishops. They move with less spectacle but achieve the same ends, often faster and with fewer risks. The reality is that the United States has more than enough manpower in these agencies today to quell disturbances in any city. The optics of deploying the Guard may look decisive, but the quieter consolidation of federal agents is often more effective and legally sound.
---
Eisenhower vs. Trump: Two Approaches
History offers a useful comparison.
• Eisenhower (1957, Little Rock): When Arkansas resisted school desegregation, Eisenhower invoked the Insurrection Act and sent the 101st Airborne Division alongside federalizing the Arkansas National Guard. At that time, federal agencies were too small and narrowly focused to handle such a confrontation. The FBI was limited in scope, the U.S. Marshals were small in number, and agencies like ICE or FPS didn’t even exist yet. Eisenhower had no choice but to use the military and Guard to enforce constitutional rights. The optics of soldiers escorting children into school sent a powerful message of federal authority, but it was also grounded in necessity.
• Trump (2025, Chicago attempt): Trump sought to federalize the Illinois National Guard to support immigration enforcement. The Supreme Court blocked the move, ruling he lacked statutory authority. Unlike Eisenhower, Trump had ample federal agencies at his disposal—ICE, FBI, Marshals, and others—but leaned on the Guard for optics. The reality was that federal agents could have fulfilled the mission. The push for Guard troops was more about political symbolism than operational necessity.
---
Perception vs. Reality
• Perception: Troops in fatigues patrolling city streets project strength, control, and “law and order.”
• Reality: Federal agencies today already have tens of thousands of personnel nationwide, with clear authority to act. They can surge into cities like Chicago without legal controversy.
• Lesson: Optics may win headlines, but substance wins stability. Just as in chess, victory comes not from exposing the queen, but from coordinating the quieter pieces.
---
Conclusion
The debate over the National Guard in Chicago is, in truth, a nothing burger when viewed through reality. The federal government has more than enough resources in its agencies to enforce law and order. The real issue is optics: leaders may prefer the dramatic image of troops in the streets, but the disciplined work of federal agents is what actually secures peace.
Like chess, governance requires discernment. The queen dazzles, but pawns, knights, and bishops win the game. Eisenhower understood this balance, using the military only because federal agencies lacked the resources in his era. Trump’s reliance on the Guard reflected a preference for optics over necessity. The lesson for citizens is clear: look beyond the spectacle. The real power lies in the pieces you don’t see.
The Mystery of the Incarnation: How Even Satan Was Fooled
The Incarnation is the central mystery of Christian faith: the eternal Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). It is a truth so profound that even the angels marvel at it. Yet Scripture and tradition suggest that this mystery was hidden not only from humanity but also from the fallen angels themselves. Satan, blinded by pride, did not fully comprehend who Jesus truly was until the moment of His triumph.
---
Satan’s Blindness in the Desert
In the wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus with bread, kingdoms, and power (Matthew 4:1–11). These temptations reveal Satan’s ignorance. He offered Jesus dominion over the world, forgetting that all creation already belonged to Him as the Word through whom all things were made (John 1:3). Pride and arrogance blinded Satan to the obvious: he was speaking not to a mere prophet, but to God Himself in human flesh.
The demons recognized Jesus as “the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24), yet their knowledge was partial. They saw His holiness but did not grasp the full reality of the Incarnation. As St. Paul writes: “None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8). Satan’s pride prevented him from seeing that the weakness of hunger and humility concealed divine power.
---
The Cross: Satan’s Apparent Victory
At Calvary, Satan believed he had won. The Son of God hung on a cross, mocked, beaten, and killed. To the dominion of darkness, this looked like defeat. Satan thought he had destroyed the one sent by God, just as he had opposed the prophets before. But the mystery of the Incarnation was still hidden: the crucifixion was not defeat, but the very means of victory.
---
The Descent into Hell: Revelation of Glory
After His death, Jesus descended to the realm of the dead (1 Peter 3:19). Here, the truth was revealed to the dominion of the underworld. The one they thought was a mere man was unveiled as the eternal Word, the Lord of glory. What Satan believed was conquest became his undoing. Christ shattered the gates of death, proclaimed liberty to the captives, and rose victorious. The Incarnation had fooled Satan until the very end, when the resurrection revealed the fullness of God’s plan.
---
The Mystery Hidden, Then Revealed
The Incarnation was a divine mystery hidden “from the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 3:9). Satan knew Jesus was extraordinary, but he did not know He was God incarnate. Pride blinded him, arrogance misled him, and the cross exposed his futility. Only in the descent and resurrection was the truth fully revealed: the eternal Word had taken flesh, conquered sin, and destroyed death.
---
Reflection
It is fair to say that Satan did not know who Jesus truly was. He saw holiness, but not divinity in flesh. He saw weakness, but not power concealed in humility. He thought the crucifixion was victory, but it was the moment of his defeat. The mystery of the Incarnation was hidden from him until Christ descended into hell and rose again, revealing to all creation—including the dominion of darkness—that He is Lord of glory.
---
Closing Thought
The Incarnation is not only the mystery of God’s love for humanity—it is also the mystery that confounded Satan. Pride blinded him, the cross deceived him, and the resurrection destroyed him. What Satan thought was conquest became the revelation of his own defeat. Truly, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
🐑 The Tower of the Flock and the Birth of Christ
A Christmas Reflection
Every Christmas, we revisit the story of Jesus’ birth: the manger, the shepherds, the angels, and the star. Yet beneath the familiar imagery lies a deeper prophetic thread—one that connects the humble manger to an ancient tower near Bethlehem known as Migdal Eder, the “Tower of the Flock.” Exploring this connection reveals a powerful truth: Jesus was born not only in humility, but in direct fulfillment of prophecy, as the Lamb of God destined for sacrifice.
---
📖 What Scripture Says
The Gospel of Luke tells us plainly:
“She gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)
Notice: the text never mentions a “stable.” It simply says manger—a feeding trough for animals. This detail anchors the nativity in the world of shepherds and flocks.
---
🏰 What is Migdal Eder?
• Meaning: Migdal Eder means “Tower of the Flock.” It was a watchtower near Bethlehem where shepherds guarded sheep.
• Prophetic link: Micah 4:8 says: “And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.”
• Tradition: Jewish writings suggest lambs raised near Migdal Eder were destined for temple sacrifice. This symbolism—Jesus as the Lamb of God—makes the connection striking.
---
✨ The Messianic Connection
It only makes sense to see Micah’s “tower of the flock” as pointing to Jesus:
• Born in a manger among sheep: Just as sacrificial lambs were kept near Migdal Eder, Jesus was born among them to become the ultimate sacrifice.
• Shepherds as first witnesses: The very men who guarded temple flocks were the first to meet Him.
• Sheep imagery in parables: Jesus later described His mission using sheep—lost sheep, good shepherd, separating sheep from goats.
• Clothed in humility: Wrapped in swaddling cloths, He embodied meekness, like a lamb led to slaughter (Isaiah 53:7).
From birth to ministry, the imagery is consistent: Jesus is both Shepherd and Lamb.
---
🕯 Catholic and Theological Perspectives
• Catholic commentators often interpret Micah 4:8 as referring to Jerusalem’s restoration, yet they acknowledge its messianic fulfillment in Christ’s kingdom.
• Theologians across traditions highlight Migdal Eder as a prophetic foreshadowing of Bethlehem and the Messiah’s birth.
• Consensus: Whether literal or symbolic, the “tower of the flock” points to Christ—the Shepherd-King and sacrificial Lamb.
---
🎄 Why This Matters at Christmas
The nativity is not just a sweet story of a baby in a manger. It is a prophetic drama:
• The Lamb of God was born where lambs for sacrifice were kept.
• The Shepherd-King was first adored by shepherds.
• The humble manger foreshadowed the cross.
Christmas, then, is not only about joy and celebration—it is about recognizing the purpose of Christ’s birth: to be offered for the sins of the world.
---
✅ Conclusion
Micah’s vision of the “tower of the flock” and Luke’s account of the manger converge in a breathtaking truth: Jesus was born in humility, among the sheep, to become the Lamb of God. This Christmas, as we sing carols and set up nativity scenes, let us remember the deeper symbolism—that from His first breath, Christ’s destiny was sacrifice, and His mission was love.
