Editor & Publisher of the St. Croix Review.
Golden Age
Barry MacDonald — Editorial
The State of the Union Speech given on February 24 by President Trump was stuffed with national communion for citizens with open ears and stout hearts. On display were the poignant lows and highs of both grief and celebration. For good-hearted Americans who have witnessed more than a decade of the dissolution of previously respected institutions, along with the destruction of American’s cities that are overrun with filth and violent crime, President Trump’s speech was a much-needed boost of energetic optimism. As President Reagan did before him, Donald Trump effectively turned the pervasive gloom and vitriol that emanates from Democratic negativity upside down. It does feel like “morning in America” today:
“This July 4th, we will mark two and a half centuries of liberty and triumph, progress and freedom in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of the earth. And we’ve seen nothing yet. We’re going to do better and better and better. We’re not going back.”
Since at least the presidency of Barack Obama, patriotism and love of country have been out-of-vogue among America’s intellectuals. The cynical set of snobs among the managerial elite who fashion themselves as the best of us was shamed and humbled by President Trump. Throughout the speech the Democrats stayed stubbornly glued to their seats. They were seen to be obsessed with their smart phones as they ignored the unapologetic recitation of American successes. It would almost be possible to feel a smidgeon sorry for the Dems amid their discomfiture, yet, with the memory of the stop-at-nothing, decade-long, vile hatred they unleashed on Donald Trump, on his family, and on Trump supporters that culminated into three assassination attempts on Trump’s life, sympathy diminishes to be replaced by an recognition that there is indeed a measure of justice in the course of events:
“When I spoke in this chamber 12 months ago, I had just inherited a nation in crisis, with a stagnant economy, inflation at record levels, a wide-open border, horrendous recruitment for military and police, rampant crime at home, and wars and chaos all over the world. But tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before and a turnaround for the ages. It is, indeed, a turnaround for the ages. And we will never go back to where we were just a very short time ago. We’re not going back.”
President Trump’s list of accomplishments and proposals is long:
Throughout the evening, President Trump stage-managed a presentation of American heroes to be justly honored in the gallery of the House of Representatives. The U.S. men’s hockey team, fresh from their gold-medal victory in the Winter Olympics, was celebrated. The U.S. goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, who blocked 46 shots on goal, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Buddy Taggart, who served in the Battle of Manila in World War II 81 years ago, was honored. He was badly wounded and almost killed by enemy machine guns at Luzon. He liberated the largest internment camp in the Philippines. The president said:
“. . . he earned many honors, including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, came home, commenced a family, and tonight he is in the gallery looking forward to July 4, 2026, his 100th birthday. So, Buddy, you’re a brave man, and we salute you.”
Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, was awarded the Legion of Merit for extraordinary heroism. He saved 165 people who were washed away in a flash flood in central Texas on July 4th, 2025. President Trump said:
“[Water was] rising 26 feet in the matter of minutes, tragically claiming many, many lives. You all remember that one. As the waters threatened to sweep her away, 11-year-old Milly Cate McClymond closed her eyes and prayed to God. She thought she was going to die.
“Those prayers were answered when Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan descended from a helicopter above. Nobody knew where he came from. It was Scott’s first-ever rescue mission. Young guy. Very brave. Very, very top. Always top of his class. And he lifted not just Milly Cate, but 164 others to safety. People watched Scott from a distance, and they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.” [There was sustained applause.]
Megan Hemhauser, a mother of two daughters whom she home schools, was acknowledged. Catherin Rayner was acknowledged. She was able to afford infertility medication because the price declined from $4,000 to $500 as a result of President Trump’s new prescription medication policy. The president effectively leveraged both extraordinary American achievement and the quiet persistence of ordinary Americans.
President Trump turned to the topic of fraud and said:
“So tonight, although started four months ago, I am officially announcing the war on fraud to be led by our great Vice President J. D. Vance. . . . The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption, and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception. Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings us problems right here to the U.S.A. And it is the American people who pay the price in higher medical bills, car insurance rates, rent, taxes, and perhaps most importantly, crime. We will take care of this problem. We’re going to take care of this problem. We are not playing games.” [There was sustained applause.]
President Trump also called the nation’s attention to recent sufferings, injuries, and deaths of innocent Americans who were victimized by perverse Democratic policies. Five-year-old Dalilah Coleman was in a stopped car when an18-wheel tractor trailer collided with her at 60 miles-per-hour. Against the odds she is relearning to walk, talk, and eat again. The illegal alien who plowed into her was given a commercial driver’s license by the state of California.
Jacqueline Medina was present in the gallery. Her daughter, Lizbeth, a 16-year-old high school cheerleader, was stabbed 25 times, killed, and left in the bathtub insider her home. President Trump said:
“Lizbeth’s killer was a previously arrested illegal alien who had broken in and brutally, just brutally, extinguished the brightest light in her family’s life. Violently and viciously. Her heartbroken mother is in the gallery to remind everyone in this chamber exactly why we are deporting illegal alien criminals from our country at record numbers. We’re getting them the hell out of here fast. We don’t want ’em. Thank you very much, Jacqueline. Thank you. [There was sustained applause.]
“We can never forget that many in this room not only allowed the border invasion to happen before I got involved, but indeed, they would do it all over again if they ever had the chance. If they ever got elected, they would open up those borders to some of the worst criminals anywhere in the world. . . . As we speak, Democrats in this chamber have cut off all funding for the Department of Homeland Security. . . . Now they have closed the agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorists and murderers. . . . One of the great things about the State of the Union is how it gives Americans the chance to see clearly what their representatives really believe. So tonight, I’m inviting every legislator to join with my administration and reaffirm a fundamental principle. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens. . . .” [There was sustained applause.]
Almost all of the Democrats stubbornly, sourly, remained sitting. They could not do otherwise without incurring the wrath of their base of voters. One could almost feel sympathy for them except for the realization that their cynical, hypocritical, shameless selfishness is bottomless. President Trump was without mercy. He exposed them:
“Isn’t that a shame? You should be ashamed of yourselves for not standing up. You should be ashamed of yourselves. That is why I’m also asking you to end deadly sanctuary cities that protect the criminals and enact serious penalties for public officials who block the removal of criminal aliens, in many cases, drug lords, murderers all over our country. They’re blocking the removal of these people out of our country. And you should be ashamed of yourselves.” [There was sustained applause.]
President Trump called attention to Sage Blair and her mother Michelle. Sage was transitioned from a female to a male gender when she was 14 by school officials in Virginia without her parents’ knowledge or consent. A leftist judge refused to return her to her home after she ran away because her parents would not immediately agree that their daughter was their “son.” Sage now has a full ride scholarship to Liberty University. President Trump said:
“And who can believe that we’re even speaking about things like this? Fifteen years ago, if somebody was up here and said that, they’d say, ‘what’s wrong with him?’ but now we have to say it because it’s going on all over numerous states. They’re not even telling the parents. But surely, we can all agree no state can be allowed to rip children from their parents’ arms and transition them to a new gender against the parents’ will. Who would believe that we’re even talking about it? We must ban it, and we must ban it immediately. . . . [pointing at the Democrats] . . . . Nobody stands up. These people are crazy. I’m telling them they’re crazy. [There was sustained applause.]
Next President Trump spoke about the renewal of Christianity:
“ . . . . there has been a tremendous renewal in religion, faith, Christianity and belief in God. This is especially true among young people, and a big part of that had to do with my great friend Charlie Kirk. . . . Charlie was violently murdered by an assassin. And martyred, really, martyred for his beliefs. His wonderful wife, Erika is with us tonight. Erika. Please stand . . . . [There was sustained applause.]
“We are honored to be joined tonight by a woman who’s been through hell, Anya Zarutska. In 2022, she and her beautiful daughter. So beautiful. What a beautiful young woman. Iryna fled war-torn Ukraine to live with relatives near Charlotte, North Carolina. . . . Last summer, 23-year-old Irina was riding home on the train when a deranged monster who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body. . . . No one will ever forget the expression of terror on Irina’s face as she looked up at her attacker in the last seconds of her life. . . . She had escaped a brutal war, only to be slain by a hardened criminal set free to kill in America. . . . Mrs. Zarutska, tonight, I promise you, we will ensure justice for your magnificent daughter, Iryna. . . . [There was sustained applause.]
“How do you not stand, how do you not stand? [Trump addressed the seated Democrats]
“I’m asking this Congress to pass tough legislation to ensure that violent and dangerous repeat offenders are put behind bars, and, importantly, that they stay there.” [There was sustained applause.]
President Trump said the crime in Washington D.C. is now a record low and that murders in the city are close to 100 percent down from last year. He spoke about a 20-year-old West Virginian Army National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom who was on patrol near the White House. Beckstrom was shot and killed by an immigrant from Afghanistan. President Trump said:
“After a four-month deployment, she voluntarily extended her service and her rank was going to be lifted. She was doing so well. They were so proud of her. But the very next day she was on patrol near the White House when she was ambushed and shot in the head by a terrorist monster from Afghanistan. Shouldn’t have been in our country. And all because she wore the uniform of our nation, she was shot.”
The President also expressed his gratitude for Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe who served along side Specialist Beckstrom. He also was shot in the head and was not expected to survive. But against the odds Sgt. Wolfe did survive. He was in the gallery and Trump thanked him and his parents who were also present. Sgt. Wolfe was awarded the purple heart in the gallery by general James Seward.
President Trump touted his part in ending wars:
“My first 10 months, I ended eight wars, including Cambodia and Thailand. Pakistan and India would have been a nuclear war. . . . Kosovo and Serbia, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia. Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Congo and Rwanda. And of course, the war in Gaza, which proceeds at a very low level. . . . And I want to thank Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for your help. Thank you, Steve. Thank you, Jared. And I also want to thank the man they report to Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Thank you.” [There was sustained applause.]
President Trump spoke about many Americans who were present in the Gallery. He spoke to them directly, and he sincerely expressed his compassion for their suffering and achievements. He recited numerous details of their experiences. By sharing their experiences with the American people in the State of the Union Address he made their stories part of America’s stories. These are people who would otherwise go unnoticed by the corporate media because what happened to them does not comport with the dictates of the daily news narrative. Meanwhile, the Democrats remained seated. They were either impassive or were obsessively engaged with their cell phones.
Two soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the State of the Union Address:
“There were many heroes on that January raid to capture Maduro. Really great heroes. It was very dangerous. They knew we were coming. They were all set. But the deeds of one warrior that night will live forever in the eternal chronicles of military valor. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover planned the mission and was the flight lead in the cockpit of the first helicopter. . . . Eric steered the Chinook under the cover of night and descended swiftly upon Maduro’s heavily protected military fortress. This was a major military installation, protected by thousands of soldiers and guarded by Russian and Chinese military technology. How did that work out? Not too good.
“While preparing to land, enemy machine guns fired from every angle. And Eric was hit, very badly, in the leg and hip, one bullet after another. He absorbed four agonizing shots, shredding his leg into numerous pieces. . . . he was gushing blood, which was flowing back down the aisle. . . . The machine guns stood right in front of him. They were right in front of him. Two machine-gunners who escaped the wrath of the previous planes. Eric maneuvered his helicopter with all of those lives and souls to face the enemy, and let his gunners eliminate the threat, turned the helicopter around so the gunners could take care of business, saving the lives of his fellow warriors from what could have been a catastrophic crash deep in enemy territory.
“Only after safely landing the helicopter with all the warriors aboard in the exact right spot . . . Eric told his copilot, who was also wounded, but not as gravely, to take over. . . . Chief Warrant Officer Slover is still recovering from his serious wounds, but I’m thrilled to say that he is here tonight with his wife, Amy. Eric and Amy, come on in. So, we have a surprise, Eric and Amy. In recognition of Eric’s actions above and beyond the call of duty, I would now like to ask General Jonathan Braga to present Chief Warrant Officer Slover with our nation’s highest military award, the Congressional Medal of Honor. [There was sustained applause.]
“Thank you, Eric. That’s a big one. Tonight, we’ve celebrated many truly extraordinary American patriots. But there is one last living legend to honor before we go. He is one more heroic American aviator, Navy fighter pilot Royce Williams served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, flying more than 220 missions in the skies over Korea. In 1952, Royce was in the dogfight of a lifetime. A legendary dogfight. Flying through blizzard conditions, his squadron was ambushed by seven Soviet fighter planes. It was his first aerial combat of the war, and despite being massively outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the takedown of four enemy jets, and almost destroyed the others, vanquishing his adversaries while taking 263 bullets to his own plane and being seriously hurt. His story was secret for over 50 years. He didn’t even want to tell his wife, but the legend grew and grew. But tonight, at 100 years old, this brave Navy captain is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He was a legend long before this evening. Royce, please stand up and I will ask the First Lady of the United States to present Captain Royce Williams with his Congressional Medal of Honor.” [There was sustained applause.]
President Trump ended his address much like President Ronald Reagan would have. This year is the 250th anniversary of America’s Founding. Trump concluded with celebratory words:
“Thank you. Two-hundred fifty years is a long time in the life of a nation. But in another sense, it’s really a mere moment in the eye of history. Two of the gentlemen we met in the gallery this evening took their first breaths one century ago. One hundred years before that, on July 4th, 1826, the author of the Declaration of Independence, the brilliant Thomas Jefferson, drew his last breath. Just a single long human life span separates the giants who declared and won our independence from the heroes who stand among us tonight.
“Everything our nation has done, everything we have achieved, has been the work of those few great lifetimes. In those brief chapters, Americans built this nation from 13 humble colonies into the pinnacle of human civilization and human freedom. The strongest, wealthiest, most powerful, most successful nation in all of history. Americans ventured out across the daunting and dangerous continent. We carved passes through an unforgiving wilderness, settled a boundless frontier, and tamed the beautiful but very, very dangerous wild west. From empty marshes and wide-open plains, we raised up the world’s greatest cities. Together we mastered the world’s mightiest industries, shattered history’s monstrous tyrannies. And we liberated millions from the chains of fascism, Communism, oppression and terror.
“Americans lifted humanity into the skies on the wings of aluminum and steel. And then we launched mankind into the stars on rockets powered by sheer American will and unyielding American pride. We wired the globe with our ingenuity. We captivated the planet with American culture and now we are pioneering the next great American breakthroughs that will change the entire world. All of this, and so much more, is the enduring legacy, unmatched glory of the hard-working patriots who built and defended this country and who still carry the hopes and freedoms on all of humanity’s back. For years, they were forgotten, betrayed, and cast aside. But that great betrayal is over, and they will never be forgotten again. Because when the world needs courage, daring, vision and inspiration, it is still turning to America.
“And when God needs a nation to work his miracles, he knows exactly who to ask. There is no challenge Americans cannot overcome, no frontier too vast for us to conquer, no dream too bold for us to chase, no horizon too distant for us to claim. For our destiny is written by the hand of Providence. And these first 250 years were just the beginning. From the rugged border towns of Texas to the heartland villages of Michigan, from the sun-kissed shores of Florida to the endless hills of the Dakotas, and from the historic streets of Philadelphia to right here in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., the golden age of America is upon us.
“The revolution that began in 1776 has not ended. It still continues because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the heart of every American patriot, and our future will be bigger, better, brighter, bolder, and more glorious than ever before. Thank you. God bless you and God bless America.” [There was sustained applause.] *
The following is the February, 2026, Summary of The St. Croix Review:
Barry MacDonald, in “Golden Age,” shares highlights from President Trump’s 2026 “State of the Union Address.”
Mark Hendrickson, in “What Next for Illegal Immigrants?” asserts that criminal illegal immigrants, along with those who rely on welfare (61 percent), should be deported, but those who have clean records and don’t use welfare should not be deported, because they benefit our country; in “Trump Scraps CO2 Rule as Part of Tackling Climate Alarmism,” he exposes climate alarmism for what it is: A leftist hoax in a bid for money and power; in “In Memoriam: Robert Duvall,” he reviews and lauds the accomplishments of a great actor; in “A Super End to Another Football Season,” he reviews a season of both college and professional football. He emphasizes the Super Bowl, which he enjoyed, and the professional cap on salaries that puts the teams on an even footing over against the seemingly unlimited amount of money (more than the professionals) college players make. College teams are thusly on an uneven footing; in “When Greatness Goes Unrecognized,” he cannot understand why Chuck Negron of the rock band Three Dog Night, and Mickey Lolich of the Detroit Tigers were not inducted into their respective Halls of Fame, and cites reasons why they should have been; in “The Fiscal Folly of Handing Out $2,000 Tax Rebates,” he shows how President Trump is not traditional Republican, nor a conventional conservative, but is a populist.
Josiah Lippincott, in “Against AI Hysteria,” asserts that human ingenuity will create new and profitable ventures for whichever jobs will be lost due to AI. He writes that subsidized unemployment for those who have lost their jobs would be unjustified state coercion against taxpayers.
Paul Kengor, in “Mike, Twice Adopted, Rest in Peace,” memorializes the adopted son of Ronald Reagan; in “Carter Was to Reagan What Buchanan Was to Lincoln,” he explicitly compares presidents Carter to Reagan and Buchanan to Lincoln, and he implicitly compares Biden to Trump; in “A Haunt of Demons Shuts Its Door . . . The Fall of Margaret Sanger’s ‘Clinic,’” he celebrates the closing of the infamous eugenicist’s abortion clinic in New York City.
Timothy S. Goeglein, in “Marriage Is Love for a Lifetime, Not Love for the Moment,” writes about the early disillusion, conflicts, and challenges, that are overcome before blissful companionship.
Anthony Auspice, in “How Gen Z Became Rightwing,” explains how young white men are responding to the “woke” takeover of America.
Francis P. DeStefano, in “Foreign Film Favorites,” reviews ten foreign movies; in the “The Fight Game” he reviews two movies from the 1940s — “Body and Soul” and “The Set Up” — that are about the corruption and brutality involved in professional boxing.
Jigs Gardner, in “Letters from a Conservative Farmer — The Nature of Nature,” writes of his gradual comprehension over decades of the uncompromising, brooding presence of Nature where everything is subject to entropy.
Jigs Gardner, in “Writers for Conservatives: 18 — Joseph Conrad and the Quest for Truth,” sets Joseph Conrad’s excellence within the context of the New Criticism movement that arose from the 1890s to the 1960s after which the movement, sadly, dissolved.
The mission of The St. Croix Review is to end the destruction of America by reestablishing the family as the center of American life, restoring economic prosperity to an independent middle class, and reviving a culture of tradition.
Rampant Fraud and Betrayal in Minnesota
Barry MacDonald — Editorial
Christopher Rufo and Ryan Thorpe published in City Journal an investigation of the enormous fraud and criminality committed by some in the Somali community in Minneapolis: “The Largest Funder of Al-Shabaab Is the Minnesota Taxpayer.” This report elevated the story to national prominence. The New York Times followed with an essay soon afterwards: “How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services on Tim Walz’s Watch.”
An eruption of information has come forth within a couple of weeks. Much of the recent revelations have built on the diligent reporting done in Minnesota over many years by Bill Glahn, Center for the American Experiment, Alpha News, and Powerline blog. The following are important aspects of the crime:
The Minnesota Department of Human Services posted on X under the title “Minnesota Staff Fraud Reporting Commentary.” The following comments purportedly represent the views of 480 current staff:
“Tim Walz is 100 percent responsible for massive fraud in Minnesota. We let Tim Walz [Governor of Minnesota] know of fraud early on, hoping for a partnership in stopping fraud but no, we got the opposite response. Tim Walz systematically retaliated against whistleblowers using monitoring, threats, repression, and did his best to discredit fraud reports. Instead of partnership, we got the full weight of retaliation by Tim Walz, certain DFL [ Democratic-Farmer-Labor] members and an indifferent mainstream media. It’s scary, isolating and left us wondering who we can turn to. In addition to retaliating against whistleblowers, Tim Walz disempowered the Office of the Legislative Auditor, allowing agencies to disregard their audit findings and guidance. Media and politicians supporting Tim Walz or the DFL-agenda attacked whistleblowers who were trying to raise red flags on fraudulent activities. This is a cascade of systemic failures leading up to Tim Walz. Agency leaders appointed by Tim Walz willfully disregarded rules and laws to keep fraud reports quiet — even to the extent of threatening families of whistleblowers.”
This is a remarkable document. Usually, bureaucracy works hand in glove with the Democratic party. The more money and the larger the number of people who cycle the money through the system, the sturdier the roots of social services grow in society. In this case the state personnel in Minnesota were so alarmed at the scope of the fraud that they felt compelled to draw attention to the fraud. The amount of fraud must surely be egregious.
Rufo and Thorp comment:
“If you were to design a welfare program to facilitate fraud, it would probably look a lot like Minnesota’s Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program. The HSS program, the first of its kind in the country, was launched with a noble goal: To help seniors, addicts, the disabled, and the mentally ill secure housing. It was designed with ‘low barriers to entry’ and ‘minimal requirements for reimbursement.’”
The HSS program was designed with the best intentions of Minnesotans to lift up those who could not help themselves. Yet their good-hearted generosity was leveraged against them by a criminal portion of the Somali community that does not appreciate the kindness offered to them.
Rufo and Thorp go on:
“The Housing Stabilization Services fraud is hardly the first or most significant cause of corruption. In fact, it is small beer compared to the Feeding Our Future fraud, which is the largest case (so far) of COVID-era fraud, the daycare fraud scandal, which barely got attention, or the autism services frauds. . . . Fraud is everywhere, including in elections. It is the bedrock of power for the Somalis who now run the Democratic Party in Minneapolis, where Ilhan Omar is one of the key power players as the Congresswoman from the 5th District. Somalis are so powerful that our politics are now determined by which rival clan can muster the most power. Even Jacob Frey, the Minneapolis mayor who just scraped by to win reelection against a Somali candidate, campaigns in Somalia. . . . Frey was able to win reelection by creating a coalition between white voters and a Somali clan that competes with Omar Fateh’s.”
Rufo and Thorp quote David Gaither, a former Minnesota state senator and a nonprofit leader
“The media does not want to put a light on this. . . . And if you’re a politician, it’s a significant disadvantage for you to alienate the Somali community. If you don’t win the Somali community, you can’t win Minneapolis. And if you don’t win Minneapolis, you can’t win the state. End of story.”
There are parallels between Minneapolis and Britain. In Britain, both the Labour Party and the Tory Party before them have chosen over decades not to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into Britain. The political establishment has favored the mostly Muslim immigrants over the British middle and working classes. Newly arrived illegal immigrants are provided with lavish housing at hotels at public expense. The men among the immigrants are a menace to the British women and girls nearby them. For decades, gangs of mostly Pakistani men have groomed and gang-raped teenaged girls. Reports of this egregious abuse have been either ignored or suppressed by both the local and national political establishment. The police themselves have been alleged to connive with, and even participate with, the rapist gangs. Muslim immigrants in Britain have become numerous enough that they are a significant segment of voters. British lawmakers solicit Muslims votes, even when native Britons are betrayed, and British society, culture, and law are trashed.
Joe Thompson is the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota who investigated, brought charges, and prosecuted fraud cases in Minnesota. Minnesota State Senator Mark Koran cites Joe Thompson’s answer to the question of how many criminal referrals came from the State of Minnesota: “None.” In other words, there were no criminal referrals for fraud that originated from Keith Ellison, Tim Walz, or the heads of Minnesota agencies. It was the U.S. Attorney who acted against the fraud in Minneapolis — not Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, nor Governor Tim Walz.
U.S. Attorney Thompson announced the indictments at a press conference and said:
“‘The vast majority’ of the Housing Stabilization Service program was fraudulent. . . . Most of these cases, unlike a lot of Medicare fraud and Medicaid fraud cases nationally, aren’t just overbilling. . . . These are often just purely fictitious companies solely created to defraud the system, and that’s unique in the extent to which we have that here in Minnesota. . . . [many firms enrolled in the program] operated out of dilapidated storefronts or rundown office buildings. [Many owners of companies] billed other Medicaid programs, such as the EIDBI autism program, the . . . Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services program, the Integrated Community Support program, the Community Access for Disability Inclusion program, PCA services, and other Medicaid-waivered services. . . . What we see are schemes stacked upon schemes, draining resources meant for those in need. It feels never-ending. . . . I have spent my career as a fraud prosecutor and the depth of the fraud in Minnesota takes my breath away. . . . From Feeding Our Future to Housing Stabilization Services, and now autism services, these massive fraud schemes form a web that has stolen billions of dollars in taxpayer money. Each case we bring exposes another strand of this network. . . . This network [of] fraud schemes . . . form a web . . . [that has stolen] billions of dollars in taxpayer money.”
Rufo and Thorp write that Feeding Our Future, HSS, and the autism services cases are not the only examples. Twenty-eight other cases of fraud have been discovered since Walz became governor in 2019. Most of these huge enterprises of fraud were perpetrated by members of the Somali community, according to two former FBI officials who spoke with City Journal.
Rufo and Thorp write that 59 people have been convicted of fraudulent schemes so far in Minnesota. At least $1 billion of taxpayers’ money was stolen, which is more than Minnesota spends annually on its Department of Corrections. The dollar amount of the fraud that is widely accepted so far in news reports is $1 billion, but some estimates could go as high as $9 billion or more. Thompson referred to the looting of 14 Medicaid services in Minnesota as “staggering industrial-scale fraud.” Half of the $18 billion spent on Medicaid could have been fraudulent, Thompson said. Various agencies of the federal government are now investigating fraud in the Somali communities, not only in Minnesota but also throughout the U.S. Hopefully, the truth will come to light.
Rufo and Thorp connect the dots between fraud in Minnesota and money sent to Somalia:
“The Somali fraud rings have sent huge sums in remittances, or money transfers, from Minnesota to Somalia. According to reports, an estimated 40 percent of households in Somalia get remittances from abroad. In 2023 alone, the Somali diaspora sent back $1.7 billion — more than the Somali government’s budget for that year. According to Glenn Kerns, a retired Seattle Police Department detective who spent 14 years on a federal Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), the Somalis ran a sophisticated money network, spanning from Seattle to Minneapolis, and were routing significant amounts of cash on commercial flights from the Seattle airport to the hawala networks in Somalia. One of these networks, Kerns discovered, sent $20 million abroad in a single year. . . . The amount of money was staggering.”
Kerns investigated the hawalas in Somalia that received the money transfers. Kerns found, primarily through human sources, that significant funds were being sent from America to Al-Shabaab through hawalas networks in Somalia. “Whether the money was intended for Al-Shabaab or not, they were taking a cut,” said Kerns. Al-Shabaab is a terrorist group aligned with Al Qaeda.
The story of Somali fraud in Minneapolis is a cautionary tale. The criminality that occurred in Minnesota is a culmination of what happens when DEI policies come together with unvetted mass immigration. Democrats see nothing wrong with open borders and unlimited benefits bestowed on both legal and illegal immigrants. The huge amount of money that was stolen by organized crime in Minnesota was taken from the truly needy, says Minnesota State Senator Julia Coleman, who sees cuts in aid to nursing homes and to special education programs in schools. Those needy people were betrayed by the pompous, self-righteous hypocrites of the Walz administration. These elite Democrats in Minnesota believe there is no end of taxpayer money, so they can shrug off a billion dollars, or more, of fraud. Middle- and working-class Americans suffer when large numbers of foreigners come to live in the U.S. without the intention of abiding by American laws. Americans are justified in our expectations that immigrants must assimilate to American culture. Generations before us understood the value of American citizenship and the melting pot. Immigrants of the past wanted to become Americans. Too many newcomers today are ungrateful and eager to take advantage of our generosity. They don’t care to become Americans in their hearts — they would rather cheat. *
The following is a summary of the December 2025 issue of The St. Croix Review:
Barry MacDonald, in “Rampant Fraud and Betrayal in Minnesota,” exposes state government corruption and massive criminal organization in the Somali community while Tim Walz has been governor of Minnesota.
Josiah Lippincott, in “Stop Giving Liberals Our Tax Money,” offers a thought experiment and details the results: Eliminate the federal Department of Education.
John Carter, in “DEI, the Dispossessed Generation, and the Digital Koryos,” writes about the blatant discrimination against young white men and the societal devastation it has wrought. He sketches the broad outline of a counterrevolution.
Michael S. Swisher, in “Culture and the Right,” sheds light on what “culture” is. He demonstrates that American culture today is totalitarian. He suggests that we should be aware of the influence of cultural cues, and that we should make an effort to refine ourselves. We should also defund public institutions that are enemies of Western culture.
Mark Hendrickson, in “Demonizing and Prosecuting Fossil Fuels Companies: Misguided and Pernicious,” provides a formidable list of scientific facts that casts doubt on climate alarmism, and he cites convincing evidence for why fossil fuels are a blessing for humankind; in “Envy: The Corrosive Moral Rot at the Heart of Socialism,” he asserts that those who succeed economically by the invention of goods and services that millions of people enjoy are justly rewarded with wealth because they have enriched all of us; in “$4,000 Gold: What Is Going On?” he suspects the fact that our national debt is growing faster than our annual gross domestic product has something to do with the increased worldwide demand for gold; in “A Fascinating World Series,” with a command of rich details, he shows why the 2025 World Series was tremendous.
Paul Kengor, in “Maximilian Kolbe’s Triumph at Auschwitz,” reviews a film about a Polish Catholic priest who sacrificed his life for the sake of a fellow prisoner at the infamous concentration camp.
Timothy S. Goeglein, in “The Legacy of Clarence Thomas,” praises the stalwart character and accomplishment of the Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on the 34th anniversary of his nomination to the court.
Francis P. DeStefano, in “Ken Burns: Leonardo da Vinci,” questions the secularist tendency to drain religious sincerity from the art of previous centuries; in “Bogart and Bacall: Four Films,” he briefly reviews “To Have and Have Not,” “The Big Sleep,” “Dark Passage,” and “Key Largo,” which star both Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
Jigs Gardner, in “Letters from a Conservative Farmer — Speed the Plow,” writes about integrity, the love of craft, openness to the advancement of knowledge, and the ancient art of the plow.
The mission of The St. Croix Review is to end the destruction of America by reestablishing the family as the center of American life, restoring economic prosperity to an independent middle class, and reviving a culture of tradition.
Thank You, Allan Brownfeld!
Barry MacDonald — Editorial
One of the unique qualities about The St. Croix Review that I have noticed as the editor over the years is the loyalty of its writers and readers. I have written, in my scrawled handwriting that you recognize, a multitude of thank you notes in response to your generous donations. I know your names, though I tend to forget your addresses. I am grateful for all of you. Some of you have little money to spare, but you contribute, nonetheless. Typically, we hang on to our subscribers for decades! Our writers are also of the same quality.
It is my duty to communicate the passing of a highly valued author for The St. Croix Review: Allan C. Brownfeld passed away on August 4, 2025. He was 85. From the fourth issue of the first year of publication, Allan was a regular contributor to The St. Croix Review. For 58 years, his essays have appeared in our pages, with an average of eight pages per issue. I don’t believe anyone, including the editors, will ever surpass Allan’s prolific accomplishment.
The themes of Allan’s writing were the importance of education and a reverence for the founding statesmen, the constitutional order, the ideals, the civil rights, and the history of the United States of America. Allan loved that America was open to people from anywhere on Earth. He acknowledged that certain ethnicities encountered prejudice and hardship in America. Allan was an outspoken advocate for the advancement of civil rights for black Americans, when to do so was not easy. Allan was a tireless asserter of liberty and opportunity for all Americans. He also promoted a clear-eyed assessment of historical truth. While he was a champion of black civil rights, he also wrote that the institution of slavery was ubiquitous through all the nations of Earth, and that American statesmen were at the forefront in the effort to end it. He stated that all races were both perpetrators and victims of slavery — a perspective that is not acknowledged by leftist intellectuals.
The following are selections of his themes:
“The Founding Fathers understood very well that freedom was not man’s natural state. Their political philosophy was based on a fear of government power and the need to limit and control that power very strictly. It was their fear of total government which initially caused them to rebel against the arbitrary rule of King George III. In the Constitution they tried their best to construct a form of government which, through a series of checks and balances and a clear division of powers, would protect the individual.”\
“In recent days, the history of the United States has become the subject of widespread discussion and debate. Some have argued that this history is deeply flawed, pointing to the existence of slavery. In 1787, when our Constitution was adopted, slavery was legal everywhere in the world and was an intrinsic part of the biblical Judeo-Christian tradition. Slavery dominated Ancient Greece and Rome. Many at the Constitutional Convention wanted to eliminate it at the beginning, but that, unfortunately, was not accomplished until the Civil War. Some contemporary critics, such as the author of The 1619 Project, suggest that slavery was somehow unique to America and even argue that the American Revolution was fought, in part, to maintain slavery. Neither of these ideas, as many historians have pointed out, bears any relationship to real history.”
“It was always my hope that our society would see freedom expand rather than contract. This seemed to be happening. I lived in the South during the years of segregation. Slowly, we saw it come to an end. When I was in law school, I wrote a law review article about Virginia’s law against racial intermarriage. It seemed strange to me that Democrats in Virginia and elsewhere in the South said they believed in freedom but welcomed laws limiting freedom — with regard to marriage, schools, restaurants, and virtually every aspect of society. Finally, in the case of Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court declared laws against interracial marriage unconstitutional.”
“Sadly, the teaching of American history has dramatically declined in our schools. A 2016 report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni even found that two-thirds of top U.S. colleges do not even require history majors to take a single course in U.S. history. How many young people know that ours is the longest existing form of government in the world? No other country in 2021 lives under the same form of government that existed in their countries in 1787. In the Constitution, the Framers established religious freedom, separation of church and state, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech. These did not really exist anyplace else in the world at that time.”
“How sad that we are not transmitting our unique history to the younger generation of Americans. It is time that we change course, as the latest indication that pride in America is declining makes clear. And our politicians who continue to insult one another and question the loyalty of their adversaries should think before they speak and weigh their words more carefully. In the past, our politicians found it possible to disagree without being disagreeable. In the current age of social media and Twitter, people speak before they think, and often regret their words. Civility in our political discourse would represent an important ingredient in restoring the pride in America which is now in decline — along with a serious and fair teaching of our history, its great achievements as well as its shortcomings. No human enterprise is without fault, but few have the achievements which Americans used to view with pride.”
You may find decades of Allan’s essays at our website — www.stcroixreview.com.
Allan C. Brownfeld was a Virginian and a fair-minded American Patriot. He was always a gentleman. His example is sorely missed now. *
The following is a summary of the November/December issue of The St. Croix Review:
Barry MacDonald, in “Thank You, Allan Brownfeld!” memorializes a cherished author of The St. Croix Review.
Peter Brownfeld, in “Allan Charles Brownfeld,” memorializes his father.
Paul Kengor, in “The Blood of the Martyrs: Charlie Kirk’s Witness and Movement,” remarks on the hideous assassination of Charlie Kirk and its extraordinary aftermath: Erika Kirk’s words at his memorial inspired a revival of faith and a spirit of mission nationwide.
Mark Hendrickson, in “Civility? Some Practical Suggestions,” after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, offers clear guidelines; in “Remembering Robert Redford,” he memorializes the actor’s passing and lists six of his favorite movies; in “Are Millionaires Really Happier?” he answers — it depends — by pointing out that happiness is difficult to quantify, and by offering examples from his own life experience; in “Intersections Between the Bible and Economics,” he applies his professional economic expertise along with his Christian faith to offer guidance; in “Brian Wilson’s Genius for Melody and Harmony Took Pop Music to New Heights,” he provides insight into the songwriter/singer’s life, and his family’s lives.
Jason R. Edwards, in “A Historical Perspective on Charlie Kirk,” places Kirk inside the perspective of American and world history.
Timothy S. Goeglein, in “Two Kirks — Two Lights — Two Gentlemen,” presents the ideals of Charlie Kirk, Russell Kirk, and Edmund Burke: Of masculine role models who are husbands, fathers, family providers, and “the guardians of culture.”
Josiah Lippincott, in “Citizenship, Justice, and the New Golden Age,” the keynote address of The St. Croix Review’s annual dinner, presents a vision of a free America.
William G. Carpenter, in “High Culture and the Right: The Example of Thomas F. Bertonneau,” identifies the mission of the artist to create beauty, follow tradition, cultivate the mind, and uplift society.
Menippus Redivivus, in “Au bord du précipice — il y a l'amour” presents a critique of modern, tasteless, tactless love; in “The Politics of the Middle Nature,” he disdains the “middle class” politics of the “frenzied masses” and preaches elevated dispassion.
Francis P. DeStefano, in “John Wayne and ‘Stagecoach,’” considers the highpoints of Wayne’s career, and he writes a summation of the iconic movie; in the “The Fantasticks,” he comments on an off-Broadway production, performed in the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village, that ran for 42 years. The show is the world’s longest-running musical.
Jigs Gardner, in “Letters from a Conservative Farmer — the Backlands,” initiates a new adventure: Farming in the middle of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. The land was full of hardships.
Jigs Gardner, in “Writers for Conservatives: 17 — the Great Battle Chronicler: Samuel Lyman Abbot Marshall,” writes of a military historian who applied his unique insight — that many soldiers needed to be interviewed after a battle so that what had actually happened could be accurately ascertained. Samuel Marshall honed his recording/ascertaining technique from the battles of World War II and the Korean War.
The mission of The St. Croix Review is to end the destruction of America by reestablishing the family as the center of American life, restoring economic prosperity to an independent middle class, and reviving a culture of tradition.
Are Your Heroes Worthy Enough?
Barry MacDonald
A person needs a method of organization to begin a day with purposeful energy. Have you ever stopped to take account of the quality of the ideas that motivate you? How much of what you do arises from the impetus of resentment or fear? Does cynicism wear away at your morale?
Doctors have a habit of measuring pain on a scale of one to ten. On such a scale where does your bitterness lie? Where on a scale of vengeance would you guess that your family or neighbors reside? Isn’t it odd that as material comforts and technological advantages go, Americans are exceptionally lucky people, yet we may not appreciate our good fortune?
The malign influence of Karl Marx, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Saul Alinsky persists. These men studied masses of humanity and seized on the proclivity of people to be cleverly herded under a spell of fear, envy, greed, and hatred. These dark intellectuals didn’t create human nature, but they infected society with techniques of manipulation that typify the nature of news, politics, and entertainment. Perhaps society will never be free from the taint of Marx, Machiavelli, and Alinsky.
Have you stopped to consider how much of your awareness is driven by allegiance to heroes? Our voluntary associations provide us with the numerical strength that we lack on our own. We need leaders who are compatible with us for knowledge and encouragement. We are hemmed about with unique difficulties that separate and isolate us. We carry solitary and burdensome worries that may be hard to articulate and communicate. Our leaders are examples of honesty, integrity, courage, wisdom, and endurance. We also learn these qualities from friends, loved ones, and worthy partnerships.
I don’t have to solve the world’s problems by myself. My heroes help me to see around corners to solutions that I could never have come to from an isolated perspective. I do a survey of my associates and identify those whom I trust and respect. My high-profile heroes are prominent characters of tremendous societal sway. They are decisive and demonstrate panache. They are brave and are sometimes victorious against the malefactors that surround them (and me also). My heroes have a store of invaluable knowledge. I will never stop learning from their stalwart arsenal of wisdom. Many of my heroes aren’t alive, but I can ponder layers within layers of their instruction. The willingness to be unpopular for a good cause is a noble quality.
Every person chooses their own heroes both consciously and unconsciously. History and literature are stuffed with heroic paragons. Whom have you chosen? Who are your heroes of sports, politics, history, philosophy? Which entertainers, actors, actresses, directors, and satirists do you enjoy? How often does politics come into play? How often do you laugh?
It is a conundrum that the direction of politics seemingly must devolve to Machiavellian and Marxist tricks. When one side resorts to the mass broadcast of big lies with the connivance of big media, how is the other to respond? Once the electorate has been brainwashed and polarized what is to be done? Escalation occurs in words and deeds, so that political rhetoric becomes relentless and ruthless. As in warfare, escalation leads to increased barbarism, so former standards of decency are lost. How are the cycles of accusation to be ended? Doesn’t it take a bully to defeat a bully?
So much of American political discourse has been reduced to a tribalism that is blind to subtlety and difficulty. Politics is a gossipy stew that summons prurient interest. It is hard not to take pleasure in an opponent’s misery, or to indulge a hunger for vengeance.
I can talk to almost everyone in a respectful manner about daily concerns. Only when topics of politics are broached must I tread with care. I recognize soon enough how much genuine communication is possible. I don’t waste words on people who are hypnotized.
It is a shame that feminism has demonized fatherhood. “A woman’s right to choose” is an effective catch phrase with formidable leverage on the issues of abortion. Men are villainized and ostracized. Relations between men and women are complicated in America. Too many Americans believe that husbands and fathers are not necessarily relevant to women. The bitter feminist espousal of “toxic masculinity” has given rise to the emergence “toxic femininity” that expresses hatred for half of humanity. If men do not assume their natural duties to be loving fathers to their children, how will they ever learn to grow up? Angry feminists want revenge for the proclaimed scourge of “patriarchy.” There is no end to their bitterness. Everyone suffers as a result, especially boys. Children, especially boys, need a responsible, admirable father figure in a household to learn by example.
A new term was invented in 2019 that describes the estrangement between men and women. The word “Heteropessimism” was coined by Asa Seresin. The word’s origin was academic, from the University of New England. Heteropessimism is believed to be the obstinate prejudice against the heterosexual experience by heterosexuals. It is a modern malady articulated by intellectuals.
Most of my heroes are not involved in politics. For my sanity I have to detach from the poisoned brew of partisan politics for portions of my day. I start my day with meditation books. My friends are examples of integrity and responsibility. They are good fathers and mothers. We are concerned with a multiplicity of details, daily, weekly, and monthly, that need to be addressed with infinite care. The energy that I put into good order and direction buoys me. My attention to mundane but necessary chores provides a healthy perspective on national politics that helps me to discern the true from the false. Truth has resonance while deceit feels slimy.
People have a duty to find sources of positive energy. Over millennia millions of wise and inspirational words have been written. We can choose to drink deeply of wisdom. *
The Following is a Summary of the August 2025 Summary of The St. Croix Review.
Barry MacDonald, in “Are Your Heroes Worthy Enough?” asserts the importance of a reliable source of positive energy. He writes that the truth has resonance while deceit feels slimy.
Timothy S. Goeglein, in “Why Americans Are Not Having Kids,” points to a shift in priorities and attitudes that shows a reluctance for self-sacrifice that imperials long-term American prosperity.
Derek Suszko, in “The Mission of The St. Croix Review,” reimagines “conservatism” into a program for the “restoration” of America.
Josiah Lippincott, in “Interview with Josiah Lippincott,” challenges a multitude of cherished principles, on the political left and right.
Mark Hendrickson, in “Ed Feulner, Jr. (1941-2025) RIP,” memorializes the founder and former president of the Heritage Foundation, an organization that shaped the conservative movement and the Reagan administration behind the scenes; in “Patriotism and Entitlement,” he believes that much of the disenchantment of Americans with America has to do with the nonstop negative narratives Americans absorb; in “What the U.S. Can Learn from Javier Milei,” he lauds Argentina’s president for his impressive success in prompting economic prosperity by slashing government, and he compares Milei to Warren Harding, an unjustly maligned U.S. president; in “Right Ways and Wrong Ways to Democratize Education,” he addresses the difficult balance that must be found between creating a system that offers genuine education to American children, while avoiding the pitfalls of the education bureaucracy and the national teachers’ unions. He makes a strong case for school choice.
Paul Kengor, in “Butler: The Riveting Untold Story of the Shooting of Donald Trump,” shares an eye-witness account of the near assassination of Donald Trump during the July 2024 campaign for the presidency.
Tyler Scott, in “The Food Writer Who Couldn’t Cook,” writes about childhood memories, family meals, favorite times, and favorite recipes.
Francis DeStefano, in “Dana Andrews MVP,” writes about an extraordinary actor during Hollywood’s Golden Age who did not receive the awards he deserved in the films “Laura” and “The Best Years of Our Lives”; in “Anna Magnani: The Rose Tattoo,” he praises the “volcanic” Italian actress who graced many American films. He describes the eventual acceptance and celebration of Italian immigrants by American culture that culminated in the 1950s.
Derek Suszko reviews William Carpenter’s epic poem of a Christian Hero set in 9th century in England — Eþandūn.
Jigs Gardner, in “Letters from a Conservative Farmer: Versed in Country Things — Casting Up Accounts,” concludes his account of two years of farming in Vermont with an examination of the supposed “Simple Life.”
Jigs Gardner, in “Writers for Conservatives: 16 — The Readable Henry James,” divides critics of Henry James into “Europhile and Europhobes,” and he considers the renowned author’s fine qualities and eccentricities.
The mission of The St. Croix Review is to end the destruction of America by reestablishing the family as the center of American life, restoring economic prosperity to an independent middle class, and reviving a culture of tradition.
Joe Rogan Talks to Kash Patel, Director of the FBI
Editorial — Barry MacDonald
Alongside talk radio and Substack, an army of podcasters has risen to challenge and counter the preeminence of the mainstream media. Ordinary Americans who thirst for a more balanced and trustworthy presentation of events may turn to a multitude of informed and patriotic podcasters for daily commentary.
A most highly rated podcaster is Joe Rogan. In the Joe Rogan Experience, #2334 Episode, he interviewed Kash Patel, the current Director of the FBI. The following are bullet points taken from their conversation. A full video of their discussion is available on YouTube.
******
Alert Americans who paid attention to the mismanagement of the country surely suspected that the Biden Administration’s priorities were badly misplaced. To care more about climate change and DEI than the 100,000 Americans dying each year of fentanyl is a monstrous indictment. The spiteful hatred on the part of the Biden Administration and the media not to give the Trump Administration due credit for his national security accomplishments is another catastrophic moral failing. That Lloyd Austin, the Secretary of Defense, would go AWOL for two weeks is a black mark of fecklessness. The Democratic Party has sunk to a low, disreputable form of politics. It is difficult to see how they may regain their integrity with their present leaders. *
The following is a summary of the June 2025 issue of The St. Croix Review.
Barry MacDonald, relates a podcast discussion: “Joe Rogan Talks to Kash Patel, Director of the FBI.” During the Biden Administration, tens of thousands of Americans died of Fentanyl poisoning because of government fecklessness.
Menippus Revivivus in “The Lost Art of Sprezzatura,” deploys an unusual word, in the context of military campaigns, that means to hit fast, hard, and with style; in “Rant on the Airlines,” he laments the gross indignities of airline travel; in “Sibling Science and the Romanovs,” he contemplates the blessing of elder sisters for a brother; in “Paean to Alcibiades,” he presents the perfection of masculinity; in “Against the ‘Nation of Laws,’” he explodes the myth of “equally” applied law; in “The Constipation of the Libertarian,” he exposes the snobbishness of libertarians; in “The Spinster,” he marvels at a destructive force.
Josiah Lippincott, in “The Blessing of Neutrality,” argues for greater abstention in U.S. foreign policy.
Johann Kurtz, in “Inequality Is Good and Just,” makes a Christian case for responsibility in the exercise of power and property.
Philip Vander Elst, in “God and Totalitarianism,” offers a meditation on the relationship between atheism, evil, and totalitarianism that opposes God and moral order.
Paul Kengor, in “Peace Be with You”: The Deep Meaning in Leo XIV’s First Words,” heeds the first public words of Pope Leo XIV, noting in the Pope’s words a hopeful shift in tone from one papacy to the next.
Mark Hendrickson, in “Should Harvard Be Allowed to Host Foreign Students?” believes that President Trumps goes too far in preventing all foreign students from attending Harvard, but he agrees with the president that anti-Semitism on camps, and intellectual theft on campus at the instigation of the Chinese Communist Party are valid concerns; in “Elon Musk’s and His Proposed America Party,” he credits Musk’s good-hearted intentions, but doubts this methods; in “Why USAID Should Be Shut Down,” he points out the usual futility of foreign aid that is spent by bureaucrats who lack business sense: The money is stolen by corrupt rulers or squandered; in “Remembering Solzhenitsyn’s Warning to the West,” he reviews the courageous life of the Soviet exile and Russian Noble Prize-winning author.
Allan Brownfeld, in “The Challenges We Face as We Approach the Constitution’s 250th Anniversary,” reviews the writing of Russell Kirk, one of the founders of the modern conservative movement.
Tyler Scott, in “The Life and Legacy of Jay Parker, Black Conservative,” writes of one of America’s black pioneers of the conservative movement.
Timothy S. Goeglein, in “America’s Educational Freefall Continues,” declares that America’s educational system is broken — family breakdown, smart phones, bureaucracy, and the neglect of the genuine learning are causes.
Francis DeStefano, in “French Film Noir,” reviews four films about French criminals who would have liked to leave crime behind but found that they couldn’t; in “Leni Riefenstahl: “Triumph of the Will,” he uses the famous Nazi propogandist to explore the nature of indoctrination.
Jigs Gardner, in “Letters from a Conservative Farmer: Versed in Country Things — A Peopled Summer,” presents the end of his farming adventure in Vermont, and the burst bubble of the illusion of the Beautiful Simple Country Life.