Just when I thought things couldn’t get much worse, they did. Our fearless leader had the brilliant idea of creating a migrant detention center in the environmentally precarious Florida Everglades. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis got on board quickly—surprise, surprise. 

The center will house up to 3,000 undocumented migrants while they await due process (so they say) before they are sent out of the country. It will cost $450 million annually for the state to operate the facility. That’s right–$450 million each year. Florida provided the initial $450 million needed to create and operate the center and will seek reimbursement through FEMA. (FYI, FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. Does it sound like an appropriate use of funds to you?)

Trump claims that it’s okay to disrupt the Everglades fragile ecosystem because there already is an airport there. As usual, he is wrong. In 1968, planners envisioned a large airport but backlash from conservationists stopped the construction after just one small runway was built. The backlash inspired the Florida Everglades movement and the creation of several environmental watchdog groups. 

Let’s quickly review just how special the Everglades are. 

The land is sacred to several Native American tribes that reside in 15 villages within the preserve. 

Often called a river of grass, the Everglades are 86 percent wetlands surrounded by the Big Cyprus National Preserve. (Note the word Preserve.)  Nine distinct habitats coexist in the Everglades, including cypress swamps, sawgrass marshes, and the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western hemisphere. 

The Everglades are the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist in the same habitat. They are a haven for many endangered species, including the Florida panther, the West Indian manatee, and breeding grounds for tropical wading birds and home to 350 bird species. 

One in three Floridians rely on the Everglades for their drinking water.

A coalition of environmental groups has filed a lawsuit claiming that the detention center did not undergo any of the environmental reviews that Federal law requires. Let’s watch what happens next. 

In the few short days of its existence, the center has already flooded. (Just last week severe flooding killed at least 82 people in Texas.) Hurricane season is right around the corner, and it is unlikely that the center will meet hurricane codes. The risk of mosquito-borne diseases is significant. Heat and humidity in the area can charitably be described as brutal. Add to all that, a location that is virtually inaccessible to lawyers and family members. 

Trump could care less about environmental issues. He has rolled back some of the nation’s key environmental safeguards which will profoundly affect the air we breathe and the water we drink. He has gutted funding for the agencies involved in the Chesapeake Bay restoration, including funds that restore and protect native species such as oysters, blue crabs, and striped bass. 

Beside the horrific environmental implications of this center, one must also consider the racist overtones. Several studies have shown that racial resentment has contributed to Trump’s political ascendance. Clearly many of Trump’s claims smack of racism. He claimed that Obama wasn’t a legal American citizen. He said Haitians were eating the dogs and cats. He called Mexicans rapists. He said Harris was a DEI candidate. He said migrants murdered hundreds of women and girls. He tells nearly all-white crowds they have good genes. And now he is sending primarily Black and Brown migrants to what many claim resembles a German concentration camp. 

I must admit all the July 4th celebrations rang hollow for me this year. It no longer feels like the land of the free and the home of the brave. There is no “crowning thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.” Instead, the land that I love is being destroyed piece by piece. Wake up America. 

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.

The best way to make sound decisions is to have access to accurate information. Under the current administration, gaining access to accurate information is becoming increasingly difficult. Let’s take a quick review of information that is no longer accessible thanks to Trump’s revised policies. 

The White House has removed official transcripts of President Trump’s public remarks from its government website, replacing them with selected videos of his public appearances.

The Trump administration told federal health agencies such as the CDC to temporarily stop communicating health messages, which included memos, reports, online posts, and website updates. Scientific meetings, including advisory panels, had also been temporarily cancelled. 

The Social Security Administration has stopped reporting current call waiting times and other performance metrics. (Recently, phone lines have been jammed and crashing. One woman reported waiting eight hours and 44 minutes on the phone and then was required to make follow-up calls.)

The Trump administration has refused to provide information sought by Congress regarding several investigations and inquiries. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has the authority to investigate whether an administration has improperly withheld authorized funding in contravention of Congressional Directives. At the heart of the issue is a process known as impoundment which would allow the President to stem the flow of federal dollars even if Congress instructs otherwise. More to come on this issue as final revisions to the ”big beautiful bill” are made public. 

Trump fired 19 agency inspectors general. They play a key role in investigations and audits that uncover fraud and abuse. The American public will no longer have access to that information.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a series of restrictions to the press that include banning reporters from entering huge segments of the Pentagon to which they formerly had access. The media is also barred from the offices of the Pentagon’s senior military leadership unless they have Hegseth’s approval and an escort. 

 Trump plans to limit the classified information that is usually shared with both houses of Congress. 

One of Trump’s executive orders gives Trump greater power over independent regulatory agencies such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission which issues recalls and safety warnings; the Securities and Exchange Commission, which oversees markets; and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insures bank deposits. Critics claim these new restrictions limit the autonomy of independent agencies and shield corporations from accountability, while centralizing more power with the administration and limiting valuable information to consumers. 

It’s no surprise that limiting access to information can result in poor decision-making and increases susceptibility to misinformation. Lack of information can affect personal health, economic decisions, and more. 

In contrast, full access to information encourages citizens to get actively involved, contribute ideas, and express points of view on various issues. It also enables users to accomplish tasks more efficiently. In short, access to accurate information empowers individuals by providing knowledge and fostering transparency. 

Clearly, full access to information is pretty much the opposite of what’s happening with this administration. Instead, the current philosophy seems to be trust me. I know what’s best. I’m looking out for you. And there’s no way you can refute what I’m saying because you don’t have accurate data. 

Without access to accurate information, all of us become less committed, less strategic, less intuitive, and less analytically competent. 

Is the concept of withholding information and thereby making the public unable to push back with facts just one step in Trump’s current playbook? Clearly, a lack of facts means a lack of accountability, which also means full steam ahead on the Trump agenda. 

Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, who seems to be becoming more powerful each day, frequently engages in practices that impact transparency and impede the flow of information. He prefers phone calls over emails, making his actions and influence more difficult to trace. A former Trump senior advisor stated that Miller is “comfortable with misinformation to advance his cause.” Others state that his anti-immigration rhetoric is pure propaganda. 

Francis Bacon once wrote, “Knowledge itself is power.” The reverse is also true. Lack of knowledge leads to lack of power. When the masses lose power, those in control gain more power. Something that Trump and his henchman Stephen Miller are making their primary goal.

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.

In recent months, whenever I turn on the news or read the newspaper, I learn about people in high-level government positions exhibiting a frightening level of incompetence. 

Here’s what experts say are signs of such incompetence. 

In the Workplace: Poor decision making and adaptability; avoiding responsibility and accountability; failing to learn from mistakes; regularly producing unacceptable results; poor communication skills; repeatedly missing deadlines; inability to accept criticism; difficulty supporting others; inability to be a collaborator; frequently lying when explaining unsatisfactory outcomes. 

In Personal Relationships: Lack of empathy, poor communication, shifting blame.

General Indicators: Difficulty recognizing people and places; lack of self-awareness; fear of failure; negative attitude–a tendency to be critical of others; talking more than listening.

Our current Commander-in-Chief checks every box. He makes reckless and irresponsible statements with alarming frequency. He blames others for his failures, even if he was president when the alleged incidents occurred. He changes his mind constantly. He moves deadlines up and then extends them. His off-the-cuff comments are frequently incoherent, crude, and rude. Last week he indicated that the Declaration of Independence was written around the time of the Civil War. He has shown a blatant disrespect for the rule of law and our system of checks and balances. And perhaps most importantly, he is consistently and significantly damaging America’s position in the world. 

When campaigning, Trump promised to end “forever wars” and bring about peace. He said he would end the war between Ukraine and Russia on Day One. Recently he said, “It may be better to let Ukraine and Russia fight for a while.”

In his first term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran, an agreement two years in the making. In doing so, he ignored the advice of our allies who urged him to build on the agreement. Last Saturday, American planes and submarines struck three nuclear enrichment facilities in Iran. Trump declared the attack a “spectacular military success.” It is the biggest Western military action against Iran since 1979.

Here is a quote from Trump’s most recent inauguration speech: “We will measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end—and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.” 

The cardinal rule for building a high-performance organization is hiring a well-qualified, experienced, and capable team. Great leaders hire the smartest people they can find. Trump’s cabinet could easily get the award for the most incompetent cabinet in American history. 

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem could not define the meaning of habeas corpus.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that Americans wouldn’t mind missing Social Security checks from time to time. 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—where do I begin—the Signal group chat, mass firings, walking back his remarks about Ukraine in Brussels, his ill-fated effort to send thousands of detained migrants to Guantanamo Bay—these misdeeds are only the start of a very long list.

 HHS Secretary RFK, Jr. fires the entire Vaccine Advisory Board and begins replacing its members with bona fide vaccine deniers; swims with his grandchildren in dangerously polluted Rock Creek Park waters; and just last weekend, his Secret Service force was spotted waiting for him outside his tanning booth. What?

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blames former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for every mishap (and there have been many) that happens under his watch even though he was the one who fired approximately 400 FAA workers.

Ambassador to France Charles Kushner, a man with no previous diplomatic experience, was previously convicted of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion and witness tampering. 

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Dr. Oz has been a tireless promotor of alternative and complementary medicinal cures that true medical experts have proven false time and time again. 

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is rapidly becoming regular fodder for late-night comedians because of her ability to deflect serious questions with ludicrous statements. My favorite is when she talks about the sacrifices successful businessman Trump has made to serve his country. Let’s not forget that Trump has filed for bankruptcy six times. 

Before being reelected President, it was questionable whether Trump would be able to produce the cash necessary to pay for his court convictions. Some reports estimate that Trump’s net worth has increased $2.9 billion since he was reelected president. Melania alone will net $28 million from the film Amazon plans to make about her life. No other President in the history of our country has pumped the grift machine like Trump. Yet Leavitt wants us to thank him for his sacrifices. You can’t make this stuff up. 

Albert Einstein once wrote, “Incompetence is the true crisis.” Truer words have not been spoken. And when you couple greed, grift, and a contempt for the rule of law to that true crisis of incompetence, it adds up to quite the sorry state of affairs. 

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. She is currently on the Board of Chesapeake Music. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature. 

I just finished reading The Doorman by Chris Pavone. The novel, which I highly recommend, is a bit of a potboiler. It focuses on the goings-on at a fictional grand apartment building in New York City called The Bohemia. 

In the novel, pretty much every social class is angry. Some extremely wealthy residents at The Bohemia are angry because newcomers to the building are not up to the standards formerly set—meaning people of color are resident. Other wealthy residents are angry because it is so exhausting cranking out the revenue needed to afford their lifestyles, which sometimes results in their being complicit in illegal deeds. Some residents’ wives are angry because they have become disillusioned with their unscrupulous spouses.

Protesters outside the building are angry because a White police officer killed an unarmed Black man. 

MAGA-supporters nearby are angry and coalescing around the building to protest the people protesting the Black man’s killing. 

Latinos who work at The Bohemia are angered by some of the absurd requests made by the spoiled and privileged residents. 

And the Doorman, Chicky, who has worked at The Bohemia for three decades, juggles all the requests of these various factions in an effort to keep the peace. He has his own set of issues as his wife has recently died and left him with mountains of medical bills and mountains of debt. 

What I loved about the novel is Pavone’s almost satirical portrayal of today’s society. So many Americans are angry. Why? 

After Trump’s first presidential victory, many analysts opined that White voters voted for Trump in the hopes that he would restore the racial hierarchy upended by Barack Obama. Wages for America’s working class had been stagnant for a long time. Workers were frustrated by foreign competition. And many Blacks and Latinos faced declining economic prospects. 

In short, many American voters, saw Obama’s reign as a signal that White voters were no longer at the top of the social scale, so they became angry and anxious. 

And then there was the double-whammy threat of Hillary, a woman, becoming president. Okay so first we have to deal with a Black man dethroning our former hierarchy and now a woman? What next?

The second time around, analysts opined that Trump won because many Americans were angry because they felt as though they were being ignored by “The Elites.” Voters saw Trump as a savior from that financial elite class, even though he was clearly one of them and his former tax cuts benefited those despised elites. Then there was the issue of millions of undocumented immigrants coming across our border, coupled with Trump’s opponent being not only a woman but a person of color. Hence, some voters became even angrier. 

So where are we today? Let’s just say there are a lot of angry people out there. It is estimated that during the “No Kings” resistance last Saturday, more than five million people participated in at least 2,000 protests. (An estimated 200,000 people attended Trump’s military parade, fewer than anticipated.) 

Experts claim that peaceful protests are actually a good idea when you feel a lack of control and a sense of hopelessness. They are a way of taking action and connecting with your community. And they are a helpful way of generating a sense of hope. Other actions to counteract a sense of despair and hopelessness are volunteering for worthy causes; reading books that inspire and lift spirits; and looking after yourself as best you can by focusing on self-care. 

Anger is often a double-edged sword. It can be a source of motivation and a catalyst for change. It can also lead to destructive behaviors, such as electing an unqualified leader who builds a dangerous and frighteningly incompetent administration. 

Maya Angelou once wrote, “Anger is like fire. It burns itself out, leaving behind only ashes of regret.” Given the number of people who protested last weekend, I’d say there is a lot of regret in America right now. 

Ironically, the situation brings to mind some lyrics from Trump’s favorite musical, Les Misérables, which opened at the Kennedy Center last week, “Do you hear the people sing? Singing the songs of angry men? “

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm and is currently on the Board of Chesapeake Music. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.

Sheer perfection would be an apt description of the first three concerts in Chesapeake Music’s six-concert Chamber Music Festival series at The Ebenezer Theater in Easton. I attended all three concerts and left exhilarated, inspired, and anxious to hear the remaining three concerts this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. These upcoming concerts also feature The Juilliard String Quartet, dubbed the most important American quartet in history!

Photo by Cal Jackson

Themed “Reflection and Celebration” in honor of its 40th year, this Festival’s first three concerts featured a thoughtful pairing of amazingly talented seasoned musicians coupled with inspirational rising-star musicians who exhibit impressive talent beyond their years. Such juxtapositioning epitomizes how far the festival has come over the last four decades and its exciting potential in years to come. 

Chamber music was first performed in intimate private settings such as palace chambers, drawing rooms, and residential parlors. Thanks to Paul and Joanne Prager, Chesapeake Music’s home at The Ebenezer Theater provides a similar intimate setting to listen to amazing music but also offers more accessibility to exceptional musical performances with better acoustics and comfortable seating.

Co-artistic directors of Chesapeake Music Marcy Rosen (who also co-founded Chesapeake Music) and Catherine Cho developed programs that showcase beloved favorites, including Boccherini, Schumann, Brahms, Beethoven, Dvořák, Haydn, Mozart, and Mendelssohn, as well as less well-known and more modern composers, such as Amy Beach and Cécile Chaminade. 

In addition to developing the programs, cellist Marcy Rosen and violinist Catherine Cho played several of the selected pieces accompanied by clarinetist and co-founder of Chesapeake Music J. Lawrie Bloom, pianist Robert McDonald, oboist Peggy Pearson, violist Zhanbo Zheng, and violinists/violists Todd Phillips and Carmit Zori. 

Two rising stars who also performed in several of those selections were cellist Sterling Elliott and pianist Albert Cano Smit. In addition, Elliott and Cano Smit played an Opus by Beach, and Cano Smit played two selections by Chaminade. These pieces were played to perfection and were a delightful opportunity to hear music with which audiences will surely want to become more familiar. 

This week’s Thursday, Friday, and Saturday concerts feature music by Mendelssohn, Farrenc, Smetana, Mozart, Widmann, Beethoven, Bonis, Schoenberg, and Fauré. For details about this week’s concerts and to purchase tickets, be sure to visit ChesapeakeMusic.org. 

Let’s never take for granted how fortunate we are to experience this caliber of music on the Eastern Shore. It is indeed a reflection of Chesapeake Music’s dedication and hard work, and a time to celebrate upcoming opportunities to hear phenomenal artistic talent perform glorious, inspirational music.

Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm and currently serves on the Board of Chesapeake Music. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.