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January 18, 2026

Cambridge Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

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Way Beyond Woke by Al Sikes

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“Kings, and Persons of Sovereign authority, because of their Independency, are in continual jealousies… having their weapons pointing, and their eyes fixed on one another.” Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

International Relations is not some new term thought up by a “woke” celebrity.  Thomas Hobbes, who is said to be the philosopher-mind behind strict realism in foreign policy, recognized the importance of relationships. He believed “all acts are ultimately self-serving–that in a state of nature, humans would behave completely selfishly. He concludes that humanity’s natural condition is a state of perpetual war, fear, and amorality, and that only government can hold a society together.”

The “government” we have relied on for almost 80 years is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Yes, we have relied on ourselves, but we have understood that we cannot stand astride the globe ordering nations around. Humanity won’t allow it.

So let me go from 17th-century Hobbes to today and to NATO. When we think of Europe, we are likely to think of a special moment in Paris where we gather with friends at a sidewalk cafe. Or, an awe-inspiring vista in Norway. Yes, that too is NATO, which is a voluntary coalition of mostly like-minded nations to encourage peace while being prepared for war. It spans the North Atlantic Ocean while also coordinating with non-NATO, but like-minded Asian nations.

And if I look at the fiscal affairs of NATO, the United States is the largest contributor (approximately 16%) but our defense industries prosper as NATO nations are among the biggest customers.

As large and strong as the U.S. is, we, from time to time, have gone to war to defend ourselves. And we do so confident that our allies will be with us. In the Afghanistan War, almost 1,000 Danish troops joined us.

Denmark is much in the news today because President Trump has said the U.S. intends to take its territory known as Greenland. Trump’s solo act has resulted in France and Germany sending troops to Greenland. Trump has weaponized foreign policy and aimed it at NATO. Hobbes’s darker side would reflexively understand.

Trump claims we need Greenland as a defensive barrier against China and Russia. We have a military base in Greenland and its leaders have invited a broader and deeper relationship. But take it from our ally Denmark?

You might recall that the President also began his new term by insulting Canada. He said Canada was our 51st State and then began discriminatory moves in trade. The result is an estimated loss of $4 to $6 billion in tourism and deep trade revenue losses, even though exact figures are not available.

Yes, the President leaned into NATO allies, telling them to step up in both financial support and their own defense expenditures. If NATO is a shared responsibility, and it is, that was a good move. But Trump has now weaponized foreign policy and turned the gun on us.

Now Trump says we need a 50% increase in defense spending in the 2027 budget—from $901 billion in 2026 to $1.5 trillion in 2027. Maybe we are going to take on the world by ourselves. Facing a $38 trillion dollar national debt this kind of leap is not only excessive it is suicidal.

And what about comity, “considerate behavior toward others”. We know in our lives and complexity of associations that considerate behavior pays dividends. Yet at some point Trump went from merely self-serving to head scratching paranoia. Even his political friends are pushing back on Greenland.

Politics is the only answer. The sooner he is a lame duck and treated like one his power will be diminished. I hate to suggest that, but when the Chief acts like Dr. Strangelove, something must be done.

Let me end where I began with Thomas Hobbes. Why would America want to be complicit in creating a Hobbesian environment? It makes no sense. Those who represent us in Washington need to push back—hard.

So let me give the final word to Professor Barnislav Slanthev, University of California, San Diego.

“To the idiots blabbering blithely about Greenland and “U.S. doesn’t need NATO,” do us all a favor and check what U.S. power projection requires and what losing our presence in Europe, with all the bases and logistical infrastructure to support global deployments, would entail. Next check what it would cost us to man all the resulting gaps in the Atlantic and Arctic defense, and explain where we’re going to build substitute ports and bases if we wish to retain a foothold in the Middle East. I know you people seem to think that the U.S. magically teleports entire brigades thousands of miles away or that aircraft carriers can just float around for years on their own, but this is truly unserious bullshit. If you thought America was spending “too much” on defense because of NATO, just wait until you learn what we would have to spend without NATO to maintain even a fraction of our global influence.”

Losing NATO — which is what will happen if we attempt to coerce Denmark (read Article I) — will be the surest and fastest way to global decline. Now, if you are Russia or China, you would surely welcome this. But if you are an American, you wouldn’t.

Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Reported ICE Sighting Sparks Police Concern

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Concerned about a troubling lack of communication between federal immigration authorities and local police, the Dorchester County Police Accountability Board opened its first meeting of 2026 by questioning law enforcement leaders about how unannounced ICE operations could endanger public safety.

Board Chair Paul Riordan called the afternoon meeting on January 12 to order and immediately departed from the prepared agenda to engage directly with law enforcement leaders in attendance.

“I’m going to go out of order on the agenda today and open with discussions with all law enforcement agencies,” Riordan said, inviting officers to introduce themselves before beginning the dialogue.

Participants at the meeting included Lieutenant Greg McRae of the City of Cambridge Police Department, Major Jeff Biscatt of the Hurlock Police Department, and Major John Stichberry of the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office.

Riordan asked whether the agencies had any concerns they wished to convey to the board for possible relay to the Dorchester County Council, then raised reports he said had been shared with him by residents following recent national attention on immigration enforcement, including events in Minneapolis.

Residents told Riordan they believed they saw ICE activity near Taqueria Floritas on Race Street in Cambridge, a report that local police said they could not confirm.

“Somebody said they saw somebody out by Las Floritas, which is the Goose Creek area,” he said, referring to the alleged ICE activity in Cambridge.

McRae told the board that Cambridge police are typically not notified when ICE operates in the area.

“We usually hear about it after the fact,” McRae said. “We don’t participate, we’re not aware. We hear about it just like everybody else pretty much through Facebook.”

Riordan expressed concern that the lack of notification could create public safety risks if ICE activity draws large crowds or protests.

“With what’s going on nationally, it looks like things can get out of hand quickly,” he said. “If we’re not being notified of their activity, how are we going to respond?”

McRae said the department has experience handling protests, including demonstrations along Route 50, but noted that immigration enforcement presents different challenges. He said demonstrations on city property require permits and that police focus on maintaining order and vigilance.

Board member Derek Griffin sharply criticized the apparent lack of coordination between federal and local agencies.

“It’s inconceivable to me that the local police departments are not notified when ICE comes here,” he said. “That’s just not the way you run operations. Sheriff’s Department, Hurlock, City Police – all need to be notified that you have a law enforcement agency in your area of operation. That just sounds like common sense to me.”

 When asked directly whether Cambridge police would assist ICE if agents were operating locally, McRae said they would not.

“We’re actually forbidden by state law to basically assist,” he said.

That statement prompted further debate, with James questioning how local agencies could be restricted from assisting federal law enforcement officers and arguing that the policy creates practical complications.

Stichberry offered additional context from the Sheriff’s Office perspective.

“At the state and local level, communication is excellent,” he said, citing coordination among the Sheriff’s Office, Cambridge police, and the Maryland State Police. “But whenever the feds get involved, they don’t communicate. We really don’t know when they’re around or what they’re doing.”

Stichberry said local agencies do not assist ICE because they are not asked to, but emphasized they would not interfere with federal operations.

“They’re law enforcement,” he said. “We’re not going to do anything to prohibit them from doing their job.”

Board members pressed the issue with a hypothetical scenario involving ICE agents confronted by a hostile crowd. McRae said local police would intervene to stop violence but would not assist with immigration arrests.

“If that’s an assault that occurs in my presence, yes, we’re going to keep the peace,” he said. “As far as helping them make an arrest, that’s not going to happen.”

Members agreed that the role of local police is to protect people, property, and public safety, not to enforce federal immigration law.

Riordan praised local agencies for their performance in 2025, noting that the complaints reviewed by the board were largely minor.

“That was really gratifying to see,” he said.

James echoed that assessment, citing positive ride-alongs with each department and praising the cooperative working relationship between the board and local law enforcement.

The meeting later moved on to routine business, including the unanimous approval of the minutes from the October and December 2025 meetings and the re-election of Derek Griffin as vice chair for a one-year term.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Why I Worry About War and a Lot More By J.E. Dean

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I saw the elephant in the room after I watched the video of the President dropping two F-bombs and flipping a bird at a UAW worker in a Michigan Ford assembly plant. Despite the worker having heckled Trump, the President’s behavior offended me. Is the First Amendment still in effect?

The President’s behavior no longer shocks most people. Just months into the President’s second term, we are used to reporters being called pigs and dozens of perceived political enemies being called lunatics, retarded, and worse. And then there are the lies—thousands of them—things like calling Renee Good a radical leftist. 

And it appears that the more Trump normalizes rude, crude, and offensive behavior and hate speech, the more he resorts to it. What’s going on?

Hanging over the President’s head these days are the Epstein files and, more importantly, the President’s health. He is a man in decline facing the possibility of indisputable evidence being released that he was an active participant in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes—why else is the President doing all he can to avoid releasing the files?

Most of us would do all we can to avoid facing the stress the President is currently under, but, then we would also not have run for the Presidency at age 78 or been Epstein’s best friend for several years. The President has made his own bed. Now he must sleep in it, (Or should I say stay up all night and post hateful messages on his Truth Social account?)

Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that “Trump Presses Prosecutors to Target Foes.”  Unfortunately, some at the Department of Justice are bowing to the pressure. Thus, grand jury subpoenas are being issued to the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Fortunately, you have other prosecutors who are saying “enough is enough” and are quitting. These prosecutors are nauseated by Trump pardoning the January 6 insurrectionists and  drug smugglers such as the former president of Honduras. They want no part in blocking the investigation and prosecution of police violence carried out by ICE, such as is the case with the agents involved in the shooting of Renee Good.

Many Americans now believe that Trump is a dictator, but others don’t seem to be able to see the oversized, smelly elephant in the room—the blond (or is it pink today?) overweight man who already has launched military actions in Venezuela, Iran, and Syria and is preparing more serious military action in Iran, a takeover of Greenland, and regime change in Cuba.  He is doing all this while at the same time effectively abandoning America’s support for Ukraine. 

I worry about war because one or more of Trump’s “actions” could be the trigger for a military strike against the United States. In the age of inexpensive drones destroying military jets costing millions of dollars, how long will it be before some country, or someone believing that “the U.S. must be stopped,” launches an attack on America? And, more importantly, how will Trump respond?

A friend recently speculated that Trump is minimally involved in most of the foreign and domestic policy of the United States. People like OMB director Russell Vought are implementing the Project 2025 playbook. Stephen Miller is directing border security. And Kevin Hassett, who could be Chairman of the Federal Reserve in a few months, is advising Trump on what to do to lower prices. 

I picture Trump, irritated by interruptions in his monitoring UFC matches, NFL football, and FIFA soccer, by aides seeking his sign-off on the next “Trump initiative.”  Trump lives in his own world and likely spends more time on envisioning monuments to himself, such as the reimagining the White House, the “Arc de Trump” outside Arlington National Cemetery, and similar projects.

In some ways, the Presidency is currently vacant. Of course it is not. There is an elephant in the room, our room, and, thus far, nobody seems to know how to end the madness. That is why I am worried about war, democracy, human rights, and the future.

I would be remiss if I did not include a word of optimism about the 2026 mid-term elections. I read the polls and the news. The sun is setting on Donald Trump. Unless he “fixes” the 2026 mid-term elections, the House of Representatives and, with luck, a Senate, will check his abuses of power next year. That is why everyone must vote and object peacefully to things the President does that hurt our democracy and violate the Constitution. 

J.E. Dean writes on politics, government, goldendoodles, and other subjects. A former counsel on Capitol Hill and public affairs consultant, Dean is an advocate for democracy, sanity, and the rule of law.

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Consultant Outlines Land Bank Plan for Cambridge

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City commissioners heard a detailed update on plans to launch a municipal land bank to return vacant and underutilized properties to productive use across Cambridge.

Brian White of eProperty/Innovations LLC, a national land bank consultant working with city staff, delivered a presentation during a regular meeting of the Cambridge City Commission on Jan. 12, along with a staff report from Housing Programs Manager Ed Crosby.

White described the proposed land bank as an independent nonprofit organization that would work closely with the city to acquire, stabilize, and transfer distressed properties to responsible developers.

“Despite the name, the land bank is not like a savings bank where you deposit properties and let them sit for a long period of time,” White told commissioners. “It’s really designed as an intermediary . . .  acquiring parcels, getting them stabilized, then conveying them back out to responsible developers who can put them to productive reuse.”

Crosby told the commissioners that groundwork for the land bank has been underway for months, including the development of a housing-priority dashboard map to classify and rank properties based on redevelopment potential.

The firm has developed a method for identifying and assessing potential land-bank inventory among target properties valued at $30,000 or less, Crosby said. It has also provided the city with a best practices analysis of land banks nationwide to identify models that have successfully returned properties to productive use.

White said much of the work to date has focused on defining both the problem the land bank is meant to address and the realistic tools available to the city.

“During these last several months, we have been helping [Cambridge] understand what the issues are, the statutory opportunities the city might have available to it, and the market-based realities we should be cognizant of,” White said.

He said most distressed properties in Cambridge are privately owned, not city-owned, and that acquiring them can be legally and financially complex, despite the common perception that blighted or distressed properties are the city’s responsibility.  The challenge, he said, is identifying legal ways that the city or its partners can access the properties.

These may include targeted tax-sale purchases, property donations, and transfers resulting from code enforcement actions; adding the land bank would not displace residents or compete with active private development.

Under the recommended model, the land bank would operate independently with its own board of directors, while coordinating closely with the city through a memorandum of understanding, which he called a “middle ground.” 

White said community engagement will be central as the process moves forward, with public meetings planned as early as February.

“City staff are committed to ensuring that the land bank progresses in a realistic way and that the community is sufficiently informed about what the land bank can and cannot do,” Crosby said earlier in the presentation. “Resident input will inform how the land bank operates.”

White cautioned commissioners against assuming the land bank would be financially self-sustaining, which in his experience has never been the case, suggesting the bank in Cambridge would depend on public support “in some way, shape, or form.”  

A proposed timeline presented Monday suggests appointing an initial board of directors early this year, finalizing a memorandum of understanding by late spring, and having the land bank operational by late summer or early fall.

Several commissioners expressed support for the concept, citing the city’s large number of vacant and underutilized properties.

Ward 1 Commissioner Brett Summers said vacant and underutilized properties remain a “scourge” of Cambridge and argued the city needs to implement the idea quickly. Summers said he wanted the City Commission “on the record” supporting a goal of an operational land bank by September. A clear target date, he said, would help ensure the effort moves forward after years of discussion.

No formal action was taken on Monday, as the item was listed for informational purposes only. City officials said further discussion will be needed on staffing, funding, and coordination with Dorchester County before the land bank is formally launched.

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Redefining Beauty By Angela Rieck

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I was flipping through channels last month and stopped at the NCAA Women’s Volleyball championship. I was surprised that a women’s volleyball game was televised on national television.

Women’s sports have a way to go, but they have made progress. The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has become a popular spectator sport.

All of the women playing were physically beautiful. Some wore make-up and earrings and had their hair tied back, others let their natural beauty shine through. After each point they formed a circle and held hands to support each other. Their performance, athleticism, comradery, and appearance made them all stunning.

It allowed me to think about how the view of women’s beauty has changed over the centuries. Athletics for women was often discouraged in my time. 

In the Victorian era, the ideal woman was characterized by a very small, corseted waist, rounded shoulders, and a generally subservient and dainty appearance. Any form of strenuous activity was discouraged, believing it could harm a woman’s reproduction or general health.

In the 1950s the hourglass figure was the ideal, with a philosophy that women do women’s work and stay away from sports. 

The aversion to female athleticism came from norms that associated strength, aggression, and competition with masculinity. Women who excelled in sports were often questioned about their femininity. 

But changes in the viewpoint of feminine beauty started with the women’s movement (which resulted in Title IX). The consensus about women’s beauty has increasingly become athletic-friendly. Beauty now embraces strength. Traditional views that women should not engage in physical effort have dissipated.  

There has also been an increase in collaborations between major beauty brands and female athletes and sports leagues (like the WNBA). These partnerships redefine beauty to include strength and athleticism.

Media coverage of women’s sports, especially around major events like the Olympics, have brought female athletes into the public eye, allowing their athletic prowess to be viewed and appreciated. It promotes a more inclusive view of beauty that celebrates the diverse forms and capabilities of women. 

We still have a way to go, models tend to be very slim and appear unhealthy.

But I like the direction in which we are headed. 

Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Blue Dogs by Al Sikes

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Who knew? There is still a Blue Dog Caucus in the Democratic Party, even as New Yorkers elect a socialist as Mayor of America’s largest city. The Caucus is said “to be an official caucus in the House of Representatives comprised of “fiscally-responsible Democrats who are leading the way to find common sense solutions.”

And I found out that pearl, “small”, in the New York Times. The Caucuses continuing existence showed up in an article about a Member of Congress from a rural district in Washington State. Her name: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

At the beginning of the interview, Perez quoted from the gospel of Luke: “He who is faithful in a small thing is faithful in a great thing also.” Underscoring small she proposed an amendment to a bill because we are plagued with  “headlight brightness.” The amendment urges “the Secretary of Transportation to study the impacts of headlight brightness on the vision and safety of drivers, pedestrians, and other road users, as well as in regard to different terrain, such as hills and curves.”

Her signature cause is informed by her disgust with a never-ending stream of products that cannot be repaired. She co-owned an auto repair and machine shop with her husband. And I quote from Perez: “We don’t want to be perpetual renters of disposable crap”. She refers to much of what we own as items simply rented.

Thankfully, the article didn’t go into what she thinks about the President. We are forced to overindulge his performative behavior. In one very simple way Representative Perez is his antithesis. He is wedded to big things. The “Big Beautiful Bill”, for example, was biblical in its length. Even the best-informed got entangled in the details.

And if we want to simplify, much must be done locally. Yes, City Councils. Sparks will fly, but at the end of the day you will have had a chance to weigh in. And, much will have to be done by all of us as buyers.

My wife and I became beekeepers shortly after the century’s turn. We joined a beekeeping club. The Members bought, sold, repaired, and combined to buy less expensively. The leader of the club would drive ten plus hours to buy nuclei of bee hives called “nucs,” and everybody who bought one or more would show up with their pickup trucks the next morning, get their supply, and then hive them.

My wife and I were newbies, and a seasoned beekeeper offered his services free of charge to help us. He adamantly refused to take money.

President Trump should use his tariffs on disposable goods while letting what Representative Perez would call “goods we own” and can repair be tariff-free. Indeed maybe her Party should go beyond powerful identity groups and make small business a part of their platform. I think it would be popular and help revive businesses that fix the repairable while taking some pressure off landfills.

My guess is her party will run against Trumpism and not on a platform aimed at simplification. Or, as she might envision it, “ownership” so that those who want to cut the thread or maybe chain link binding us to Big Tech can do so. It would be refreshing at the next inaugural to see something other than Big Tech moguls in the prize seats.

More recently I have started paying attention to the Town Council where I live. The Council listens; my Member of Congress is too busy being herded around to pay any attention. Trump has a leash on him.

Now decentralization doesn’t assure happiness. I used to live in New York City and would be furious with the new Mayor’s radical moves embracing socialism. But I would know that next time around I could try to do something about it.

Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

After Years of Delays, Hearn Building Project Advancing

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Developer Chase Powell testifies before the City Commissioners on January 12, 2026, stating “Can’t we just work together to make this happen”?

 After years of delays and uncertainty surrounding the long-running redevelopment effort for the deteriorating Hearn has reached a turning point following approval from state historic officials, developer Chase Powell told the Cambridge City Commissioners Monday evening.

Powell said the Maryland Historic Trust and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development finalized an agreement in late October allowing unsafe portions of the Hearn building and the adjacent 505 Race St. structure to be demolished, while requiring preservation of the historic front facade and documentation of the site.

The approval follows a year-and-a-half-long review process triggered after the city’s Historic Preservation Commission directed the developer to seek state concurrence before proceeding with major demolition. Powell said that the process is now complete.

After laying out that timeline, Powell turned to the rationale for the plan, noting that the decision to pursue partial demolition was driven by extensive structural and soil analyses showing that the existing buildings cannot safely support the proposed workforce housing development without extraordinary intervention.

“It can’t actually stand on its own,” Powell said if the Hearn building, which remains propped up by concrete supports and temporary bracing.

Powell, of Green Street Housing, said a final memorandum of agreement with the Maryland Historic Trust and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development was issued Oct. 29, 2025. 

The agreement outlines the conditions under which the Hearn building and the adjacent 505 Race St. structure may be taken down, including documentation and preservation requirements tied to the site’s historic status.

The current proposal calls for workforce housing and ground-floor commercial space across parcels at 505, 507, and 509 Race St. Under the concept, the facade of the former Herbert Hearn Hardware Co. would be preserved, while the remainder of the structure and the neighboring 505 building would be demolished and rebuilt to match the historic streetscape.

Powell emphasized that the shift away from full preservation was driven by years of structural deterioration and engineering findings.

 Inside, Powell described the building as little more than a shell. “We are talking about the bones, right?” he said, adding that water intrusion and long-term exposure to the elements have compromised framing, floors, and foundations.

According to Powell, soil tests and structural reviews showed that the site’s bearing capacity is far below what is required for a multi-family building without extensive intervention.

“You’ve got dirt that cannot support a multi-family use without either really radical interventions for structural engineering or what we are proposing, which is to just demolish everything, come in with new soils, come in with new pilings, and build a totally new building,” he said.

Powell acknowledged the emotional weight of the decision, noting that his own family history is tied to the property.

“I’m not a fan of tearing down historic buildings that my great-grandfather owned,” he said, referring to Ralph Foxwell, who operated a furniture business in the Hearn building for decades. “But logically speaking, it doesn’t make sense for it to stay up.”

Commissioners questioned how the proposed workforce housing would affect downtown Cambridge, particularly concerns about concentrating poverty.

Ward 3 Commissioner Frank Stout said he supports quality housing but cautioned against repeating past mistakes, given the dire need for low income housing in the city.  “We have endured the ramifications of concentrated poverty,” he said, adding that the city has struggled to manage the housing situation effectively.

Powell responded by drawing a distinction between subsidized housing and projects financed through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

“This project has a financing subsidy by way of the tax credits,” he said. “But the residents have to pay their rent every month.”

He said tenants would typically earn between 60 and 80 percent of the area median income and would qualify once at move-in. Units would include in-unit washers and dryers, modern appliances, and energy-efficient construction.

 Ward 2 Commissioner Shay Lewis-Sisco aid the presentation helped clarify years of discussion around the site and emphasized the importance of transparency.

“Sharing this information definitely allows for the public to engage,” she said, adding that additional public meetings outside regular Monday night council sessions would help reach more residents.

Ward 1 Commissioner Brett Summers asked whether the City Commissioners would have a final vote on the project. Powell said the approval process runs through the Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission.

“Currently, the process doesn’t include coming back for a final sign-off by city council,” he said, though he stressed that he was appearing before commissioners “in good faith” to seek input.

Powell said Green Street is under contract to purchase the property and intends to continue refining the design before returning to the preservation and planning boards.

“Can we just work together to make this thing happen?” he asked. “I think this could be a really special thing, but we have to get there.”

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

The Third Law By Jamie Kirkpatrick

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Last week, Sir Issac Newton would have celebrated his 383rd birthday. Remember Sir Isaac? He was the gentleman who, while “in a contemplative mood,” watched an apple drop from a tree and wondered why it fell straight down. That innocent observation led him to consider the existence of a universal attractive force—what we now call “gravity.”  But Sir Isaac didn’t stop contemplating there. He went on to formulate his three Laws of Motion that have become the fundamental principles of classical mechanics. His first Law (Inertia) posits that an object stays at rest or in motion unless some force acts on it. His second Law (F=ma) states that force equals mass times acceleration. But it’s Newton’s third Law (Action-Reaction) that leaves me musing today: “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” 

“I wonder,” I asked myself upon waking this morning, “what would Sir Isaac say are the equal and opposite reactions to the egregious acts we’re witnessing almost every day: the invasion of Venezuela and the middle-of-the-night extraction of its president and his wife? Or the murder of an innocent Minnesota mother—an American citizen!— by an ICE agent? Or threatening to wrest Greenland from a European ally, or even about building a gaudy $400 million ballroom while many of us struggle to make ends meet? What would he say? What do you say?

I’ve come to the conclusion that the Trump administration does not believe Newton’s third Law—or any other law, for that matter— has any applicability to its actions. They do what they do with presumed impunity. I keep waiting for either one of the so-called co-equal branches of our government—the Legislative or the Judicial—to react and rein in the Executive, but it seems that the President and his minions have moved beyond what was enshrined in the Constitution into an unimaginable realm of lawlessness and immorality, of coverup and spin.

When a bird flies, its wings push air downwards as an action force and the air pushes the bird upward as reaction force. Or when a ball hits the ground, it applies a force on the ground and the ground responds with a reaction force causing the ball to bounce back. Even to a non-physicist such as yours truly, this makes a certain amount of sense. What doesn’t make sense, however, is how Newton’s third Law does not appear to  apply to any of the people in the Trump White House or to their enablers in Congress and on the Supreme Court. There is never a reaction.

No doubt, some of you will disagree with me on this. I will assume that disagreement is founded on the political applicability of Newton’s Third Law, not on its foundation in Physics. But could we at least agree that actions do have consequences—either equal and opposite as science dictates, or the moral and ethical ones that exist in the metaphysical universe? Personally, I believe that those laws—the laws of karma—are as immutable as Newton’s and will ultimately hold the current culprits accountable.

And then there’s this: I had lunch with a friend the other day and asked him what he thought of all that was going on in Newton’s physical world. He said, “It’s just wag the dog—anything to shift the focus off Epstein.”  

Maybe Sir Isaac needs to contemplate a fourth Law: the Law of Accountability.

I’ll be right back.

Jamie Kirkpatrick is a writer and photographer who lives on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay. His editorials and reviews have appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Washington College Alumni Magazine, and American Cowboy Magazine. His most recent novel, “The Tales of Bismuth; Dispatches from Palestine, 1945-1948” explores the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is available on Amazon and in local bookstores. His newest novel, “The People Game,” is scheduled for publication in February, 2026. (It’s available for pre-order now on Amazon.) His website is musingjamie.net.

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In Trump World, White Lives Matter More By Maria Grant

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Many people have died during the first year of Trump’s second term. A majority of them have been people of color. Here’s a brief summary. 

Thiry-two people died in ICE detention centers in 2025. At least seven of them died in the first 100 days of the administration.

Three people died in accidents while running from ICE raids.

Various reports suggest that cuts to international aid caused up to 14 million deaths globally.

Last year, more than 100,000 Americans were killed by gun violence.

Reports indicate that there have been at least 115 deaths in more than 35 boat strikes off Venezuelan waters between September 2025 and January 2026. So far, the administration has provided little evidence that the targeted vessels were carrying drugs, or that all victims were involved in drug trafficking. 

Venezuelan officials report that approximately 100 Venezuelans were killed during the U.S. operation to capture Maduro. During Trump’s press conference after Maduro’s capture, no mention was made of those deaths. The only mention of death was when Trump stated that no Americans were killed, and only two Americans were injured. 

Just last week, Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Two people were injured, one seriously, by federal officers in Portland, Oregon, the day after the Minneapolis shooting. 

Trump has been deeply disturbed by White South Africans being killed but has not expressed that same outrage about the Black people who have been murdered in South Africa and other nations.

Since the beginning of his second term, Trump has painted over Black Lives Matter murals and scrubbed stories about Navajo Code Talkers from museums in yet another effort to erase non-White history. He has removed Black historical figures from national websites; signed an executive order attacking the National Museum of African American History; rolled back DEI initiatives; and reinstalled Confederate memorials that had been removed. 

Trump has called Somali immigrants “garbage,” and said, “We don’t want them in our country. Let them go back to where they came from.” He has continued to seal the country to refugees around the world, reserving only a limited number of slots for White South Africans. (He has also stated that he wishes more White people from Denmark would immigrate to the U.S. rather than the current “garbage” who are here. That wish is unlikely to be realized given Trump’s obsession with taking over Greenland.) 

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Trump stated that the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 led to white people being treated “very badly.” In response, NAACP President Derrick Johnson stated that there is no evidence that White people have been discriminated against as a result of the civil rights movement. 

Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has a history of political extremism. He was the architect of family separations at the border. His leaked emails shared white nationalist talking points. And his former work in government has consistently targeted people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ Americans. 

When conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered in that horrific incident, Miller, Vance, and Trump pronounced that anyone who repeated Kirk’s very own words which many would interpret as racist or sexist should be called out. Their employers should fire them immediately. Some employers took those demands seriously and several employees lost their jobs. 

Contrast the casualness of minority deaths with the outcry over White deaths with the kind of recruitment that is going on right now for more ICE agents. When the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed, it included almost $75 billion extra for ICE agents, making ICE the largest law enforcement agency in the country, outstripping even the FBI. 

To meet its hiring targets, ICE has removed age restrictions and cut the training time in half. It is also using some far-right websites in its recruiting efforts. Scholars have connected some of the recruiting to Proud Boy rhetoric as well. 

Keep in mind that the majority of ICE arrestees do not have criminal records. Only roughly eight percent of them have been convicted of a crime. Many critics say that the current ICE recruitment strategy uses violent video game metaphors, encourages extremism and racist indoctrination, and suggests that ICE will make America different than what it currently is. In essence it presents the new America as a violent but White place. 

Martin Luther King once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” 

The casual collateral damage rhetoric that surfaces from this Administration when people of color are killed or treated with cruelty and no due process will result in severe consequences. This mindset impacts international relations, domestic stability, and societal well-being. 

Actions to curtail the current momentum have never been more important. Ensuring that voters are informed about current threats to our democracy and mobilizing as many as possible to vote this November will make a difference. Act now. 

Maria Grant, formerly principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm, now focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Thoughts on unexpected Acts of Kindness by David Reel

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Last week, after worship at The Presbyterian Church of Easton, each attendee was given a gift by Pastor Eric Markman.

It is a simple gift, a hand-crafted cardboard star with one word painted on it, each one different.

The word on my star is appreciation.

We were asked to contemplate using that word as a North Star (also known as a guiding principle), to help us focus our perspective on and approach to life in a new year.

My initial reaction to appreciation as my North Star was negative. I told myself, I very rarely received or delivered appreciation, even when I was the recipient of unexpected acts of kindness.

I told myself privately in the world we live in, it is naïve to even think much about receiving or delivering appreciation on unexpected acts of kindness.

In such a world, we should expect nothing more than a continuation of deepening divisions based on strongly held and differing opinions on political party allegiances, the motives and the performance of elected and appointed government officials at all levels of government,  positions on issues of the day, endless wars, rumors of wars, senseless acts of violence, and the causes and effects of economic uncertainty.

Despite that negativity, one of my North Stars is – “Sometimes it pays to sit and think.”

Accordingly, I decided to take some time to sit and think about the past and the future of unexpected acts of kindness in my life.

Much to my surprise, I came to realize that I had, in fact, experienced more unexpected acts of kindness than I expected.

Some were large, many were small. Regardless of size, every one of them was worthy of appreciation and none of them should have been ignored or forgotten.

Some of the most memorable that emerged from my “sit and think” session include:

•    Neighbors clearing our driveway after it was plowed shut from a snowstorm.
•    Neighbors delivering a portable air-conditioner during an intense heat wave after ours stopped working.
•    Neighbors joining us to rake and bag leaves in our large back yard.
•    A neighbor inviting us to a neighborhood block party as a way to get to know each other better, and in some cases, meet new neighbors        for the first time.
•    A friend inviting us to her home for Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner with her family members and guests after learning that,        as  empty nesters, we would be home alone on both holidays.
•    A friend fixing a windshield wiper after getting a huge estimate at a repair shop to do it.
•    A friend lending us a car for two days while our truck was in a repair shop.
•    A friend installing two new outside lights on our front porch.
•    A good Samaritan in Texas witnessing a dog pregnant with nine unborn puppies being pushed from a car and abandoned, then took her          to an animal shelter after which she was brought to Maryland for adoption by us.
•    A local veterinarian providing support and compassion beyond measure when it was time to have both of our senior dogs euthanized.
•    Volunteers at a monthly free “MY Tech Clinic” at the Talbot County Free Library, who patiently help non techies like me address technical        issues with their electronic devices.
•    The former owner of a historic and unique office desk who gave it to us and said his father would be thrilled it found just the right home.
•    A couple from Washington DC visiting our area, finding my wife’s lost wallet in St. Michael’s, hand delivering it to our home, and refusing        any reward.
•    Readers of my weekly point of view columns telling me how much they enjoy them.
•    Readers of my columns telling me they do not always agree with my point of view, but they always disagree without being disagreeable.

All these experiences had one thing in common beyond being unexpected gifts of kindness.

No provider of our unexpected gifts of kindness has ever cared about where my wife and I live, where we came from, what we do or did for a living, who we voted for, or what positions we have on local, state, and national issues of the day. Every unexpected act of kindness we have received has been spontaneous, freely given, and done without any expectation of any reward. They came from the heart.

Dr. Maya Angelou, often referred to as “America’s Poet,” has written, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

Now, I do know better about how often I have been on the receiving end of many unexpected acts of kindness.

As a result, I will do better… starting now.

In the spirit of “To whom much has been given, much is expected,” I will go forward searching for and responding to opportunities to provide unexpected acts of kindness with a hope the recipients may be inspired to do the same.

David Reel is a public affairs and public relations consultant who lives in Easton with his wife, one rescued dog, three rescued cats, and nine ducks.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.