Mark Herrmann
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Former reporter at Newsday, from 1983 through 2019. Freelance writer
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Articles by Mark Herrmann
The Elections: Grab Your Popcorn, And Stay Near Your Fallout Shelter
(Image via Getty) The elections in Israel will be held tomorrow, October 27. Election Day in the United States is a week from tomorrow, November 3. Grab your popcorn, and stay near your fallout shelter. In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu urgently needs the electoral support that an active war would garner for him. Bibi apparently tried to talk Trump into restarting the war in Iran, but Trump wants to delay until after the midterms. Hmmm.
Pitchforks To The Barricades!
Unlike most people, I was proud of America in the year 2000, when George Bush and Al Gore played the presidential election to a tie. I told folks at the time: “In most countries, if an election were a tie, competing mobs would take to the streets. Not in America. We figure that ‘boys will be boys.’ These political morons will work it out somehow. Someone will be sworn in on January 20, and life will go on.” An event that would have triggered panic elsewhere triggered only yawns in the United States.
ChatGPT's Anti-Trump Slogans - Above the Law
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Former Chicago Mayor and Democratic strategist Rahm Emanuel summarized Donald Trump’s presidency with the alliterative phrase: “Greed, grievance, and grandeur.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries uses a different alliterative phrase: “Chaos, cruelty and corruption.” By Jove, I think I’ve got this! Three words. Alliterative.
Do You Also Want Your Money Back?
I want my money back. How about you? The cost of changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” has been about 500 grand. I’d like my share back, please. The cost of changing the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America”? Perplexity can’t help me. The cost of restoring the name of Mt. Denali to Mt. McKinley? Also unknown. Now we’re changing “artificial intelligence” to “superintelligence” in all government documents. Whatever the costs are, I want my share back.
Checking Trump’s Predictions
Donald Trump has made several predictions during the past 10 years. In February 2020, Trump predicted that COVID would go away — “like a miracle” — very quickly. Mm-hmm. In fact, the country would be “opened up” by Easter 2020. Mm-hmm. He predicted that the war in Iran would end four or five weeks after it started. Mm-hmm. He predicted that Mexico would pay for the wall. Mm-hmm. He predicted that the new White House ballroom would cost $200 million. Mm-hmm.
Checking Trump's Predictions - Above the Law
Donald Trump has made several predictions during the past 10 years. In February 2020, Trump predicted that COVID would go away — “like a miracle” — very quickly. Mm-hmm. In fact, the country would be “opened up” by Easter 2020. Mm-hmm. He predicted that the war in Iran would end four or five weeks after it started. Mm-hmm. He predicted that Mexico would pay for the wall. Mm-hmm. He predicted that the new White House ballroom would cost $200 million. Mm-hmm.
Examples Of Trusting Donald Trump Only To Be Stabbed In The Back
Mike Pence gave up a fair amount to help Donald Trump. Pence was a relatively successful guy. He’d served in the House of Representatives for more than a decade. He’d been the governor of Indiana. He had a reputation for being a devout Christian. Pence served Trump loyally. Pence played a key role in the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns. Pence gave Trump — now a convicted felon and, in the usual sense of the words, a rapist — credibility with the religious right.
Examples Of Trusting Donald Trump Only To Be Stabbed In The Back
Mike Pence gave up a fair amount to help Donald Trump. Pence was a relatively successful guy. He’d served in the House of Representatives for more than a decade. He’d been the governor of Indiana. He had a reputation for being a devout Christian. Pence served Trump loyally. Pence played a key role in the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns. Pence gave Trump — now a convicted felon and, in the usual sense of the words, a rapist — credibility with the religious right.
People I Never Care To Hear About Again
Think about Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former lawyer. As far as I can tell, Cohen was an incompetent, a thug, and a criminal who mindlessly supported Trump. Cohen then had a change of heart. He became an incompetent, a thug, and a criminal who vindictively opposed Trump. For some reason, the left embraced Cohen. Cohen then had another change of heart. He’s now an incompetent, a thug, and a criminal who again licks Donald Trump’s boots.
People I Never Care To Hear About Again
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Think about Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former lawyer. As far as I can tell, Cohen was an incompetent, a thug, and a criminal who mindlessly supported Trump. Cohen then had a change of heart. He became an incompetent, a thug, and a criminal who vindictively opposed Trump. For some reason, the left embraced Cohen. Cohen then had another change of heart. He’s now an incompetent, a thug, and a criminal who again licks Donald Trump’s boots.
The Iranian October Surprise
Suppose the United States manages to impose an economic stranglehold on Iran. Suppose Iran feels desperate by late September. The regime is beginning to wobble. Do you really think the Iranians would admit defeat and come to the negotiating table with their tail between their legs? I personally doubt it. Surely there are folks in Iran ginning up an October surprise that would devastate the Republicans (and Donald Trump) in the midterm elections. I’m a bit concerned about those possible Iranian ideas.
The Iranian October Surprise
Suppose the United States manages to impose an economic stranglehold on Iran. Suppose Iran feels desperate by late September. The regime is beginning to wobble. Do you really think the Iranians would admit defeat and come to the negotiating table with their tale between their legs? I personally doubt it. Surely there are folks in Iran ginning up an October surprise that would devastate the Republicans (and Donald Trump) in the midterm elections. I’m a bit concerned about those possible Iranian ideas.
Is Trump Only The Worst President — Or Is He The Worst American — Ever?
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) The pandemic was good for at least one thing: It prompted some old law school buddies and me to begin meeting occasionally by Zoom. Although the pandemic has ended, the calls have not. One of those calls prompted today’s column. A few weeks ago, one of my buddies said: “I don’t think Donald Trump is merely the worst president ever. I think you could make an argument that he’s the worst American ever.” Eureka! I’m always up for a challenge.
The Catering Caper: A Loaf On The Move
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) President Donald Trump left the NATO summit last month in an unusual way: He did not board the new Qatari Air Force One, instead publicly boarded an old version of Air Force One, and then snuck off that plane on a catering delivery truck to actually fly out on yet a third plane.
Thinking About Trump’s ‘Brain Trust’
Consider President Donald Trump’s “brain trust” — the small group of people he consults before making major decisions. Even mediocre people can make good decisions if they’re surrounded by competent help. (Some would say Joe Biden, a genial mediocrity, did that.) How does Trump’s brain trust measure up? Then I realized that you can’t write about this subject. Excuse a brief digression: I worked primarily for two large institutions before I retired.
Counting Trump’s Many Victories
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Conservative commentators howled about the specter of Dr. Anthony Fauci invoking the Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself more than 100 times during his Congressional testimony last Wednesday. Disgraceful! And then I remembered that Donald Trump had invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 400 times while testifying in a deposition in the New York attorney general’s civil case against him. Trump took the Fifth four times as often as Fauci?
Counting Trump’s Many Victories
4 hours ago President Donald Trump celebrated another golf win over the weekend, the latest in a long line of nearly unbelievable championships. Trump was honored at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey in a video posted Aug. 2, which shows Trump receiving a trophy for winning the "super senior" …
A Jaunt Through ‘The Odyssey’
This summer, I’m taking a class in comparative translations of The Odyssey. Okay, okay: To each his own. But I’ve sure been amused about the controversy over whether Christopher Nolan’s film version of The Odyssey is woke. Let me make just two points. First, folks say that Nolan’s decision to cast Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy is an outrage. She’s black, for heaven’s sake! How can the most beautiful woman in ancient Greece be black? Let’s think about this. Zeus transformed himself into a swan.
The Ways That Congress Should Regulate Itself
Members of Congress should not be permitted to profit from inside information. If a member of Congress learns material, nonpublic information about a company, the member is forbidden to trade in that company’s securities. Why can’t Congress pass that law? Shall we vote some recalcitrant members of Congress — those who oppose my proposed new law — out of office? Okay. The country would get along just fine without those elected officials, trust me. This is easy. And I’m just getting warmed up.
Arguments That Embarrass Only The Advocate
I often see arguments that advocates think are persuasive. In fact, the arguments convince me only to doubt everything the advocate says. For example: “We had a terrible blizzard last week. See? I told you that global warming is a hoax!” The speaker believes that he (or she) is making a point.
How To Slaughter Slaughter
(Photo by Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images) I understand: The Supreme Court has decided Trump v. Slaughter, and independent agencies are no longer as independent as they were last week. President Trump is now empowered to fire at will employees of formerly independent agencies. Trump can remake the government in his own image. Patronage and incompetence! That’s not a pretty picture. Got it. But stop fixating on the past. Turn your gaze to the future.
An Entirely Innocent Question About Artificial Intelligence
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia was talking a couple of weeks ago about Anthropic’s artificial intelligence “Mythos model.” Warner said, “This tool broke into almost all of our classified systems, not in weeks but in hours.” Hmmm. An artificial intelligence system can break into almost all of the United States’ classified systems in hours. That sounds pretty dangerous. Am I permitted to ask a follow-up question?
The Obvious Midsummer Twist In The Negotiations With Iran
It was always clear how the war in Iran would end. Any fool could have predicted the conclusion. In fact, this fool did. On March 9, I wrote in my column here at Above the Law: “The war in Iran will be over from the American side no later than June 1.” Bingo! The U.S. and Iran reached a ceasefire on April 8 and signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17. Not a bad prediction, I’d say. But I anticipated more: I predicted that the United States would no longer be bombing Iran.
U.S. Open at Shinnecock: Recalling some classic behind-the-scenes moments
As fans will no doubt witness again this week, some of the best U.S. Open stories occur before the final putt and never are mentioned at the awards ceremony. Some classic moments from behind the scenes in previous Opens at Shinnecock Hills. 1986 The first round of Shinnecock’s first Open in 90 years seemed like something out of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” The day was cold, windy and very wet.
U.S. Open history lesson: In 1896, Shinnecock hosted first Black players
One-hundred thirty years ago, Shinnecock Hills and the U.S. Golf Association determined how open a U.S. Open really should be. Southampton resident John Shippen Jr., the first Black pro, and Oscar Bunn, a member of the Shinnecock Nation, were entered into the 1896 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills by club members. Other entrants, all white and many from Europe, objected to the duo’s presence and threatened to boycott if Shippen and Bunn were allowed to play.
Why You’re A Hypocrite
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Bill Clinton is a scumbag. In the 1990s, multiple women (remember Paula Jones? Juanita Broaddrick?) credibly accused Clinton of sexual harassment (or worse). Clinton plainly abused his power in his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, and he committed perjury by lying under oath about the Lewinsky relationship. But Clinton was a Democratic scumbag. Democrats were willing to overlook Clinton’s personal failures because Clinton was supporting policies they liked.
U.S. Open at Shinnecock: A hole-by-hole breakdown of the challenging course
An overhead look at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin By Mark HerrmannSpecial to NewsdayJune 15, 2026 9:00 am No. 1: Westward Ho, Par 4, 394 yards The course starts facing due west. Ben Crenshaw, on a pilgrimage to Shinnecock as a PGA Tour rookie in 1973, was told afterward his 65 was a course record. He didn’t accept it because he had hit two balls off the first tee.
U.S. Open at Shinnecock: Wide fairways, wind and other key factors to solving difficult course
This championship has potential to become known as the U.S. Wide Open. That is not necessarily a commentary on the number of possible winners. Sometimes the leaderboard is wide open, sometimes it is not. No, what will make this Open wide are the fairways at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. “The fairways are very generous. They’re more generous than they were in 2018,” said Rory McIlroy, who stopped in Southampton before playing the Memorial Tournament last week.
U.S. Open at Shinnecock: How the 1986 event made Long Island course a major player
During a nationally televised preview of the 1986 U.S. Open, Lee Trevino buoyantly proclaimed, “Everybody should come see Shinnecock.” Up until then, very few people ever had the chance to do so. Yes, the second-ever Open was held at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in 1896, but it was hardly a worldwide event. Plus, the layout back then was vastly different — some holes were on the other side of the Long Island Rail Road tracks — than the one Trevino and his fellow pros would see June 12-15, 1986.
Trump And The Day After
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Everyone’s worried about Election Day. What will Donald Trump do? Executive actions against mail-in voting? Restrictive federal voting rules? Weakened election security? Intimidation at polling places? I’m only slightly worried about Election Day. I’m more worried about the day after Election Day. Most presidents are beginning the descent into lame duck status on the day after the midterms. I’m afraid that Trump might begin morphing into Quackzilla.
The Value Of Trump’s Personal Relationship With Xi Jinping
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) President Donald Trump insists that personal relationships make all the difference in the world. For example, Trump insisted that Roy Cohn was his “closest friend.” Until Cohn was diagnosed with AIDS. Then, Trump cut Cohn off. Trump defended former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn as a “good guy” and a “wonderful man.” Until Trump demanded Flynn’s resignation. Trump described former Attorney General Jeff Sessions as a loyal ally.
Your Name As An Adjective
Is it happening more now than it did in the past? Or do I simply notice it more, since I’ve become aware of it? Last week, Xi Jinping, the president of China, said that he hoped the world could avoid falling into a “Thucydides trap.” Xi wins. I’d heard of Thucydides, but I couldn’t have told you what his trap was. (Now that I’ve investigated, Xi probably said this to avoid Trump’s criticism. If Xi had said that America was in decline, Trump might have objected.
Calm Down, Sane Republicans Say, He’s Only Joking
Sane people on the right say that critics of Donald Trump should calm down. Trump says some crazy stuff, they concede, but he’s just kidding. Look at what he does, not what he says. Here’s my question: How do we know when Trump’s kidding? If a Trump supporter can tell me, at the time Trump speaks the words, that certain words are a joke, then that supporter might have a point. But the supporter can never do that.
TACOs And NACHOs And SALSA, Oh My!
In my next life, I want to work on Wall Street. Not because I like finance, but because Wall Street traders originally came up with the acronym “TACO,” for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” And then, last week, another trader ginned up “NACHO,” for “Not A Chance Hormuz Opens.” I want to work with those guys: They’re a hoot, and you make a lot of money, too! Alas, it’s just me, my imagination, and artificial intelligence here at my desktop.
Targets Too Hot To Troll
(Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Donald Trump has met his match. Twice. First, Trump has probably learned that one should not pick online fights with the Vicar of Christ. Those fights are hard to win — maybe because the Pope’s got a certain someone on his side. Having failed in jousting with the Pope, Trump decided to up the ante. The President suggested that the Pope is merely the Vicar of Christ, whereas Trump is Christ himself.
The Tart Of The Deal
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Many people think that Donald Trump’s threats and bluster are all a negotiating strategy. Threaten to destroy a country’s civilization; the country’s leaders’ knees will tremble; the country will surrender. I’m not sure that works so well in a country where the government doesn’t care about the people and where the leaders believe that dying in the name of the cause is the path to martyrdom. But, effective or not, perhaps Trump is employing a strategy.
Animal Farm-ula - Above the Law
“Napoleon” was, of course, the name George Orwell gave to the pig who ran Animal Farm after the animals overthrew the humans. Orwell wrote in Animal Farm: “In his speeches, Squealer would talk with tears rolling down his cheeks of Napoleon’s wisdom, the goodness of his heart, and the deep love he bore to all animals everywhere.” Here’s what Todd Blanche said last week: “I love working for President Trump. It’s the greatest honor of a lifetime.
Suppose Portugal Did It
Suppose Portugal, instead of the United States, did it. Suppose Portugal announced that it wanted France to be its newest state. Governor Macron, and all that. How would the world react? Lunatic at the helm, maybe? Suppose Portugal said that it intended to take over Greenland — preferably by negotiation, but by force, if necessary. What would we think of the Portuguese leader? Would we be coming to take him away, ha-haaa? Suppose Portugal imposed ridiculously high tariffs on the rest of the world.
Suppose Portugal Did It
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Suppose Portugal, instead of the United States, did it. Suppose Portugal announced that it wanted France to be its newest state. Governor Macron, and all that. How would the world react? Lunatic at the helm, maybe? Suppose Portugal said that it intended to take over Greenland — preferably by negotiation, but by force, if necessary. What would we think of the Portuguese leader? Would we be coming to take him away, ha-haaa?
Who’s Worse Than Trump?
(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) I was chatting with a guy at a wedding recently who told me that Donald Trump was the best president in American history. You have to be careful these days. Was he pulling my leg? Was he serious? I explored: “What do you have in mind?” “Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and he negotiated the Abraham Accords.” Got it. If you’re a strong supporter of Israel, and you ignore everything else, Trump’s great.
I Am Trump’s Brain
Iran’s a bad place. They’re building nuclear weapons. We had to bomb them a few months back, and the country is still dangerous. I put all those warships in the Middle East so that Iran would cave to us in negotiations, but the country is still playing hardball. It’s almost like they’re religious fanatics who aren’t listening to me. What’s that? Phone call from Bibi? Yeah, yeah. I know you want to destroy Iran, but I don’t want any forever wars. What’s that? Phone call from MBS? You want to bomb them, too?
Baseball 101: Endings
Lou Gehrig's farewell speech, Mike Piazza and Tom Seaver close Shea Stadium, and Derek Jeter's final game as a Yankee, with Ebbets Field in the background. Credit: AP; Getty Images By Mark HerrmannSpecial to NewsdayMarch 23, 2026 10:00 am The only place to start is with the finish. That is how to explain why the most recent baseball season was so compelling. It was an interesting year, capped by a wild World Series, capped by an amazing, 11-inning Game 7.
2 Problems With Calling Off The War In Iran
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) I suggested last week that, between now and the beginning of summer, President Donald Trump will declare victory in Iran, end most of the military operations, and move on to his next manufactured crisis. Trump could thus claim another victory and not worry about that nasty little war handing Democrats the midterms.
You Know Exactly How The War In Iran Will End
Everyone says that we don’t know how the war in Iran will end. Nonsense. We know exactly how the war will end. We even know when it will end. But let’s start at the beginning. As the war begins, reporters foolishly ask three questions. First, they ask a supposedly hard question for Democrats: “Do you feel safer now than you did a week ago, when Ali Khamenei was ruling Iran?” It’s not so hard: Of course we feel safer now. The U.S. got rid of an evil man.
You Know Exactly How The War In Iran Will End
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Everyone says that we don’t know how the war in Iran will end. Nonsense. We know exactly how the war will end. We even know when it will end. But let’s start at the beginning. As the war begins, reporters foolishly ask three questions. First, they ask a supposedly hard question for Democrats: “Do you feel safer now than you did a week ago, when Ali Khamenei was ruling Iran?” It’s not so hard: Of course we feel safer now. The U.S. got rid of an evil man.
Pesca e estrutura populacional do pitú Macrobrachium carcinus(Linnaeus, 1758) coletado na Ilha do Marajó-PA (Amazônia Oriental)
Ayuda Buscar en la ayuda Buscar en la ayuda Pesca e estrutura populacional do pitú Macrobrachium carcinus(Linnaeus, 1758) coletado na Ilha do Marajó-PA (Amazônia Oriental) Autores: Valdo Sena Abreu, Edeylane de Nazaré Foro Ramos, Flavio de Almeida Alves Júnior, Rafael Anaiscedas Chagas, Israel Hidenburgo Aniceto Cintra, Mark Herrmann Localización: Observatorio de la Economía Latinoamericana, ISSN-e 1696-8352, Vol. 22, Nº.
Standing Up And Cheering For American-ish Principles
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) During his State of the Union address, Donald Trump thought he was being clever. He challenged the Democrats in the chamber: “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.” Needless to say, Democrats did not stand up and show their support. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, cheered Trump’s challenge.
Jeffrey Epstein’s Debt To Society
Let’s think about the American criminal justice system. After you get arrested, I can still hang around with you. You are, after all, innocent until proven guilty. After you’re convicted, and while you’re imprisoned, I guess I’m supposed to shun you. You are, after all, separated from society. When you’re released from prison (and have satisfied any post-confinement restraints), I’m supposed to welcome you back into society.
Jeffrey Epstein's Debt To Society
Let’s think about the American criminal justice system. After you get arrested, I can still hang around with you. You are, after all, innocent until proven guilty. After you’re convicted, and while you’re imprisoned, I guess I’m supposed to shun you. You are, after all, separated from society. When you’re released from prison (and have satisfied any post-confinement restraints), I’m supposed to welcome you back into society.
Would You Have Voted For Trump If You’d Seen This Future?
Set your mind back to November 4, 2024, one day before the presidential election. I know. That’s hard. Imagine that you were about to vote for Donald Trump for president. I know. That’s even harder. But if we can do time travel, then surely we can adopt the mindset of the 77 million people who chose to vote for Trump about 15 months ago. If, on November 4, you’d been able to see the future, would you have cast your ballot the same way?
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