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On the other app: bsky.app/profile/timobrien.bsky.social Senior Executive Editor, @Opinion. Political Analyst, @MSNOWNews. Author: “TrumpNation.”
Articles by Tim O'Brien
Johnson's Message to Republicans: Don't Surrender American Values After Election Losses
Townhall Video U.S. House Speaker MIKE JOHNSON zeroes-in on radical DSA types about to assume office and warns Republicans that “now is not the time to be forlorn about the elections…we must dig in and stand our ground on American values.” Meantime, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) says the last days of the current session is the final opportunity to confirm President DONALD J.
We Are Not Going Back
Regret can be a nasty thing. Looking back on President Donald Trump’s first term and the first two years of his second term, the standard we apply, even if we don’t explicitly say it, centers on a simple question: Did the Trump years live up to their promise? I can think of a couple of regrets. Jeff Sessions and Pam Bondi come to mind. But a few regrets should not cloud our larger vision of what brought us to this point, and what's ahead.
Josh Shapiro: Electoral College ‘Schmectoral College!’
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, is wasting no time in working to set himself up for a likely presidential run in 2028. Not only is he doing the things he thinks he needs to do to win his party’s nomination, but he’s also looking to trample on the Electoral College.
Would You Trade Immigration Amnesty to Get Secure Elections?
When President Donald Trump sat down for an interview with Ross Douthat that aired on 60 Minutes on Sunday, November 8, he mentioned that he wouldn’t rule out doing a “deal” with the Democrats on illegal immigration. What that would look like is anyone’s guess, but it’s important to note that at no point did he specifically mention “amnesty.” Still, it’s hard to imagine any sort of deal the Democrats would accept without some form of amnesty.
Josh Shapiro Won the Trifecta, Which Means 'We're Comin' for Your Guns'
Original Article Posted By: Dreadnought, 11/10/2026 8:17:56 PM For the first time in over 30 years, the Democrats will control the governorship and both the Senate and the House in Pennsylvania - the trifecta. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) has already made it clear that he won't let the opportunity go to waste.
Josh Shapiro Won the Trifecta, Which Means ‘We’re Comin’ for Your Guns’
For the first time in over 30 years, the Democrats will control the governorship and both the Senate and the House in Pennsylvania – the trifecta. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) has already made it clear that he won’t let the opportunity go to waste.
The Pete Hegseth Impeachment Just Got Even More Heated
Larry On this full episode of LARRY, we dive into Pete Hegseth firing back at the impeachment push against him, Hegseth blasting the effort as a “farce” driven by ego and resentment, his defense of the military operations at the center of the articles, the glaring question of where the impeachment outrage was for Lloyd Austin, Hegseth warning anyone coming for America’s warriors that they’ll have to come through HIM, his blunt message that this is OUR hemisphere, Marco Rubio defending...
CNN's Van Jones Exposes the Democrats' 'Affordability' Propaganda Machine
Original Article Posted By: FlyRight, 11/10/2026 6:27:20 AM In the wake of the Democrats' midterm wins, CNN's Van Jones and Kaitlan Collins reveled in one of the more successful deceptive strategies the left used to overwhelm Republicans on economic issues like "affordability." Jones admitted that the economy really isn't as bad as portrayed, and that the Democrats knew this (surprise!), but rather than simply program their candidates and campaigns with duplicitous messaging, they took it...
CNN’s Van Jones Exposes the Democrats’ ‘Affordability’ Propaganda Machine
In the wake of the Democrats’ midterm wins, CNN’s Van Jones and Kaitlan Collins reveled in one of the more successful deceptive strategies the left used to overwhelm Republicans on economic issues like “affordability.” Jones admitted that the economy really isn’t as bad as portrayed, and that the Democrats knew this (surprise!), but rather than simply program their candidates and campaigns with duplicitous messaging, they took it several steps further. And the Republicans never figured it out.
Hakeem Jeffries Was Asked If He Has the Votes to Keep His Job. His Answer Says It All.
Townhall Video House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was pressed Monday on whether progressive skepticism about his leadership is real ahead of next Wednesday’s caucus vote, and he notably declined to say he has the votes locked up. “We have a vote next Wednesday. I’m going to work hard to talk to every single member,” Jeffries said.
John Thune Has a Message for Republicans After Tuesday’s Disaster
Townhall Video Senate Majority Leader John Thune took to the Senate floor Monday for his first speech since Republicans were routed in last week’s midterms, conceding the results were “certainly not the outcome that we had hoped for, but it was the outcome the American people chose.” Thune said the GOP has to “listen to” voters and “reflect on what we as a party need to do better,” then pivoted to telling Democrats that Republicans are “ready to work with you” on affordability and permitting...
Pressure Is Mounting Against John Thune
Larry On this full episode of LARRY, we dive into the Republican revolt building around John Thune after the GOP’s stunning Senate loss, Thune praising his own record while moving ahead with a leadership election, Donald Trump blasting the Senate for getting nothing passed, Ron Johnson calling the rushed vote “political malpractice,” the growing list of Republican senators demanding a delay before tomorrow’s secret ballot, Jim Banks insisting the conference confront where it fell short, the...
The Other Shoe Has Dropped: DOJ Investigating Marc Elias in Peltola Scandal Case
On October 29, I openly wondered whether the “stench of Alaska’s Peltola scandal would spread to Marc Elias.” Wonder no more. According to Just the News, the shady leftist lawyer who is best known for his work smearing President Donald Trump with the Russiagate hoax is now implicated in a scandal that’s likely to grow.
Gas Prices are Dropping Fast. I Have Questions.
Original Article Posted By: Mercedes44, 11/8/2026 2:44:19 PM Conservatives and leftists alike have quickly embraced the notion that America's perception of President Donald Trump's decision to go to war with Iran, and of its being a never-ending war, would keep the price of gas and diesel high. This, they believed, is the reason for inflation in the full range of goods and services. On its surface, the logic is sound and true.
It Feels Like the Calm Before the Storm. Should We Expect the Unexpected?
Original Article Posted By: 4250Luis, 11/7/2026 11:32:16 PM Just prior to Election Day, and in the days since, President Donald Trump has been uncharacteristically subdued. Observers on all sides have written this off as resignation on Trump's part to the next two years of a lame-duck presidency. Perhaps. But it just doesn't feel like that to me. To be sure, we seen a couple of Trump flamethrower posts on his Truth platform, like this one burying Texas Gov.
Gas Prices are Dropping Fast. I Have Questions.
Conservatives and leftists alike have quickly embraced the notion that America’s perception of President Donald Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran, and of its being a never-ending war, would keep the price of gas and diesel high. This, they believed, is the reason for inflation in the full range of goods and services. On its surface, the logic is sound and true. But were these specific economic pressures enough to cause the level of political devastation to Republicans we just saw?
GOP Gets a Midterm Wake-Up Call: What Went Wrong and What Comes Next?
Townhall Video On our latest episode, we analyze the nationwide victories by Democrats in this week’s Midterms JOHN ROGERS, senior partner and pollster at Cygnal, says Tuesday’s results followed broken promises to lower prices and not get America entangled in foreign conflicts. He also noted that white Evangelical turnout dropped from 26% in 2018 and 23% in 2024 to only 17% this year…a big concern for Republicans going forward.
It Feels Like the Calm Before the Storm. Should We Expect the Unexpected?
Just prior to Election Day, and in the days since, President Donald Trump has been uncharacteristically subdued. Observers on all sides have written this off as resignation on Trump’s part to the next two years of a lame-duck presidency. Perhaps. But it just doesn’t feel like that to me. To be sure, we seen a couple of Trump flamethrower posts on his Truth platform, like this one burying Texas Gov.
‘Islamophobia’ Is the New ‘Racism.’ Conservatives Won’t Bite.
The left rarely changes tactics. Instead, they change targets, messaging, and terminology. If you’re a conservative and you ever publicly expressed your political views on just about any topic, even climate change, there’s a good chance someone called you a racist. There was a time when being called a racist carried with it a certain stigma. That stigma was still in effect when the nation’s first black president, Barack Obama, ran for and won the presidency in 2008.
DOJ’s Harmeet Dhillon Decides to Leave Washington and Return to Private Practice
One of your favorite lawyers in the Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ), even if you don’t know her name, resigned on Thursday in the wake of the midterm elections. However, Harmeet Dhillon told Fox News Digital, “I wasn't asked to resign," adding that she’s leaving on her own terms, proud of her work and that of the Trump administration.
Was Eliminating the Iran Nuclear Threat Worth the Political Price?
Politicians and presidents sometimes make Faustian bargains. They make trade-offs. The stereotypical Faustian bargain is one in which someone sells his or her soul to the devil in exchange for money or fame. But let’s say you’re the president of the United States, and the two options before you are to keep your country safe or to better position you and your party to hold onto power.
Word Salad Surgery: Amy Acton Is Channeling Kamala Harris
Based on some of the clips going around, Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton appeared to be channeling her inner Kamala Harris as she finished her closing arguments in her race against Republican candidate Vivek Ramawamy. Like Harris, Acton has mastered the art of the word salad, personalizing it by bringing her own brand of delivery. Though, I can’t quite tell if that brand is Smirnoff, Jack Daniel's or Jim Beam…of if this is just Acton being Acton, you know, sober like.
Men Know That Abdul El-Sayed is ‘That Guy," Which Is Bad News for Him
In the context of regular American men, and not Muslim Brotherhood fanboys Abdul El-Sayed usually hangs out with, the punchy twerp is “that guy.” To be sure, this is totally a “guy” thing. El-Sayed is the type of person in your circle who, if you’re planning a night out with the gang, is the last one you call, and you hope that by then he’s made other plans. He's the type who, every time he shows up, would likely create one cringe moment after another. If he talks, he talks too much.
Have a Dollar General Halloween
I’ve never climbed Mount McKinley in Alaska or even been to Alaska, but there’s a huge part of me that suspects that when you get to the top of that mountain peak, you’ll find a Dollar General (DG) store. Right outside of it likely sits a 16-year-old Hyundai Elantra with a fender that’s duct-taped together. That’s the car that the kid who works there drove up to the top of the mountain for his shift. So when you get there, don’t be too pleased with yourself for your accomplishment.
Who Governs What an Agent Learns?
The following article originally appeared on Tim O’Brien’s Medium blog and is being republished here with the author’s permission. I think we’re missing something in the conversation about agent security. We keep asking whether an agent has the right “identity” and “credentials.” Whether its credentials expire fast enough. Whether it can access a database or perform a particular task. Those questions matter.
Will the Stench of Alaska's Peltola Scandal Spread to Marc Elias?
Even in Alaska, cold as it gets, if you leave a fish out long enough, it starts to get rank. The same is true for leftists. Give them enough time and enough space, and they will eventually funk up the place, and it will be no secret where the stink is coming from.
With Less Than a Week Until Election Day, Swing Voters Show They Want Answers
Townhall Video With less than a week to go until Election Day, Scott Jennings was joined by Americans For Prosperity's Katelyn Bledsoe to discuss the organization's Americans Unscripted project, how the cost of living is top of mind for voters, and that the rise of Democratic Socialism isn't as popular as some might think. To learn more, visit AmericansForProsperity.org.
Before You Vote, Remember That They Tried to Kill Trump for a Reason
Kitchen-table issues will motivate a lot of voters next week on Election Day, but they shouldn’t be your primary concern. No doubt, the high costs of gas, food, and so much else are problems looking for someone to blame. As the sitting U.S. president, Donald Trump will likely get his share of that blame, justified or not. But as we know, at some point, hostilities in Iran, Ukraine and Russia will fade, and the cost of living will fall back in line.
Hidden Camera Catches Rashida Tlaib Defending Citizenship Lie
Larry On this full episode of LARRY with Larry O’Connor, Townhall’s EXPLOSIVE undercover video catches Rep.
Cautionary Tale: Pittsburgh Is What the Country Will Look Like Under DSA Rule
The City of Pittsburgh and the county in which it is located are fast becoming a major hub for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). On October 20, Allegheny County became the first county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to adopt paid parental leave for employees. The controversial policy forces employers to foot the bill for both parents of newborn babies to receive three months of paid time off.
Caving to the Left: Catholic Bishop Issues Public Apology for His White House Visit
On October 22, Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee joined 11 other bishops on a visit to the White House, which the White House’s Faith Office organized. Grob said that he and his fellow bishops received an invitation to go to Washington to talk about “matters of importance to the Church and our people, including immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, and human dignity.” Sounds good, doesn’t it?
The Lindsay Clancy Effect and How the Democrats Are Courting the Psycho Vote
The Democrats really aren’t the party of any ideology. Sure, they are leftist, socialist, and communist, but if you look at who they’re running in 2026, the common denominator is far more psychological than ideological. These aren’t simply people lacking common sense. These are deeply broken people — broken people with a grudge who, if given power, will want to take you down with them. You don’t have to be a psychologist to know a psycho when you see one.
Obama Stumps in Detroit to Promote Obama and to Give Lukewarm Support to El-Sayed
Original Article Posted By: FlyRight, 10/25/2026 5:59:26 AM As the midterms enter the final stretch, the polls are starting to tighten up as predicted and as they always do. Most pollsters now are more worried about accuracy and their own reputations than they are about trying to propagandize for Democrats.
Obama Stumps in Detroit to Promote Obama and to Give Lukewarm Support to El-Sayed Original
As the midterms enter the final stretch, the polls are starting to tighten up as predicted and as they always do. Most pollsters now are more worried about accuracy and their own reputations than they are about trying to propagandize for Democrats. They now try to get closer to reality so later they can say they were right, or at least not that far off.
Did Radical Leftist Jennifer Welch Just Call for Violence Against Vice President JD Vance?
You can always tell whom the left fears the most based on whom they attack, and how rabidly. Vice President JD Vance has long been a favorite target of leftists, but hardly their only target, in a literal sense. They shot and killed Charlie Kirk. They shot and grazed President Donald Trump as he campaigned, and in the process, they killed volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore, while wounding two other bystanders.
Ungrateful Diva LeBron James Disrespects the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden
The NBA is back. If you’re like me and you don’t watch – ever – then you have to rely on social media and stories like this to remind you of exactly why you don’t need to care about the league or why you might even hold a certain degree of contempt for the league. Why marquee players insist on being grown-up children who, no matter how much attention they already get, it’s never enough. I give you LeBron “Eighth-Grade Education” James.
Riots Across France Scare Off American Media Covering Sunday's NFL Game in Paris
Original Article Posted By: 4250Luis, 10/22/2026 7:41:52 AM Europe's doormat, France, is still set to host a major American sporting event this Sunday amidst a wave of violence that has swept the country, while its inept government has done the best it could do to quell the riots, given that its mainstay law enforcement tools are Prius police cars and stand-down orders.The country best known for its cuisine, its arrogance, and its readiness to surrender at the drop of a hat is scheduled to...
Riots Across France Scare Off American Media Covering Sunday’s NFL Game in Paris
Europe’s doormat, France, is still set to host a major American sporting event this Sunday amidst a wave of violence that has swept the country, while its inept government has done the best it could do to quell the riots, given that its mainstay law enforcement tools are Prius police cars and stand-down orders.
Why, All of a Sudden, Is the Catholic Church Benching Its Most Visible Exorcist?
In the past, when the Catholic Church has publicly silenced one of its own priests, you had to wonder what the priest did wrong. Today, when the church silences one of its priests, you can’t help but wonder what the church is trying to hide. No, I’m not talking about the priest abuse scandals, which have had a permanent impact on the church’s reputation and have cost it billions in damages.
Why Pittsburghers Mispronounce Names on Purpose
While Pittsburgh is known for being a steel town, even though it isn’t one anymore, another one of the things it’s known for is its lexicon. In spite of the increasing globalization of American cities — and Pittsburgh has not been immune — it has held onto Pittsburghese with a vengeance.
The Left Trots Out ‘As a Christian,’ Its Latest Astroturf Line to Reframe Abdul El-Sayed
It seems like just last week I wrote about how the left focus groups certain terms and then astroturfs the legacy media and social media to propagandize and mislead voters. Oh, wait, it was last week. In fact, it was Friday when we looked at how the left inserted the term “lifelong Republican” as a way to give actual Republicans the impression that we conservatives are all of a sudden deciding to support socialists.
The Left's Choreographed 'Lifelong Republican' Demoralization Campaign Is Underway
Original Article Posted By: Dreadnought, 10/17/2026 1:12:31 AM If you think you've been seeing the term "lifelong Republican" bandied about in some of your social media and legacy media content lately, it's no accident; it's by design. You are the target of this very comprehensive leftist demoralization campaign. We've talked before about how the left uses polls to suppress Republican turnout and voting. The left has had its 2026 voter suppression polling machinery in place for some time.
The Left’s Choreographed ‘Lifelong Republican’ Demoralization Campaign Is Underway
If you think you’ve been seeing the term “lifelong Republican” bandied about in some of your social media and legacy media content lately, it’s no accident; it’s by design. You are the target of this very comprehensive leftist demoralization campaign. We’ve talked before about how the left uses polls to suppress Republican turnout and voting. The left has had its 2026 voter suppression polling machinery in place for some time.
Compassionate Socialism? It’s Time to Have a Sit-Down With That Young Socialist You Know.
It’s not often the White House highlights a Newsweek cover, but if you go to the official White House site, that’s where you’ll find the October 23 cover for the legacy magazine, depicting in full communist attire, and in Soviet design style, a rendering of the following in gray commie uniforms: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Ct.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, and his BFF, America hater Hasan Piker.
This Condescending, Preachy, Woke Political Lecture Brought to You By Ticketmaster
If you are a masochist and wanted to see Bruce Springsteen perform live this year, you would have paid anywhere between $87 and $3,000 for one ticket. In return for your hard-earned cash, the over-the-hill, woke, son of New Jersey would have sung some of your favorite Springsteen tunes, the E Street Band would have ably backed up its aging leader, and when called upon, covered for him when he got winded on stage, lost his mojo, or even tripped and fell on stage.
OHIO: Why Is Amy Acton Afraid to Debate Vivek Ramaswamy?
In blue states and in federal elections, we all know by now that when a Democrat runs for office, campaigning is optional. They’d much rather conserve their money and resources for their closed-loop voter “registration,” and ballot counting and harvesting operations. But in red states, Democrats still have to make a go of it. They have to campaign, because, you know, democracy and all that.
Why the Abortion Issue Is the Litmus Test for Politicians
As expected, reaction among Republicans to Republican Senate candidate Michele Tafoya’s public embrace of her pro-choice stance on abortion stirred a lot of discussion on whether the abortion issue is helping or hurting Republicans. After reading my own thoughts on this issue, a few have lectured me on the nuances of “triangulation,” where you attempt to rise above the partisan divide by adopting the ideas and policies of your opponent; the old "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" strategy.
Big Rally Energy Is Picking Up: Trump Hits His Campaign Stride in Youngstown, Ohio
President Donald Trump continued his barnstorming tour around the country on Columbus Day by rallying the base in Youngstown, Ohio, leading the charge to get U.S. Sen. John Husted (R-Ohio) reelected and Vivek Ramaswamy (R) elected as governor. Husted is in a tight race against former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D), while Ramaswamy is trailing in the polls behind Amy Acton, one of the more radical leftist gubernatorial candidates in the country this election cycle.
Clarity by Tim O'Brien
Tim O’Brien. Mariner, $30 (352p) ISBN 978-0-06-357236-2 A married Lutheran minister forges an unusual bond with a mysterious young pregnant woman in this luminous character-driven novel from O’Brien (The Things They Carried). Ruby Stjern, pregnant at 17, has fled her home in Lakota Falls, Minn., after the suspicious deaths of her parents. Seeking help at a church in St. Paul, she meets minister Tom Barrie, 33. An Afghan War vet, Tom is undergoing a crisis of faith.
Senate Candidate Michele Tafoya Didn’t Have to Shoot Herself in the Foot, but She Did
I’m starting to wonder if “Republican strategists” aren’t really just Democrat strategists who couldn’t find work on the left. I kid. I’m not starting to wonder. I’ve wondered this for a long time. The latest unforced error that has me pondering this question once again is a campaign ad which makes it clear that Republican Senate candidate Michele Tafoya is pro-choice. The ad also distances Tafoya from Trump. The race pits the media-savvy political outsider against leftist nut job Peggy Flanagan.
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