Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Tom Wright
Byron Donalds adds Don Gaetz, Danny Burgess, Tom Wright, Brad Yeager to growing endorsement haul
Four more Republican legislators are backing Byron Donalds for Governor to an endorsement list that already spans nearly the entire GOP establishment in Florida. Sens. Don Gaetz, Danny Burgess and Tom Wright, along with Rep. Brad Yeager, announced their endorsements Tuesday. Gaetz,...
Presidents’ Day and Some Valuable Lessons
February 22, was the birthday of George Washington, which the nation celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1971, Presidents’ Day, was established as the third Monday in February and opened that celebration to all presidents, Washington and Lincoln being the most popular. President Donald Trump Day? His day may not be celebrated by some. Presidents Washington and Lincoln did a lot for our country. Washington set a good precedent and retired to Mount Vernon.
Political Power and US Growth
It seems like a decade has happened this past month, from Nicolás Maduro being captured in Venezuela to President Trump’s rhetoric on the conquest of Greenland. Maduro says he was kidnapped. Some say it was a misuse of military power. The EU nations claim President Trump is destroying NATO to assuage his ego, which is demanding Greenland come under U.S. control. Like it or not, politics has always been and remains a power game of negotiations. Let’s take a little trip back in our history.
Ask Aunty: Are your friends' kids kind of annoying?
Everyone talks about how to keep the romance alive in relationships after you have kids. But what about keeping the friendship alive with your friends who have had kids when you haven't? And what happens if you find their kids particularly difficult to be around?
Are Trust and Bipartisanship Dead?
OK, you may not like Donald Trump. I didn’t like Joe Biden. Many still think the 2020 election was rigged in favor of Biden. Many also think President Trump attempted a coup d’état to stay in office. Some think Nancy Pelosi’s refusal to call for the D.C. National Guard on Jan. 6, 2021, was due to her planning a Capitol riot and blaming it on Trump. In testimony to Congress, former FBI Director Christopher Wray deflected questions about FBI agents being in the crowd.
‘No kings’: America’s oldest political slogan is drawing millions out onto the streets
Sometimes, the charge is justified. When Puck magazine in 1904 depicted Theodore Roosevelt crowning himself Louis XIV (or perhaps Napoleon), it captured the public’s mixture of thrill and alarm at his trust-busting, canal-building, imperial swagger. Citizens wanted vitality in office, but not vanity. How the American Spectator depicted Barack Obama in 2014. American Spectator Other times, the imagery seemed to speak more to American paternal longings.
‘No kings’: America’s oldest political slogan is drawing millions out onto the streets
By Tom F. Wright, Reader in Rhetoric, University of Sussex Every few decades, Americans rediscover that their republic was built on a rejection – the rejection of being ruled by a monarch. Now, in one of the largest protest movements in many years, the phrase “No kings” is everywhere: on placards, online memes, and in chants aimed at a president who seems to want to rule rather than serve. Yet the words are hardly new.
‘No kings’: America’s oldest political slogan is drawing millions out onto the streets
Every few decades, Americans rediscover that their republic was built on a rejection – the rejection of being ruled by a monarch. Now, in one of the largest protest movements in many years, the phrase “No kings” is everywhere: on placards, online memes, and in chants aimed at a president who seems to want to rule rather than serve. Yet the words are hardly new. They are the first note in the American political scale, the country’s founding slogan before it even had a flag.
Zamora Represents the People, Not the Party
Four-term State Rep. Martin Zamora has announced his candidacy for New Mexico’s 3rd District congressional seat in the 2026 election. Rep. Zamora is a Republican from Clovis, representing District 63, which includes parts of Curry, De Baca, Roosevelt San Miguel and Guadalupe counties, with Clovis being the largest city. I first met Martin Zamora in 2018, when he entered the race to represent District 63 and I liked him.
Guest Opinion: Welfare, Politicians and Money
According to the Census Bureau, 20% of New Mexicans are on welfare, the highest percentage of any state in the nation. This is measured by families on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), General Assistance or SNAP and does not include Medicaid, Medicare, housing vouchers, school lunch programs, unemployment insurance or tax credits. According to the state Medicaid website, 702,063 New Mexicans were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP assistance as of May 2025. That’s 33% of our population.
Treaty: The Story of an Australian Classic
The story behind one of the best songs of all time. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this piece may contain the voices and words of people who have passed away. Yothu Yindi were one of the first bands to bring the music, the stories and the issues of Indigenous Australia to the world with their energetic and beautiful music.
Guest opinion: Divisions Among Us
Many battles have been fought and are now history. Our Congress has decided in favor of President Trump and his reconciliation bill and he signed it on the Fourth of July. Yet, congressional dissenters and a small number of citizens decided to protest on the day of our nation’s independence. While such is their right, it (1) is a missed opportunity to celebrate a national holiday and (2) divides our country, with a childish pout. Like people, nations are always in flux.
Op-ed: Why it's vital to keep the Gateway Hudson Tunnel project on track
The New York/New Jersey region is embarking on its most ambitious infrastructure building program in several generations. We’re extending the Second Avenue Subway to Harlem, connecting MetroNorth to Penn Station, building a rail line between Brooklyn and Queens, modernizing subway signals and improving dozens of stations, and expanding and modernizing the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Why it's vital to keep the Gateway Hudson Tunnel project on track
The New York/New Jersey region is embarking on its most ambitious infrastructure building program in several generations. We’re extending the Second Avenue Subway to Harlem, connecting MetroNorth to Penn Station, building a rail line between Brooklyn and Queens, modernizing subway signals and improving dozens of stations, and expanding and modernizing the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Guest Opinion: Politicians Overstaying Their Welcome
Ever wonder why presidents have term limits, but not Congressmen? The answer is simple; Congress made it that way. Ever wonder why the nation is in so much debt? Congress again. Rant as you will against presidents, but it is Congress that makes the laws and dictates spending. So, how do you get term limits for Congress? Amend the Constitution. Do you really think Congress is going to vote themselves out of a job? Think of the career politicians, who have never done anything else.
Guest opinion: You owe $105,866
Stated another way, the United States has a $37 trillion national debt and we all owe a portion. How did we get here? Our Congress spends more than the government takes in revenue. The last time the U.S. had a balanced budget was in 2001 under Bill Clinton, when Newt Gingrich led the House. Balancing the budget doesn’t mean we would be debt free, but it would demonstrate fiscal responsibility. The last time the U.S. was debt free was in 1835, under President Andrew Jackson.
A resilient, working port for Brooklyn
If you’ve ever taken a ferry along the Brooklyn waterfront past the Red Hook piers, you may have wondered how such prime real estate could languish for decades. The 122-acre Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) has been reduced to a deteriorating container port; a cruise terminal that sees visitors less than 100 days a year; a handful of industrial tenants; and the city Department of Transportation’s rock-crushing operation.
Guest opinion: Politicians Need to Govern
Our last legislative session provided a wonderful opportunity to pass some urgently needed legislation. Instead, lobbyists and their interests prevailed. The result was no reduction on medical liability caps, which means no reduction in medical malpractice insurance, which means we still have a growing shortage of healthcare professionals. The trial lawyers win again.
What's in your cleaning products? - ABC listen
How to bring sustainability into your household cleaning routines. Guest: Lottie Dalziel, author 365+ Ways to Save the Planet and Your Money at the Same Time
Guest opinion: Waste, Fraud and Resistance
The Trump resistance movement has resumed. Elon Musk has been added to the resist list. Why? Because he is monitoring government waste, fraud and abuse. Who could be surprised that Donald Trump is moving ahead with the main plank in his platform of government reform? The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created by Executive Order to root out waste, fraud and inefficiency and establish new standards.
Ask Aunty: do I need to speak to the manager?
Today's question is all about what to do when you feel like being a bit of a Karen at your favourite local small business.
Being sustainable with how you spend and invest - ABC listen
What does living sustainably mean to you? Maybe cycling to get around rather than driving, or enjoying backyard chickens who recycle your food scraps. But if you really want to be sustainable, think about how you spend and invest your money. Guest: Lottie Dalziel - author, 365+ Ways to Save the Planet and Your Money at the Same Time
Ask Aunty: Is it ok to check your child's privilege? - ABC listen
Today's question is all about what to do when you were raised with less and you're now able to give your kids more.
Stoicism and its link to the men’s mental health crisis
The philosophy of stoicism is getting a lot of attention, particular among young men. And its feeding into tropes that men should be strong and get on with it. But does this kind of thinking help men struggling with mental health? This is the second part of our men’s health series with Dr Vyom Sharma.
Here's what I know — Alice Fraser - ABC listen
Do you have a guilty reading pleasure, that you're not very open about? If you like romance novels or even if you don't, comedian and writer Alice Fraser says you have nothing to be ashamed about.
Ask Aunty: can you be trusted to keep a secret? - ABC listen
Today's question is all about trust and who gets to share private information. And what happens when you find out your secret has been shared.
Why men forget about their health
It feels like a cliche but for most men their health is often an afterthought. So why do men put off GP visits, and can the health system do a better job of encouraging men to be proactive about their health? Guest: Vyom Sharma, is a GP based in Melbourne, as well as a broadcaster and commentator on health, medicine and current affairs.
Ask Aunty: I don't like my friends kids
Everyone talks about how to keep the romance alive in relationships after you have kids. But what about keeping the friendship alive with your friends who have gone on and had kids? And how do you maintain a friendship with someone whose kids are particularly difficult to be around?
Guest opinion: The Times They Are A-Changin’
Folk-rock singer Bob Dylan released this hit record in 1964, originally about the protest movement of that day. It spoke of the changing times and admonished the “writers and critics who prophesize with your pen:” And don’t speak too soon For the wheel’s still in spin And there’s no tellin’ who that it’s namin’ For the loser now will be later to win For the times they are a-changin’ The lyric could be said about any measure of time, because the world continually stays in flux.
how-to-keep-your-brain-healthy - ABC listen
Dementia is one of the words we dread hearing. Along with cancer, it's the diagnosis we fear most. Despite advances in research and promising results from new drugs, there is currently no cure. However, it is not an inevitable part of the ageing process, so prevention is key when warding off dementia. To help you keep your brain and the brains of your loved ones healthy, Dr. Lila Landowski, a neuroscientist and lecturer at the University of Tasmania, has some tips based on her research.
Ask Aunty : Workplace friendship going wrong
It is one of the thorniest issues at work. Do you ever find yourself falling behind at work because of an overly chatty friend? Are they oversharing all sorts of information? How can you stop these interruptions and address your annoyance without it turning sour and making work a hostile environment? Simon Kennedy-Jewell, Ethics counsellor at Ethi-call, a free independent helpline provided by The Ethics Centre
Guest Opinion: RIP Progressivism
By Tom Wright Every few decades, progressivism makes a comeback, only for people to wake up and again vote it to the back shelf. In this cycle, the good people of Europe were first to open the door and let the progressives in, with several countries in South America following and then there is us, the US. Progressivism hopes to improve the human condition through social, and economic reform.
Orange updates its Sustainable Financing Framework to integrate best market practices and to reiterate its commitment to its sustainable development objectives defined in the “Lead the Future” strategic plan - Newsroom Groupe Orange
In line with best market practices and the latest publications of the International Capital Market Association (Sustainability Bond Guidelines, Green Bond Principles, Social Bond Principles) and the Loan Market Association (Green Loan Principles and Social Loan Principles), this update reflects the ambitions set out in the group's strategic plan launched in 2023, “Lead the Future”.
Guest Opinion: Foreign Policy and the Next President
Parts of the world are in turmoil — China and Taiwan, Israel and the Mideast, Ukraine and Russia. The axis of North Korea, Russia, China, Iran, ganging up against the U.S. Our next president will face these issues and experience will be needed. What are the stakes we face with a president weak on foreign policy? Kamala Harris has little experience in the field and her mentor, Joe Biden has been all over the map on the subject. He has said unequivocally, we will back and defend Israel.
Election 2024: Be an informed voter
I have a friend of 25 years who immigrated from Mexico and became an American citizen. She had voted for Trump in the past two elections. I recently asked her who she was voting for in November. Her reply was, “The woman.” I asked her if she knew the “woman’s name and she couldn’t tell me. Her’s was a “gender or anybody but Trump” answer. Few things are more important than knowing what political candidates and seated politicians have in mind for your future.
Guest opinion: Our Upside-Down World
Few politicians are offering real words of wisdom today. It was Abraham Lincoln who told us, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” The following is a partial transcript of thoughts published on X from “The Executioner” podcast. It is worth repeating because it depicts progressive problems currently afflicting us. If we don’t start voting differently, Lincoln’s words will be prophetic.
DEI disasters and righteous lies
After Monday’s congressional confrontation with Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN) referred to her as a “DEI horror story.” Cheatle was a rank-and-file agent and served on Joe Biden’s protective detail during the Obama-Biden administration.
What Does it Mean to be a Political Prisoner?
Summer is here and we have just celebrated the Fourth of July. It’s going to get hot. The election season is here. The first debate is over and the polls are coming in, with President Biden slipping 3 to 5 points. It is going to get hotter. Democracy is said to be in the balance. Both candidates warn us if the other one wins, it is over and only they can preserve democracy.
Op-ed: Now is the time to double down on transit innovation
The best time to build for tomorrow is today. We’re in a moment of historic transit and mobility investment which will improve mobility for future generations, but we need innovative policies such as congestion pricing to maintain funding and manage our roads. Now is the time to double down on transit investments for future generations — not to pull back from innovative policies.
Is Europe ahead of the United States?
In the 27-member block of the European Union, conservative candidates identifying with the right won in Germany and France and are polling ahead in Italy and most other nations, with Poland being the exception where the right has ruled for twelve-years and has fading influence. The primary issues responsible for the populace turning on the here-to-fore left-wing governance are immigration, crime and climate control. Could we learn something from Europe?
Registered, But Not Voting
Recent municipal elections had an abysmal voter turnout. Why? Voting is not only a right, in America, it is a privilege. I have worked in many countries where one’s vote made no difference. Elections were fixed. One can only look at Putin’s recent reelection to a fifth term in Russia. Some dictatorships have the resemblance to democracies, in that elections occur, but with a predetermined result. If we don’t wake up and start going to the polls, this is where we are headed.
Our President Has Ignored What’s Best for Our Country
Before Barack Obama was elected, he promised to “fundamentally transform” America. Joe Biden’s first term is often referred to as Obama’s third term because an objective look at the Biden administration’s accomplishments do show fundamental changes in America.
The Red/Green Agenda
I am not writing about chili. My subject is China’s influence on our society and the unsettled issues of climate change and its effect in New Mexico. What concerns me most on these issues is what is happening to our kids and the things they are learning from social media platforms like TikTok. When I went to school, I learned about civics, the American Revolution, the founding of our nation, the Civil War, the World Wars and how we survived it all, including the Great Depression.
Guest Opinion: Are our politicians listening?
When government gets more powerful, people feel politicians are not listening. And so, it is in New Mexico. New Mexico’s Progressive Democrats create and pass legislation that does not consider the opinions and wishes of the majority of their constituency. New Mexico has a Democrat majority, but most Democrats here are not progressives. One must ask, why is there so much progressive legislation being considered in this session?
Governor’s Call: The Budget, Gun Control and Crime
Our first legislative session of 2024 is known as the governor’s call, which is normally about budgets and spending. In addition to a 9.9% inrease in the governor’s proposed spending, she is pushing for more gun control laws and not enough funding for crime control. The joint interim Courts Corrections and Justice Committee has endorsed a 14-day waiting period on all firearm purchases, despite a buyer passing the federal background check, which is generally approved within minutes of applying.
Our Liberty Should Never Be Challenged
In 1934, former president Herbert Hoover wrote a book titled, The Challenge to Liberty. Therein, he wrote, “Liberty is a thing of the spirit-to be free to worship, to think, to hold opinions, and to speak without fear-free to challenge wrong and oppression with surety of justice.
Gwyneth on trial, Celeste on Wellmania
Stop everything for: Celeste Barber on her new show, Wellmania, the latest in nepo baby news, and reviews of Succession season 4 and John Wick 4! Celeste Barber of #celestechallengeaccepted talks about body acceptance, Instagram comedy and what she has in common with her Wellmania TV character, Liv Healy.
Survivor special with Simon and Nina!
Find out what went down behind the scenes of Australian Survivor with fan favourites Nina Twine, Simon Mee, and Stop Everything's own Benjamin Law! The Tribe has spoken and the winner of Australian Survivor: Heroes V Villains has been crowned. Nina and Simon dish on their jury votes, gameplay and drama that didn't make it to air. Nina, Simon and Ben share their favourite moments, highs, lows and unforgettable stories of trying to outwit, outplay and outlast each other in Samoa.
We believe in Ted Lasso!
Season 3 of Ted Lasso is underway, we're eating up Ali Wong and Steven Yeun's raging Beef and going behind the scenes of Alone Australia. Did BL abandon Ted Lasso because it's straight culture? Is that the exact reason why it's a healing balm for BW? And how will Ted and Nate's breakup play out in the final series of the beloved Apple TV+ show?
Ugly crying through EEAAO’s Oscars wins
Everything Everywhere All At Once won big at the Oscars, and we're ugly crying our way through the cast and crew's acceptance speeches. Also shoutout to Jimmy Kimmel's bland steadiness as Oscars host (no one got slapped!). It feels like the perfect time to hear from The Daniels, so we're highlighting our interview with Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, screenwriters and directors of EEAAO.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Tom
Contact Tom, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack