In 1994, while doing research on the creation of the Lone Ranger for my first book, I spent four days with Fran Striker, Jr., the son of the creator. It still surprises me how few people know that an unassuming, imaginative writer from Buffalo, New York created, developed, and wrote the Lone Ranger, Green Hornet, Sgt. Preston of the Yukon, and many others.  » Read more...

In 1951, The Day the Earth Stood Still delivered a stark warning: humanity’s survival depends on its ability to overcome fear and embrace cooperation. More than 70 years later, that message remains as relevant as ever. The film’s central conflict—whether we choose peace or succumb to fear—mirrors the choices we face in today’s political and cultural landscape. The film tells...

Several times, I’ve been asked why I spend so much time writing about President Donald Trump. Two reasons (I’ll get to the second later): So many of his actions go far beyond the pale of ethical propriety. It’s not just that the lines are crossed, it’s how shamelessly they’re erased. Let’s focus on one issue: a conflict of interest. It’s...

“The mob is easily deceived, for it judges by appearances.” Aristotle’s words speak to a dangerous flaw in human nature: how easily fear can be stoked, trust compromised, and institutions dismantled from within. In 1947, amid growing fears of communist influence, President Harry Truman issued an executive order authorizing a “loyalty investigation of every person entering civilian employment” in the...

Respect is the foundation of a cohesive society, building trust, understanding, and cooperation. Manners—rooted in courtesy, and civility—shape how we engage with and treat others. Last week, Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife were attending a concert at The Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington. As soon as they took their seats, they were met with a chorus...

Super Bowl ad space is always enormous. This year, a 30-second commercial slot cost approximately $7 million, and that doesn’t include creative and production costs for the commercial itself! (Budweiser spends roughly 11-19 million in creative and production costs—if they don’t use a celebrity—but hey, it’s beer.) But look at what advertisers are getting: 121.1 million potential buyers across platforms...

In his first inaugural address, Franklin D. Roosevelt declared, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” At the time, the country was in the depths of the Great Depression, and fear was everywhere—fear of poverty, fear of failure, fear of the unknown. Roosevelt knew that fear, if left unchecked, could paralyze a nation. More importantly, he understood...

Anyone? … Anyone at all? (Hint): He inspired generations with his vision of America. The current guy’s vision includes divisive rhetoric, and dismissive nicknames for political opponents. The other guy’s economic program focused on supply-side economics, advocating for tax cuts and deregulation to stimulate growth. The current guy’s foreign economic policy: “Tariff-the-hell out of them.” Domestic policy: Tax breaks for...

In a time when political rhetoric pushes us toward isolation, history reminds us that the greatest leaders understood a fundamental truth: America is strongest when we invest not just in ourselves but in the stability of the world around us. After World War II, Europe was in ruins: Cities were bombed out; economies devastated; and millions faced starvation. Exhausted from...

Near the end of Ken Burns’ documentary on the Statue of Liberty, historian David McCullough reflects on the statue’s symbolism. “She isn’t a warrior. She isn’t bombastic or threatening. She isn’t a symbol of power. The Statue of Liberty is an act of faith.” McCullough emphasizes the core values that have always been essential to America’s growth and resilience in...