Recent Accountability Commentaries

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We Are All Americans
Last week’s arraignment of former President Donald Trump was unprecedented in many ways. I contacted retired journalist Bob Wilson to interview some of the individuals who waited in a long line, many overnight. Here’s how that conversation went. “Jim, I’m outside the E. Barrett Prettyman courthouse in downtown DC and the line of people waiting outside is something one only...
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August 8, 2023
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The Biggest Political Scandal of Our Time
The US House Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government was formed as part of an agreement between Republican hard-liners in the House and Kevin McCarthy in exchange for McCarthy’s House speakership, a job he has long coveted. McCarthy sure lucked into that one. Thus far the Tin Foil Hat Committee, as dubbed by Democrats, has scurried around...
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July 11, 2023
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It’s Ethics, Justice Alito, Justice Thomas
After recent reports of ethics scandals, it appears the two “learned” justices need a remedial course in ethics. It’s a good thing I’m here to help. “Gentlemen, the study of law is something new and unfamiliar to most of you — unlike any other schooling you have ever known before… You teach yourselves the law, but I train your minds....
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July 7, 2023
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Donald Trump: Victim
UPDATE: Apologies to readers. I’m facing several detail deadlines for the new book. I expect to be posting a cover image and details in August. The photos are fake; the boxes were planted; the tape of him talking about the secret documents to his attorney was faked; he never attacked E. Jean Carroll; never paid hush money to Stormy; and...
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June 13, 2023
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The Truthist v. The MAGA King
The truthist stands for facts. The MAGA King could care less. The truthist believes in the Constitution. The MAGA King believes in himself. The truthist appeals to those who believe in democracy. The MAGA King appeals to a cheering minority who believes in autocracy. Former Representative Liz Cheney’s “Great Task” leadership PAC is running an ad which shows the graphic...
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May 12, 2023
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The State of Ethics in Washington
“I remember my uncle Harold told my aunt about this affair he had. It was a sort of mildly upsetting event in my family… The affair was over something like eight years. So I remember asking him, ‘Why did you tell her? You got away with it.’ And I’ll never forget what he said. It was the getting away with...
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May 9, 2023
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The Thomas/Crow Affair
Starring Clarence Thomas as the Supreme Court’s oldest serving justice, and . . . Harlan Crow as the Republican Megadonor. The latest saga in Justice Thomas’s lifestyle has just been reported by ProPublica, a non-profit group of investigative journalists. To recap: “The Virginia ‘Ginni’ Thomas Caper.” Despite a complete lack of evidence, Mrs. Thomas held the opinion that the 2020...
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May 5, 2023
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Network of The Damned
Barring a last minute settlement, today is D-day for the defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News Corp. Dominion is suing Fox for $1.6 billion alleging that the cable network and its “news” hosts spread misinformation and lies propagated by former President Trump and his allies regarding the results of the 2020 presidential election while knowing the...
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April 18, 2023
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Donald Trump: Ready to Take a Ride in The Cash Cab?
“I’m your host, Ben Bernardo. Donald Trump are you ready to take a ride in the Cash Cab to the courthouse?” “What do I have to lose?” “Instead of the usual cash prizes, Mr. President, you will be awarded defense points that could possibly be used in the courtroom. “The rules are simple, I will ask you a question. If...
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April 4, 2023
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A New Heart of Darkness
Is cobalt a savior for a greener planet? Possibly, but at great cost. The ferromagnetic metal—one of the most abundant of all metals found in the earth’s crust—is the essential element in all lithium-ion batteries used in cell phones, laptops, electric cars, and other products that depend on more efficient batteries. However, it is only economically feasible to mine in...
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March 31, 2023

Read Some of the Most Recent Articles
The Latest... And Often Greatest
When Democracy Comes Dressed as Patriotism
The current American political order is starting to feel like a collision between the films Seven Days in May and All the King’s Men. One...
Who Watches the Algorithm?
We are building machines that may soon judge, persuade, police, diagnose, hire, fire, and even help governments decide whom to trust. Yet we still have...
He Just Does His Job
I’ve been listening to and watching Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia for more than a year now: his speeches, his questions in Senate hearings,...
Why Donald Trump Has Pulled Me Back In—Again
Last August, I wrote that I was “stepping back from the chaos” of Donald Trump. I meant to write about his presidency only when his...
Scott Pelley Responds
During a contentious staff meeting at 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley spoke out sharply, criticizing the judgment and decision-making of CBS News editor in chief Bari...
The Clock is Still Ticking. But Now It’s Ticking for CBS
I began watching 60 Minutes when it premiered on September 24, 1968, when Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace introduced a new kind of television journalism:...