Rants by Mac: The American Monarchy

Long ago we lost any recognition of political irony in America.

This past weekend, an estimated 6-8 million Americans participated in “NO KINGS” rallies in more than 2,500 towns and cities across all fifty states. While those rallies were going on, Donald J. Trump declared that if Zohran Mamdani has the audacity to win the mayoral election in New York City, he’ll cut off every nickel of federal funding to New York’s five boroughs –federal funding for infrastructure, schools, FEMA – all gone.

Without consulting Congress, the Courts, New York voters, or anyone else, Trump has decided that if New Yorkers foolishly vote for this guy, they don’t really need any federal funding that typically gets allocated to all American cities. Trump’s reasoning? Mamdani “is a socialist.” And, “We don’t give money to people who hate America.”

This is not an indictment of a political party, but instead, a critique of a plan to remake our branches of government to fit individual goals. I’m not judging whether Mamdani is a quality candidate. It really does not matter. But surely someone in MAGA can see a concern here, please.

In America-2025, if you have differing policies, different beliefs, you aren’t just different, you’re on the “Hate America” list, an ever-expanding tally that currently includes Democratic mayors and governors, teachers, late-night hosts, celebrities, and much of the state of Oregon.

Is this all just another distraction, more misdirection, lobbed against the potential release of Epstein files? Each outrageous act numbs us to the previous one. Yesterday’s shocking move gets pushed aside by today’s even more bizarre message.

Does anyone remember when Congress might have stepped up to stop a president from cutting off federal aid to a city as punishment for political disloyalty? In years past, that would have been a historic day. In 2025, it’s just Friday.

Let’s review this week in our American monarchy.

First, Trump ordered the blowing up of more boats off the coast of Venezuela. Trump suspected, without any documentation, that the boats carried drugs, bound for America. Don’t stop them, don’t search, don’t document how you know these guys aren’t just fishing – blow em up!! Our new policy, implemented by one man, without Congressional oversight, is “Sink first, ask questions never.”

Then, he sent federal troops into more U.S. cities to “restore order” after demonstrations arose to protest I.C.E. raids on landscapers and Home Depot workers. The campaign tagline of arresting the “worst of the worst” has devolved into a cruel race to meet deportation quotas, by arresting grandmothers and U.S. citizens, while agents tear-gassed protesters, AND local police and media.

Quotas. What could go wrong?

Republicans branded the “No Kings” rallies as “Hate America” demonstrations, a bit of historical irony (which we don’t recognize anymore). While citizens exercised free speech to protest authoritarianism, they were denigrated and targeted for their “anti-patriotic sentiments.” Freedom of Speech is not quite so free today.

Remember George Santos? Santos was expelled from Congress and then pleaded guilty in 2024 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors said Santos was responsible for a “mountain of lies, theft, and fraud” aimed at deceiving campaign donors for personal gain. He went to jail in July.

Trump commuted Santos’ sentence this week, rationalizing that “at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!” Is anyone thinking Cabinet-appointment?

The House of Representatives has been missing in action for a month. Why? Because Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to swear in Adelita Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who won a special election a month ago, to replace her late father. Grijalva will bring in the deciding vote to release all of the Epstein files — Hmmmm. But, when you realize that less than two percent of Congressional Republicans want to release Epstein’s files, it makes sense.

But who needs Congress anyway? Congress continues to get paid during the shutdown they caused. Maybe we could just eliminate them and cut the deficit. Trump certainly doesn’t need them. He’s been ruling by executive order, social media posts, and golf course musings.

It’s not that Americans are powerless—we’re just numb. When the first boat blew up, there was outrage. With the second, a Republican senator got upset. After the third, we were too busy discussing the controversy of Taylor Swift’s latest lyrics and the conspiracy of having Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl. Every day brings a new crisis that supersedes yesterday’s catastrophe. Trump knows this. He counts on it. And MAGA laps it up.

Congress hasn’t passed a meaningful bill since “Barbie” was still in theaters. If they ever do come back, they’ll be considering critical issues like renaming a month (how about Trumpuary?).

Where are the adults? When will we get serious? Democracy erodes with abdication. We turn our eyes, we get distracted, and we let each little issue go by.

So, will Trump follow through on his threat if Mamdani wins? Of course he will. And when New York goes dark, when the subways stall and the hospitals run short of supplies, Trump will post, “I TOLD YOU… Should have VOTED REPUBLICAN.”

But this is NOT about party. It is NOT even about what Trump will do—it’s about what we’ll do. Do we accept the royal edict that one man decides which cities deserve support and which citizens are real Americans? Do we keep pretending this is all normal? Do we keep assuming that, “this time Congress will do something.”

We can’t say there was no warning because he told us exactly who he is, over and over again. “No Kings?”  How long will we bend the knee?

Curt MacRae, a resident of Coldwater, MI, publishes regular opinion columns

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