Ashland, southern Oregon — Thursday, June 4, 2026.
Out one window, it’s a gorgeous day: sunny, clear blue sky. Out toward the west, dark clouds are moving in. They look like they have different intentions. It’s 55 now but we expect 80.
Mom’s house is up for sale and it’s had a lot of early interest. I’m not surprised, once it went live. Comparing it to other homes in the $150k range in that area reveals that most are as old or older, and the same size. Mom’s house was built in 1940; others in that range/area were built anywhere from 1930 to 1960. But they’re usually two bedrooms, one bath whereas Mom’s place offers four bedrooms and three baths. I easily visualize it as ideal for a small multigenerational setup. I hope this early interest isn’t an illusion.
While I’ve been focused mostly on Trump’s war on Iran (96 days and counting), he’s been busy with other wars. He’s been actively warring against cultural and political norms. All presidents have done so but none on the scale that Trump has done. We have the visual evidence of the Epstein ballroom and the war for funding for it (after Trump claimed it would cost taxpayers nothing); the atrocious rose garden; and the horrible disfiguration of the Lincoln Memorial.
Trump is turning the White House lawn into a stadium for fights and appending his name on famous places like the Kennedy Center. He’s doing all these things outside of the law but the law is fighting back via judges and courts and their rulings.
Under Trump, his advocates are trying to break the law and have currency with his likeness on it.
Through MAHA and Kennedy, Trump has been warring against good health. Through the EPA, Trump has warred against clean air and water. Through Hegseth, he’s warred against having a good defense and diversity. Through the Departments of Education and Justice, Trump has warred against good education, research, and law and order.
Through his pardons, he’s warred against justice.
Through ICE and his immigration policies, Trump has warred against our very nature as a melting pot, a place that welcome the poor and tired.
Through cuts in the social safety net and programs such as SNAP and Headstart, Trump has warred against people in poverty.
Via cuts to NASA, NOAA, and NIHM, Trump has warred against research, science, and technology.
Through it all, Trump has warred against intelligence, decency, unity, and compassion via his texts.
MAGA stays loyal to him. He buys their loyalty because he’s cultured a distrust of the media, calling it ‘the enemy’. Then he screams:
- Look at how they treat me!
- They stole the 2020 election!
- Look how great I am and what wonderful things I’ve done!
- I’m doing it all for you and our great nation!
Yet, the evidence shows otherwise.
- Prices are up
- Personal bankruptcies are soaring
- Small business bankruptcies are increasing
- Farm bankruptcies are up
- Measles cases are up
- We’re at war
- Healthcare costs and insurance premiums are increasing and hospitals are closing
- Confidence in the nation is down
- And different indexes and studies show the United States is falling behind in multiple areas
Trump is selling a grand illusion. But the details reveal the truth.
Not surprisingly, Les Neurons are playing “The Grand Illusion” in my morning mental music stream.
Lyrics:
So if you think your life is complete confusion
Because you never win the game
Just remember that it’s a Grand illusion
‘Cause deep inside we’re all the same
We’re all the same…
So if you think your life is complete confusion
Because your neighbors got it made
Just remember that it’s a Grand illusion
And deep inside we’re all the same
The Styx song came out in 1977. Dennis DeYoung wrote the song and said it’s all about how ‘they’ set you up to think and see one thing to hide the truth:
“It’s that feeling that success is set up in such a way that if you succeed you’re a failure, and if you don’t succeed you’re a failure.”
That’s the Trump methodology all the way.
I hope your day is not a grand illusion, but has real progress toward happiness and satisfaction.
Cheers
Michael Seidel, writer 
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