Baseball, Chain of Command, and Minecraft Mayhem: A Morning Reflection on Current Events
04/22/25 • 10 min
The rain pours down in Alabama as I share my excitement about attending tonight's minor league baseball game – a rare late evening out that hopefully won't be dampened by the weather. But something more concerning than rain clouds is brewing in our military installations across the country.
Military leadership is experiencing a significant shake-up, with multiple commanders – notably women – being removed from their positions. Colonel Sheila Baez Ramirez's suspension from Fort McCoy highlights a peculiar pattern: official photographs of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Defense Secretary Hegseth mysteriously absent from chain of command boards. What's particularly striking is how these empty frames were immediately filled following her suspension, suggesting potential resistance rather than administrative oversight. This pattern extends beyond Fort McCoy, with similar situations occurring at other installations and even in my own workplace, where leadership photographs remain conspicuously absent despite explicit communications about their installation.
Beyond military matters, we explore the troubling case of New Mexico Judge Joel Cano, who resigned after harboring an illegal Venezuelan gang member on his property, and the bizarre phenomenon of parents defending their children's destructive behavior in movie theaters during Minecraft screenings. The disrespect shown for public spaces raises important questions about parenting and accountability in our society. We also examine the case of German teenagers denied entry to the United States after border officials determined they planned to work illegally despite claiming tourist status.
What's your take on these current events? And while we're sharing – what toppings do you prefer on your hot dog? I'm a fan of everything from mustard and ketchup to chili, cheese, onions, and even slaw! Join the conversation and let me know what you think about today's hot topics and hot dog preferences.
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Thanks for listening!
Liberty Line each week on Sunday, look for topics on my X file @americanistblog and submit your 1-3 audio opinions to [email protected] and you'll be featured on the podcast.
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
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Tip Jar for coffee $ - Thanks
Music by Alehandro Vodnik from Pixabay
Blog - AnAmericanist.com
X - @americanistblog
The rain pours down in Alabama as I share my excitement about attending tonight's minor league baseball game – a rare late evening out that hopefully won't be dampened by the weather. But something more concerning than rain clouds is brewing in our military installations across the country.
Military leadership is experiencing a significant shake-up, with multiple commanders – notably women – being removed from their positions. Colonel Sheila Baez Ramirez's suspension from Fort McCoy highlights a peculiar pattern: official photographs of President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Defense Secretary Hegseth mysteriously absent from chain of command boards. What's particularly striking is how these empty frames were immediately filled following her suspension, suggesting potential resistance rather than administrative oversight. This pattern extends beyond Fort McCoy, with similar situations occurring at other installations and even in my own workplace, where leadership photographs remain conspicuously absent despite explicit communications about their installation.
Beyond military matters, we explore the troubling case of New Mexico Judge Joel Cano, who resigned after harboring an illegal Venezuelan gang member on his property, and the bizarre phenomenon of parents defending their children's destructive behavior in movie theaters during Minecraft screenings. The disrespect shown for public spaces raises important questions about parenting and accountability in our society. We also examine the case of German teenagers denied entry to the United States after border officials determined they planned to work illegally despite claiming tourist status.
What's your take on these current events? And while we're sharing – what toppings do you prefer on your hot dog? I'm a fan of everything from mustard and ketchup to chili, cheese, onions, and even slaw! Join the conversation and let me know what you think about today's hot topics and hot dog preferences.
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Thanks for listening!
Liberty Line each week on Sunday, look for topics on my X file @americanistblog and submit your 1-3 audio opinions to [email protected] and you'll be featured on the podcast.
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Tip Jar for coffee $ - Thanks
Music by Alehandro Vodnik from Pixabay
Blog - AnAmericanist.com
X - @americanistblog
Previous Episode
Pope's Passing and Political Peculiarities
Easter Monday brings a mix of solemn reflection and heated debate as we discuss Pope Francis's unexpected passing and what this means for Catholics worldwide – both devout and those who've stepped away from regular religious practice.
The conversation takes a sharp political turn when examining former President Trump's recent "thinking out loud" comment about deporting "homegrowns next." This off-the-cuff remark ignited immediate controversy with political commentator Simone Sanders and Representative Glenn Ivey promoting the unfounded fear that Black Americans could be targeted for deportation. We cut through the race-baiting rhetoric to analyze what Trump likely meant about violent criminals while acknowledging the constitutional impossibility of deporting American citizens.
Perhaps most passionate is our examination of the Boston Marathon's gender division policies. Coinciding with Patriots Day's 250th anniversary, this iconic American sporting event has permitted biological males to compete in women's divisions since 2018. We highlight the case of Ria Susing (born Robert Sheen Young), who has competed in female categories over 338 times, winning medals in 140+ instances – each victory displacing deserving women athletes. This practice fundamentally undermines athletic fairness and the competitive opportunities women fought decades to secure. When even "Women's Running Magazine" features biological males on covers meant to champion female athletes, we must ask: what spaces remain protected for women in sport?
The episode concludes with a thought-provoking question about political awakening. What issues first captured your attention in your formative years? Was it military service, civil rights, environmental concerns, or something entirely different? Share your story and join the conversation about how these early influences shape our lifelong civic participation and values.
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Thanks for listening!
Liberty Line each week on Sunday, look for topics on my X file @americanistblog and submit your 1-3 audio opinions to [email protected] and you'll be featured on the podcast.
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Tip Jar for coffee $ - Thanks
Music by Alehandro Vodnik from Pixabay
Blog - AnAmericanist.com
X - @americanistblog
Next Episode
From Stolen Uber Accounts to High-Kicking History: Today's Random Thoughts
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Thanks for listening!
Liberty Line each week on Sunday, look for topics on my X file @americanistblog and submit your 1-3 audio opinions to [email protected] and you'll be featured on the podcast.
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE
Tip Jar for coffee $ - Thanks
Music by Alehandro Vodnik from Pixabay
Blog - AnAmericanist.com
X - @americanistblog
An Americanist - Baseball, Chain of Command, and Minecraft Mayhem: A Morning Reflection on Current Events
Transcript
Hello , good morning , happy Tuesday . It is a rainy day here in Alabama . It's supposed to taper off , though , throughout the day and by six o'clock when we go to our first ball game . We got free tickets from work
Speaker 1at six . Hopefully it won't be raining , but you know what ? It's going to be late for us too , because we're in bed
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