This morning, a waking thought was, “Just ask questions.” A lingering issue for me is how to function during the new Trump administration. At times, anger will be justified when he becomes vengeful or largely untruthful, such as during his recent “news conference.” But, I will resist angry reactions.
Anger is a valid response to untruth, injustice, or oppression. It’s part of the biblical prophetic tradition. But anger isn’t a useful strategy. Anger can waste energy and divert attention from crucial issues. And, we’re facing a boatload of crucial issues. My goal is to respect him and everyone in this new era.
My strategy will be simple: Just ask questions. Donald Trump resists questioners and fact-checkers, which he will dismiss, demean, ridicule, undermine or persecute. Prophets like Elijah, Amos and Jeremiah kept leaders honest with a spirit of objectivity that didn’t defer to wealth or power. Prophetic voices in the religious community are always a minority, but they are always present. Some prophetic voices are secular people, including some reporters who strive for objectivity and are simply seeking truth. Bless reporters who seek straight, cogent, relevant answers from Trump and all leaders.
Bloggers Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance, Jay Kuo and Steven Beschloss ask good questions, as do The Atlantic and The Bulwark. I’ll rely on these and many other good sources. Next week, I’ll ask some questions about the financial news media’s post-election excitement about potentially lower taxes and potentially less government regulation. Some of them have been more sober in recent weeks as the stock and bond markets declined, rattled by the threat of tariffs, higher national debt and disturbing comments about annexing Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal.
From “Sentenced,” by Joyce Vance, Civil Discourse, January 11, 2025. The audio recording of Judge Juan Merchan’s sentencing of Donald Trump is insightful, and it is available online at CBS.
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