Kirk Swearingen – Medium

Kirk Swearingen

What Will It Take for You To Stop Interviewing Lindsey Graham?

The insatiable needs of 24/7 news coverage will burn down democracy

Jun 27

A protester holds up a handmade sign, “Rule By Chaos, Fear, Hate, and Threats is UNAMERICAN.” Photos below this are of Adolph Hitler, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping. (Photo by author.)

Jun 27

Elon Musk’s Babble About Colonizing Mars Is Nonsense

In a new book, an astrophysicist takes down billionaire tech-bros’ self-serving ideas.

Jun 6

Photo of the book “More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley’s Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity,” by Adam Becker, the letters of which appear to be traveling at light speed through space. (Photo by author.)

Jun 6

Trump’s Mandate for Mediocrity

MAGA mandates that we applaud mediocre people and the things they do

Jun 2

Photo of a person holding up a color depiction of Donald Trump’s face, clenching a fist and grimacing, superimposed on Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini’s uniformed body, with “MOB BOSS” spray-painted in yellow across his chest. The U.S. Capitol building, fenced off, under a blue sky, is in the background.

Jun 2

Public Media Is Plenty Conservative

The Republican protection racket strategy for NPR and PBS will never end

May 16

May 16

Trump: The Odious Commodus

While Trump was gaffing it up in Rome, I couldn’t help but think of a certain horrid emperor of antiquity

Apr 28

Photograph of marble bust of the Roman Emperor Commodus cosplaying as Hercules astride the globe. The bearded figure wears a lion’s skin and holds a club in his right hand and the golden apples of Hesperides in his left. Capitoline Museums, Rome. (Photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen released to the public domain.)

Apr 28

Mr. Brexit, on Steroids

Trump hoped Brexit would collapse the European Union. Now, he’s “Brexiting” the United States from the rest of the world with even more…

Apr 20

A protester wearing a black raincoat holds up a sign “DEMOCRACY NOT OLIGARCHY” in a march through downtown St. Louis (the Gateway Arch is just visible through the rain). Other protesters hold signs and umbrellas. (Photo by Nora Swearingen.)

Apr 20

Hands Off! Protesters Stand Shoulder-to-Shoulder for Democracy

Millions of citizens speak up for all the things that really make America great

Apr 12

Two women dressed in black raincoats hold up white signs, one with “Silence = Compliance” and the other filled with a litany of issues (including but not limited to “Social Security,” “Education,” “Health Care,” “Research,” “History,” and “National Parks”), for passing cars on a wide avenue to see. Across the way, are other demonstrators with colorful handmade signs, including “RESIST.” (Photo by author.)

Apr 12

No, Really: Can We Join Canada?

By way of an apology to our historic allies.

Apr 2

Photograph of a wire basket of a bicycle containing a to-go cup of coffee and a protest placard showing Donald Trump shouting with a reddened face with “Fight Tyranny” written in red at the top. (Photo by Samantha Sophia for Unsplash.)

Apr 2

Donnie Death

What Trump is doing will cause untold suffering and death at home and abroad.

Mar 13

Shaded photo of playwright Tennessee Williams, in suit and tie, behind a quote in white lettering: “All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness. — Tennessee Williams.

Mar 13

Did You Vote for a Strongman Economy?

Trump voters said it was all about the cost of eggs and housing but now face the Musk-Trump economy

Mar 4

A glass of red wine sits on the edge of a laptop with The New York Times open to a story “TRUMP GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS.” Books, a pencil are also seen on the white desk. (Photo by author.)

Mar 4

Kirk Swearingen

Kirk Swearingen

Half a lifetime ago, Kirk Swearingen graduated from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. His work has most recently appeared in Salon.

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