Birmingham at Breakfast: One morning in Magic City

A little breakfast joint. Birmingham, Alabama. The birth pangs of summer are in the air. Alabama feels like a Monet. Trees are pregnant with blossoms. Birds are everywhere.

On my way into the restaurant, I see a man seated on the sidewalk, weeping. A young woman sits beside him, rubbing his shoulders. I’m wondering what’s wrong. I’m probably staring, even. Which isn’t polite, but I can’t help it.

No Magic Pills

They were buying candy bars, soda pop, a case of beer, two cartons of cigarettes and multiple kinds of lottery tickets. All non-essential items, but who am I to judge? Still, some of their purchases caught my attention, and since they were taking so long to check out, I had plenty of time to think.

The Theology Nobody Told You About

For nearly 1,800 years, Christians did not believe supporting a modern nation-state was a biblical mandate. Then a nineteenth-century theological system changed how millions read prophecy—and eventually how many viewed foreign policy. This is the untold story of John Nelson Darby, dispensationalism, and how a theological innovation became so deeply woven into American Christianity that many now assume it has always been there.

55 Degrees for the Planet: A Sustainable Heating Revolution

In the urgent quest for environmental sustainability, one bold solution emerges: we need legislation limiting residential home heating to a maximum of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This powerful initiative not only saves the planet but also fosters a culture of resilience, equity, and responsibility. The slogan echoes the sentiment: “55 Degrees: Wear a Sweatshirt, Save the …

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Fascism, Political Projection, and the Death of Rational Debate

One of the most overused words in American politics today is “fascist.”

The label is thrown around so casually that it has nearly lost all meaning. Many Americans are told daily that Donald Trump is a fascist, that MAGA supporters are fascists, and that anyone who supports conservative policies is somehow a threat to democracy.

But before we condemn millions of our fellow citizens with one of history’s most serious political accusations, perhaps we should take a moment to understand what fascism actually is.

Did we keep a republic?

On September 17, 1787, the final day of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin, 81, shared with his fellow delegates his assessment of the new Constitution:

I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.

The Greatest Piece of Military Equipment Was a Tiny Bottle of Tabasco

Every veteran remembers that tiny glass bottle of Tabasco tucked inside an MRE. Most of us assumed it had always been there—or heard ridiculous barracks rumors that it was issued to keep you awake on guard duty. The truth is even better. It wasn’t the product of a Pentagon study or a billion-dollar procurement program. It was the idea of a Marine who understood that morale sometimes comes in a one-eighth-ounce bottle. This is the story of how one of the most beloved pieces of military “equipment” earned its place in America’s rucksacks—one spicy meal at a time.

Turley: US Supreme Court rulings were a BONANZA for Trump

The Supreme Court hands the Trump administration two major wins on immigration, including the authority to end temporary deportation protections for immigrants from countries like Syria and Haiti. Jonathan Turley and Shannon Bream join ‘The Faulkner Focus’ to weigh in.