Thursday, December 26, 2019

Current Events Discussion Topics

An on-line "Zoom" discussion is conducted every Monday morning at 9:30am Chicago time through the North Shore Senior Center hosted by Ron Mantegna. You can enroll in this discussion session at   https://www.nssc.org/

Ron conducts a Northbrook Library zoom discussion every 1st and 3rd and 5th Thursday, 10-11:30am. Open free to all who enroll.  Contact the Northbrook Library to connect with Ron Mantegna.                                                                                         

Do you believe in making New Year’s Resolutions? Have they ever worked for you?

 

How does capture of Maduro help the American people? Does this really help make "America First"? How might other nations fearing America's war machine help reduce the price of groceries? Do Americans support an increased focus on foreign affairs vs. help with everyday cost of living?

 

America will run Venezuela.” Is this nation building? Iraq redux? Has using power to change a regime worked out well for America? How might our action help Iran's leaders blame the hated U.S. for "all the bad conditions in Iran"? What happens now? How much of this is similar to our Iraq mistakes? Sec. of State Colin Powell: “You need to understand, if you take out a government, take out a regime, guess who becomes the government and regime and is responsible for the country?”

 

What message does taking war action like this send our adversaries? Will they now fear us? Or might they see it as OK to act regardless of how other nations see it as “illegal”? Is it OK now to arrest “criminal” Zelensky and “run” Ukraine? Is it now OK for China to take steps to “run” Taiwan?

 

If stopping Drugs deserved taking over a nation, does it justify taking similar action against Mexico? What about “solving America’s problems” with Cuba? Greenland? Panama?  Gaza?  

 

As we begin a new year, looking back—what was the biggest news story of 2025?

 

Who was the biggest political Winner of 2025? Who was the biggest Loser?

 

What is the greatest risk facing America in 2026? What may be our biggest opportunity?

 

Given our divide, what BIG issue might both sides reach agreement and FIX in 2026?

 

What was Trump’s biggest success in 2025?  What was his biggest failure?

 

What were Democrat’s biggest success in 2025?  What were their biggest failure?

 

Without the Subsidy, Health Care may be unaffordable for millions.  Is there a better way to do this that is fiscally responsible? Might “Medicare for All” be a more viable alternative?

 

Is the DOJ covering-up Epstein files? Trump wants the DOJ to publish the names of Democrats associated with Epstein to “embarrass them.” Do you believe victims will eventually see Justice?

 

What should we make of Trump’s threats to stop Iran from killing their protestors? Iran has warned that all US bases and forces in the entire region'  are legitimate targets if Washington intervenes in internal protests, after Donald Trump vowed to protect anti-regime protesters.

 

Given concerns about Biden’s mental fitness, is it time to look at Trump’s mental acuity given 3 years yet to serve? Consider racist outbursts; angry tirades towards female journalists; heartless remarks linking Reiner’s murder to “TDS”; brass plaques insulting prior Presidents; his Mussolini-like obsession with naming everything about himself. Using his Cabinet offices for “retribution” and directing that his political enemies be jailed or worse. And now, Venezuela. How normal is any of this?

 

Do you believe Mayor Mamdani can effectively tax the rich and help the poor in NY city?

 

Is it racist for us to stop Islamic Immigration to reduce Antisemitic attacks?

How should we evaluate the value of immigrants vs. their risks? When evil acts unfold, many Americans want immigration shut down, and to block folks “from shit-hole countries”. How much should Race and Religion guide our policies? Is it acceptable to seek more White Immigrants?

 

Why does Trump put no pressure on Putin and take his side?  He says Russia wants Ukraine to succeed. Believes Putin’s claim that 98 drones attacked Putin’s home. Pressures Zelensky.

 

How much do voters feel Biden’s failures, and not Trump’s, are main reasons for today’s problems with high Prices, Immigration mess, Healthcare risks, Crime, and more?

 

Is Trump beginning to be a “Lame Duck”? MT Greene is resigning from Congress and speaking out against Trump. Has jockeying started for new Leader? Given Trump’s sinking Approvals, will Traditional Republicans begin to resonate more with Conservatives than MAGA?

 

Do you believe China might take steps to acquire Taiwan? Will Trump act to stop them?

 

Time magazine named "The Architects of A.I." as 2025 Person of the Year. Your thoughts.

 

The Pope calls for a two-state solution, and is backing Palestinian views more than Israel’s. 

 

Is it in the best interests of America to stop our Green Card program because of the evil acts of one man? The man accused of committing a mass shooting at Brown University entered the country under the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program lottery in 2017 and was given a green card. Sec. Noam is stopping the Green Card program at Trump's direction.

 

Could that J6 pipe bomber now receive a J6 Pardon? He believes the election was stolen.

 

How “illegal” are Biden’s autopen approvals? Trump is “cancelling” exec orders signed by Biden’s autopen. Many presidents, including Trump, use an autopen to sign some documents.

 

Rage Bait is Oxford’s “word of the year”. It’s defined as “online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive, typically posted in order to increase traffic to or engagement with a particular web page or social media content.

 

How confident are you with RFK jr. being in charge of America’s Health?

 

Does Europe have the manpower and resources to push back against Putin? Do they have the will to do so without America taking the lead?

 

Racist move? Or just treating Immigration more fairly? Biden limited refugees to 125,000. Trump cut limits to 7,500—with 7,000 being Afrikaners, a group not traditionally eligible for the program. The Administration says they have been “tyrannized by South Africa’s Black majority”. The other 500 will be chosen by their ability to speak English and views on “free speech”. Guardrails against racist, xenophobic or dehumanizing rhetoric have all but vanished on the American right. What was once disqualifying—or the exclusive domain of online trolls—is now a fixture of national political discourse.

 

Are national parks and museums wrong to cover how bad Slavery was? Does History need to be more positive? What’s more harmful: not covering full details, or covering it all?

 

Does Cashless Bail put more peace-loving Folks at risk while setting Law Breakers free?