The Unlikely Buddha

Donald Trump’s latest stunt in immigration enforcement has arrived in the form of “Alligator Alcatraz,” a sprawling detention camp hastily erected in the heart of the Florida Everglades.  With a name that sounds more like a theme park attraction than a government facility, this new site is an alarming symbol of how far the administration is willing to go in its crusade against undocumented migrants. A Remote Prison in the Swamps Located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, miles from civilization and surrounded by dangerous wetlands, the camp is as inhospitable as it gets.  The choice of location is no accident: the Everglades’ alligators, snakes, and isolation serve as natural barriers, making escape nearly impossible and sending a chilling message to anyone who might be sent there. The facility itself is a patchwork of tents and trailers, thrown together in a matter of days.  There’s no pretense of comfort or dignity—just a clear intent to wa...

In a dramatic turn on July 1, 2025, the Senate was deadlocked on President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.”  The final tally: 50-50, with three Republican senators—Rand Paul, Thom Tillis, and Susan Collins—breaking ranks to oppose the sweeping legislation.  Vice President JD Vance cast the decisive vote, pushing the bill over the finish line and sending it back to the House for final approval. **Austerity for the Many** At the heart of the bill are sweeping cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and other critical social services.  Medicaid, the backbone of healthcare for low-income Americans, faces nearly a trillion dollars in funding reductions over the next decade.  The bill imposes harsh new work requirements, targeting able-bodied adults under 65 and threatening coverage for millions—including families, people with disabilities, and rural residents.  Projections show that at least 7.8 million people will lose their Medicaid cove...