Maggie MacDonald

Interested in writing, politics, travel, women's issues, and sports

[Hunter Biden @HunterBiden]

Dear Joe,
I wish I could sit down with you face to face and explain why so many of us were offended by the UFC fight on the South Lawn of the White House.
For me, it had nothing to do with the UFC or who showed up for the fights. The brand you and Dana have built is a bona fide American success story. More power to you. As for the fighters, in my book, anyone brave enough to put it all on the line in the arena is remarkable to witness. Their dedication and discipline inspire me. I don’t understand anyone who can’t admire that.
And as for the people who attended, I, for one, love Shane Gillis. I think he’s hilarious and brilliant. It was a show. A once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. I can’t blame anyone for wanting to witness it firsthand.
My problem is that I believe some of our public spaces are sacred. And unlike many of the great powers that came before us, these American monuments belong to all of us. Not to whoever happens to hold power at the moment.
The White House does not belong to Donald Trump. It does not belong to any President. It belongs to the people. To treat it as Caesar treated the Colosseum is antithetical to everything our founding fathers fought for.
This is not Rome. Presidents are not emperors doling out bread and circuses for the peasants. The White House is the People’s House. This “celebration” could have happened in any stadium within a stone’s throw of the South Lawn. No one would have had an issue with it.
But that was obviously Donald Trump’s whole point. By holding the event on the South Lawn, what he was saying to the rest of us is:
“This is my house. I own it. I will do with it what I please. I’ll build a colosseum and have the gladiators fight under my gaze. I’ll tear down the East Wing. I’ll pave over the Rose Garden. I’ll cover everything in gold and marble. I’ll erase the names of all the men who came before me.”
The fights were an exhibition of imperial domination, not a celebration of our 250th anniversary as a democracy.
The White House is not Buckingham Palace. It is not the Palace of Versailles. It is not the Forbidden City of Beijing. It does not belong to an emperor, or a king, or a commissar.
The White House belongs to us. All of us. The person who sits behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office is nothing more than an honored guest. A temporary caretaker.
The President is our servant. Not our Caesar.
Respectfully, Hunter

P.S. Cage match between me and Don Jr.? Your call on the venue. Anywhere but the South Lawn.

[Michael McFaul @McFaul]

Trumps war with Iran was completely unnecessary, accomplished nothing, but at considerable cost to the lives of American soldiers , Iranian children, and others in the region. The economic costs to American taxpayers, American consumers, and the people all over the world are also enormous.

[Bill Kristol @BillKristol]

Let's all pretend our president isn't a crazed megalomaniac.

[Michael McFaul @McFaul]

To open a strait that his war closed, Trump is encouraging our allies and partners to give the dictatorship in Iran billions of dollars. This outcome is not a return to the status quo before the war. It’s much worse.

[Maggie MacDonald @nymaggie]

@BillieJeanKing @Elise_Jordan @CalStateLA Congratulations!🎈

[Maggie MacDonald @nymaggie]

Looking for information on how long the TSA wait time is at Fort Lauderdale Airport? #TSAwaittimeFortLauderdaleAirport

[Joe Biden @JoeBiden]

What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans. We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street. We are not a nation that allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights. We are not a nation that tramples the 4th Amendment and tolerates our neighbors being terrorized. The people of Minnesota have stood strong — helping community members in unimaginable circumstances, speaking out against injustice when they see it, and holding our government accountable to the people. Minnesotans have reminded us all what it is to be American, and they have suffered enough at the hands of this Administration. Violence and terror have no place in the United States of America, especially when it’s our own government targeting American citizens.

No single person can destroy what America stands for and believes in, not even a President, if we — all of America — stand up and speak out. We know who we are. It's time to show the world. More importantly, it's time to show ourselves.

Now, justice requires full, fair, and transparent investigations into the deaths of the two Americans who lost their lives in the city they called home. Jill and I are sending strength to the families and communities who love Alex Pretti and Renee Good as we all mourn their senseless deaths.

[Michael McFaul @McFaul]

Contrary to many recent declarations, the international rules-based order is not dead. Rather, the US under Trump is trying to quit it, but many others countries are not following us. When Trump quit the TPP, it didn’t collapse. Same will be true of UN. Same will be true of other multilateral trade agreements. Even NATO will survive even if US pulls out. And biggest winner of our retreat is China.

[Bill Kristol @BillKristol]

Also, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.

[Maggie MacDonald @nymaggie]

Just listened to former Pres. George W. Bush giving a heartfelt eulogy at the funeral of former Vice Pres. Dick Cheney’s funeral. His parting words. “ I hope that somewhere up the trail we will meet again..”

[David A. Zeitzoff @dzeitzoff]

‼️Not Guilty Verdict ‼️

Last week, I secured a Not Guilty verdict for a client facing serious gun charges and the risk of a lengthy prison sentence.
Despite the DNA evidence, the jury identified key weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and returned the right verdict. #legal #law

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

We can't allow ourselves to become numb to mass shootings. What happened today in Minneapolis is heartbreaking, and Michelle and I are praying for the parents who have lost a child or will be sitting at their hospital bedside after yet another act of unspeakable, unnecessary violence.

[Maggie MacDonald @nymaggie]

Prayers for Pres. Biden and Dr. Jill Biden and the Biden family as they cope with the devastating news of Pres. Biden’s cancer diagnosis. 💕🙏🏻💕🙏🏻

[Bill Kristol @BillKristol]

A handful of R senators and House members could announce: They're caucusing with the Dems for now and will vote for Schumer for Majority Leader and Jeffries for Speaker. And they'll do this in order to work with Democrats to construct guardrails against dictatorship.

[Lawrence H. Summers @LHSummers]

The @realDonaldTrump Administration, with its almost dictatorial demands, has brought more unity to @Harvard faculty than there has been during the 21st century. Harvard was contributing to America before Trump and will be contributing long after Trump.

[Michael McFaul @McFaul]

As an American who believes that the rule of law is one of our greatest attributes, I am both embarrassed and frightened by the wrongful arrest & deportation of Abrego Garcia & Trump's refusal to obey the courts and return him. This is how democracies end.

[Michael McFaul @McFaul]

What’s so hard about “due process”? You can’t claim to be for “law and order” and then ignore laws and courts.

[Michael McFaul @McFaul]

The war between Russia and Ukraine is Putin's war, not "Biden's war."

[Maggie MacDonald @nymaggie]

@BillKristol Ditto

[Maggie MacDonald @nymaggie]

@McFaul Good question…