American Embarrassment
Withdrawal from the world does not make America great. Freedom thrives for Americans when we support and defend fellow democracies, not by supporting authoritarians.
No Longer a Leader
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America took a dark turn this week, almost as if our national leaders have given up on self-governance. A lot happened this week, but the focus here is on America’s stance of supporting self-governance and opposing authoritarian aggression.
In the lead up to the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, America resigned the position of “leader of the free world,” and European leaders stated as much:
“The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has declared that “the free world needs a new leader,” as European leaders threw their support behind Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after the stunning White House confrontation between him and Donald Trump. [1]
Earlier in the week, when President Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump had to be corrected in the Oval Office in front of the press about European assistance to Ukraine; Macron “fact-check[ed] his American counterpart in real-time and urg[ed] caution in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.” [2]
Trump said that Europe was being paid back 60% of the aid it contributed to Kyiv over the last three years of war. Macron touched Trump’s arm to interject, saying, "No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort: it was through, like the U.S., loans, guarantees, grants. And we provided real money, to be clear." [3]
Later in the day, at the United Nations General Assembly, the United States actually sided with Russia, voting “no” on a European-drafted resolution condemning Moscow's actions and supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity. The resolution noted “with concern the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has persisted for three years and continues to have devastating and long-lasting consequences not only for Ukraine, but also for other regions and global stability” and “calls for a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine.” [4]
Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah said he was “deeply troubled by the vote at the UN today which put us on the same side as Russia and North Korea. These are not our friends. This posture is a dramatic shift from American ideals of freedom and democracy.” [5]
Former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the vote was “contrary to our long-standing support of democracy.” [6]
And while it projects strength, Russia is a weak tyrant. Their economy is small, and their military isn’t as strong as they’d like us to believe; if they were actually strong, they would have been able to follow up on its expectations to take the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in three days. As Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum notes, “Putin planned to take Kyiv in three days, but he couldn't take Kyiv in three years.” [7]
“Three years into this war, the stakes are the same as they were on the night it began. Putin, who yesterday launched one of the largest attacks of the entire war, still seeks to destroy Ukraine’s sovereignty, civil society, democracy, and freedom. He still wants to show the world that the era of American power is over, that America will not defend allies in Europe, Asia, or anywhere else. He still wants to nullify the rules and laws that kept Europe peaceful for eight decades, to create instability and fear, not only in the countries that border Russia but across the continent and even around the world.
The war will only end, truly end, when Putin gives up these goals. Don’t accept any peace deal that allows him to keep them.” [8]
And America’s leadership seems to be heading down the same path as what drove Putin to begin his three-year folly in Ukraine: “It’s the classic mistake of every tyrant: Surround yourself only with sycophants, suck-ups and yes-men, and you never get a reality check in your echo chamber.” [9]
Ambush in the Oval Office
The capitulation seemed complete when President Trump and Vice-President Vance met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky:
“an ambush” – “one of the grimmest days in the history of American diplomacy.” [10]
A “disgrace” [11]
“bully-in-chief” “Embarrassing. Horrifying. Mortifying.” [13]
“inhospitable, indecent, undemocratic, unstrategic” - “A lack of American independence” - “What we witnessed today all too clearly was the beginnings of an American alliance with Russia.” [14]
“An Oval-Office ambush of an American ally that will reverberate all around the world and stain America's image for years to come.... Donald Trump and JD Vance clearly on an errand for Putin.” [15]
From Liz Cheney: “Donald Trump and JD Vance attacked Zelenskyy and pressured him to surrender the freedom of his people to the KGB war criminal who invaded Ukraine. History will remember this day— when an American President and Vice President abandoned all we stand for.” [16]
Zelensky faced “an extraordinary dressing down in front of the world's media,” after President Trump and his Vice-President JD Vance demanded that he show more gratitude for years of US support.
"Just say thank you," Vance demanded at one point. [17]
Post from Nina Jankowicz on Bluesky [19]
Of course, Vance’s public demand isn’t supported by the facts. Fact-checker extraordinaire Daniel Dale highlighted “33 previous examples of Zelensky thanking or expressing gratitude toward the United States, its officials or its people for their support. This is not a comprehensive list. Notably, we did not review Zelensky’s many domestic remarks in Ukrainian.” [18]
The display was so embarrassing that the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looked like his soul was leaving his body. [19].
And when you’ve lost the conservative Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, you should know we’re on the wrong side of the issue: [20]
“Putin Wins the Trump-Zelensky Oval Office Spectacle”
“Vice President Vance starts a public fight that only helps Russia’s dictator.”
“.. It is bewildering to see Mr. Trump’s allies defending this debacle as some show of American strength.”
Post from The Tennessee Holler [21] showing a political cartoon from The Economist [22]
And this only leaves America as someone who can’t be trusted. Here, a political cartoon from The Economist: [21][22]
The United States isn't great because we are disconnected from the rest of the world; we're great because we lead the world.
The display this week doesn’t make America great; these are choices that make America small.
As I said last week, siding with Putin is siding with the bad guys. [23]
Standing Up for (Local) Democracy
Instead of standing up for authoritarians, we should be standing up for democracy. This is a good reminder that it’s up to us to preserve our own forms of self-governance.
The Brookings Institution published its third revision of the Democracy Playbook, where there are seven pillars called out as important to defend our democracy; the first among these is to “protect elections.” [24][25]
From the Democracy Playbook 2025, published by the Brookings Institution [24][25]
“Safe, free, and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy and are integral to preventing and reversing autocracy.”
“Going forward, pro-democracy coalitions and actors must not waver in ensuring the U.S.’ tradition of safe, secure, free, and transparent elections by maintaining and strengthening systems and institutions that protect and prioritize election processes and voter access at all levels including in the pre-and post-election periods. Even if federal action is unlikely to address these threats and challenges in the immediate period ahead, state and local governments, civil society, and the media can continue and double down on their ongoing efforts.”
Kindle update on Local Democracy in America
Protecting our democracy means doing so at local levels. City councils and school boards are critical to our self-governance, and we always need to keep vigilant.
In America, elected officials should be elected. However, at the local level, those in power have sometimes chosen not to hold elections.
And this has happened. Multiple times. In the same modern American city. In the 21st century. It took a law in that city to guarantee that elections are held.
Local Democracy in America is a three-part series on American & Californian democracy viewed through the local lens of one modern American city: the microcosm of Thousand Oaks.
I’m honored to have some of Thousand Oaks’ leaders, each who I’ve long admired, offer support for these stories:
“Mic Farris brings a straightforward look at how local government can go astray of its own laws, elected officials can abuse their power, and monied interests can get their way. His work is important, particularly at a time when the news media has cut back its coverage. As they say, “sunshine is the best disinfectant” and Mr. Farris’ examples provide a cautionary tale of the ease by which local officials can defy the public trust.”
- LINDA PARKS, Mayor, Thousand Oaks (elected 1998)
“With Local Democracy in America, author Mic Farris beautifully dissects the tense relationship between local government and its constituents, revealing hard-fought battles to ensure fair representation. Farris manages to depict in visceral detail a sadly all-too-familiar David versus Goliath struggle – at a cost no voter should have to pay – along with a poignant reminder that democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it.”
- CLAUDIA BILL-DE LE PEÑA, Mayor, Thousand Oaks (elected 2004, 2012, 2016, 2020)
“We Americans tend to think of our cherished freedoms as something established long ago – during the Civil War, perhaps, or with the women’s suffragette movement. Yet as Mic Farris so ably describes here, a battle for democracy continues to rage right here and right now. This deeply researched history of an affluent suburb of Los Angeles shows entrenched special interests using anti-democratic means to keep and expand power – and barring citizens’ access to the ballot box in the process.
“If you want to understand why so many Americans no longer feel government works for them, this history explains what went wrong, and what we can do to rededicate ourselves to one of our most hallowed freedoms, the right to vote.”
- DAVID NEWMAN, Mayor, Thousand Oaks (elected 2024)
The Kindle version of Local Democracy in America will be available for pre-order on Amazon – find out more here!
Update on Asteroid YR4
It appears we’re safe from Armageddon, at least for the time being. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that Asteroid 2024 YR4 had “on average a 2% chance of hitting Earth in 2032.” [26]
This put the risk of 2024 YR4 at Level 3 on the 0-10 Torino Scale, a scale categorizing the impact hazard of near-Earth objects, where Level 3 is described as: "A close encounter, meriting attention by astronomers. Current calculations give a 1% or greater chance of collision capable of localized destruction. Most likely, new telescopic observations will lead to re-assignment to Level 0. Attention by public and by public officials is merited if the encounter is less than a decade away." [27]
Creator of the Torino scale, Professor Richard Binzel indicated that the concern over 2024 YR4 is now over: "The NASA JPL Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) now lists the 2024 YR4 impact probability as 0.00005 (0.005%) or 1-in-20,000 for its passage by Earth in 2032."
"That's impact probability zero folks!" [28]
Narratives
The book I’m reading or movie I’m watching
“Wicked” - Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
From IMDB:
Elphaba, a young woman ridiculed for her green skin, and Galinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads. [29]
With the Oscars coming up this weekend, I thought I’d highlight the movie Wicked, which is part one of the legendary Broadway musical. The film has received 10 Academy Award nominations, including Cynthia Erivo for Actress in a Leading Role and Ariana Grande for Actress in a Supporting Role.
Our family saw the movie over the Thanksgiving 2024 holiday, and we really enjoyed it. Looking forward to part two this November.
GIF Game
Yoda in Attack of the Clones
Notes and Sources
[1] - Nadeem Badshah, “‘Free world needs a new leader’, says EU foreign chief after Trump Zelenskyy row,” The Guardian, February 28, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/28/european-leaders-throw-support-behind-zelenskyy-after-heated-trump-meeting
[2] - David Brennan, “Macron warns Trump to 'be careful' on Ukraine, fact-checks him at the White House,” ABC News, February 25, 2025, https://abcnews.go.com/International/macron-warns-trump-careful-ukraine-fact-checks-white/story?id=119157061
[3] - Ibid.
[4] - Jennifer Hansler, “US joins Russia to vote against UN resolution condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine,” CNN, February 24, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/24/politics/us-joins-russia-ukraine-un-vote/index.html
[5] – Senator John Curtis [@SenJohnCurtis], X, February 24, 2025, https://x.com/SenJohnCurtis/status/1894187410872746197
[6] - James Landale and Patrick Jackson, “US sides with Russia in UN resolutions on Ukraine,” BBC News, February 25, 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7435pnle0go
[7] – Anne Applebaum [@anneapplebaum.bsky.social ], Bluesky, February 24, 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/anneapplebaum.bsky.social/post/3liwf4szuvk2m
[8] - Anne Applebaum, “Putin’s Three Years of Humiliation,” The Atlantic, February 24, 2025, https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/02/putins-three-years-of-humiliation/681810/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK34k3jSfvZz-LsiFfxq0VKww
[9] - Zoya Sheftalovich, “Putin’s miscalculation,” Politico Europe, February 26, 2022, retrieved March 1, 2025, https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-war-russia-vladimir-putin-miscalculation/
[10] – Tom Nichols, “It was an ambush,” The Atlantic Daily, newsletters@theatlantic.com, February 28, 2025.
[11] - Adam Kinzinger, “Emergency Video: The Ukraine Disgrace,” Adam Kinzinger, February 28, 2025, https://adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/emergency-video-the-ukraine-disgrace
[12] Peter Baker, Trump Administration Live Updates: Trump and Vance Berate Zelensky, Exposing Break Between Wartime Allies, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02/28/us/trump-news#trump-zelensky-ukraine-russia-putin, February 28, 2025.
[13] Dan Rather, “The Bully-in-Chief Targets an Ally,” Steady, February 28, 2025, https://steady.substack.com/p/the-bully-in-chief-targets-an-ally
[14] – Timothy Snyder, “Five Failures in the Oval Office (video),” Thinking About…, February 28, 2025, https://snyder.substack.com/p/five-failures-in-the-oval-office
[15] – Jeff Jarvis [@jeffjarvis.bsky.social], Bluesky, February 28, 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/jeffjarvis.bsky.social/post/3ljbcmeofcc27
[16] – Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social], Bluesky, March 1, 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/kylegriffin1.bsky.social/post/3ljd6ibrto22l
[17] - Tom Bateman & Bernd Debusmann Jr, “How the Trump-Zelensky talks collapsed in 10 fiery minutes,” BBC News, February 28, 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2erwgwy8vgo
[18] Daniel Dale, “Fact check: 33 times Zelensky thanked Americans and US leaders,” CNN, February 28, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/28/politics/volodymyr-zelensky-thankful-us-fact-check/index.html
[19] – Nina Jankowicz [@ninajankowicz.com], Bluesky, February 28, 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/ninajankowicz.com/post/3ljb6r3j3os25
[20] - Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, “Putin Wins the Trump-Zelensky Oval Office Spectacle,” Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2025, https://www.wsj.com/opinion/putin-wins-the-trump-zelensky-oval-office-spectacle-e23e9b21
[21] – The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social], Bluesky, February 27, 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3ljd6n2flws2l
[22] – “The Weekly Cartoon,” The Economist, February 27, 2025, https://www.economist.com/the-world-this-week/2025/02/27/the-weekly-cartoon
[23] – Mic Farris, “Upholding Norms. Breaking Norms,” February 23, 2025, https://www.micfarris.com/articles/upholding-breaking-norms
[24] - Norman Eisen and Jonathan Katz, Democracy Playbook 2025, The Brookings Institution, January 17, 2025, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/democracy-playbook-2025/
[25] - Edited by Norman Eisen and Jonathan Katz, Democracy Playbook 2025: Seven Pillars to Defend Democracy in 2025 and Beyond, The Brookings Institution, January 2025, https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/v4_democracy-playbook-2025.pdf
[26] - Mic Farris, “Standing Up,” February 16, 2025, https://www.micfarris.com/articles/standing-up
[27] – “Torino Impact Hazard Scale,” NASA/JPL, Center for Near Earth Object Studies, retrieved March 1, 2025, https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/torino_scale.html
[28] - Robert Lea, “'That's impact probability zero folks!' Earth safe from 'city-killer' asteroid 2024 YR4,” Space.com, February 24, 2025, https://www.space.com/the-universe/asteroids/earth-safe-from-city-killer-asteroid-2024-yr4-thats-impact-probability-zero-folks
[29] – “Wicked,” IMDB, 2024, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262426/
Decisions with Mic Farris
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