USRESIST NEWS GROUP OP ED

It is a  technological age, but America lacks the semblance of a policy to regulate our use of technology. We have so far failed to develop policies to help assure us that our economic and social well-being is not being picked apart by our use  of  unregulated technological platforms.

 The US has  enacted  regulations that more or less effectively guide our use of mass media communications; why not technology? Is it in part because of the enormous  power that technology companies hold in our economy; because of their lobbying efforts? because our politicians are frightened of losing funding support from technology billionaires?  Because of fears that regulating technology also would be a violation of free speech?

Whatever the reasons, we at USRESIST NEWS believe our country needs to  take greater action. The abuses that technology causes have begun to outweigh their benefits. We propose that Congress and the administration take immediate action and enact policies to regulate our use of technology. Such policires would cover the following issues. 

1.Regulating cell phone use by children

The major focus for regulating the use of technology by children , mainly cell phones, has been at the school and classroom level. While major federal legislation has yet to be enacted, a great many US states have put in place legislation banning cell phone use. As of late 2025, a majority of U.S. states—at least 37—have enacted laws or policies that ban or restrict student cellphone use in schools to improve academic focus and mental health.

The push for these laws is largely bipartisan, driven by a growing consensus that cell phones are a major source of academic distraction and contribute to youth mental health problems. Research suggests that bans can lead to improved test scores and increased social interaction among students.  For example, a  proposed Danish law would give victims, who are primarily girls and women, removal and compensation rights.

At the Federal level some, including the Department of Education, believe that cell phone use  is a matter of local control, and does not come under the Federal Government’s jurisdiction. However, there recently has been an encouraging initiative at the federal level. The Focus on Learning Act is  bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Tom Cotton and Tim Kaine The Act  aims to: (a)require the U.S. Department of Education to study the effects of cell phones on academic performance, mental health, and other student outcomes; and (b) create a pilot program to award grants to school districts that implement cellphone-free policies. The Focus on Learning Act has yet to be passed and is currently being reviewed by a Senate Committee. However policy like this would go a long way to helping our country  identify what best practice is in relation to the disruptive use of cell phones in schools.

2. Banning the promotion of hate speech and violence

Technology is used to promote hate speech and violence through platforms like social media, which can amplify aggressive language and ideologies that lead to offline harm. This includes online harassment, which can escalate to physical violence, and the creation of deepfakes or other manipulated content that spreads disinformation. The ease of online communication allows hateful ideologies to find and connect like-minded people, creating a sense of normalcy around prejudice and potentially leading to radicalization.

So far the Federal government has done little to regulate the use of online hate speech. There have been no effective efforts to establish digital governance that include principles of transparency and algorithmic accountability to prevent violence. Many politicians take refuge in the belief that efforts to curb online hate speech are a violation of first amendment (freedom of speech rights). However,  it is useful to recognize that the use of 21^st century online communications is much different than face to face proclamations. A message posted on the Internet can indiscriminately reach large numbers of people across the world some of whom may be motivated to react violently or in self-destructive ways

.The European Union provides an example we could learn from. It has implemented significant legislative initiatives, most notably the Digital Services Act (DSA), which impose a duty of care and due diligence obligations on large online platforms to mitigate systemic risks like the dissemination of illegal content, including hate speech. The EU also established a Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online in partnership with tech companies, which led to commitments to review and remove illegal content quickly.

3. Protecting the right to privacy

In the US the lone  existing federal technology privacy law is outdated. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986 was an early attempt to protect digital communications but is now considered outdated given modern technology. Lawmakers and civil liberties advocates are pushing for a federal privacy law specific to emerging technologies like facial recognition, or broader legislation that addresses general data collection practices.

A new “Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act” has been introduced in (but not yet passed by) the U.S. Congress. It seeks to ban federal law enforcement from using such technologies and withholding funds from state and local agencies that do. There are also ongoing discussions about a federal “Delete Act” to allow consumers a one-step mechanism to have data brokers delete their information.

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is worth looking at. It is considered one of the world’s toughest privacy laws. It broadly prohibits data collection and use by default unless it falls under specific legal exceptions. The EU has also introduced the AI Act, which places restrictions on certain high-risk AI and biometric technologies.

The need for a new regulatory agency

We also believe there is a need for a Federal Technology Commission  — a new agency that can carry out Congressional mandates in the three areas targeted above and help ensure the safe, effective and equitable use of information and education technologies. Given the common use of algorithms and other technology tools, there is wisdom in having a single agency oversee efforts in all three areas. Existing agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communication Commission, already have extensive agendas that would limit their abilities to serve in this new capacity.

USRESIST NEWS OP ED | November 2025   

Democrats lost considerable power in the 2024 elections-relinquishing control over the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. In the upcoming  2026 mid-terms they have a chance to regain at least partial control of the levers of government — if they win majorities in the House and the Senate. Can they learn from their mistakes of the past? Can they take advantage of the poor performance of the Republicans since 2024? Can they actually win in 2026? A USRESIST NEWS Editorial team recently met to consider strategic options for the Dems to pursue in their upcoming mid-term campaign. Here’s what was suggested:

• Make sure you have a populist** message to motivate working class and younger audiences: It’s a message that needs to focus on making things affordable again like groceries, health care and housing; a message targeted to working class people of all races living in both rural as well as urban areas. Wherever possible messages should be hyper-local, focused on the issues relevant to the local electorate.

• Promote your message loudly and clearly through as many channels as possible: Rely as much on social media platforms as legacy media; make sure you are messaging constantly through every kind of media available; make use of influencers; where appropriate candidates should appear on TV, including righty-wing stations such as FOX News.

• Run new candidates, especially younger ones, who are authentic and represent the audiences they are targeting: There is a general consensus that we need a new generation of leaders, less encumbered by big money donors and middle of the road platforms; who are not afraid to support and fight for new policies.
• Steer away from the middle of the road and extreme left positions: In 2024 the Dems were hurt by their focus on identity politics. While identity issues are important they tend to ignore issues of basic human needs that cut across identities. They also make it easy for Republicans to overexaggerate the role of identities in Democratic platforms.

In addition to identity politics many Democrats ran on conservative middle-of-the-road policies focused on tinkering with budgets and amending existing programs. They were hesitant to be bolder and more innovative, thus turning off voters who were looking for something other than politics-as-usual. The Democrat reliance on corporate donors often makes it hard for them to support more class conscious candidates.

• Call out Republican mistakes: Trump and the Republicans have not done a great job in governing til now. They have ignored their commitment to the middle class, and have focused instead on racist and xenophobic policies such as indiscriminate arrest of immigrants and sending armed troops into US cities. They also can be blamed for the government shutdown, escalating costs of health care, and giving tax breaks to the wealthy. But Dems need to be careful not to run entirely negative anti-Republican campaigns. They need to emphasize positive actions they will help working families,
• Make sure the voting system is not rigged: Dems need to take steps to challenge and offset any moves that Republicans make to gerrymander voting districts. The successful effort made in California on a ballot initiative that supports additional Democrat leaning districts should be copied in other states. Also Republican initiatives against early voting and mail-in ballots must be strongly opposed. It is to the advantage of Democrats to have as many people vote as possible. The Dems also need to have an army of attorneys, poll watchers, and lawyers to monitor and call out Republican voting system shenanigans. And of course the Dems need to draw down on their well oiled get-out-the-vote machines in as many states as possible,

** Here the term “populist message” refers to a message aimed at addressing the quality of life issues affecting many working and middle class Americans, and which are not being successfully addressed by the current administration.

OP ED | USRESIST NEWS TEAM | September, 2025

At the center of all affective communities is an element of trust. There needs to be trust that you can say and write and do things without fear of a violent reprisal.  Of course criticism and non-violent blowback are fair game. But murder or even messages instilling hatred and violence towards one’s opponent cannot be tolerated. These acts are the destroyers of trust as well as lives.

This is why the growing incidence of political violence in America is so disturbing. It seems that within the past decade we have witnessed incident after incident of political assassinations and attempted murders. For example there was the Congressional baseball practice shooting in June 2017;the Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot in October 2020; the Brett Kavanaugh murder plot in June 2022; the Paul Pelosi attack in October 2022; the Trump assassination attempts in 2024; the firebombing of Josh Shapiro’s residence in April,2025, the assassination of Melissa Hortman and her husband in June 2025;  the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk; and of course the January 2021 Capitol insurrection.

Who is more responsible—the Right or the Left? Some cite a 2023 Justice Department Report that documents the greatest amount of political  violence as being attributable to Republicans. But there are those who claim that Democrats hold the preponderance of responsibility. It is foolish, we feel, to argue about which side is more responsible, and time to recognize that responsibility and accountability for political violence can be attributed to both sides.

It also is useful to note that many acts of political violence are conducted by those not associated with the Right or the Left; individuals who are  mentally disturbed, who use acts of political violence as a means of exorcising their own personal demons. However our political leaders seize on these incidents and turn them into ammunition for their political diatribes.

Is it too late to stop the American trend to violence that haunts our political climate ? We at USRESIST NEWS believe it is not too late; that there are steps that those in power, as well as  we  citizens, can take to stem the tide. These include;

• Leaders setting the tone: The conditions for political violence usually are influenced by the attitudes and words expressed by a country’s leader. So far President Trump has not called out the dangers of political violence, and has instead said often makers accusations of Blue State and Left Wing perpetration. We are hopeful he will change his tone and condemn political violence on all sides.
• Agreement between political parties: It would be helpful for there to be a Compact between the two major political parties that calls for a moratorium on all political violence. Sadly due to the current level of hostility between the two parties it is unlikely that such a Compact will occur in the near future.
• Regulation of  political rhetoric:  It also is incumbent on members of both parties to moderate and scale  down the sometimes violent  tone of their rhetoric; reduce the incidence of hate speech;  and refrain from posting hateful social media messages that demonize the other side.
• Supportive judicial rulings: Judges could include admonitions against political violence when ruling on cases with opportunities to do so. The Supreme Court especially is  in a position to make decisions that establish judicial precedent for rulings related to political violence
• More effective national gun control laws:  The growing incidents of political violence in part reflect the  trend towards the arming of America. We are the country with the greatest amount of gun ownership and gun violence in the world. Those  who use guns to settle political scores reflect the use of guns and gun violence in our community writ large.

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Politics is not religion; a lost election is not the end of the world. Many Americans fail to see things in this light, and that is a major reason for the growing incidence of political violence in our country. The point is, as the writer Yascha Monck says: ”Violence as a means of politics must always remain unacceptable in a democracy, whether it targets outspoken conservative podcasters or progressive politicians or senior judges or corporate executives. For we all stand to lose when the price of sharing one’s ideas, right or wrong, left or right, radical or milquetoast, becomes incalculable.”

Comment: Contact roncisrael@gmail.com

JUNE OP ED: Trump’s Assault on Our Country’s Organizational Fabric

By The USRESIST NEWS Team

The Trump administration is taking a wrecking ball to  institutions—government and non-government alike– that support  democracy and protect our citizens. The administration seems to be fixated on destroying organizations that provide social services to those in need, and those who  speak out against Trump and his  policies. There  is the false rationale that damaging or destroying these organizations will help reduce the budget deficit; and or that that these organizations wrongfully support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. But these are not well founded claims and don’t justify the government’s actions. The Trump administration appears to have no grand strategy in going after these organizations. The assaults are taking place in a seemingly  mean-spirited way with little forethought to their impact on the quality of life and democratic framework of our society.  Below are some examples.

Non-Profit Organizations

Politico reports how  the  Trump administration is mounting a sweeping offensive on America’s nonprofit sector, deploying a blend of funding cuts, the elimination of tax benefits, and bureaucratic paralysis. In just over two months, at least 10,000 nonprofit workers have lost their jobs, according to  the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Non-profits providing essential services including housing, education and domestic violence support — and who are already scrambling in an uncertain economic environment —  now face an even steeper funding and staffing drought.

Government Agencies

The administration’s  DOGE initiative  resulted in the seemingly arbitrary  dismantling of several government agencies that service those in need. These include USAID, that provides health and education services to poverty stricken people in developing countries; the National Labor Relations Board that protects the rights of private-sector employees to organize and bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, that monitor banking practices and the safety of consumer products; and the Department of Education that oversees federal education policy and administers funding for educational programs at the federal level. Although federal judges have ruled several of these closings unconstitutional ( Claiming Congress, not the Executive, is the branch of government responsible for shutting down agencies), most of these agencies remain closed or shells of what they once were.

Law Firms

The Administration is taking efforts to close American law firms with lawyers that had previously represented positions adverse to Trump. These retributive actions include issuing executive orders and presidential memorandums limiting the ability of attorneys to obtain access to government buildings, stopping any consideration for future employment with the government, canceling government contracts, and preventing any company that uses such a firm from obtaining federal contracts. Several firms, such as Paul Weiss and eight others have made deals with the administration to provide pro bono services in order to avoid sanctions and restore access to government contracts. Others, such as Wilmer Hale  have been successfully  pushing back on the government’s efforts. District  Judge Richard Leon, commenting in one of these cases said “The cornerstone of the American system of justice is an independent judiciary and an independent bar willing to tackle unpopular cases, however daunting. The Founding Fathers knew this!”

Educational Institutions

The  Administration has been carrying out what appears to be a personal vendetta against certain Ivy League colleges, especially Harvard and Columbia. The attempted take down of Harvard includes efforts to control the university’s curriculum, staffing and admissions policies; its admissions of foreign students, its research grants and its non-profit status. The administration is basing its attacks on what they say is the prevalence of antisemitism at Harvard, but there is little data to support this charge. Harvard has pushed back with well-articulated legal challenges, which federal judges are reviewing.

Columbia has taken a different tack agreeing to make certain changes in staffing and the management of protests in exchange for being able to continue with federally funded research.Columbia acquiesced to most of the administration’s demands in a memo that laid out measures including banning face masks on campus, empowering security officers to remove or arrest individuals, and taking control of the department that offers courses on the Middle East from its faculty.

Media

The Trump administration has signaled its dislike of media organizations that oppose its policies. Recent effort targeted at media interference include a $60 billion lawsuit against CBS for what it claims was a misleading interview with Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024; shutting down the Voice of America; ceasing funding for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio, and barring the Associated Press from attending press briefings in the Oval Office.

Looking at these  actions in total can be cause for alarm and despair. They reflect the efforts of an administration that lacks tolerance for diversity of opinion and free speech; that values the wealth of the few over the well-being of the many; and that fails to see the important role government has in  uniting rather than dividing our country and supporting our people.

Dear President Trump,

Last month we wrote wishing you well on your 2^nd term in Office. This month we write to express concern about the negative tone your administration has put forward in many of it  policies and pronouncements. We’d like to remind you of the values that are most important for a President to preserve when he or she serves as the custodian of our democracy. These values include the following:

Transparency: A commitment to sharing the reasoning, thinking, and information that goes into your decision-making process. In the first few weeks of your administration, we have found such transparency lacking. For example, what has Elon Musk’s DOGE team actually done? What data of ours do they have? What do they intend to do with it? Why can’t we know this?

Accountability: Too often it is unclear to us who in your administration is responsible for making decisions, and what happens if they get their decisions wrong. For example, who is accountable for your firing of government workers in different agencies? What if the workers who were fired were responsible for rendering services essential to protecting our lives?  What happens to those services? Who is responsible for determining whether these workers were unjustly terminated. 

Humility: At least occasionally Mr. President we would like to see you express some humility for the Office you hold and the decisions you make. As you know being President comes with a great deal of authority, power and responsibility. We understand your need to exert the authority of your office from time to time; but please don’t let muscle-flexing get out of hand. Always remember, acknowledge and be grateful to the citizens of your country that you serve.

Morality: While people may vary somewhat in their interpretations of current events, most of us have an inherent sense of what’s right and wrong. We feel a need to do good and combat evil. Sometimes Mr. President your moral stance is unclear to us. Your speeches often are laced with hate aimed at others. Please try and restrain yourself in the use of this kind of language; be more compassionate and do the right thing.

Avoid Retribution:  Don’t take everything personally. We understand and appreciate the fact that you feel you’ve been wronged; that “the system” as you perceive it, has worked against you. It may be difficult for you to do but as President you need to let it go. It is not the job of the President to bring his or her personal vendettas with them to the job. You are President of all the people now; not just those who voted for you but those who voted against you and  those who oppose your policies. Your job is to look for ways that can unite us and bring us together.

Be Independent from Outside Influence: You must realize that people will seek to court favor with you just because you are the President and in a seat of power.

Please stand guard against the temptation to do political favors for those who try to buy seats at your table. In your first administration there were accusations that your businesses profited from deals that were made because those that made them wanted to be in the good graces of  the President and his colleague. Please try and avoid a repeat of this kind of behavior.

Choose Country Over Party: While it is natural for you to enact policies that exclusively support the position of you and your party, don’t always have this be the rule. There are issues crucial to our security and quality of life that need bi-partisan support to succeed. In those instances, people look to you to lead the way by enlisting the support of leaders from the opposing party as well as your own.

Commit to Democracy and Rule of Law:  Our country is based on a democratic system and the rule of law. This system is framed by our Constitution and our legal network. It is possible to ignore democracy, the rule of law, and even the Constitution once you are in power; and we have noticed that your administration sometimes leans in that direction. But we implore you not to go too far. You may not think rules and traditions matter as much as the policies you want to get done; but they matter greatly to most of our citizens and for those who come after us. So please show some respect the political legacy that you’ve inherited.

We hope you will take these suggestions in the constructive spirit in which they are offered.

Best Regards

The US RESIST NEWS OP ED TEAM