The Eroding of the Republic

10.6.25

Happy Monday and welcome back to today’s edition of Common Sense with Ally Sammarco—your daily briefing on U.S. politics. Let’s break it down.

Trump Says Democrats Need to be ‘Taken Care Of’….What was supposed to be an event marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy became a campaign-style rally, thanks to Donald Trump making plenty of disparaging remarks towards Democrats. “We have to take care of this little gnat that’s on our shoulder called the Democrats. They want to give all of our money to illegal aliens that pour into the country,” said Trump, making a flicking gesture from his shoulder as he spoke. Trump’s insistence that someone has to “take care of” Democrats refers to nearly half the country.

Common Sense takeaway: I know we are supposed to be used to this by now, but this is not normal and never will be. A military event should never be made partisan, and the President of the United States should never insinuate that half of the country needs to be destroyed.

U.S. Strikes Vessel Off Venezuela in Drug War Escalation….Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces carried out a drone strike on a vessel off Venezuela’s coast last weekend, marking the fourth strike in a month as part of his anti-cartel campaign in the Caribbean. The Pentagon said the targeted boat was “suspected of transporting narcotics,” but Venezuelan officials called it a violation of their territorial waters. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the strikes, claiming cartels are “moving inland” and that the U.S. must be ready to “hit them anywhere they operate.”

Common Sense takeaway: Killing people because you ‘suspect’ them of something sounds like a war crime. Yet, labeling drug trafficking as war lets this administration bypass oversight. That’s the whole plan—if everything is “war" or a “war zone,” then nothing matters anymore.

National Guard Deployed as ICE Tactics Intensify in Cities….As the shutdown drags on, tensions are escalating in Chicago, Portland, and Los Angeles, where the administration has deployed National Guard troops to assist in large-scale ICE raids. Officials say the troops are there for “logistical support,” but eyewitnesses are reporting uniformed soldiers stationed near residential neighborhoods and migrant shelters. Civil rights groups have filed emergency injunctions to block the operation, calling it an unconstitutional use of military force against civilians.

Common Sense takeaway: Sending troops into domestic enforcement is a political spectacle, not law enforcement. They are not trained for these kind of interactions with civilians. All it does is escalate fear and neighborhoods become battlegrounds—but, that’s the whole point and they don’t care.

Zach Bryan Drops Politically Charged Teaser “Bad News”….Country artist Zach Bryan released a teaser for his new song “Bad News”. The song includes lyric lines about ICE raids — “ICE is gonna come, bust down your door”—signaling a focus on immigration and government overreach—and the “the fading of the red, white, and blue.” Bryan has up until now steered clear of overt partisanship, making this song a bit shocking for fans who assumed he was a MAGA supporter.

Common Sense takeaway: When someone, particularly a country music artist, who’s stayed out of political discourse until now starts singing about ICE raids and the eroding of the Republic, it’s a sign that the cultural tides may be shifting. Honestly, this song is a breath of fresh air.

Israel/Hamas Negotiations are in Motion…..Talks between Israel and Hamas began this week in Egypt, with U.S. and Egyptian mediators trying to finalize what Trump has branded his 20-point “peace plan” for Gaza. Hamas says it’s ready to release all remaining Israeli hostages—living or deceased—under the deal, while Israel is demanding the group’s full disarmament and removal from control in Gaza. The toughest questions—who governs Gaza, how reconstruction happens, and whether Hamas truly gives up its weapons—are still unresolved.

Common Sense takeaway: Trump’s rushing to declare a “historic peace deal,” but the real test is whether the fine details can be agreed upon and if the promises hold once the cameras are off.

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back tomorrow for more.