October 7, 2025

First the clarion call of isolationists

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12 September 2019 WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND Today’s Events in Historical Perspective America’s Longest-Running Column Founded 1932 America First, the clarion call of isolationism By Douglas Cohn and Eleanor Clift           WASHINGTON – There are several reasons why President Trump demanded John Bolton’s resignation, but the precipitating event was Bolton’s opposition to a Camp David […]

Once a General

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5 September 2019 WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND Today’s Events in Historical Perspective America’s Longest-Running Column Founded 1932 Once a general By Douglas Cohn and Eleanor Clift           WASHINGTON – Once a general, always a general? Not always, but James Mattis, the Marine Corps general turned Secretary of Defense, did not entirely take off his uniform […]

UK-US un-special relationship

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 29 August 2019 WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND Today’s Events in Historical Perspective America’s Longest-Running Column Founded 1932 The UK-US un-special relationship By Douglas Cohn and Eleanor Clift           WASHINGTON – Russian President Vladimir Putin said liberal democracy is obsolete to which European Union’s Council President Donald Tusk replied: "Whoever claims that liberal democracy is obsolete […]

Narcissism combined with paranoia is explosive

IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22 August 2019 WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND Today’s Events in Historical Perspective America’s Longest-Running Column Founded 1932 Narcissism combined with paranoia is explosive By Douglas Cohn and Eleanor Clift           WASHINGTON – The President is a known narcist, but is there more, some combining trait that is creating a volatile mixture?            He was only […]

Patriotism and the presidency

  IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6 Jan 2017 WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND Today’s Events in Historical Perspective America’s Longest-Running Column, Founded 1932 Patriotism and the presidency By Douglas Cohn and Eleanor Clift WASHINGTON – The first prerequisite for any U.S. president is patriotism, that one simple, overused word that means a person has the best interests of the nation […]

Devolution of America

  IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5 Jan 2017 WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND Today’s Events in Historical Perspective America’s Longest-Running Column, Founded 1932 Devolution of America By Douglas Cohn and Eleanor Clift WASHINGTON – Before the election, conventional wisdom had the GOP coming apart, had the Tea Party at war with traditional Republicans, and had fiscal hawks battling social conservatives. […]

Obama’s gift to Trump: increased executive power

  IMMEDIATE RELEASE 29 Dec 2016 WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND Today’s Events in Historical Perspective America’s Longest-Running Column, Founded 1932 Obama’s gift to Trump: increased executive power By Douglas Cohn and Eleanor Clift WASHINGTON – Thanks to President Obama, President-elect Trump is going to inherit the most powerful executive branch in modern times. It is not what […]

Safety vs. liberty

  IMMEDIATE RELEASE 21 Dec 2016 WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND Today’s Events in Historical Perspective America’s Longest-Running Column, Founded 1932 Safety vs. liberty By Douglas Cohn and Eleanor Clift WASHINGTON – The Christmas market attack in Berlin is forcing German Chancellor Angela Merkel to confront the age-old choice between public safety and individual rights.  Because of Germany’s […]

The Ayn Rand Cabinet

  IMMEDIATE RELEASE 15 Dec 2016 WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND Today’s Events in Historical Perspective America’s Longest-Running Column, Founded 1932 The Ayn Rand Cabinet By Douglas Cohn and Eleanor Clift WASHINGTON – So far there are three prospective members of Donald Trump’s Cabinet who are admirers of Ayn Rand, and so is Donald Trump. He sees himself […]

His name is Conflict-of-Interest

  IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11 Dec 2016 WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND Today’s Events in Historical Perspective America’s Longest-Running Column, Founded 1932 His name is Conflict-of-Interest By Douglas Cohn and Eleanor Clift WASHINGTON – It is a raw exercise of Robber Baron power. Rex Tillerson, the chief executive of ExxonMobil is being nominated for secretary of State by President-elect […]