I’m Back and I Have a Lot to Talk About

As I was saying before I was interrupted…The war in Iran is illegal, unnecessary, and a huge blunder.

Have we learned nothing from our disasters in Vietnam and Iraq? What are our objectives? How do we know what “winning” looks like?

Here’s what we do know. Donald Trump broke his promise of keeping us out of foreign wars. He told us months ago that we had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, yet we are going after that program again. We have killed many of Iran’s evil hardline regime leaders, only to have them replaced by other evil and hardline regime leaders.

Also, too many members of the military and innocent civilians have been killed, while gas prices have soared and our retirement plans have flattened. Trump promised to lower the cost of living. How is that working out?

We also know that the Constitution says only Congress can approve wars, but that has not happened. Of course, North Dakota Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven support this foolish war, as do Representatives Julie Fedorchak and Michelle Fischbach.

They support whatever Donald Trump wants them to support. No critical thinking necessary. No spines either. Do you think they would support the war if Joe Biden ordered it? Of course not.

Our local Republican members of Congress ignore the Constitution and the oaths they took to support it.

Meantime, Trump sounded like a madman when he said, “A whole civilization will die tonight.” His threats of mass murder and war crimes demonstrate he should be removed from office via the 25th Amendment.

Senator Cramer showed his blind support of Trump by stating to ABC News of Iranian leaders, “I hope they are prepared to meet their maker.”

That is frightening.

As for me, I need to talk about the whirlwind of the last two weeks.

I was treated very well during my 33 years of working for Forum Communications. I took a lot of pride in working for that company.

As a columnist, I never received any criticism from the company. Only praise. I developed a loyal following, and was voted “Best Newspaper Columnist of the Red River Valley” for eight of the last nine years.

So, I was shocked when the Forum fired me. I never saw it coming. In hindsight, perhaps I should have.

On the day after Donald Trump was re-elected, Forum columnists received an email from the company telling us we should only write about local issues or local angles of national issues. Four days after Trump was sworn into office, we received a second email to remind us of this policy.

I complied with the policy. Some of my columns were about local angles of the chaos and cruelty caused by the Trump Administration. Apparently, those columns were not what they wanted.

When I heard that talented and like-minded Forum columnists Jack Zaleski and Joan Brickner were also fired, it was clear what’s going on. As Jack called it, it was an ideological purge.

The Forum editor told me it was not about saving money.

It was devastating to me and my family. A lot of tears were shed.

And then, something wonderful happened. I received hundreds and hundreds of heartfelt calls, comments and messages. I couldn’t keep up with all of them.

Thanks to all of you for reaching out. It has been the most touching experience of my life.

On top of that, I was deeply moved by the dozens of demonstrators who braved the cold and snow to protest our firings, in front of the Forum building.

This wasn’t just about me, Jack and Joan. It was about silencing voices. Those voices spoke for them.

And then, something else wonderful happened. I was contacted by several media outlets to write for them.

I chose KFGO because it’s a perfect fit for me.

I have guest hosted hundreds of talk shows at KFGO over the last 26 years. I have always felt welcomed and supported here. The staff at KFGO is talented, friendly, and professional.

Beyond that, KFGO is the top radio station in North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota. It’s an honor to be writing for a place that has such a strong commitment to news and public discussion of current events.

I will continue to be a voice for the voiceless and speak truth to power about people from both sides of the aisle.

People forget that I called for Joe Biden to drop his re-election bid seven months before his disastrous debate performance, and for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to drop his re-election bid five months before he did so.

There are many advantages to writing for KFGO. I can write about any topic I choose. I don’t have a 500 word limit.

I don’t have to submit my columns four or five days ahead of time before they are published. At KFGO, they will usually be published and heard on the air, on the same day I submit them.

And you don’t have to pay anything to read or listen to me. It’s all free.

I’m fired up. Let’s do great things together!

(Jim Shaw is a veteran newsman and journalist based in Fargo, ND. Read his weekly column at kfgo.com and listen Thursday afternoons.)