Back in the 1960s, while Bob Dylan got more notice, no one skewered the establishment better than Phil Ochs. We could really use his brilliance and guitar today, but, hard as it is to believe, he's been gone 50 years. Remembering him today on Substack jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/phil-ochs

So... nobody much likes the Electoral College. But can we fix it or abolish it? See my Substack column today. The answer may surprise you. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/so-can-we-...

The other day, a reader asked me "just why do we have and need the Electoral College anyway?" and I realized that of course, most normal people don't know. Today's Substack offers an explanation. Thanks for reading, and hopefully subscribing! jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/question-t...

Happy Easter, if you celebrate, and in any event, it's spring. Some thoughts about that in my Substack today, and here's to forsythia where you are. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/easter-and...

Here's a suggestion: There's been a lot of focus on Gaza in the Michigan Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate. What about talking about how they can help MICHIGAN instead? Please see my Substack today: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/important-...

If you were surprised that the most corrupt attorney general in history was fired yesterday, don't be. The truth about Pam Bondi in my substack column today: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/dont-you-d...

If Social Security isn't fixed in the next six years, we're facing an unimaginable world of hurt. To see what and how it can easily be fixed, see my Substack today, and thanks for reading and hopefully subscribing! jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/what-happe...

We can't get the monster who is destroying democracy out of the White House, at least not yet. But we can and must get his tentacles out of our brains, or we will all be April fools. See my Substack today, and happy detoxing. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/dont-let-h...

President Trump is still whining, falsely, that the 2020 election was stolen from him. But there is a man who was counted out in an election he really won, and today is his birthday. See my Substack column today, and may you dodge the raindrops. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/he-really-...

Saturday's No Kings protests drew an estimated eight million people, the biggest mass protest in American history. But millions more not only didn't protest, they didn't even know what was going on. See my reality check on Substack today, and subscribe: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/welcome-to...

The other day, I was musing that the "New Left" of Jerry Rubin and the SDS, etc. which we boomers had to grapple with seems as dead as the last Ankylosaurus. Then, I got an invitation to join the Old Left. Wonder how I'd do on a collective farm? jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/my-invitat...

Some thoughts for the first No Kings Day of 2026. The best one, of course, must come in November. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/yes-protes...

For many years, Democrats have charged that Republicans wanted to get rid of Social Security. They never really tried, because they knew they couldn't get away with it, But now they think they can, and that's what's coming next. See my Substack today: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/watch-out-...

While there's been a lot of attention to the races for governor and U.S senator in Michigan, there are many other races for you might not even know about, which will be heavily affected by the Duggan campaign. See my Substack today for the inside story. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/what-about...

This is the anniversary of the imaginary day the hobbits overthrew Sauron by destroying his ring. What if we do eventually get rid of Trump? The aftermath might be more complicated than it seems. See my Substack, and please consider subscribing. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/like-sauro...

Do we even understand how horrible the attack on Iran has been, for our country and our image in the world? jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/do-you-eve...

I have decided to take a cautiously restrained view of today's GOP. See my Substack column, and let me know if I was too timid.. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/party-of-c...

Today I have decided to take a cautiously restrained view of today's GOP. See my Substack column, and let me know if I was too timid.. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/party-of-c...

I have decided to out myself as the slacker I am. You may clutch your pearls. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/confession...

Like many (literate) boys in the early 1960s, I grew up reading science fiction, and later spy fiction. But nothing was ever as fantastic or frightening as real life today. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/science-fi...

If I was asked what to study, I would say history, because you can't possibly understand anything until you know what's happened before. Today on Substack, I look at an old right-winger who was right about one huge thing - but no one listened. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/words-of-w...

It's been a week since the (mostly) thwarted attack on Temple Israel in Michigan. My Substack today takes a look at the deeper meaning of the event. I appreciate very much all my subscribers. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/jews-musli...

In my Substack today, I note that it's time to stop acting like Trump is the only president who has had horrible scandals. After all, Obama wore that tan suit. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/trump-is-n...

Last week, when I argued that reinstating a fair military draft might make presidents less able to start sudden wars, a number of readers said, "well, what about non-military service as well?" Here's an update of a Substack column I did on the subject. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/how-about-...

The (okay, we) Baby Boomers haven't exactly saved the planet, but they can still do something important before they all bow out. See my Substack today, and thanks for reading, jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/a-chance-f...

Yes, the world is a mess, but yesterday was both Pi day and Albert Einstein's 147th birthday, and now we should allow ourselves to celebrate the Ides of March. Please see my Substack, and consider subscribing: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/celebratin...

Pretty much everyone knows a lone gunman attacked Temple Israel, the Detroit area's largest Reform congregation. But what you may not realize is what a total failure he was, and that something good may have come out of this. See my Substack today. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/a-new-way-...

In "Only a Pawn in Their Game," Bob Dylan noted the rich could exploit poor whites in the South as long as they told them they were superior to Blacks. Now Donald Trump is ripping off millions of his morons. Will they ever notice? See my Substack: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/psst-maga-...

Last week I opined that bringing back a fair, inclusive military draft might actually make presidential whim wars less likely. Here's an expanded version of that argument. I am NOT necessarily advocating this; I think it just deserves consideration. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/could-a-un...

Winston Churchill once said, "Never Despair." But what if you've devoted your life to the environment, and then have to cope with a president who is determined to destroy it? jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/how-to-avo...

It's hard to keep up with the terrible things Donald Trump does; last week, he started a war. But we can't forget his utterly evil move to prevent our badly needed Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening. See my Substack today: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/dont-forge...

Are you sick of presidents, most notably Donald Trump, starting wars just because they feel like it? Well, guess what: Congress could stop this, stop any war, if they really wanted to. See my Substack today: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/congress-t...

Today is the first day of that asinine thing known as "Daylight Saving Time." Polls show most Americans hate the time change, and some small children are virtually certain to be killed tomorrow? See my Substack, and have fun changing your clocks. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/repeal-day...

Tired of presidents being able to start "forever wars?" One possible way to stop this" Bring back the military draft. See my Substack today: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/bring-back...

By now, you've probably heard that the appalling Kristi Noem has been fired as head of Homeland Security, or actually appointed to a job with an agency that doesn't exist. But you should know about the brawler replacing her. See my Substack today: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/firing-a-f...

Well, this country has pretty much gone to hell, at least for now, but there are still good people making a difference for their communities. I thought we might all be inspired by this story. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/meet-a-com...

Well, we've got ourselves a new war that may well last decades, and if you don't realize quite what that means, see my Substack today. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/welcome-to...

While contemplating the obscenity of the world and its leadership today, I remembered that yesterday would that been the birthday of a now almost forgotten man who in my lifetime changed the world for the better in a way no one thought possible. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/he-really-...

We're told Hillary Clinton was dragged before a House committee to talk about Epstein because a nephew of Ghislaine Maxwell got a low-level State Department job when Clinton was Secretary of State. So who among us is safe? See my Substack today: jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/could-the-...

In my Substack column today, I reveal the true brilliance of Trump's Iran policy, which is essentially that of Moe Howard on acid,. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/our-iran-p...

Many people across the ideological spectrum think there was once a time when America was actually united. But how true is that -- and if so, why isn't it anymore? See my Substack today, and I'd be honored if you'd subscribe. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/was-americ...

Might want to grab the smelling salts: In my Substack column today, I make a startling proposal to the Democrats: They as a party should stand for something. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/a-shocking...

Yesterday my substack essay for today was accidentally briefly published prematurely; if you didn't see it, I hope you find it thoughtful and provocative, and thanks for reading me! jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/a-differen...

I've been asked repeatedly about why I write, and about why anyone engages in the torturous practice of writing. Today, for a change of pace, I attempt an answer. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/why-i-writ...

The annual State of the Union is tonight. Whether you watch or not, I'll bet most of what you thought you knew about the speech is dead wrong. Read my Substack column today, and wow your friends with your arcane knowledge. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/myths-and-...

Donald Trump is horrible, beyond belief. But he isn't the real problem. Find out who is, and how it can be fixed, in my Substack column today. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/trump-is-n...

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled most of Donald Trump's tariffs unconstitutional. But the tariff issue, wasn't the real takeaway. What really mattered is what that ruling told us about the court -- and what we learned or relearned about Trump. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/two-things...

The Supreme Court clipped Donald Trump's wings, and everyone is wondering and worrying about what's next. But I've gotten a lot of other intelligent questions too, and here are a few answers. Much thanks for reading and hopefully subscribing to me. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/saturday-q...

This is Black History month, when newspapers normally write nice little stories about Harriet Tubman or Martin Luther King. But here's a rawer take on it, from an era when an ignorant racist president thinks Frederick Douglass is still alive. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/a-differen...

I've written before about Donald Trump's outrageous refusal to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge. But here, on my Substack today, is a look at the anatomy of the corruption involved. Please read, and hopefully, subscribe. jacklessenberry.substack.com/p/anatomy-of...