At 7:01 last night, Donald Trump walked out of the Oval Office to “God Bless the USA” and spent the next 17 minutes and 54 seconds showing how little decency is still left in the presidency. He praised the concrete that replaced the old Rose Garden, explained that a helipad is where helicopters land, and claimed the White House was in better shape than when it was built, after demolishing the East Wing. Then, while discussing an executive order he had just signed, he turned to Doug Burgum with questions about lead ammunition and admitted, “I don’t know what the hell that means.” His explanation was that Burgum wanted it, and he was there for him. Moments later, he joked about banning fishing to drive Bass Pro Shops billionaire Johnny Morris out of business until Morris called him begging. This is how he talks about public power: something to hand to his friends, or hold over them.
Regardless of whether Donald Trump understood the consequences of what he signed, they still natter and have an impact. They don’t disappear just because he fails to understand them. His hunting and fishing orders open federal land to expanded hunting. They extend fishing seasons and quotas, and roll back nonlead ammunition requirements at certain wildlife refuges. Lead fragments in hunted animals poison the birds that feed on their remains, including bald eagles and endangered California condors. While outdoor industry executives stand to benefit. He served his guests bison, an animal that survived near-extinction with help from the very kinds of conservation protections Trump is undermining. What followed me through another day at the hospital was the contrast to what Trump focuses on and what most Americans do. A healthcare worker told me that doubled rent had put buying a home out of reach. Someone else had just paid more than $100 to fill a gas tank. A barista explained that rising costs were forcing a small business to charge customers more. These are people exchanging their dreams for survival while the president entertains wealthy supporters.
When I said to someone, “It’s Trump’s America, huh?” they answered that nothing was cheaper, as he had promised. We need to connect those everyday costs to Trump so voters understand what is on the line, especially with those who do not follow politics closely like so many of us do. Even JD Vance is asking voters to give the administration another chance and another couple of years, while evading the broken promise about no new wars. We have 47 days before the midterms to make those connections clear. We can also pay attention when Trump names his corporate friends and decide where our own money goes, and if we want to spend on them. The distance between a president joking about destroying a donor’s business and a nurse who cannot afford a home should matter to everyone. Our job is to make sure people see it, understand what is at stake, and turn that frustration into participation by getting out to vote.
See the full story in the video.
We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms.
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I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late).
I’ll see you tomorrow,
Heather
This video is based on my written post, available HERE, and based on the events of 9-17-2026.
This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment.
Sources:
President Trump Participates in a Rose Garden Dinner, Sep. 17, 2026: YouTube Video
https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/executive-order-hunting-hertiage/
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/lead-bullets-are-stunting-bald-eagles-recovery
https://www.npr.org/2025/10/23/nx-s1-5583959/white-house-east-wing-demolition-ballroom-trump
