President Donald Trump ignited the birthright citizenship issue by an executive order mandating that we return to the Constitution as written by ending the practice. His EO was titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship.” Consequently 22 Democrat state AG’s sued the Trump Administration (PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS Executive Order, Jan. 20, 2025). Generally Republicans agree with this action and many Democrats do not. A ruling accepting or rejecting this practice is expected by the Supreme Court any day.
All Deep State media quoted only the message they wanted remembered highlighted in yellow, knowingly leaving out the eligibility requirement of six words essential to the amendment “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Amendments 13, 14, and 15 were created to incorporate the newly freed ex-slaves in the South. None of these amendments had anything to do with immigration or contained even the word yet some Democrats saw this group as a way of supersizing to a permanent single party rule, thus encouraged this serious PERVERSION of the Constitution.
The post Civil War amendments all dealt with what to do with the former slave residents the North had made free against the will of the South; the 11 states once holding them in bondage, and although now free, wanted to keep them as still subservient in citizenship and voting. The 13th Amendment was ratified December 6, 1865, constitutionally ended slavery, the 14th on July 9, 1868) giving their yet unborn citizenship, and the 15th on March 30, 1870 extending the right to vote—together they equalized ex-slaves by law. The amendments must be treated together. None had anything to do with immigration—the word was not mentioned or implied.
Actually, birthright citizenship is prohibited by the 14th Amendment. LibertyUnderFire.org published on Sept. 28, 2010, “Are ‘Anchor’ Babies Constitutional?,” and we have followed with several like columns over the many years. The concept of “anchor” babies refers to those whose parents are illegal immigrants into the United States and while here have a baby. That baby then inherits full citizenship and even the right later, as an adult, to sponsor his/her own illegal parents in their quest for citizenship. How can a child of such a parentage have what his parents clearly do not have? Is this practice constitutional? No, and although miss-practiced widely the last several decades, has never been original intent or practice.
For the casual reader the amendment seems to validate such if we omit the middle highlighted six words : “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” The debate for or against the practice of allowing citizenship for babies of illegal’s born in the U.S. rages on with virtually no expert or otherwise going to the source of the alleged authority—the crafters of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.
Senator Jacob Merritt Howard, architect of the 14th Amendment, actually structured the Amendment, (one of two defining the legal status of freed slaves after the Civil War, the other being the 13th which gave them freedom) to prevent that very interpretation. He wrote: “This amendment which I have offered is simply declaratory of what I regard as the law of the land already, that every person born within the limits of the United States, and [already, as were ex-slaves] subject to their jurisdiction, is by virtue of natural law and national law a citizen of the United States. THIS WILL NOT, OF COURSE, INCLUDE PERSONS BORN IN THE UNITED STATES WHO ARE FOREIGNERS, ALIENS [emphasis added], who belong to the families of ambassadors or foreign ministers accredited to the Government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons.” It was he who insisted that the qualifying phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” be inserted into Section I. Those sneaking across our borders in the cover of darkness (under Biden in open daylight) are clearly foreigners and thus specifically excluded from automatic citizenship. Notice the exclusion of babies born of ambassadors while here too.
The early record of Senate deliberations on the 14th Amendment show this to be the view of the Senate. There is no such thing as automatic citizenship from this amendment without serious and unscholarly distortion of it. In fact, Lyman Trumbull, co-author of the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery, addressing the definition of the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” asked, What do we mean by complete jurisdiction thereof? Not owing allegiance to anybody else. That is what it means.” Those crossing our borders illegally have jurisdiction or allegiance elsewhere and thus cannot have automatic citizenship—nor can their babies.
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens born in the U.S. The text of the order states that it applies only to newborns. It is not retroactive for people who are already U.S. citizens. According to a lawsuit filed by virtually every Democrat state AG in the country, there are about 150,000 children born each year to two parents who are illegal aliens. How can a child of such a parentage have what his parents clearly do not have? Trump wants to return to Amendment 14 which denied this practice.
Citizenship was denied Native Americans until 1924 as they owed allegiance to their Sioux or Apache or Blackfoot, or whatever, Indian nations and thus were not yet “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” of the nation they lived within. Certainly one must cease to be at war or conflict with the conquering country. So just being on U.S. soil, even all their life as were they, did not make them citizens automatically until the “jurisdiction thereof” part of the Amendment was satisfied.
Many of our Mexican friends send portions of their paychecks home to Mexico and plan to return to their native land upon retirement with pensions and/or social security sent to their “first” country from the country they extracted the wealth from—the U.S. Some vote in Mexican elections from here. It is indeed hard to argue that they are not instead subject to the jurisdiction of another land other than the United States—and most admit it. Unfortunately for them the U. S. Constitution specifically denies such citizenship.
Democrat AG’s from 22 states are now taking Trump to court for this “long-standing right.” This is likely to progress to the Supreme Court where it will be defeated if the court holds to original intent as understood and practiced for at least the first hundred years of the amendment’s history. No new amendment is needed to get us back to original intent. Trump’s executive order on this matter is within his authority and enough. Only ignorance, or intent, took us off the Constitution to begin with. It remains the law of the land as written. Only the grossest distortion or intent by those in power and a population grossly ignorant of their founding document could miss this. The president swears by oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States” which, in this case, he is doing.
Either the Supreme Court follows the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, or it doesn’t! Justices, if you fail to uphold the Constitution on one of the clearest amendments written, you will lose the confidence of the people that you are fit for your high, Holy and distinguished office.
Dr. Harold Pease is a syndicated columnist and an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for over 30 years at Taft College. Newspapers have permission to publish this column. Read more of his weekly columns @ www.LibertyUnderFire.org Column #867
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The “No Kings” protests swept the nation just last week, March 28, the third such array of protests against anything Trump does, says or supports. It is anything but spontaneous and was organized and funded by the same Deep State type cadre of people that John F. Kennedy unsuccessfully confronted. It was preceded by the first planned “No Kings” protest, intentionally to undermine Trump on his birthday, June 14, 2025, followed by the second October 18, 2025. Drawing massive crowds—organizers suggesting several million people participated in the third such organized protest, although a real headcount is not possible. It is designed to unleash itself on the public before, on, or about the midterm this November.
George Soros has used his billions to shift power structures in multiple continents probably giving himself more power than any king. No one has been more influential bringing to power dictators (kings) or removing elected leaders then he. He is the single greatest influence for the Islamic flood of immigrants in dozens of European countries and in the United States. He is a self hating Jew and loathes Israel and the U.S., especially Trump. There exists no one more Deep State than he. He likely created the “No Kings” movement giving it $72 million and through his Tides Foundation another $45 million making him its lead funder. As a devout socialist he hates the US Constitution and works to destroy our liberty.
The six leading individuals or foundations financing the ‘No Kings” protests are: “Arabella at $79 million, Warren Buffet at $16 million, Ford at $51 million, Rockefeller at $26 million, George Soros at $72 million, and Tides at $45 million for a grand total of $ 294,487,641 million.” Everyone knows these are “rent a mob” entities to fund socialist demonstrators and causes on the streets (X22 Report, hereafter not recited, Ep. 3834b, Feb. 5, 2026, 41:51).
We already had presidents and governors acting like kings. Obama spied on the 2016 Trump campaign and forced everyone to buy into Obamacare, Biden to take the mandatory COVID vaccine and subsequent boosters or lose their jobs, and in New York, Wisconsin and New Jersey governors Andrew Como, Grethen Whitmer and Phil Murphy sent COVID patients into nursing homes to up the pandemic’s death rates. Gavin Newsom of California denied people the right to assemble in churches and restaurants and arrested people for just being on the beach. Illinois Governor Pritzker then threatened to shoot anyone on the streets that refused to stay in his house and now allows illegals to be sworn in as police officers. (Ep. 3755b, Oct. 19, 2025, 15:29).
We remember these “wannabe kings” —all Democrats. Trump has not forced anything. He has required illegals who “broke in” to this country to obey established law to self-deport or be deported, required also by all his predecessors, nor have any of the rallies against him identified specifically anything illegal he has/is doing. The movement against Trump lacks a plaintiff.
According to Libs of TikTok on CNN “Liberals Want Obama to be King, Not President” (By Dean Obeidaliah, June 8, 2012), and on NBC “Why Obama Wishes He were King” both implied Obama would be a good king and toyed with the thought. Obama admits liking the idea of his being in the basement with an earpiece telling the president what to say and do which many believe is what he did during the Biden Administration.
Trump responded to the accusation of his being a king. “By the way, I’m not a KING. I work my ASS OFF to make our country great. That’s all it is! It’s a joke. I looked at all the people [protesting]…all the brand new signs. It was paid for by Soros and radical left lunatics… we’re checking that out. Very small and ineffective and the people will back out, [they are] not representative of the people of this country” (Ep. 3756b, Oct. 20, 2025, 33:22).
Should coming “No King” rallies (there are two scheduled later this year) lead to another Coup d’état as on Capitol Hill Jan. 6, 2021, Tony Saruba explains how data signatures is used by law enforcement to know everything about involved protesters through their cell phones. He says a geofence surrounds every protest. “Understand that if someone uses a faraday bag or even leaves their device at home, we can still reconcile their likely movements and locations. In fact, it's after dispersal that the real data exploitation begins. When a large protest happens, especially when that isn't institutionally approved, you can always assume it's being mapped in real time by every intelligence and policing network with overlap to that jurisdiction.
Tony Saruba explains how data signatures is used by law enforcement to know everything about involved protesters through their cell phones. Everything!!
“They don't watch in the traditional sense, he says, “they analyze systems. The modern apparatus doesn't care about shouting crowds. It cares about data signatures. Every phone becomes a tracking beacon so they know where these people come from. They know where they go to, they know whom they're in contact with …. Even if location off is toggled, the phone still admits continuous metadata, cell tower handoffs, triangulation gives position within meters, Wi Fi, pings, router logs, MAC addresses, Bluetooth scans and proximity signals IMSI catch or stingrays mimic cell towers, forcing all nearby phones to connect. “That gives agencies mass identifier lists and movement paths, device fingerprinting once a phone's radio signature is logged. It can be matched later, even with a new SIM license plate readers. ALPRs tie individual physical location to digital ones. All this gets piped into fusion centers, where predictive models weigh social stability indexes and generate risk ratings on protesters."
Saruba concludes, “Before, during and after the protest. My team and I rely on automated social media ingestion, pattern mapping, bot scan, hashtags, Telegram channels, Discord groups, signal and even private messaging servers that leak metadata, sentiment clustering, AI classified, classifies users as organizers, participants, sympathizers or hostile observers. Social graph scoring once a few key IDs are confirmed algorithm find second and third degree ties, family employee affiliations. That's how protests get pre neutralized, not by arrest, but by psychological operations, deep platforming, malware, intimidation messages or pressure on employees to deter attendance, even if data is encrypted, end to end, traffic analysis exposes networks and leads to the identification of each user, key groups and demographics in the crowd....” (Ep. 3871b, March 29, 2026, 31:00).
Consider the benefits to patriots and eventual justice. We have an accurate feel of the strength of this insurrectionist movement at all times and over time. Geomapping allows patriots to identify movement leaders and to document their every action when they go to violence. What if geomapping records are still available for 2020 when Antifa left some cities burned and looted and these match what happens in 2026? Criminals seldom change. Trump said he caught them all.
Dr. Harold Pease is a syndicated columnist and an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for over 30 years at Taft College. Newspapers have permission to publish this column. Read more of his weekly columns @ www.LibertyUnderFire.org Column #866
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I was a young college professor when on November 4, 1979 America suffered its most humiliating moment in U.S. history. Sixty-Six Americans were taken hostage by radical Islamists terrorists and paraded about blindfolded and 52 of these their lives threatened every day for 444 days in what is now known as The US Embassy Hostage Crises of 1979. Every night Iran’s humiliation of America led the news. President Jimmy Carter, appeared to be the most helpless and inept president. No nation feared him or any other Democrat leader since. Hostages were finally released just minutes before Ronald Reagan took the oath of office, because they knew he would come after them. Since that day these terrorists, their children and grandchildren terrorists have chanted “Death to America.” Iran’s 47 year long war against America just ended with the annihilation of the former radical Islamists government.
Iran has had an ongoing multiple millennial declaration of war against the Israeli race and more recently Americans primarily because they oppose the annihilation of the Jews. Radical Islamist have wanted a nuclear bomb and have made it known they intend to use it against both. They were within days of having and using it. No one questions their intent but only one president has made certain they never will. In 24 days he removed that threat and their radicalized leadership and has given the Iranian people a chance to experience freedom if they chose it.
Iran never faced accountability and every U.S president since has “tip toed” around Iran helping to maintain their aura of invincibility. Another Islamic act of terrorism against America followed in 1983 when 241 U.S soldiers where blown up in a marine barracks in Lebanon. Other attacks continued mostly on shipping vessels thereafter. Iran became the largest state sponsor of terrorism country. More recently, Iran's role in backing Hamas was on display which carried out the brutal Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel killing more than a thousand civilians and taking dozens of Americans along with Israeli hostages. In January of this year reports indicate that the ruling mullahs in Iran even slaughtered over 32,000 of their own people demonstrating against them.
Centered in this drama was Iran getting a nuclear bomb. President Obama’s 2018 Iran Deal is alleged to have made that possible years before anticipated. Critics (including Israeli PM Netanyahu, Trump, and analysts from Heritage, Brookings, and the Institute for Science and International Security) argued the deal did not eliminate Iran's nuclear infrastructure or ambitions—it legitimized and preserved them with a built-in expiration date. This created what opponents called a "patient pathway" to the bomb: Iran could wait out restrictions, retain know-how and facilities, then sprint to weapons-grade material (potentially in weeks) while staying compliant until the clocks ran out. This was precisely what happened. Obama made Iran a nuclear "threshold state” endangering the world.
Iran remained compliant initially but began breaching in 2019 (exceeding stockpile/enrichment limits). By 2024–2025, Iran enriched to 60% (near weapons-grade), amassed enough 60% material for several bombs if further processed, and installed advanced centrifuges. Breakout time dropped to 1 week or less. The deal's sunsets became largely moot as violations mounted. Negotiations to revive a deal have repeatedly failed. Trump had no choice but to insist Iran return to the table and make a new deal voiding Obama’s 2018 Iran “patient pathway” Iran Deal. THERE MUST BE NO PATHWAY FOR IRAN HAVING A NUCLEAR WEAPON. In April 2025 he gave Iran “a 60 day ultimatum to ‘make a deal!!’” They still refused!
Trump’s response had to be Operation Midnight Hammer June 21, 2025, and was. Stealths flew from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri directly East over the Atlantic for 18 hours completing a 25 minute drop, then home again. But it wasn’t a total success as first thought, it left significant stockpiles of high grade uranium intact which Iran since has refused to surrender.
Tulsi Gabbard recently testified, in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee, that although we had decimated Iran’s ability to develop nuclear fuel, “we had not destroyed the fuel they already had.” CIA Director John Ratcliff testified under oath at the same hearing that “Iran was developing a nuclear weapon prior to Operation Midnight Hammer,” last June 2025, and “was committed to continuing development before Epic Fury” this year. He continued, "Iran possesses at least 440 KG of uranium enrichment to weapons – grade 60% – which doesn't have a civilian use. The only use for that would be the development of nuclear weapons (X22 Report, Ep. 3864b, March 19, 2026, 25:08 and 52:46). Thus Iran still had fuel for a nuclear weapon which necessitated Trump’s recent February 28th attack on Iran.
In 1979 sixty-six Americans were taken hostage by radical Islamist terrorists and paraded about blindfolded and 52 of these their lives threatened every day for 444 days in what is now known as The US Embassy Hostage Crises of 1979. Every night Iran’s humiliation of America led the news. President Jimmy Carter, appeared to be the most helpless and inept president. These and other acts of terrorism dominated the news in Islamic centers of population making Iran the leading sponsor of terrorism. Justice sometimes is slow but it usually comes.
Everyone knows Iran’s first use of an atomic bomb will be unleashed on Jerusalem and that the radical Islamic mullahs will unleash it as a matter of Islamic faith. Radical Islamic mullahs cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon or rule a country that has one. This necessitates the non religious fanatic population to rise to power and keep that power. This is very possible in a country where 32,000 opposition leaders were executed by their own government just last January. The people do NOT love their mullahs and were video taped dancing in the streets, which is against the law in Iran, upon the news that governing mullah’s were known to have been killed by the bombs.
Trump is presently using back channels to insure that happens and insists he is making some progress. So much so that he recently reported, “I am pleased to report that the United States of America and the country of Iran, have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East. Based on the tenor and tone of these in depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”
All U.S. presidents were weak against Iran since 1979. Trump took the invincible Iran out in just 24 days and blew them off the map. Their leadership gone, their navy, air force and defense nearly dead. Finally they have been made to account for their actions both to America and Israel. And the Iranian people will continue to dance in the streets as they embrace freedom. This is why 89% of MAGA approve of Trump’s bringing justice to the mullahs of Iran (Ep. 3863b, March 18, 2026, 41:04). It was long overdue.
Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution and a syndicated columnist on current events. Read his weekly columns at www.LibertyUnderFire.org Column #865
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November 21, 2025, was predicted 60 years ago. Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) introduced H. Con. Res. 58, titled "Denouncing the Horrors of Socialism.” The resolution “condemned socialism in all its forms, citing historical examples of socialist policies leading to authoritarianism, famine, mass murder, and economic collapse in places like the Soviet Union under Lenin/Stalin, China under Mao, Cuba under Castro, and Venezuela under Maduro” where collectively well over 100 million people lost their lives. It explicitly stated that Congress "denounces socialism in all its forms, and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States," while affirming that socialist policies are incompatible with America's founding principles.” Historically socialism was by far the most violent form of government in world history (“Death by Socialism,” By Harold Pease, Ph. D., LibertyUnderFire. org, Aug. 20, 2019).
The Bill of Rights as a list of rights coming from God that citizens are born with, that no government can take from them, is not defended by socialists or communists. Liberty is not guaranteed by either. You belong to the state. Both descend into tyranny for those who disagree.
The measure denouncing socialism passed but 98 Democrats voted no (against the resolution) 2 Democrats voted present, 27 Democrats did not vote. In other words, 127 Dems Congressmen did not condemn socialism nor did 20 Republicans, one third of all members of the House. These need to be removed in the nearest election as unfit for public office in a free society.
One book stands out more than any other predicting what has happened to the two nations most responsible for the birth of liberty world wide—England and America—that they in turn would be conquered by a secret combination designed to undermine the great work of our Founding Fathers, the Constitution and the Republic they created. The Book, Fabian Freeway: High Road to Socialism in the U.S.A. 1884–1966, (Western Islands) by Rose L. Martin presents an anti-socialist critique tracing the influence of the largely secret British Fabian Society on the spread of socialist ideas and policies in both Great Britain and the United States. The work correctly frames Fabianism as an insidious, gradualist strategy for achieving socialism without violent revolution— likened to the slow, patient advance of a turtle (or "Fabian turtle") rather than the abrupt upheaval of Marxist communism.
The book's central thesis is that a small group of elite, "polite revolutionaries"—intellectuals who operated under the guise of moderate reform, social welfare, and human progress—deliberately, methodically undermined traditional institutions, particularly the British Empire, and extended their influence across the Atlantic to reshape American society. Martin argues this "high road" to socialism proved more effective than overt communism because it infiltrated education, media, government, and political parties stealthily, avoiding direct confrontation while advancing collectivist goals.
Part I: Great Britain – The Origins and Impact. The first section focuses on the Fabian Society's founding in London in 1884 by key figures such as Sidney and Beatrice Webb, George Bernard Shaw, Graham Wallas, and others. Martin describes their motto—"Make Haste Slowly" (festina lente)—as emblematic of a calculated, evolutionary approach to socialism. Unlike revolutionary Marxists, Fabians advocated "permeation": infiltrating existing institutions (especially the Liberal Party initially, then the emerging Labour Party) to enact incremental reforms that would eventually lead to state control over the economy and society. Chapters detail how Fabians "sowed the wind" through intellectual networks, influential writings (e.g., the Webbs' works on municipal socialism and poor law reform), and strategic alliances. Martin portrays them as "dangerous" due to their elitism, deceptive moderation, and success in placing members in high positions—editors, academics, politicians, and civil servants. She highlights their role in shaping the British Labour Party, which she sees as a Fabian vehicle.
This Book told us 60 years ago where we are today and how we go here!
The narrative covers the interwar period, where Fabians allegedly engaged in "sedition" by supporting policies that weakened imperial strength, including diplomatic recognition of Bolshevik Russia (engineered by Fabian Arthur Henderson as Foreign Secretary in 1929). Martin laments the postwar "dirge for an empire," arguing that Fabian influence contributed to decolonization, economic decline, and the welfare state's expansion under Labour governments (e.g., post-1945 Attlee administration). She views World War II and its aftermath as a "trial by ordeal" that accelerated socialist trends, with Fabians positioning themselves for global influence ("Tomorrow, the World?").
Part II: The United States – The Fabian "Turtle" Crosses the Atlantic. The second half shifts to America, contending that Fabian ideas migrated via intellectual exchanges, British émigrés, American progressives influenced by Fabian thought, and organizations mirroring Fabian tactics. Martin claims early permeation occurred through academics, journalists, and reformers who adopted gradualist socialism as liberalism or progressivism.
Key arguments include:Fabians "put the silk hat on socialism" by making it respectable among elites. Influential professors and intellectuals carried ideas to U.S. universities and policy circles.The New Deal era under Franklin D. Roosevelt marked a major advance, with "the professor" (possibly alluding to figures like Rexford Tugwell or others seen as Fabian-influenced) going to Washington to implement centralized planning. "Perfect friendship" and "left hands across the sea" refer to transatlantic networks linking British Fabians with American counterparts in government, media (e.g., ties to publications like The New Republic), and diplomacy. Postwar developments showed continuity: "the more it changes, the more it remains the same," with Fabian-style policies advancing through regional planning, urban redevelopment, agricultural collectivization trends, and welfare expansion.
Martin warned that by the 1960s, these influences had created a "freeway" (faster-paced modern equivalent of the old turtle trail) for socialism in America, carried out by executive agents, diplomats, and planners who reorganized society along collectivist lines while maintaining capitalist appearances. After millions of deaths from the philosophy one would think the intellectuals would have long since forsaken the philosophy and NOT embraced it on both continents, but they did!!!
Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution and a syndicated columnist on current events. Read his weekly columns at www.LibertyUnderFire.org Column #864
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A newspaper editor once wrote me of the difficulty in finding a columnist expressing the constitutional viewpoint. I was impressed that he was making his way through the Federalist Papers and considered it a good read. Few today can identify what it is or how it came about. Today the Federalist Papers would be too deep a read for most college students—even many law school students. But it houses the thought processes and debates behind the Constitution, the document that caged the natural tendencies of government more than any governing document in world history. An understanding of the Constitution without this resource is not possible. And because the Constitution is based upon natural law, which does not change, it applies in all generations and in all societies. Likely not one in 20 today can defend the Constitution. from this perspective.
Because the Constitution is based upon natural law, which does not change, it applies to all generations, times, and societies. People immigrating from whatever form of government or environmental condition, benefit under this document. That has always been a major reason they come. Natural law begets freedom environments, which beget incentive environments, which begets creativity, which begets tools that enhance prosperity. Also, few nations of the world did not emulate parts of the Constitution. Likely, not one in 20 today can defend the Constitution. This is even less common from the natural law perspective.
Constitutional principles were once taught at every level of education and stories of the sacrifice of our Founders frequently recited with admiration. Today few schools teach these principles in grade school and fewer still in high school. In college U.S. History and Political Science classes the Constitution is tucked in the back of textbooks as an appendix, hence few actually read it. The history of the Constitution’s origin is housed in a chapter but constitutional principles seemingly have only informational value.
Some colleges or universities have courses on the Constitution for political science majors but almost, without exception, students are not required to actually read it, heavy emphasis is given instead to case law. Hillsdale College, and independent professors may be the only exceptions. The same is true in law school. Original intent is hardly mentioned. Law schools provide our attorneys and our judges, most with too little, on original intent. One rogue Supreme Court decision can effectively destroy large chunks of the Constitution and almost no one notices or cares. Too few understand that the Supreme Court is not the supreme law of the land over the Constitution. The Founders would have never permitted nine justices to destroy foundation principles. Sadly, I never met one having a Ph. D. in U.S. History or Political Science who, to get the degree, actually was required to read the U.S. Constitution in full. Nor have I met a lawyer having to do so. Case law yes, loads of it, but not the Constitution in full or natural law upon which it is based.
My point, if colleges give no emphasis to constitutional study how can we expect the student to do so either? Many years ago U.S. News and World Report reported a study showing that most Americans could not pass the constitutional questionnaire for citizenship, so constitutionally illiterate are we. This document is only of minimal value to journalism or communication majors as well. But these professions serve as information filters in our newspapers, magazines, radio, television news programs, or in social media, even podcasts as well.
The media has divided citizens into two warring camps liberals and conservatives, lumping constitutionalists and libertarians with conservatives and pretends there exists no other viewpoints. Rarely is original intent allowed into the discussion as in The Federalist Papers. Thus a liberal moves further, faster from original intent than a conservative but both still move away although at different speeds until the liberal no longer cares if the grant of power is constitutional or not, which is where we are today. Until then both maintain the constitutionality of their position by the latest perversion, or a combination of perversions, to justify the recent perversion. And each perversion of original intent invites another until after a period of time the ending perversion no longer resembles the original grant of power thus authority is essentially manufactured out of thin air. All maintain they follow the Constitution when neither has. Traditionally both major groups problem-solve primarily by increasing federal power without specific constitutional authority. If the document is properly understood this cannot be done without damaging the fabric of the document. A constitutional provision either CLEARLY grants the “over-reach” or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t we can’t pretend that it does. But the Constitution is the law of the land and all in authority swear by oath to preserve it.
Today the Federalist Papers would be too deep a read for most college students—even many law school students. But it houses the thought processes and debates behind the Constitution, the document that caged the natural tendencies of government more than any governing document in world history. An understanding of the Constitution without this resource is not possible.
Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter violated the Constitution with impunity as did both Bush presidents. The Tea Party movement, primarily constitutionalists, rose up in 2009 as much against George W. Bush, a conservative, as against the incoming president Barack Obama, a liberal. It used to matter if a president did not carefully follow the Constitution. Barack Obama, violated the constitution more than any president preceding him and Joe Biden more than Obama. In fact, there were few things that Biden did that were constitutional. Today both Democrats and Republicans defend their president routinely when he violates it. Donald Trump, not particularly a constitutionals, has followed it more closely than any previous president since Ronald Reagan —37 years ago. He also appointed three largely constitutionalist judges. These made the Court more fundamentalist then decades previous.
Of the two major political parties the Democrats rarely cite the document and seem almost contemptuous of it. In fact, most of what they propose is easily argued to be outside the Constitution. They used to defend major parts of the Bill of Rights but I do not see much of that anymore. Republicans sometimes carry the document on their person but do not hold to it and thus much of what they propose is also outside of the Constitution but they do use the word Constitution more than do Democrats, if that means much. This generation knows that the Constitution was a good thing, probably should be revered, at least historically, but they know little of the principles housed therein and have no idea how to vote to get back to it. Getting back to it is never considered. This they will never get from the media, political party, or currently, it seems, not even the institutions of learning—only private study.
That my new editor would find it difficult to find columnists that express the constitutional viewpoint is easily understood, as is the fact that newer columnists, lacking this understanding, are far more likely to express views in opposition to it. Constitutional illiteracy is almost universal to the point that those qualified to defend the Constitution as designed are becoming extinct. Students are not likely to defend it if they never experienced it being defended. A real danger exists that if too few know or value its principles we will lose it—perhaps we already have. Some say it is no longer relevant for our times. They are so wrong.
Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution and a syndicated columnist on current events. Read his weekly columns at www.LibertyUnderFire.org Column #863 Help preserve our Republic while we still can by sharing this column.
We live in the day when one of the greatest political parties in American history is self-destructing in full view of most adult Americans. The statement posed by President Donald Trump in his State of the Union Address before Congress Feb.24, 20236, “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens—not illegal aliens! If you agree with this statement then stand up and show your support. ALL Democrats remained seated and silent. Not one Democrat member of Congress stood for this foundational principle, “that all government leaders must serve citizens before invaders. Never has there been a more stunning moment in Congress” said Stephen Miller adding, “Democrats declared to the world their searing distain for, and profound disloyalty to, the actual citizens of the United States. Over and over they refused. It was a moment that chills to the bone and which will live for a thousand years.”
Trump’s killer State of the Union Address revealed the Democrats out of harmony with the American people on virtually every issue. So why is The Save America Act supported by 89% of the people unable to pass the Senate? Yes Republicans hold the Executive branch, and both Houses of Congress but in the Senate RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) vote with the Democrats against the House and President. Dems and RINOs want illegals to vote in US elections hence they won’t let ending it out of Committee and onto the floor for a vote. It was held up in a US Senate Committee by past RINO Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel and presently by RINO Senate Majority Leader John Thune. The will of the people is thwarted by both the Democrats and RINOs.
Commentator Scot Jennings On The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, called it the “Moment of the night: Democrats refusing to stand to affirm their allegiance to American citizens over aliens, will be the signature moment of this speech…They took an oath to protect and serve the American people none got up, they just broke their oath. The country saw this.” Indeed, it was impossible to misunderstand the statement made to them. Zero stood! Their contempt for the people, their elected government, their oath and the Constitution was stunning, unanimous, and totally on display. They verified to Americans they disagreed with the statement made.
Democrat Senator John Fetterman read it the only way it could be read, “This does not look good for the Democrat Party.” Indeed, the whole evening could not be read otherwise on almost every issue (X22 Report hereafter not cited, Ep. 3848b, Feb. 25, 2026, 50:24 ) The State of the Union Address demonstrated that the Democrats weren't for American interests. They'd rather have higher taxes, and insurance companies getting rich off the poor, in addition to supporting illegals over citizens. The Democrat Party looked like the “true enemy” of the Republic. How do we know? 89% of the people want the Save America Act, Congressional Democrats do not. These just sat and everyone saw it. They would not clap even learning that the murder rate had descended to its lowest rate in America in 125 years (Ibid., 13:43).
Too few Democrats stood or applauded even for those receiving our nation’s highest honors. Buddy Taggart “badly wounded and almost killed by enemy machine guns” in World War II recovered and later helped “liberated the largest internment camp in the Philippines. One of the largest anywhere in the world,” and now will celebrate his 100th birthday this July 4, 2026. And just last July 4th when floodwaters tore through a girls' summer camp in central Texas…rising 26 feet in a matter of minutes, tragically claiming many, many lives. As the waters threatened to sweep her away, 11-year-old Milly Cate McClymond closed her eyes and prayed to God. She thought she was going to die. Scott Ruskan descended from a helicopter above. Nobody knew where he came from. It was Scott's first-ever rescue mission. … And he lifted not just Milly Cate, but 164 others to safety” (State of the Union Address).
Karoline Leavitt provided a list of issues the Democrats in Congress refused to stand up for during the State of the Union Address, other than placing American citizens above illegal alien invaders. These included: voter ID laws, the murder rate being at its lowest since 1900, keeping violent criminals locked up, protecting parental rights, stopping fraud, taking on drug cartels, no tax on tips, overtime and Social Security, and the present most secure border in history. The contrast could not be clearer. (E.p. 3848b, February 25, 2026,48:48).
Trump also had senators pause and indicate their support for the SAVE America Act previously passed in the House of Representatives last year. Democrats and RINOS do not support the SAVE America Act (Ibid., 55:15) which requires that only American citizens vote in America’s elections. This is presently held up in a US Senate Committee by RINOs, previous and current, Senate Majority Leaders Mitch McConnel and John Thune. Democrats and RINOS, working together, still encourage illegals to vote in our elections. The country saw this also. Democrats painted themselves as un-American and not representing the interest of the American people by Trump’s brilliantly forcing a vote with their feet (Ibid., 59:00). They may have lost elections 2026 and 2028 by this public demonstration.
Sadly and pathetically “There was a substantial boycott by Democratic members of Congress, with roughly half of House and Senate Democrats absent from the address in protest. Axios’ head-count analysis found that about 20 Senate Democrats and nearly 110 House Democrats did not take their seats in the chamber at the start of the address.” (Axios, Feb. 24, 2026). “This is what Democrats are [were] doing instead of attending President Trump’s State of the Union Address. Democrats are literally hanging out with deranged leftist dressed in giraffe costumes bragging about getting arrested by ICE. Some dressed up as frogs” (RNC Research, Feb. 24, 2026, Ibid., 41:40). Voters should primary these.
But most Americans loved Trump’s State of the Union Address which was received positively by 63% (+27), negative 36% —by CNN, an extreme leftist Deep State news outlet, (Ep. 3848b, February 25, 2026, 59:20). So likely the favorability percentage was much higher.
Trump ended his 1 hour and 41 minute address positively with, “The Golden Age of America is upon us, the revolution that began in 1776 has not ended. It still continues, because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the heart of every American patriot. And our future will be bigger, better, brighter, bolder and more glorious than ever before” (The American Presidency Project, 47th President of the United States: 2025—present. Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union, Feb. 24. 2026). And it is looking to be so more every day as America returns to the U.S. Constitution and freedom and removes those destroying it.
Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution and a syndicated columnist on current events. Read his weekly columns at www.LibertyUnderFire.org Column #862 Help preserve our Republic while we still can by sharing this column.
