Mitch Landrieu's "Guest Columnist" commentary Should Be Required Reading For Those Who Value Facts.

 Landrieu, a former Louisiana elected legislator, Lt. Governor and Mayor of New Orleans was a valuable public servant who believed that serving in government was a noble profession.    As a guest columnist in a New Orleans Advocate editorial page dated 7/24 articulated why the City of New Orleans does indeed matter in the state of Louisiana and why Governor Jeff Landry is  so wrong in his statement that the "city no longer matters."

The former Mayor uses facts and figures and other reasons to show and explain just how much the city contributes to the health of Louisiana and does so in a professional way with knowledge.  The economic impact is clear and in harmony with providing useful information instead of the personal attacks and intimidation tactics to divide people like Governor Landry and his party are using on a regular basis.  Landrieu's commentary addresses the issue at hand and above political rhetoric.  He believes government can serve the people in an honest and civil tone and ends his column by saying, "It's time to end the war on New Orleans.  We all do better when we partner together to move Louisiana forward."

Those are words Landry and his GOP are afraid of because they follow the Trump playbook.  And that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

President Obama and President Biden's Policy on Iran Worked Better Than The War Trump Started With Iran.

 Iran never came close to developing a nuclear weapon on Obama and Biden's watch.  Nor did Iran ever enrich uranium to the percentage needed to build a nuclear weapon.  The strait of Hormuz was open to trade on their watch.  They never made war on Iran even though members of their administration went public and said Netanyahu wanted both Presidents to go to war with Iran.  President Obama with our allies signed an agreement with Iran that would not allow them to build a nuclear weapon.  That agreement had allowed inspectors on the ground in Iran to inspect their facilities to ensure compliance.  

During Trump's first term in office which took place between the Obama and Biden administrations, Trump tore up the agreement and paid only lip service to Iran as a policy of do nothing.  During Trump's second term he allowed Netanyahu to talk him into going to war with Iran which took place in June 2025 which actually started the current war in Iran.  That decision exposed Trump's weakness and his failure to lead because the attack was unprovoked and caused death to innocent people.  Not only did Trump start the war, he started the talk about assassination by saying that was one of his goals in the war with Iran.  Needless to say, two can play that dangerous game.

The war continues in 2026 with no end in sight and exposes just how unfit Donald Trump is as Commander in Chief.  Past American Presidents knew how to deal with any Iran threat without going to war.  They also knew that the greatest military threat to America was a nuclear power China and Russia.  And all the while Trump's policy is failing, the GOP Cult in congress is frozen forever to do his bidding and supporting his failures.   Their surrender to a convicted criminal is astounding.  America the Beautiful is being exposed and governed under the darkest cloud ever.  GOP members of congress prior to the Newt Gingrich era would have held Trump accountable for his toxic rhetoric, corruption and his un-American and anti-democratic attitude. 

Electing a democratic controlled congress in November will help to roll back the darkness that now hangs over America the Beautiful.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Louisiana's Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill: Trump's Little Ditto Heads.

 Landry and Murrill are following in the footsteps of convicted criminal President Donald Trump by using personal attacks against others and trying to intimidate people.  It follows a pattern that the GOP in general are most familiar with that is used to divide people in order to cast doubt to help win elections.  It is part of the GOP ideology who have no plans or real policy.

Landry and Murrill are trying their tactics on the city of New Orleans and it's new Mayor, Helena Moreno.  But the Mayor has no time for such foolishness and responds in a civil manner because she has a city to manage and take care of for it's citizens.  And in the short time she has been Mayor, has done so with civility.  The Mayor can articulate her position on the issues without the division that the GOP hopes will take place.  

Mayor Moreno represents a breath of fresh air for the city and state's political establishment and for governing with civility.  It is not old school, it is the way to accomplish things for the common good and uniting the people at the same time.  That is what "America the Beautiful" is all about.  Hang in there Mayor Moreno, you are on the right course of history.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Sour Grapes From Robert P. Hodges, Superintendent Of The Louisiana State Police.

 In a past PolitiDose commentary dated 1/3/2024 the story was told how the murder rate in New Orleans for the year 2023 was down 27% from 2022 when it hit 266, it was 193 in 2023.  That reduction in the murder rate and other crime events started the improvement that has continued into 2026.  The commentary touches upon some of the reasons for the good news.

The commentary also noted that Louisiana's GOP would try and take credit for the improvement like they always try and do when anything positive takes place on the democratic watch.  And guess what?  That is what has taken place in a Times Picayune article concerning "your's view" dated 1/14/2026 by Louisiana State Police Superintendent Robert P. Hodges titled, "Troop Nola proved naysayer's wrong."  

Hodges starts his article by saying, "for years violent crime in New Orleans was seen as unavoidable."  A really silly and unprofessional statement that has no justification coming from such a high ranking State Trooper.  He goes on  to tell us about how Governor Jeff Landry created Troop Nola two years ago (which would be around July 2024)   He then goes on to tell how well the murder rate and other crimes have dropped dramatically in 2024 to the present day.

Never once did Hodges mention the good news of the decline in the murder rates and other crimes started its downward trend in 2023.  That was long before Landry became Governor, long before he created Troop Nola, long before he created a crime commission and even before he started to work with  the  City's officials.  

PolitiDose commentary of January 3,2024 also noted how the New Orleans police department was working with the federal government's ATF division that took hundreds of firearms off the street of New Orleans with their coordinated working arrangement.  Common sense tells us anytime you can take hundreds of firearms off the streets there will be less gun violence and deaths.  

All parts of law enforcement have to work together to keep our city and state safe.  The city has taken the proper steps in facing the problem with others and the united work is finding results.  So let us recognize the true picture and facts of  how the city is where it is today.  And let us remember and understand the work must continue to go on every day and that consistent good policing is an obligation. 

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

Artificial Intelligence: The Latest Threat To Humankind On Planet Earth.

 AI, the ultimate threat to use propaganda of lies and misinformation for the purpose of influencing and dividing humankind is at it's early stages of use.  But we do know how lies and misinformation prior to AI has a negative effect on humankind.  A good example would be how Trump and the GOP use lies and misinformation to win elections and influence voters and also know that people buy into the lies and misinformation propaganda.

Trump's "make America great again" lie was the big lie along with his personal attacks against everyone and everything.  Humankind needs harmony for people to live their own lives without all the distractions in order to progress.  We also know Trump used AI already on his social media by publishing a AI generated nasty photograph of former President Obama and his wife for the purpose of division.  And we also know that political and religious dogma are the greatest threat to peace and harmony the way it is used today to divide the people.

Once AI becomes part of our every day life, it will be one of the greatest threats to divide and pull humankind farther apart.  We know that the business world will use AI to replace human workers and not to create a better product, lower prices or improve humankind relationships.  They will replace workers simply to increase profit because they are never satisfied.  They hate regulations and the GOP does everything they can do to reduce business regulations.  In short, AI will be the great threat in the hands of the business world, the political system and some media outlets because they will use it to divide, mislead and lie to disrupt the harmony which humankind seeks.

As it stands now, Trump, the GOP and the media have won the battle to divide humankind with their lies, misinformation and personal attacks which carried them into office.  And now we are beginning to see just how people can be so easy to influence.  The division will come to a breaking point in due time when a new generation of humankind stands up and changes the system where money and politics will take a back seat to a new governing that is more in tune with the environment in which we live and the harmony mankind forever seeks.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

 

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno Displays Her Courage To Govern The City.

 Mayor Moreno inherited from the previous administration a disaster in the making concerning the city's financing and almost everything else having to do with governing.  She not only had a plan to do so, but along with the city council adopted a plan with priorities that is in place.  She did so without blaming others and personal attacks or intimidation.  

On the other hand, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry inherited from Gov. Edwards balanced budgets, a good working economy and a record of low unemployment.  Landry entered office using a method of governing with personal attacks, blame and intimidation tactics.  His mentor, the convicted criminal President Trump taught him how to be toxic to the political system of governing.  And it is on display at the moment trying to intimidate Mayor Moreno.  

But Mayor Moreno will not allow herself or the city to be intimidated by such a Trump clown.  She is a true public servant who can articulate her positions on matters important to the people and for responsible governing.  The Mayor has already made several hard decisions and there will be more to come when other problems raise their head.  

As for Landry, like Trump and the GOP, he has nothing left to offer except his toxic rhetoric.  In the end, Mayor Moreno will do a better job governing New Orleans, than Gov. Landry will do governing the state.  And that really says it all.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

Trump, The Republican Cult in Congress and Conservatism Have Nothing Left To Offer America or It's People.

 Everything good America the Beautiful stands for, they plan and or working to destroy with the help of some in the media.  Citizenship, fair democratic elections, the constitution, the courts and legal system of checks and balances, the rule of law, voting records, investigations using the tactic of intimidation, dismantling government functions that protect the country and it's people, pardoning many of the mob violence who stormed the nation's capital to overturn a legal and lawful election, many who were convicted in a court of law.

The list is never ending and their actions mimic what communist leaders try to accomplish to try to gain complete control of the country they govern.  Their leader, President Trump, a known convicted criminal, 34 felony counts and a rap sheet was known by the GOP Cult before they supported and voted for him.  They then gave up their responsibilities as members of congress and allowed Trump to do as he pleased even to the extent of allowing Trump to raise taxes via tariffs.  

With the congressional elections only 4 months away and with Trump and the GOP's low poll numbers,  they see a sane democratic party as a threat to their complete takeover of America the Beautiful.  So, they are now starting their usual lies and misinformation campaign against certain democratic candidates which is what communist leaders have always used when trying to takeover their own country's government.  The thousands of lies Trump has told in office has already been documented.  Trump's praise of Russia's Putin of being a great leader has also  been documented.

When the November elections arrive, the American people have the power with their vote to lift the cloud of darkness that hangs heavy over America the Beautiful and send a message to a convicted criminal President and GOP cult that their thirst for domination over America, its people and government have come to an end.

\This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Weakness Of Louisiana's Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise and The New Orleans Advocate Writer Mark Ballard.

 It was all laid out in an article published in the New Orleans Advocate by Mark Ballard dated July 5, 2026 concerning several primary wins in New York and a few other states by Democratic candidates Johnson and Scalise call socialist.  They used the word communism to describe those candidates, a word the GOP has used for years to try and divide the public to win elections and influence the vote.  So, that certainly was not any new news for the GOP.  It only affirms why their party is in trouble today with the American people.

The GOP in general and the conservative media, including conservative opinion writers are trying their best to sell their lies about "socialists" taking over the democratic party when they know they are and will be only a very small numbet of the party if and when they are elected in the general election.  They will represent only a hand full compared to 250 plus democrats now serving in congress.  What the GOP really fear is facing the "socialists" in the general election with the GOP's very low approval ratings.

As for Mark Ballard, there is nothing to learn about political reality in his offering.  Here we have a GOP who not only nominated a convicted criminal to be President, voted for him and gave up their own responsibility to the people by being Trump's ditto heads.  So, now we have a GOP in power supporting a President's every move to destroy democracy, the constitution and the rule of law to the point of the people's right to vote and being a citizen of the U.S.  And before they voted for him they knew Trump was also a sexual abuser, fraudster and a former President who tried to overturn a legal and lawful Presidential election in 2020 with a mob and violence. The democratic party does not have that problem and does not nominate and or vote for such a person with a rap sheet.

The GOP willfully became Trump's CULT and are no longer a political party or alternate party to reside in congress.  The media will never tell their followers that because long ago they made a decision it is better not to inform than have an informed public,

The U.S. Economy, Job Creation and the Unemployment Rate for June 2026.

The U.S. Labor Department reported the economy added 57,000 jobs in June and that the unemployment rate came in at 4.2%.  Also reported that job creation in May was actually 129,000 instead of the 172,000 reported earlier.  In the first 6 months of 2026 the economy added a total of 570,000 jobs.

By comparison, in the same period of time during Biden's second year in office in 2022, the economy added a total of 398,000 jobs in June of 2022 and the unemployment rate came in at 3.6%.  In Biden's first six months of 2022 the economy added 2,235,000 jobs.

In a separate report, the labor force participation rate which measures the working age participation of those employed or looking for a job fell to 61.5%, the lowest level since June of 1996, not counting COVID.  All of the numbers continue to show that the Trump administration, like most GOP administrations are poor at creating jobs and Trump is following his own precedent of his first term when the economy lost 2.7 million jobs.

After 66 months serving as President, Trump's job creation record is still in negative territory to the tune of 2 million jobs lost.  The facts tell the real story of a poorly managed economy that follows the GOP.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

The Democratic Party: Still The Only Sane Political Party In Washington, D.C.

 Eighteen months in office governing America, Trump and his Cult GOP are still toxic to America the Beautiful in everything they touch or do.  There is no policy to move America or it's people forward because they govern with lies, misinformation and corruption not seen in American politics.  It is all part of an anti-American ideology and a rejection of the constitutional process.

America does have a Sane democratic political party in Congress and in Washington, although they are the minority party in the U.S. Congress.  They also are fighting to preserve the democratic process, the constitution and the rule of law.  They will continue to do so even in the courts if necessary.  The democratic party has its faults, but Trump and his Cult GOP party are no substitute.  The democratic party has never nominated and or elected a convicted criminal to be the President of the U.S.  Nor has a democratic controlled congress ever turned coward to be a President's Cult.  That recently was the case during Biden's administration when the democrats controlled the Senate and failed to pass some of Biden's agenda.  

With 5 months remaining until the November congressional elections and the polls showing the possibility of the GOP losing control of one part of congress, some in the conservative media and the regular media are already trying to divide the democrats by trying to define "progressive" candidates in a certain way.  They would rather see convicted criminals in elected office.  

The United States is a great country because of the progress it has made over the years.  Without progress, there is stagnation and the status quo.  The democratic party has a history of governing with progressive restraint which is necessary to move the country and its people forward.  The party represents many different opinions because America is a diverse country.  As a result, there are more checks and balances when democrats govern.  

Every day Trump and his Cult GOP display why they are no longer an alternate or party of option to govern America the Beautiful.  The country has experienced the results of electing a convicted criminal with a rap sheet as President and a GOP Cult party of cowards where the people will pay the price for years to come.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio