Kristina Becvar is the Chief Operating Officer of the Bridge Alliance.
"Our republic and its press will rise or fall together."
Joseph Pulitzer's timeless words resonate more profoundly than ever. They serve as a stark reminder of the critical role played by a healthy press in safeguarding our democracy.
Last week, Interactivity Foundation explored the legacy of Joseph Pulitzer, exploring the interconnectedness between a free press and the health of our democracy. Today, media independence is continually called into question, often resulting in the widespread dismissal of news that challenges deeply ingrained, tribal political views. However, we must not lose sight of the media's indispensable role in holding those in power accountable and shaping public discourse. Exposing corruption, fostering an informed citizenry, and demanding accountability from our leaders are the foundations of a thriving democracy.
Unfortunately, toxic narratives propagated by national political media have infiltrated state and local politics, casting a shadow over the healthier and more nuanced debates that are the lifeblood of our democratic process. The saturation of national political narratives in the media tends to overshadow the pressing state and local issues that are relevant to our civic lives. Yet, amidst this challenging environment, there are instances that inspire hope. Our members have brought to light remarkable examples where state and local elected leaders rise above the national rhetoric and instead focus on effective governance.
In the most recent Divided We Fall article, Pennsylvania representative Arvind Venkat shed light on the perpetuation of polarization by national media, driven by pundits and legislators seeking airtime. Venkat emphasizes that the conflicts showcased in the media are not an accurate reflection of the practical, bipartisan work state legislators undertake daily to benefit residents and communities. Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum echoes this reality in the most recent podcast episode from Common Ground Committee. As a successful nonpartisan leader in a deeply conservative state, Mayor Bynum's administration serves as a compelling example of the power of diverse perspectives coming together to tackle major challenges.
As we navigate the news landscape, in the coming weeks, whether it’s the latest Supreme Court decisions or captivating headlines vying for our attention, let us harken back to the words of Joseph Pulitzer. Our republic and its press are intertwined, and their fate rests on our informed consumption of the news. With this in mind, we must approach our consumption of news with utmost intention, actively employing the valuable tips provided to process information responsibly and mitigate the influence of biases in the news.
Together, let us ensure that our democracy thrives by nurturing a healthy press that remains dedicated to transparency, accountability, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Our intentional consumption of the news is a vital key to unlocking a brighter future for all and fortifying the foundation of our republic.
A golden tray sits on the Resolute Desk as President Donald Trump speaks during an announcement on American nuclear innovation in the Oval Office at the White House on July 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Trump is signing multiple executive orders targeting the nuclear energy sector and easing rules for new reactors and nuclear fuel supply chains.
Trump’s hubris rivals the fallen heroes of ancient Greek mythology
In January, the New York Times asked President Donald Trump if there were any limits on his global powers.
“Yeah,” the president responded, “there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”
That was eight months ago, but fortunately Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation of “The Odyssey” has made ancient Greek literature newly relevant. Before that window closes, I’d like to talk about hubris.
Today, the term mostly means excessive pride or arrogance. That’s part of what the Greeks meant by it too, but the meaning was a bit richer and more specific. Hubris was an insolent or outrageous act that offended the gods, often because the transgressor was claiming abilities or authorities that solely belonged to supreme beings.
Nolan renamed and slightly modified the concept of xenia for the film, calling it “Zeus’ law.” In the director’s telling, mortals should follow the rules laid out by the gods, specifically the requirement to treat strangers with respect lest they be gods in disguise.
In a sense, hubris is the opposite, or at least the rejection, of xenia. The hubris of the suitors, and at times Odysseus himself, invites punishment by the gods and their mortal instruments.
Which brings me back to Donald Trump. His claim that there are no constraints on his personal power to dictate events on the global stage was one of the greatest expressions of hubris ever uttered by a political leader.
Trump’s claim was obviously false when he made it.
He vowed that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours. He’s proved powerless to make that happen. If he had divine powers to work his will, why would he have balked at implementing his tariffs so often that Wall Street adopted the “TACO trade” term for his deals? “TACO” stands for “Trump always chickens out.”
And why would Trump have made so many embarrassing concessions to China — from rescinding tariffs on Chinese goods to allowing them to buy crucial and incredibly valuable computer chips?
But Trump saw his success at capturing Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro as proof of his ability to launch missiles to the same effect as Zeus’ lightning bolts. Trump believed he was the most powerful man who ever lived.
This is no exaggeration. In March, when the Iran invasion seemed successful, Trump gave a document penned by“Presidential Historian David King” to New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan purporting to prove that Trump was “the most powerful person to have EVER walked this planet.” King was, in fact, a businessman and occasional caddy for legendary golfer Gary Player.
King compared Trump favorably to many of history’s most powerful, and often heinous, figures: Alexander the Great, Attila the Hun, William the Conqueror, Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Stalin, Genghis Khan, Mao Tse Tung, Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin. Many of these men thought they were the most powerful person in the world, too. And many were defeated precisely because they believed it.
At least Napoleon and Hitler had a string of truly impressive victories before they learned the folly of hubris. The limits on Trump’s power have been exposed by far less august forces than the combined might of the allies in World War II or the fearsome Russian winter.
Iran is a comparatively middling power. But the regime’s ability to absorb punishment while imposing its will on the Strait of Hormuz has proved to be a greater constraint on Trump’s power than his morality or mind. We should note that, at least rhetorically, his morality has not proved much of a constraint. He has repeatedly promised to destroy Iranian “civilization” if the regime refuses to capitulate.
But they haven’t — and won’t anytime soon — because the regime’s tolerance for pain far outstrips Trump’s. The combined fear of skyrocketing oil prices, outrage of Gulf state potentates, diminishing weapon supplies and domestic unpopularity is doing the work that international law, congressional oversight and the collective opinion of foreign policy experts can’t or won’t do.
If I considered Trump more heroic than reason and facts could allow, I would say his Sisyphean predicament has the whiff of Greek tragedy to it. Trump is vexed by the fact that the Iranians won’t honor deals or ratify his countless premature claims of victory — giving new meaning to his vow that his presidency would make people tired of winning. It’s almost like they’re out-Trumping Trump.
Things might have gone better if he’d heeded that great Greek tragedian Sophocles: “For Zeus utterly abhors the boasts of a proud tongue.”
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Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast. His Twitter handle is @JonahDispatch.