Commentary

Christmas Gifts from Our Democracy

For lovers of democracy (and if you are reading this surely that means you), the news has blessed us with some noteworthy early Christmas/Happy Holidays/seasonal gifting. First, if you didn’t feel a little warm glow when the news first broke, you have to understand that we are all Lady Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.

Published

2 years ago

December 27, 2023

Oakland Post

Thank you for taking the time for these words. Happy Holidays to everyone connected to the Post, most especially its dear readers.

Commentary

By Emil Guillermo

For lovers of democracy (and if you are reading this surely that means you), the news has blessed us with some noteworthy early Christmas/Happy Holidays/seasonal gifting.

First, if you didn’t feel a little warm glow when the news first broke, you have to understand that we are all Lady Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.

You know them. They are the Georgia election workers, the ones who Trump’s lawyer and now disgraced leaky hair colorist Rudy Giuliani said were passing a USB drive to each other — proof, somehow, of some digital malfeasance to help steal the 2020 election from Donald Trump.

In fact, there was no such attempt to steal anything from anybody. The USB drive was a piece of ginger candy.

The whole thing was a lie told by Giuliani to perpetuate the “Big Lie,” that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Earlier a federal district judge in Washington, D.C. ruled that Giuliani’s lies defamed Freeman and Moss, whose lives were turned upside down.

They couldn’t go out in public for fear they’d be retaliated against by Trump’s MAGA zealots. Freeman couldn’t run her businesses. Moss began doubting democracy.

And then last week the jury ordered Giuliani to pay Freeman and Moss $148 million in damages. That breaks down to $75 million in punitive damages. Add $16.2 million in compensatory damages to Freeman, and $16.9 million to Moss, as well as $20 million to each of them for emotional suffering, and you have the price for justice in a defamation case.

That’s what lies on top of lies will cost in America if you’re Rudy Giuliani defending Donald Trump.

Giuliani didn’t take the witness stand in his own defense. But he did talk to the media at every juncture saying just wait, he’d provide evidence backing him up. “Stay tuned,” he said.

But he never did. When you’re a liar, you lose in a court of law. The only place for you is the court of public opinion, which is why Giuliani kept lying in impromptu sidewalk press conferences. For all those lies, Freeman and Moss slapped Giuliani with a second defamation suit on Monday.

It’s Giuliani as a combination lying and human ATM. Still, collecting money from him will be tougher than you think. Even Freeman and Moss admit while the $148 million award is good, no amount of money will undo the damage they incurred from lies told by Giuliani and Trump himself. (Trump actually named Freeman specifically on a recorded call. That’s another suit waiting to happen).

For now, a federal court has verified and awarded damages on Giuliani’s lies. Score one for justice and truth.

Hooray?

GOP PREFERENCE FOR CRIMINALS

As I’ve said, Trumpers tend to discount the court of law and prefer the court of public opinion where lies outweigh facts.

And then even when the facts are outrageously damning, e.g. the criminality in Trump as per being indicted four times with 91 felony counts, Republicans simply don’t care.

They see a bad guy and still support him for president because he is their bad guy.

Seventy percent of Republicans believe if Trump wins the GOP primary and is convicted, he should still be the nominee, according to a New York Times/Sienna College poll.

To Republicans, more important than justice is a sense of restored power. It’s the real fear we should have in our democracy right now. Some people prefer justice not for all, but for some. And that likely doesn’t include you or me.

COLORADO COURT RULING

And that brings us to the other gift in the news, the Colorado State Supreme Court has ruled Trump is ineligible for the ballot in that state based on the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution.

Colorado’s highest court ruled 4-3 that Trump be removed from the state’s primary ballot, saying that on Jan. 6, 2021 Trump “incited and encouraged the use of violence and lawless action to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.”

Legal experts say the court’s ruling is “unassailable.” But that’s not going to stop Trump from playing victim and using it to show his followers that the establishment is out to get him.

Expect the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case, and all that might bring. Would Justice Clarence Thomas be forced to recuse himself because his wife was texting on Jan. 6 encouraging insurrection?

How rich would that be if the vote was 4-4 and Thomas was the tiebreaker?

Add all this to Trump’s diabolical devil’s journey through our democracy: Four criminal indictments, plus civil cases involving sexual abuse, business abuses — and now this.

It’s the ugly beauty of our democracy. The truth is all out there. Just don’t forget to vote or the bad guys will win.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

I was walking through Oakland recently and went past my old office on College Avenue. All the other businesses had changed, but Thelma still had her art gallery. Down the block, at a new café, I saw an old Filipino American activist I’ve known since the 80s when he was protesting U.S.-backed dictators. Finally, I made it to a PEN Oakland event at the Rockridge Library, when a young woman of Kenyan descent came up to me and said, “I read your columns in the Post.”

That’s a reminder that I am writing for all of you. Thank you for taking the time for these words. Happy Holidays to everyone connected to the Post, most especially its dear readers.

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a secret talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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2 weeks ago

March 22, 2026

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC