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Sen. Ben Sasse on Sunday charged that President Trump wants to weaponize distrust in the press and warned that America is headed down a dangerous path if citizens listen only to media outlets and political leaders that reinforce their own personal views.

Speaking on CNNs State of the Union, the Nebraska Republican and frequent critic of the president laid out what he believes is a direct threat to the First Amendment, arguing there are potential long-term ramifications to the nation if current trends continue. He said media outlets must be held accountable and called out for errors and obvious bias, but that blanket criticism of the entire media is the wrong approach.

Theres an important distinction to draw between bad stories or crappy coverage, and the right citizens have to argue about that and complain about that, and trying to weaponize distrust. The First Amendment is the beating heart of the American experiment and you dont get to separate the freedoms that are in there, Mr. Sasse said.

The freshman Republican went on to suggest that many Americans, including Mr. Trump, are perpetuating a society in which citizens listen only to those who agree with their own political views, and that the bedrock idea of absolute, indisputable facts on which everyone can agree is going by the wayside.

The reality is journalism is really going to change a lot more int he digital era and we have a risk of getting to a place where we dont have shared public facts. A republican will not work if we dont have shared facts, he said. It is going to be possible in the next three or five or 10 years for people to surround themselves only with echo chambers and silos and people who believe only what they already believe. Thats a recipe for a new kind of tribalism, and America wont work if we do that.

Mr. Sasses comments come after the president over the weekend launched yet another attack on the media, a strategy that was a hallmark of his 2016 campaign and of his tenure so far in the White House. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called on Mr. Trump to stop such attacks.

Its not helpful to call the press the enemy of the American people, Mr. Sasse said.

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Trump trying to 'weaponize distrust' in the media, Sen. Ben Sasse says - Washington Times

ERIE, PA Max Bloomstine has a positive view of the nations growing diversity, believes the American dream is attainable (but doesnt believe hes entitled to it) and is more into the we instead of the me.

He is politically independent but leans conservative, attends church on a regular basis, and views his parents not sports figures or celebrities as role models.

Right now, though, two things weigh heavily on his mind: where to attend college next year (Its either going to be the University of Pittsburgh or Rochester) and working on a summer job.

I am a good entrepreneur when it comes to online gaming administration, he said.

Say hello to Generation Z, the most recent to come of age. It is the youth of America, with its oldest members in their early 20s.

Sometimes referred to as the iGeneration, as they literally grew up with technology and social media in their hands, they are poised to dramatically change the cultural, economic and political landscape for some time to come.

Born between 1996 and 2010, they are very similar to their Gen X parents, that small, pragmatic generation that fell between the larger baby boomer and millennial generations.

Gen Z actually like and trust their parents, who have been transparent with them, much more than any generation before, said Jeff Brauer, a political-science professor at Keystone College in suburban Scranton, Pa., who has produced one of the first comprehensive studies on the next generation.

Analyzing research from Wright State University in Ohio on 1,200 Generation Z students at 15 colleges and universities across the country, Brauer also used exit polling from CNN and census data to draw his conclusions.

Gen Z actually like and trust their parents, who have been transparent with them, much more than any generation before.

They are not as impressed with fame celebrities, athletes, politicians as are their predecessors, since fame in their lifetime has become rather easy to obtain with social media and reality TV, Brauer added.

Generation Z is diverse. They are only 55 percent white and will be the last majority-white generation in America. And they have the most positive outlook towards the nations growing diversity than any previous generation.

Generation Z is a product of 9/11, global terrorism, school shootings, perpetual wars, the Great Recession, high unemployment and constant budget cuts. Because of all that, they are cautious, even fearful, of an uncertain world and economy. Security and safety are very important to them, as they have grown up in such an unstable society.

They are distrustful of big employers because theyve seen good people, who did all the right things, get laid off from longstanding jobs and careers. They are cautious with finances, always looking for the best deals and the best value.

When I shop, which I do almost exclusively online, I compare everything until I get the best quality for the least cost, said Bloomstine.

Generation Z is also more religious than preceding generations attending organized weekly church services at about twice the rate of millennials, Generation Xers and baby boomers.

They are interested in issues that involve themselves but that also impact the broader community education, employment, security and the environment all concern them.

Politically, Generation Z is liberal-moderate with social issues, like support for marriage equality and civil rights, and moderate-conservative with fiscal and security issues, said Brauer.

While many are not connected to the two major parties and lean independent, Gen Zs inclinations generally fit moderate Republicans.

The Republican Party, if it plays its cards right, could make lasting inroads with this generation, even at an early age something the GOP has struggled with for decades.

Had he been able to vote last November, Bloomstine definitely would have picked Donald Trump for president.

I was not old enough to vote for him, but I was very engaged and informed all throughout the election, Bloomstine said. I liked most his independence from the political parties and his willingness to challenge them when he felt they were not serving the American people.

If Trump runs in four years would Bloomstine vote for him? As long as he continues to be himself, absolutely.

Last year was the first presidential election in which Generation Z voted, according to Brauer, yet, there was virtually no attention paid to this demographic.

In fact, in almost every case, its members were simply lumped in with their significantly different counterparts, the millennials, in the 18-to-29 age group.

This was disingenuous and unfortunate and didnt give the true picture of the election, said Brauer. Looking at the data, there was virtually no attempt to separate these two very different generations of voters.

Brauer explains that, from 2012 to 2016, Democratic candidates lost 5 percent of the youth vote nationally (down from 60 percent to 55 percent). In Florida, Democrats margin of victory among the young dropped 16 percentage points. In both Ohio and Pennsylvania, the drop was 19 points. In Wisconsin, 20 points.

It is unlikely that such significant drops were simply due to the more-liberal millennial generation changing their minds from one election to the next, said Brauer.

It is much more likely the precipitous drops were due to the more conservative Generation Z being able, for the first time, to express their political inclinations, especially in the economically hard-hit swing states.

Therefore, Generation Z possibly had a major, yet completely overlooked, impact in this historic election. Generation Z voters were likely attracted to Trump because of his strong stances on national security and economic recovery the main concerns of that generation, said Brauer.

This generation is different, and they are about to have a profound impact on commerce, politics and trends, Brauer concludes. If politicians and business leaders arent paying attention yet, they better, because they are about to change the world.

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Why the generation after millennials will vote Republican | New York ... - New York Post

This week the United States is celebrating its birthday. While the focus of the Fourth of July has become fireworks, family, friends, food and a midsummer holiday, it is important to remember why we celebrate.

The United States of America is a beacon of hope and possibility for people around the world. As a government of the people, by the people and for the people, we are imperfect because we are people. We make mistakes, we disagree and we debate, but like any other family, we have always pulled together and united whenever confronted or threatened.

I realize the latest election cycle has left a lot of Americans disappointed and disillusioned. It is important in America that we focus our feelings of discontent into positive and productive pursuits. If you are among those who did not like the last election, the midterm campaigns are already organizing, and they will provide you with an outlet for your efforts and energy.

Democracy is an exercise in compromise which inevitably means that no one gets all of what they want, but all of us get some of what we want. Just as in our legal system, we derive our closest version of truth and justice by having a jury of citizens evaluate and decide between two opposing positions. Our government functions best when the various factions work out their differences in the public forum.

Democracy is never efficient, clean or streamlined, but it is the best chance we humans have to provide everyone with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You can find a smooth, efficiently running government in North Korea. A completely new policy can be imagined in the morning, drafted during the day and implemented by nightfall.

There will be no debate, dissent or dispute, but I cant imagine any of us here in America wanting to trade our turmoil for that brand of false tranquility.

Even in the midst of the most turbulent political process in recent memory, this grand ideal we call America worked well. Our greatness is symbolized and lived out when one administration relinquishes control and voluntarily turns it over to an incoming administration even though the two groups may be polar opposites and diametrically opposed to one another. Our system is not always comfortable or attractive. It is simply the best one the world has ever known.

As you go through your day today, celebrate what America is and what it can be.

Todays the day!

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network and a published author of many books. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082; by email at Jim@JimStovall.com; on Twitter at @stovallauthor; or on Facebook at facebook.com/jimstovallauthor.

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Jim Stovall: Despite the turbulence, democracy has served America well - Tulsa World

When it comes to our democracy, the best insight I ever received was not from a book or lecture. Rather, it came from a merchant I was haggling with over a souvenir as I traveled in the Middle East some 20 years ago.

The old, haggard man said, "Why do you Americans complain about your government? It is actually your government. You own it. You can change it. We can't do that here."

Though voiced as a complaint, the man's comments are profound.

In much of the world, there is no democracy. Or if there is "democracy," it is democracy in name only.

Just check out Freedom House's annual survey that objectively tracks and ranks freedom around the globe. It classified countries as either "free," "partly free" or "not free." And one look at its world map shows that more real estate on our globe is still classified as "not free" or "partly free" than "free."

As we learn in grammar school, the opening words of the U.S. Constitution say it all: "We the people of the United States ..."

Note how it does not begin. It does not begin with "I, the King," or "Me, the dictator," or "They, the corporations," or even "Lord, our creator." But instead, "We the people."

The old man had it right.

"We the people" actually have the power to change our government. Though we've done our best to gum it up at times, the structure is all there for change. All it takes is "we the people."

Americans can actually sue their own government, and win! And openly protest the government. Try doing that in much of the rest of the world and let me know how it turns out.

It is why the U.S. has such an immigration problem: No matter all of our problems, more people want to come here it's still the land of opportunity than anywhere else.

Of course, some might dismiss this thought as naive. After all, have you seen how special interests, corporations, computers, the press, "fake news," foreign countries and even Kim Kardashian control so many aspects of our lives?

But they only control us to the extent we allow them to do so. That, too, is a choice.

Our democracy is hardly perfect, but it was never intended to be. What makes it unique and enduring is that it was set up with the ability to adapt, to change. No coups or revolutions required.

Just as Barack Obama came out of virtual nowhere to lead our democracy, so, too, did Donald Trump. One was born of modest means and the other massive means, but so what? In both cases "we the people" elected them and made it happen. No party or person has a monopoly on our government. Instead, "we the people" do.

And therein lies the beauty. Whether it's voting, fighting a bogus parking ticket, attending a local zoning meeting or running for president, if Obama and Trump could do it, so can you.

So no matter where you may fall on the political spectrum, and no matter how frustrated you might grow at times, remember the old man, who today still could say: "It is your government. You actually own it. Or can."

William Choslovsky, a Chicago lawyer, loved democracy until he was recently defeated in his run for a third term on his local school council.

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We the people have a democracy to celebrate - Chicago Tribune

On Friday June 16, a St. Paul, Minn., jury acquitted police Officer Jeronimo Yanez of Philando Castile's murder. Tuesday is July Fourth. I hope the connection and contradiction are obvious.

July Fourth commemorates U.S. independence, but more importantly it celebrates America's claim to democracy. Thus, July 4, 2017, is an excellent time to seriously contemplate this assertion.

Over the last eight months, liberal pundits have routinely commented on the state of "American democracy." They largely lament the fascist Donald Trump's impact on America's "democratic" ideals and institutions. Most, like the New York Times' Steven Livitsky and Daniel Ziblatt stress Trump's authoritarian tendencies. Because of his propensity to place self-interest above the common good, they see Trump as a threat to U.S. "democratic" institutions and traditions. Given Trump's refusal to comply with accepted norms and his attacks on the First Amendment, he certainly is dangerous.

A few commentators, like the Atlantic's Eric Liu, counterintuitively speculate that Trump's anti-democratic behavior is the best antidote to Americans' apathy. Liu believes Trumpism will revitalize civic organizations and revive citizenship among a dispirited and indifferent population. The upsurge in marches and civil disobedience against Trump's further erosion of democratic procedures suggest Liu is right, at least in the short run.

Yet, it seems to me that both views skirt the serious issues surrounding America's declaration of democracy. Pundits erroneously discuss the danger Trump poses to democratic processes without critiquing the defective nature of those "democratic" principles and practices. To a huge extent Trump's authoritarianism helps expose the myth. The country's collective historical amnesia or willful mystification facilitates Americans' unawareness or rejection of the truth about the red, white and blue.

African-Americans and other oppressed people have never had that luxury. We live on the underside of U.S. society, at the bottom of the well. From our vantage point, American democracy is a lightly scented perfume that fails to camouflage the US' putrid odor. At best the U.S. is a Herrenvolk democracy (a democracy for the white majority). But as the history labor and the poor attest this is a generous assessment. Knowing the hypocrisy of America, we darker people have made critique of its democratic pretensions a cottage industry.

In the title song on her 2016 CD, "Red, White and Blue," the neo-blues artist Sunny War sings, "Red, White and Blue/They are coming for you/From sea to shining sea/Jesus sings democracy/Been running our world like a business/Leaving our earth buried in sin/Doing it all for the dollar/Killing our world and dying with it/Red, White and Blue/They will get you too."

War's lyrics reflect the African-American tradition of critically appraising America's claim to democracy and prophesying its future punishment. Her lyrics link her to a line of African-American freedom fighters that includes people like David Walker, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. Du Bois, Ella Baker, Paul Robeson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, Assata Shakur and Jamil Al-Amin (H. Rap Brown).

Perhaps more than any other commentary, War's song, "Red, White and Blue," recalls Frederick Douglass' "What to the Slave is the 4th of July?" In that talk, Douglass answered for enslaved African-Americans. He replied, July Fourth is "a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham ... your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery ... your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy-a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages."

Douglass' response is as relevant today as it was in 1852. The form of racial oppression has changed but contemporary U.S. blacks remain subjugated.

Some of you will applaud Douglass' assessment of the U.S. during antebellum slavery but most of you will find my connecting his evaluation to the present unnuanced, harsh, perhaps ungrateful, and maybe even absurd. Yet, if the measure of America's limited notion of liberal democracy is the equal protection of human and civil rights, especially the right to choose one's elected officials without restriction. If that's the criteria, then African-Americans have and continue to exist under a form of tyranny.

Contemporary voter suppression is eerily similar to the "colorblind" policies and laws used to disfranchise blacks during the nadir (1877-1920s) and well into the 1960s.

The 115th Congress is the most diverse in US history; yet, the African-American members (49 representatives and three senators) still constitute only 10.5 and 3 percent, even though black folks comprise over 13 percent of the U.S. population.

Meanwhile, the police kill more blacks yearly than were lynched in any given year.

A jury acquitted police Officer Jeronimo Yanez of Philando Castile's murder and Tuesday we celebrate American democracy.

For me, July Fourth 2017, will remind me that the U.S. continues to perform crimes of control that would dishonor a totalitarian society.

Sundiata Cha-Jua is a professor of African-American studies and history at the University of Illinois and is a member of the North End Breakfast Club. His email is schajua@gmail.com.

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Sundiata Cha-Jua/Real Talk: July 4: Commemoration of democracy? - Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette