Political advisor and author Mark McKinnon says that “A messy participatory process is representative democracy at its best.” We understand what he’s getting at.

The contest of ideas and the formation of interest groups is an important part of our political process. But there’s a difference between messy and rigged.

Nearly half of all Americans identify as independents, unwilling to endorse either the Democratic or Republican political parties.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump administration would be reversing the ban put in place by the Obama administration that halted the sale of certain surplus military equipment to local police departments.

The two-year-old ban was in response to a string of racially motivated riots, the most widely publicized being that in Ferguson, Missouri.

Assange Ready to Publish

Word that the FBI was not willing to release its findings into the Hillary Clinton email scandal, due to concerns over public interest, caused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to make it abundantly clear on twitter, that his organization will publish all email's related to Clinton.

The Constitution vests the president with the power to pardon anyone he or she wishes. It’s one of the clearest authorities the Founders established.

As with any power granted an elected official, the ability to issue a pardon must be used wisely and respectfully.

As a governor, I had similar authority. A process was in place to consider requests for clemency and insure that pardons were granted carefully and appropriately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgHAbFIFRaE

Julian Assange issued a warning to the FBI Wednesday: If you conceal information on the Hillary Clinton investigation, WikiLeaks won't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtOOzO6OmOU

Anyone who hasn't seen enough evidence that partisanship is toxic to American society need look no further than the way partisan politicians, media, and voters politicize national disaster relief.

This ugly political pastime is on display yet again in all its boorish insensitivity and lack of decency as Americans struggle to survive and stay safe in the wake of Hurricane Harvey's destruction.

Following some extraordinary media scrutiny, the City of San Diego has decided to send its Lifeguard Swift Water Rescue Team to Houston to assist in the search and rescue efforts.

The Lifeguard team has tremendous experience in handling hurricane related rescue efforts, having saved lives in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina.

According to sources within the Lifeguard department, 11 members of the team and their equipment will immediately be heading to Houston.

The US Court of Appeals tossed an anti-trust lawsuit Tuesday brought by Gary Johnson, Jill Stein, their respective parties, and affiliated groups against the Commission on Presidential Debates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLFCYdgtzUU

As of Monday evening, Hurricane Harvey had killed at least 10 people, according to the New York Times.

The economic toll is impossible to calculate as of yet, but the Wall Street Journal puts it in the “tens of billions of dollars.”

T.J. O’Hara is joined by author and attorney Jeff Rasley.

Jeff performed a small Facebook experiment concerning civility. The two discuss this experiment, the post-election conversations that take place on social media, “silos of the like-minded,” and more.