Letters to the Editor, Week of Jan. 22

Immorality Rules Our Nation.

Flouting the constitution, international and American law and long-standing norms, President Trump declared to the New York Times recently that his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his “own morality.”

Let’s review his track record on morality. He raped a woman in a dressing room He said on camera that to control women he “just grabs them by the pussy.” He led an insurrection against our government. He has been a business cheat throughout his career, and he lies so freely and frequently that we no longer have a clear line between truth and fiction.

We should remember, though, that our nation and our world embrace real, concrete definitions of morality. The constitution, the bible, the laws of the land all stand in the way of immoral behavior. It’s about time the gears of government engage to ensure Trump’s compliance with those real, concrete moral standards.

Right now, we have a Congress and a Supreme Court that have abandoned those standards. Time after time, they have given their permission to allow Trump’s illegal and immortal actions.

But sanity still prevails, at least here in Oregon. Our Attorney General, Dan Rayfield, has used the power of the courts to challenge Trump’s immoral actions consistently, and with positive results.

Rayfield has sued to:

• Block efforts by acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau leadership to completely defund the CFPB;

• Block President Trump’s order to federalize/deploy Oregon National Guard troops for internal security functions as unconstitutional;

• Block federal penalties and cuts to SNAP benefits, particularly for lawful permanent residents;

• Challenge the administration’s refusal to release federally appropriated funds for electric vehicle charging infrastructure;

• Stop an unlawful $100,000 fee for certain H-1B visa petitions imposed by the Department of Homeland Security;

• Challenge Trump’s termination of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program;

• Prevent conditions in the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants tied to immigration enforcement;

• Challenge Trump’s attempt to use a single regulation to terminate billions in state federal grants;

• Joined a coalition that sued to block Trump’s freeze on federal grants and funds;

• Challenged illegal cuts to National Science Foundation programs including diversity and research funding; and,

• Challenged a Trump rule making it harder to obtain health coverage under the Affordable Care Act;

• Challenged an executive order ending birthright citizenship, vote by mail, dismantling Federal Agencies that support museums, libraries and other institutions with grants; and,

• …and dozens more.

Most of these suits are still active, and some have achieved victories. And while they cover only a small percentage of the thousands of executive orders, rules and guidance issued in the firehose of actions over the last year, they do a lot to forestall or even cancel many of the actions that affect Oregonians directly.

But what can we, as individuals, do about this? The answer is becoming increasingly clear. We have to keep up the protests to continue to put pressure on our federal representatives, especially the Republicans. And, we have to work hard to advance qualified, competitive candidates to wrench control from sycophants who bow to the threats of our immoral leader.

The bottom line is this: go to the streets and go to the polls.

—Louis Capozzi

Re: Report on Departed Equity Director

The investigation commissioned by the city to look into charges of racism at city hall made by former Equity and Inclusion Director Andres Portela III is a whitewash. This report is not fact-based and paints Portela to be a liar. It will serve as the city’s last statement about him if it is allowed to stand.

City Councilor Megan Perkins has stated, “I know I speak for all of the Council when I tell you that we all feel a huge loss at Andres’ resignation.”

To that I say, prove it.

The City Council can’t say they miss him and then throw him under the bus. In order for us to move forward as a community, the Council needs to reject this report, take a public vote and tell the community that they disagree with its findings. To do anything less is to own it and sow further disunity.

—Michael Funke

A Red Tent Gathering

In today’s busy world, many of us move at a constant pace, disconnected from the natural rhythms of the earth. Yet our ancestors lived in cycles — aligned with the seasons, the moon and the natural ebb and flow of our bodies. Reclaiming this wisdom can bring us back into balance, especially for women who so often give endlessly without pause for their own renewal. The ancient tradition of the Red Tent offers a space for this reconnection.

Historically, it was a sacred gathering place where women of all ages came together during times of transition, reflection, and rest. Today, the Red Tent has been reimagined as a modern sanctuary — a supportive, nurturing circle where women can slow down, share stories and honor both their personal cycles and the cycles of the earth.

On Sunday, Feb. 1, we will gather at the Hanai Center in Bend for a Red Tent Gathering. Together, we’ll create a sacred space to honor the wisdom and the magic we create when we gather.

I invite women in our community to join us in this ancient yet timely practice of slowing down, connecting deeply and living in alignment with the cycles that sustain us. We have five dynamic and powerful practitioners sharing their gifts in our Circle.

—Willow Merchant

This article appears in the Source January 22, 2026.