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Richard Van Wagoner

@ravchief.bsky.social

18K followers 44K following 137 posts

Exercising my right not to remain silent while I still can. Criminal defense and 1st Amendment attorney. ACLU cooperating attorney. Blue in red state. Cyclist. Weekly blog. Warning: could be satire. No DMs please.

Posts Replies Media

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

War Secretary Hegseth sees his role as advancing "end times" dispensationalism in the Middle East, according to the Book of Revelation. Conflicts in the Middle East initiate God’s final act in history. If Trump gives the order to annihilate Iran, Hegseth won't hesitate to make sure it is carried out

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

“And With God All Things are” . . . Justified*

Don’t be surprised when the secretary of war orders U.S. soldiers to don and detonate suicide vests to advance “end times.”

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

HE IS ON THE BALLOT GOP members of congress long ago surrendered their oaths and independence to him out of sycophancy, fear, and cowardice. A vote for the GOP is a vote for him to continue evading oversight and pushing his agenda — fascism. richardvanwagoner.medium.com/make-no-mist...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

Make No Mistake. He IS on the Ballot*

He Will Never Hold Himself Responsible. So Voters Must

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

By undertaking Washington D.C.’s recreation in his image, he is using a claim of executive power to create a legacy to outlast him rather than letting history decide. Branding and self-aggrandizing is what he knows and may be all he is now able to do. History, however, will have the last word.

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

What is It with Plastering His Name and Face on Everything?*

As a reflection of respect and gratitude in a democratic system, national honors and naming rights are historically bestowed after a leader…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Asking them to cheat exposed his internal voice - his lifelong mantra to cheat. What a breath of fresh air for those whom he has unburdened from moral and legal shackles, another example of giving his followers permission, and encouraging them, to be their worst selves medium.com/@richardvanw...

They Pledged Allegiance to the Most Prolific Cheater in U.S. History*

The second night he repeated his empty promise: if Republicans held the House and Senate in the upcoming midterms, he would distribute a…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Steinem v. Stepford “Gloria Steinem is dead. But as long as women believe that we should be able to do what we want with our lives, feminism will live on.” medium.com/@richardvanw...

Steinem Versus Stepford*

I began writing this post last weekend. I’d intended to draw a comparison and contrast between characters in Ira Levin’s The Stepford Wives…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

As tribute to Natalie Harp and Sharpies helping the President educate the world on the most important matters, Sharpie manufacturer Newell Brands shall forthwith rename and rebrand Sharpie pens, markers, and highlighters by removing the “S.” They shall hereafter and forever be known as “Harpies.

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

EXECUTIVE ORDER HONORING NATALIE HARP AND SHARPIES*

By the authority vested in me as the President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Under Trump, who is demolishing military and economic alliances and took a DOGE chainsaw to America’s soft power, the U.S., to many countries, is on its way to becoming unnecessary, an afterthought. richardvanwagoner.medium.com/is-the-u-s-m...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

Is the U.S. Moving from Superpower to Superfluous Power?*

Countries spend a combined $2.88 trillion on military defense. The United States $1 trillion military budget is larger than that of the…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

I would have advised Dr. Fauci to take the 5th Amendment because dimwitted Tuberville vowed state law criminal charges against him, and contempt of Congress for invoking the 5th is defensible and less serious than a Rand Paul trumped up perjury charge. richardvanwagoner.medium.com/given-rand-p...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

Given Rand Paul’s Relentless Dishonesty, Taking the 5th Was Dr. Fauci’s Only Option*

Photo by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on Unsplash

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Trump's three most dangerous decisions (IMO) are: #1: Withdrawing the U.S. from JCPOA #2: Starting Another Endless, Foreign, Unwinnable War with Iran #3: Entering an Agreement that Appears to Allow Saudi Arabia to Enrich Uranium Domestically richardvanwagoner.medium.com/trumps-three...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

Trump’s Three Most Dangerous Decisions?*

Before laying out the three Trump decisions which, in my view, are the stupidest (and most dangerous from an ever-expanding list of worthy…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

When Republicans complain about socialism and warn the country is being taken over by Social Democrats, remember the disproportionate financial benefits they receive and their political advantage from the very concepts they vilify. richardvanwagoner.medium.com/republicans-...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

Republicans and Red States Love Socialism*

What once would have been considered an impeachable offense is now something that happened on a Tuesday afternoon. Setting aside the…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

A corrupt president is in the process of dismantling the Watergate reforms designed to protect the country from a corrupt president. richardvanwagoner.medium.com/a-corrupt-pr...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

A Corrupt President Dismantled the Watergate Reforms Designed to Protect the Country from a Corrupt…

With Help from a Complicit Congress and Enabling Supreme Court

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Trump's Religious Liberty Commission has nothing to do with religion or liberty, other than using religion as the vehicle to repress religious freedom, indoctrinate, and control through eventual adoption of Christian nationalism as the United States’ official religion. medium.com/p/14db942e0a...

Trump’s “Religious Liberty Commission” Represses Religious Freedom in Favor of Christian…

Project 2025 gave us the Heritage Foundation blueprint to overhaul the national government into a repressive theocratic regime. The design…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I am fortunate to be surrounded by his art. I have not shared his work of late but thought it a good time to publicly acknowledge and remember him through his art. Please enjoy some of my favorites. For those who have seen them, it won’t hurt to look again. medium.com/p/09049b82e3...

Remembering Dad Through His Art*

It’s been almost 13 years since my father’s passing. I miss him, his soft nature, sound advice, clever puns, wry sense of humor. He was…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Fraud on the court was central to Trump stealing $1.776 billion. Filing a baseless, collusive lawsuit to orchestrate a corrupt scheme to loot the Treasury and secure immunity may be the last dying breath of the "presumption of regularity" under this administration. medium.com/p/6a4669972b...

A Fraud on the Court Was Central to Trump’s Scheme to Steal $1.776 Billion from Taxpayers*

The “presumption of regularity” courts historically accord the executive branch is in rapid decline since January 20, 2025, the beginning…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

I hadn't considered him in pure parasitic terms until recently. But the signs are there. We continue experiencing nausea and fatigue as the American parasite saps the country’s energy and resources and now at an accelerated pace. medium.com/p/5310a73a86...

Signs America Has a Parasite*

Parasites are egoïstic organisms. They are creatures that live off another organism. Self-interest drives them. Their own needs and desires…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Over John Cornyn, Trump endorses Paxton, the perpetually indicted, unfaithful, corrupt and, recently impeached chief law enforcement officer for Texas. Other than Trump himself, Paxton is the most Trump-like candidate to throw his hat into any political ring. Embarrassing medium.com/p/3504d21d63...

Trump Endorses His Mini-Me Ken Paxton in Texas GOP Senate Runoff*

After Angela Paxton cited the Bible as grounds for divorcing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton last summer, Trump would surely endorse John…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

The South Carolina court decision vacating Murdaugh’s convictions was a segue to bring up a “lighter subject” — my wife’s obsession with podcasts about wives killing their husbands - aka mariticide. I’ve not made it a point of contention between us. richardvanwagoner.medium.com/my-wife-enjo...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

My Wife Enjoys Podcasts About Wives Killing Their Husbands*

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

The Utah legislature/governor's state Supreme Court-packing is under way. richardvanwagoner.medium.com/dei-for-whit...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

DEI for White, Mormon, Conservative Men. Others Need Not Apply*

Photo by Dave Meckler on Unsplash

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

One only need look to yesterday’s news for the evidence that this era’s normalizing political violence is a distinctly Trump phenomenon. Republicans’ claim that “a radicalized left . . . has normalized political violence” is based in noncontextualized, benign comments. medium.com/p/03434733e9...

This Era’s “Normalized” Political Violence is a Distinctly Trump Phenomenon*

The week’s news included more unserious claims from a failing administration and Trump’s disciples. Among them were Todd Blanche’s doomed…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Outspoken public officials against silencing conservative voices engaged in the very oppressive speech they found so offensive. The collective heckling predictably garnered enough death threats for UVU to veto the commencement speaker. UVU should never have capitulated. medium.com/p/57489f6eb2...

Heckler’s Veto: UVU’s Violence Against the First Amendment*

Charlie Kirk was tragically assassinated during the September 10 Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Today's Topics: Trump to Tell Trump How Much of Your Money to Pay Trump to Settle Trump’s Bogus $10 Billion Suit Against IRS And Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Meet Disbarred Attorney John Eastman. . . . Oh, I See You’ve Met medium.com/p/c4e1f2cd5c...

Trump to Tell Trump How Much of Your Money to Pay Trump to Settle Trump’s Bogus $10 Billion Suit…

Presidential candidates have generally disclosed their tax returns for nearly 50 years, a tradition that began in the early 1970s and…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

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richardvanwagoner.medium.com

Has Orbán Rigged Hungary’s Election Enough to Overcome His Extreme Unpopularity?*

The Parallels Between Trump and Orbán are Striking.

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Secretary of warmongery Pete Hegseth is backed by an anthropomorphized America-first Jesus who displays the same arrogance, violence, hate, spite, ruthlessness, and mercilessness that define Hegseth, all in violation of the 1st Amendment. richardvanwagoner.medium.com/an-easter-me...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

An Easter Message from Pete Hegseth*

During his monthly evangelical worship service at the Pentagon — this one at the beginning of Holy Week — secretary of warmongery Pete…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Trusting the Trump/Bondi DOJ with the objective, independent responsibility to investigate and discipline its own lawyers who engage in illegal or unprofessional conduct falls among their most transparently pretextual and grotesquely farcical ideas to date. medium.com/p/00491984f2...

The DOJ is Seeking to Immunize Its Lawyers’ from Discipline for Unprofessional Conduct*

Trump’s Department of Justice under Attorney General Pam Bondi seeks to preempt state bar disciplinary procedures for DOJ lawyers accused…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

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Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

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Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

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Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

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Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Among a long and growing series of inane decisions, the commencement of a preemptive war in the second most populous country in the world’s most volatile tinderbox tops the list — so far. This From the Person with the Nuclear Codes and Sole Authority to Launch. medium.com/p/d7025c9e21...

Incontinent Impulsiveness Brought Us War With Iran*

This From the Person with the Nuclear Codes and Sole Authority to Launch

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

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Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

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Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

As the U.S. turns geopolitical conflict into fanatical religious absolutism and lunacy — which has defined conflict in the Middle East for millennia — whose fanatical, delusional, apocalyptic lunacies will first come to pass? medium.com/p/899ba802fd...

Religiously Assured Destruction: Which God Will Win the Proxy War in the Middle East?*

The United States, along with Israel and Iran, is drawing on religious imagery and text to frame the war in morally absolute, existential…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

He used tariffs to enrich himself and his family. After the tariff ruling, he imposed a 10% worldwide tariff which increased to 15%. He, of course, can and likely will continue to adjust tariffs for the countries that praise and flatter and enrich him. medium.com/p/34f57f95a7...

Trump Reassures the Country the Tariff Ruling Will not Curb His Corruption*

During his State of the Union, Trump surprisingly said something true: under his watch the country had “achieved a transformation like no…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Utah legislature's failures to undermine voter initiative Proposition 4 - which outlaws partisan gerrymandering - continue. Appeal dismissed for legislature's failure to follow basic rules of civil and appellate procedure to a secure proper appeal. medium.com/p/2655bd1580...

Utah’s High Court Calls Out the Utah Legislature’s Failure to Follow Basic Rules to Secure an…

Given its inability to abide anything but an all crimson delegation in the United States Congress, one presumes the Utah Legislature would…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

The Nominees for Cabinet Member of the Week are Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem (three nominations), Pete Hegseth (two nominations), and Howard Lutnick medium.com/@richardvanw...

The Nominees for Cabinet Member of the Week are*

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US Attorney General Pam Bondi, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (three nominations), Secretary of Defense…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Did Trump Find His 11,780 Votes? If your GOP lawmakers have their way, we may be looking at a form of Trumpism in perpetuity. The most important battle facing preserving the country as a constitutional republic is against voter suppression and the administration’s scheme to commit election fraud.

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

With the Fulton County Ballots in Hand, Trump Found His 11,780 Votes*

Parody? You decide.

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Comprehending the underlying truth of what this administration says and does at any given moment requires foreseeing its intended outcome. Pretext is what they use for every act and omission. IT'S ALL A LIE richardvanwagoner.medium.com/everything-i...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

Everything is a Lie, Based on a Lie, Or Both*

“Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

I watched and listened to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s elegantly crafted and delivered speech at Davos. It would have been appropriate but unnecessary for Mr. Carney to stand up at the end of Trump’s speech and declare, “I rest my case.” richardvanwagoner.medium.com/speeches-at-...

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

Speeches at Davos: One of These Was Not Like the Other*

I watched and listened to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s elegantly crafted and delivered speech at Davos. I then had the misfortune…

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Richard Van Wagoner @ravchief.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

The First Amendment has Taken a Beating Nationally and Locally by Elected Officials and their Minions. First Amendment Freedoms Must Withstand the Authoritarian Onslaught. Using Them to Expose Lawlessness and Inhumanity May Be the Only Way to Combat the Administration’s Campaign Against Them.

richardvanwagoner.medium.com

From Burning Books to Murdering Citizens*

First Amendment Freedoms Must Withstand the Authoritarian Onslaught. Using Them to Expose Lawlessness and Inhumanity is the Best Way —…